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Cardiff Sign Pilkington

Yellow Fever

Yellow Fever

New Member
The Watford match has changed my view on formations (and the loss of Pilks). The 4-2-3-1 used with Lafferty on the left and Grabban up front was very clever and Lafferty in particular showed what an all round player he is. In the pre-season Adams played the same formation with Lafferty up front and Grabban on the right and that worked as well. IMO, this will be the primary formation and will make us very hard to read by the opposition. Grabban summed it up like this:

“When we get over the halfway line, the manager gives us the freedom to rotate. When we’re more defensive, we have the shape. But in terms of when we go attacking, you can go wherever. If Laffs (Kyle Lafferty) wants to come in the middle, he can and I’ll drift out wide. We just try to rotate and cause problems with our movement. The gaffer asked him to do a job today out there on the wing and I thought he did very well. He created some chances and played with high energy, and you need that in this league. He caused a lot of problems.”
 
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Canaryboy

Canaryboy

Well-Known Member
How likely is this statement to be factually correct?
Well if we are hearing it from two former Chairman of two major independent Norwich supporters associations (Tilly & Beausant),then I'd say very likely. If I were a bookmaker then all bets would be off. 

Whether McNally is being completely honest is another question, but I don't think we have too many reasons to doubt his integrity - a question best asked of people who have had dealings with him! 
 
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Canaryboy

Canaryboy

Well-Known Member
 " Are we supposed to know who you are? " in front of the whole squad.
WOW!

And from the team captain too, and not long after Adams had led the Under 18's to the FA Youth Cup! 

Complete lack of respect, and confirms what many of us suspected - that Bassong lacked the maturity and professionalism to wear the captains armband. 

I hope that Adams wasn't left open mouthed and pointed out that Bassong has achieved nothing of note as a player (no winners medals) and that he had won the top division with Everton and played in a cup final at Wembley. 
 
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Beauseant

Beauseant

Well-Known Member
Well if we are hearing it from two former Chairman of two major independent Norwich supporters associations (Tilly & Beausant),then I'd say very likely. If I were a bookmaker then all bets would be off. 

Whether McNally is being completely honest is another question, but I don't think we have too many reasons to doubt his integrity - a question best asked of people who have had dealings with him! 
I've got to know him a little over the last four years. He's a tough cookie, and doesn't suffer fools gladly, but he's also surprisingly open and I have no reason to think that he isn;t being so in this case. He amazed a lot of people by turning up in the Nelson late last season (after the Liverpool game if my memory serves me well) and didn't flinch from any of the (unsurprisingly) searching questions he was asked. I like the bloke.
 
Beauseant

Beauseant

Well-Known Member
Oh wow. If that's true I feel silly for defending him.
 You shouldnt be, its hardly been common knowledge. However, doesn't it strike you as strange that Bassong has never uttered a word about his treatment. Given his regular twitter outbursts in the past it doesn't seem commensurate with someone who has been grievously wronged, does it? ;-)
 
morty

morty

Moderator
Staff member
I've got to know him a little over the last four years. He's a tough cookie, and doesn't suffer fools gladly, but he's also surprisingly open and I have no reason to think that he isn;t being so in this case. He amazed a lot of people by turning up in the Nelson late last season (after the Liverpool game if my memory serves me well) and didn't flinch from any of the (unsurprisingly) searching questions he was asked. I like the bloke.
He was brilliant, he bought us all a drink and answered every question (in my opinion) openly and honestly. 

It annoys me a little when people get on his back, as my experience of him is that he is a really decent guy.
 
Beauseant

Beauseant

Well-Known Member
Did he ask for membership of the Inner Circle mate?

Seriously though, he is a top bloke, but it's so easy to demonise people you've never met thanks to social media. Did he tell you about the new CB?
 
morty

morty

Moderator
Staff member
Did he ask for membership of the Inner Circle mate?

Seriously though, he is a top bloke, but it's so easy to demonise people you've never met thanks to social media. Did he tell you about the new CB?
No he didn't (on both inner circle and cb) it was basically us all grumbling at him, and him taking it on the chin, accepting it all with humour and humility. And I didn't feel like I should burn my clothes and have a shower after, like the time I met Doncaster. 
 
Beauseant

Beauseant

Well-Known Member
No he didn't (on both inner circle and cb) it was basically us all grumbling at him, and him taking it on the chin, accepting it all with humour and humility. And I didn't feel like I should burn my clothes and have a shower after, like the time I met Doncaster. 
New CB is definitely on his way soon, possibly Carlos Cuellar.
 
Canaryboy

Canaryboy

Well-Known Member
New CB is definitely on his way soon, possibly Carlos Cuellar.
Very good player, but unfortunately right footed - was hoping we'd see a left footed centre back for balance. 
 
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Beauseant

Beauseant

Well-Known Member
Very good player, but unfortunately right footed - was hoping we'd see a left footed centre back for balance. 
Me too, but he's a free agent and highly experienced, and don't forget that Bennett is left footed.
 
Canaryboy

Canaryboy

Well-Known Member
Me too, but he's a free agent and highly experienced, and don't forget that Bennett is left footed.
Any Rangers or Villa fan would tell you that he oozes class. I follow Celtic as my second team and I think he is right up there with the best players Rangers have had over the past 10 to 15 years. Only there for a season before moving to Villa. 
 
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Yellow Fever

Yellow Fever

New Member
According to Wiki: "On the 30th of July Cuellar agreed terms with Championship club Blackburn Rovers for the 2014/2015 season." That may be wrong though, as he isn't listed in their squad.
 
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Canaryboy

Canaryboy

Well-Known Member
According to Wiki: "On the 30th of July Cuellar agreed terms with Championship club Blackburn Rovers for the 2014/2015 season." That may be wrong though, as he isn't listed in their squad.
Went on a weeks trial but Cuellar decided to "look elsewhere", which probably means they didn't offer enough money. (Found article dated 4th August). 
 
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Warren Hill

Warren Hill

New Member
With regard to David McNally, he's remarkably frank where he can be and I fully respect him for that. I was in attendance (with Morty) when he spoke with some fans after the Liverpool game and it was refreshing to hear him speak with honesty and passion about the club. For him to do so given the particularly inebriated state of one or two of the fans made it all the more surprising. Since then I've seen him in passing on a number of occasions and he makes a point of saying hello which again, he has no need to do, I'm sure he doesn't know me from Adam(s)....sorry, couldn't resist.

Which brings me onto Bassong. Certainly not the way to endear yourself to a new gaffer or much of an example to set to junior professionals BUT, if that's all that has happened then it doesn't seem beyond the realms of possibility that the two parties could be reconciled with a well placed apology. How likely that is? No idea but Wes has demonstrated that Neil clearly isn't beyond a change of heart,

Thirdly, I like the sound of Cuellar. Good, experienced pro and I like the sound of it even more if it means a return to RB for the skipper.

Turner, Bassong, Cuellar and Bennett - that would be some centre-back roster for a Championship club.  
 
skijumptoes

skijumptoes

Active Member
Disappointed if that's true regarding Bassong, and the club have my full support to let him rot in the reserves if that's what he wants to do with his career, what an arrogant thing to say.

I had heard from a contractor for the club office who reckons Bassong had put an official complaint in regarding Hughton's sacking citing race being a factor which deeply offended the board.  Don't know how true it is, probably about 1% truth based on his other 'inside' knowledge.  But still, it has niggled away at me since i was told.
 
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morty

morty

Moderator
Staff member
Sorry, but the implication that Hughton's sacking was anything to do with the colour of his skin is nothing short of ridiculous.
 
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Yellowfuture

Yellowfuture

New Member
Disappointed if that's true regarding Bassong, and the club have my full support to let him rot in the reserves if that's what he wants to do with his career, what an arrogant thing to say.

I had heard from a contractor for the club office who reckons Bassong had put an official complaint in regarding Hughton's sacking citing race being a factor which deeply offended the board.  Don't know how true it is, probably about 1% truth based on his other 'inside' knowledge.  But still, it has niggled away at me since i was told.


I would be amazed if there was any truth in that.
 
Yellowfuture

Yellowfuture

New Member
Great to read this thread guys, we all knew about Pilks' injury record but when it's put in those stark terms by McNally it really emphasises why he had to go. Sounds like excellent business.
 
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