A long throw from Marco Stiepermann, a flick-on from Cameron Jerome and what looked like a backheel from Nelson Oliveira and we nicked a well-deserved point in the over-run of injury time.
The Lambert days are apparently back in a slightly different guise.
Shades of Simeon Jackson and Derby. Because – this collection of players do not and will not give up. Fantastic. I guess you could call it a route one equaliser if you wished. But…
We had no Alex Tettey, no Josh Murphy and the long-termers are still on the treatment tables, so this was a point gained, not one lost.
As soon as David Meyler got his marching orders – he’d been snapping at James Maddison throughout the match – Hull abandoned any ambition and permanently retreated into two banks of four. Not easy to break down of course and although we had that fine shot from Maddison and the chance that Yanic Wildschut should have buried in the first period we didn’t create too much in the second half until our favourite native of Switzerland popped up and so nearly did the business.
Hull City were a decent side and frustrated us for ages. Fair play to them, even when they deservedly went down to ten men they looked good value for the points as they attempted to cling on to their lead.
But there was still (somehow) time for Nelson to achieve the deserved outcome.
Archant’s Paddy Davitt was spot on when he described “injury time” as “chaotic”. It was.
Angus Gunn for once copied his father by venturing into the opposition box – I think Bryan was an early pioneer of that last-gasp tactic.
I thought Keith Stroud was the best referee I’ve seen in a long time, but also believe he let the match run a little too long. Am I complaining? No, but I would be if I were a Hull supporter. Never mind.
The sight of Daniel Farke on the pitch and everyone around me going double apesh*t when we scored reinforced my realisation that we really could be going somewhere with Stuart Webber and this coaching team.
Sure, we looked as blunt as an old, cast-off butter knife for long periods of the game, but we stuck at it.
The substitutions were timely and ultimately effective. Full marks to Farke as certain previous managers would not have made those calls.
As for the folks who left before the end, oh well, you missed something special
And of course, we all know what’s coming next. Yes, you’ve guessed it, it’s the Binners. And they’re on a bit of a downturn just now. I’ll be in Micawbers, the Arena or somewhere of a similar ilk.
We retreived a point with basically half a team via route one; many other sides might think “Norwich don’t do things like that”.
Yes, we do. It’s called Farkelife.
Post script: Darren Huckerby you are a legend. Always welcome at NCFC and appreciated by all of us. Sorry it didn’t work out for you this time around but your display of casual dignity is immense. Top geezer.
Well reported, Martin! Yes, that equaliser may have value well beyond the point it salvaged for us. It reminded the players, and of course us fans, what can be achieved through indomitable spirit and ‘going the extra mile’.
I was trying to think how Hucks’ reaction this week could best be described. “Display of casual dignity” is perfect.
Thank you Stewart
The legend that is DH6 endures.
I ran the Birmingham half marathon yesterday which gave me 2 hours, 4 minutes and 57 seconds to think about NCFC without being interrupted by anything other than the need to take on water and wondering why I’m putting myself through such nonsense (running, not NCFC).
The comparison with the Lambert years is entirely relevant. The quote I remember PL using most is if you can’t win a game, don’t lose it. These words went through my mind constantly whilst watching Sky Sports News with the clock ticking over to 4:50. The news that Nelson had equalised was not a shock, I knew he would (the Sunday Times report said it was a header!).
It seems a long time since I could look forward to the next game like I do now, I love the strength of this team. I can’t believe that anyone would leave a 1-0 game early; a traffic jam, later train or a bollicking when you get home is a much better idea
I love the words Nelson said about next week’s game against that lot; I hope he starts..
“so this was a point gained, not one lost.”
Should one be of a contradictory mindset, it would be two lost.
Ha! You try writing a piece accompanied by a pair of lively terriers, two “surrogate” grandchildren, plus all associated bolt-on relatives in attendance for the last barbecue of the year.
With the Mrs bellowing in your ear “where’s the ****ing sweetcorn”.
I think I did quite well under the circs.
Barbecue sauce: made exclusively by me – no supermarket rubbish for us, I include a little JD in mine – it probably didn’t prelong the life of the keyboard, however. Think of a Stones album. The one with the zip on the front.
Seriously, my bad.and you’re quite correct. Never argue with a statsman over numbers:-)
The Hull result pleased me more than any one in a long time.
Please keep your statty stuff coming – it’s extremely enlightening and I think we all appreciate it at MFW – in my case, the graphics in particular are very welcome.
The most impressive part of all this is that you’re attempting a BBQ in October! Mine has been under cover since September.
Are you a “cook sweetcorn with the husks on or off” type of guy?
Sunday afternoon was drop-dead gorgeous in the City so spur of the moment.
No husks for us:-)
Quite right of course, Dave. Let’s hope that – as under Lambert – this late equaliser helps to inspire some late winners. The never-say-die mentality we witnessed on Saturday brought some crucial 2-1 wins in Lambert’s Championship season.
Forget the excitement at the end (my shout could be heard across the Med!) this was definitely two points dropped. Watching the game on iFollow raised my concerns about where the goals will come from. We have an abundance of midfield options but no-one in the area to take advantage. For me there is a worrying lack of firepower up front and although Farke loves his stats about possession, passing accuracy etc etc the stat that matters is goals for and against. When will we score more than one goal a game?
Some one asked the other day should explayers even ones classed as legends exspect to walk into a position at city or any other club to that my answer is no but if the club can use their profile in some way to boost the clubs support and show what positive things the club does for the community then yes Huckerby may not be the greatest coach around but is he taking the flak for the younger players no progressing over the last few years.
AN never gave a lot of the younger up coming players a chance Megeechan sold to Luton, Jamal free transfer to Maidstone other players released without given a chance after the youth FA cup win, Rudd always on loan now at Preston and not playing.
Sorry I digressed Lambert had done nothing prior to joining city to really speak of, with the help of Mcnally they turned cities fortunes around also Lamberts reputation soared and every club watched what he was doing and thought he was great and he started to believe in his own infallibility and that he was better than he was just like a lot of players and would be managers.
When Villa came calling there were rumours that the board wouldn’t give him what he wanted and part of that board was his mentor Mcnally who belivered not over stretching the clubs finances and would give into him, I suspect that Villa had already told him what they would offer and his head was turned.
He didn’t prove anythink at Villa and so far all the clubs since he left city have faired the same also his so called trusted backroom team got the boot at villa and none have joined him at any other club they took the blame for bullying and other unrest at Villa so were they the sacrificial lambs for him.
Yes under Lambert and co we had a team that would die for the club and we are seeing a similar approach and desire now lets hope for a similar out come to the first part as in promotion and lets just hope that Team Farke stays longer to finish off what they have started and out do Lambert possibly achieve something special at the club.
It’s no surprise to see Holt and Lappin at King’s Lynn. Culverhouse was an important part of Lambert’s team, along with Karsa. Once they left him, he hasn’t been the same.
True AN, never really gave the youngsters a chance but perhaps the same good also be said for Lambert albeit under different circumstances. The likes of Martin, Smith and Adeyemi never really saw much light beyond Division 1 whilst at Norwich – I daresay victims of the very rapid rise up the divisions. Good to see them all having good solid Championship-level careers. Korey Smith I did think was the one who could have made it at Norwich but not to be.
Alex: some of us can get a bit retrospectively emotional about PL: I know I do, to this day occasionally.
I used to have a glossy official NCFC postcard of him in my front room window (outfacing) in Coltishall but none of my friends laughed at me for doing so – anything but, really. An immature thing to do maybe, but something that I felt was right at the time. That time.
There were several things going on behind the scenes during his tenure but football life has moved on and NCFC has evolved from those days..
We now have Daniel Farke and this time round I have no postcard. However, I do have hope.
Thank you for your thoughts – excellent as always.
Hi Martin.
I look back at the Dave Stinger time and think he got the club set up for all the credit that Walker got. And yes culverhouse and karsa to me had a lot to do with Lambert succes.
Recent performances have brought to mind the early days of Ron Saunders rather than Paul Lambert. I never expected to see that under Farke but if it works I’m not complaining.
The style of football is a Million miles away from Paul Lambert’s tenure, though the commitment is a lot closer. Norwich City still lack the quality in the final third and desperately need some pace up front to stop us from falling asleep when things do not go our way. Whether Farke’s love of the dying art of possession football can get us back to the promised land I still have severe reservations about, but there is more good than bad at the moment.
Just read Oliveria comments for Saturday’s game and seen a reply from ex Ipshite player Crawford saying there is no contest in that they have won a title, Eufa cup and an FA cup so what they are nice to have but they only get one full house a season when they play city, let them keep living in the past city has full houses every home game.
He also said they develop international footballers most of them were purchased from other clubs Mills, Mariner, Johnson, except the ones that went on to play for Scotland