My regular reader (cheers Mum) will know I’ve done little else but whinge and moan about the international break and should therefore be chomping at the bit ahead of City’s return to league action at the weekend.
And I am, but still can’t help feeling a tad anxious about tomorrow’s trip to the Cardiff City Stadium.
For a start there is the potentially painful return of Anthony Pilkington to worry about. While his form since that famous header against Manchester United headed in a southerly direction there was never any doubt that when fully fit and with the aforementioned bit between his teeth he had potential to hurt teams.
Alas in the last eighteen months the perfect Pilkington storm failed to materialise; so much so even when fully fit he found himself on the periphery of the starting XI as opposed to being slap bang in the middle of it. To coin a phrase he flattered to deceive.
The Pilks that twisted and tormented full-backs upon his arrival was a very different beast to the one that departed westwards with his tail between his legs.
We have since learned that for the best part of two seasons he was looking for a move and I guess – with this presumably being common knowledge in the dressing room – his performances reflected it.
But it was a shame. A fully fit and firing-on-all cylinders Pilkington was a handful and allied with his two-footedness he could have had a big say in City’s final, and ultimately fruitless, Premier League campaign.
But with an injury record that pushed Darren Anderton all the way in the ‘sicknote stakes’ his time in trenches was sparse. A move ended up being the only option for both parties.
As you have probably gathered by now, I have a niggle that an ‘up for it’ Master Pilkington could turn up tomorrow and give us all an uncomfortable afternoon.
Let’s face it, the sight of an ex turning it on when faced with a mass of yellow and green jerseys would hardly be a new phenomenon. We only need to cast our collective eye to the Cardiff goal to be reminded of that.
God knows, it’s almost a given that David Marshall will have a ‘worldie’.
Ever since he flew out of the Carrow Road door quicker than you could say ‘wait for me Sammy…’ he has been on the receiving end of the Yellow Army’s wrath. Yet, invariably it’s the Scot who emerges the victor. (A Scot on whom we’re itching to unleash a dose of the old ‘I told you so’ having the last laugh – sound familiar?)
All too often those who – in the opinion of the City faithful – deserve ‘the treatment’ are allowed off the hook. It’s something that, over the years, we have specialised in.
Off then top of my head (*awaits bald jokes*) I can only recall dear old ‘wait for me Sammy’ Clingan falling fully foul of the Snakepit on the day we celebrated promotion. Beyond that joyous occasion I can recall few opportunities where we have had the final say.
And of course there is also the Tom Adeyemi factor to consider. While Tom is not one for whom there is an ounce of resentment from the Yellow Army, one suspects there is nothing he would like more than to remind Norwich City FC of what it missed out on.
Unlike his Academy cohort, Korey Smith – who at least did get a chance (albeit a relatively brief one) to display his wares at first-team level – Adeyemi was rarely afforded the same opportunity. We heard plenty of his academic and footballing prowess but given Paul Lambert’s haste in taking us to the Promised Land the chance to patrol the centre of City’s midfield never presented itself on a regular basis.
While I’m not expecting talk of grudges it would be perfectly natural if Messrs Johnson and Tettey come face to face with a very driven and motivated Master Adeyemi at 3pm on Saturday (First goalscorer – Tom Adeyemi 20/1 anyone?)
Oh, and then there’s Kenwyne Jones. The pain of him bludgeoning the ball home from close range back in February to make it 2-1 for the Bluebirds is still a little raw. And he has previous too.
The Trinidadian also played the role of City party-pooper back in August 2011, when his 90th minute equaliser denied us an early win in our first season back in the Premier League. In fact he is one of an ever-growing band who, while unexceptional for large chunks of their careers, choose to save their best when faced with a team adorning yellow and green.
But… having said all of that, and despite my best efforts to convince myself otherwise, Saturday is a game City can win.
The confidence is high, the squad well-equipped and the manager bristling with bravado. And, as if to highlight the point, in yesterday afternoon’s press conference Neil Adams reminded us, “… it will be the same as every game, we’ll look to try and win it”.
Now who does that remind you of?
While it appears the Cardiff game has arrived too soon for Gary Hooper and Jonny Howson, the rest of the squad – international injuries permitting – appear to be fighting fit. As a result the team news at 2pm will be fascinating.
The biggest conundrum for Adams appears to be who to partner with Michael Turner at the centre of the defence.
While the chances of the Russell Martin experiment being extended appear small, the choice appears to be between new signings Jos Hooiveld and Ignasi Miquel, and only time will tell of Hooisveld’s appearance at the presser was a telling one.
In the attacking third we should expect few changes and a ‘more of the same’ message from the boss; Lewis Grabban’s five in five ensuring his name is currently first on the team-sheet.
So, we head west in decent shape and despite the obvious concerns will still be looking to give Mr Tan another reason to rant. And having had a taste of that winning away from home lark already this season there is every reason to believe we can.
“On the Ball City…”
If you delve a bit deeper Gary, you will find that Adeyemi actually made 17 appearances during our League 1 season!
Yes he was very young and it may have been brief, but he was indeed given an early chance similar to Korey Smith, though Korey’s chance lasted 18 months (until Lansbury effectively replaced him in Dec 2010. Tom’s only really lasted 6 months.
Couldn’t make it past the line about pilkington wondering off with his tail between his legs.
Gareth (1) Fair point, well made. Perhaps it was more a case of Korey maturing earlier – in a footballing sense – and playing more games as a result.
Michael (2) Here’s one for you. If you see my name at the top of an article, don’t read it. Save yourself the angst.
Adeyemi will be driven, no doubt…but once he feels a Johnson or Tettey forceful tackle he’ll know what’s he in for. I very much doubt he will shrink under that scenario, but he will be all too aware he has no time on the ball. A midfielder trying to get rid of the ball early or letting it bypass them completely is dangerous, and Bradley & Alex have the ability to do that to any midfield combo in the league. Does the 20/1 include an own ghoul for Adeyemi?! I have a feeling we’re going to win this, and we should. We have a better first 11 and a far better squad overall. Good luck to Cardiff I say, and for some to suggest they have a superior squad is laughable. I don’t recognise many of their players, and we have to make these games count by punishing those who threaten our own ego. It’s wonderful typing that out, but let’s be positive and see our potential at this level for what it is…a winning one.
Pilks concerns me less to be honest, he’s only ever one mild curry away from his legs falling off so make that first tackle count, and I mean REALLY count.
For once, Gary, I am more optimistic than you that Adams’ Army will bring home the 3pts, in spite of David Marshall. I have seen and heard sufficient this season already to be able to look forward to each and every match – whoever and wherever they may be. City have achieved above my expectations in their first five games and with some great new signings, I look forward to them going from strength to strength this season. Departures and arrivals have generated a new found confidence in the squad, one which will relish the chance of burying some dusty, old ghosts such as Fulham and the ubiquitous (in his own goal at least) David Marshall. OTBC!
Seems to me this is a really big one, Cardiff are genuine challengers in this division and taking points at their place would be a massive boost, and an achievement. Even so team Adams is well capable of it and unlike under Chris Hughton we will attempt to score a goal or two. Fingers crossed, hoping for a good result and if not a good result a performance we can take positives from.
OTBC
Surely, Marshall can’t repeat his heroics of last season? The Cardiff game was actually one of our more expansive away performances of 2013-14 – early lead, dominated possession, shed load of chances created. Two sloppy defensive errors/keeper/woodwork gave them the points with an old old boy (Bellamy) scoring. Let’s hope the Wolves game is well out of the system and we turn up from the start with the right attitude and get a bit of luck.
Re(2) – I make that 185 words you read..you’re slipping. The rest of the article was splendid – you missed a treat.
That international break is an instrument of mental torture on a par with waterboarding or prolonged high volume heavy metal. Having had no distraction from Alex Salmond is a cruel twist of calender fate.
I hope it hasn’t broken our run of form.
A point in the land of leeks would be fine although I’d love to see the Malaysian megalomaniac squirming in his (probably) silk-lined seat. Less than a win at Brentford would however be unacceptable.
Will Neil bring out the shiny ‘diamond’ or keep it tucked away for another day?
Looking forward to tomorrow’s game – it will be a good test for Adams and Norwich. As for coming up against some ex Norwich players it should be interesting. The player I’m most dissapointed isn’t still at Norwich is Adeyemi. With his athletism, commitment and ability I think he’d have fitted well into Adam’s Norwich and perhaps saved us some money in the transfer market. Probably was the best decision at the time for him and Korey to have been released but in hindsight…
Thanks for your comment folks – appreciated as ever.
Despite my reticence in the piece I too agree that there are three points there for the taking if we’re quick out of the blocks and we avoid a mad five minutes as befell us back in February!
On the Ball City
Early days yet, but this rightly seems the toughest challenge to date. A win will do wonders for confidence and will make others, who suggest we’ve “been lucky” so far sit up and take notice.
OTBC
Like the missed pen at home to Villa (where the keeper was 2 yards off his line and the defender who cleared was 4 yards inside the box), or the save by wassizname from Wolf van Winkle at Fulham, I still have nightmares about that Hooper crossfield ball which completely turned that game last season. I think we can dominate again tomorrow, but this time get the win.
I don’t care if Pilks, Adeyemi, Bellamy or Luis Suarez plays for them tomorrow, we’ll have Kyle Lafferty who’ll be buzzing from last week, and he’ll win us the game.
He’ll be champing at the bit. Yes Mr Writer, that’s champing at the bit. CHAMPING!
Apologies for this not actually being anything to do with this article, but a shameless plug on behalf of a friend of mine Gary Silke who is the co-author of a new Norwich City book. It is entitled: ‘ Got not Got the lost world of Norwich City’.Gary and Derek Hammond are the authors of the original ‘Got not Got the lost world of Football’ and have released club specific editions of the genre. The book is an unashamed wallowing in football nostalgia from the 60’s, 70’s, 80’s, and early 90’s and is packed with memorabilia from the golden age of footy. Although a Leicester City fan, Gary has a soft spot for Norwich on account of spending many holidays in Norfolk from a youngster and visiting Carrow Road whilst on vacation. It is well worth a read for those of a yellow and green persuasion, and will bring the memories flooding back from an age gone by. It can be found competitively priced on Amazon or from Pilch publishing and I cannot recommend it highly enough. A veritable joy.