Well, that's another footballing first for Stan to cross off his 'Things to do…' list: attend a Johnstone's Paint Trophy match.
True, it wasn't listed as high as 'Watch Norwich play in (and win) the FA Cup Final…', but there you go.
It was, moreover, a pretty enjoyable experience.
The game petered out after about 65 minutes, but the first half was played at a decent tempo and saw both teams – mainly us, thankfully – carve out some numerous opportunities in a refreshingly open game. Martin's goal was a peach; the defence looked solid bar two wobbly moments from a corner.
Wembley beckons…
Of course, it is easy to dismiss this competition.
Our taking part in it only confirms the level to which we have fallen. As the half-time and full-time scores were flashed-up on the Carrow Road scoreboard, Stan remembered how as a child he had always associated names such as Rochdale, Northampton and Lincoln with a footballing world some way from ours.
And now here we are rubbing shoulders with them in a competition designed specially for the football nether-world.
Still, football is all about winning things.
We are where we are and, to state one of the great footballing clich�s, you can only beat what is front of you.
No doubt, the 12,000 regulars who stayed away last night will suddenly find some enthusiasm if we do get the chance to see Norwich play at Wembley. Long way to go, mind.
The game also allowed us – and Lambert – to have a look at a few more of the squad.
Maric was disappointing. Having been billed as a bruiser, he looked like a man whose heart really wasn't in it.
Maybe he is feeling lonely now that the current holder of the Steve Walsh award for fleecing-Norwich-for-as-much-cash-as-possible-with-nothing-to-very-little-return, Dejan Stefanovic, has left the fold.
Not dissimilarly, Rusty looked a little subdued, as if demeaned by even having to play in such a game.
He did OK; but his performance was devoid of its usual physicality.
Others remain enigmatic. Whaley has the same 'busy' look that Lee Croft had. Like Croft, too, he cannot cross a ball. But Croft did at least beat his man.
Both Martin and Daley looked more impressive as wide-men cutting in and running at the Brentford defence than Whaley.
Indeed, our younger players are swiftly becoming a major plus-point of this season. Adeyami had another decent game; Martin won man-of-the-match; Daley showed real pace.
As for Spillane, Stan remains unsure as to whether right-back or centre-back is his best position.
Given that Askou is now – with Holt – the first name on the team sheet, and that Nelson looks a solid and no-nonsense player when playing alongside anyone other than the 'The Doc', perhaps right-back serves him best.
Though he lacks Otsemobor's pace, he at least stays switched on.
More definitively, Hughes looks more and more pivotal to our future with every game he plays. Last night he ran the midfield and showed an assurance of touch rivalled only by (captain) Lappin.
So there we go.
With no transfer activity to report, Lambert's influence is becoming most obvious in organisational terms. Bar ten minutes against Sunderland, Lambert's Norwich look a more solid unit that at anytime since 2004.
The shape of the team and the players within it are beginning to look more co-ordinated; we are closing the opposition down more effectively and keeping a higher line. The various components of the team are sticking closer together – in particular, the spaces within the midfield and between the defence, midfield and attack have narrowed.
All in all, things are looking better – a statement guaranteed to mean a 0-4 defeat at home to Walsall on Saturday.
Leave a Reply