We were really excited to see Billy Gilmour go out on loan this season, after a couple of campaigns flirting with the Chelsea first team.
Going to Norwich seemed a smart move – they were in the Premier League, but were low down enough to want him in their first team.
It didn’t work out as well as hoped though, by any stretch.
Firstly Daniel Farke didn’t seem to like Gilmour’s style, and ended up barely using him.
When Dean Smith replaced him, he certainly used the midfielder more, but the team were doomed to relegation by then, and the young Scot never found his best form.
That lead to a host of abuse from some Canaries fans, something which his international and club teammate Grant Hanley was asked to address.
His take on Gilmour’s quality was clear:
“It’s clear to see Billy is, and is going, to be a top, top player. Obviously he was involved in a team that got relegated so he will naturally be disappointed. But in football, as in general life, if you have a setback or go through a tough period, you learn from that. When Billy learns from that he will come back a better player. There is no doubt in my mind he will be a top player. You see that in his performances,” the defender said in quotes picked up by The Scotsman.
We trust Hanley above some frustrated Norwich fans, but above all we trust our own eyes.
We’ve seen Billy perform at a superb level against some top teams for Chelsea. One dodgy season won’t change our minds.
The boy is good i like him alot