City boss Glenn Roeder this morning appeared in a defiant and determined mood as the $64 million dollar question was duly delivered at Colney.
A big target man?
“I will get one – I will get one that we feel comfortable with,” vowed Roeder this morning, ever mindful that the clock was now firmly ticking down towards Monday's summer transfer deadline.
Granted an extra 24 hours grace this year given that the 31st falls on a Sunday this year, Roeder's thoughts clearly remain fixed on events on the far side of the North Sea.
As ever, he mentioned no names but the evidence that Rosenborg's Steffen Iversen was 'the one' remained compelling.
As are the reasons why the Norwegian side might want to see their home-town hero go nowhere before their season ends in November. The 32-year-old proved once again why Roeder's interest remains well-founded by scoring a hat-trick in their UEFA Cup second round, second leg cruise against Swedish neighbours Djurgaarden.
A goal down from the first leg, the Iversen inspired InterToto Cup winners smashed five past their visitors to march into the third round 6-2 on aggregate. Given events at Ninian Park last weekend, the fact that his second and third goals came from the penalty spot will not have gone unnoticed.
“There's a dozen or so floating around that wouldn't look good in a Norwich shirt,” said Roeder, in little mood apparently to settle for second best having fought so long and so hard to prise the final piece of his 2008-2009 jigsaw out of Rosenborg's hands.
He is not taking 'No!' for answer – whatever Rosenborg themselves say.
“There's just one that I want. Just one,” said the City chief, insisting that the money was there. That wouldn't be the deciding factor; Rosenborg letting the player out to play earlier than they would wish – and granting Mrs Iversen's apparent wish of returning to her native UK – could be…
“I think there's enough money in the budget to get a decent one,” he said.
Last week and he said that a certain UEFA Cup result could prove “significant”. The morning after the night before and he admitted that events somewhere in Europe hadn't helped.
“No – because the team smashed the other team out of sight,” said the City chief. Who he was talking about was clearly no-one's guess…
“From a losing position they won at a canter in the end,” said Roeder. Was he hopeful that Monday might be lively; worth waiting till the midnight hour?
“There's only going to be one piece of business done – if there is any business done before the close of player on Monday. And that's a striker.
“There's no-one I can see going out. And I can only hope that we can sign the striker that we've been chasing. It's still touch and go. It's not over till the fat lady sings…”
The same fat lady has now sung re Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink. The 36-year-old former Chelsea ace has enjoyed another three days training up at Colney, but will not be returning again next week.
Signing for the Canaries – or, perhaps, even any other Championship club – might never have been on the Dutchman's agenda.
“I don't think Jimmy's looking that way anyway. We've had a conversation; that needs to remain private, but I don't think Jimmy's looking that way anyway,” said Roeder, ahead of tomorrow's biggest-test yet of the new season at home to Championship leaders Birmingham City.
Still without a win from their opening three games – and up to the last 15 minutes at the Ninian, struggling to find any courage or conviction in front of the opposition goal – holding Phillips, O'Connor and Co at bay promises to be a challenge; just as finding a way beyond ex-loan star Martin Taylor will be at the other end.
At least Arturo Lupoli's late double strike in South Wales has given the 21-year-old Italian a new rush of confidence after his blank year at Treviso last season.
“He's just lost his way a little bit, but hopefully he can rediscover his scoring touch with us,” he said.
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