Two draws against Wolves and Palace

By: Edward | January 4th, 2008

Well, a few months ago in the darkest, gloomiest days of Norwich football, with depressing shadows lent kindly by a certain Mr Grant, we would have shrieked and sobbed our optimism away from fixtures such as these. Yes, to a degree, draws aren’t much good to us but it is far better for confidence and team morale to keep picking up points, especially against teams that not so long ago we feared a hiding from.

This does show how far our form and pattern of play has come. We no longer capitulate. In the two games against Charlton and Wolves Norwich came from behind via Darel Russell and Jamie Cureton. We had the better chances against Charlton and sadly didn’t convert to a win, and the same can be said for the Palace game in which we fought hard and nearly denied an impressively on-form team that had leapt from the relegation places to seventh in the table.

We do need now to press on with a win or two. We still lurk in danger, tottering precariously with only two points between us and the relegation zone. I have to say however, although Roeder and his team have done a superb job so far with the spot-on loan signings directly affecting the lacking areas, to talk as he did after the Palace game and suggest that ‘this club can now start thinking about getting back to where it belongs’ is dangerous I think and staggeringly premature. The hard work has no doubt been ploughed in, we can see the visible results in the change in league position and manner of play. However, it must never be forgotten we lurk only two points away from danger. One game of failure, with another team’s success and back we are in the maelstrom.

I don’t believe in this kind of talk yet. Norwich do not belong as club with its facilities two places above the relegation zone…but to ignite premature fantasies is a gamble. We all know they can lead to the deadening offshoots of complacency and we do not want to trek towards that unsightly place.

But yes, Roeder should be pleased…thus far. That is all I suggest.