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If you’re looking for a City ‘Survival Guide’ you’ve come to the wrong place. Pass.

24th February 2009 By Rick Waghorn Leave a Comment

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As ever in these fearful times, there is an expectation on many of us to deliver our predictions – a game by game City 'Survival Guide' between now and the end of the season.

That, I'm afraid, is beyond me. So, apologies.

I've honestly no idea how Norwich will do at home to Sheffield Wednesday on Saturday, April 4.

And nor do I have much of a clue how the Canaries will fare away at Queen's Park Rangers next Tuesday night.

And I'm not going to pretend otherwise.

Who would, for example, have predicted that Ipswich would go to Loftus Road on Saturday night and win 3-1? And all at something of a canter, it seems.

I wouldn't have fancied Barnsley to win at Sheffield Wednesday; Norwich to take four points and eight goals off Wolves; Coventry to beat Birmingham; Southampton to beat Preston… the list goes on and on.

To say 'That's the beauty of the Championship…' is missing the point.

There's nothing beautiful about the Championship. Just look at Burnley.

The fact that 'anyone can beat anyone on any given day…' is not a sign of quality; quite the reverse. Ask any Championship manager and they'll say the same thing; that nine times out of ten, they're never wholly sure what team will turn up.

The one that's half-decent a little more than half the time. Or the team that struggles to be even half-decent even half the time.

So as the years pass, picking up the fag end of a Championship fixture list and trying to pin three points on the donkey gets ever more like the blind leading the blind.

I don't know. Can Norwich beat Reading at home? Yes, if they can beat Wolves at home.

Will they beat Reading at home? No idea.

Reading could be already up; Charlton could be already down. If Coventry win their FA Cup replay against Blackburn Rovers tonight, what's the chance of all their thoughts being on that sixth round tie with Chelsea in 11 days time? High.

Do I want to get myself injured at Carrow Road on Saturday and miss the day out with Drogba, Terry and Co? No. Do I want to make damn sure that I'm in the Gaffer's plans for the Chelsea game by playing well at Carrow Road on Saturday and making sure he can't leave me out? Yes.

Take 16 players and you could divide those two, opposing schools of thought right down the middle. Eight of the boys looking after themselves for the next week; eight of them busting a gut to get on the team-sheet…

Who knows?

So what do we actually know?

That the level of anxiety, fear and panic will increase between now and the end of the season? Yes.

So, perhaps, on that score you might start to factor in players that – as yet – play with 'No fear!' written large on their forehead; players that have yet to be through the mill of professional football; who – thus far – have enjoyed nothing but success.

Cody McDonald. Korey Smith.

Do they look bovvered? Nah.

And if Championship survival ever went to penalties would I bank my house on Declan Rudd keeping Norwich up? Yes.

Is there a better feeling around the place than there was six, short weeks ago? Yes.

Having spent the last 16 years hanging round first at Trowse and then Colney for an underpaid and vulnerable living, you do get a certain sense of these things; you can pick up on an atmosphere.

And Colney doesn't have the atmosphere of a funeral parlour any more. There is a strong feeling of the boys wanting to do well for the new Gaffer. They like him. And his pals.

Doesn't make them better players overnight; certain aspects of their game are hot-wired into their DNA; you're not going to change that overnight; for some, it is the reason that they are in the Championship in the first place – that the eight-out-ten consistency demanded of a Premiership player is beyond them. Hence they are at Deepdale; at Portman Road; at St Mary's.

But it might – just – make them stretch that extra inch; stay switched on for that extra second.

Much has been made of that Burnley result. For some, it remains another two points dropped. As is my wont, I'll keep the glass half full and see it as a point gained.

You don't lose games. And while 12 points won't be enough to save City's skin, it is a platform you work from.

And under other managers and under different atmospheres, Norwich would have lost that game 2-1 – Chris Eagles' late, late sucker punch would have flown in, not way over.

That's the straw that I'd cling to – and I'd not be too concerned about the fact that in doing your survival sums, Burnley (h) was a three-point banker. It had to be; cos you had City to lose at Loftus Road next Tuesday. After all, we always lose there…

And whilst the twitchy-fingered jury may still be out on Gunn's loan arrivals, the point is that he now has more options at his disposal than his predecessor – he has more bodies to play with. Two of whom, at least, have yet to experience failure on a football pitch.

And that could yet be telling as and when push comes to shove over the next three months.


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Filed Under: Column, Rick Waghorn

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