Norwich Boss Paul Lambert On Tomorrow

Last updated : 09 October 2009 By Thetashkentterror

Paul Lambert
Canaries manager Paul Lambert spoke to BBC Radio Norfolk and the pink 'un about his side's match against Carlisle at Brunton Park tomorrow afternoon, Lambert, you might guess, suggesting that it will be a tough game for Norwich :


" It will be a tough game, Greg (Abbott) has got them going well and it certainly will be a tough, tough game I can tell you. I've been up there a few times and it is a hard place but we are playing well enough to go and win. I think their team in general is hardworking, this will be a tough game for us there is no mistake about that, this will be really, really tough. A move for Richard Offiong when I was at Colchester never materialised so he is a bit of a threat, but as are a number of them, this will be a hard game.

" We have tried numerous times to get people in. Sometimes it doesn't happen and sometimes it does but it is not for the lack of trying. You can't just spend money if it is not there and teams are wanting a lot of money for players which we can't do. So you just have to try to wheel and deal in the market as everybody else does. I am not sure about offering any more for (Exeter's) Dan Seaborne, I would need to speak to the board and see actually what we can do. Like I have said, we can't pay money if it is not there.

"We have made an inquiry to see what the situation was for him because he is in his last year. At the minute that is where it stands now and its something we can't do anything about at this stage. There's a possibility that we might go back in but Exeter have turned it down. It's like anything, whenever a new manager goes into a football club they try to find out which players are out there who can help the current group of lads try so we've tried to identify who we can bring in and who is available.

"The squad is not big by any stretch of the imagination. Ideally we could do with someone now but if we have to wait for the right player then we can do that. He is certainly someone we have spoken about for a while and a few weeks back we did made a little inquiry but nothing really materialised. By the same token, things change and I know he is out of contract in the summer. "



"We have other targets but we don't just want to put names in the frame and we certainly won't just bring in people for the sake of it. Our squad is not massively big. Look what happened to Michael Nelson and now Michael Spillane and it leaves us with two central defenders. Obviously the central defensive area is a priority for me because we simply don't have enough cover with just Gary (Doherty) and Jens (Berthel Askou) in there.

"Now we've also got a few other knocks it just shows you that you're playing catch up but we'll only be able to do what the finances dictate in January. This current group of lads need a hand and that is what we will try to do. Of course we might need to balance that off maybe in the other direction but as I've said this group have been brilliant, absolutely terrific. They're playing really well for me at the minute and I hope they can keep it going.

"Michael (Theoklitos) has been disciplined internally by the club for missing the team bus on Tuesday and that is the way it will stay. I had a chat with him and he gave me his reasons for what had happened and the one thing I will say about Michael is he is not a bad lad. Obviously it is something that he regrets. It was just poor timekeeping. I think its unprofessional full stop - whether it's Michael or whoever - you just can't do it. It's forgotten about as far as I'm concerned. I've spoken to Michael and we'll move on and see what happens.

"He'll possibly be in the squad for Saturday. I haven't made up my mind yet - that is my honest answer. We haven't got anyone else, though, Jed (Steer) is not training and Declan (Rudd) is obviously away with England U19s. I would be prepared to go in without another keeper. It would be a massive decision but it was the same the other night.

"As I stress, I haven't made up my mind yet. Michael knows what happened was wrong and I'm pretty sure he'll not do it again. He's been fine around the place since I came here. I've not had a problem with him and his attitude has been good. He knows it was a grave mistake and I'm pretty sure he won't do it again."