Stick or Twist?

A Youthful Adam drury

With the transfer window on its last legs, our hands could be forced back into it by the flurry of injuries in our back line.

But if we don’t we just might get by. Our hands may even be tied to do just that since QPR and Man City appear to be bulk-buying. It’s becoming a bit Dale Winton, 2 days to get as much in your trolley as you can.

If we don’t, our options are scarce, but still there. The aging Drury has played centre-back as and when required and the same goes for Russell Martin.

But, given how many midfielders we find ourselves with, two holding midfielders may just do the job until we’re back up to strength. Johnson putting his weight about and handing the ball to a deep-sitting Fox would be an option I would consider if I was in Sir Paul’s shoes.

Not that Fox is Lambert’s flavour of the week given he was one of the “unfortunates” who faced Franchise FC. But he’s straight into my team week-in week-out.

Then again, maybe we’d sit even deeper than we used to, but three at the back means we’d have many more out-balls. Two sitting deep, two wide men and Patches nestled in behind the top two. But then we’re creating space in the centre of the park, something we can’t afford to do at this level.

Luckily for us, Sir Paul is the man with the white board. Difficult as it is to say given the enormity of what he’s already done, it could be his biggest few days at our Fine Club. Despite how simple as it sounds, he’ll be earning his keep by deciding to stick or twist.

I’m just glad it’s him and not me.

Pressure, Not Like We Know It

Losing 0-4 to Franchise FC has made me realise something. I would hate to be a footballer. Not only because I have an aversion to running due to chronic laziness (Jan Molby was more mobile than I on the football pitch), but the pressure on performing is inestimable.

If/when I have a bad day at the office, not too many people notice. But stick on a yellow shirt and you’ve drawn an end to the world with every misplaced pass. The pressure we pin to these players is absurd, but it’s impossible to stop.

We place so much pressure on them to do what is basically their job that it is a feeling we will never experience or comprehend. Bad days in their job can be impossible to recover from. Unlike us. We don’t have to suffer the wrath of thousands upon thousands, even if in the grand scheme of things the error, bad performance, lapse, off-the-cuff comment is nothing more than a momentary blip.

Granted, they’re compensated handsomely.

Working in the press-room must be just as tough, but they’re lacking the adequate compensation. They are nothing more than a PR company with frills on, but they have the same eagle-eyes on them, every move dissected.

They’re looking after their brand, what’s best for them goes and obviously, their feathers are ruffled. But there has to be more to their latest statement than meets the eye, more than simply the fact that the ‘goalposts were moved’ around the same time of Dion’s blooper.

Yet on the face of it, it’s a lovers tiff. Saying sorry and explaining will get them off the sofa and back into the bed.

But McNally’s shrewd, there must be an ulterior motive, he has shown himself to be pretty adept at doing what’s right for our football club. He’s got my backing.

Blind faith? Who knows. Too much credit? Not sure.

I do know not to believe what I read in the press.

Long Road to Vallecano

I think we love players too easily, too quickly.

Pacheco is supposedly set to join the mighty Rayo Vallecano. Which, supposedly, is closer to Liverpool than Coventry. Cue cries of derision, “Lambert’s first big mistake” was even heard amongst the baying crowd.

Wait. What? His big mistake? Take a little step back and look at that. Pacheco destroyed Scunthorpe on a day when a stiff breeze would have beaten them 2-0. At least. Then he faded away to the bench, showing glimpses of brilliance without any real consistency.

Don’t get me wrong, he would be a brilliant investment. But would also risk stagnating other players we have actually bought. And may even stutter from bench to reserves in an already-top heavy squad.

Much the same as Lansbury would. Another who started in superb fashion in the Championship only to end up tapping on the door of the starting line-up. He failed to properly break through it, admittedly he drifted in and out and made an impact. But now, after we’ve strengthened in the midfield, he would be further back from the door.

Again, as an investment he would be a good signing. Add depth of course. But we’re a big (ish) squad already, he’s not content to sit on the bench at Arsenal, so why would he here?

Sitting on Arsenal’s bench is more appealing than our new Lotus seats.

Canaries Embroiled

This Fernandes chatter needs a little bit of clearing up. He-who-bought-a-hefty-ol’stake in QPR couldn’t be further from this Lotus- Norwich link up. You may well be confused by that if F1 is far from your sporting radar, indeed you may be if you sit down on Sunday every week.

We’re now linked with Lotus Group (created, you may remember when Proton bought Lotus Cars and found their way onto our shirts). The Group make the road cars andsponsor the Renault team in F1. The black and gold Lotus, if you will.

Effectively, Lotus is to Renault F1 the same as Vodafone is to McLaren. Granted, they may develop into something more but as of yet, they do not. The green F1 cars are Tony-now-at-QPR Fernandes’ creation, albeit formerly connected to Lotus Cars by nothing more than the rights to a name.

So they were linked, but a costly, drawn-out trip to the courts severed that. Bitterly. Understandably, relationships have soured, and quickly. Then came the divorce and quick remarriage to other partners.

Lotus. the QPR kind. Not the City kind.

And so followed the oneupmanship we’ve now become embroiled in. Fernandes bought the iconic sports car manufacturer Caterham, a make who bought the rights to a Lotus cars design (The black and gold Lotus) way back when, adding to the growing web. Today’s little announcement appears to be Danny Bahar and gold and black Lotus’ retort.

You may remember the rumours of interest in Our Fine Club from Fernandes (green Lotus) last year. This bred from little more than Jake Humphrey and Mike Gascoyne being City fans and Fernandes coming to a game. And now black and gold Lotus have swept in, buffering us from them.

What happens next is anyone’s guess, but we’re now involved. Our shirt needs a sponsor next year, and Fernandes has got a fairly large airline that’s expanding in AirAsia.

Is that a coup too far? Or are we simply going to have Lotus and Proton branded on our fronts?

Premier Predictor

After looking into my crystal ball (well, my Racing Post pullout preview), I have drawn some conclusions on what will transpire in the forthcoming Premier League season. A season, I hope, that maintains last season’s intrigue but sees a significant upgrade in playing quality, so that the league can get close to the moniker of being ‘the best league in the world’.

In terms of the title, Manchester United look well positioned for a fifth title in six seasons. They will no doubt face a substantial challenge from their local rivals Manchester City who man-for-man look more than United’s equal, but they are not comparable to the red half of Manchester when it comes to fostering a team spirit, which in turn has helped to develop United’s legendary winning mentality, evident in their comeback triumph in last weekends Community Shield.

Other factors in the champions favour include excellent defensive cover for the perennially crocked Rio Ferdinand, and the likelihood of Wayne Rooney returning to optimum form.

So, United for me, but Manchester City to come a relatively close second, hampered by Roberto Mancini’s innate negativity.

The two Manchester juggernauts will be joined in the Champions League berths by traditional title challengers Chelsea and Arsenal.

@JamieBrannon10 thinks we're seeing that grin again this year

If new Chelsea manager Andre Villas-Boas had invested heavily and wisely this summer then a case could have been made for a championship success. However, Abramovich is seemingly reluctant to indulge in an intense spending spree to regenerate an ageing squad, so a mediocre campaign beckons unless cup success can add some gloss.

I have written Arsenal off many times before when it comes to finishing outside the top four, but Arsene Wenger keeps confounding me, so I refuse to suggest anything less than fourth, despite his stubbornness or blindness to address areas of weakness that have held them back since their last trophy six years ago.

They need a commanding centre-back and a destructive midfielder in the mould of Patrick Viera.

Although the impending sales of Cesc Fabregas and Samir Nasri for a combined fee of close to £60m should free up funds to iron out these deficiencies.

Knowing Wenger though, he will recruit a diminutive ball-playing midfielder, and then claim he is looking to the future!

As for relegation, you are foolish to predict all three promoted clubs going down as this has only happened once in Premier League history.  However, my hunch is that two will perish.

Firstly, Norwich City will gain admirers for their aesthetically pleasing football but ultimately lack the Premier League class and experience to ensure a second season. This is evident in their uninspiring transfer dealings which have seen them capture players who never set the Championship alight never mind the top flight.

Secondly, despite the mega-rich ownership QPR look ripe for an immediate return to the second tier, principally because their owners have not backed manager Neil Warnock with sufficient to make a serious indent in the league. A farce of season may beckon, if the owners start interfering with Warnock’s stewardship.

Jay Bothroyd has joined; however, his capture doesn’t alter my view that a distinct lack of firepower will be their Achilles heel.

Joining two of the new boys will be Wigan Athletic who have been punching above their weight at this level longer than many anticipated. Reality will bite this season, which is a pity, as Roberto Martinez’s decision to stay as manager was an admirable gesture of loyalty given his undoubted potential to go far in his career. For me even if Hugo Rodallega is retained they will fall short in the goalscoring department and generally their squad looks weaker than principal relegation rivals.

Those rivals will include Blackburn Rovers, who have new ownership but an inexperienced manager, although with a solid platform at the back to build a survival foundation.

Bolton Wanders look vulnerable after the sale of Johan Elmander, and Daniel Sturridge has returned to parent club Chelsea after last season’s loan.

They possess just enough solidity and variety in their play to maintain top flight status.

Cases could be made for several others, but those sides generally have the necessary fire power to do nothing more than flirt with relegation and avoid the visceral agony of relegation.

All that’s left to say is to advise you to visit your nearest bookmaker and enjoy all the excitement and acute disappointment that ante-post betting brings when by December you realise your betting dreams have been ripped right open at the seams. Don’t panic though, as you can reload your betting arsenal by reading the Racing Post halfway supplement with new recommendations, out just before Christmas.

Does Schuie still has something to prove? Part II

Continuing from part one

Following his retirement at the Hungarian Grand Prix due to a gearbox problem following a spin, the seven-time champion of the world is equal 9th in the Formula One Drivers’ Championship, two places and 16 points behind Rosberg. He has certainly improved on his 2010 campaign, but is still nowhere near where he or the fans expect him to be.

Schumacher has chosen to race on into 2012 underlying his determination and willingness to get things right, and it appears that he still feels he has more to prove before hanging up his helmet for the final time.

This seems somewhat bizarre considering he’s arguably the best driver in the history of the sport, but he will feel that his recent performances haven’t been strong enough for him to leave on a positive note.

However many have made the mistake of seeing this as a continuation of his first career which has in turn created an unrealistic sense of expectation. This is a completely different journey for Schumacher; he is trying once more to build a championship winning team, and has re-assessed his objectives in months past with neither he nor team-mate Rosberg achieving expected podium positions.

No matter what anyone says though this is certainly the bravest comeback in the history of Formula One. The man had nothing to gain from returning, but felt he could still be competitive in one of the most talented fields in years.

Sadly he’s not been given a car capable of doing this, and he hasn’t been able to replicate the comebacks of Nikki Lauda and Alain Prost, both of whom returned to Formula One to win World Championships (Lauda in 1984 and Prost in 1993). However they were both fortunate enough to step into the best car on the grid with Mclaren and Williams respectively.

Many have now started to question his past successes and whether it was the car, and not him that gave him his success. Nigel Mansell even said he was `gifted titles. ` Of course this is complete rubbish, no champion is `gifted` his success.

I’m ever so slightly biased but Michael didn’t win a title at Ferrari until the year 2000, having already spent four previous seasons with them. During this time he worked with the team, helping to consistently create a reliable car that put him in the best possible position to win a World Championship.

His influence, one minded focus, maintained motivation and ability to bring his team together brought him five consecutive titles. Along the way he beat the likes of Juan Pablo Montoya, Kimi Raikkonen and Mika Hakkinen who I do not consider to be `poor competition.`

In my view Schumacher retired one season too early and/or came back one year too late. I admire him completely for making a comeback but with hindsight it was probably the wrong decision.
<img class="aligncenter" src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/87/241667683_4895cc61ab.jpg&quot; alt="Image courtesy of Rulerof heck” width=”420″ height=”338″ />
But as for all the talk of the man still have something to prove, he simply doesn’t need to. He’s won 91 Grand Prix, seven World Championships and remains one of only a handful of competitors to win the Drivers’ title with not necessarily the best car (meaning that his team that year didn’t win the Constructors’ title).

He re-wrote the handbook of how to be a Formula One driver. He set the standard for what is expected of any driver coming through the ranks, and helped to improve the levels of safety that we currently see in Formula One Motor Racing.

He is a dedicated professional; committed to his team and a magnificent racing driver who has achieved absolutely everything possible in the sport.

Yes he’s had his faults and shown glimpses of desperation at times, but his hero Ayrton Senna was made in a similar mould, and they ended up winning 10 titles between them!

Do I think he has something to prove?

No.

He’s Michael Schumacher.

Does Schuie still has something to prove? Part I

Shortly after returning to the sport in 2010, Michael Schumacher asked us to judge him on the performances during his second season, and not his first.

This was to allow him time to familiarise himself with the modern day car, adjust to the advanced technologies, understand the tyres, and get back into the hectic lifestyle that a Formula One driver has to endure.

When he was announced as one of Mercedes’ drivers last season, he said he was `excited` and felt he could `challenge` for the championship at some stage during his second spell in Formula One.

Eighteen months later and he has already admitted that things haven’t worked out the way he had hoped. He was well beaten by Nico Rosberg in the championship standings last season, and it was only until the final four or five rounds that we began to see a spark in Schumacher that we hadn’t seen throughout the year.

Despite rumours that his seat was up for grabs Michael kept his place on the grid for 2011, but didn’t have the best of starts as he retired in Australia, and struggled for pace in Qualifying before the European season kicked in.

Picture from Marcel. T.

Turkey and Monaco were not especially good races for the seven times World Champion, and having already retired in Melbourne his `judgment` season seemed to be going the same way as the first. Badly.

However the F1 circus then moved to Montreal in Canada, the Gilles Villeneuve circuit. This was an event Michael had won seven times previously and said right from the off that he was ready and up for the fight once more.

Qualifying saw him line up in a credible 8th place (albeit still two places behind team-mate Rosberg), but judging by his solid starts had every chance of claiming good points to kick start his year.

In a race which I believe to be one of the best in years, Michael Schumacher was one of the best drivers throughout the course of the afternoon. He judged the conditions beautifully and put some good moves on top drivers, including Mark Webber who ultimately denied him what would have been a famous podium finish just laps from the end.

Granted, the weather conditions played a part and no doubt the skies were responsible for the overall complexity of the event. However this shouldn’t shield what was a thoroughly entertaining motor race, and Schumacher revelled in the rain which in the past has brought him continuous success.

His first race win at Belgium in 1992 came in similar conditions, and future wins at Spain in 1996 and subsequently at Spa once more has proved that he is one of the very best when it comes to driving in slippy and treacherous circumstances.

Seemingly though he doesn’t have the raw pace required in the dry, but at times Michael has been the creator of his own downfall. At the British and European races he lost his front wing which cost him vital time, and at Silverstone in particular it cost him big points and a strong finish ahead of Rosberg.

Eddie Jordan has been very out spoken regarding his driving which at times has been justified, but at Silverstone I thought it was a cheap shot considering the track conditions were far from perfect, and at a corner (Brooklands) which had proved tricky for other drivers I felt the incident with Kobayashi didn’t warrant a stop/go penalty.

Amazingly though the German admitted full responsibility for the incident, and refused to blame the stewards (of which Nigel Mansell, who is not a Schumacher fan, was sitting alongside) for his result. He lost more time than he normally would have done with a drive through penalty, but it actually proves a quicker route which meant an alternative punishment had to be awarded for the weekend.

Read part II Friday

That’s Enough

Another day, another pointless rumour about our very own Grant Holt. The more reasoned of us shrug it off as mere hearsay and move swiftly on. Others get wrapped up in it and others offer ‘witty’ retorts reeking of “Newcastle? Sm-ewcastle more like. Heh” and the face-palming ilk.

But the thought of Holt leaving isn’t easily conceived, not because of how good he is for us with the captain’s armband wrapped round his bicep, but how he would struggle to replicate what he’s done here elsewhere.

He’s a not so much a big fish at Carrow Road but certainly the most hard-working and influential fish in a pond in which he feels right at home. Technically gifted wouldn’t necessarily spring to mind. Zlatan he aint. But he’ll bring the ball down and give every drop to get it back if it bounces away. He even takes a couple of chances per goal.

But sell him? Swap him? Not a chance.

He’s one of those of players that you can visibly see straining every sinew for 90 full-on minutes which goes a long way to winning fans over. Scoring a hattrick down the road goes a bit further. Laughing whilst doing it goes further still.

But were he to leave he would never experience this sort of adulation again. He came with little pressure, whereas move for £4million+ after 50 goals in two seasons and the pressure’s mounted. Next season he could have a quiet seaon with the boot but his presence will still be still be felt and acknowledged by the Carra faithful. Move, and he could run as much <i>bionically</i> possible but if he fails to live up to the goal expectancy it wouldn’t matter a jot.

Thankfully, no matter how many rumours are inflated to fill a line or two, he’ll be in yellow come Saturday. And still will be this time next season.

A ‘bad’ signing? Definitely not.

Following on from the ‘news’ that Anthony McNamee would be allowed to leave Norwich on a free transfer this summer, a number of fans suggested that the player was the ‘first bad signing’ by manager Paul Lambert since taking charge in August 2009.

This really could not be further from the truth, and the very fact that people are claiming it to be so is an indicator of the progress made by Norwich City in the past two seasons.

It may only be my opinion, but Anthony McNamee was never a ‘bad signing’ in a million years. Conversely, he was actually a very good signing indeed. It is fairly undeniable that he was never a consistent 90-minute player for us, but his impact from the bench especially was often unquestionable. I would have even been tempted to keep him around this season in all honesty…

He played a part in getting us promoted to the Championship, and then played a part (admittedly, lesser) in getting us promoted to the Premier League. As an example of this, anyone who watches the highlights of the 2010/2011 season will notice that McNamee was more than slightly involved in many goals scored early on in the campaign.

The role he played diminished as the season progressed – as the likes of Henri Lansbury moved ahead of him in the packing order – but McNamee rarely let us down when called upon. More often than not, he was the ideal ‘impact’ substitute that managers crave.

It is therefore perhaps fitting that his last real action in a Norwich shirt came at Vicarage Road, where a frankly mesmerising performance off the bench rescued a point against Watford in April. Had we lost that match (which seemed likely before his introduction, and having previously lost 3-0 to Swansea), then it could have all started to slip away. Suddenly the Forest and Ipswich games would have even more significance, Holt’s injury wouldn’t heal so quickly, and things would – potentially at least – start to go against us. All speculation of course, but not beyond the realms of probability…

Therefore, I see no evidence whatsoever that Anthony McNamee was a ‘bad signing’. He was undoubtedly a good signing, as were the likes of Oli Johnson – whose cameo against Southend was equally vital to getting us to this stage of you look at the bigger picture. Essentially, there is no guarantee we would be preparing for the Premier League without the input of these players who we have simply outgrown, and they deserve respect if and when they depart.

This presents the interesting debate about whether Paul Lambert has actually made a ‘bad’ signing for Norwich City to date. I genuinely don’t think he has. Every single player who has arrived at the club during his tenure has contributed in some way to the club progressing. Of course, some have made less impact than others, but no single individual has left me bemoaning their presence on the field.

To prove that belief would take a rather long and dull article profiling every one of Lambert’s signings, but I dare anyone to say any of those individuals haven’t offered something to the club. If this is still the case by the time next summer rolls around, then Norwich City will have had yet another successful season, and the Scot will have secured his position as the greatest manager Norfolk has seen.

Here’s hoping!

Another Chance

With just 90 minutes of football left until Wigan have the privilege of entertaining whatever Sir Paul’s desired XI is, one man still has a point to prove to some.

Many have been clamoring for a specific replacement, many more have been clamoring for an experienced understudy, others have been happy to see him between the sticks. Not that anyone’s opinion on John Ruddy matters aside from that of Lambert.

Against Real Zaragoza he had a chance to remind the doubters how admirably he performed last season, instead he reminded fans of his fondness for errors. It just so happens that a superb double save happened before he played his own game of “Where’s the ball”. Flapping his way into no-mans land and pirouetting before a despairing dive as the ball was fired into the top of the net.

All too often does he do the dance known only to goalkeepers, coming for the ball, then not, then realizing he can do nothing but guard the few feet he’s occupying.

Yet with him playing so much of last season- Rudd made a solitary appearance- it would take a cold, harsh decision to remove him. A career-impacting one, even. There’s a reason a manager doesn’t like dropping a ‘keeper after an error. It’s all to easy to forget that an error for Ruddy is catastrophic and goal conceding. A sitter missed by Holt or a shanked cross by Martin is redeemable due to the incomparable consequences. But in the scheme of things they’ve made similar, relative errors.

One man who didn’t fail to impress was David Fox who’s finally being noticed by the masses. For me, he and Hoolahan will be staples of the midfield next season, the other two holes are still to be filled. I’m just glad I’m not the one who has to decide who gets them.