This week I have joined the forum www.not606.com and asked the Norwich fans what their thoughts are for this weeks game. I've received a few replies and all of them are worth reading, they can be found below along with the questions that I answered.
ZOO:
Hi,
I'm Zoo from ToffeeTalk.com an football site ran by Evertonians for Evertonians. I'm the author of the Norwich City match-day thread and therefore have decided to sign up to your website to get a feeling of the thoughts over at your end. With it being the opening day of the season, both teams will obviously want to win and tensions will be running high. Hopefully some of you will be able to answer the following questions to see who thinks which team will do what.
1 - How do you rate Roberto Martinez? Is he a good enough manager for Everton?
2 - Where do you think Everton will finish this season?
3 - Where do you think Norwich will finish this season?
4 - In which areas do Everton need to strengthen in your opinion?
5 - In which areas do you need to strengthen?
6 - If you could take 3 players from Everton who would they be?
7 - What are you thoughts on Chris Hughton?
8 - What are your thoughts on Norwich City's signings so far?
9 - Finally, what score will it be on Saturday?
Thank you in advance for taking the time to answer all of the questions. Away fans are always welcome over at our site so if you fancy having a discussion with us Evertonians you will be more than welcome. (http://www.toffeetalk.com)
Good luck for the season.
DH CANARY;
1 - Probably the best available at the time in the PL, but perhaps better options were available overseas. Good at getting the most from a limited budget, which I guess makes him a good successor to Moyes.
2 - Top half, but probably not by much
3 - 10th-15th without getting too involved in a relegation battle would be nice, but there's players in the side now who I think could maybe push us into the top 10 if things click.
4 - Perhaps a better striker, and a CB
5 - I think we really need an attacking midfielder who can double as a striker, like Toivonen who we've been linked with. Failing that probably a 4th striker, or a CB.
6 - Baines, Fellaini, Pienaar
7 - Solid if not necessarily spectacular. His style of play was questioned last season, but without a proper target man up front I'm hopeful that will be addressed. Whilst Lambert was always after the quickest route to the top of management (and after what he achieved, I can't hold that against him!), whilst I feel Hughton is more suited to building a club up over a longer period, like Moyes did with yourselves. As there's no quick way for us to become a top 6/7 side, I'm happy with someone prepared to play the long game.
8 - Very impressed, we've spent more money than ever before this summer and smashed our transfer record, but none of our signings look like rash buys, and I think each are value for money.
9 - We'll win 2-1.
SUPERMAN WEARS GRANT HOLT PYJAMAS IN BED;
1. i'm a big fan of martinez - not because of his work with wigan but because of his work with swansea, transforming them from a run-of-the-mill league one side to an attractive and combative side which kept the momentum he helped build, even after he'd long gone. i think he was the obvious choice for everton in the summer. moyes will be a tough act to follow but martinez has a decent platform to build on and should be able to sprinkle some of his flair into the club.
2. i think everton will finish top 7 - the question is, where in the top 7? probably 7th to be honest!! i can't see them getting into the top four although i expect them to challenge. the main battle will again be against your rivals from anfield for 6th spot but i think a coutinho-inspired liverpool may just pip you.
3. i think norwich will again be mid table. we've finished 12th and then 11th in the last two seasons, so the optimistic amongst us are hoping we go one further and sneak into the top half. we'll probably be anywhere between 15th and 8th but i'll go for 10th.
4. everton throughout the moyes years always seemed to lack a large goal threat. every other part of the side was moulded brilliantly and is very effective. whether kone can provide the 15-20 goals required to take the toffees to the fringe of the top four or even into it is up for debate. i like him but i feel a better calibre of centre forward is required.
5. we aren't desperate for new signings after adding 7 so far this summer, but the general consensus is a creative midfielder link man would be essential if we want to move the club forwards. we haven't been able to fill that role yet but do have players who can cope there. another striker would be nice to give us the four most premier league clubs have and a ball-playing centre half would be a big bonus.
6. i'd certainly take baines - he's a fabulous player, one of my favourites and although he gets high praise for his attacking nous, he's a much better defender than people give him credit for. i'd take jelavic too - didn't have a great year last time out but always gives his all, puts himself about and perhaps a change of scenery would do him good. the third option would be a toss up between john stones and ross barkley - i'll plump for barkley. he could give us the creative spark we need and he's bound to be an england regular within the next 24 months.
7. hughton has divided opinion. some seem miffed that he's taken what was in essence an attack-minded team and turned them into a more pragmatic, cautious side, but there's no denying he's done an excellent job in the transfer market. as far as i'm concerned he was appointed as the long-term manager of the football club with a long-term plan. we were a mishmash of quality across the pitch when lambert left (due to the speed in which we arrived in the premier league from league one) and a lot of work needed to go on behind the scenes to make us more solid. i think hughton has done that and the next year or two will see us begin to morph into a more stable premier league club. that's the plan, anyway!
8. very impressed! ricky van wolfswinkel and gary hooper have claimed the headlines but the capture of leroy fer from fc twente is a particular coup (and you evertonians will know all about him!). elsewhere, martin olsson and javier garrido will compete for the left back slot and nathan redmond is an exciting, enthusiastic winger who could provide a spark after signing for a frankly ludicrously cheap £2m.
9. we've got a surprisingly good record against everton since rejoining the premier league with one win and three draws from our four meetings so far, and i think the smart money would be on a score draw here. i'll go for a cagey 1-1 but as any norwich fan will tell you, opening day sometimes throws up the most baffling score lines imaginable (we lost 5-0 at fulham last year and famously lost 7-1 at home to the mighty colchester united in 2009)!
COLK OF THE BARCLAY;
1. I've been an admirer of Martinez for a while as he played a lovely style of football at both Swansea and Wigan. He's used to limited resources so Everton will probably be a good fit, though he'll obviously have far more to play with. Only time will tell if he's good enough, I think he will be.
2. I can't remember where I predicted you guys were gunna finish but I think it was around 6th or 7th.
3. Norwich to finish in 9th.
4. I think Everton have a fairly balanced squad. Though perhaps a really high quality player on the right hand side to counter for Baines and Pienaar.
5. Norwich could probably do with a good ball playing CM, someone who can dictate the tempo while we're in possesion.
6. Baines, Fellaini, Pienaar.
7. I didn't enjoy the way we played for much of last season but Hughton got us another year of PL football and it was a hard situation to come into, following Paul Lambert. I'm ready to get behind him for this season, I just hope the football is a bit nicer to watch.
8. Our signings have been outstanding. 2 highly rated strikers in Ricky and Hooper, an equally highly rated midfielder in Fer and one of the brightest England prospects in Redmond. We have also retained the services of Garrido who had a solid season last year and bought Ollsson in who can cover the entire left side. Fibnally, Nash is a decent, experienced GK to provide cover for Bunn and Ruddy. All in all, been very happy. One more signing in the AM area would be nice but I'm happy with what we have got.
9. I've gone for 2-2
Good luck to Everton (Other than on Saturday), Hope you boys have a good season.
CARRABUH;
1 - How do you rate Roberto Martinez? Is he a good enough manager for Everton?
I'd rather have him than David Moyes or Chris Hughton, at least the football will be watchable
2 - Where do you think Everton will finish this season?
10th
3 - Where do you think Norwich will finish this season?
11th
4 - In which areas do Everton need to strengthen in your opinion?
I'd imagine your midfield.
5 - In which areas do you need to strengthen?
Midfield, very little in terms of passing ability
6 - If you could take 3 players from Everton who would they be?
Delofeu, Mirallas, Fellaini
7 - What are you thoughts on Chris Hughton?
Dreary believer in power, pace and an unimaginative approach to the game, strong focus on the easy things. Very much like David Moyes.
8 - What are your thoughts on Norwich City's signings so far?
Good players at what they do, not at what I personally want them to do, no recognised ball player in any of the midfield signings, strong focus on physical attributes.
9 - Finally, what score will it be on Saturday?
1-2 Everton
BILLY NCFC;
1 Great long term appointment think he'll do well, bring a lot out of the players coming through the academy as well as securing some good low cost deals. Read a bit about the foundations he's put in place for training facilities at wigan and he sounds like he really gets involved with the club which can only be a good thing as you seem to produce some good youngsters. Saw Mcaleny play for brentford the other day and he looked promising.
2 I think he'll take a bit of time to settle in so might not be as high a finish as under moyes of recent years so going to say 11th.
3 13th
4 Don't rate heitinga and distin ageing so a top centre back to partner jagielka is where i'd go, assuming you keep rest of your players.
5 Someone to play in the hole just behind the striker to add a few goals and creativity. I'm a massive hoolahan fan easily my favourite player from the last 4 years really gets me out of my seat, but he is lacking goals and we need him to chip in more ideally.
6 Barkley, Mirallas, Baines
7 I like him, just wish he had more faith sometimes. Seemed hesitant to trust players last season despite them finishing 12th the year before. Sometimes a bit restrictive to natural attacking movement and the team looks to break shackles that he implemented. Think in the long term he is making us a more solid and secure football club as the lambert style was unsustainable, it was havoc at times. I think his real test is coming though, keeping us progressing whilst hopefully beginning to bring through some of our talented under 18 squad and getting them cup/ loan football.
8 Sure you'll agree; leroy fer looks more than handy. Hopefully isn't used in the number 10 role, although he has just been given that squad number and plays deeper as a box to box midfielder with a bit of freedom, but time will tell. Some very promising signs from redmond as well, not seen much of RVW though but exciting from what people say. Overall happy I think he knows talent when he sees it and knows what he wants, so shouldn't have wasted too much.
9
2-1 everton, we've got too lucky against you in recent years so I think you'll get the win you've deserved previously finally.
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So, that is week one's edition of Talking to the Enemy. I hope you've all enjoyed it. I'd like to give a big shout-out to the forum that responded to me - WWW.NOT606.COM who all seem like a decent bunch. If anyone wants a chat with some Norwich fans I'd head over there. Seeing as there are no takers at all for next week (or any others) I'll do the WBA game too.
The Modern English word folk, derives from Old English folc meaning "common people", "men", "tribe" or "multitude". The Old English noun itself came from Proto-Germanic *fulka which perhaps originally referred to a "host of warriors". Compare Old Norse folk meaning "people" but more so "army" or "detachment", German Gefolge ("retinue"), and Lithuanian pulkas meaning "crowd". The latter is considered to be an early Lithuanian loanword from Germanic origin, cf. Belarusian полк - połkmeaning regiment and German Pulk for a group of persons standing together.
The word became colloquialized (usually in the plural folks) in English in the sense "people", and was considered inelegant by the beginning of the 19th century. It re-entered academic English through the invention of the word folklore in 1846
Well we looked bagged or clueless or hungover. Nothing much too cheer about there. Joel looked solid, especially coming off his line to challenge, that's about it though.
Hey, I was at the game and though I'm not a bluenose, I thought I'd create an account here and share some pictures I took while at the game. Most were blurry, so I left them out, but I did get a couple that aren't too bad so, here they are. The game was pretty exciting,but Everton really missed a chance to put that game away. Tim Howard was fantastic in between the sticks. The attendance for the game was just over 22,000. Strangest part of the night was that the stadium would play an advert on the giant videoscreen during free kicks (not sure if you couild hear that on the tv) and the whole stadium would boo. During the last advert interruption, the crowd booed as usual, but then Cristiano Ronaldo was on it and the crowd booed even louder. It was pretty funny.
You can watch the whole game on evertonTV on the iPad without paying (well you could last night). We looked very impressive in possession but as said Blackburn sadly didn't look too good. Oviedo played very well, Gibson looks comfortable dropping in to get the ball from the cb's, Barkley looked lively, Pienaar and Mirrallas were always a threat, Distin looks solid still, Coleman is just top notch and Stones looks very comfortable in possession. I was very happy for Jelavic too. I think Martinez only wants players who are really comfortable with the ball at their feet so could actually see Anichebe being sacrificed and it makes me wonder are there actually players better suited than Fellaini - looking at how we set up maybe taking say £24m and buying 3 players with that money may be the way forward.
Overall I'm feeling optimistic, I'm not going to get carried away though.
Hmmm a left footed winger... Davie would have put him in centre mid to cover for the Barkley who he's playing on the wing.
"Eye, I tried to give these young boys a try and they just weren't ready for that stage, we will put them back with their age group and we will see how they are next year, then I'll think about giving them a one month loan to a club that's in a relegation struggle just so they can really see what it's like to be a journeyman yard dog like I was"
No chance we're spending that much money on a central midfielder, unless other players are already as good as out the door. Someone to cover Gibbo definitely makes sense, but we're not a club that spends 13.5 million on cover.
Besides which, Mail reports we already failed with a 12m bid and as already pointed out, we've not heard squat from Whelan and he'd be all over this.
What I read today in the Portuguese websites was that they won't let him go cheaply, even with him refusing to sign a new contract. Porto prefer to let him rot in the reserves for a season. They've rejected a 4 million Euro offer from the redshite.
Of course they will sell if offered a decent amount, and I reckon it'll probably take 8-9 million Euro. But I'm not sure I want him at Everton after his attitude over the last few weeks.
The Mirror are saying we're in advanced negotations for Siqueira, based on "reports in Spain" and "Marca". Meanwhile, Marca source their article this way: "As reported in the online edition of Daily Mail". Load of nothing probably.
We have only bought one who was currently at Wigan and one who had just left and barely had a proper spell in the team due to injuries. Joel may have been on loan there but calling him a Wigan player would have been like calling Cleverly a Wigan player when he went back to Utd.
We have cherry picked one of their best players, improved our squad with another and then bought a promising keeper from Athletico Madrid, hardly half of the squad or the extent it implies.
A bit like distin and jags??? We signed them just after they failed to keep Portsmouth and Sheffield united up. They have been great signings.
It's a flawed argument. Based on the same logic we should have signed kleberson, Eric djembe djemba, pascal cygan and Steven Hughes (oh wait we did) - they won the premier league so must be great players. No they weren't.
Stop stressing about Martinez going for players who he's worked with, he's doing it for a reason, they were players he's identified as being good enough and who he trusts. He has the benefit of that knowledge and would be daft to ignore the opportunity to get a few bargains.
That insidefutbol article is translated wrong entirely. Munsterman never said he's expecting more like 10m euros, in fact he even seems to imply that 5m euro is what they want from Norwich and that they know that and that he expects a deal to be done soon. However he also says "though you're never sure, as we have seen with Everton. They would initially pay 10m, but eventually only 2m was left", so it's saying not saying that the 10m bid was lowered by 2m either but lowered to 2m.
I must say, I'm glad that they're being signed earlier than usual. (minus RM's unofficial time as manager).
Hope that it gives our current squad a lift, knowing they're coming back to new faces and not waiting until the start of the season before we sign anyone.
He's a current Spanish U21 international (June 2013) who spent a few months on loan at Wigan and displaced Ali Al-Habsi in that time. He has an Europa League, Super Cup and an FA Cup winners medal. There will be no criticism from me.
This is a very, very good signing. Glad to see we've solved the problem at GK with something other than a stop-gap B-rated player. Really looked a player for Wigan, great potential.
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