Mrs P and I own two terriers. I am well aware that several MFW regulars have dogs too and quite a few of you might relate to what is to follow.
One of ours is a four-year-old Patterdale named Geezer after Black Sabbath bass player and rabid Villa fan Geezer Butler. The other is Minnie, a two-year-old Jack Russell.
Now Geezer was chosen by us, trained by us and is an understated star of both the park and the beach as in that wherever he goes he is immediately appreciated and accepted by everybody. He is particularly good around other dogs. He’s also as hard as nails, a great little ratter and very much a team player.
Whereas Minnie is Mrs P’s rescue, as mad as a box of frogs and incredibly aggressive to very little effect except to inflate her own ego. She’s an occasionally effective maverick – she did get a mouse once, by default (it was Geezer’s assist and she finished it).
I was talking to a Norwich supporting mate over the park on Tuesday morning and he suggested our dogs had very much in common with Norwich City.
We likened Minnie to Nelson Oliveira, Steven Naismith and Ben Marshall and decided that Geezer would be a great squad player (or pack player to be strictly accurate).
Alex’s own Labrador-cross, Sara, never misses a ball thrown into her jaws so we compared her to Tim Krul.
To put all this sub-Crufts stuff into perspective, we concluded that sociability, fitting in, working hard and truly running with the pack is what has made our team so successful this season.
Daniel Farke quickly decided that Oliveira, Naismith, Marshall and Yanick Wildschut were basically the human equivalent of rescue dogs and let them all go to good temporary lodgings in order to eventually find a permanent home.
Farke and Stuart Webber also identified that all of ours who were “home-trained” from youth such as Max Aarons and Jamal Lewis were a much better bet and oh boy are we seeing the results – literally “on the park”.
And soon this squad will deservedly be on the beach. Sorry Geezer it won’t be Trimingham where we go, although with Onel Hernandez you never know for sure.
One of the major joys of this approach to me is that when in the future we are in competition to sign a few promising youngsters or “rough diamonds”, we will win the battle for those signatures because these lads know that if they join us they will get their chance if they prove themselves.
We already have fine players such as Adam Idah and Tristan Abrahams coming back from loan and Carlton Morris will be back to full fitness by the time we kick off the new season. Whichever League we are in.
Will any of those young strikers be part of next term’s squad? I cannot answer that. But Farke and his coaching team can and undoubtedly will as pre-season concludes.
The very, very best thing about “Farkeball” has been the established and well-observed team ethic. That is demonstrated so much during and after games that surely all of us are as one in getting behind and appreciating the concept.
We have nothing to fear in the next seven matches (okay, maybe Villa away – they’re on a roll – but it surely won’t matter by then).
One of the most important things I did when he was a puppy was to encourage Geezer to growl with disgust every time I said “1p5wich”.
Even Minnie has cottoned on to it and growls in higher-pitched unison with him.
Not having a dawg myself at the moment I cannot bring one to the squad, but I think my cat Casper is like Pukki, fast, good eye, never misses a ball (rolled up paper) as his name suggests he can ghost in without being seen.
Training, I have got him to sit when it is treat time, none of this wild action of busting through a wall.
I think Barbara Woodhouse would have struggled with getting dogs to growl at that name, her biggie was ” walkies “
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Hi Lad
Anyone who can get a cat to do anything except eat and sleep has my utmost respect.
When we’re at Mundesley Geezer gets to perform his early morning “ablutions” on the little Rec behind our house. Several cats lurk on said Rec and he’s as hungry as Pukki for the net if he sniffs or sights one. I hate walking him on a lead but there’s really no option as if I let him off it would be dog 1 cat 0.
Cesar Milan is the new Barbara Woodhouse.
Thank you.
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Well Martin, with the ‘Finnish’ line rapidly approaching, it’s been an amazing season and fans who’ve been regulars at CR for many seasons can’t remember a season as exciting as this one.
I was reading an article a couple of days ago which was looking at how many minutes both Brentford and Stoke (who have had to sit through four 0-0 draws!!) fans have not seen their team score a goal and I did some research for our fans and the last time we failed to score was when we played Hull on a dreadful night and they left the grass long in an effort to disrupt our passing game and it worked pretty well.
As you rightly point out it is the team ‘togetherness’ that has got us through many of our recent games and Zimmerman’s clearance on Saturday was world class – yet last season he was being written off.
You mention some of the young players waiting in the wings and whether any may be good enough for PL battles should we make it. I’m longing to see more of Idah (apparently some European clubs are interested) and fans should be able to get a chance to see him in the Under 23 game at CR next Friday. Tickets are free (you just pay postage if you can’t collect them) and KO is 7pm. Morris has also impressed when I’ve seen him play, as has Abrahams.
Interesting times ahead for all and I wonder if SW can find any more gems for very little money
Yes, I wonder where ‘Mr Argos’ will appear next – ‘one’ of the chippies in Cromer??
PS – I’m predicting that promotion will be guaranteed over the Easter weekend, so our predicting that promotion will be guaranteed over the Easter weekend, our fans can PARTY at Villa Park.
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I haven’t bothered training Buddy the Border Collie in the little 1p5wich growling thing as he’s not yet 2 and we’ll never play them again in his lifetime. My first home (for the first 18 months of my life) was a caravan park in Trimmingham-I’ll have to take Buddy there one day.
Nelson etc as rescue dogs is perfect. Perfectly nice most of the time but given to unexpected poor behaviour and you can’t trust them when you need to.
The rest of the pack are fantastic and look on course to be top dogs this season.
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Ha!
Love the line about top dogs this season – we deserve to be and that’s for sure.
If your Trimingham caravan park was on the Mundesley border “Sandy Gulls” our house is kind of opposite.
No point now in training Buddy in the 1p5wich growl as you so rightly say.
Geezer also knows “stand up if you hate the $cum” and acts accordingly as long as I brandish a treat above my head while singing it.
Thanks mate.
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Hi Ed
Some good observations there.
We’re due a party at Villa Park, especially after that last game of the season not so long ago at the Carra when they were singing “one Paul Lambert” as we retorted with “you lucky ba$tards you should have gone down”. The Villa weren’t out of order but it did grate a bit.
I’ve only seen Adam Idah once but I was really impressed. Strong and quick. I too like Carlton. I wouldn’t bet against SW and/or DF unearthing a couple of gems either – for every Franke there is a Zimmermann as has been proven by a totally revitalised scouting network.
No long grass at the Carra. The pitch looks like a billiard table and it’s now April
As for Onel, my bet would be on Mary Jane’s chippie. That newish one in Cromer – 101 or whatever it’s called – would probably not appeal to such a man of the people!
Thank you.
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AS a walker of rescue dogs, (Meadowgreen Rescue Centre, Nr Loddon), but not a dog owner, (work away), I could no doubt recall one to fit every playing position and character. However, the best attack by any hound on a feline was our Iwan’s, demolition of ‘The Muscat’ back in 2000.
Onel is most likely to be found on Gt Yarmouth Pier trying to win a cuddly toy and eating candy floss! What a lovely bloke he seems.
Exciting looking at the youngsters we have and with our fantastic facilities improving by the month the wise investment will make us and save us millions over the years.
Is it just me but I would now feel really uncomfortable if we signed a player for big money. A squad of stand out players is so much better than one or two ‘stars’. Just love the way we have gone about things under Webber & Farke, really suits the Norwich way. Top of the league shopping at Poundland rather than Harrods, I wonder how Fulham are feeling this morning??
Right to mention our playing surface Martin, what a picture it is. The club is being run so well it seems top to bottom.
Although I’m sure they take a back seat these days, Delia & Michael are both in their late 70’s now and we owe them so much gratitude and respect.
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Hi Colin.
Yes I totally agree with you that any big money signings (by our standards) could potentially ruin what we have in situ. Webber will not allow it and nor should he. This current crop very much deserve a chance at the higher level and with a few additions I really reckon we can cut it. I too would not welcome the 20019 equivalent of a Naismith or an RVW at the Carra.
We must not break the spirit, integrity or backbone of this squad.
If (when) we go up we will definitely need another striker. Che Adams or someone of that ilk would be just fine by me. PL rules on the make-up of matchday squads are slightly looser than those of the Championship so we have freedom to search abroad.
Although I have Fulham-supporting friends I have no sympathy for FFC whatsoever.
Yes Muscrat got his full come-uppance (I was there) and I am pleased that Iwan is so proud of what he did.
As for the dog thing, Minnie was a private rescue. This lass over the park had hauled her out of a hell-hole in Wisbech only to find she didn’t get along with her own dog. Gullible Mrs P turns up with a bundle of fluff in her arms and says “we must have her”.
Not being Stalin I reluctantly agreed. More fool me!
Great comment and thanks.
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Hi Martin;
We have Bailey who is a Border Terrier. aged 17 months so he’s still learning his trade.
He’s very quick; can do any number of tricks, (not sure about airborne back-heels!) and whilst his recall is good, he will only come back when he is ready to. Hopefully that will improve as he gets older.
Dare we compare him to the genius that is Emi Buendia??
O T B C
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Hi John
We had unofficial custody of a Border for a few weeks – they’re a bit like a Patterdale with shorter legs – as far as temperament is concerned anyway.
This very afternoon Geezer tried to keep up with a friendly lurcher. Geezer’s quick but not THAT quick!
He reminds me of Robert Fleck – a missile over ten or maybe twenty yards but after that forget it! He’s more of a Tom Trybull than anything else.
Sure compare Bailey to Emi – the comparative stature and terrior workrate allows that!
Thanks for a good comment.
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I too suspect that Idah may be part of the first team squad next year, and I wouldn’t rule out more youngsters being promoted from the U23’s.
As for dogs, my almost 14 year old border collie Molli sleeps most of the day but still happily has 3 walks and chases balls and the hosepipe. She can then barely walk for several hours. So I’m going with Alex Tettey – the knees and hips have gone, but the flesh is willing and he can still do a good job when called upon.
And I think Sheff Weds at home will be the one.
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Hi sgnsfc
I’ve heard great things about Adam Idah also and certainly the RoI development managers are speaking very highly of him too.
There are certainly a couple of the under 23s in there who – while nothing is certain – will be given every opportunity to break through. It’s so refreshing.
As for Molli my mate’s got a border collie about eight years old and she runs around like a mad eejit. Always back on his call though – they’re seriously highly intelligent creatures.
I guess Jordan won’t be allowed to feature against Wednesday.
Thank you.
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I doubt it Martin, which of course would have been a great opportunity for Idah, but unfortunately I don’t think he will qualify as “home-grown”.
I think you need 7 in the match-day 18 in the Championship, but 7 in the nominated squad of 25 or 26 in the Premier League.
No sympathy at all for Fulham – they outplayed us towards the end of last season, then tried to buy Premier League status without giving the play-off winners a chance. Looks like it ruined the dressing room – and will all those imports want to play in the Championship next season?? Somehow I doubt it.
Under the stewardship of Webber and Farke, I’m pretty sure that’s a problem we will not have!
O T B C
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Hi John – I get where you’re coming from.
Rules and regs in both football and general life are things I tend to steer clear of until they slap me round the kisser but I am sure you are right about young Idah.
Sure Fulham will be fractious between now and August but that genuinely is their problem, not ours,
You are so right to say Webber will not sanction financial excesses. Bl00dy good job too, says I.
QPR interim Eustace is already mouthing off about how hard they will fight on Saturday and can’t wait to beat us (yawn).
Thanks as always.
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We just need an early goal (or two!!) to shatter his and the handful of travelling fans dream!!! 🙂
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Good stuff, Martin – a very nice fresh perspective.
As you know, my usual style is to express a view & provide as good an argument for it as I can. Today I can only state my position; it’s one I can’t justify.
I’m afraid I’m a cat person.
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Ha!
I’ve no personal animosity towards our feline friends whatsoever. I actually quite like cats.
Unfortunately Geezer (particularly) and Minnie are less liberal in attitude!
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