|
After a disappointing exit from the League Cup this week we focus our attention back on an excellent start to the Premier League campaign.
Our opponents this week are newly promoted Norwich City who themselves have also had a good start.
Our Interviewee this week is Matthew Rushbrooke a life long Canaries fan.
League Position is 11 after 6 games in – what are your thoughts of your season so far?
- It's been a really encouraging start to the season. With the exception of Southampton away, the team have performed really well in every game which makes a huge difference compared to our last Premier League campaign under Chris Hughton. We were unlucky not to get something out of the Palace game (anyone who saw Jerome's disallowed bicycle kick will agree) and Stoke will certainly have been the happier of the two teams when we drew 1-1 with them in August.
Easy as it is to get carried away, Is it a concern that so far this season (and pre-season) that you have failed to beat anyone decent?
- With the exception of Liverpool away, where we deserved our 1-1 draw, we haven't really played a "big team", hence why we haven't beaten one! If we continue to pick up the odd point in those sorts of fixtures but make sure we're beating the teams destined for the bottom half of the table come May, it will be enough to avoid the drop. With this being our first season back in the Premier League, the first task at hand is to avoid relegation. From our brilliant young manager Alex Neil's viewpoint though, he will aim to beat whichever team we face, he has absolutely no fear.
‘til now you have had an easy(ish) start to the season with the fixtures being quite kind, what are your expectations/hopes for the rest of the season?
- I don't think there's such a thing as an easy start or easy period in this league, though I appreciate our fixture list may appear kinder than West Ham's start. 6 games in and we have 8 points, it's a solid return for a newly promoted team. I expect us to stay up this season as I believe there are three teams worse off than us in this league (Sunderland, Newcastle, Stoke struggling at the moment - and I can't see Bournemouth's squad lasting the 38 games where they are).
So, last week we interviewed a Leicester fan and he wanted us to ask you what Darren Eadie was really like as a footballer, as all he ever saw of him was in the sticker albums with his hair all spiked up. (yeah we don’t understand the question either).
- Darren Eadie was a gifted winger, and was desperately unlucky with injuries, especially at Leicester where his career was cut short. He represented England at U21 level and had it not been for the injuries, would have certainly made it to the senior squad. He lives back in Norwich these days and can be found mixed in with the fans at games every now and then. A really down to earth guy.
By this time next week we’ll be preparing to increase our unbeaten Premier League run to five when we play Sunderland – in our interview what question would you like us to ask the Mackems?
- Are you a fan of Big Dick? Is he the man to steer you clear of the drop this season?
Explain your away strip - did someone eat a Delia pie and throw up on the design?
- Are you referring to our away strip or third kit? The away strip is probably the nicest of our three kits this season. Our third kit, however, was labelled as a "marmite kit" even by our marketing team! It basically looks like a McDonalds uniform, horrendous. I must mention West Ham's third kit this season, it's very classy. Good work.
As your last two 'players of the year' (Snodgrass and Johnson) were sold straight after, Will Redmond be player of the year this year and who do you think he’ll be playing for next year?
- Redmond has the potential to be at a top four team, no doubt. He was listed in the best XI at the U21's Euro Championships this summer just gone, but his domestic form can be excellent or mediocre. He's still only 20 so he has years to develop. To answer your question, I don't think he'll be player of the year this season, I'd take a guess and say it will be Robbie Brady or Jonny Howson.
Vitually all clubs to a greater or lesser extent are selling clubs, how are Norwich set if players like Redmond, Ruddy etc were to leave?
- Both players mentioned would command significant transfer fees, Ruddy would only leave to be number 1 at another Premier League club (he has rejected the chance to be number 2 at Chelsea over the past two summer transfer windows) and Redmond would represent a considerable profit too (we bought him for around £2.5m in 2013). We have a solid replacement for Ruddy in Declan Rudd who is a top young keeper, and our academy has also produced Josh and Jacob Murphy, identical twins who play on each wing. Both similar to Redmond in style of play and both part of the 2013 FA Youth Cup winning squad.
In a general sense and so far this season, what are your thoughts of West Ham?
- In a general sense I have always taken a dislike to West Ham, which probably stems from you nicking Dean Ashton and Rob Green from us around 2005/2006. Having said that, with my neutral hat on West Ham are a good role model of a club for Norwich to work towards in the future. A good, young manager, great youth prospects coming through and a set of supports similar to Norwich's in terms of passion for their club. Their start to this season has been very impressive and aside from your meetings with Norwich this year, I wish you well.
Neil seems to have carried on his good work at Hamilton down here and has continued to play a good brand of football. Would you prefer than and just survive or finish 8th with hoof and hope football?
- I would take dull 1-0 win's every day of the week than playing like Brazil but not getting results. Alex Neil is a very astute and capable manager, and at only 33 years old represents an inspired appointment from our board. I don't foresee us resorting to hoof and hope football, though.
Given the choice would you prefer an FA cup win or a guaranteed 17th place finish?
- My head would take a guaranteed 17th place finish. However, I have never seen Norwich at Wembley as I got married the day before our Play Off Final in May this year so chose not to go (one of the toughest decisions of my life!), so my heart would selfishly take seeing us lift the cup at Wembley....
You currently have Matt Jarvis on loan from us. How is he getting on and is it right when he scored he tried to High 6 his team mates?
- On his debut vs Bournemouth he was absolutely brilliant, adding much needed balance to the team with him on the left wing and Redmond on the right. He took his goal well and has so far been really impressive. Only two appearances so far though so his form throughout the rest of the campaign remains to be seen. I think he preferred celebrating with our squad as he wasn’t interrupted by silly little bubbles.
Other than Coleman’s Mustard flavour - What is your favourite flavour of Crisp?
- Remember when Walkers released those special edition "british fry up" ones? They were special.
Using the internet for research I notice you have the oldest chant still sung on the terraces, but apart from ‘On the Ball City’ What is your clubs best chant/song?
- "Who put the ball in the Ipswich net? Who put the ball in the Ipswich net? Who put the ball in the Ipswich net? Half of f**king Norwich!" - in reference to Lewis Grabban, Bradley Johnson, Jonny Howson, Cameron Jerome, Wes Hoolahan and Nathan Redmond all scoring against them last season.
Finally, take the first letter of each question asked – Do you still cringe at that phrase as much as we do?
- Not really, we know when the opposition supporters are low on their song/chant material when they resort to that!
Many thanks to Matthew for taking the time to answer this weeks questions
|
