As tempting as it is to wallow in the searing afterglow of Saturday’s win, it’s time to look forward.
To lap up the acclaim and kind words that have headed in our direction since Saturday teatime is one thing; to milk them for all they’re worth is human, but to prolong the celebrations beyond a couple of days is maybe giving too much ammunition to the ‘little Norwich’ crew.
As wonderful as it was – and it was – as the Premier League have yet to make it six points for a win against the big six, it was worth the same as that win over Newcastle.
And of course, there’s that age-old quote about only being good as your last performance, which would render the Man City win limited in its shelf-life if we go to Burnley and bomb.
A West Ham-type performance at Turf Moor wouldn’t half bring us back down to earth with a bump, which is a possibility.
As Daniel Farke was quick to note post-City, it was only right for the fans to celebrate a win that was right up there with the best the club has achieved, but equally, for him and the players there was (and is) no room for laurel-resting or to get carried away with the hype that ensued.
He was going to permit himself a coffee and a slice of cake on his sofa on Sunday afternoon and that was as far as it was going to go. There were to be no Mayor Kenny type shenanigans this time around with some training on Sunday morning!
Instead, there are the positives from Saturday to build upon. So many.
Whether any of the wounded will make the squad for Saturday remains to be seen – Mo Leitner, Mario Vrancic and certainly Grant Hanley reportedly have a chance – but really, how do you change a team that tilted the footballing world on its axis?
To have to call any of those starting XI into the office and explain that they will be starting on the bench at Burnley would be a massive blow to the cajones, and Farke doesn’t tend to deal in those. The group will still be buzzing and he’ll be wanting to embrace and use that adrenalin surge, not quash it.
But, as he’s already said himself, Burnley will be a completely different game and as an event, it will be another world.
When Man City come to town they bring with them a media glare almost like no other, and with that comes an intensity and sense of occasion that, with the best will in the world, is not replicated when you go to Turf Moor.
And then there’s the game itself.
Again, with said best will in said world, Burnley will offer a technically very different challenge to City, and one that in many ways is equally challenging.
This won’t be a game of chess. There’ll be less in the way of technical and tactical sparring but instead, it will be a more traditional game of English football, where grit and grizzle trumps fluidity and style.
Sean Dyche, armed with a squad more Big Sam than King Pep, will demand his troops deny City the time and space to play the liquid football that has become our thing, and which they seamlessly slipped into on Saturday as they found their way around the Man City press.
Beating the press by sticking to our philosophy… 🤗👏 #ncfc pic.twitter.com/16bSPQI7r1
— Norwich City FC (@NorwichCityFC) September 16, 2019
In turn, this will make for a totally different game and the space that Emi Buendia, Marco Stiepermann and Todd Cantwell were afforded by Man City between the lines will be non-existent on Saturday.
All three had, arguably, their best games of the season, helped by Pep believing they could simply outplay us and not squeeze us in those central areas – opting instead for the high press. Dyche will try and deny the trio the opportunity to get on the half-turn and make things happen from there, as is their wont.
Farke and co will know this of course and there’ll be a plan. There’s always a plan.
But in terms of a spectacle, it will obviously be different to last Saturday and there won’t be 25,000 roaring every save, block tackle and surge upfield, even though the travelling Yellow Army will do their very best to replicate it.
So, please let it not be an after the Lord Mayor’s show moment. Let’s reset and go again.
Never Mind The Danger
I too am wary of the classic “anti-climax” game which can follow after a massive victory.
Thinking back to last season, after our impressive and emotional 3-0 victory at home to Ipswich we had to travel north and play Preston away a few days later. The Preston game produced a very rare defeat for Norwich after under-par performance. All the luck seemed to have been used up in the Ipswich game too, with nothing but bad luck to endure at Preston. Lets hope the confidence gained from beating Man City produces a result more similar to Bolton away, which followed Preston a few days later.
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I see that following the PR disaster over ticket allocations, especially away tickets, one of the “fans consultation” meetings is in Burnley on Saturday morning.
It will presumably be attended by those who managed to get Burnley tickets, and don’t therefore have an axe to grind… Brilliant!
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To be fair, I don’t think anyone has missed out on Burnley tickets – they’re still on sale now. But there will be northern-based fans in attendance who missed out on Liverpool and know they will be in a scrum for Man Utd and other future local games.
It’s a good move from the club to take the consultations around the country and a Saturday morning ahead of the game makes total sense so as many Northern Canaries can attend as possible. I attended the London meeting last week and it was a very worthwhile exercise, with a few axes ground but also good debate and new ideas from the floor, and an obvious willingness to listen from the club.
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That’s interesting because when I went on the ticket site on the day that they became generally available (2nd September) the Burnley date was marked as “sold out”. I presume they must have managed to increase their allocation. Oh well, it’s too late for me now – I’ve agreed to be elsewhere as I thought there were none available. Damn!
I think the fan’s forums are very worthwhile by the way and holding some where exiles can attend particularly so.
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It will be very much like playing a typical championship side, Emi will need shin pads and padding everywhere, tempers and frustration will have to held in check. I know how unfair it would be to draft Hanley in, but it will be a game he is more capable in, high balls and crosses. But it would be an injustice to do so. Say what you like about Hanley, he was only half fit but was more than prepared to chuck hs body out there, he was there at the end with the players on the pitch; and rightly so.
We can guess, but will have to wait until the presser, when the news is released on bumps, knocks and injuries. Those 3 points on Saturday come in the bonus category , games like this Burnley one where points should be added . 1 away from home is not at all bad. 3 would be another terrific achievement
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Great article as usual, Gary.
My wallowing ceases forthwith, I promise.
Well, just as soon as I’ve watched that second goal again………….
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Bring it on boys, Man city shot themselves in the foot with their arrogance, this will be your biggest test so far, good luck
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Bigger than Liverpool at Anfield?
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Morning Gary
Exactly so, defeat at Turfmoor will be a bitter pill indeed. It will be a tight, scrappy affair. We will squeak a 1-0 on the road to get those clean sheets rolling. Unchanged 11 for me. Farke will be pleased if there is competition for places. Byram along with Buendia was outstanding. I don’t see how Max displaces Sam if he keeps that level up, unless the manager specifically wants more of an offensive outlet down the wing?
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I think the one change you could make is to put Hanley in & push Amadou into MF. I say this because Alex is such a fantastic guy that he would accept it with good grace, realising that Ibrahim is, because of age as much as anything, the more dynamic player & offers a little bit more.
Having said that I’d have no problem whatsoever in playing exactly the same team (perhaps not 2 goalies on the bench though!).
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That’s a very good call.
As I’ve said previously, Paddy Roberts on the bench for Michael McGovern is a bit of a no-brainer, but apart from that I don’t know what will be in DF’s mind.
Your point about the Hanley-Amadou-Tettey change is valid indeed.
I would expect Hanley to have the Indian sign on Chris Wood so maybe it will happen.
Let’s see!
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Hi Gary
As usual a very good read.
The good news so the Telegraph is saying is that Webber has agreed a new 3-year contract and is due to sign it after the weekend. If it’s agreed why wait?
Sad news about Fernando Ricksen, once of Glasgow Rangers, who has died aged 43 of MND. My condolences to his family – such a young age.
As someone has already mentioned, Hanley would be a good shoo-in for defence in this game and Tettey played out of his skin last week – is he fit for another hard game this week and just might be good to come off the bench.
Loserpool had the wind taken out of their sales last night as well as Chelsea – will we see 2 more English teams get a bad result? I hope not.
Back to City, once of our manor Danny Mills just said City played well but Man City rested players – can’t he for once just give us some real credit.
Onwards and upwards
OTBC
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Where did Mr Mills say his piece, Alex?
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On his morning sky he mentioned De Byruner rested and a couple of others
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I don’t think DF will make any unforced changes to the starting eleven, but I think McGovern’s place on the bench is in peril. With Amadou, Tettey and McLean the team should be able to cope with the added physical threat that Burnley will provide.
I’m happy to place the last game in the part of my memory reserved for the best events in my life and look forward to the rest of the season. I will however, at every possible opportunity, tell Wolves and little 1p5wich fans to mind the gap
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