Whatever the reasons are behind Holty's transfer request is, we may never know the only thing that resembles any details on this shocker is that Simon Thomas has tweeted ;  that there is no other club involved.

So whatever happens Grant Holt has been massive for this club and in turn for us the supporters, he was a City legend  this morning and still is now.  He is still a Norwich City player under contract.

Let's not forget  we  F******Love Grant Holt

We can only pinch ourselves in case we are dreaming,  Grant Holt has handed a transfer request into the club, but this has been refused. 

We are, like all City followers shocked to read of this latest news,  it had been thought that he was very happy at Carrow Road and wouldn't be going anywhere.

 

This will of course bring clubs by the score flocking to Carrow Road with offers,  now Holt has made his intentions known.

City fans, I feel start to breathe a little easier as it is starting to look like  Villa have got their man.If reports are to be believed coming out of Norway;  Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has agreed to become Villa;s new manager.

Early evening reports from Norway suggested that Villa's owner Randy Lerner was in the Country as his plane was standing in a local airport (KRISTIANSUND).

http://www.dagbladet.no/2012/05/17/sport/fotball/premier_league/ole_gunnar_solskjer/21645445/

This was followed a little later this evening  with  a journalist at one of Norway's largest radio stations tweeted:

'Sources say Solskjær has signed for Villa" 

The Guardian newspaper carried a story which we believe confirmed this story was pulled off site with the following statment  in place of the article.

This story has been taken down as it breached an embargo. It will be relaunched at 11pm 17 May

http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2012/may/17/1?CMP=twt_%3CBR%3E%3CBR%3E

Now according to one Villa Site this has been reported on Radio 5, . 

With Liverpool aiming for Martinez and Villa after  Solskjaer, it leaves WBA managerless also if Martinez does get the Anfield job, Wigan will be in for a new manager also

 

Wigan have given Liverpool permission to speak with boss Roberto Martinez about the managerial post at Anfield, Latics owner Dave Whelan has confirmed.

I gave Liverpool permission and he will be talking to them soon," Whelan said

"I have always said when a big club comes, I will give permission and they don't come any bigger than Liverpool.

"He has been a fantastic, superb manager [for Wigan]. He will be a difficult act to follow

The revolving Door doesn't take long to start spinning, with the news that Zak Whitbread won't be pulling on the Yellow shirt any more, we hear rumours that City are being linked with another central defender. We are being linked with a cut-price move for unsettled Wolves defender Roger Johnson.

The 29-year-old has endured a torrid year at Molineux since his £5million move from Midlands rivals Birmingham last summer.
He was immediately installed as club captain by then boss Mick McCarthy but struggled for form in a side that was eventually relegated.
Johnson also had problems off the field and was stripped of the captaincy when he turned up for training showing the affects of alcohol in March.

 

 

 

We can say good bye to Zak Whitbread and Aaron Wilbraham as they will not be offered new deals by Norwich City when their contracts run out this summer.   A little surprised by Whitbread's impending departure,  I have Elliot Ward high on my list to be leaving,  and surprised  why his name is not here.

Joining Whitbread and Wilbraham packing their bags, will be Matthew Ball, Richard Brindley and Josh Dawkin, while several other players are still waiting for their furtures to be sorted out;  David Fox, Elliott Ward and Adam Drury, as well as youngsters Korey Smith, Tom Adeyemi and George Francomb;  all out of contract this summer.

 

Despite being the best value striker in English football this season, Grant Holt has not made  Roy Hodgson's    England squad.  While Congratulations must go to John Ruddy for being selected.

Yet a player who has been in simple terms a £35 million flop who only came good in the last few games of the season gets a place, along another who has scored just 9 goals all season,   while Holt has stayed consistent all season long with 15 goals in the league to his name.   

 

The squad has a same old tired and egotisical look about it.  Safety first

England squad in full:
Goalkeepers: Joe Hart, Rob Green, John Ruddy
Defenders: Leighton Baines, Gary Cahill, Ashley Cole, Glen Johnson, Phil Jones, Joleon Lescott, John Terry
Midfielders: Gareth Barry, Steven Gerrard, Frank Lampard, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, James Milner, Scott Parker, Theo Walcott, Ashley Young, Stewart Downing
Strikers: Andy Carroll, Jermain Defoe, Wayne Rooney, Danny Welbeck

Stand-by list: Jack Butland, Phil Jagielka, Jordan Henderson, Adam Johnson, Daniel Sturridge

Early rumoured Reports from Birmingham state Villa will sack Alex McLeish today,  yesterday's dismal preformance at Carrow Road was the final straw.  To me personally it looked like the players were not that bothered either to try and put it together for their manager.

So get ready for the onslaught. But if it is going to happen; Let it be done Quickly

Many sources are tipping Paul Lambert to take over the reigns.  Should this be the case I hope that things are sorted out very speedily and not to drag out all the close season.  Don't get me wrong I don't want Paul Lambert to leave but if it is in his mind..... nothing will stop it happening;  ask Colchester fans.

If Lambo does go to Villa, he will go down a little in my estimation, over the last few season Villa has done nothing, Lambert's so called mentor walked away after losing players and seeing very little of that money.  Lambert could do a lot worse than ringing O Neill for some advice on this one.

I know I will upset Villa fans but it is how I see things;  they have the look of a tired premiership side, lacking of serious investment, perhaps seeing more of the riches the premier brings heading over the Pond than onto the pitch.  Other teams have fallen into the same trap  Blackburn and perhaps Bolton , well established teams but have been allowed to become stale.

I am not privvy to inner workings of Villa or any club for that matter, but looking at them from a distance thats the feeling I get. For Lambert to take that job would in my view be suicidal at this point of his premiership career.  He is destined for bigger and better things, bigger and better than City and Villa. 

Not all stepping stones are safe to stand on and this one doesn't look it to me.

 

 

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