Norwich City's determination to hang on to captain Grant Holt made a big impact in the dressing room. Picture: Paul Chesteton / Focus Images

Russell Martin - Keeping Grant Holt proves Norwich City are aiming high

by Paddy Davitt Tuesday, February 7, 2012
10:26 AM

Russell Martin believes Norwich City’s determination to hang on to Grant Holt in the January transfer window was a clear signal the Canaries mean business in the Premier League.

Martin’s former Peterborough team-mate Ryan Bennett and midfielder Jonny Howson joined the club last month, but it was the rebuttal delivered to Rangers following their deadline day bid for Holt that spoke volumes within the City dressing room.

“There was no uncertainty in our group that anyone would go at any point,” said Martin. “When they put in a bid for Holty it was quite late on. It would take a lot of money to let him go from this club.

“When the manager came out and said that no one was going, we knew as players that no one would go. We’re lucky the club has stayed strong, the manager has stayed strong and we’ve shown our ambition.

“It might have been easy to say ‘Yes, we’ll take some money for one of our players’ but not at all. He’s been massive for us. He’s our captain, he’s a big character on and off the pitch and it was a bonus to keep him.

“To be honest, I’m sure there are a few clubs looking at a few of our players because of how well everyone’s done and that’s the way football is.

“There will always be speculation but we’ve kept our group and it’s a strong group and we’ve added two more who will definitely be of benefit to the club. We’re in a stronger position now than we were a week ago, so it’s brilliant stuff for the club.”

Martin himself made a permanent January switch from London Road in 2010 and the defender feels both Bennett and Howson fit the Lambert template.

“It’s worked up until now so I hope it will continue to work with two very good players,” he said. “I know Benno a little bit from Peterborough. I was there a couple of months with him.

“He’s a young player with a lot of potential, very comfortable on the ball, very composed for a defender and he will be a good signing.

“Jonny we played against a few times over the years and he’s been one of the best players in the Championship for a couple of years so they’re both really good signings, they fit the mould in what the gaffer has brought in up until now.

“Jonny unfortunately is injured at the minute, he’ll be back in a few weeks, he’s fitted seamlessly into the squad, he’s a really nice lad and Benno’s the same. He’s quite quiet, unassuming and he’ll fit in really well.

“I don’t think in many other places you’ll find the team spirit and togetherness that we’ve got in this squad. It’s played a big part in the last few years and I hope it will continue to do so in staying in this league.”

Norwich’s fellow promoted rivals QPR splashed the cash in the closing hours of the window on the likes of Djibril Cisse and Bobby Zamora, but Martin insists finance is not the deciding factor in Premier League survival.

“It helps having the money QPR have because they can go and get players who are proven in the Premier League,” he said.

“But what you have here that you probably haven’t got at many other places is the desire and hunger to prove themselves at this level and players who have just needed a chance to do that and have worked their way through the leagues.

“Someone has taken a chance on them and they have proved themselves in the Championship and hopefully are now proving themselves in the Premier League.

“The gaffer’s given everybody a chance here, so everyone wants to repay the manager.

“Teams with the money, players perhaps when they’re on that much money look out for themselves a bit more.

But here it’s about the squad and about the team doing well because ultimately the team has to do well for us to prove ourselves in the Premier League and we have to do well together to stay in it.”

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17 comments

Ja, richtig.

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Mad Brewer

Friday, February 10, 2012
Nochmals ethered?

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Mad Brewer

Friday, February 10, 2012
It reappeared, DaveG! I am so pleased for Holt that he has proved his doubters so wrong. I was watching Norwich v Everton in the pub and we were all regaled with a non-stop "Holt-bashing" session from one of the intelligentsia. Then Holty scored that brilliant goal which showed what a skilful player he is. And the one v Chelski. And Liverpool. It`s not just goals, either (ether!). His all-round game, his leadership, his confidence and positional nous are all top-hole. Why was he not recognised until so relatively late in his career? Nottingham Forest are largely culpable, I believe. Wasted him. He certainly wouldn`t waste away in Scotland. Into the nose-bag would go, in addition to the "Scottish Salad", deep fried everything from pizzas thro` mutton pies, black&white pudding suppers. battered sausage suppers, haggis suppers, fish suppers (healthy option with deep-fried lettuce, or extra grease on request). And the obligatory deep-fried Mars Bar! Stereotyping session over! I loved my time in Scotland. Put on 3 stone in same number of years! Drybrough`s beer was partly to blame. Holty just MUSTN`T go there. OTBC.

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Mad Brewer

Friday, February 10, 2012
If that is right, that is an insult to our Horse. I would not even let them pet him for that.

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Swiss Canary

Wednesday, February 8, 2012
Agree with a lot, DaveG but vetoed by the Davitt Minders! OTBC.

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Mad Brewer

Wednesday, February 8, 2012
Dave G sad to say, you are right. Scottish football has sunk to the basement. When I worked in Edinburgh there were star players and teams. Not just Rangers and Celtic. Hibs, Hearts, Aberdeen and the Dundees were at least giving it a shot. Mind you, that was 1972! Holt is worth, in the current silly market, at least £4m? He was signed for a tenth of that. Paul Lambert and his team have worked on him and with him and he`s now half the man he used to be! Imagine what Caledonian Cuisine might do to him. Scottish Salad=Plate of Chips etc, etc.

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Mad Brewer

Wednesday, February 8, 2012
Working in Scotland, the papers have numbers of 500,000 or 1,000,000 that was bid for Grant. Even the Norwich of old would have baulked at that for a striker scoring goals in the Premiership and on a long term contract. The Rangers fans here know they had no chance and accept it as a publicity stunt by Rangers. The man has worked his way from Non League standard to the Premiership, i watch the SPL and he would not like to go back to the Non League standard that 90% of the games are

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DaveG

Wednesday, February 8, 2012
I wonder how many current Norwich players will look back in a few years time and think "joining Norwich was the best career move I ever made"? Every player who has survived under the PL regime has improved. Those that couldn`t cut the mustard have quietly moved on. These were mostly Gunn signings (the single survivor being one G.Holt and he`s done quite well) but PL is not afraid to move on his own, eg S. Smith, A. McNamee and O. Johnson. But their time at City could have done them a bit of good. Maybe not Smith, he was in too much of a hurry to get home to Scotland. Or Preston.

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Mad Brewer

Wednesday, February 8, 2012
Oh, Yarco, memories! To the tune of "Mighty Quinn". Horse1 wasn`t a bad player either. But Holty`s a one-off. Similar in build. Brick built outhouse springs to mind. OTBC.

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Mad Brewer

Tuesday, February 7, 2012
Big John Manning heads it back from the far post and Hugh Curran nods it in at the near post. Yarco you beat me too it! However, sacreligous as it may be, Holty reminds me of Ray Crawford who was The Binners CF, a great character.

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Swiss Canary

Tuesday, February 7, 2012
Mad Brewer I can remeber singing the song Come on without Come on within youve not seen nothing like JOHN MANNING!

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yarco

Tuesday, February 7, 2012
Mad Brewer I can remeber singing the song Come on without Come on within youve not seen nothing like JOHN MANNING!

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yarco

Tuesday, February 7, 2012
Way back we had a player called John Manning. He was affectionately nick-named "Horse". Not only is Holt a "thoroughbread", but he uses his loaf, too. I have him down at the bookies for a Bakers` Dozen of goals this Season. With a slice of luck. Then we can all toast his success. Anyway, going to Rangers would have relegated him 2 Leagues and the diet up there would have put him to waist. OTBC.

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Mad Brewer

Tuesday, February 7, 2012
Keeping your best players will bring the club far more money by keeping in the Prem. than a one off signing fee. Stay in the Prem. and get big bucks or get relegated and end up struggling for money again.

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goldie

Tuesday, February 7, 2012
Holt has proved himself a thoroughbread, where many expected him to be a carthorse. Benefits from not being a showpony.

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Soglio Star

Tuesday, February 7, 2012
There'll be no horse-rustling around here pardner!

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Swiss Canary

Tuesday, February 7, 2012
The horse is going nowhere ! The days when bigger clubs could stroll in + sign our best players are long gone.

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Timbo

Tuesday, February 7, 2012