carrowroad.net

City Go Seven Clear at The Top

Sun, 07 Mar 2010 12:45:30 +0000

A lot better performance even better to see Hoolahan, Holt and martin hit the target to take their cumulative total of goals up to 60 as we dismissed the challenge of the visitors with a minimum of fuss. I am left wondering this morning, still, were we gods or were Yeovil one of the most ineffective teams to grace Carrow Road this season ?

I can't recall Forster having to make one single save in anger, we could have left the field with the score line doubled and it wouldn't have been an injustice, Holt missed perhaps one of the easiest chances he has had all season, he did the hard part of rounding defenders and keeper alike before shooting wide with the empty goal at his mercy. Lappin had a couple of terrific shots from out side the area in the second which the visiting keeper did well to save and hold onto respectivly. I took a quick look at the stats; we had a total of 18 shots with 12 of those being on target and 63% of play.
With family connections in Yeovil I always cast an eye at their reports and follow how they are doing quite closely, but I have say I was disappointed in them yesterday, clubs of a similar ilk have been to Carrow Road this season and have put up a far better showing, displaying a lot more attacking notions and with a bigger fight in their bellies; on yesterday's showing I find it hard to believe that they held us for 3-3 draw on their patch.

Still we were looking to be getting back to our best again passing was crisper and more accurate, movement was far better finishing astill needs a little sharpening (Holty) MacNamee is on fire and at times looks unplayable ; great to have a winger who can cross the ball from both sides of the pitch. For me yesterday the Man of the Match was Korey Smith he was outstanding, when others looked to be dropping off the pace, he kept going and going; but no-one had a bad game at all.

With Leeds dropping even more points we strengthened our position at the top of the pile stretching the gap to 7 points and 9 points from third placed Charlton.

Anyone fancy making a prediction at what game we will clinch Promotion ? See Our Poll on the Left

Theoklitos ... departs at last

Fri, 05 Mar 2010 14:40:46 +0000

Another of Bryan Gunn's signings has had their contract terminated, by mutual consent Australian goalkeeper Michael Theoklitos with immediate effect. Nothing has been mentioned about him for ages after a story where was supposed to have signed for Melbourne, I am surprised he has been kept on the books this long.

The 29-year-old made his one and only full appearance for the Canaries in the disastrous 7-1 home defeat to Colchester United on the opening day of the season before falling down the pecking order behind Fraser Forster, Declan Rudd and Jed Steer. The standard of football between the two Countries must be a wider gulf than many think. I never saw his one and only appearence thanks to Swine Flu, and I can't say I am sorry to have missed it.

Elliot to Sign As we Suggested

Thu, 04 Mar 2010 18:33:58 +0000

As we suggested the other day Read Here The possibility of this happening; City are poised to complete the loan capture of striker Stephen Elliott from Preston North End until the end of the season, subject to completion of a medical.

Hope he last longer than the last Preston signing

Cody Extension. If Sky Are Right

Wed, 03 Mar 2010 17:10:06 +0000

Sky Sports are claiming that Cody McDonald has signed a contact extension, keeping him with City until 2012. if correct that isa very good move for player and club alike, the lad has done well considering he has been limited by the form of Holt and Martin; he hasn't let anyone down when given a chance. Nice one Cody MacD

Stephen Elliot Loan Possibility.. (Rumour)

Wed, 03 Mar 2010 16:42:45 +0000

Ok now don't shoot the messenger just passing on a little rumour that is gathering strength in Lancashire, according to a Preston North End forum, Striker Stephen Elliot is joing us on loan until the end of the season.

Of course this is more than likely a load of spreadable brown stuff, but several PNE fans think it could well be on the cards. he hasn't featured that much for them this season so a loan move may well get him some pitch time, also gives Paul Lambert another option and provide some cover in this final run in.

Tissue Sales Increase

Tue, 02 Mar 2010 12:57:53 +0000

We are receiving reports out of Suffolk; that there is a sudden increase in sales of kleenex and other tissues, this increase has been put down to a massive outbreak of nose bleeds, due to Ipswich Town FC reaching thier highest position in the Championship this season. A vertigo inducing 17th.

However it is thought that this bloody outbreak will start to subside as the football season reaches it's climax, but the sales of Tissue are believed to still increase as the relegation trapdoor beckons for the Blues and their fans.

Holt's 25th Puts us 5 Points Clear

Sun, 28 Feb 2010 17:08:59 +0000

City moved five points clear at the top of League One thanks to a tense 1-0 victory over Oldham, with Leeds once again dropping more points, drawing at Huddersfield. Colchester also losing ground after 3-2 defeat at Bristol Rovers, we are now 9 points clear of third placed

Grant Holt's second-half strike, his 25th goal of the season after perhaps squandering earlier chances he found the finishing touch on 53 minutes when he stretched to score at the far post after smart wing play by Anthony McNamee.

Oldham had their chances as both Dale Stephens and Reuben Hazell went close to scoring in the opening 20 minutes, City had to withstand some intense Oldham pressure and a string of close calls. The Latic's substitute Keigan Parker should have levelled eight minutes from time after running clean through, but Fraser Forster saved well; as did Korey Smith with a goal-line clearance from Hazell.

Not a pretty encounter, but another excellent result ground out with determination, grit with a sprinkling of class. With Lambert being baffled by criticizism yesterday, (see here) another fine win on the road is the perfect response.

Blimey who of us wouldn't have taken any wins, no matter the style, during the last few seasons; who would have believed we would be in this position now, back in August ? Come on do we really need to criticize ? Does it matter how we are winning just that we are should be more than enough, we know we can play bloody good football when we are allowed to by the opposition, I'll take points right now..points win prizes; pretty can come later.

NOTW...An Apology

Sun, 28 Feb 2010 16:37:34 +0000

Pleased to see that the News of the World decided to back down a little and print an apology plus reach an out of court settlement with City.

Here's a Link to the Page Apology

Plus here is what the article said in case it is removed as quick as the original allegation was:

NORWICH CITY - AN APOLOGY

27/02/2010

On 24 January we said that Norwich City was on the brink of financial meltdown and could go into administration that week without major new investment.

That was wrong because the club was not on the brink and they do not need new investment to stave off administration nor had they called in administrators.

We apologise to the club and to its chairman, Alan Bowkett, for any distress caused by our error.

Oli.Oli.Oli. - Oi.Oi.Oi

Wed, 24 Feb 2010 09:38:08 +0000

Another below par and disjointed performance, but the difference from Saturday, we got the points, which will I have no doubt prove to be massive, too many players are off form for anyone to try cover them. There was hardly any who came out of last nights efforts with glowing credit. From the starting eleven for me only McNamee and Doherty really stood out the rest lacked cohesion and looked disjointed and off the pace.

Too many times they tried to play a killer baller instead of doing the easy thing, too many times the ball was given away far too cheaply; the midfield or should I say lack of one was a major factor there was no support for the front two and little cover and support at the back. McNamee put enough quaility balls into the box but sadly nobody was able to turn these into goals, we did play a lot better in the second half and pressed more, but without that much threat. It wasn't until Smith amd Johnson came come did we really start to look a little more dangerous and midfield came to life.

Full credit to Southend, they got their noses in front but didn't shut up shop as I expected if I was one of their supporters I would be feeling a little robbed this morning, but as we all know it is about putting the round thing into the net, which was something we looked incapable of doing for around 68 minutes of the game; up steps Oli Johnson to dramactically steal the game to the delight of the thousands of home fans, you could have been forgiven if you thought we had just clinched the title and F A Cup in one.

Improvment needs to be made sooner rather than later, we have some massive games to come with two difficult looking away ties at Oldham and Lee Clark's Huddersfield, if we can grind out something at both of them we stay securely on course; but play like that against Leeds and we are in big trouble.

Not Good Enough... Today

Sat, 20 Feb 2010 19:05:08 +0000

It just had to happen sometime, but in saying that we got what we deserved perhap it should have been a worse scoreline we could have been looking had Lalana's two efforts gone in instead of hitting the post. A day when too many players had an off day with perhaps only a couple standing out enough to warrant a man of the match award. Southampton for thier part quickly sussed out the style and attempted with success to mirror that, only they looked stronger, faster and seemingly wanted the ball more.

We gave too many passes away cheaply and never created a decent chance until Smith had a drive deflected and almost go in, I was surprised when told that our first corner didn't come until around the 53rd minute. It will be interesting to see what the authorities do over Rusty's Red card, with Paul Lambert stating he was going to appeal the decision. I along with thousand's of others could see little wrong with the incident, but that decision was a major turning point, at 1-0 we were still in the game and I find it hard to believe that we wouldn't have mounted a big push to get something out of the game. But going down to ten and Lambert changing to a 3 man defence did goes against us. Not taking anything away from Southampton, they deserved their reward, a very good side as you would expect with Pardew at the helm, I wonder where they would be if they hadn't that 10 point deduction at the start.

City now have to come out on Tuesday, put this set back behind us and give Southend a lesson, teams are catching up and what could be just a one off could so easily turn into a bad run, getting back on track is vital with some tough looking away games to follow.