Norwich defender Marc Tierney returned to training on Thursday after missing City's festive period with a groin injury. Picture by Paul Chesterton/Focus Images Ltd.
Norwich City boss Paul Lambert reveals transfer window frustrations
Paddy Davitt, EDP Sports Writer
Friday, January 13, 2012
11:22 AM
Norwich City boss Paul Lambert admitted on Friday morning the Canaries are no nearer bolstering his squad in the January transfer window.
The City chief has again been linked this week with raids on the Championship with Brighton’s Liam Bridcutt joining the likes of Nottingham Forest’s Chris Gunter and Blackpool’s Matt Phillips on his reported wish list. Lambert sanctioned George Francomb’s loan exit to SPL club Hibernian and Oli Johnson’s release over the past few days, but questions on progress in the opposite direction met with a firm response.
“None, none. I was hopeful (at the start of the window) but we are not making inroads, that is for sure,” said Lambert at his pre-match briefing ahead of Saturday’s Premier League trip to West Brom. “Of course it’s frustrating but if we have to go with the group here, I’ll go with the group here. I have no problem with that. They have been brilliant for me this season, but it is frustrating. We can’t do the wages as everybody knows. That is a problem but that is the way it is.
“Everybody I spoke to before the season will tell you that the lads you have need a hand, but they have to be ones you bring in to play. There is no point bringing in people who I think will be a squad player or just make the numbers. We can get a load of those. I don’t want to do that. We want ones that can play a part from now until the end of the season and when you got those through the door in January it is a big help to the group already here. At the minute we are not making any headway. Let’s wait and see. There is still a length of time but I won’t bring in just for the sake of it.”
Left back Marc Tierney returned to training on Thursday after missing City’s festive programme with a groin injury and is in contention for a return to the squad. Ritchie De Laet (back) is again ruled out. Lambert revealed he is also monitoring one or two niggles with the rest of his squad with Anthony Pilkington (groin injury) missing the FA Cup third round win over Burnley. Elliott Ward and James Vaughan remain longer term absentees.
“We’ve got a little few things, but we’ll see how we are,” said Lambert. “Wardy will need a couple of games or so to get back into it, but he is training away with no effect. We’ll see how he feels himself. He is training okay at the minute. Vaughan is doing fine as well. He is feeling good at the minute.”
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21 comments
ether??
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Mad Brewer
Sunday, January 15, 2012
I think it`s the Wes and Fox type of player we may need cover for. Then, Bennett may fit the bill in the fullness of time? PL`s tried him in the "Wes" role a bit lately. With Dec injured we need goalie cover at least in the short term. But what do we know? ILWT! Certainly!!
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Mad Brewer
Sunday, January 15, 2012
I would rather have players in to play rather than make up the numbers. If you think that we still have Ward and Vaughan to come back (the later we have not really had a chance to see yet), a strike force that already puts fear into the opposition and a strong midfield then I think we have enough. IF we could get someone in to back up for Wes (if he is injured or loses form) it would be nice but not really necessary. I have faith that the players we have are more than up for the job.
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Big Ben NCFC
Sunday, January 15, 2012
Backwater? At least not a back passage aka Ipswich.
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Mad Brewer
Saturday, January 14, 2012
I agree with Ged that Norwich is not going to be attractive to players who need six-figure wages and a life-style that rolls from big-city night clubs to steamy trists with lingerie models in the pages of the tabloids. That suits me fine. I also agree that the question over whether or not we will be playing in The Champions League next year may also be an issue.
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Swiss Canary
Saturday, January 14, 2012
Ah, you've just got back, have you Ged. We've missed your thought-provoking insight into the game. Where have you been? Your comments after the Burnley game were conspicuous by their absence - pity they've re-surfaced!
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The Crab
Saturday, January 14, 2012
It's no surprise that we can't attract any decent players really is it. The lack of certainty over what league we'll be in next year, the fact that geographically in a bit of a backwater and the fact that we have no money, means that we are certainly not an attractive proposition. Shame really, we need to strengthen in many areas.
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Ged Steroo
Saturday, January 14, 2012
The current squad is good enough to keep us up - as long as we feed Grant Holt in the box we will score enough goals to meet our points target.
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harry2402
Saturday, January 14, 2012
Hmm, I bet David McNally got the cab fare from him later though.
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Swiss Canary
Saturday, January 14, 2012
jmm, that`s interesting. Last year somebody told me they`d seen Shaun Wright-Phillips at Colney. Happily nothing came of it. Nicky Maynard is almost as prolific as Holty regarding goal-scoring. Only 25yrs old. From the Dario Grady school of excellence at Crewe Alexander. But there are an awful lot of silver minibuses at Norwich Airport! Wait with expectant breath. OTBC.
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Mad Brewer
Saturday, January 14, 2012
nicky maynard arrived at norwich airport today,my friend works there, he got into a silver mercedes minibus and headed to carrow road.
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jmm
Friday, January 13, 2012
ether??
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Mad Brewer
Friday, January 13, 2012
Lambo has an unshakeable policy of buying young, ambitious lower league players who are glad of the chance to play for NCFC, respect him as a manager + won't make silly wage demands. He's unlikely to ever change that as it's served us so well in the past. I personally think that the group of players he has are capable of Premier league survival anyway. What? No gloomy predictions from Steroo? I almost feel cheated !
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Timbo
Friday, January 13, 2012
We all seem to be on the same page here. There is no point in buying just because the window is open, it has to be the right player at the right price. We are already seeing a fair bit of rotation and it is great to see how Adam Dury has stepped up to the plate in the last few games. My personal worry is what the cover is for Wes. At the moment if he is not available, we have to change systems. Overall, the team is playing out of their socks. When we get beaten, it is mostly by top-flight mega-rich clubs and it seems to be that they are taking control of the midfield and running the show from there. Bit by bit we are raising our game but I would still like to see some stregthening in midfield but we have to do it without buying an expensive show-pony. I am sure if they corrected league position for the mean cost per player, we would be a sure bet for the title already.
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Swiss Canary
Friday, January 13, 2012
Quite right, bluelight. Look what happened when the loquacious Mr. Dublin blew the Mackail-Smith story. PL would not forget that in a hurry. I hope DD is not morphing into another pundit, like Garth Crooks or Lily Savage et al. OTBC.
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Mad Brewer
Friday, January 13, 2012
p.l.knows what he is doing.why alert other managers to who you are trying to sign?you then find yourself in bidding auction and the price go's up.
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bluelight
Friday, January 13, 2012
PC;As a Fan, I find him to be a dream. If he`s a Nightmare to journalists, then good! Fans are fans. Journalists are just taking a living. Bit like leeches. If only they could spell, too. We shouldn`t worry about the hacks. They are only there through "connections". Or should I say "their"? Thay dunt seem tu now the diifrance.OTBC.
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Mad Brewer
Friday, January 13, 2012
Lambert really does play his cards close to his chest on the transfer front, and the club get really arsey over any journalist that seems to tip their hand.....witness Dion Dublin and the Craig Makail-Smith saga!! PL is right to stick to his pay structure and principles, and the problem is that players that are linked with us are probably looking for big money, and guarantees. The January sales in football, very rarely produce bargains. Selling teams assume the buyers are desperate and hold out for silly fees. To my knowledge, we have been linked with 4 players. Maynard may go for Swansea, and anyway I understand he maybe wont fit into the Lambert "team ethos" Like Bennett from last season, we may be better off waiting for the summer window, and gamble on staying injury fee. I do believe the current squad is good enough....we aren't desperate for signings, like for example, QPR
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Algarve Canary
Friday, January 13, 2012
I agree Brewer. The one thing I don't have faith in with Lambert is that he will tell us anything about possible transfers until they are a done deal. The bloke is a nightmare for journalists and fans in that regard! I think that Lambert has done well so far with keeping the players fresh by rotating them and using pretty much everyone, but I am sure that everyone would like a couple of new faces in to add something a bit different.
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Preston Canary
Friday, January 13, 2012
I agree, MK. It could be we get a reverse injury crisis in that long-term injured players (Ward, Vaughan, Korey Smith) return in which case we should be ok with who we have already. But we all understand that PL wouldn`t tell you if it was dark outside! He never talks about anything until it is fait accompli. OTBC.
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Mad Brewer
Friday, January 13, 2012
I don't have a problem with going with the goup we've got here either. They've been tremendous. Ninth in table halfway through January. Who'd have thought it at the start of the season. Just hope we don't get an injury crisis.
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Mikado Kember
Friday, January 13, 2012