Hooper.

[Crowey66]

My son went to the u21's last night and said that Hooper was awful and is a long way off getting into the first team.

Did anyone on here go? Do you concur?

On a brighter note he said Rudd was awesome and young Morris looks promising.

 

[GazzaTCC]

I didn't go myself, or watch the game myself, but there seem to be mixed views on Hooper. Some thought he looked lean and mean, others, over weight and uninterested.

 

[Canaryboy]

This "overweight" thing that we keep hearing, hasn't he always been a bit 'stocky'?

 

[Canaryboy]

uninterested.

If he looked uninterested in an U21 fixture then I'll take that as a positive. 

Because if he were looking for an exit or wasn't interested in playing for Norwich he'd have had a blinder and scored a hat-trick, in front of the TV cameras and the managers & scouts up and down the land who would have tuned in last night for a travel-free scouting exercise. 

 

[GazzaTCC]

I think, and hope, he's here to stay. Hooper has a good record at this level.

 

[Safri15]

He really needs a run in the team, but then we have seen what Lafferty can do over the international break and seems to be on good form so can't see Hooper really getting a chance. I assume Hooper will push for a move in Jan if he doesn't start playing though.

 

[Yellow Fever]

I watched the U21s game and thought Hooper and Bennett both had solid if not spectacular games. Hooper's game is as a poacher in the penalty area and unfortunately the chances didn't come to him last night. Cameron King was the star of the show with two excellent goals and he looked lively all through the game. Carlton Morris scored the first with a header that was deflected past the keeper, and the passing was excellent against a talented Spurs team. Toffolo also stood our at LB, McFadden was solid at CB alongside Miquel and there was a lot of promise for the future in this one.

 

[Paul Handscombe]

All these people that say he looks overweight, 99% of them would love to have his physique and be called fat!!

He is stocky and muscular, not fat by any stretch.  John Hartson was fat when he played for us.

The commentators last night said that Hooper had a good game and linked very well with Morris.

HE is the best striker we have at the club, you don't score goals against Barcelona by being crap and fat.

 

[GJP]

You probably don't score goals against Barca if you're crap and fat but (correct me if I'm wrong) Hooper hasn't scored against Barca.

Although on a similar note, didn't Ryan Jarvis once score against Liverpool?

 

[hogesar]

There's mixed reviews on him, which normally suggests the reality is somewhere in the middle.

The thing is, those saying he's our best striker in the squad are perhaps a bit misguided. He showed his ability for Celtic but since coming to us he hasn't shown he's anything more than average.

I hope he comes good but as far as the 'striker chain' goes - he's quite far down it and rightly so.

 

[KeiranShikari]

I thought he had an okay game, much better than the one vs Saints u21s a couple of weeks ago. Certainly wouldn't say he looked uninterested and I think he will be back sooner rather than later.

 

[Yellow Fever]

Having watched the game, I wouldn't say that he's done enough to dislodge our other strikers at the moment, but he's getting closer. The competition has to be a good thing.

 

[Jimmy smith]

Well hopefully he'll get his chance off the bench on Saturday. One of Hoopers strengths is his big game attitude. Perhaps when the games mean a lot (like Fulham tomorrow) we'll see the true Gary Hooper and he'll do well.

 

[GJP]

Interesting, Jimmy.

I don't want it to seem like I'm putting Hooper down for the sake of it as I actually think he'll be an asset at this level but... where's the evidence for this "big game attitude"?

I can't think of too many examples in a Norwich shirt of him putting in a big performance.

 

[Dubai Mark]

I just want to see Hooper given a run at this level before really judging him. I actually thought he did OK last season in a side that in many matches, not all, severely under performed.