Barney Ronay from today's press conference...

Barney Ronay has news from Carrow Road. "Paul Lambert cut an eloquently mute figure in his press conference this morning ahead of tomorrow's opener against Wigan. Not just stony-faced but stony-tongued, stony-lipped and generally... stony. This is of course just his way, and it has worked very well for him.

Personal highlights included:

Q: What emotions are you feeling ahead of your first taste of the Premier League?
A: No emotions.

Q: It was your birthday this week. How did you celebrate?
A: I'm not one of those people who are bothered.

Q: You must surely have some thoughts on what the Premier League will be like?
A: Yeah. But I'm not telling youse.

Lambert is a very impressive man and clearly a fine manager. But it will be fascinating to see if the relentless yammering of the Premier League changes his tone a little. He did say he was very close to signing Daniel Ayala from Liverpool. And also that Norwich were going to stay in the Premier League by "winning games"."

Posted By: bird table, Aug 12, 11:53:21