After yet another topsy-turvy week in the life of Norwich City, Canary winger Luke Chadwick sounded a battle cry ahead of the season opener at Preston North End tomorrow. Peter Grant's men are ready ? at least, most of them are ? and raring to go. Bring it on.
Despite the sickness bug which has swept through Colney this week the mood in the camp is positive. The time for talking is almost over.
“Everyone is really upbeat actually and we all can't wait for the season to start,” said Chadwick ? speaking yesterday at the traditional summer autograph signing session at the Canary Store in the Castle Mall.
“It's certainly been a long time coming. It was a disappointing campaign last year but hopefully we can put that right this year.
“We can't wait for it. Everyone is ready and raring to go. We'll go up to Preston and it'll be a tough game but hopefully we can get a good result.
“All of the new lads are settling in well as well which is good. It's a great dressing room to come into to be fair. Everyone is really friendly and there is a brilliant atmosphere at the club so they've all settled in nicely and they will all be looking to perform well.”
And is David Strihavka's mission to conquer the English language going to plan?
“David is getting on fine. He's learning a lot of English and he's always got his phrase book handy so he's coming on quickly and hopefully he's going to get some goals for us.”
For City's weekend opponents it has been a fairly quiet summer, with the exception of the long-awaited sale of star-striker David Nugent to Portsmouth in a ?6m deal.
Ex-Leeds hardman Kevin Nicholls has come in, as has Carlisle striker Karl Hawley on a Bosman free transfer but apart from that, it's pretty much as you were for the Lilywhites.
They were painfully close to a play-off place last time out and will have similar ambitions this time. Chadwick, for one, won't be taking them for granted.
“We've spoken about Preston a bit but we'll have a meeting, probably Friday, where we will talk about them a bit more,” added the one-time Manchester United starlet.
“But they are a good side and were unlucky to miss out on the top-six last time.
“It's difficult because we obviously haven't seen them play for a while, apart from friendlies. It's the first game so it is a bit of the unknown and no-one knows what team will be playing who really but it should be an entertaining game.”
As for the runners and riders going into what will be another gruelling campaign in English football's second tier, Chadwick is sure it will be wide open yet again.
From big-spending Sheffield United and West Brom down to the likes of newly-promoted Bristol City, most will think they are in with a shout of reaching the Promised Land.
“Everyone has got a chance. There must be about 10 or 15 teams who will fancy their chances of being up there, pushing for promotion.
“Obviously the teams who have come down – Sheffield United, Watford and Charlton – will have a bit of money to spend what with the parachute payments and they will be strong.
“They will have good squads having brought quite a few new players in but I think we have got a good squad together and hopefully we will be up there challenging.”
From a personal point of view, Chadwick's own pre-season form has certainly been impressive.
Played on both the right and left-hand sides of midfield as well as in 'the hole' behind the front two, he has looked inventive and energetic.
It could be a big season for the player whose short career in Norfolk has yet to really get off the ground after two major injuries ? that knee problem inflicted by a Portman Road advertising board and a torn thigh muscle just weeks after returning to action in April.
Fitness will be key, as will the Cambridge-born midfielder's versatility; vital in a promotion-chasing side, or one prone to the odd sickness outbreak.
“Now I'm fit I'm looking to be involved and contributing and the aim is to score a few, set-up a few and put Norwich up at the top of the table.
“I've played in a few positions in pre-season but obviously I'm happy to play anywhere for the team. But I do like either playing on the right or in the centre. When I play on the wing I come in a lot but in the middle behind the strikers I can go all over the place.
“The manager has got a few different systems that he has been playing so we'll have to wait and see on matchday which way we are going to play but it's good to have a variety so we can change it if we need to.”
Over reliance on the shoulders of the departed Robert Earnshaw is a hurdle City are going to have to overcome this season; too often did the Canaries get out of jail with the goalscoring prowess of the Welsh wizard.
If – and that is a massive if – City have desires to be among the promotion pack, they are going to need to find the net from all over the pitch ? as Adam Drury proved on Friday night in the 1-0 success over Vitesse Arnhem.
That is where Chadwick can come into play, net 10 times from midfield, on top of big totals from Messrs Cureton and Strihavka and City could be in business, real business.
“I don't really set myself any targets, goal-wise,” revealed Chadwick.
“But every time I go out on the pitch I am looking to make goals and score goals. That's my job.
“The midfield players have definitely got to chip in with a few more goals this season. We've lost a lot of goals what with Earnie going. He was one the league's top scorers so it is a loss but we've got people like Hucks, Browny (Chris Brown) and David (Strihavka) that can score a lot of goals so we'll be looking to them to do a good job.”
Tom Haylett
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