Son Of Wiz

Oops Sorry, just confirmed not in squad so 2+2=?

Now confirmed our end, looks like you've got him.

Does this help you Roma? http://www.pinkun.com/norwich-city/chris_hughton_wes_hoolahan_has_got_the_message_at_norwich_city_1_3255199

So we should indeed be expecting Hoolahan to sign shortly? Howcome Norwich changed their minds? Have we? When? Ahh Son of Wiz, it seems Norwich have finally succumb to the persuasive skills of Mr Faulkner. It was an inevitability my friend... Maybe so friend, all I know is he trained with the first team yesterday, so it'll be interesting to see if he's in the squad tonight against Newcastle.

So we should indeed be expecting Hoolahan to sign shortly? Howcome Norwich changed their minds? Have we? When?

I agree with a lot your post on principal, but Hoolahan has played 9 games this season - 4 of which have been substitute appearances. I don't know how this fits in with being a "first team player" but I'd assume you won't be getting a transfer fee for him after this window (31 year old, not playing regularly, lack of time on his contract). What are Norwich honestly holding out for? You'd almost be better selling him for £750k given the lack of impact he's having on your season. iF he set up or scored a goal against us which helped relegate us, quite a lot actually!

How does it make you feel? Fed up to be honest mate and sorry for Wes caught up in it, here's that ITK article: Mick Dennis Lift's the Lid a Little. Norwich City have complained formally to Aston Villa about their pursuit of Wes Hoolahan – and have received a curt reply. The exchange of letters between the two clubs demonstrates the deterioration of relations between them and explains why Norwich, who have rejected a transfer request from Hoolahan, are especially determined not to sell him to Villa. Norwich wrote complaining that Villa manager Paul Lambert had publicly extolled Hoolahan’s ability, despite the Norfolk club saying he is not for sale. Villa wrote back merely acknowledging the receipt of the Norwich letter and “noting its contents”. The acrimony between the two clubs stems from events after Lambert left Norwich for Villa 19 months ago. There was an escalating series of bad-tempered exchanges between Lambert, people representing him, and Norwich chief executive David McNally and chairman Alan Bowkett. There was more bad blood when reserve goalkeeper Jed Steer followed Lambert to Villa Park last summer. Then Villa bid £750,000 for Hoolahan at about the time the 31-year-old Republic of Ireland midfielder reported that he had picked up an injury and could not play in the FA Cup third round tie against Fulham. Hoolahan also told Norwich staff, verbally, that he wanted to join Villa. Norwich manager Chris Hughton told the Norwich board he wants to keep Hoolahan, who had just forced his way into the first team. So Norwich told the player they had no intention of selling him and refused at first to even talk with Villa about the bid until after a tribunal hearing about goalkeeper Steer. Once that tribunal had made its ruling – that Villa must pay £450,000 immediately and, in theory could hand over up to £1.75m – Norwich rejected the offer for Hoolahan. The popular midfielder – the only survivor from the era before Lambert lifted Norwich 54 places in three seasons – reported that he was fit but “not in the right frame of mind” to play. Despite that, Hughton has continued to select him as a sub. This week Hoolahan submitted a written transfer request, but insisted: “There has not been any big row or anything.” Norwich rejected the request and have told him again that they do not intend to sell him. That remains the position privately as well as publicly. I understand that the only circumstances in which they might be prepared to part with Hoolahan in this transfer window is if they could sign someone better at his sort of role – operating centrally just behind the main striker. Even then they would want at least £3m for Hoolahan and would still not want Villa to be his destination. They regard Villa as direct rivals in their attempt to secure a fourth successive season in the Premier League. In 2009, soon after he had arrived at Norwich , Lambert tried to sell Hoolahan. And, if the Scot had remained in charge at Carrow Road for the summer in which he moved to Villa, he would have sold Grant Holt – the striker with whom he has now been reunited. Lambert’s list of players he wanted to move on had already been presented to the Norwich board when he decamped to Villa. Holt was on that list. In the event, however, Lambert left and new Norwich manager Chris Hughton gave Holt a new contract. The striker stayed for one season under Hughton in the Premier League before joining Wigan for £2m last summer. After scoring just twice in 19 appearances for Wigan he accepted a loan move to Villa for the rest of the season.

The bottom line is we not sell to Villa regardless of the offer, period. Thats from a respected ITK journo M Dennis this morning. This is getting well spiteful now imo.

None taken samjp26, for what little its worth I believe we should sell Wes but I just don't don't think we will now.

According to ITK Journo's down here there isn't a cat in hells chance we'd ever let you have him now, rightly or wrongly there's too much bad blood between Lambert and our board. Of course sadly, the real loser in all this is Wes. http://www.pinkun.com/norwich-city/paddy_davitt_brinkmanship_is_not_a_winning_formula_in_wes_hoolahan_s_norwich_city_exit_strategy_1_3236241

You really shouldn't, Bowkett (chairman) McNally (ceo) pull the strings these days .

If it was any other club I think we'd move Wes on, but its not, its Villa and LAMBERT and our board really have a downer on him atm. Our fans however would probably sell a player who doesn't want to be here.

I think you'll get him, rumour here is that Wes wants out but the Lambo saga has left a bitter taste with our board.

I'm ashamed to be associated with that idiot, you've got a one off, good luck Grant.`

I think its just personal now, between our CEO and the God Lambert.

Rumour here is he's not happy: http://services.pinkun.com/forums/pinkun/cs/forums/3042886/ShowPost.aspx

He is very settled in Norfolk, but like our fans he loved Lambert too.

A great penalty taker and ball player, he would be a huge miss if this happened.

According to todays Sun (yes, I know) you're making a £3 million bid for our Anthony Pilkington, whats odd is that he's still out injured! And I think thats what we paid for him.

No arguements from me, Hughtons been awful of late imo, can't see us winning this, 2 nil to you sadly.

Norwich fans call him "McNasty". I gather that is a compliment and an insult. It is a compliment full stop, David is a hero in this neck of the woods and rightly so.

Gutted, a top young keeper, better than our young under 21 international Declan Rudd imo, will fit in well with your set up, he was 4th choice here which seems harsh to me.

Anthony Pilkington is much better, yeah? Not imo, Pilks often goes missing in a game, when he's good he's very good, but when he's bad............ Benno on the other hand is more steady, again imo.

For what little its worth, he's one of my favourite players at City, quick and a great crosser. But I have no idea whether a transfer is on the cards or not, I would be sad to see him go.

I do miss Wiz insisting Lambert will dump us after any amount of success. It got me concerned after recent back-to-back wins. Ah old Wiz, a strange chap for sure, well done on your win at our place, now we're left hoping Wigan lose. I think Paul Lambert will be with you a while yet btw.