My Football Writer Norwich City news… comment… analysis
Norwich City – news, comment and analysis
New Canary keeper David Marshall appeared quietly satisfied by Saturday's events – another clean-sheet, another sure-footed, sure-handed effort at the heart of that City rearguard.
“It's a tough place to go,” said the 22-year-old after this weekend's 0-0 draw at Deepdale.
“Last season we lost here, so we looked to do better than last year. And a point's better than nothing. Maybe disappointed in terms of going forward, but I think we would have lost that …
As ever, City boss Peter Grant refused to shy away from his side's failings. There still ought be a 'Work in Progress' sign stuck somewhere in the midst of his new-look Canary outfit.
But given the last two trips to Deepdale had yielded a big, fat zilch for the ever-faithful travelling support, yesterday's opening point was not to be sniffed at.
They might only have ben left with little more than Darel Russell's hopeful header to cling to in terms of …
With all the Darren Carter and Ryan Shawcross comings and goings – or rather, goings, but not comings – it's been bit of a busy week or so.
The kind of busy week which, amidst the usual pre-season 'hullabaloo', can led to certain events not getting much of a mention by part-time columnists such as your dear old Stanley.
The event which your man here refers to is the departure of Youssef Safri.
Safri's departure is of note for three reasons, which …
Tucked in the backroom of a city pub earlier this week, Rick and the boys who pen the Stanley column line up the pints and chew over the pre-season as the big kick-off hovers into view.
The very first podcast in a season-long adventure comes for free – for the next one it'll be a perk for subscribers only. At just ?1.50 a month we're pretty much giving it away… well, we've got to pay the bar bill somehow.
Will Dickson shine at the stadium of light? What went …
After the Canaries somewhat dejectedly left the pitch at Hillsborough following their 3-2 defeat at the hands of Sheffield Wednesday in last game of the season back in May, the vast majority of City fans would have no doubt been hoping and praying that when they next saw their team take to the field in a competitive match the Canaries' starting line would be much different than the one that they had just seen lose it's twenty-first game of the campaign.
For just like in the …
After yet another topsy-turvy week in the life of Norwich City, Canary winger Luke Chadwick sounded a battle cry ahead of the season opener at Preston North End tomorrow. Peter Grant's men are ready ? at least, most of them are ? and raring to go. Bring it on.
Despite the sickness bug which has swept through Colney this week the mood in the camp is positive. The time for talking is almost over.
“Everyone is really upbeat actually and we all can't wait for the …
Norwich's very own 'International Man of Mystery' stepped a little further out of the shadows this week as Julien Brellier fielded reporters' questions for the first time since his official unveiling five, long weeks ago.
Norwich City Independent Supporters Association helped ease the one-time Inter Milan midfielder into the limelight by coughing up ?70 to buy a big French tricolour off E-bay. Not any old flag, mind.
This one came fresh from the Tynecastle …
Suffice to say, Canary boss Peter Grant will have had better weeks.
Six short days ago and he seemed very nicely placed for tomorrow's opening fixture at Preston North End with just Darren Huckerby's groin to worry about.
Even then the summer's pre-season friendlies had suggested that both Chris Martin and/or Luke Chadwick could comfortably slip in to any temporary hole that City's two-time Player of the Season might leave; he's dug Safri out to …
In many ways (Yes, brace yourself, there's a list coming…), the return of the football season is like the return to school after the summer holidays.
There are lots of shiny new uniforms in evidence, though there are a few people hoping no one else will notice they're still wearing last year's slightly tatty one.
There are a number of unfamiliar names (or 'new bugs') on the register?
'Right everyone, we've got some new people …
Canary midfielder Andy Hughes will start the new season 15 points adrift at the bottom of League One after this evening joining Leeds United for “an undisclosed fee”.
The 29-year-old has signed a two-year deal with the crisis-hit Elland Road club and ends what most would describe as a difficult, if big-hearted, two-year spell in Norfolk.
Hughes had long been rumoured to be featuring on Dennis Wise' hit-list – his move north being put on hold whilst Leeds waited for the …
New City skipper Jason Shackell today insisted that being everyone's under-dogs for a pop at promotion suits the Canaries just fine.
The News Of The World got that under-whelmed ball rolling at the weekend when they pencilled the re-built Carrow Road side in for a 16th finish in ten, gruelling months time.
Above Ipswich Town, but below two of the Championship new-boys Bristol City and Blackpool – and a further three behind this Saturday's opening opponents, Preston …
City boss Peter Grant this morning steadfastly refused to be drawn into revealing just who might not have the stomach for the fight at Deepdale on Saturday as BBQ-gate continued to leave a sickly smell over his best-laid pre-season plans.
The Sun this morning suggested that the likes of Jamie Cureton, Chris Martin and Jon Otsemobor were among the 30-plus members of Canary staff and their families struck down by the mystery sickness outbreak following the club's traditional …
There's a word which appears to have become more and more common in the world of football.
It's a word which can answer one question and yet pose several more at the same time. This word also has the power to suggest something is more exciting than it actually is. It might even be the most used word in football's vocabulary at this time of year. ?Undisclosed…?
Is it just me or are more players than ever before moving to their new clubs for an …
'Get Carter!' provided a headline or two in this neck of the woods today.
Well, someone has indeed got Carter – and he'll be at Deepdale on Saturday. Playing for Preston North End.
For as old Ferret wandered about tonight, there it was – on the Lancashire Evening Post website. As lifted, you suspect, from the official site. A big, Lilywhite welcome to Darren Carter…
And nothing undisclosed either – ?1.25 million. Or, at least, could be once every …
Hopes of a fresh, healthy face popping up before boys board the bus to Preston look to be on the wane, that's the word in Ferret's ears.
Darren Carter – once whispered to be heading back here if Safs had gone off to The Hawthorns – and United youngster Ryan Shawcross are the two names doing the rounds of late; neither seems immediately imminent as both Sir Alex and Baggies chief Tony Mowbray figure out what they're going to do this season.
Likewise old Curbs at …
So the friendlies are done and dusted, a new squad is almost in place, and the 2007-8 football season is baring down upon us.
Alphabetically we are mid-table; according to some ex-Man Utd flop writing in the Sunday papers, we are set to finish in the bottom third.
Amongst Stan's mates are those who think that the nucleus of a successful team is there and ready to go, and there are those who think we are heading for another campaign of mediocrity (and worse).
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City boss Peter Grant today revealed just how desperate Chris Brown is to play on Saturday after the 22-year-old insisted from his hospital bed that he would still be fine for the big kick-off.
With the club officially confirming this morning that it had been victim of a violent sickness outbreak following the club's traditional pre-season barbecue on Sunday – with four senior players among the 30 reported affected – it was an injury of the most traditional kind that was foremost …
Old Ferret has to be a bit careful about this. And it might be best if you digest the full implications well after your breakfast has gone down.
But the word on the street tonight is that that the proverbial has not so much hit the fan as the pan up at Colney and beyond – courtesy of a severe bout of food poisoning in the aftermath of the club's traditional pre-season barbecue.
The full details will become clearer in the morning. But it appears to have been quite a …
As one or two of the more observant among you will have recently noticed, there's been the odd tweak to the site overnight.
Suddenly there's a chance to comment; to have your say. Oh, and he now wants some money…
Less than the price of a pint, to be fair. And in an ideal world, you wouldn't charge; it would be access all areas for now't as Ady's Skips, Fincham Demolition and the British Army put the odd roll of bread on the Waghorn table.
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New Canary No1 David Marshall this afternoon revealed just how much he is enjoying life outside the goldfish bowl of Glasgow football.
There the football is raw and tribal; here, the two East Anglian tribes are the better part of an hour apart; life isn't lived under quite such a microscope.
Instead, he can just go about his working life unchallenged; he can even walk the streets of Norwich unrecognised – something that could all swiftly change if the 22-year-old …