The Time for Change

With a defeat to Reading in the past, I find myself writing with a degree of worry and optimism. My worry is the shared concern of every Norwich City fan the world over, a worry over the an uncertain future. The uncertainty of league position and what will actually happen if relegated. Will we react like Leicester and bounce right back up or will we have the trails and trepidations that for instance, a Leeds Utd fan has to go through.

Whatever happens Sunday is beyond many peoples control. All that the collective fan base can do is keep supporting the club, both through voice and through the wallet (an annoying fact of life). Change is needed whether survival is achieved or not. The board need to pull their fingers out of their collective rear-ends and show sense, direction and above all else, a stable financial strategy. What is the point in fire selling players like Sammy Clingan and David Marshall if all we will have left is sub-standard replacement. While I do not live with the delusion of all of our players staying if we drop into League 1, I do live in hope that our board will show enough guts and determination for promotion that certain players will stay for one more season if relegated.

If not relegated, change is still essential. I feel while Gunn and Co have done their best with their inherited players but experience is key and that is one thing that Gunn et al lack. While I do not doubt their commitment, I do doubt their ability. I am not going to start saying who I think should manage the club because I have neither the resources or tools to work out who is right for the job. I just hope the board do not royally screw their decision up again. Grant and Roedor, need I say more.

Local media confirm N'Guessan interest

In the back of the Lincolnshire Echo today is an article about Paris Simmons, Lincoln's new signing from Derby. Simmons, 19 has been brought in on loan with a view to a permanent signing to replace Dany N'Guessan who has rebuffed two contract offers and looks likely to leave in the summer when his contract expires (although being under 24, compensation would be due). The Lincolnshire Echo has confirmed Sheffield Wednesday, Leeds United, MK Dons and Norwich City are interested in Lincoln's enthusiastic left winger.

Dany is a product of the acclaimed Auxerre youth academy alongside Bakari Sagna among others and while clubs like Valencia, Marsielle and Man City showed interest, he eventually left Auxerre in 2005 and moved to Rangers. After two unsettled seasons, he moved to Lincoln and ever since he has been increasing in ability and confidence on the pitch.

For a nominal fee, I think he will be a good signing. He's quick and knows where the goal is. A good signing for a team who have lacked goals and confidence at times.

The Remaining Games

With Norwich on a run which has including ten points from five games, three clean sheets and surely much increased morale in the dressing room and around Norwich as a whole, there is room for optimism. The remaining six games includes trips to Swansea, Charlton and Suffolk while Sheffield Wednesday, Watford and Reading will make a trip to Carrow Road but how does this compare with our fellow relegation rivals?

Blackpool

Eight points from last Five matches

Plymouth, Reading and Nottingham Forest at Home

Preston, Charlton and Swansea away

Barnsley

Five points from last five matches
Forest, Wolves and Swansea at Home
Sheff Utd, Watford, Plymouth, Reading and Coventry away

Plymouth

Four points from the last five matches
Coventry, Doncaster and Barnsley at Home
Blackpool, Birmingham and QPR away

Southampton

Six points from the last five matches
Charlton, Crystal Palace and Burnley at home
Wolves, Sheff Wed, Notts Forest and Watford away

Nottingham Forest

Six points from last five games
Southampton, Coventry and Bristol City at home
Barnsley, Sheff Utd and Blackpool away


We can pretty much say that Charlton are already relegated but the 23rd and 22nd spots are still very much open for offers. With Blackpool already being six points above Nottingham Forest's 41 and with three of their remaining six games being played against fellow relegation threatened clubs, I feel they will be fine.

Barnsley have eight games as opposed to the six games that the other clubs have (apart from Southampton but I'll get to that) and with tough trips to Sheff Utd, Reading and Coventry, I don't think they can be written out of the relegation picture just yet, but I feel they will have another to ensure one more season in the Championship.

With the least points from their last five matches and with games against the two strongest relegation threatened clubs in Barnsley and Blackpool, I would put money of Plymouth occupying one of the available relegation places.

So who does the last relegation place go to? From my own prespective, there is only one answer to that and that is Southampton. I just can't see Nottingham Forest getting relegated especially considering they have won their last two matches against tough opposition (Preston and Reading) and they are set to play three of the other relegation threatened clubs. I can only see Southampton beating one of their last seven opponents and therefore I think its just going to be a classic case of 'not enough points'..... and that's not even taking into account the dark cloud of possible administration looming over the sky's of Hampshire.

Charlton, Plymouth and Southampton, League one beckons!

Norwich Vs Cardiff Highlights

I haven't learnt how to (or if I can) embed videos yet, but as they say lets take this one step at a time. Click here for the highlights of the canaries win over Cardiff. Hopefully this can be the start of a run which will see the pheonix (or canary) rise from the flames and dangers of relegation. One little note before you have a look at the vid, check out Cody McDonalds celebration, the kid looks like he playing with the passion and determination of a player who could be a potential talisman for survival.

Introduction

To say I am new to blogging would be nothing but the truth. I dont convey to be a master of the written word because to be honest, my english skills are not great but does it really matter? What I hope to bring to this blog is a one-stop shop for Norwich City, I am aiming to post blogs occasionally, links to video, random tit bits and maybe even some first hand info (and by that I dont mean my best friend's dog walker's second cousin says 'INSERT NAME HERE' is coming to Norwich on loan for the rest of the season). I hope to keep it lighthearted and enteraining so cross your fingers and lets see where this goes.

On the Ball City!