Chris Hughton wants to get see his squad first-hand before assessing his Norwich City squad any further. Picture: Denise Bradley

Chris Hughton still to decide over future Norwich City exits

Michael Bailey Thursday, July 5, 2012
6:00 AM

Chris Hughton plans to take his time deciding whether there will be exits from his Norwich City squad before the new Premier League season.

Andrew Surman is one of a number of Norwich City stars handed a new deal over the summer.

His recruitment kicked off on Tuesday with the unveiling of new signings Jacob Butterfield and Steven Whittaker, while fresh long-term deals have headed the way of Andrew Surman, Russell Martin, John Ruddy and – finally – Grant Holt.

Hughton had to do his homework and DVD-watching over a holiday in Florida following his Carrow Road arrival on June 7, but he will wait to work with his new squad in person before forming a clearer picture of the players at his disposal.

“That, I still need to determine,” said Hughton, when asked about possible summer exits.

“We start pre-season training on Monday and I expect everybody to be there, but these are decisions I will have to make over a period in time.

“It’s not important I make those decisions today or tomorrow, but over the period that I need to. What is important is that we get players in, we strengthen that squad – a squad that has did very well last season – and make decisions from there.

“You have to get a feel for the players. I can watch as many games as I can, and you can think you know players as footballers on the pitch and you think you might know their character a little – but until you work with players you don’t.

“Some players will develop well and some will figure more than others. You just really want to get everybody together and get that first feel and make a decision from there.”

Having added Whittaker and Butterfield to the pot and with the likes Korey Smith, Tom Adeyemi, David Fox, Simeon Jackson and Elliott Ward all signed on for another year, plenty of options already appear available to Hughton as City prepare for a second successive Premier League campaign for the first time since the early 1990s.

And Hughton admitted Norwich’s good health and strong young talent is down to the previous manager, who took the top-flight’s youngest group to 12th on their Premier League return.

“We’re building towards a strong future,” said Hughton.

“The previous manager Paul Lambert did an exceptional job over the three years he was here and is certainly a very hard act to follow. My responsibility can only be to build on the platform the club has set and Paul has set with the team.

“It’s not an easy task because this is a very tough division, but I’ve got to do it the best way I can and to do that you have to have as competitive a squad as you can. We will continue to build towards that.”

It means the wheeling and dealing will continue for Hughton as he eyes areas where the Canaries need competition – if not strengthening.

“It is a question, apart from knowing the squad as I do, of being able to see them in that pre-season period but also determining the areas we need to strengthen – it’s not bringing in stronger but bringing in competition for certain areas,” added Hughton.

“So I have in my own mind certain areas I would like a little bit more competition. But that will be developed over a period of time.

“What we do have is two new signings and someone in Grant who also feels like a new signing. We’re quite happy with the business so far and we’ll keep searching.”

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55 comments

There should be a Pa Snipps Trophy for persistence in the face of adversity!

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Mad Brewer

Friday, July 6, 2012
Well! It got there in the end, even it did turn out to look like a pigs breakfast.

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Pa Snipps

Friday, July 6, 2012
You put a lot of work into that, Pa Snipps! I couldn`t see Bennett the Taller anywhere. Ref. acronyms versus abbreviations, you are, of course, correct Pondy. I hope you are not vilified for that! OTBC etc.

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Mad Brewer

Friday, July 6, 2012
Final part was ethered-can't think why! Anyway you may have understood what I was trying to say------This is hard work for a retired pensioner!

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Pa Snipps

Friday, July 6, 2012
You will see that I have not included any new signings, their abilities are not self evident at present. It would be up to them to earn their place. Some established names do not appear in the primary choice.but many would be considered for cover.....You asked for my opinion and I've given it. I hope you may agree with most of it.

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Pa Snipps

Friday, July 6, 2012
Ours would consist of Goal Keeper (JR)..Central General (AorW), Playmaker (WH) Prime Striker (GH), each flanked, on the right with (RM-H-J-OJ). and on the left with (T-L-P). They would all have a designated task to perform and an understudy for each position would be ready to take over as required......

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Pa Snipps

Friday, July 6, 2012
Next part was ethered , probably because I put names to positions!

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Pa Snipps

Friday, July 6, 2012
Ours would consist of Ruddy, Whitbread's replacement, Ayala or Ward, Hoolahan , Holt.--- Each flanked on the right with Russell Martin, Howson, Johnson, Jackson, and on the left with Tierney, Lappin, Pilkington. They would all have a designated task to perform and an understudy for each position would be ready to take over as required......

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Pa Snipps

Friday, July 6, 2012
Pondlife, You asked for my opinion as to the First Eleven.Unfortunately it did not appear in this comments section..... I would not dare to dodge the issue, so will try to get it to you and other interested participants fragmented. The reasoning behind my selection would have to be based on a set pattern.----- Let me explain.....To be strong, a side needs a central spine..

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Pa Snipps

Friday, July 6, 2012
On the debate over using acronyms: Technicaly an acronym is a word (or what sounds like a word) made up from initials or parts of other words. GAL (get a life) is, LOL probably is but OTBC is not, merely an abbreviaton. . Laser, Radar, NATO ASLEF are other examples. As the Americans,ight say HAND

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Pondlife

Friday, July 6, 2012
Guys please do give it a rest. I think enough has been said now and it hasn't been very nice. Lets stick to commenting on club news and supporting our wonderful team!! OTBC

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Canarygirl

Friday, July 6, 2012
Guys, please do give it a rest!! This has gone on long enough and really doesn't make for pleasant reading. If you cannot comment on club news then just say nothing. Publicly slagging each other off isn't very nice and achieves nothing. It also spoils everyone else's enjoyment of this site. Thank you!!

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Canarygirl

Friday, July 6, 2012
You`re too kind, MN.

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Mad Brewer

Friday, July 6, 2012
Probably has something to so with you speaking gibberish again. You taken your Cod Liver Oil today grandad?

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MonkeyNuts

Friday, July 6, 2012
Ethered again. I`ll leave you to it.

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Mad Brewer

Friday, July 6, 2012
Well, well. All these decades of believing I was God Almighty and it turns out I`m merely the Antichrist. Pondy, until now I thought Higgs Boson was a famous seafaring man with a small spelling mistake. ;-)

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Mad Brewer

Friday, July 6, 2012
Rodders - i dont see how Brewer has taken offence by any of what you wrote. I dont know why he felt the need to write "Why Would You Think I Gave A F***", especially after the lessons he's dished out on the english language. Its going to be hard to take him seriously with childish antics like that.

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MonkeyNuts

Friday, July 6, 2012
Higgs-Boson CERNtainly has a lot of gravitas in Switzerland but he fell apart after a rather nasty collision in France. He is a strange and even charming player that likes quark for breakfast, is a quantum leap ahead of his peers and is slowly winning over the neutrons.

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Swiss Canary

Thursday, July 5, 2012
Pondlife, Ive answered your request, but it has been sent into space for now.

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Pa Snipps

Thursday, July 5, 2012
Pondlife, You asked for my opinion as to the First Eleven..... I would not dare to dodge the issue, but, the reasoning behind my selection would have to be based on a set pattern.----- Let me explain.....To be strong, a side needs a central spine.. Ours would consist of Ruddy, Whitbread's replacement, Ayala or Ward, Hoolahan , Holt.--- Each flanked on the right with Russell Martin, Howson, Johnson, Jackson, and on the left with Tierney, Lappin, Pilkington. They would all have a designated task to perform and an understudy for each position would be ready to take over as required...... You will see that I have not included any new signings, their abilities are not self evident at present. It would be up to them to earn their place. Some established names do not appear in the primary choice.but many would be considered for cover.....You asked for my opinion and I've given it. I hope you may agree with most of it. Mad Brewer! Theres no need for that Language.

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Pa Snipps

Thursday, July 5, 2012
Any one not too sharp on retrun to training to become potential loans to Brimingham? I gather their transfer emnbargo is over. And MB as you seem to have been the appointed as the intellectual one what are your views on Higgs .Boson Does a good holding role in Switzerland I gather

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Pondlife

Thursday, July 5, 2012
Rodders, WWYTIGAF?

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Mad Brewer

Thursday, July 5, 2012
crikey brewer, that was meant to be light hearted. Hence the LOL. I tend to give people the benefit and try to smile with them,not laugh at them. I had one of those moments when however I spelt that word it looked wrong so I left it in, hoping you would get the gist. Also,when need to be patronised or taught manners, I will ask someone I like. Someone else said that you dont like critcism and resort to petty nit picking to enforce your point. Begin to think he is right.

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Rodders

Thursday, July 5, 2012
Not everyone will fit into Hughton's new regime and that is inevitable. It's sad though when even one player has to be let go because he might be surplus to requirements but then that is the nature of the job!! As for the mass exodus to Villa well I think most of us knew it wouldn't happen!! At the end of the day, our lads are sensible enough to know they are much better off with City. Lambert will be under so much pressure to produce instant results at Villa I just hope he can cope with it. But that's not our problem now!! We have so much to look forward to with Hughton and his team. Onwards and upwards. OTBC

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Canarygirl

Thursday, July 5, 2012
el dingo, are you referring to Kevin Muscat? The serial damager of young footballers, inc Craig Bellamy. The man once described as the dirtiest footballer in the World? Now there`s a man who strutted a bit! There was a chat on another board about Hughton`s peace-keeping abilities in comparison with Tony Blair`s but I doubt any NCFC supporter would want a job-swap there. OTBC. Time for a beer, too. Happy hour down the pub. ;-)

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Mad Brewer

Thursday, July 5, 2012
MB: I think your post deserves my second outbreak of peace of the day. It is hard to convey nuances, esp. without childish things like emoticons, which can actually help sometimes IMO. I'm only kind when Muscat's not in town btw. P'raps I'll join in the beer chat sometime - it's an unhealthy passion of mine. OTBC

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el dingo

Thursday, July 5, 2012
el dingo, you`ve got me wrong! I don`t strut. I have an average degree in Chemistry and studied long and hard to become a Master Brewer subsequently. I worked at the "coal face" for 40-odd years. I am not an "intellectual", I just have a strong affection for the English Language and have spent my life trying to learn how to use it. Not in some academic Ivory Tower, just in the normal course of life. My postings are intended to be friendly fun. Mostly. I don`t know you, but you`ve given me no reason to dislike you or disrespect you. Honestly. The trouble with posting is that readers cannot see the smile or the twinkle in the eye. There are regular posters who have got used to each other in that respect, I suppose. You are a very kind person for trying to make MN feel better. ;-)

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Mad Brewer

Thursday, July 5, 2012
Monkey Nuts - re your 'peace' piece. I kind of agree with you. The game we love is so emotive it can take some sensibilities away. I've only made half a dozen posts on this site but I will say this: I do not think Mad Brewer is a cyber bully, just a person who feels more intellectual than the rest of us and likes to strut his stuff. If it makes you feel better, I think he has no more respect or liking for me than for you. He is, by his own admission, of a 'certain generation!' But I love what a lot of the other posters here say so I stick with it. For next season, I wish you what you wish me. OTBC. (I've only got a 2:2 in History from the UEA so MB loses me by a country mile, I'm sure)

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el dingo

Thursday, July 5, 2012
So being positive Pa Snips what would be your first eleven? I struggle to make some choices.

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Pondlife

Thursday, July 5, 2012
I was going to give it a rest for the Summer, but--This is Norwich City Football Club. Now and forever more A manager has been appointed to run team affairs, and make decisions about personnel. Decisions, not about any player in particular, but the whole TEAM. To date he has introduced new additions to his squad, and inevitabily will have to show the door to some. There are many reasons why players leave a club ..Not up to the required standard probably heads that list....they no longer appear to fit into the side. They may have had a detrimental effect on team spirit for one reason or another, ...they could be offered better terms somewhere else..or as the moderator would say “other”....This Premier League is hard enough to compete in without 100 per cent effort by all involved.... This Manager will decide. We will support him—unless-! .. My advice--Just make sure Hoolihan is kept, and plays regularly

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Pa Snipps

Thursday, July 5, 2012
Ah!...sweet! All's well that ends well. xxx

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JMH

Thursday, July 5, 2012
For what its worth, you have a good man in charge, a good young side and play good football. I think you'll get found out in more games this year but I for one hope you stay up.

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MonkeyNuts

Thursday, July 5, 2012
Maybe that's the problem brewer. You just don't get it do you? Clearly trying to make peace and you cannot grasp the simplest of emotions.

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MonkeyNuts

Thursday, July 5, 2012
Do you know, another considered reply has just been ethered. It is becoming clear that this board is reserved for Monkeynuts` tribal rants. So I`ll leave him to it.

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Mad Brewer

Thursday, July 5, 2012
You see, el dingo, I`m so "incomputerate" I don`t even know what a `blackberry` IS! Thought it was a knobbly little black...berry. I learned my PC skills on a BBC Model `B`, circa 1982 and a ZX Spectrum, with its horrible rubber keyboard and multi-functional keys. Is that how it works on a `Strawberry`. I ask `cos I don`t know. ;-)

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Mad Brewer

Thursday, July 5, 2012
So, to brewer and the like, tell me when you first heard about PL and that he was talking to Villa, why did a lot of you insult my club, by saying its not a big club, team on the decline, culverhouse won't go to them etc etc? Is that not winding the opposite fans up? This is why it all started, you cannot see us as a bigger club than you because we finished below you? Its not about these recent threads, it goes beyond that. Maybe if we would have had a two way conversation (an adult chat as someone gladly pointed out to me) then maybe I wouldn't have responded how I have been. There's no smoke without fire so they say, so before you have a pop at me, question some of your own.

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MonkeyNuts

Thursday, July 5, 2012
Re typos: I'm pretty good on a laptop keyboard (as I should be considering my job) but I sometimes have to 'type' on a Blackberry. I rest my case and sympathise with all fellow sufferers.

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el dingo

Thursday, July 5, 2012
We had discussion with the Bluenoses about Chris Hughton and the rumoured departure of others. We did not agree but the conversation was managed without resorting to personal insults, nobody whined about being a victim or resorted to other childish behavioural states and everyone parted respectfully. In other words, it was an adult conversation.

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Swiss Canary

Thursday, July 5, 2012
Not at all Monkeynuts. Several people joined in a discussion with Blues supporters and, while there was disagreement, there was no belligerence. Look Rodders, I am known on these boards for not "getting" acronyms. It is a joke against myself. IHTHWT is "In Hoots the Healer We Trust". It is meant to be light hearted. I think, since you knew you`d spelt `that` word wrong, you might have made the effort not to. It`s only good manners.

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Mad Brewer

Thursday, July 5, 2012
Blimey Mr Nuts! It gets your goat (no up). You get your dander. Up. A retort is used to hold a test tube in a science lab, one resorts to... yeah I know it's boring. I've been treated well on Leeds and Bluenose boards (re Howson, Snodgrass, Drury, Hughton) so please treat us guys with a bit more respect - if you insist on hanging around.

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el dingo

Thursday, July 5, 2012
By pleasant conversations you mean they just agree with everything you say? How very small minded of you. And karva was just a typo. Pardon me for not being a robot. It's never been about winding anyone up, but when you see something you don't agree with and that you find ignorant, of course it's going to get your goat up. People like brewer find that conception hard to deal with, hence they retort to cyber bullying and try to nit pick holes just to get one up manship. Sad really, I used to like you guys.

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MonkeyNuts

Thursday, July 5, 2012
and missing the 'r' from the end of 'your'

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Rodders

Thursday, July 5, 2012
Brewer, I mostly enjoy you contributions, but I would suggest you refrain from criticising other peoples lack of articulation. Coming from a man who is given to speaking in made up accronysms I find that a bit rich. I still haven't worked out what IHTHWT means. As for compo, I have a rather large heap of that at the bottom of my garden. I fully expect you to tell me I have spelt accronysms wrong. LOL

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Rodders

Thursday, July 5, 2012
Who`s karva? I fully expected this to happen. Clearly all that is at issue now is compo. We`ve had some very pleasant conversations with Blues supporters on another board. Why are they so much more civil and articulate than Villans?

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Mad Brewer

Thursday, July 5, 2012
Monkeynuts, don't know how you claim credit for 'calling this days ago' All City fans knew they would go from day one. I just say thanks for the good times and good luck at A.Villa. P.S it's Karsa not Karva slip of the finger I expect. Luck to your team as well. Now can you stop trying to wind people up and get back to supporting the team you claim to support.

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Rodders

Thursday, July 5, 2012
Well brewer, looks like your prayers have been answered as we've just unveiled culverhouse and karva as our new background team. Funny no mention of that here? I called this days ago.

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MonkeyNuts

Thursday, July 5, 2012
Archant moderation: I just got one returned from when I complained about Kevin Reeves being sold ....

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Timbo

Thursday, July 5, 2012
Remember young Kris Renton? Think he was our youngest ever player to play in the first team? When he left he signed for Musselburgh Utd, his local junior team (junior not meaning kids, just one of the associations in Scotland's complicated non-league system). A HUGE step down. However he seems to be doing a Partridge and bouncing back, as he's now signed for one of the top junior teams Bonnyrigg Rose.

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Tartan Canary

Thursday, July 5, 2012
I'd like to see some strengthening Chris rather than just competition. Oh, was it Swiss who said he got a web comment moderation from May? I got one yesterday relating to the article about Solskjaer not going to Villa (the first time round), So I echo Swiss's comments, what is going on??

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Preston Canary

Thursday, July 5, 2012
Remember young Kris Renton? Think he was our youngest ever player to play in the first team? When he left he signed for Musselburgh Utd, his local junior team (junior not meaning kids, just one of the associations in Scotland's complicated non-league system). A HUGE step down. However he seems to be doing a Partridge and bouncing back, as he's now signed for one of the top junior teams Bonnyrigg Rose.

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Tartan Canary

Thursday, July 5, 2012
I remember now, Kent Anglian! We did converse about it, as I tried to endorse your suggestion. That was probably the Kiss of Death! Ar-chant don`t FLM. I did my own research on the canary squad on Wiki and elsewhere and all our main squad bar Foxy, Ward & Cinnamon have at least 2 years left, I think. I agree, lazy journalism does appear to be endemic. I expect we keyboard warriors may do more investigative journalism than the Ar-chant scribblers. Pondy, where`s Sammy Clingan now?

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Mad Brewer

Thursday, July 5, 2012
MB, it was I who suggested to Archant that a list of the contractual status of each of the current squad might be of interest. Probably more detailed work involved to prepare this, as opposed to getting a previous player to make a few obvious comments!!

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Kent Anglian

Thursday, July 5, 2012
And LEE Croft has been loaned out by Derby to Oldham as surplus to requirements. Funny how people who leave us for better pastures find it is not so rosy after all'

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Pondlife

Thursday, July 5, 2012
BTW, Wilby`s fixed up @ Crystal Palace. Good luck, Aaron!

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Mad Brewer

Thursday, July 5, 2012
At least the mass Exodus to Bodymoor Heath, expected by paranoid Canary fans everywhere, hasn`t happened-yet. It may all change when Cully & Karsa depart in that direction. Most of our core squad players have at least 2 years left on their contracts. I think Crofts, Lappin, C. Martin, Fox & `Titch` Ward only have one. We never were given that Contract status summary, suggested to Archant by another poster (forgotten who again!) Anyway, that data may be correct. So any "poaching" will not be freebie poaching, apart from maybe Zak. I wonder what he (or his agent) is up to?

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Mad Brewer

Thursday, July 5, 2012

Chris Hughton still to decide over future Norwich City exits

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