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Still a sandwich short of the full promotion picnic to my mind

8th August 2007 By Guest Blogger Leave a Comment

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So the friendlies are done and dusted, a new squad is almost in place, and the 2007-8 football season is baring down upon us.

Alphabetically we are mid-table; according to some ex-Man Utd flop writing in the Sunday papers, we are set to finish in the bottom third.

Amongst Stan's mates are those who think that the nucleus of a successful team is there and ready to go, and there are those who think we are heading for another campaign of mediocrity (and worse).

Speak to eight different people and eight different names are given as to who was the 'best signing of the summer'. Even opinion as to whether Saf was a star turn or the bad apple in the barrel is divided. Quite clearly, we are entering into the unknown – a new era in the history of Norwich City Football Club.

As for Stan, he's keeping his powder dry in terms of making any too precise a prediction for the new season.

Depending on no end of variables, ranging from injuries to the arrival of more new faces and the gelling of the lads in the squad, this year could go either way. In theory, at least, we now have a squad of depth that commands proper competition for places.

We have in Brellier a midfield enforcer with an impressive pedigree; in Marshall a keeper of the first rank; in Ostemabor a right-back of undoubted potential; in Cureton a proven goal-scorer. Yet, until the goals go in and the clean sheets are kept, then Stan is taking nothing for granted.

Take the friendlies against West Ham and Vitesse Arnham. Against the former, Curbishley's Hammers taught us a bit of a footballing lesson in the first-half, exposing weaknesses not yet – but, hopefully, in the process of being – addressed.

After the break, City woke up and gave a better account of themselves, stepping higher up the pitch and working a well-deserved goal to make a proper game of it.

Against Vitesse, we started very slowly before finally getting a grip on the game and deservedly winning it. True, it was hardly the UEFA cup, and the football on show was not always the most exquisite, but it gave a fascinating glimpse of how Peter Grant's NCFC is beginning to take a recognisable shape.

Strangely, perhaps, we look to be going 4-3-3.

This, Stan suspects, is simply the inevitable consequence of having Huckerby in your team.

Worthy did the same, and it both succeeded and failed. For it to work this time, much depends on how many acres of the pitch Brellier, Russell and Co can cover, particularly to their left.

Have an Etuhu moment, and we're done for. Fill up on Gary Holt juice, and we could build up the necessary momentum to reclaim our place in top six.

Similarly, it depends on the defensive unit being just that – a unit. Evidently, Doherty and Shackell do not work as a pair.

And while this year we at least have a proper right-back to slot into the back four, the need for a centre-back remains imperative. Whether it be Davenport or, more excitingly, message-board favourite Shawcross, remains to be seen.

For us to do anything this year, however, a man-mountain with good positional sense and a willingness to play the ball out of defence is essential.

Finally, it means someone taking on the Hucks role when his majesty is not playing. In the friendlies, no-one has done this convincingly. In both the recent home games, we played too narrow and lacked creativity until Crofty came on an added a bit of zip.

As it is, then, Stan doesn't see Team Grant as quite the finished article.

That said, the manager has put together a decent squad of players who seem committed to the cause and have the potential to make a credible challenge over the course of the year.

And while Stan won't make a prediction as to where we will finish, how about this for potential surprise of the season: Chris Brown becomes the new Iwan. Time for heroes ?


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