| |
News and Views from the Football League - The sweet taste of revenge
When a player or manager returns to a former employer it always makes for a special occasion. So long as the person in question has left his previous club on good terms and if he has performed well, he can be assured of a very special welcome upon his return, often making for a very touching and even an emotional scene. Of course, not everything in life is perfect.
The big match in League One this weekend was undoubtedly in Essex, as Colchester played host to promotion rivals Norwich City. When the fixture list was first announced back in June, this would not have popped out particularly as one to look forward to for either set of fans. Geographically, there is not a vast distance between the two, but having spent most of their histories at opposite ends of the footballing pyramid, there is in truth no great rivalry to be found here. However, when the two sides met on the opening day of the season, Norwich were humiliated 7-1 by their supposedly lesser opposition. The Canaries have since recovered from this crushing defeat and now find themselves challenging for top spot, just three points behind Simon Grayson’s table-topping Leeds United. Norwich’s upturn in fortunes has in no small part been down to the hard work on the field, led by the goal-scoring exploits of Grant Holt and Chris Martin. Crucially, however, there’s a new face in the dugout at Carrow Road, which bring us back to the weekend’s big match. When Colchester demolished Norwich on the opening day, it was Paul Lambert who had led them to victory. On Saturday, he found himself on the opposite bench.
The decision of Lambert to leave Colchester was of course not a popular one with the U’s fans. He had led them well since his arrival in Essex and to walk out on a club when they are on a high will never be received well. The split with United does not appear to be an amicable one it should be said as the clubs are still in discussions over the compensation figure. With all of these factors in mind, Saturday’s match was always going to be hotly contested and a record crowd inside Colchester’s new stadium were witness to an enthralling encounter, packed with all the ingredients for a spicy fixture. Ultimately, a rejuvenated Norwich side proved just too good for Lambert’s former side. Norwich exorcised the demons of the opening day, running out 5-0 winners, as United had too few answers for a rampant Canaries side. In truth, it could have been even worse had Wes Hoolahan converted his penalty but it mattered little, as Lambert’s men continued to show their promotion credentials. Playing as they are at the moment, few would bet against them making an immediate return to the Championship come May. It may have only been one fixture in a long season, but to have been thumped 7-1 on the opening day, having recently suffered relegation, you could forgive Canaries fans for feeling sorry for themselves in August. The league table makes for much happier reading for them now as they look a good bet for a place in the top three at least. With Leeds not having won in their two fixtures since that famous win against Manchester United, don’t rule Norwich out of the title race just yet.
It looks as if things are about to start getting interesting in the transfer window too as one of the country’s hottest properties looks set to be moving on up. Crystal Palace’s teenage sensation Victor Moses has been key to their fine form which has seen them rise to eighth in the league, as things stand. For a club who have not achieved much in recent seasons, that is no mean feat. Moses has reportedly been attracting interest from a host of clubs across the country but perhaps more interestingly, his talent has caught the eye of both Spanish giants Barcelona and Real Madrid. It would seem much more likely that Moses will move to a Premier League side but what chance is there of Palace retaining his services? Even the most optimistic of Eagles fans will surely be resigned to his departure, with manager Neil Warnock stating after his star scored the winner at Plymouth this weekend that he believes the youngster had played his last game for Palace. Now of course nothing is certain in football, but with statements like this and the public knowledge that the south London club are in need of money, it seems a certainty that Moses will be showcasing his talent at a higher level very shortly. The only question that remains is which club will be lucky enough to secure his services?
See the full list of OLBG's free Football Tips here.
Related Articles
| |