Catering References,,a message for national journalists. 7th August 2011

CATERING REFERENCES...A MESSAGE FOR NATIONAL JOURNALISTS

This week I’ve read two articles in national newspapers discussing Norwich City’s prospects for the coming season without making any catering references. I hope this is evidence that a tired old grating trademark of lazy journalism has had its day but just in case, as the Premiership restaurant opens its doors, I have a message for those big boys of the press who are turning their attention our way.....we’ve had our fill of catering references. Really. We’re stuffed full. We have no appetite for any more.  So pay attention!

What’s on the menu at Carrow Road this season? For starters Paul Lambert’s recipe for success has been based on a diet of solid fitness training for the players. And while there will surely be a pressure cooker atmosphere at home games which will boil over at certain times the manager has garnered a promising mixture. Relatively speaking he has collected the ingredients for his team from the bargain aisles of the football supermarket though he is making judicious use, too, of what was already on the Colney shelves or, like Korey Smith,  Chris Martin and Declan Rudd, home-grown produce.

In a team stuffed with possibilities there will be familiar beefy stock provided by goal-poacher, Grant Holt (though he might this season have to feed off scraps a little more), a soupcon of magic by Wes Hoolahan, searing pace by Richie de Laet (judging by pre-season) and the rare ability to slice open defences by Elliott Bennett and Anthony Pilkington.