We take a quick look at two of our boys who are out on loan, first to Gillingham where Cody MCDonald is plying his trade.

It doesn't look like it is the happiest place to be at the moment.  Gillingham under manager Andy Hessenthaler have still to pick up a single victory in all competitions.
Cody missed saturday's latest defeat a thrilling nine (5-4) goal thriller at Bury due to an ankle injury picked up at Southend in the Paint Pot; having only just returned from a foot injury.

Over to Somerset and OTJ who is in his second spell with Yeovil, things aren't going to well for Somerset club neither having picked only 4 points out of a possible twenty, it is early days and they are a young side. They took a bit of a drubbing at Notts County yesterday going down 4-0.
 Despite this start to the season OTJ has made it quite clear that he is open to extending his stay at Huish Park, realising that he is way the down the pecking order back in Norfolk he would welcome a longer time.  Any player wants to be playing so OTJ is no different to any other, perhaps a nominal transfer is on the cards for January; it would be possibly in the best interests of club and player. 

Good luck to both Cody and OTJ for the rest of their loan spells, we will try and catch up again a little later.

The transfer window slammed shut, without City completing any deals, so no move for Boyata as forecast today, but thats not saying that is the end of the matter as league clubs can still do short loan deals starting next week. 

Elsewhere there were no deals for any of the regions clubs, surpise of the day must go to Stoke who snapped up winger Jermaine Pennant from Zaragoza in a last minute deal, he joins  Eidur Gudjohnsen whose on a season long loan from Monaco. Stoke manager Tont Pulis also captured Marc Wilson from Portsmouth.

Perhaps a surprise too, for Liverpool supporters,in that Paul Konchesky has joined on a 4 year deal from Fulham, while Sunderland slashed the cash on Asamoah Gyan from Rennes costing a cool £13 million.

Being transfer deadline day, activity is expected to reach it's height especially in the Premiership. What of City ?  Can we expect to see someone walk through the door, Lambert hinted at this on saturday when questioned. Newspaper reports yesterday have City supposed to be trying to lure Manchester City's young defender Dedryck Boyata to Norfolk. 

Boyata is very highly thought in Manchester after coming through their Academy, he can play either centre back or right back, City would face competition from Newcastle and rivals Leeds who are said to be watching closely.

This interest has raised questions amongst  large amounts of City fans,  what of Jens Berthal Askou ? Certainly a fans favourite for a leading role in defence this season; sadly injury and family matters hindered his pre season; but he looks to have caught up with the rest of the squad claiming a place at Blackburn.

Although Lambert has kept to his word over loan signings, not going overboard as previous managers, but if the Boyata does deal does go through, that would be another player who would be ahead of one of our own, denying them valuable pitch time.

Yesterday was without a doubt a very good team performance by City, even Billy Davies the Nottingham Forest manager admitted that his team was lucky to have got away with a point.  I know that the 2000+ travelling yella army had a dam good day out, but sadly for one of them his day ended in pain from a broken nose, coming from a needless attack and display of thuggery and violence.

The young man in question is a die hard City supporter, season ticket holder in the Barclay, having only just reached 16 his parents have given him a little freedom to go to more away matches, I hope this disgusting incident doesn't put the lad off from going  or stop him wearing his outfit.  I know him personally and couldn't wish to meet a nicer lad, in fact he recently gave up a day to help me move house, I cannot say I have heard him or seen him partake of anything more than the usual freindly banter at matches.
This type of incident has to be stamped out at any football ground,  I have posted a picture of the lad in his outfit, with the hope someone will come forward as a witness to the Police and these absolute gutless cowards can be brought to justice.



 I have been in contact with the family and the lad's dad informed me, The EEN have published a story, The Sun have visted today as well,  Nottingham Forest FC have contced them requesting details,  Police are to take statements plus the good news several fans have come forward as witnesses. Due to see Doctor tomorrow to access injuries

The family would love to pass on their thanks for countless messages of support and best wishes they have recieved.

Owain Tudur Jones, the seemingly unwanted midfielder will be joining Yeovil Town for the second time, this tour of duty is set to end in September, but I have a feeling that it will be extended for longer.

Good Luck  OTJ hope you can get some games.

LEON Barnett has joined  City on a five-month loan deal.  The defender's spell  will expire on January 4 - the day after we visit Middlesbrough. The deal is a standard loan meaning  there is no recall clause allowing Albion to ask for the player to return before January 4th.  One good thing to come out of this situation is that Barnett and Elliot Ward have played along side each while Barnett was on loan at Coventry, so they won't be total strangers.

Welcome to Norfolk Leon and we wish a speedy recovery for Michael Nelson, who has been already outstanding this season.

We read that City old boy Jamie Cureton has signed a permanent deal with League One outfit Exeter.  Good luck to both club and player.

Sky Sports believes Paul Lambert is close to sealing a deal to bring WBA Defender Leon Barnett to Carrow Road on loan, Lambert is thought to be taking this route after the injury to Michael Nelson on Saturday. Nelson is thought to be sidelined for several weeks.

Lambert is quoted as saying:

He (Nelson) is going to be out for a few weeks," said Lambert. "He will be out for quite a long time.

"We will try and get somebody in and hopefully Michael will be back sooner or later.

"I can't buy anybody so we will need to get somebody on loan - we have only really had Fraser (Forster) so this one will be a loan if it comes off."

So much travelled City old boy Craig Bellamy has signed for another club today, signing on loan for Cardiff City on a season long deal. While it may look like a bit of a coup for the welsh side,  Scottish club Motherwell do not share in the joy anybody has for this transfer; Motherwell  have threatened to issue a winding-up order on Cardiff City as they still owe the SPL side money for the transfer of Paul Quinn. The Fir Park club are still owed £175,000 of the £300,000 fee for the defender, who moved south in June 2009.
Cardiff, who were paying the fee for Quinn in instalments, missed a payment in January and to date have not sent any further cash to Motherwell, with the Welsh side previously battling a £1.9 million amount owed to HM Revenue and Customs.
Having settled that bill in June, the Bluebirds are yet to forward any further money to Motherwell but found the cash to take on board some of Bellamy’s reported £95,000 a week wage packet. To say Motherwell aren't that happy about the situation is an understatement; speaking on their official web site chief executive, Leeann Dempster, outlined Motherwell's position.

,  “It is critical that clubs work constructively with each other to ensure we can manage a very difficult financial climate for the game," the statement read. "We have given Cardiff every chance to do the right thing." and “Given all these circumstances and with legal and moral weight behind us, Motherwell FC have no option but to immediately pursue all legal routes to ensure this significant sum paid to us as quickly as possible."

Perhaps it is a bit easier to undstand Motherwell's stance still owed a fair bit of money they stand and watch while cardiff add not only Bellamy but Jason Koumas, Tom Heaton, Danny Drinkwater, Seyi Olofinjana, Martin John as well.

In a previous item I was rather scathing about Darel Russell’s second departure from Norwich.

I withdraw those remarks and apologise to Rusty.

I suspected that there may have been opposing views over the terms of a contract offer but allowed myself to be influenced on what Rusty was reported to have said about Preston playing with a better approach to the game than Norwich City.

For a man who must consider his future, Rusty had to weigh up the options. Unfortunately for him, by the time he had done so, the Norwich City offer was gone.

Under the circumstances, I wish him every success and hope he doesn’t look me out and boot a ball in my face...

Ours not to reason why, and all that, but it was noticeable that Korey Smith was absent from the Watford game.

Korey may be young and untried at this level, but he has the benefit of last season and his ball distribution brought Wes Hoolihan into play a considerable amount of time more than he was when at home to Watford last week.

Korey Smith also ran about the pitch as though he is out to claim the title of “Three Lungs” from now Academy coach, but one-time midfield regular, Gary Holt.

The lad closed players down by getting in their faces, not standing yards away and playing like he is a space invader from the old computer game.

For a youngster, Korey Smith shows a maturity on the field, and is not afraid to go shoulder to shoulder with the bully-boy tactics employed to put him off his game.