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Norwich v Tottenham – The Opposite View
Let’s not muck about today eh? It’s boxing day and we all have better things to do than read my overly long preambles.
So I am just going to go straight into this. So as we head to Norwich for the first time in 8 years which means I get to welcome two new fans to the What A Fantastic Run fold. This week we have Craig Bailey and Richard Balls, both long time Canary fans.
WAFR: Welcome to What A Fantastic Run – could you start by introducing yourself
CB: Sure, hello! My name is Craig Bailey, I am web project manager who loves indie/rock music, writing comedy, songs & poetry and, of course, Norwich City!
RB: I’m Richard Balls. I was a journalist for 20 years and now work in communications. I am the author of Sex & Drugs & Rock ‘n’ Roll: The Life Of Ian Dury. For about 12 years I wrote an opinion piece on Norwich City and I now write a blog which appears at www.norwichbear.com
WAFR: A question I ask any first timers on this site, how long have you been supporting Norwich and how did it all start?
CB: Blimey, let me think, judging by the grainy photos and 80s styles I’d say it was 1985 and winning the Milk Cup that first grabbed my attention!
RB: My Dad took me to my first match in December 1975 and I’ve been a loyal fan ever since.
WAFR: After a long absence from the Premier League how would you assess the first half of the season for Norwich City?
CB: Absolutely awesome! Well above expectations, hope we can strengthen in January and stay up!
RB: I don’t think we could have wished for a much better start. We have shown absolutely no fear, delivered stirring performances at Manchester United and Chelsea, and took a valuable point at Anfield thanks to Grant Holt’s superb headed equaliser. Paul Lambert is a real student of the game and very astute in his team selections, making it difficult for opposing managers to know what kind of formation and line-up they’re going to face. To be in the top half of the table at Christmas is an incredible achievement and a contrast to 2004/05 when we struggled throughout and barely got out of the bottom six. After 16 games this time around, we were eight points better off. There can be no complacency though. Blackpool had two points more than us at the same stage and they were relegated after falling away in the second half of the season. The margins in the Premier League are notoriously tight and a handful of defeats can make the table look very different.
WAFR: I am assuming (although often I am wrong) that Paul Lambert must be loved by the Carrow Road faithful. Does he have full backing of the fans or are there voices of discontent?
CB: To quote the great John Lennon, he’s more popular than Jesus right now. As at every club, there are a couple of moaning morons, but they get what they deserve, slated and ignored.
RB: Paul Lambert has the full support of all Norwich City fans. We are extremely privileged to have him and our biggest fear is losing him.
WAFR: You currently have our other Kyle on loan at the club. How is Naughton doing?
CB: Well, interesting question. I think he’s been brilliant. He has come in for a bit of stick from some quarters, but largely those people are those who have never played and don’t understand what they are saying, he suffered a bit from our tactics which tend to leave fullbacks one on one with their opponent, but he’s getting better each game in my eyes. His passing is not the best sometimes, but again, he’s learning. I’d happily sign him in January, put it that way, you don’t need him.
RB: I would say Naughton is a typical Lambert signing. Not a famous name and unflashy in terms of style, but hard working, ambitious and wants to play. He likes to get forward and has overlapped effectively with Elliott Bennett when he plays on the right of midfield. The diamond formation that Lambert has exploited time and again requires fullbacks to get forward and you can see why he brought in Naughton. Given that Russell Martin has had to be drafted in to the centre of defence due to injuries, he has proved especially valuable. That said, some players have got past him far too easily on occasions: he was outclassed by Gabriel Agbonlahor in the 3-2 defeat at Aston Villa. In some home fixtures visiting teams looked as if they were targeting him. The Premier League will be fantastic experience for him.
WAFR: Norwich also added Anthony Pilkington from Huddlesfield, Ayala from Liverpool and Elliot Bennet from Brighton during the summer transfer window. What has been your assessment of these additions?
CB: Pilks started well and has been linked with you lot and Liverpool, which is just plain stupid. Reality is he’s a good prospect with pace and flair, but had two very ordinary games and got dropped when we returned to the diamond formation from 4-5-1. Benno has yet to set Carrow road alight, but looks a good signing too, got dropped for the same reason as Pilks, don’t be surprised if he picks up second half of the season. Ayala is a difficult one, we bought him as we already had our two first choice CBs out (yes Russell Martin is a RB, but doing a great job and is now keeping out an established CB), he played about half an hour against MK Dons in the cup, was absolutely shocking and then got a serious injury, jury is still out! Morrison and Johnson been good
RB: Pilkington must rank as one of the bargains of the summer. He has wonderful control on the ball, pace, can strike a deadly free-kick (Aston Villa away) and scores goals. Another prime example of the Lambert maxim that it is not the price tag that matters, but the quality of the player and the desire to play that matters. Bigger clubs, you sense, will have their eye on him – possibly in the January window.
Regrettably, we’ve barely seen Daniel Ayala as he was injured in his first league appearance and has not yet returned from injury.
Elliott Bennett, like Pilkington, has given us a great option out wide and has bags of pace and energy. He isn’t afraid to take a shot, often from distance – something we need to plenty of in the Premiership. With Naughton playing in behind him, he can give us a real impetus down the right side. A finely judged signing.
WAFR: We have the January window a mere week away, do you think there will be some further additions to the squad and if so where do you need to strengthen?
CB: I think we’ll strengthen but as most of us had never heard of most of PL’s signings don’t expect big names! He also will not pay more then he thinks a player is worth so with the inflated prices he may not get many. About time if the window nonsense was abolished if you ask me! I think we need GK cover, CM who can keep the ball and cover for Pilks/Benno if we go back to 4-5-1. I’d love to sign Robert Snodgrass of Leeds, but can’t see it happened as we had £5m turned down in the summer, allegedly.
RB: There might be one or two additions, but no more. For me, it is at the back that we need to strengthen. A focused central defender who can prevent us conceding goals like Wolves’ equaliser or, better still, a defensive midfielder who can protect the back four and help break up opposition attacks (someone in the Dickson Etuhu mould).
WAFR: You are currently sitting in the top half of the table, what are your expectations for the rest of the season?
CB: Survival, plain and simple. Lambert is hands down the best manager I’ve witnessed and thrives on tactical awareness and getting the best out of hungry players. If he keeps us up, it will even over-shadow the double promotion campaigns! There are Norwich fans saying things like, “Let’s push for Europe”. They are idiots!
RB: I believed we would stay up at the start of the season and I believe it now. We’ve got some of the toughest fixtures out of the way – away games at Manchester United, Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester City – and Lambert has proved himself a big occasion manager. Fourth from bottom would be an incredible achievement, but I expect us to better that.
WAFR: What are your thoughts on Spurs this season?
CB: Well, I have an admission to make, I’m a bit of a Spurs fancier! I own a 1991 cup winners T-Shirt as I loved that team, I played left back when I played and always loved Justin Edinburgh, no idea why looking back!
RB: Wonderful players who, when they click, are irresistible. The midfield – Modric, Parker, Van der Vaart, Bale – is enough to frighten any side and we will have to be at our very best to cope with the threat they and the strikers pose. The top four may just prove beyond Spurs’ reach, but I expect them to push for that.
WAFR: And finally, lets have a score prediction
CB: Good lord, heart says 2-2, head says 1-3 – frankly if Bale turns up and plays as he can and doesn’t get kicked of the pitch it could be a cricket score
RB: Norwich City 2 Spurs 2
