QPR Report Q&A: The Norwich Perspective

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December 2010

Michael Dilley of Vital Football Norwich www.norwich.vitalfootball.co.uk offers his perspective of Norwich. Many, many thanks to Michael for providing this.

QUESTIONS TO A VITAL FOOTBALL NORWICH FAN, MICHAEL DILLEY

I remember Ron Saunders' Norwich team which pipped us for promotion in 1972...And then John Bond took over and transformed the team. QPR's very first home game in Division II after our 1967 promotion, was against Norwich. Every QPR fan of course has burned into his and her consciousness the events of April 1976 when a Norwich victory over QPR in effect resulted in the Championship going to Liverpool. how do you feel about that?!

All a bit before my time I'm afraid (I wasn't born until 1979) so can't really comment on that!


How long have you supported Norwich? And how long have you been involved with the website?

I've been a Norwich supporter for a little over ten years (long story but let's just say I saw the light), and have been involved with the site for about three years, taking over editorial duties in the summer of 2008 (just in time for the relegation season - wonderful timing!).


Tell me a little about yourself/your site/how long/how many readers, etc. (And other Norwich fan sites: Are they great inter-board wars like there seem to be with certain QPR sites)?

The site in its current form has been going for about five years, and is part of the Vital Football network - one of if not the biggest independent network of fan sites - which gives us good interactivity with fans of other clubs.

There are quite a few different City sites about these days but I wouldn't say there are great inter-board wars (but maybe a little friendly rivalry). There are some I prefer visiting than others, but personally I just tend to avoid the others and that works for me!

We average around 40,000 visitors and between over a million hits per month so it keeps me extremely busy as well as having a full-time job and a newborn baby at home!


I guess your big rivalry is with Ipswich? And with Colchester, it's just a little cousin? What explains Norwich truly amazing gates? Did you believe Norwich would get relegated from the Premiership? And then the relegation a couple of seasons ago to "Divison Three" (whatever its official name)

Oh yes, definitely Ipswich. I think any rivalry with Colchester means a lot more to them than it does us, which is probably why their home game against us was their only sell-out.

It's hard to explain the gates but it's probably a combination of fierce loyalty and there not being a great deal of competition in the area!

Relegation from the Premiership wasn't a huge surprise but the way we slid down the Championship most definitely was - just goes to show what a difference it can make having a decent manager.


What do you think of the current Norwich manager? I guess he totally transformed your team last season after your opening loss led to the firing.

Paul Lambert can do no wrong at the moment. He has turned the club around since coming in from Colchester and with him in charge you feel that we are finally in good hands.


What do you think of the current Norwich Chairman and Board of Directors? Why are they involved with Norwich? Could they realistically have done more? You have quite a famous Chairwoman!

Delia has done a hell of a lot for the club but there will always be those who think she could/should have done more - particularly in the Premiership season.

The best thing the board have done for the club was to bring in David McNally as Chief Executive. He seems like a bit of a b*stard which frankly is exactly what the club needed to try and shed a little bit of this "nicey nicey" image.


How are Norwich doing this season? Are your currently at your peak? Are you surprised by how Norwich doing this season? Do you genuinely believe Norwich will make the top six?

We've started really well and I can't see why we can't hang around the top six. At the start of the season I'd have been delighted with a mid-table finish but to still be hanging on strong at Christmas is a really strong sign.


To what do you attribute the Norwich Success?

Everything comes from Lambert, from believing in themselves to getting the players to play a certain way.


Who are you Dangerman/Most valued/most overrated/most underrated players?

Grant Holt grabs all the headlines for obvious reasons but our most influential player this season so far has been Andrew Crofts. He arrived in the summer from Brighton and looks like a complete bargain.


Prediction for season promotion/relegation places - And how would that compare with pre-seaon prediction?

Well I think your lot have got one the automatic places tied up, and although Cardiff seem to be having a little wobble the fact that they can spend in January will see them over the line I reckon.

As for the play-off places, I'd be very happy if it stayed as it is at the moment (Swansea, Leeds, us and Reading). At the start of the season I'd have had Burnley and Derby in there but I'm not complaining!


What is your view and the general Norwich view of QPR?

Don't know about the general Norwich view of QPR but I've always had a bit of a soft spot for them. I think it's because when I used to do the old Pannini sticker albums in the late 80s QPR's was the first shiny I ever had!


Again: Many, many thanks to Vital Norwich's Michael Dilley