What have Norwich got that we have not?

[sandman]

Brilliant catering.

[Royal91]

A manager who plays his best 11

[Winnershroyal]

Silly f***in accents.

[Gunny Fishcake]

A board and senior management who know how to run a business , simple

[sandman]

A manager who plays his best 11

Yeah, I bet if they had signed the English Xavi aka HNA?'s all time favourite Reading hero aka Danny Guthrie they'd play him every week.

[Royal91]

A manager who plays his best 11

Yeah, I bet he they had signed the English Xavi aka HNA?'s all time favourite Reading hero aka Danny Guthrie they'd play him every week.

I was actually referring to Pearce at CB

[Pandoras Box]

It's not what they've got - it's what they haven't got. A lumbering midfield that can't control or pass a ball - and a manager who would have seen the problem weeks ago.

[jellytot]

Sorry but they can cut the mustard and we cannot..

[leon]

wingers that can play (as we have actually) plus some players who pass down the middle (Hoolahan (sic) ?)

[Gordons Cumming]

Sorry but they can cut the mustard and we cannot..

Strange phrase that............

[cmonurz]

Bassong is quality at the back.

But it's about the midfield.

Pilkington, Hoolahan, Snodgrass, Johnson >>>>>>>>>>> our lot. There's more creativity in Hoolahan's big toes than there are in our entire midfield.

Norwich have made some very astute signings (such as Pilkington, Snodgrass and Howson) but of the 'smaller' clubs in the division are most like us in terms of transfer spend - just £5m or so each of their two seasons back at this level. That midfield was bought from Blackpool, Huddersfield and Leeds.

And they have developed a game plan suited to this league.

[leon]

what leon said

[Barry the bird boggler]

Yes midfield is our issue -we just don't have one!!!!!!

They have players there that we've speculated that Reading should look at (Howson/Snodgrass) in the last 12/18 months or so yet we left our squad short in that area with players who patently are not good enough at this level. All of which is the manager's fault

[Wimb]

Better players and larger transfer budget.

^^^ this

End thread.

[Norfolk Royal]

Bassong has been immense for them and firmed up their back four which was their weakness last season. A player we were reputedly in for of course.

Whittaker, who they signed from Rangers has pushed Russel Martin out, a weaker player, and done well. Garrido the left back they signed from Spain has also done well.

Holt is their talisman figure, and we lack a talismanic influence. The obvious difference though is Hoolahan who is the skilful playmaker type we're sadly lacking. He plays in the hole and on form is a match winner.

Cmonurz was right to highlight the midfield as well. Norwich have a good choice of five players who, when they are selected, have to play out of their skin to keep out others, whereas our midfield selection picks itself with no real competition for places.

This means Norwich play at high tempo all game whereas we seem to go through the motions at times.

Also worth mentioning Ruddy, the goalkeeper, who although initially prone to errors when he first came to Norwich has played extremely well and been picked for England, while goalkeeper is a problem position for us.

[weybridgewanderer]

confidence

a dessing room ( we seem to have lost ours)

[Ian Royal]

Serious question.

Just extend their unbeaten league run to 10 games. 25 points in the bag in 7th spot. Safety just around the corner with a squad which, on paper at least, does not look miles away from ours.

They looked crap when they played at ours, but they keep grinding out results week after week. Tight-knit squad and an excellent manager who I expect has the full respect of his squad for one thing.

Confidence, familiarity with the league, what needs to be done and how to do it. A manager who knows what he's doing and has a functional, if not particularly good squad and team.

[Biscuit_Boy]

Confidence,ability,tactics...AND Delia. Given the Waitrose link, perhaps she could give us a bit of support

[frimmers3]

more importantly,a manager that recognises and reacts to the demmands of football in the top flight.

[LightwaterRoyal]

They have more points, which is all that matters at the end of the season.