It looks like Darel Russell will sign for Preston on a three-year dea, later this week possibily today.

Meanwhile down at Plymouth, manager Peter Reid wants to have a longer look at OTJ after seeing the player score and cruise through a friendly on Monday night; Reid had the following to say:

"He cruised through the game and looked a decent player. We are going to have a look at him for a week or so.”

Reid confirmed Tudur Jones' arrival owed much to his Welsh compatriot.

“Ian Rush, who I know well, had a word with me about him and recommended him,” said Reid. “So we're having a look at him to see if he likes us and we like him. I thought he did all right. We're having a look at Laurent, too. He's been injured but he was very determined.

“I'm just trying to balance the squad. It's difficult to say who I'm going to take on.”

Source Pink Un

City's often forgotten midfielder Owain Tudur Jones is said to be in talks with Plymouth over a possible laon deal with the west country club.

The Welsh international joined the Canaries last summer and has made six appearances in all competitions, scoring one goal, not favoured by Paul Lambert, OTJ was allowed to join Yeovil on loan last season.

We have been passed on the following infomation,  for those who aren't or can't get along to this afternoon's friendly clash with Everton we have been told the following link points to a live feed of the game on the net.

http://www.soccer360.co.uk/norwich-ci ... -friendly-match-31-07-10/



Sorry people that link isn't doing what says at all. 

Rumours are rife this morning that Greek striker Angelos Charisteas is having a trial with City this week, we have heard this a couple of times this week already.   He certainly played for some of the top European sides including Ajax, Feyenord, Werder Bremen and Nuremberg.

Personally I can't see this one as having any substance to it, the player doesn't come across as a Lambert type of player, yet we know Ewan Chester has a large network of scouts.  We have posted it, just in case.

Reports suggest former midfielder Darel Russell is in talks with Preston North End,  Russell is a free agent after refusing the new contract offered to him by City,  at the time it looked odds on he would be heading towards Leeds Utd; who had expessed a great deal of interest.   With no disrespects to any Preston supporter, this hardly looks the move to a bigger club, he seemed intent on getting.  ` 

We all at some time or another get to hear differing stories and rumours about our club and it's players, most of them are nonsense but we do thrive on them; it is all part and parcel of live. We all like a little bit of gossip.

I was told the other day that Grant Holt's injury problems are worse than we are being lead to believe and that he could be missing from the first team for quite a while.  I can understand not rushing to break the news, wanting to give the player as much time as possible to get match fit; it is clearly the case that Holt is struggling, he hasn't featured at all so far this pre-season.The makes him quite a way behind the other squad members in terms of fitness, with still no sign of things changing in the final two friendlies before the big kick off.

Paul Lambert said only the other day that he thought Holt was only rated as 50-50 to make the opener,  he would have one heck of a lot of ground to make up in the remaining 11 days if he was to make it.  Also while talking about his list of players missing through injury; Lambert also said if he thinks he will need another player added to the squad he would be talking with "The Powers That Be"

I know that he could be referring to any position on the park, but he could also be referring to Holt in particular as midfield and defence have the extra numbers.
It goes without saying that Holt is vitally important to the team,  a Figurehead, a Tailisman and a Leader are some of the  terms that were bestowed upon the guy last season; when he was missing we did look to have lost a little edge to our game and certainly someone to lead by example  from the front; that is no disrespects to the other boys, Holt is a one off.

I know Lambert has until August 31st before the window on buying shuts,  he also has the option of a short term loan deal now and later should he feel he needs to; but if Holt is really struggling wouldn't it be better to make a move while there are still a few decent players left before they are snapped up.  One player looking to move or have a loan deal is Rowan Vine at QPR, he is still young enough and strong, would certainly make a good stop gap; I am sure he was once a City target under a previous manager.  Ideally I would love to see Holt'y lining up for the toss up against Watford, but that looks increasingly unlikely, this makes me feel a little uneasy; perhaps another bustling type striker wouldn't be such a bad idea if only on a 3 month loan deal until The Man is back. 

I hope that what I was told is so wrong and any reading between the lines is wide of the mark as well, but I still have this huge question mark over Holt's injury, is it going to take longer then we hope or think ?  Or can I lay aside my worries and sleep more peacefully at night ?

The Daily Mirror, has a small piece suggesting that Paul Lambert is thought to be making a double swop on Dagenham and Redbridge  for central defender Scott Doe and midfielder Danny Green, both 22. A bid of £250,000 should be enough to secure both players

*A Little more on the above two players: both have just signed new contracts at Dagenham;

Danny Green and Scott Doe have signed new three-year contracts with the club.

A brace by Chris Martin and single reply from Ameobi, was enough to give  City a well deserved victory at Carrow Road this afternoon, City more than held their own against their premiership opponents.

Martin's first came after some trickery from the Irish master Wes Hoolahan, he picked up on a sloppy pass rounded two defenders before crossing the ball to Martin for a tap into the empty net.   His second came onthe 75th minute some fine work by Macnamee, who hadn't been on the field that long,  Martin rose with the Newcastle defence to meet MacNamee's cross to flick the ball into the bottom corner, it may have got a touch on a defenders head on it's way.

Sandwiched in between came Ameobi's goal, Xisco cuts inside finding Ameobi who takes a quick touch before slotting the ball between Ruddy's legs.

A very good work out for the players in front of a respectable crowd of 13,195, Paul Lambert must be very satisfied with the work rate and application of his players as he starts to formulate his starting eleven ahead of the opening game in about a fortnight's time.

Paul Lambert has named the following squad for this afternoons friendly with Newcastle

CITY: Ruddy, R. Martin, Drury, Nelson (c), Crofts, Jackson, Surman, Hoolahan, Fox, C. Martin, Ward. Subs: Gill, Lappin, Johnson, McNamee, Francomb, Dawkin, Tudur Jones, Steer.

While for Newcastle the awaited return of Fraser Forster to Carrow Road will have to be put on hold, as he was injured during the week in training and hasn't made the squad.

Newcastle: Krul, Coloccini, Enrique, Nolan, Barton, Carroll, R Taylor, Best, Ranger, Edmundsson, Tavernier. Subs: Alnwick, Williamson, Guthrie, Routledge, Smith, Xisco, Ameobi, Lovenkrands, Vuckic, Ferguson, Henderson.

Forgotten defender Rhoys Wiggins has left City to join newly-promoted League One side Bournemouth for an undisclosed fee.

Signed by Bryan Gunn last July,  he was restricted to just two starts in the Johnstones Paint Trophy last season and appearing as a substitute in the FA Cup tie away to Paulton, he spent a lot of the season on at Bournemouth making 19 appearences.

It comes as no surprise that Rhoys has been allowed to leave, nor his destination, it was pretty clear that he wasn't really in Paul Lambert's plans.  I personally didn't see him play, but still wish him all the very best of luck at his new club.




I wonder what is in store for  Owain Tudour Jones, Matt Gill  and in some ways Jens Berthel Askou after not figuring in Lambert's Germany plans.  Askou was for one of the finds of the season, looking very solid and commanding, would be a great shame to see him leave.  So far my only concern over the whole squad is at right back, where we have no cover for Martin now Spillane has gone; Martin has failed to convince me he is good enough for the championship, after struggling at times at the lower level.