City boss Glenn Roeder admitted today that he is on the lookout for new Canary heroes as the dust starts to settle on a topsy-turvy Championship campaign.
There is, of course, one more date in the 07/08 calendar ? and one more opportunity for Dion Dublin to lace up his boots ? with a trip to Sheffield Wednesday this Sunday.
But the Canary chief will already have one eye on the summer and the major rebuilding process ahead.
With five loan players set to be returned to sender, along with Dublin's retirement and the ongoing confusion over Darren Huckerby's future, there will need to be plenty of faces arriving through the incoming door if City are to be a Championship force next season.
Add the fact that Gary Doherty and captain Mark Fotheringham's Norfolk destiny is still to be decided and it adds up to a very interesting summer period at Carrow Road.
And Roeder acknowledged that whilst plenty of the current squad still had a big part to play, fresh blood is needed and will be welcomed by the club's army of supporters.
“I'm absolutely clear in my mind with what players I want to continue to play a part here over the next few years,” said Roeder, speaking to the gathered press during today's Aviva sponsorship announcement at Carrow Road.
“But I'm also aware that there will be a number of players that will leave the club. We have to replace those with new players; new heroes.
“There are heroes here now that will stay and there are heroes that are not at Norwich yet but that will start the season here. And that is what our supporters will want to see as well ? fresh blood.
“The one constant thing in football is change. I know that is contradictory but that is what it is. It's a revolving door and that is for managers, coaches and players.
“I'm not a person who dwells on the past. The history is left up on the shelf and I just look forward to the future.”
And the future, according to Roeder, is bright. But high standards, by and large, have been set. He was keen to point out that if the season had started upon his arrival in Norfolk, then the Canaries would now be sitting proudly amongst the play-off pack.
And that will be the minimum aim for next season. The bar has been raised and there will be no room for any passengers at Colney come the start of pre-season training.
The phrase 'winning culture' is a popular one with the City boss and Roeder will be looking for everyone involved to stretch themselves in a bid to turn Norwich into a Championship force next season.
“I don't want anyone at this club playing in the comfort zone, whether it's on the pitch or off the pitch and that includes all of my staff. We need to stretch ourselves. I need to be stretched and we have to set ourselves targets ? difficult targets. Then when you achieve them it is great feeling.”
With thoughts now turning to the summer, the Canary squad could be forgiven for taking their foot off the gas after putting QPR to the sword at the weekend and confirming their second tier status in the process.
But Roeder was at pains to point out that they must not take their eye off the ball for this weekend's clash at Hillsborough. After all, it is a match that could still see the hosts fall through the trapdoor into League One.
Personal pride is one thing and in the name of sportsmanship, City must be as professional as possible so as not to aid Wednesday's survival chances. If I was Ian Holloway or Nigel Pearson, I would be counting on the Canaries making the trip to South Yorkshire intent on winning a game of football.
Roeder's men will not be popular in the East Midlands or in the red and white half of Hampshire if they simply don't turn up come 2pm on Sunday.
But that will not be happening if the City boss has anything to do with it?
“You know me by now, I've been here six months and I've always maintained that the players should be relaxed and to remain calm in the difficult situation the club's been in has been key.
“I've never allowed the atmosphere at the training ground to get tense or nervous because they are useless emotions.
“Maybe they have been a little more relaxed this week but I don't want them to get too relaxed because we need to go and win this game at Hillsborough on Sunday.
“It's very important to win this game. I know we're safe but we owe it to ourselves and if we are going to create a winning culture, we can't go up there and put on a poor performance and lose the game.
“Also, I think it's important to the two other managers who are involved in the relegation struggle that we go and put on a performance and try and win the three points. It's important for ourselves first and foremost but I would hate to think that the other managers would look at our performance and think we didn't go and do our best.”
Tom Haylett
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