My knowledge of Norse-Germanic mythology is pretty sketchy to be honest. I am sure Daniel Farke’s would prove far superior. However, unusually for me, I have done a little research and will attempt to read the runes.
Andvaranaut was a magic ring named after the shape-shifting dwarf Andvari, and was also known as the EFL Manager of the Month award. When Loki stole it to pay a ransom, Andvari cursed it to bring trouble on whoever possessed it. This ring played a key role in Wagner’s work (the opera man who wrote the Ring Cycle, not David at Huddersfield) and in Tolkein’s. It was thought lost in the Rhine (more likely the Wensum), but it apparently resurfaces when over-achieving people need a bit of a bring-down.
So be aware Daniel, be very aware of what could be coming your way.
As Gary said yesterday, with luck you’ll lose out to Steve Bruce and the “established boys” at Villa, but if you do happen to win it, anticipate the curse from Hades (I know, mythological mis-match) itself. You might not be aware of its impact – I have also discovered that the Bundesliga does not feature a Manager of the Month award.
Here in the UK it often proves to be the kiss of death in the sense that everything tends to go Bristols up immediately afterwards.
But if anybody deserves the Award it’s you. Like Gary I hope you don’t win it – it genuinely seems to be cursed.
I’m so delighted with what you and the lads have achieved this month I even played Earth Wind and Fire’s September on YouTube this morning. I can’t stand pseudo-psychedelic soul (give me Sly or Funkadelic any time) but I just felt it had to be done.
You have brought us an undefeated month, a new club record for clean sheets, many precious points and a League Cup trip to the Emirates. We want you to be blessed, not cursed. So let’s hope Brucie wins it, as I’m sure he will. Don’t get the hump if you don’t win – in fact be grateful!
Interestingly, Cameron Jerome said on Saturday that he doesn’t really want the international break. I disagree, although I wouldn’t say that to his face. Anyone notice how massive his unit is compared to that of James Maddison (who is roughly the same weight and build as myself) in those pics?
We’ve got niggling injuries to Nelson Oliveira, Marco Stiepermann and Mario Vrancic, plus Josh Murphy – back in the boat, eh Timm? -didn’t look too clever when he came off yesterday either. Maddison also got a bit of a battering, to put it mildly.
Sure we’ve got the ultimate in momentum, but two free weeks to get five players back into fine fettle? I’m happy with that situation to be honest.
Incidentally the way Reading “defended” CamJam’s goal from the corner reminded me of us before the rise and rise of the Klose-Zimmermann partnership. What a bargain big Christoph looks. A big, young but old-fashioned BFG and terrific at his job.
We have come a long way since Villa and Millwall. It’s time to take stock, let all of us enjoy the time off and get ready to go again. If any of our readers are interested in the adventures of the England team in the meantime, good luck to all of you!
NCFC is looking good just now.
As some of our older readers will know, the great British comedian Tony Hancock often used the phrase Send Away the Tigers in terms of despair with his alcoholism and suicidal thoughts.
The saying was robbed by Manic Street Preachers for the title of a cracking album – I wouldn’t have known it was a Hancock reference otherwise.
And when that international break is over, that’s exactly what we must do: send away the Tigers of Hull City in our case, of course. And all the other teams we must face.
In order to do that and attack those play-off spots we’ll need a lot of Hamingja: a kind of luck, partly inherited from the ancestors and partly modifiable through one’s actions.
Go Daniel.
Let’s forget the superstition now please Martin. Lambert won the award many times and I don’t recall it having adverse effects then. Plus this month it is not just Villa, Bristol City also have had an identical Sept to us – they’ve matched us win for win and draw for draw, so Lee Johnson is just as much in the running. And even if Farke wins it, so what? Is he going to let it affect him? No, its not. We’re still only 9th in the table, and that is still not where he wants to be, so I’m sure he’s preparing for another round of tactical development this break, and I’m sure that’s the only place his focus will be. After all, our next away game is a rather tasty affair that is coming up…
Fair comment about the superstition Michael – of course it’s a load of hokum really.
Although there’s a young manager up in Preston who might disagree:-)
I share your concern about the manager of the month award being more of a curse than a blessing but, like Michael D, I don’t think it would have any effect on DF.
I loved our performance at Reading; everyone (not you Watkins) played well and it was a joy to see Jerome score the winner. I’m still trying to get used to expecting our defence to be something other than an omnishambles, their goal almost gave me a nostalgic shiver for the days when we would always fail to defend the back post-once every 6 games is enough though.
I usually hate the international breaks and pine for proper football but the last one and this one seem to have come at the right time. It’s well documented how the last one worked well for us and I feel the players deserve and need a break just now-their work rate in the September games has been outstanding and, as you said, there are a few niggling injuries to sort.
I look forward to seeing what improvements DF can provide over the next couple of weeks.
The article was written more than a little tongue-in-cheek but like you say, Michael said and Gary fortunately put into the headline, Daniel Farke won’t give the proverbial monkey’s chuff either way.
The workrate has indeed been phenomenal compared to what we have been used to, so in this instance I would agree a rest for (most of) the players should prove beneficial.
Hi Martin very interesting article and like the Norse references.
Farke deserves the MOM award as does a few others and at times it has proved to have a negative effect on teams also some Managers take it as they have reached the top of the world (James Cagney)
AN let it effect him and the team.
City have improved in most areas still work to be done on scoring that will come.
Farke is continuing to get to grips with this league and also his after match interviews and I liked his slight dig at the Ref when he said some decisions didn’t go there way, Berg, Bacuna and Beerens all could have had 2 yellows, as for reading goal they took a throw in that was cities neither the asst ref or the ref himself called it back he also played on when city players were fouled, I hope who ever did the ref watch marks his card red as he proved a complete novice in this game.
OTBC
Thanks for your comments Alex.
I feel that at this level we have to live with the quality (or lack of) from match officials.
Certainly refereeing is not a job I ever wanted to do, and apart from the odd schools match, never actually did. It’s a thankless task, but they’re quite well rewarded these days and a certain standard should be expected.
Sometimes I feel some of them step onto the pitch with preconceptions, which does not help either side in the contest.
If we’re going to play it tougher, some refs will have a down on us before we’ve even kicked a ball in anger.
Unfortunately we cannot currently have Mike Dean and his ilk to officiate us!
Not sure D F is really bothered about interim accolades., he’s an end result guy. I don’t want him to win MOM, I don’t want the pundits to talk about us. I will be happy with 6th/7th place come Christmas, gradual improvement, under the radar if you like. Anything more than a play-off place will be a massive over achievement, a play -off place would be fantastic,
I want us to build solid, the excitement is creeping back, the positivity too.
Final 3 games of the league season we are away to PNE then home to Leeds and away at Shef Wed, now wouldn’t it be lovely for results against all 3 of those to finally shove many pundits indifference back down their throats!
Isn’t it great to feel the love once again and no Brexit in Norfolk!