We recently ran a Twitter poll (@NorwichCityMFW) asking what sort of ‘tweeter’ you are based on Stewart’s article.
There are the ‘happy clappers’ whose glasses are half-full; the ‘compulsive moaners’ whose glasses are half-empty and the ‘realists’ who would probably point out that the glass is actually twice as big as it needs to be.
Finally, there are the ‘hysterics’. Those who glasses could be swapped for rose-tinted ones and they’d still find reason to ring Canary Call to demand the head of Alex Neil.
73 per cent of those who voted considered themselves to be realists; a statistic which should mean that searching the NCFC hashtag would deliver a collective voice of reason.
I tried.
It doesn’t.
But it’s unsurprising that so many of us consider ourselves to be realists because in essence, our perceptions become our realities.
What is clear however, we all perceive things very differently even though we’re all watching the same set of blokes kicking a ball around a pitch.
Rather than try to alter your perceptions, this piece allows you to shape it to fit your reality and step into the editorial shoes of our very own Gary Gowers.
Simply select whichever phrase and option works for you as we reflect on last weekend’s events…
City’s 2-2 draw with West Ham [signalled the end of our losing streak and a turnaround in fortunes / extended our miserable run without a win to 6 league matches].
But fans left Carrow Road knowing that Alex Neil’s men came within a whisker of [claiming all three points / blowing it completely just as they did against Liverpool].
Results on the day meant that City climbed out of the relegation places on goal difference but only eight points from [thirteenth place / rock bottom]
Alex Neil again made changes to his starting eleven demonstrating [his ability to select a side best-placed to counter the day’s opposition / that he still doesn’t know who his best players are].
In the build-up to the game, Russell Martin’s rallying cry at the press conference [showed that the team are together and ready for the battles ahead / contained the usual hollow words and empty promises].
Martin was again selected ahead of Ivo Pinto with the Portuguese signing [continuing to adapt to his new surroundings / adding to a growing list of right-backs who simply can’t cut it at Premier League level].
Alongside the captain in defence, Timm Klose was paired with Seb Bassong who [continues to develop a promising partnership with the Swiss international / should have been replaced by the luckless Ryan Bennett].
In a tight and tense opening period, both teams largely cancelled each other out with [City / West Ham] just shading it.
Nathan Redmond, restored to the side on the right flank, gave [City a renewed potency to our attacking play / the ball away all too often as he struggles for form and confidence].
The energetic Cameron Jerome [caused problems for the West Ham defence by running the channels / failed once again to provide a cutting edge and continues to struggle for goals in the top flight].
After a goalless first half, the game burst into life with Robbie Brady winning the ball before smashing the ball into the roof of the net; the Irish international furthering his claims to win the player of the season despite regularly being deployed out of his best position at [left wing / left back].
City doubled their advantage soon after thanks to good [build-up play / fortune] with Wes Hoolahan latching onto Steven Naismith’s deflected shot and firing the ball past a helpless Adrian.
Any thoughts that City would comfortably see the game out were [quashed when West Ham pulled a goal back with fifteen minutes left / ridiculous considering our complete inability to hold on to a two-goal lead].
And West Ham completed a [remarkable / predictable] comeback just three minutes later with Noble equalising following [good work from Moses / yet more abject defending from City].
As the game entered the final stages City fans were praying [for a winner / that we wouldn’t blow it] and despite late chances for both sides the game finished level.
On balance it was [a decent point earned / two points thrown away] against a Hammers side which had also [cruelly / predictably] deprived us of a win late on in the reverse fixture.
After the match, Alex Neil made some typically forthright comments, questioning the character of his players in an attempt to [illicit a positive response / deflect any criticism directed his way].
With fixtures running out, City [remain locked in a relegation battle / are looking dead and buried] with those teams below and around showing [similarly inconsistent form / worrying signs of improvement].
With a fortnight’s break before the trip to Leicester, both players and fans alike have time to [enjoy being out of the bottom three / stew on what’s becoming a desperate situation].
The fans need [to stand shoulder to shoulder and back their team / answers as to why yet another Premier League adventure has turned so sour].
But that whether you’re a ‘happy clapper’ or a ‘compulsive moaner’, it’s worth remembering that the reality is [we all love our club / we all love our club].
You can follow Steve on Twitter @stevocook
A great article which gives one of the most balanced views seen on this site!
My choices were a mix of positive and negative so what does that make me? I’d like to think I am a realist and with twelve games to go I certainly do not think that we are doomed. I even think that this season we only need an average of 1 point per game and we will be safe. We should be able to manage that, but what do I know?
The main choice is the last one, which, I hope, is true for all of us.
Totally agree with Wanstead Canary. A good read on a boring Saturday morning. I had a mixture of choices too. I agree we all love our Club obviously. As for the penultimate I’m a moaner who knows he will never hear a proper answer. We aren’t dead yet folks – anything from the next two would be huge!