The omens were not good. I set out for The Carra dressed as an old scarfer (I’m sixty today so I’m entitled to) because it was bloody freezing. The first gloves of the season were deployed.
A few doors down a neighbour and big City fan was cleaning his taxi. “Going today?” I asked.
“No. We had two tickets for £20 each offered to us but we can’t really be bothered.”
Oh well, fair enough. Sometimes I can scrounge a lift from him, but obviously not on Saturday.
Walking past The Ribs, a couple of local guys noticed my scarf and cheekily said: “You’re going the wrong way mate”.
Everywhere along my route the atmosphere was pancake flat until I got to that well-known supermarket opposite the ground. Enjoying a final smoke on one of their seats before the kick-off I was joined by an elderly couple from Swaffham, who said basically that as disappointed as they were, they’d keep coming while they were physically able to. Total respect to them for that.
Somewhat buoyed by the conversation I went in, spoke to some folks and took my seat. No OTBC, again.
But the Lower Barclay Boys were singing and my mood rapidly improved. No discernible abuse directed at Alex Neil; I was pleased about that too.
We were pretty good at the beginning. James Maddison’s sublime effort, taken from in front of the Snakepit, was a beauty.
It kind of made up for poor old Josh Murphy’s cock-up when Wesley put him through. His confidence is surely shot because he didn’t shoot when he should’ve shot, if you see what I mean.
And then it all went wrong – very wrong. From that moment on, what would eventually transpire became increasingly inevitable.
It may be my imagination, but from that point on we seemed to get nothing from referee Robinson. Quite the reverse in fact.
The Preston chances racked up; one had to go in and it did. We were lucky it was only one.
As Gary said in his article yesterday, we rarely win second balls. That midfield is so physically lightweight it cannot compete at Championship level – and oh boy do other teams know it, so they overload us.
If not for Angus Gunn, we would have lost it at the death.
Lower mid-table is stamped all over us.
As for Gary’s comments about Nelson Oliveira I’d say fair enough. I would only add that playing that lone role for NCFC is one of the most thankless of all footballing tasks. There is almost never a midfielder in a position to run onto a flick-on and we are so narrow we might as well be a pair of drainpipe trousers (ask your grandad).
And when a ball is pinged at Nelson, there’s seemingly always at least two giant centre backs lurking to intercept it.
Sure it was good to see Alex Pritchard back – I think he had only our second on-target effort in the entire game.
When the injuries (Klose, Tettey, Trybull, forget the rest) diminish that will be a true test of project Farke. It shouldn’t be long now.
The omens came back to roost when the first email I opened after I returned home was from a mate who said he had actually paid for two £24 tickets but couldn’t be bothered to go at the last minute…
……
It’s impossible for me not to end with a personal view on the Spud Thornhill thing.
Some reports elsewhere said he was “forced” into fourth officialdom.
Now I’ve never met the fella but I do know people who have and I am reliably informed he would have enjoyed every second of it. And so he should. Well done mate and enjoy your unexpected moment in the limelight.
What worried me a little though was the fact we couldn’t hear the tannoy announcement in the Barclay – hence the chant of “what the flip is going on” from downstairs. I’m glad it wasn’t an important safety announcement.
Sort it out, City.
Anyway, well done Spud.
Spot on article Martin and I think most fans/supporters are fairly polarised as to whether they’ll keep going to Carrow Road in spite of how the team is playing, otherwise, ‘what else am I going to do on a Saturday afternoon?’ (or the VERY rare occasions when Sky cameras descend) and those who are considering relinquishing their season ticket after umpteen years of making the ‘pilgrimage’ for the majority of home games (I gave mine up at the end of last season and don’t regret it). Let’s hope Tettey does return soon to bolster the midfield. I’d also love to see Godfrey and Morris not return to Shrewsbury in January, as I feel that the former could be an excellent stand-in/replacement for Tettey.
Oliveira seems a shadow of the player he was last season and as you rightly point out, he was very closely marked (fouled on several occasions) and has lost his ‘mojo’. As for the times Maddison was fouled – I lost count and on several the foul wasn’t even given. Unless there is a dramatic turnaround in our fortunes next month, I’m pretty certain he’ll move on in January.
I regularly attend Under 23 games and I’d love to see the likes of Cantwell given say 15 minutes at the end of a game to replace a player such as Wes who is not best suited to being played on the wing. Fonkeu and Abrahams have also impressed in the last couple of games.
I think the likes of Cantwell, Fonkeu, Abrahams and so many others (Godfrey, Phillips etc) will simply HAVE to be our future because of the duly-declared finances of the Club.
How the less-than-mighty have fallen.
You’re quite correct: Wes is no winger and never truly has been. Maddison got his usual battering but as he shares my height and physique I can safely say he deals with it a lot better than I ever could. No protection for him from the Ref, yet again. It’s like that almost every game.
A great comment and thank you.
The true test of project Farke is surely right now…
I also never understand the excuse for the lone striker role. If you are good enough you will make it work, regardless of the support. Even league one has healthy examples of that. If you can’t make a chance from very little a couple of times a match, you shouldn’t be playing professional football, and certainly not up front. It just feels like more excuses to me.
Anyway, the fact people are turning down, or shunning, tickets they have already paid for is a truly terrible and worrying sign. Although, it’s expected and understandable, which highlights the way our club is headed.
Fair enough to a degree Jeff but Nelson is not a hold-it-up-and-lay-it-off merchant. Especially when there’s nobody there to lay it off to – which is too often the case with us.
The shunning of tickets tells its own story, I quite agree.
bit like you Martin, I was 65 on Tuesday, offered two tickets, for the 4th time this season and simply could not face going, considering I gave up my season ticket back before Hughton was given a second season, my wife was shocked, her knowing my love for my club stretches back to 1960/61
As to watching mediocre football from my team, I think I have served my time watching such faye over my years, Nothing to do with a heart condition and freezing temperature , More like I didn’t have the heart to go and the cold buffet I guessed would be served,
I thought I would stick with the wireless, Chris Goreham, and whoever drew the short straw (Darren Eadie) to sit next to him, and then play ignore Rob Butler with the volume slider. But could not even be bothered to really get into doing that, I resorted to researching some of the City’s history for a group I am in.
I can stand or sit as the case is now, to watch dross, blimey I have lived through some of that, including some of the more modern day efforts of Roeder & Hughton. But not when it is blatantly obvious, that a lot of the players are not of the standard, the system is clearly wrong we are easy pickings for teams . There are many questions that need to be asked, but one that bothers me is why are players so short of confidence ? we are not half way through the season, we aren’t at the bottom scrapping (yet) If they can lose so much in such a short space of time since Arsenal, then what the heck is wrong with the modern player ? So mollycoddled so over paid. ?
You mention Olivera and the thankless task of ploughing a lone furrow, Jerome has done that and gets loads of stick. isn;t it the same thankless task for him
Thanks CanaryLad.
I’ve never been a CamJam detractor but unfortunately (just my view) he is slowing up as he gets older and thus is less effective.
I really thought the over-inflated ego and destruction of confidence issues had passed. Seems like I was wrong – big time.
Maybe playing a full-strength side against Arsenal was Farke being naive and making a mistake?
It’s sure all gone downhill from that point, anyway.
I’d agree Saturday was a surreal experience in more ways than one. A couple of my fellow season ticket holder friends who normally would never miss a game, came up with excuses not to go. I also found the lack of tannoy announcement a bit disconcerting.
Regarding the Spud Thornhill incident. I’m sure this is not the first time he had stood in at a match. I’m more than certain he has had to deputise as an official during a friendly a few years ago? I Would be interested to hear if anyone else remembers this?
at least 3 other times seem to remember a friendly or too
I was saying exactly the same to the fan sitting next to me re no public announcement as to what had happened to cause the delay due to the injury to the match official and it was not until much later that I found out what had happened.
Like you Martin, I didn’t hear an announcement either from my seat in the City Stand.
As for Josh, I thought his contribution was greatly improved compared to Barnsley, albeit without scoring this time, despite that golden opportunity.
I didn’t even realise there had been an announcement, certainly couldn’t hear it in the South Stand.
It’s times like this that I’m glad I can’t go to many games, but I can’t understand people not using tickets they already have; each to their own though.
I’ve got Friday on my mind. hoping we won’t be the easybeats. Playing a robust Warnock side with our powder puff midfield is worrying and I can’t see beyond us starting December with a defeat. The month is going to be pivitol, we may be in a relegation fight by the end of it. I hope DF can find the cure to our problems and I can say by Friday I’m in love with the team again.
Happy birthday Martin, I hope your day improved after 5.00 pm.
Cheers Don. I preferred the Bowie version on Pin-Ups tbh:-)
No, we won’t go down. Not this season, anyway.
Shows the age bracket of the crowd when all they’re concerned about is hearing the tannoy!
Ha! The EDP reported there was an announcement. Nobody I know heard it.
My observation was just a footnote to an article really, but thank you for a nice,, humorous and probably accurate post anyway.
Obviously, this is a day for older supporters! I started going to matches in the early 1950’s and am still a season ticket holder.
I really enjoy your website but I find the often expressed view that if only the majority shareholders would see sense and sell their shares so that a fairy godfather, or mother (Amanda?), could come in and transform us into the next Manchester City, naive in the extreme. Even if it were possible to find an investor with deep pockets who had the best interests of the Club at heart and was in it for the longer term, things could still go pear-shaped. Just ask anyone at QPR!
If the quantity of financial resources is the be all and end all, how come both Barnsley and Preston were better than us, Bristol City are in one of the play-off positions and Burnley are punching above their weight in the Premier League?
Money is important, of course, but it’s more complicated than that!
Great comment John T.
I just feel that when you have bone-headed people in charge who make it very plain (reference that Times article) that virtually any form of incoming investment is unwelcome we are fighting with one hand tied behind our collective back.
Others feel differently, I know.
Interesting article and some good points raised. The way we are playing at the moment has mid table (or as you say, lower-mid) written all over it though the optimist in me notes that *if* we can somehow string together a run, the playoffs are still attainable.
In my view, our defence and forwards are by and large up to the task, yes they make the odd lapse but so do almost all back lines and yes we need another striker to act as cover / another option but the ingredients are all there for both areas.
It is our midfield however where I think we are really struggling. As good as Madison has been and as good as we know Pritchard was at the back of last season, neither are that heavyweight and therefore we need to have a midfield that balances this, which when Tettey is injured, just doesn’t happen. I think this may almost be our area of priority to strengthen as for weeks we have looked soft in this area of the pitch.
Absolutely, London.
And for that reason I feel it would be good to get Ben Godfrey back from Shropshire. I don’t know the terms of the loan, but if any recall were available I’d have him back in a trice.
Soft is an appropriate word – we just can’t match other sides in terms of midfield height and strength. We can’t cope with the physical mismatch for 90 minutes, anyway.
Thank you.
I turned 41 yesterday and have been going to CR on and off for about 30 years. Things on the pitch have most definitely been worse than current things in that time, but even during the dark days of Roeder I still felt like we might win at home. I cannot recall any time before where I could be more certain that we would not score 2 or more goals. I have missed the last two games inspite of free tickets on offer, not because of the knowledge that it would be a disappointing and frustrating couple of hours but because life has got in the way. But if I was available for the Cardiff game would I buy a ticket? On recent showings no chance, I just can’t believe we will get a result without a fundamental tactical change. When Tettey returns, I might dare to dream of a dour 1-0 win but my concern is that with each game Tettey is out, he becomes more important and pivotol to our success. I understood Farke’s wish to use him every game once the winning formula had been found but, if we are over reliant on him, over work him, his body will definitely let him down. Playing him twice a week is not an option, even 3 years ago there was already talk of managing his workload because of his knees, 3 years on he won’t suddenly be able to do that. So even when he returns we must have another plan for the 40% odd of games that he just shouldn’t be pushed to play. Hopefully we will recall Godfrey and he might then give us a much needed option in that position, if not we simply must recruit a DM, preferably with defensive steel foremost but also the odd forward pass in him too.
Bah!
I still reckon we miss Bradley J.
We should have moved on Lewis Grabban instead at that time.
Great post once more, General.
Well said Martin, and to jump on the oldies bandwagon, there was certainly no announcement regarding the fourth official coming from the speakers in the South Stand toward the River End (are they still known by those names??).
As for the officials, perhaps it would have been better had the man in charge been the one afflicted?
We’ve seen some dross from the men in the middle over the past few years, but Saturday was really scraping the barrel; and summed up by the ref’s insistence that the free kick for Murphy’s offside be taken from our defensive half.
I suspect that had we not had the comedy with Spud at the end that a great deal more may have been made of the referee’s total incompetence, but it also should not detract from (yet) another poor and powder puff performance from our team.
It seems astonishing that Pritchard was “rested” from the U-23’s yesterday when he blatantly needs game time – which surely means he will be starting on Friday? If so, what a sad state of affairs our team/club have become (unless of course he has transformed into a tough tackling midfielder…..)
O T B C
The referee’s decision on the offside call was indeed a joke. As we all know, you cannot be offside in your own half, after all. Pathetic refereeing..
If the EDP are to be believed Pritchard had a “sore neck”. I wouldn’t want to play in that state either – it can feel like the hangman’s been measuring you up.
Let’s hope he’s okay for Friday. Jeez we need him.
Thank you for your comment, as always.
Most people seem to accept that rebuilding a squad can’t be done in 1 or 2 transfer windows. Fair enough.
But whilst we’re waiting the style of football is dire. I had a rare empty weekend and might have headed east if I’d been confident of at least being entertained, regardless of the result. But a 400+ mile round trip for the fare that’s being offered up at the moment? No thank you.
I don’t expect it to improve quickly because most squad-builders start from the back. Worthy had Green, Drury, Malky, Fleming and Gary Holt well-established before he was able to add Crouch, Huckerby and Leon Mackenzie as the icing on the cake.
Oliveira is only interested in playing for Portugal in Russia – and barring injuries to those higher up the pecking order he’s unlikely to get that whilst stuck in the Championship mid-table. So we will probably have to look for a replacement in January, unless perhaps we decide to promote Abrahams, who is knocking them in for the U-21s. I think that is more likely than recalling Morris who in my view is League One at best.
But it’s central midfield that’s the real issue now. Howson and Dorrans have not been replaced. Tettey at his best is effective, but nowadays he normally only stays fit long enough to earn five yellow cards. Wes is pretty well past it, bar the odd moment. It is such a shame that Thompson is crocked and the chances must be that he is going to be one of those very unlucky young men whose career is curtailed by injury.
The priority has to be to find one or two holding midfielders for the long term who can sense danger, will fight for those second balls, and give those ahead of them the confidence to get into forward positions, support the striker, and give us far more attacking options..
Interesting comment about Carlton Morris, Keith.
He looked something special a few years ago, he really did. A bit of a Jerome clone imo.
Louis Thompson is a young guy I feel really sorry for because (I have to be blunt) it looks like he’s not going to make it back. Hopefully those with more medical knowledge than me will prove me wrong.
Even at the comparatively rubbish level I played at a broken ankle truly shattered my confidence. I used to try and avoid patches of deep mud on the pitch in case it got stuck and twisted. I was looking at the terrain as much as the opposition right winger. Injuries are no fun in football, as I’m sure you know as well as me.
Thanks for your comment as ever.
I keep seeing this comparison between Morris and Jerome, at least in style of play. Career-wise though it doesn’t hold up. I do wonder if the Youth Cup win has put a bit too much pressure on our expectations of Morris, and indeed one or two of the others from that team.
Now I’ve not seen him in the flesh and I totally accept my doubts about him are largely stat based – 70 appearances out on loans, mostly at a standard lower than the top end of the Championship (which is where we want to be). In that time he’s scored 12 goals. Of course, some of those appearances will be as a late sub. so it’s not quite as low a ratio as it sounds.
He’s nearly 22 and methinks that if he really is going to be good enough he’d have made a much bigger impact aged 19 or 20 than he did, especially at clubs like York or Oxford.
I’d love him to prove me wrong though. He could yet be another Grant Holt or Jamie Vardy – but to follow their sort of path he’ll probably need to drop down to the likes of Harleston Town first.
Abrahams is 3 years younger and seems to be on a fast learning curve so it would be interesting to see if he can make an impact whilst his confidence is rising.
And Happy Birthday by the way – I’ve passed that milestone myself. It’s a Beatles Song for me next year.
Cheers!
I can’t forget the opening line of that old Stones song: “What a drag it is getting old”. Mother’s Little Helper? Maybe.
We have to pray a few of the youngsters come through, we really do.
I utterly agree central midfield is at the heart (groan) of our problems.
Great post and thanks.
Hi Martin, good article. Echoed what my friend, who went to the game, said. I drafted a 2600 word note on how to improve the atmosphere at Carrow Road over the weekend because I had flashes of inspiration left, right and centre and it needs to be raised to help the team and club in general.
However, it is no big secret a level of despondency has crept into the fanbase, and Carrow Road, an intimidating cauldron in recent times where the club’s illustrious personality seeps out in fans trussed in yellow and green, has become a mumbling and grumbling irksome place. Pockets of space in the previous sell-out crowds can now be observed. The younger fans, disinterested by the poor atmosphere, switch to their phones for comfort not spurred on by the greying legion of season ticket holders – those perpetually drawn to Carrow Road not out of urgency to support their club but more as just something to do on a Saturday.
Here comes chicken here comes egg, how do you generate fan power, who want to see good football when the life’s been sucked out of the players competing on a pitch lacking in atmosphere and subject to complaining and boos where every misplaced pass is heckled.
Parallels can be drawn to Daniel Farke’s comments in the Eastern Daily Press a week ago, maintaining his focus on youth development. So too then must the focus shift regarding the fan base at Carrow Road. Stewart Webber bought with him change to the infrastructure and this change must spread itself to the crowds of Carrow Road with the emphasis focussing on modernising a ground/fan base stuck in the past with grievances for the future. The great folk rock singer Neil Young once said “Rust never sleeps” a comment on complacency; the predicament Norwich finds itself in is aped by this observation: rust has crept into an ageing upport who’s appetite for fight has diminished from the ups and downs of fortune.
I’ve not heard a lot of Neil Young (I’m hard rock and metal) but I love “Like a Hurricane” (covered by Roxy Music) and a few other tracks. Boy can that Canadian journalist’s son play guitar!
Rust never sleeps? I reckon that’s spot on. Particularly in the Directors’ Box. Maybe ferrous and non-ferrous metals, but rust nonetheless.
Terrific comment.
Hi Martin
A happy belated birthday wishes.
I followed the game on the Pinkun and as everyone has said started off good but ran out of steam after scoring.
My biggest concern was the amount of people online calling for Team Farke to be sacked,
I ask a simple question that no one answered if Farke and his backroom team are sacked will his mentor Webber be sacked as well.
Who is out there with cities dwindling resources would want the Job.
Again we are back to the nitty question about investment, I have come to the conclusion that we have survived without it solong that the Smiths and the cohorts belive all will be well in the end.
At the end of last season city went on a down sizing to help finances all wanted a change and the board was applauded for it even though it was to little to late.
We get a self ambitious sports director who brings in a very good coach from Germany and his backroom staff plus some talented but raw players and none has experience in either england or the championship, everyone comes out and states it is a team project and progress will take a couple of windows to get it right, now after a few set backs, lots of injuries, lost of confidence and last but not least so called boring football supporters want heads to roll.
Supporters need a reality check in what they wish for.
1) Investment is YES
2) Smiths to go YES
3) Farke to be given a chance YES
4) Webber will he stay NOT for long
5) Lambert to come back NO
OTBC
Good stuff Alex.
I’ll address your numbered points if I may:
1: No chance…
2: because that won’t happen in our lifetime – remember Tom, (40-ish?), is the heir apparent.
3: Yes – agreed.
4: Agreed again.
5: Agreed one more time – once bitten twice shy I would say. Maybe on both sides.
Good post and thank you.
Thanks Martin at least we can agree the Smith are not for TURNING despite what Mick says.
Hope you liked my Saunders and players below.
To John T – The Bristol City owner is the billionaire Steve Lansdown. Even the Preston Chairman is estimated to be worth £750M.
Delia’s estimated £25M wealth is peanuts compared to most owners, even in the Championship.
I can’t understand why any true supporters can decide not to attend matches I wish we were in a position to do so. I like this article and the comments because they are a realistic assessment of where we are at. Mrs Cyprus and I are both in our seventies so have seen many ups and downs over the years but the atmosphere surrounding the club at the moment is pretty bad by all accounts. For those who say when various players are back will be a true test of team Farke I agree. However the current style of play seems to be the biggest problem to me. I love to watch teams who pass the ball about but not in the current fashion and it doesn’t matter who is back if we continue to field such an unbalanced side. Rather like his predecessor Farke is failing to play to the strengths of his players and when (if) that changes we could be going somewhere.
Sorry Cyprus I somehow contrived to miss this comment yesterday.
One of the reasons me and Mrs P have never moved to Spain permanently is because of my selfish desire to attend Carrow Road at every opportunity.
However, that desire is waning by the day, so maybe sometime soon!
I agree the style of play is a major problem and fails to ignite the crowd, hence the tangible lack of atmosphere.
I would rather be enjoying your temperatures than ours in every sense – you are not missing out on much just now.
A good read thank you.
I have to agree with those who said our midfield is too lightweight at the moment, sadly our season seems to hinge on the fitness of a 31 year old holding midfielder with dodgy knees and a young German with only 7 months left on his contact!!
The priority in January is to find another central midfielder or at least bring Private Godfrey back from Shrewsbury.. Did our midfield win a 2nd ball after we scored on Saturday?
Going back to the poor run in August as soon as Tettey and Trybull (and Klose) came into the team our fortunes changed. We have been quite unlucky with the number of injuries to key players this season. So I think we have to remain patient until we can get our 11 best players back on the pitch. If, and its a big IF, we can get a run of games with with these players in the team I think we can still have a decent season and maybe still make the play-offs. Apart from Wolves, I don’t see too much to be fearful of in the league this season.
OTBC
Lovely comment.
The Private Godfrey reference is priceless.
I roughly recall him wearing his own version of a captain;s armband!
I think the actor’s name was Arnold Ridley.
Don’t panic, Mr Webber.
Nicely written article, Martin. A worrying state of affairs when folks aren’t taking up freebies or using paid tickets.
It’s amazing no one saw this coming…
Ha! Who didn’t see it coming!!
Thanks David.
For those that can remember the drab old day of our first promotion to the first division under the sergeant major Ron Saunders and his record of 23 draws in one season to stay there but the players are now look upon with love.
Keelan, Forbes, Stringer, Paddon, Foggo, Livermore, plus many more but did they player exciting football.