City UEFA Cup hero Ian Culverhouse has admitted that the Canaries desperately need that first league win on the board as he prepares to make his debut in the dugout alongside Paul Lambert for today's clash with Wycombe.
Like Lambert yesterday, assistant manager Culverhouse has pinpointed a lack of confidence in the City ranks and that is something the new coaching team will be looking to rectify as soon as possible.
And while he believes there is still a hangover from the nightmare that was 2008/09, as well as that 7-1 U's debacle on day one of the season, Culverhouse hopes the Canary garden will look a lot rosier after that first three-point haul.
“There are some good players here but they need a bit of help,” Culverhouse said yesterday, speaking to the media at Colney.
“I think we've taken over a group where there is still a hangover from relegation. They are lacking in a little bit of confidence but we're one win away from getting that right. The quicker we get that win, the better it will be for this football club.
“Hopefully we can guide them the right way and then it will take off I'm sure. These players here need a little bit of confidence back in them, they need the crowd right behind them and I know how passionate they are here.
“They're going to play a massive part for us this year but it's up to us to give them something to shout about. The quicker we can do that, the better.”
Whilst one City legend has departed in Bryan Gunn, another has arrived in Culverhouse � a veteran of some 297 appearances in the yellow and green.
And the popular full-back, who was voted into City's 'Greatest Ever' XI and Hall of Fame, is clearly delighted to be back in Norfolk.
“It's great,” he continued. “I've always had affection for the football club. It was a major part of my career. Now we've got a job to do.
“I'm looking forward to the job in hand, it's a big task and we're all really focused to do well here. We had a great set of lads at Colchester and we got that rocking. We intend to do the same here.”
Like the new Canary boss, Culverhouse's feet will have hardly touched the ground after a whirlwind week. Only a week ago, Lambert and his team were preparing for Colchester's clash with Yeovil.
Now, with a Tuesday night trip to Brentford sandwiched in between, they are installed at Carrow Road ahead of today's home clash with Wycombe.
“It was our first day yesterday [Thursday]. We're going to increase the intensity that they work at and we looked a little bit at the shape. But with the games we've got coming up we can't put a massive workload into them.
“Hopefully that will lead to results and when we have a clear couple of weeks then we can really go to town on them.”
The 44-year-old also offered a fascinating insight into one-time Celtic hero and Champions League winner Lambert.
Despite his standing as a player, the Scot's managerial career has largely gone under the radar and though he has an impressive record with today's opponents and the U's, the Canary nation will be looking forward to learning more about their new chief.
“Man management is his strength,” Culverhouse revealed. “He won't really get close to people, he keeps his distance but he earns respect through the person he is.
“His man management skills are terrific and they'll certainly know when they've done well. But they'll also know when they've let him down.
“We meet early in the morning to discuss training, he'll say what he wants and then it's up to me to deliver but it will be a watching brief for him.
“The players will know he'll be there, some days he might not come out but they'll certainly know he's around.”
Over to you guys…
Tom Haylett
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