Good times at the moment.  We’re on a roll and there’s a good feeling in and around SJP.  While we’re on the up and getting plenty of due praise for it you can’t help but have the odd paranoid feeling we’re waiting for the media to find a way to knock us down again.  Funny thing is though it doesn’t seem to matter whether we are up or down you keep seeing the same names in the press over and over again.

Kieron Dyer.  Aye ah knaa.  There’s some of you are now looking for the number of a monitor repairman.  However whatever you think of him its undeniable that his performances of late have been much closer to what we demand.  His winner against Bolton prompted plenty of praise from Alan Oliver (Article), The Telegraph’s Rob Stewart (Article), John Gibson (Article), and of course Paul Gilder at The Journal (Article) continuing the Journal/Dyer love-in session.  But only 10 goals a season?  Surely if he is to ever live up to his own proclamation that he can be better than Paul Scholes, 10 goals a season should be his bare minimum.  I think that’s what Souness was getting at in his post-match statements (Article) and again later in the week in his comments to The Journal’s Luke Edwards (Article).  Frighteningly though we still see the word “potential” used with Dyer.  By now he should be delivering on a weekly basis, end of.  Though I think he is getting the message.

Later in the week, Mr Edwards continued his weekly pro-Dyer sermon with this piece.  (Article).  I wonder when the marriage proposal will be made?  Or just get a room.  Perhaps not.  Anyway what this piece does is link me nicely to the next name we hear over and over and over again.  Bellamy.  Technically he’s still our property, even if out on loan. It seems in 4 weeks he’s made himself the most hated man in Scottish football. (Article) (Article) and (Article).

Even Crystal Palace’s chairman Simon Jordan took time out to have a pop at him (Article).  Until we finally get this man out permanently stuff like this will be thrown at us and some of the mud will stick.  By the end of the week it was mooted by the Sunday Sun and the Sunday Mirror (Article) that one possible solution would be to tempt Villa into a swap with Solano.  I could think of worse.  Mind you this wouldn’t be necessary had a certain former manager not sold him.

Oh yes him.  SBR was awarded the freedom of the city this week.  (Article)  Fair play he deserves it. We have plenty to thank him for.  It’s just a pity he wasn’t allowed to go with grace and before he’d undone some of his own work.  He’s had plenty to say for himself though on Bellamy (Article), the club and many other problems that he forgets he helped to create.  The odd legal situation with his pay off grumbles on with news this week he’s keen to sue for defamation of character after Douglas Hall’s comments last week (Article).  What a sad way to end this.  All obviously is not what it seems.  But he would have had us in trouble had he stayed, I have no doubt about that!

The final name popping up here and there this week was Lauren Robert.  In the build up to the Liverpool game he told us all what he’d do to them. (Article).  And then, just when I hoped he wouldn’t be eating his words, he did! (Article), (Article) and (Article).  Souness’ praise for Robert is honest and further example for me of how their respective fates are tied.  They need each other and we are seeing the benefit of how they interact.  There is nothing better than seeing someone of Robert’s undoubted talent add work and passion to it.  I’m still not sure about the gloves mind.  Neither was Tony Cascarino in The Times (Article).

Finally for this week a couple of things that caught my eye that I couldn’t let pass without comment.  Apparently we have installed heated seats in our home dug out on the recommendation of the chairman’s son (Article).  What next?  Axminster carpets and a drinks globe? 
 

The FA are suggesting changes to next season’s FA Cup to make sure the England squad get 4 weeks preparation before the World Cup.  (Article)  JUST STOP FAFFING WITH THE FA CUP FOR FECK’S SAKES!  There that’s got that off my chest.  And last but by no means least; I couldn’t let this week go without a mentioning Delia Smith and her half time rant. (Article)  As supporters of a club who are used to board members making a public arse of themselves let me say, Norwich we feel your pain.  Here’s the remix, just in case you missed the original (MPEG File).

NM