New City boss Paul Lambert today told his players to go out and relish playing in front of 25,000 at Carrow Road tomorrow against Wycombe Wanderers.
There was some suggestion that the Canary XI froze on the opening day of the season against, ironically, Lambert's Colchester in that 7-1 shocker.
Certain sections commented that the noise and atmosphere was maybe just too much for some of the starting line-up.
But the Scot believes you've got problems if you can't be motivated by that sort of crowd for a League One fixture.
And the former Celtic man would certainly turn the clock back and put on his boots again if he could.
“If you are telling me that playing in front of 25,000 in a hindrance then you should try playing in front of three,” Lambert told the media this morning in his first pre-match press conference.
“25,000? I wish I could still play myself. It's a brilliant club to be involved at and the fans make it, the players have got to go and enjoy it.
“The pleasing thing is that the fans are still with the players at this moment in time. The crowd can certainly play an unbelievable part but we have to give them something to shout about.
“It's all very well them turning up in droves but we need to give them something to cheer about.
“Everyone I've spoken to recently tells me the fan base is frightening and I saw it at the Colchester game. Even against Brentford, on a Tuesday night, we sold our allocation.”
The Canary chief was, of course, at Griffin Park in midweek to see his new charges in action and the Scot revealed that whilst City should have been ahead at half-time, a lack of confidence was apparent in the ranks – something which may have contributed to conceding two 'terrible' second-half goals.
“We lost terrible goals,” Lambert continued. “You can tell they've lost a bit of confidence and it's up to us to get it back.
“When you've been beaten heavily it tends to affect people in different ways and if you don't start winning that will also affect you. But it's a clean slate. This is where the season starts, right now.”
When asked on the possible make up of tomorrow line-up, the 40-year-old admitted that he may make changes and he didn't rule out Darel Russell making a shock comeback.
There could also be a reprieve for Jamie Cureton and it is thought that on at least one occasion, Lambert has tried to sign the City youth product.
“Everybody's on a level playing field. We've got a lot of players, 31, which is an awful lot. We'll have to see how everybody does.
“There might be one or two changes and the young lads could be involved. If I think they're good enough, it doesn't matter what age they are.”
When asked whether he will be looking to ship some players out of the door before now and the end of the transfer window, the City boss admitted that it hadn't even entered his head yet.
You get the feeling that his feet have hardly touched the ground since he first learned of Norwich's interest last weekend.
And now he has a vital League One clash to prepare for, against his old club. Never a dull moment…
“I haven't thought about it [letting players go]. My first thought is Wycombe tomorrow. I haven't thought about anything else.
“The onus is on us to make the running tomorrow. The crowd will drive us on but Wycombe are a decent side.
“Peter [Taylor] has got them well drilled but the onus is on us, as I think it should be, to make the running and that's what we'll try and do.”
And in an ominous warning to his squad and the rest of the division, Lambert hinted he would not be taking any prisoners.
He is quite clearly a winner – as his league titles and Champions League medal will testify.
“I'm not here to appease people; I'm here to win football games. I think the club has had an easy streak in some aspects and it's up to us to bring the standards that I expect to this football club.”
Tom Haylett
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