Norwood

[Carlton Blade]

And my point is that his physical abilities had left him, and therefore left him horribly exposed, not that he hadn’t been very good when we were a decent side. I’ve never queried His professionalism but l don’t see him as a legend

I think his arrival turned that L1 winning team into a PL team (along with McGoldrick). One of the defining players of the era for me. impossible to say that he hasn’t divided opinion though.

 

[Ron_Justice]

For as long as l can remember, I'd said of United teams 'we need another Hodges'. Norwood is the new yard stick. He's going to take some replacing.

 

[JohnDenver]

l don’t see him as a legend either.

It’s a word that lacks a common definition around here. But that handful of players who took us up and on to 9th in the prem, and were involved in the second promotion last season….

In my lifetime they’re all up there with Brian Deane as the most worthy of that description.

 

[Sean Thornton]

Yu

It’s a word that lacks a common definition around here. But that handful of players who took us up and on to 9th in the prem, and were involved in the second promotion last season….

In my lifetime they’re all up there with Brian Deane as the most worthy of that description.

its a personal choice. Your definition above wouldn’t include JOC for example as he sadly wasn’t in promotion under Hecky. I’d be surprised if more fans didn’t think of him as a legend than Norwood.

Brian Deane as a comparison though?

 

[JohnDenver]

Yu

its a personal choice. Your definition above wouldn’t include JOC for example as he sadly wasn’t in promotion under Hecky. I’d be surprised if more fans didn’t think of him as a legend than Norwood.

Brian Deane as a comparison though?

They’re all below Deane, but closer than any others in my time. Its not just how I rated them as a player, but on sustained contributions to success.

Would I call them legends? Dunno, but they‘ll probably seem more like that in a couple years time.

 

[John Street West Terrace]

More than played his part in the sides that got us two promotions into the top flight & the side the finished 9th in our first season in the PL

That midfield was the greater of the sum of its parts and for that the bloke deserves thanks & respect , I’d probably say he was the missing cog from our first season back in championship to the one that got us promoted the following season .

Past his best the last 18 months & both he Flecky legs seemed to run out of steam at the same time . For all the stick the lad has had you’ve gotta give him credit for not ducking criticism, showed some bottle when he stepped forward this season to take that pen against Wolves & smash it home , the elation on his face said it all .
I wish the lad nothing but the best in his next venture , cheers Oli .
GLTTL

 

[dexter101]

Great and respected servant of the club I think.

He has done a wonderful job for us and although never nice to see someone not being as good as they once were, the fact he is still on the bench is probably more due to our squad than anything else. With some other clubs he would probably just not have made the match day squad and brought his experience and guidance to the squad on the training pitch.

Haven't given him a hard time, that isn't his fault and he has always seemed to be proud of the shirt.

All the best to him, deserves a huge send off on Sunday

 

[Bell4]

Deserves all the plaudits for how essential he was to getting United to the PL, and performing so well between 18-20. Gives a shit every minute on the pitch and gives his all, even when he's athletically overmatched.

People giving him grief are....Well I like it here so I don't want to get banned

He’s had some pathetic grief tbh

One of the best footballers I’ve seen in his halcyon days . But some who are no longer on this board gave him unbelievable stick .

Time has caught up with ON but he always gave everything - for £2m , what a signing - compared to some of the walking egos we have in the squad today .

I for one will happily carry him round the pitch on my shoulders after Sundays game whilst giving Bash a piggy back .

Great servants and great ambassadors

 

[Skiliman]

He took us to the next level single handedly when he came in. Great servant and owes us nothing

 

[blade too long]

had 4 great seasons with us but all he was good at deteriated rapidly , too often caught in possesion , completed pass rate plummeted, simply put speed of thought and action deserted him
he needs a fresh challenge, we need fresher legs, 33 year olds engines are like a car thats done 300k miles,

but a big big thank you for the many good to great days,

 

[CrookesBlade]

In my opinion the best midfielder since I started going in 93. Better than Michael Brown for me all things considered.

2 promotions and a 9th place finish in the Prem (the highest we are ever likely to finish any time soon). Also featured at Wembley in an FA Cup semi final.

No doubting that swapping him out for Doyle last season took us over the line but he still made a big contribution.

A club being properly run would have given him a handshake and carriage clock in the summer but we are where we are. Still gave 100% every time he was called on, even if his legs had deserted him.

Came in as arguably an upgrade on Paul Coutts who had been incredible in that role for 18 months and left a big hole when he got injured. Unlikely to see somebody in the red and white who can pass a ball like him any time soon.

 

[SwissBlade]

And my point is that his physical abilities had left him, and therefore left him horribly exposed, not that he hadn’t been very good when we were a decent side. I’ve never queried His professionalism but l don’t see him as a legend either.

I don't think his rapid demise this season has been entirely due to his diminishing physical abilities. He's also had poor players around him and opposition sides are more athletic, can press fasters and don't give any time. He's not had any protection for a while, something we've talked about generally but where Norwood is concerned there hasn't been enough around him to a) protect the ping and b) as a ping outlet.

 

[blades78]

He should be getting a standing ovation from every blade there on Sunday. A major catalyst in taking us to the Premier League (twice) and finishing 9th. As well as being a fantastic player for us, he's been a leader, rarely ever injured and all round great servant.

 

[Bell4]

He should be getting a standing ovation from every blade there on Sunday. A major catalyst in taking us to the Premier League (twice) and finishing 9th. As well as being a fantastic player for us, he's been a leader, rarely ever injured and all round great servant.

Spot on

Imagine what we would give now for ON 2018/19

 

[adiosmiamigo]

In my opinion the best midfielder since I started going in 93. Better than Michael Brown for me all things considered.

2 promotions and a 9th place finish in the Prem (the highest we are ever likely to finish any time soon). Also featured at Wembley in an FA Cup semi final.

No doubting that swapping him out for Doyle last season took us over the line but he still made a big contribution.

A club being properly run would have given him a handshake and carriage clock in the summer but we are where we are. Still gave 100% every time he was called on, even if his legs had deserted him.

Came in as arguably an upgrade on Paul Coutts who had been incredible in that role for 18 months and left a big hole when he got injured. Unlikely to see somebody in the red and white who can pass a ball like him any time soon.

He always seemed as though he wanted to here at the club,don't know about legend but he certainly contributed to our success,best wishes to him wherever he ends up,GLTTL.

 

[Carlton Blade]

It’s a word that lacks a common definition around here. But that handful of players who took us up and on to 9th in the prem, and were involved in the second promotion last season….

In my lifetime they’re all up there with Brian Deane as the most worthy of that description.

Deane will always be top for me but that's probably because he made his debut in the first season I started going. He was my childhood hero.

But Norwood, Duffy and McGoldrick are the 3 that will always stand above everyone else in this era. Not because they were the most effective players, or the best for the longest time. Just the ones that I identified most with

 

[Grandmanasty]

It was obvious from his first game with us that he was a class act. Almost single handedly turned us from mid table respectability to premier league contenders.
His display against Villa in the 4-1 win at The Lane is probably the best performance I can remember seeing from a Blades midfielder.

 

[KiwiBlabe]

I would have kept him. He could still help see out games at Championship level. As someone said earlier, his demise has been exaggerated by those around him.

Always gives everything, I would have loved to have played in a team with characters like him and Bash in it.

Thanks for everything Oliie and good luck in what comes next for you.

 

[TJ blade]

He was probably at the end 2 seasons ago, but been a fantastic servant to the club, owes us nothing thanks Oli

 

[Norwood's 6 iron]

In my opinion the best midfielder since I started going in 93. Better than Michael Brown for me all things considered.

Michael Brown had one terrific season, 02/03 but we failed to win promotion that year. His goals that season, both quantity and quality will most probably be never repeated by a midfielder.
Norwood was far more consistent over a longer period and was instrumental in getting the best out of the squad of players that we had.
Unfortunately a lot of people will put MB ahead of Norwood because of that one season.

 

[Houston_Blade]

Fantastic Championship promotion winning midfielder and captain for a few years.

Hope he looks back on his time here fondly and also goes on to do a job at a level where he doesn’t need pace and athleticism to influence a game.

 

[Edgar Allan Poo]

He’s had some pathetic grief tbh

One of the best footballers I’ve seen in his halcyon days . But some who are no longer on this board gave him unbelievable stick .

Time has caught up with ON but he always gave everything - for £2m , what a signing - compared to some of the walking egos we have in the squad today .

I for one will happily carry him round the pitch on my shoulders after Sundays game whilst giving Bash a piggy back .

Great servants and great ambassadors

Don't forget that you also promised to play leap frog with me. I'm sure you can still manage that with Bash & Norwood in tow.

 

[Edgar Allan Poo]

A rarity amongst footballers. Never hides from play and never gets injured. A great contribution but leaving at the right time.

 

[LondonBlade89]

In my opinion the best midfielder since I started going in 93. Better than Michael Brown for me all things considered.

2 promotions and a 9th place finish in the Prem (the highest we are ever likely to finish any time soon). Also featured at Wembley in an FA Cup semi final.

No doubting that swapping him out for Doyle last season took us over the line but he still made a big contribution.

A club being properly run would have given him a handshake and carriage clock in the summer but we are where we are. Still gave 100% every time he was called on, even if his legs had deserted him.

Came in as arguably an upgrade on Paul Coutts who had been incredible in that role for 18 months and left a big hole when he got injured. Unlikely to see somebody in the red and white who can pass a ball like him any time soon.

I’ve written on here before about it so I’ll save chapter and verse but it was still mad how we’d tried to replace Paul Coutts (still personally one of my favourite players) with various different players but when Norwood stepped in it just worked. It was instant. I don’t think I’ve ever seen anything like it. Suddenly everything felt good again with our trajectory.

 

[Mendi]

All the best to him.

 

[CrookesBlade]

I’ve written on here before about it so I’ll save chapter and verse but it was still mad how we’d tried to replace Paul Coutts (still personally one of my favourite players) with various different players but when Norwood stepped in it just worked. It was instant. I don’t think I’ve ever seen anything like it. Suddenly everything felt good again with our trajectory.

It felt almost too good to be true finding a centre midfielder to drop right in and pick up where coutts left off.

As you say we signed Lee Evans and the lad from Millwall who I’ve already forgotten who were both not up to it. Also still carrying the scars of previous centre midfielders we’d signed who did nowt (Ebbrell, Howard, Britton, Legsofwood etc)

 

[CPB]

Norwood in the first promotion to the PL was excellent and was arguably the last piece that made the difference.

Alot is being made of Wilder's signings but the Norwood one does show how he could correct if making a relatively poor one.
He's always been a bit hit and miss, but until the PL the fee's were not as great. His first season here we had James Wilson and Chris Hussey. Yet we also signed JOC, Fleck and Duffy.

He was never afraid to bin off signings if needs be. But when you've spent big sums this doesn't really work finance wise.

That season before Norwood did sign we had Lee Evans as our CM. We then loaned and then sold Lee Evans to Wigan and we were wondering why given he was mostly steady. (Aside from a wonder goal vs. Boro)
3 days later Norwood arrived to replace and it was a clear improvement even before he played, just based on Norwood's previous. He was execellent for a good 18months after that.

Grbic is being touted as a massive error. Which it is. But a replacement for our number 1. will arrive this summer and I'm sure it will be better. It needs to be of course much better.

 

[Bell4]

Don't forget that you also promised to play leap frog with me. I'm sure you can still manage that with Bash & Norwood in tow.

I’ve already made plans to put you down the front of my chinos peeking out over my snake belt

Think Kangaroo

 

[LondonBlade89]

Norwood in the first promotion to the PL was excellent and was arguably the last piece that made the difference.

Alot is being made of Wilder's signings but the Norwood one does show how he could correct if making a relatively poor one.
He's always been a bit hit and miss, but until the PL the fee's were not as great. His first season here we had James Wilson and Chris Hussey. Yet we also signed JOC, Fleck and Duffy.

He was never afraid to bin off signings if needs be. But when you've spent big sums this doesn't really work finance wise.

That season before Norwood did sign we had Lee Evans as our CM. We then loaned and then sold Lee Evans to Wigan and we were wondering why given he was mostly steady. (Aside from a wonder goal vs. Boro)
3 days later Norwood arrived to replace and it was a clear improvement even before he played, just based on Norwood's previous. He was execellent for a good 18months after that.

Grbic is being touted as a massive error. Which it is. But a replacement for our number 1. will arrive this summer and I'm sure it will be better. It needs to be of course much better.

I have absolutely no insight on how we handle recruitment and where some of these signings have come from in the Premier League but it certainly feels as though we’re heading back more towards our comfort zone for whatever reason that is. While he didn’t hit on every one, far from it, we’ve had some almighty hits. Which you cannot say for any of our top level signings.

 

[CPB]

I have absolutely no insight on how we handle recruitment and where some of these signings have come from in the Premier League but it certainly feels as though we’re heading back more towards our comfort zone for whatever reason that is. While he didn’t hit on every one, far from it, we’ve had some almighty hits. Which you cannot say for any of our top level signings.

Exactly. Let's be honest no manager or director of football ever gets 100% hits with transfers.

Sir Alex has some pretty big blemishes on his signing CV. Anyone remember Bartez? In fact this Onana isn't exactly looking brilliant either.

Look at man city with Kalvin Phillips even. And letting Cole Palmer go even.