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Dorrans finally arrives, and with his head screwed on and his feet firmly on terra firma

4th February 2015 By Rick Waghorn 18 Comments

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After a couple of weeks of speculation, following the eleventh hour breakdown of a loan move on deadline day, Graham Dorrans is due in the Fine City tomorrow. The initial loan deal will run until Sunday, March 22.

I will be the first to admit that my knowledge of Midlands’ midfielders is pretty sketchy these days.

It is not helped by the fact that West Bromwich Albion usually grace the Match of the Day screens for as long as Norwich and the rest of the B-List clubs invariably do.

The one chance you do get to see such clubs in the ‘extended’ highlights slot tends to be the games where they play the role of the lamb in the slaughter.

And even when they are putting another lamb to the sword – as in West Brom’s 4-0 defeat of Burnley earlier this season in which Norwich’s new boy shone – it barely makes a ripple on the surface recognition-wise.

‘Oh, him…

Nope. Graham Dorrans. 27. Scottish international…?

Carry on.

And so like most City punters you turn to Google. For a spot of background reading.

I would recommend this.

If only for one paragraph, which suggests that Norwich’s possible new loan-signing might be a human, not your average Premier League robot.

“I’ve been a fan myself and it’s only when you speak to someone who’s involved in it, suddenly it clicks that footballers aren’t robots. We’re just human beings with families – the same as everyone else.”

Obviously, the Dorrans family have been through the mill more than most young families. You wouldn’t wish a still-born child on anyone. Nor his vigil at the bedside of his young baby as she fought for life.

But I think that piece bodes very well.

The guy has his priorities in life. And they are not all about football. He knows there is more to life than that.

He knows the struggles that people face; he has not been born and bred in some gilded cage free from the every day travails that hit ordinary folk. And that, to my mind, makes him a welcome addition to the City dressing room.

Before he even kicks a ball in anger.

There are other bits and bobs that I like. He has been at one club for seen years; his current contract would have taken him to nine.

That’s good. West Brom have been Premier League for long enough in that time to suggest the guy can bat at that level.

And the fact that the Baggies ‘playmaker’ has found himself out of first team favour with new boss Tony Pulis is no great blot on his copy-book either.

Pulis’ sides tend to see midfield as a nice to have, but not a necessity. And if they have to have one, then graft not craft is the order of the day. Run, run, run… Not pass, pass, pass.

What it means for those already sat in the City dressing room is another interesting question.

Particularly if I am Wes Hoolahan.

Maybe Norwich will be big enough for the both of them. Maybe.

But the little that I have read about Dorrans – and the more that I assume about him – is that his first instincts are to occupy the same, central and creative spaces that Wesley would deem to be his manor.

And he enjoys the advantage of having that little bit more height about him; if Wes had that little extra physicality in his locker, he would still be in the Premier League.

It will also give Jonny Howson that extra spur to keep his game at a certain level, whilst giving the likes of a Tettey, a Johnson or an O’Neil a more natural foil should the manager decide that two up top and a straight four across the middle is his way forward.

The fact that Dorrans is dropping down a division is also indicative of the relative financial power at Norwich’s disposal compared to the Baggies. Not that they are in debt; quite the reverse.

Rather they appear to cut their cloth very tightly and if Pulis wants one or two in, he has got to get one or two out. That’s just the way that they run their ship.

One suspects that Dorrans is a player that Norwich chief Alex Neil will have known and admired. He has been a consistent presence in that Scottish midfield for a number of years – as well as holding down a regular starting place in the Premier League.

There aren’t too many of his ilk floating around Hampden Park.

If I had to reach for a label, character-wise he reads just like another Russell Martin. Someone with his feet planted in the same real world that the City skipper inhabits.

The more you can fill your dressing room with such personalities, the better.

And if his arrival proves to be just one of two in the second half of this season, it isn’t the shabbiest piece of transfer business Norwich have done.

Not by a long, long margin.


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Comments

  1. Stewart Lewis says

    4th February 2015 at 6:20 pm

    Thanks, Rick. I didn’t know any of that, and it moves him further up in my estimation.

    What I do know is that last time he played in the Championship (2008-09, I believe) he scored 13 goals from midfield and was named in the Championship Team of the Season. He’s someone I’d be excited to see at Carrow Road, and I think his skills will be more appreciated here than by Tony Pulis.

    Reply
  2. Tate Ellison says

    4th February 2015 at 6:46 pm

    As an Albion fan, i like Dorrans personally. Very busy and can do the defensive side as well as being technically gifted. He virtually got us up by himself in 09/10, unplayable in the championship. He’ll do well if you get him

    Reply
  3. gareth says

    4th February 2015 at 6:51 pm

    Graham Dorrans has been a bit part player for the last few seasons at west brom and has almost been sold on a few occasions. A decent championship player but a poor premier league player hence being a bit part player. Will look good at norwich though. Dorrans is leaving because he has no future at west brom due to the team improving and moving on not some misconceived idea of norwich having financial clout lol. He will be taking a wage cut to join but will be a big fish in a small pond and be a regular starter.

    Reply
  4. Peter says

    4th February 2015 at 6:58 pm

    As an Albion fan I am sorry to see Graham leave. Unfortunately we now have Pulis in charge and a footballer with his skill is not high on his list of seven foot knuckle draggers. We will wave to you as you come up and we go the other way.

    Reply
  5. Geoff says

    4th February 2015 at 7:14 pm

    Interesting that you suggest that this move could be to do with the ” relative financial power” of the two clubs. What?

    The simple facts are that Graham Dorrans is not fancied by Pulis so would be better off at another club where he would get regular football.

    As a baggies fan I am sad to see him go, if he does go. He is a quality footballer, consistent, good passer, good athlete and played in the rifght position will get goals from midfield.

    Good luck to him wherever he goes, he deserves to play in a side that suits his game and I am sure Norwich will be a good fit for both of them.

    Reply
  6. wayne Boothroyd says

    4th February 2015 at 7:35 pm

    When Graham was out of favour at West Brom, I wrote continuously to Mr. Peace and several of the managers who passed through the Hawthorns, urging them to play Graham regularly, the last manager Alan Irvine did just that and played him. He is still young, much younger than Darren Fletcher, he always gives a good account of himself. Tony Pulis at the Gateshead game played him wide on the left, out of position, Brunt should have been there, if I were going to sell anyone it would be Brunt, unable to pass to his own players, unable to hit the target if it is below the roof and plays with one foot. Give me Graham Dorrans anyday. Sorry he is going to Norwich, our loss is definately their gain.

    Reply
  7. Azores Canary says

    4th February 2015 at 7:36 pm

    Rick, like you I know very little about Dorrans.

    I sincerely hope you are right about him being a personable human being. The last thing we need right now is another primadonna,who thinks they should be playing in the Prem League as a right. Our team has enough of those – proof: the performance against ‘little’ Brentford, who have no primadonnas, just passionate footballers.

    Fingers crossed we have found a round peg in a gaping round hole at last.

    This is a good test of AN’s skills in assessing the right players to acquire. Bring it on.

    OTBC

    Reply
  8. baggiemans says

    4th February 2015 at 7:41 pm

    Hi all at ncfc
    I would like to say that was a very well written and very accurate.
    I thought I would give you all my opinion of dorrans as at one point(our last season in the championship) he was the best player at the club and was voted the player of the season as well as championship player of the season. But when in the premier league his personal problems started and by the time he sorted he found Morrison in his place and never really got his centerfield midfield place back. He as largely been used on the right midfield this season but I feel he would be better used in the center.
    If he finds that form again you will have a fantastic player on your hands who can create and score goals. All the best in your quest for promotion.

    Reply
  9. Lexi Lane says

    4th February 2015 at 8:36 pm

    I had no idea that so many WBA fans followed the affairs of Norwich City!
    Looking at his stats, he had one great season in 2009/10 as mentioned in the comments but otherwise, there’s not much that stands out in his time in England.
    I think we can look forward to further Scottishisation of the club over the summer.

    Reply
  10. drewks says

    4th February 2015 at 8:54 pm

    …..another Baggies fan here – I think it’s a tribute to Graham Dorrans that you’ve got these comments (oh – good article by the way!).
    IMO GD is a really talented footballer with a great all round game and great energy too. Google his goal v Man City last year – there aren’t many who could’ve scored that!
    For personal reasons (above) he hasn’t consistently hit the heights that he maybe should’ve done, and has been played out of position a fair bit; however he’s remained a real favourite of mine and I’ll be really sad to see him go.
    Look after him now, and good luck!

    Reply
  11. Staffordbaggie says

    4th February 2015 at 10:01 pm

    ….boing boing!.
    Our loss and your gain, Graham Dorrans is skillful with great vision and he will be an exceptional talent in the championship. He was never going to survive the Pulis makeover unfortunately so better off with a team and manager that appreciates him. A family man and a good honest sort. All the best Dozza!

    Reply
  12. Alan says

    4th February 2015 at 11:26 pm

    Another Baggie who agrees with above comments. Good luck & thanks to Graham Hope to see him with The Canaries in the Premiership soon.

    Reply
  13. richard says

    5th February 2015 at 1:12 am

    Andreu and Dorans so where does this leave Wes? Unless you build a team round Wes then he is an impact sub at best. Think this might be the end for a legend.

    Reply
  14. Lexi Lane says

    5th February 2015 at 11:14 am

    Gareth (3) – “will look good at Norwich though.”/”big fish in a small pond.” – thanks for the compliments! It’s not so long since your lot were in the Championship and yo-yoing up and down. Pulis has to fail sometime and it could well be at the Hawthorns.
    The other (numerous) Baggies’ comments were fairer – just waiting for Adrian Chiles or Frank Skinner to chip in with their views on the (still to be confirmed) Dorrans switch.

    Reply
  15. Russ says

    5th February 2015 at 11:38 am

    Do we really need another central midfielder? We are scoring goals (50, 3rd highest in league), but unfortunately conceding too many (only two fewer than wigan in 23rd)!! So what do we get in the window?? Obviously a striker and an attacking midfielder!! Ha! We have the best goalkeeper so surely a centre half should of been a target? I hope he slots in, but do central midfielders really shine while on 3 month loans? I`m flummoxed I really am…

    Reply
  16. Stewart Lewis says

    5th February 2015 at 12:58 pm

    Russ (15): Don’t forget we did bring in a new centre half in January – name of Bassong.

    Reply
  17. Adrián Chilês says

    5th February 2015 at 2:10 pm

    *El Presidente de SAMBAS (South American Baggies Appreciation Society)*
    Hola Canaries!
    Senior Dorrans es un mediocentro general – excelente.

    Reply
  18. dom says

    5th February 2015 at 5:29 pm

    Russ, in so many games, we have had a huge whole in MF where the opposition pick the ball up and advance twenty or thirty yards before anyone is on them, putting increased pressure on our back four. In my opinion, closing up that hole will be a good step towards improving our defensive record.

    Reply

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