Andrew Surman in action at the Liberty Stadium. Photo: Paul Chesterton/Focus Images
Andrew Surman enjoying career ‘purple patch’ at Norwich City
Michael Bailey
Wednesday, February 15, 2012
8:49 AM
Andrew Surman feels he is enjoying the best football of his career in the Premier League – and the goals are coming too.
Andrew Surman feels he is enjoying the best football of his career in the Premier League – and the goals are coming too.
The 25-year-old, who made his name at Southampton where he rose through the ranks, has scored four goals in his nine games since returning to Norwich City’s starting XI at the end of November.
In fact, in a midfield manager Paul Lambert has regularly tweaked this season Surman has started 13 of City’s last 14 Premier League fixtures.
The statistics represent a much more enjoyable top-flight spell than the left-footer’s season-long stay at Wolverhampton Wanderers in 2008-09 – a £1.2m move earned by Surman’s impressive outings at the Saints.
And given Surman’s Premier League goal exploits, it is feeling more enjoyable too.
“I think when you are playing in the Premier League, playing against better players, you have got to play better and be a better player,” said Surman. “And you are playing with better players as well, so I think it brings the best out of me personally.
“So I think I probably am playing the best football of my career. The main thing is getting a run in the team and playing in a team that is full of confidence, and then you can really express yourself.”
Surman notched three goals in 22 appearances for Norwich last season and has proven to have goals in him in the past – including eight in the 2005-06 Championship season for Southampton and a hat-trick against Barnsley in 2007.
Arguably Surman should be sitting on at least five goals this term. The midfielder saw Michel Vorm puck his first half header out of the air at Swansea on Saturday, while seven days earlier he smashed a glorious chance against the underside of Bolton’s crossbar in the first half of City’s 2-0 home win.
Fortunately the latter was made easier as Surman finally broke the deadlock with 20 minutes to go to see Norwich on their way.
“I was really relieved to get that goal,” he said. “I was pleased obviously personally because I missed quite a good chance in the first half, so personally it was good to score but the main thing was to win the game really.
“But I’m having a good run with goals at the moment and hopefully it will continue. It’s always nice scoring goals and especially when they help the team win, so I am pleased and hopeful I can chip in with a few more.
“I’m probably going through a bit of a purple patch at the moment which I am really pleased about and hopefully it will keep going.
“Probably getting a run in the team helps. If you get that run in the team you build your confidence up and we have had a string of good results as well, which breeds it throughout the squad.
“But I said at the start of the season there is competition for places here and whenever a chance comes when you’re going to play, whoever gets that chance, you have got to take it.
“Benno filling in at right-back against Bolton, he had hardly played there in his life but he was fantastic there and still catching the gaffer’s eye, even playing out of position.”
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31 comments
This is a football board. Comments not invited on the relevant board for good reason at this time, I`d imagine. Respecting private grief, not public scrutiny.
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Mad Brewer
Friday, February 17, 2012
I think that the man's family and friends should get a some respect on this board. You can call me a twerp if you like but leave them out of it.
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Swiss Canary
Thursday, February 16, 2012
Soglio, all that stuff about the pig farmer?? I got the super puns ref Oberon and Titania. Was not implying you are a twerp! Do I need to re-read MSND? Memory fading!
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Mad Brewer
Thursday, February 16, 2012
No Brew, just trying to continue the 'Nights Dream' analogy.
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Soglio Star
Thursday, February 16, 2012
Twerp.
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Mad Brewer
Thursday, February 16, 2012
I was born on a pig farm and have a lot of sympathy for that poor man and his family.
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Swiss Canary
Thursday, February 16, 2012
So its OK to talk about football but not the shockingly bad editorial control in the case of the accusations against Mr Brown. I remain disgusted by the way the EDP went to town on the man on the word of an activist group whose actions probably border on the criminal. When the EDP prints, press releases from Hillside and similar organisations-does the editor ever closely examine their websites or inquire into their trustworthiness? We are still an agricultural county, is the EDP happy to see farmers intimidated by dirty tricks from those who think none of us should eat meat?
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Daisy Roots
Thursday, February 16, 2012
nice pun, canarydownunder! Could imagine Crocodile Dundee saying that!
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Mad Brewer
Thursday, February 16, 2012
I can't see it with Surman I'm afraid. Seems very over-rated to me he often plays the wrong pass and lacks composure and energy. Can't wait until Howson is fit he will slot in nicely.
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stevo88ncfc
Thursday, February 16, 2012
Ged - you're a 'Tit arn yer"!
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canarydownunder
Wednesday, February 15, 2012
Sogstar, are you suggesting our players are fairies?
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Mad Brewer
Wednesday, February 15, 2012
As has silky skills and can pull the stings for others to play..
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Soglio Star
Wednesday, February 15, 2012
Is PL our Oberon?
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Soglio Star
Wednesday, February 15, 2012
His skills are silky, though perhaps not as blessed with the pace of some others.
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Soglio Star
Wednesday, February 15, 2012
Another player PL 'plucked' from reserve team duties and encouraged to blossom.
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Soglio Star
Wednesday, February 15, 2012
AS probably benefitting from more time and space in Prem.
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Soglio Star
Wednesday, February 15, 2012
Still no ...
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Soglio Star
Wednesday, February 15, 2012
Mary had a little lamb ...
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Soglio Star
Wednesday, February 15, 2012
AS is probably benefitting from having more time and space in the Prem. He has lots of skills, as shown by winning u21 recognition. Another excellent PL find - pucked out of reserve football...Is PL our Oberon?
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Soglio Star
Wednesday, February 15, 2012
The talk of a purple patch reminds me of a classic darts interview between Peter Purves ( ex-Blue Peter presenter + surely too middle-class for darts) + the Scots roustabout Jocky Wilson. Peter Purves congratulated Jocky on his "purple patch" to which Wor Jockee replied " Ah dinnae ken wort ye mean aboot a purple patch but Ahm playin a lot betta..". You couldn't make it up....
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Timbo
Wednesday, February 15, 2012
You should know.
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Mad Brewer
Wednesday, February 15, 2012
Lord, what fools these mortals be
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Swiss Canary
Wednesday, February 15, 2012
Thanks, SussexYellow. It was a Dream I had one Midsummer Night!
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Mad Brewer
Wednesday, February 15, 2012
Pheasant pucking maybe.
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Peter Watson
Wednesday, February 15, 2012
Goals from mid field are essential at this level and Surman is not afraid to have a go, he's an asset to the squad.
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cutty
Wednesday, February 15, 2012
oh shakepearean puns now, I like it! The standard of this board is improving somewhat.
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SussexYellow
Wednesday, February 15, 2012
Holt was magnificent and Jacko has put in two incredible shifts in the last two games, the way he held the ball up and kept the big defenders off him was fantastic. Surs has been a revelation though he still needs to increase his self belief, I heard him in a recent interview saying, "Usually I can't hit a barn door", that is not the sort of thought you need when an opportunity pops up. Tactics, commitment, training, ILWT.
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Swiss Canary
Wednesday, February 15, 2012
And I agree with you ref Simeon, jh! I thought he wouldn`t make it either but he`s a jack-in-the-box now. Shows that in Lambert we must trust! OTBC.
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Mad Brewer
Wednesday, February 15, 2012
Totally agree MB, could say the same about Jackson. When I saw him early last season, he was constantly being knocked off the ball but finished the season on a high. Seems to have started quietly in the Prem but is gradually chipping in with some strong performances. I don't think we've seen the best of this fella yet.
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jharding
Wednesday, February 15, 2012
That save by Vorm was Robin` a Good Fellow. The little Imp! I was wrong about Andrew Surman. I thought he looked a tad lightweight for the Prem. but, like many others, he has flourished under Lambo`s Regime. Looks a class act just now. Long may it continue.
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Mad Brewer
Wednesday, February 15, 2012
Interesting, "The midfielder saw Michel Vorm puck his first half header out of the". That Michel Vorm is definitely a little pucker, especially of half headers. This is certainly adding to the specialist language that is evolving around NCFC. For example, on canaries.co.uk we have Cinnamon Jackson who sometimes manages to get on the end of a "pork" cross. Steve Garland blames predictive text.
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Swiss Canary
Wednesday, February 15, 2012