City boss Paul Lambert today hailed the feel-good factor at the club as the Canaries aim for their second win of the week.
And while performances – and after Tuesday night, results – are certainly improving, there is definitely a growing belief amongst the Canary nation that things are on the up.
Lambert has certainly made an impressive start to life in Norfolk and he revealed today that he’s delighted with the way his side are progressing as City prepare to host Bristol Rovers tomorrow.
“There is a feel-good factor about the football club at the minute, the crowd are vibrant and the lads are playing with a bit of confidence,” he told the press at Colney. “But we’ll be judged over the 46 games.
“To be fair I sensed a change of atmosphere the day I walked in the door. People always react differently to a new manager.
“The concern you have is that it will only happen for the first couple of games and they’ll go back into their old habits.
“But we’ve been here a fair while now and they’ve got better and better – that’s pleasing,” continued the Scot.
What will please Lambert even more would be another three-point haul against the Pirates tomorrow.
But he’ll have to do it without Jon Otsemobor with the right-back not having yet recovered from a hamstring strain.
Elsewhere, the Canary chief hinted that the previously out-of-favour Gary Doherty would keep his place in the side after the former captain returned to side against the O’s.
“Leyton Orient was tough and Bristol Rovers will be the same – it will be a very, very hard game,” added the former Celtic hero.
“You see in this league that there is not much between the teams – even the ones at the bottom and Bristol Rovers will come out and give us a game.
“Otsemobor won’t be ready. We don’t know how long he’ll be out for. You don’t know with hamstrings.
“Sometimes it’s OK when you’re walking but when you put a bit of strain on it you maybe feel it again.
“Gary Doherty possibly had a move that fell through and if it did, then sometimes that happens for a reason. But he took his chance on Tuesday night and came through it with flying colours.
“And now he’s got to go again, and again, and again. There is no point thinking that after one game you’re back in the fold and everything is a bed of roses.
“There is a lot of hard work ahead. One result doesn’t really change much.”
And as for the goalkeeping position, would Fraser Forster come straight back in after his one-match suspension?
Lambert, in true fashion, wasn’t giving too much away, even if he did acknowledge Declan Rudd’s fine debut. “I know who is going to be in goal in my own head.”
One of the most positive aspects of Lambert’s tenure so far has been the emergence of the Academy lads – with Korey Smith one of City’s key men this year.
Luke Daley, Tom Adeyemi and Rudd are not too far away from the first-team either. But the City boss again issued a stark warning to any starlet making their name in the game.
If any of them start thinking they’ve made it, they’ll be in big, big trouble. You don’t mess with this one.
“Korey is playing like a man at the minute, playing in front of big crowds. Tom and Luke have done the same. They’ve done terrific.
“But that’s the problem with young players these days. Never judge success by the length of contact you’ve got – go and win something.
“Some players think that if they sign for three years and get a bit of money then that’s success. Success is what you win in the game – then the luxuries will follow.
“They can sign a contract, jump about in a Mercedes and get what they want – and they haven’t done a thing. That’s the disappointment with young players.
“But I think the kids here at the minute are level headed. If I thought for one minute that that was going to change then I would come down on them.”
Tom Haylett
Leave a Reply