Ok, there is a hell of a long way to go yet and the idea might sound rather fanciful, but according to Canary full-back Jon Otsemobor, there is no reason why Peter Grant's side can't emulate the side of '85 and go all the way in the Carling Cup.
It all kicks off tomorrow night at Carrow Road with a 1st Round tie against League Two Barnet and whilst last season's Final was contested by two of the so-called big four ? Arsenal and Chelsea ? tomorrow just could be the start of a special Cup run for the Canaries.
Knocked out last season in Round Three at the hands of Port Vale, at least City are on terra firma this time around.
Last year they played all three matches away from home; a run of Carrow Road ties against lower league opposition this year and you never, ever know.
After all, if anyone is due a decent Cup run, it's Norwich.
“I think the League Cup is a very important trophy, regardless of whether it is Norwich City or anyone else,” said Otsemobor.
“It's silverware at the end of the day and the lads won't be taking it lightly in that respect. We'll be going into the game tomorrow and hopefully in rounds to come, looking to have the right attitude and the right work ethic and hopefully we'll do well in the competition.
“Why can't we have a good run in the Carling Cup? Everybody is in it to win it and if we can get the right luck in the draws and have the right attitude then there is no reason why we can't do well.
“When I've played in the competition I've always enjoyed the games I've played in and done well so hopefully I can carry on that form tomorrow.”
And as for Barnet, what does the likeable Scouser know about Paul Fairclough's men?
“If I'm honest I don't know too much about Barnet but they will have nothing to lose and we need to be on our toes. Teams from the lower league are always up for the game so we will need to have the right attitude to win the game.”
Otsemobor was one of the outstanding performers in Saturday's hard-earned draw at Preston; not by any means the easiest game to start with considering all the fun and games at Colney last week.
But the right-back was pleased to get bbq-gate out of the way and come back to Norfolk with a point.
If City can grind out results like that when the chips are down then hopefully that is sign of things to come, that this City side are made of sterner stuff.
“It was a very difficult game,” Otsemobor added.
“I thought the lads defended well as a team and I think that's where we got our result from to be fair.
“I didn't really suffer with the bug to be honest but a few of the lads have been vomiting and on the toilet so it's been really difficult, especially in the week leading up to the first game.
“You need your players around you to train but most of the lads are over it now so we'll just get on with it.”
On a personal level, no-one would disagree that it has been a positive start for the man brought in from Crewe Alexandra on a Bosman free transfer in the summer.
In truth, he was the stand-out player from pre-season; linking defence and midfield, the Liverpool youth product could turn out to be an inspired signing and make that troublesome right-back spot his own.
After being brought up on a diet of Ian Culverhouse and Mark Bowen, most City fans like their full-backs to be positive and play the game the right way and unlike the departed Jurgen Colin, this man likes to get forward.
Blessed with lightning pace, we could see many a foraging run down the right-flank this campaign ? something that will certainly excite the Canary faithful.
“We didn't have much possession on Saturday and it's difficult for me to get forward when we don't have much of the ball but the more we play together the better we'll be and I hope to get forward a lot more.
“The manager wants me to attack and I think that is one of the reasons why he brought me here, because I'm a very attacking full-back.
“Given the opportunity and, of course, the state of the game, I'll be looking to attack. It depends on the formation the gaffer decides to play as well but we've got a lot of good quality attackers at the club so that gives me good options going forward as well.”
Tom Haylett
Leave a Reply