Picture the scene, I’m nine-deep in a queue for the bank with only a 20-minute lunch break and an elderly gent has begun a full-on rant with the bank clerk.
“How are City top? They’re not that good, Answer me, I know you can’t, how have they managed to accumulate that amount of points and be clear at the top?”
The clerk goes to draw breath but before he can answer the man answers himself.
“You can’t tell me can you, I mean their defence is terrible, I’m not sure I agree with the manager’s signings either…” The clerk looks bemused.
At this point the inner wrath of Anita was about to force me to leapfrog the people in front and tell this man exactly what I thought. I took a moment to see how I was going to negotiate the barrier, and there was a very small gap between two members of the older generation blocking the way.
Just as I decided I was about to make my move, the man starts again…
“I mean de Bruyne is supposed to be the best in the league, but you can’t base a team around one player…”
Suddenly the obstacles were a blessing in disguise. They’d also saved my embarrassment.
The gentleman was now just eating into my valuable time.
Not only did this incident prove just how a conversation can easily be misconstrued but also how opinionated football can make us all. As individuals and fans we all have a little piece of inner football management eager to get out.
Last season, for example, we had even more budding replacement managers ready to take the helm of our beloved Norwich city than Ipswich had fans.
Oh how the tide has turned.
Where is the man with the dog who’s forever telling me, “He’s gonna be gone next week I’ve heard!”
And the dad at my son’s football… “I’ve heard the board are no longer supporting the manager – he’s for the jump.”
Surprisingly, neither of these people have appeared this season – surprisingly they’ve avoided me!
I have also seen a fair few remorseful souls on social media, pleased to be eating humble pie. At least they can admit it.
Just a note – I’m still waiting for an apology from all those that constantly called me a “happy clapper” 😜 but, jokes aside, I love that everyone is enjoying our football and there is harmony. Long may it last.
No one can take away the atmosphere, home and away, or seeing our fans respond to Daniel Farke as he salutes the Barclay at the end of a game, raising the crowd to a rapturous roar, not once, not twice, but THRICE – pointing to his chest to signify how much it means to him.
I think I love him… hmmm…
Oh (ahem), where was I?
We all want to believe something special is happening.
The same however cannot be said about our neighbours down the road and they’re not a happy bunch at the moment. As amusing as it is to you and me, you can’t but help wallow in the “careful what you wish for” adage.
This could so easily have been us if we had listened to some and got rid far too soon.
As much as I ridicule them, it’s sad to see what is happening to that team in Suffolk. They really do appear to be in our shadow at the moment.
I loved our time under Paul Lambert, but he’s not unfortunately gone on to achieve much after he left us for the dizzy heights of Aston Villa.
I’ve heard it said that it was the drive of Ian Culverhouse and Bryan Gunn’s signing of Grant Holt that led to his rise. But sometimes it’s just a team and a manager that click. Can Ipswich get that lucky in League One?
I’m not that interested to be honest – but I am hoping that right now we are rewriting a new chapter.
Whatever the outcome, I’m going to jump up and down and shout from my lower Barclay seat and enjoy every single second while it lasts. Exciting and enthralling it most certainly is.
Imagine if the man in the bank was talking about our “City”!
Hi Anita
A very good (and very original) piece for the gloomiest morning of the Autumn/Winter interchange so far.
I loved the bit about the old boy in the bank. We’ve all suffered from that – I’ve almost turned purple with vexation in HSBC in the City for just the same reason on several occasions. However many of my jackets sport the NCFC badge and there is invariably somebody near me in the queue who will strike up a sensible conversation about football which makes the wait bearable.
As for the plight of the Binners? The irony to me is that they coined the phrase “Mind the Gap”. What goes around does indeed come around.
Enjoying it while it lasts is very much the key – I’m loving it!
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Hi Anita
As with Martin a very good read.
Rescently I was looking at Lambert’s record as a manager coming diwn from Scotland he fell on his feet at Wycombe as Culverhouse was a coach there at the time and Karsa was football operation they all left for Colchester, Norwich and then Villa.
His time st villa started off quite good but then the rumours started that the backroom staff were bulling the players and in short shift both Culverhouse and Karsa were gone and Lambert luck started going down hill and both have said they will not work with him again.
Being a cynic were they the real deal and Lambert took the credit for there hard work on the training field, The great Brian Clough said that Peter Taylor was the real coach in the partnership he was the mouth piece and what a mouth piece so was Lambert in a similar mould we will never know but he is long gone.
My critic’s are close to home all my family support other teams 3 son’s all Spurs, wife is Man U but they all like to see city have good results but will always remind me there are 38 games in a season so not to count my chickens to early and at present that is a hard thing to control.
Wether we like it or not the bubble will burst it is how Webber and Farke handle the down turn and the supporters don’t go from one extreme to the other.
The best news we are waiting for is that Team Farke has agreed an extension to his contract followed by Klose.
Transfers out is the big talking point is Oliveria going Besikitas have reported all is agreed with city but city have said no talks have been done we will have to wait and see😯😯
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I’m also a bit sad about the state of Piswich at the moment, if I’m honest, but only because I want City’s unbeaten streak in the Derby to hit 20 years -or more- at least. I’ve really enjoyed this one, Anita, keep up the good work. Best from the US.
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I read £95m is the debt owed to Marcus Evans. Blimey football is crazy, Ipswich are in a precarious position and although this won’t be popular I for one want to see their fortunes turn a corner. Opinion defines footy fans and rivalries intensify the passion. I’d rather be beating that lot in the Premier league than not playing them for years to come.
I’m so happy too as for the first time in 3 seasons my kids, (in their 30’s) will be able to join me for the Derby game just after Christmas. My first game with my eldest was in the Premier League in 1994 v QPR and she was hooked. I just love your comment Anita “Whatever the outcome, I’m going to jump up and down and shout from my lower Barclay seat and enjoy every single second while it lasts. Exciting and enthralling it most certainly is.” – Sums it up for us all!
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I hope the Derby is yet again a good one for all involved. Norwich based of course x
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Hi Colin
I really appreciate your viewpoint on the Binmen and totally understand where you’re coming from.
However if they sunk without a trace I wouldn’t shed a single tear.
If only the season could finish in early December:-)
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Totally agree re Ipswich. Always most fans of both sides look forward to most when the fixtures first come out.
I for one would like to have seen them both in the PL, but at my advanced years I will never see that happen.
Their situation is interesting. All their fans wanted big Mick gone. During his reign they were never in danger of going down. Worked wonders with next to no cash to work with. Who will forget those two games in the play offs?
As they say be careful what you wish for!!
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Lovely article Anita, and really laughed out loud at: ‘Last season, for example, we had even more budding replacement managers ready to take the helm of our beloved Norwich city than Ipswich had fans.’ Oh my, we certainly did, and it doesn’t take much for many of them to resurface again!
Personally, love the fact that DF is refusing to get caught up in anything right now, and is just keeping his squad focused on, and competing to be part of, the next match day, The competition is what is really helping to drive the team forward at the moment. No player can afford to rest on their laurels, since if they do, they won’t be playing the next match.
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My as fans we can be fickle, but it’s good we can laugh at ourselves…
I’m so glad that DF is managing to keep the whole squad grounded.
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A most enjoyable read Anita and the analogy with De Bruyne was particularly relevant I feel. So much of our play last season went through Maddison, which invariably slowed down the attack and gave all the opposition defenders time to regroup.
By comparison, Pukki’s goal against the Owls was 13 seconds from Whittaker’s pass until the ball was in the back of the Owls’ net.
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