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The challenge of a savvy Stoke City, the global Canary community – and a dilemma for the Lewis family

19th August 2015 By Stewart Lewis 8 Comments

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If you can meet with triumph and disaster

And treat those two impostors just the same

How apt are Kipling’s words for Norwich’s start to the season.  And how apt for David McNally and Alex Neil are the first two lines of the poem:

If you can keep your head while all about you

Are losing theirs and blaming it on you

Clearly, Kipling was a regular listener to Canary Call.

Hard to deny it’s been a roller-coaster start to the season, though, and the emotional ups and downs are surely set to continue.

So I’ve no idea how I’ll feel after the Stoke game on Saturday.  Actually, that’s not quite true.  Whatever the result, I’m pretty sure of one thing I’ll feel: that we gave a good and positive account of ourselves.  That’s the Alex Neil way, and the way we’ve been in both opening games.

Stoke will be a tough nut to crack, though.  A friend summarised Palace’s performance at Carrow Road as “slick, savvy and very Premier League street-wise”.  We’ll need to deal with quite a few teams like that, starting with Stoke.

In my contribution to the MFW writers’ season forecasts, I picked out Nathan Redmond’s role as key.   Nothing so far to change my mind on that, but a couple of other performers have stood out too.

Robbie Brady looks well worth the wait, while Graham Dorrans is beginning to seriously challenge Jonny Howson as my favourite player.   His ability was never in doubt, but I heard reservations about his workrate and commitment at previous clubs.  Well, either AN has galvanised him or he’s out to prove the doubters wrong – either way, he’s making a top-drawer impact.

By the way, let’s try to hold back on our incredulity and outrage if Alex Neil changes his team on Saturday.   As fans, we tend to want a starting XI comprising our favourite players or those we think are in form.  But there’s an added factor in AN’s thinking: his forensic analysis of the opposition.  Like other true managers, he picks a formation and set of players to nullify opponents’ strengths and exploit their weaknesses.

It means we mustn’t have sacred cows – even Wes, Jonny or Dorrans.

Though I had a dig at a few of our fans last week, they ARE brilliant.   And widespread.  On social media I follow Canary groups in Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, France, Malta, Scandinavia, Sri Lanka, Turkey and numerous parts of the USA – and I know there are many more.  They aren’t new, and they didn’t go away when we slipped from the Premier League.  Real fans.

Regular readers may recall that I was in Australia at the time of the play-off final.   We were travelling between cities that day, so I still regret I wasn’t able to get together with any groups of the evocatively-named Canaries Down Under.

Speaking of global connections, my wonderful American niece Lindsay has spent some time over here.  I’ve tried, of course, to indoctrinate her into the Canary faith.  The unfortunate complication is that her boyfriend is an avid Arsenal fan (partially my fault – it’s a long story).

We’ll all be in the States for Thanksgiving at the end of November, when the Norwich-Arsenal game is televised.   While boyfriends trump uncles, as they should, I think she’ll feel some divided loyalties; I hope a little of her heart is with Norwich.

Let’s finish back at our starting point, composure and level-headedness.  Another quote for City fans to keep in mind: “The important thing is, regardless of the result, we need to maintain equilibrium this year.  Let’s not get too high or too low.” Stewart Lewis?  No (I don’t use fancy words like equilibrium).   Many of you will probably know – it’s our captain and ace goal-poacher Russell Martin.


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Filed Under: Column, Stewart Lewis

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Comments

  1. Gary Field says

    19th August 2015 at 8:13 am

    Probably our toughest challenge yet. Also, given the usual robust nature of Stoke City, it wouldn’t surprise me at all if Alex did decide against starting Wes, perhaps leaving him on the bench until the hour mark, when the game opens up a bit.

    Reply
  2. Canary Mary says

    19th August 2015 at 9:20 am

    V.good thoughts-equilibrium -the first word I remember having to learn to spell at school!oh so many years ago!
    But think “knee jerk reaction” would also help to maintain the level headed ness Canary Fans sometimes need for the good of the team?
    Having to miss the Stoke game due to Wedding commitments!
    I hope indeed that Wesley is looked after,but I must say Stoke are not the Stoke of old!but I trust our manager & whatever he feels is the best tactical approach will sit fine with meX
    We already have a top top ref,so don’t think there’ll be any shenanigans going on! Onward & Upwards O.T.B.C.

    Reply
  3. colin m says

    19th August 2015 at 9:37 am

    In yellow & green context, how about this come 5pm Saturday….”when all at once I saw a crowd, A host of golden daffodils….Ten thousand saw I at a glance tossing their heads in sprightly dance” Wordsworth’s words not mine, maybe he had a premonition in 1802 and wasn’t in the Lake district.
    I’d settle for a couple of draws v Stoke & Sthmptn just to prove we are hard to beat and fully agree that AN knows best and Wes, Readers should be used sparingly. Mind you I like Wes being allowed to wander ” Lonely as a Cloud”.

    Reply
  4. Cosmo P. says

    19th August 2015 at 9:40 am

    As someone said yesterday (sensible chap), “I’d take a deflection off Bassong’s backside for a 1-0 win.”

    I’d expect a more conservative starting line-up on Saturday than at Sunderland. The one which kicked off against Palace did start at a high tempo and created chances early on which is what we need. Fingers crossed we’ll be more clinical and Mr. Dorrans will let Stoke’s fancy new Swiss signing know what the Prem is all about in the first minute.

    Fine words from Mr. Kipling – he could bake a damn fine apple tart too.

    Reply
  5. Premier League Pedant says

    19th August 2015 at 10:42 pm

    The Stoke game is just another fascinating clue as to how our season will go, and the biggest yet. Palace was a mixed bag, and enjoyable though it was, victory against Sunderland ain’t much to write home about. I imagine Swansea will tear them apart, and Mr. Advocaat will be forced into not so early retirement.

    It’ll be my first game since that day under the big arch, so I’m looking forward to it, but not feeling so confident. They actually have proper footballers in the Stoke team these days..

    Reply
  6. Stewart Lewis says

    19th August 2015 at 11:33 pm

    Colin (3) – Not sure about Wes wandering lonely as a cloud. Maybe Shelley’s Ode to the West Wind: “Wild spirit, which art moving everywhere”?

    Enough culture. I still have a love-hate relationship with Wes – love watching him play in the opposition half, hate watching him play in ours.

    Cosmo (4) – I was tempted by an “icing on the cake” line with the Kipling quote, but thought I might be able to count on you….

    Reply
  7. Cosmo P. says

    20th August 2015 at 10:32 am

    Stewart – I guess I must be ‘exceedingly’ predictable! Victory over Stoke would be the cherry on top.

    Reply
  8. Ivan says

    20th August 2015 at 6:30 pm

    Blimey, what a cultured lot of fans we have! Excellent piece of writing. I for one trust ANs tinkering prowess with player selection, he does seem to have a good eye for opposition analysis and a good team behind him to help

    Reply

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