Okay…. here’s part two of Jim’s crystal ball gazing/poking fun at anyone who doesn’t wear yellow. Enjoy…
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On New Year’s Eve, City sat in a respectable seventh position on 38 points – three points outside the play offs.
End of December: Played 25, Won 10, Drawn 8, Lost 7.
Four straight league wins at the start of 2018 would see Farke named Manager of the Month for January. Six goals in as many games sees striker Oliveira awarded Player of the Month.
However, there’s a disappointing defeat at home to Yeovil Town in the 3rd Round of the FA Cup, which shocks literally nobody.
It’s all fairly quiet on the transfer front for City during January but panic sets in when Josh Murphy is linked with a transfer to join his brother Jacob on the bench at Newcastle United. City stood firm and held off the interest – for the time being at least.
There was confusion on social media as leaked comments made by Farke had suggested City might have brought in Adam Forshaw from Middlesbrough on loan.
Farke was quoted as saying “Ah yes, loans Forshaw, Adams Forshaw is a great guy. I like working with him very much. For sure I am really content.” (I bet you all did the voice…)
It turned out to be taken out of context. Farke had been talking about his admiration for Neil Adams’ work as loans manager.
Some fans complained endlessly during the window about a lack of money being spent. “Where’s the Jacob money gone?”, “Where’s the Premier League money gone?”, “Where’s my brain gone?” Others complained “We’ve got too many foreigners who don’t know the English game”. Most, however, were ‘content’ – as was the manager… sorry, head coach.
South of the border, bitter rivals Ipswich Town beat absolutely nobody to the signatures of unknown Norwegian full back Plåe Skrapp and non-league midfielder Hugh Fitt–Long.
Elsewhere, Redknapp’s dog Rosie stumps up the cash to purchase his owner’s son, Niko Kranjcar, while Middlesbrough give up in their search to replace long-term injury victim Britt Assombalonga, hoping instead that Paddy Bamford can finally deliver some goals.
End of January: Played 29, Won 13, Drawn 8, Lost 8. Out in 3rd Round FA Cup
#webberin #farkein #deliain #hotstreak #facupshock #murphytwins #forshawforsure
Norwich and Middlesbrough play out a dull stalemate early in February with the most notable moments coming when former City star Jonny Howson rescues a swan which had somehow made its way into the stadium, and when another former City star (cough) Bamford trips over his own boot laces after Marcel Franke ties them together at a corner.
The second East Anglian Derby of the season was next up…
Before the match, in an attempt to disorientate their loftier rivals, the Tractor Boys chose to release a special new kit that harked back to their glory years. Playing in black and white was certainly apt and it featured a single star to celebrate the number of victories they’d had against Norwich in the last decade.
Manager Daniel Farke picks a 3-1-1-5 system.
The change of strip appears to work early on as Cristiano Adeyemi nets his second goal against his former club this season. But Alex Pritchard waltzes his way through the dead heart of the Town defence and slots coolly past Bart Simpsonski.
The winner arrives through an unlikely source as Ivo Pinto chargesforward, beats five hoofers before back heeling to Wes Hoolahan, who dinks the ball back to Pinto. The Portugueezer rises like a salmon before punching the ball straight into the net. The Ipswich cloggers surroundsthe referee but he said “fair’s fair – you did it once, it’s their turn now.”
The double over Ipswich was complete. A large number of Ipswich’s hard-core away contingent began looking for trouble outside the ground after they accused Norwich fans of attacking them when a bin was accidentally knocked over, but the police manag to escort Keith and Dave back to the station without further incident.
End of February: Played 34, Won 16, Drawn 8, Lost 10.
#webberin #farkein #deliain #prideofanglia #livinginthepast
City’s form dipped somewhat during March. Just one win from five games saw them drop from third to sixth. Now they weren’t just in danger of allowing Fulham and Sheffield Wednesday to move further away in the automatic promotion slots, they risked missing out on the play-offs too.
A disappointing home defeat to table topping Fulham came off the back of another home defeat, this time to Reading, who avenged their 7-1 defeat last season by deciding to pick a goalkeeper this time around.
Meanwhile, ex-bench warmer Kyle Lafferty launched his own chat show in Northern Ireland called ‘Having a Laff’ where he only interviewed people who thought he was funny, foremost, or a good player. The show was cancelled after one week.
End of March: Played 39, Won 17, Drawn 10, Lost 12
#webberout #farkeout #deliaout #squeakybumtime #wheresalhabsi #chatshitgetbinned
A return to form in April – an unbeaten month picking up 16 points from a possible 18 saw the Yellows back to their free-flowing best, securing a play-off berth in the process.
The pick of the wins came at Carrow Road against Leeds United as Pritchard struck twice in a five-goal mauling, much to the angst of the Peacock fans, who proceed to sing along with the anti-Leeds songs as a protest against their own team’s performance.
Farke wins Manager of the Month for a second time (although he’s a coach) while Mick McCarthy walks away from Ipswich with the club sitting in 21st position but safe from relegation. He leaves saying ‘Ee by gum, job done – I’m outta here ya bunch of feckers’. He is replaced by Roy Keane.
End of April: Played 45, Won 22, Drawn 11, Lost 12
#webberin #farkein #deliain #roykeanesipswich #farkemotm
City play out a meaningless game at a celebratory Hillsborough before the tense play-off battle commences.
The first leg sees the Canaries face Middlesbrough at home in a repeat of the 2015 final.
A cagey goalless draw leaves a place in the final very much up for grabs but in the second leg at the Riverside, Cameron Jerome pokes City to the Play-Off Final for a second time in three years.
City face Aston Villa for a place in the Big Money League.
Head Coach Daniel Farke picks a 3-4-3 system.
The atmosphere is electric as the much-maligned Russell Martin heads a corner into the six-yard box, and there is 86-year old Wes Hoolahan on his mobility scooter to nudge home the winner in stoppage time! The yellow half of Wembley goes bananas as the whistle peeps for time.
A desperate John Terry clambers up the steps for the trophy presentation in full Norwich City kit but is spotted by Delia Smith who wrestles him to the floor.
Wembley is ours once more. Norwich City are going up!
End of May: Played 46, Won 22, Drawn 11, Lost 13
#webberin #farkein #deliain #wembley #wearegoingup #scenes #wessi #quidsin
End of season summary:
Finished 5th position – play off winners
Played 46, Won 22, Drawn 11, Lost 13, Points 77
Lost in 2nd Round Carabao Cup
Lost in 3rd Round FA Cup
Top scorer: Nelson Oliveira 19 goals
Player of the Season: Alex Pritchard
Signing of the Season: Mario Vrancic
All of this will happen. Well, some of it. Possibly. Maybe. Probably not.
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