Rumours have emerged today surrounding Norwich City midfielder Wes Hoolahan are that Leeds are interested in a £300,000 deal.

Hoolahan joined the Canaries in the summer for an undisclosed fee and so far this season he`s played 18 games without scoring. Hoolahan played for Grayson at Blackpool who is now the Leeds boss and during his time with Grayson at Blackpool he played 87 games scoring 13 times. Glen Roeder certainly has not got the best out of the player so far but this offer surely would be far to low for the player who was regarded so highly at the start of the season.

Glen Roeder also stated at the AGM that he was building a team for the future so it is unlikely he will be looking to move on a player so soon after purchasing him.

Antoine Sibierski has become the first player to leave wigan during the January transfer window and will join Norwich City where he has been on loan since September, It is reported this will be on a free transfer.

Although highly talented,  Sibierski hasn`t had the best of times at Wigan mainly due to niggling injuries which has plagued his time at the Latics since joining in May 2007 from Newcastle United.

Sibierski played 31 times for the Latics scoring 4 goals.

Arturo Lupoli may have eased the pressure on Glenn Roeder on Saturday but he still is not guaranteed a starting place according to the manager.

Even though the player boasts a better record or conversion rate than Leroy Lita during his loan spell the manager insists Lupoli still has much to learn.

 “I don’t think he’s ever lost his confidence - he didn’t lack confidence when he scored the goal,” said Roeder. “But there are other things within his game, within his physique, that has restricted him to many opportunities.”

“The game is very much about power and pace, strength, but he’s finished it well. He did the same at Cardiff, he came on and scored a couple of goals, and he nicked one against Swansea, so he couldn’t have chosen a better time than to pinch another one today because the last thing we wanted to do was go out of the cup, but we’re in the draw.”

One wonders what the lad has to do to get the managers seal of approval, these comments regarding his apparent light weight frame gets supporters asking questions, especially when you consider players such as Micheal Owen who managed to achieve great success even when he was a lightweight youngster!

Bewildered supporters will continue to wonder where Mr Roeder is coming from.
 

According to the Daily Express Rangers striker Andrius Velicka could join Norwich in the transfer window. They claim Glenn Roeder is making a move for Lithuanian international striker - Andrius Velicka.

Velicka who is 29, joined Rangers from Viking FK last summer in a £1million deal, but he has made only two appearances, scoring once.  The striker is 6′ 1″ tall and is the type of player Glen Roeder has been looking for all season.

Velicka scored an impressive 19 times in 47 appearances during a loan spell at Hearts, who are also interested in a loan move .

In the early part of that season he has been used as an impact substitution to great effect, scoring on numerous occasions after coming off the bench, in particular when scoring both goals in the 2–0 victory away to Celtic in the Scottish League Cup quarter final on 31 October 2007.

Glenn Roeder feels a draw was a fair result in yesterday’s FA Cup match against Charlton.

Talking to canaries.co.uk after the game, Roeder said: “I would have liked to have won the game but I think that was probably the right result.”

“We had to survive some scares in the first half when they whizzed a few balls across the face of goal but they probably looked more dangerous than they were.” he also added “I think we just about deserved the replay back at Carrow Road. It’s nice to have an FA Cup tie back at home for the supporters.”

Roeder said after the game that he sympathises with Lupoli’s predicament of regular first team football.

“No one can ever rest on their laurels, every player in every game has a point to prove. Arturo had a point to prove that hopefully he will have a bigger part to play in the second half of the season than he has already so far.”

“I understand what he’s saying, I understand he’s frustrated about not playing a lot of first team football. He’s here on a season-long loan and I enjoy working with him.”

Arturo Lupoli sent his message load and clear to the manager with his equalising goal against the addicks this afternoon. Lupoli had warned the manager to play him or he will have to look elsewhere for first team football and delivered the perfect message by adding to his tally for the season. It took 8 minutes to after being brought on as substitute for Russell to equalise with a left foot shot, finishing one of city’s better moves of the afternoon.

One surprise of the afternoon was the inclusion of Simon Lappin who was recalled for the first time in 12 months - the burning question has to be “is he back in favour”!!

The replay returns back to Carrow rd, on Tuesday, January 13.

Roy Hodgson has agreed that the Fulham academy graduate should stay at Carrow Road rather than being recalled to the Cottage. The period when Fulham could recall the defender has now passed.

Omozusi said:

It’s good to get things sorted out once and for all. I had a talk with Roy Hodgson at Fulham and he wished me the best for the season ahead and I’ll go back there in the pre-season and start afresh.

Roy sent me here to play as many games as possible and gain the experience he couldn’t promise me at Fulham. He told me to keep battling on and hopefully come back a better player for it. The boys at Fulham have done a tremendous job so far this season and I’d love to go back and be a part of their success.

Omozusi is expected to continue to partner the former Tottenham centre back Gary Doherty at the back.

After the much needed break we are back!!

A new year and a fresh start but our first concern is “will it be a happy new year for us city supporters. Lupoli looks to be putting the pressure on the manager to play him in the FA cup against Charlton, whether Roeder plays him is another matter. Lupoli has been patient for the last 2-3 months has been forced to sit on the sidelines regardless of his impressive start with the club. We have all wondered why he has never really been given a proper chance but he now feels its time he should be playing first team football on a regular basis and many supporters wouldn’t disagree.

Reading have rejected Roeders bid to keep Leroy Lita here until the end of the season on loan, (we apparently didn’t offer Penny’s) but is quite understandable Reading will loose the right to recall the performing striker if they do this, besides he has much more to offer their team now he is properly match fit.

The teams recent results over the Christmas period has dampened the new years celebrations and we start the new year in a precarious position that needs a real leader to pull us through this. Is it a good time to select a new team captain? after all our most consistent performer this year has been Sammy Clingan and the Doc who was captain against Forrest couldn’t get a start at the beginning of the season behind loan players that were brought in.

  2008 was a year to forget and in 2009 Norwich City football club needs to find what made the club - A team of prospects with a canny knack of cashing in at the right time but even this will depend on someone loosening the purse stings.

Happy new year? Well the transfer window is open  and we will make our minds up when it closes in February I guess.

Lee Clark is set to become the new manager of Huddersfield Town.  Clark is in advanced talks with the Terriers to replace Stan Ternent and Norwich have confirmed an undisclosed compensation payment has been agreed.

“We’ve made it clear we would expect compensation for a man of Lee’s experience and potential and that has been agreed,” Glenn Roeder said.

“I always knew from day one when I first appointed Lee as reserve-team coach at Newcastle how ambitious he was to become a manager one day so he goes with my best wishes and big thanks for the part he played last year in helping the club to secure its Championship status.”

Suddenly the feeling of disappointment of how our season has gone so far has vanished, city supporters can now puff out their chests and have some needed pride in the current team.

Yes we beat Ipswich and we beat them well and we thoroughly deserved to win.

Lets bask in the sun for a moment and shower praise where praise is due and lets hope the team now uses this win as a spring board to the rest of the season.

Goals by Lee Croft and Matty Patterson was enough to sink the traveling Ipswich side that seemed unable to cope with Norwich’s intensity and drive, the high tempo was simply too much for them, Norwich didn’t afford them time or space and they closed Ipswich down particularly quickly.

Roeder said after the game: “Our lads were hugely motivated and I didn’t have to give them any passionate speeches. Now we’ve got to build a run from this and I can’t think of a better launch pad. We have to go to Watford on Wednesday and take a point or three.”  

Another big performance by Northern Ireland international Sammy Clingan who was a revelation in midfield, who undoubtedly has a very bright future. Croft again impressed with another crucial goal and his high energy levels along with Marshall who again pulled of a couple of crucial saves.

As for the 12th man (The supporters) they were fantastic and the highlight came when they were taunting Ipswich with ”whats it like to play in front of a full house”!!! Along with extending the pain at the end of the match through joyfully celebrating until every player had left the field..

OTBC……………..