Quality is all that matters for Grant Holt, whether from Leeds United or not

Wes Hoolahan is replaced by Luciano Becchio for his Norwich City debut at Queens Park Rangers on Saturday. Picture: Paul Chesterton / Focus Images

Michael Bailey Tuesday, February 5, 2013
11:28 AM

Grant Holt is aware of the growing contingent of former Leeds players at Carrow Road – but he does not expect anyone to complain about their quality.

Grant Holt battles for the ball on the floor with Shaun Derry, with summer recruit Sebastien Bassong watching on. Picture: Paul Chesterton / Focus Images

Striker Luciano Becchio’s arrival on January transfer deadline day made it four ex-United players on City’s books, with Bradley Johnson, Jonny Howson and Robert Snodgrass all having come up against Norwich for Leeds during the clubs’ battle for the League One title in 2009-10.

Now Becchio will be aiming to settle into his new surroundings following his brief debut at a substitute at Queens Park Rangers – and Holt is more than happy to have him on board: “I think we must have a direct debit with Leeds or something,” smiled the City captain. “But you don’t mind as long as you are bringing in quality, which we are.

“I don’t think anyone can argue about Howson, Snodgrass, Johnson and Becchio – bringing in players like that. I think if you asked any Leeds fans they would be bitterly disappointed, but to bring in that quality it doesn’t matter where you get them from. We are just fortunate we keep nicking it off their team.

“Becchio is a good player; everyone has known that for a while. We’ve seen him in the Championship and we know what he can do. He is aggressive and it is competition. That is what we will thrive on.

“I’m sure the manager can play us together if he needs to. If not we might even have to rotate.

“But that’s football and we get on with it. You look at it as the greater good for the club and that is staying in the division. That is massive for us.

“There is no doubt when you look at it, we have not got the pot of gold like QPR where you can just go out and spend whatever they spent on Thursday. We have got to do it the right way and we are doing that, and if we stay up it puts us in an even better position next season.”

Holt added: “It doesn’t matter who the manager brings in, he can bring in whoever he wants as long as we stay up… people keep coming into this football club and for some reason I am still here, so I must be doing something right and I’m just going to continue to do what I do.”

After holding off the Premier League’s bottom club on their own turf, the Canaries’ attentions can turn to ending their run of eight league games without a victory.

And although things have been tough for Chris Hughton’s squad since their last top-flight victory – at home to Wigan on December 15 – the City dressing room has kept a level head throughout.

“Yes, we’re fine – of course everyone will talk about it and say we are doing this and doing that, but you look at it and we are in a good position,” said Holt. “We’re still not far off people who are supposedly having a good season and if you put it into context, we had not won in six but we also hadn’t lost in 10 before. So if you put it over the 16 games then you would’ve been happy with that.

“Everyone has seen that we’re working hard and giving better performances, and I think at QPR it was one of the better performances we have given away from home this season.”

One not so glorious away day this season was the very first – and while some will want to avenge Fulham’s 5-0 opening day victory at Craven Cottage when Martin Jol’s side visit Carrow Road on Saturday, Holt remained more philosophical.

“I think we owe everyone one,” said the striker. “We know what we do well at home and I don’t think anyone would want to come to Carrow Road and play us, so that is good for us.

“They are just games. It’s not about how many you get beaten by, it’s about points. It doesn’t really matter if we beat them 1-0 or whatever. Points are points. If you get beaten by five or six, it’s still being beaten as if it was one and it still hurts.”

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13 comments

Ho ho! More lateral thinking from The Crab. How ya doing, old buddy?

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Mad Brewer

Wednesday, February 6, 2013
No Timbo - change it to the other way round - Rangers Park Queens!

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The Crab

Wednesday, February 6, 2013
Indeed Swiss. These Q (uite) P (robably) R (elegated) players are trying to get way too friendly. Perhaps they should change the club's intitials to YMCA .....?

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Timbo

Tuesday, February 5, 2013
To build on Timbo's original point, what is Shaun Derry trying to do to The Horse?

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Swiss Canary

Tuesday, February 5, 2013
McNally asked him to buy his own ticket.

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Swiss Canary

Tuesday, February 5, 2013
Mick McCarthy has bought an entire new team, got the Nectar points and even gave Marcus Evans some change! All that for the saving on Clegg's £150,000 per year salary! The marvels of EBay.

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blackdog2

Tuesday, February 5, 2013
Kamara is on his way, he may take Pilks's place against Fulham he is after all a Winger\striker. We might even go and attack!

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MBA Marine

Tuesday, February 5, 2013
This is quality buying for you, are they going to Poundland or Lidl? This has to be the joke of the year, Dipswich funding for transfers! Ipswich Town chief executive Simon Clegg is leaving the club, it has been announced today. Owner Marcus Evans made the surprise announcement this morning. Clegg will not be replaced, and it is understood that Evans himself will take a more hands-on role. Some of Clegg’s salary, believed to be about £150,000 a year, will be available for manager Mick McCarthy as he aims to build a first-team squad capable of challenging for promotion from the Championship. What can they buy for that?

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blackdog2

Tuesday, February 5, 2013
Totally agree with sharky. What we lack in style from Holt we more than make up for with his quality. His name should be the first one on the team sheet every week. His energy and enthusiasm is a great example to all the team

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Timberman

Tuesday, February 5, 2013
Steady on CM85, it's only been a few days. Paperwork takes as long as it takes. Sometimes you have to put together the evidence to support the application. He also needs a bit of time to sort out his affars over there.

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Preston Canary

Tuesday, February 5, 2013
whens kamara going to play? If you look at his twiiter account he hasn't left the states yet, he should be over here in contention for saturday, whats the point of signing him if the paper work is taking this long?

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cm85

Tuesday, February 5, 2013
You only have to look at the commitment of Holt ffrom the pictures on here. Keep going son as it looks like you will be ploughing a lone furrow for a while.Maybe if we are one down with 20 mins to go you might get some help. I hope. Surely not a straight swop. OTBC

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sharky

Tuesday, February 5, 2013
Have Bassong + that QPR player just met on "Take Me Out"..?

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Timbo

Tuesday, February 5, 2013