We remind ourselves constantly that to support a club likes ours requires the enduring of many a bad day in order to then squeeze every last ounce of joy out of the good ones. And since that day at Wembley in 2015 we’ve had to endure a fair few stinkers.
The lows have certainly outweighed the highs and along the way there haven’t been too many occasions where you felt the heart trying to burst out of the chest. But last night was one… arguably the best one.
Glorious failure it may have been – of an ilk we also witnessed at the Emirates – but for those of us who have spent time of late questioning the current direction of travel last night offered both respite and many reasons to be cheerful.
That Willy Caballero emerged the hero was not a total surprise – he has previous in penalty shoot-outs – but it was tough on Angus Gunn who, yet again, was simply magnificent in the most testing of circumstances. For him to have guessed right just once in that shoot-out would have been a fitting reward but alas the Blues of the King’s Road left it until the eleventh hour to finally rediscover their swagger.
To see Angus trudge off at the end, head bowed, a sympathetic Josh beside him for support, spoke volumes of where Norwich City sits in the lad’s affections. He’s as ‘Norwich’ as you and I, regardless of where he plays his football next season and beyond.
But it wasn’t just about Gunny. The heroes came thick and fast at the Bridge last night and seldom have fifteen ‘losers’ emerged from a cup exit with their reputation so enhanced, even if the beginnings of an epic evening were of the nervous, tepid and shaky variety.
Once the heads had cleared from Chelsea’s high-tempo opening and it became clear there was a fragility around the hosts, both on and off the pitch, the Canaries warmed to the task. Harrison Reed and Mario Vrancic wobbled in those early stages and looked in danger of being over-run in the Tetbull area but as those around them grew in stature, so did they.
Despite Lineker and co scoffing at the lack of first-half entertainment to have gone in at half-time level was a massive fillip and, whatever the narrative, to have gone 135 minutes against the Champions without conceding was an achievement all of its own. It was a little hairy at times of course but when a block was needed or a body required to be put on the line it was duly delivered.
Yet it wasn’t just backs to the wall stuff; Nelson Oliveira’s dipping volley that bounced off the top of the bar a timely reminder to the watching audience (and pundits) that little Norwich were not there simply to be the stooges for the Chelsea globetrotters.
The smart money still remained on the Blue machine finally bursting into life, the plucky Canaries finally caving in under the pressure of the sustained onslaught, but it didn’t happen. Even when Batshuayi finally discovered that his banjo could be used to hit the cow’s derriere, courtesy of the magnificent Grant Hanley’s one second of ball-watching (we’ll allow him one), the Canaries were unfazed.
Josh would go close with a bobbler that struck Caballero’s post, James Maddison would see one saved brilliantly by the Chelsea keeper when we all expected him to score, but both were merely precursors to Jamal Lewis’s wonderful 94th minute glancing header that took the game into extra-time.
Cue mayhem. In the away end. At chez Gowers. Everywhere. Even Lineker must have smiled.
Quite how Timm Klose (what a cross that was by the way…) found himself on the left wing and why Lewis had made it his business to make an extra body in the box is anyone’s guess, but in the dying seconds of a cup tie that you’re losing anything goes.
At the risk of entering Paul Anderson and Jonas Knudsen territory (Ipswich fan: ‘It was the best five minutes of my life’) that was indeed a special moment, and not just for young Lewis.
Okay, so in hindsight we could have done without extra-time and there’s this niggle that what happened following defeat at the Emirates will happen again, but it’s in football’s DNA that you fight to the last, you give it everything, and every single one of those lads did exactly that last night. Nothing was left out on that pitch.
It has to be said that one Graham Scott added to the drama of the evening and the refusal by the man in black to be bowed by pressure from all four corners of Stamford Bridge – with the obvious exception of those clad in yellow – was to be applauded. That he irked Mr Conte et al to the degree he did was also worthy of being mentioned in dispatches. Good work Mr Scott.
So, heroic failure it may have been but we are now in a similar place to where we found ourselves during the eight-game unbeaten run. We’re starting to believe again that Daniel Farke does have us back on the right track. The thing that we all though he was building but then disappeared seems to have reappeared on the horizon.
There will be some aching limbs over the next couple of days, some will still be creaking on Saturday, so if ever those lads needed a rocking Carrrow Road to get behind them its this weekend. And on this occasion it feels like we owe them.
What we really need is a pantomime villain to get stuck into. Someone who has already peed us off this season, who has been disrespectful, rude and arrogant.
I’m looking at you Chris Wilder. And we’re ready for you.
Really proud of all the boys last night but must just say, how good was that ‘4th division German centre back’.
Excellent point JT – deserving of a special mention.
Interesting that Farke substituted the substitute (Cantwell) just before the end of extra time, presumably because he wanted more experience for the penalty shoot-out. However, Stieperman never took one, unless he was designated to take the fifth. Having two Germans on the pitch at the end I was expecting to see them both in the initial five, given what we’ve seen in the past with shoot-outs, but evidently not in the plan.
I felt sorry for Olivera, but I never had confidence when I saw he was stepping up to take the first one. It wasn’t a bad penalty, but still at a height and close enough to Caballero for him to save it.
A word for Mr Scott – can we have him every week?! It was great to see a referee who wasn’t afraid to give decisions that didn’t favour the “big club”, and to see him take appropriate action when faced with verbal abuse. Was it a second yellow, or did he give a straight red for that? If it was a yellow, I missed him showing it.
All in all, a performance to be proud of, but unfortunately put some players right in the shop window. I see Everton fans are fancying Jamal Lewis, and Spurs fans were reinforcing their admiration for Maddison. It’s lucky that Gunn is already a Man City player!
It was a second yellow. He held it up briefly, a second time, before showing the red.
Thanks.
Re Cantwell who I thought was really good, it may be that he would have been required to take a penalty and DF did not want him to ruin an otherwise excellent game and his increasing confidence by being the one to miss. So proud of them all. A bit of investment and turn down the inevitable offers for our gems and we could have a terrific team. My regard for DF is increasing with every game.
A truely great effort from all the NCFC lads. Great to see Lewis again play so well, after the shakey start Reed too had one of his best games in Yellow. I’m even starting to think Vrancic might make a useful yella. A bright debut for Cantwell, the entire defnece heroic, what more could we ask for? MotM could have gone to several of the lads with: Gunn, Hanley, Lewis all very worthy but I’d give it to the colossus that was Christoph Zimmermann. Not only a rock at the back but he was showing Luiz a thing or two about stepping out from the back.
After another great cup performance we see the potential of this playing group, we can only hope that as you say we don’t suffer a similar hangover.
The biggest plus for me last night is that we managed to look solid against Chelsea without Tettey in the side. So far we have seriously struggled without him so this was another huge positive. With that said I’m more optimistic about Saturday knowing that we have Tettey fresh and ready for the Blades, even if a number of the lads simply have to be jaded, Nelson looked looked dead on his feet and Pinto off before the end with cramp, two positions where we have very few options if either of them aren’t ready.
Have we signed anyone yet?
Bah!
Rousing stuff Gary, sums up the performance last night.
It’s tough to pick an individual from such a team effort, I thought every man was excellent but if pushed I recall equating Zimmermann to Kaiser franz beckenbauer last night to the utter be,use meant of my family, so that’s good enough for me.
Those three centre halves dovetail and complement each other well and provide a platform which slightly negates the need for “tetbull”.
A as the furniture and teacups flew during the aftermath of Lewis equaliser something special appeared on the cards. In truth, it already had. Chelsea had reverted to the big boy default – I.e. If troubled by a lesser light simply wait for the referees intervention and if it’s not forthcoming give him a little nudge. Whether it was the advent of VAR or just a backbone, mr Scott wasn’t playing their game. The girly diving and flouncing and the pussy little slap dealt out by Kennedy as Chelsea got more desperate were hilarious,
If only big Timms header had gone a yard wider in either direction at the end justice would have been done properly. No surprise or disgrace that we lost the shoot out to the host of top internationals in front of the howling goombahs behind the goal but still hard to take.
That there are signs of something good stirring at colney cannot be denied. The team was set up perfectly, motivated beyond belief and displayed no little skill. On its day it can be a match for anyone, on another day- oh boy,
The fly in the ointment however is the gnawing fear that this developing team will be chopped up and vandalised, even in the next two weeks before it gets a chance to show what it can do. The thought that we are only ever 6 months away from being broken up is harder to,take than losing to a bunch of overpaid cheats on a penalty shoot out.
Fantastic last paragraph. Respect.
Agreed.
Last night was a great performance. No complaints. I believe Norwich should be mixing it with the big boys and let’s not forget, until recently we were doing it week-in-week out. I get annoyed with people talking down our club.
But, the situation we’re in is that we either have to be in the Prem, or we have to frequently lose any shining stars. As we can see happening right now.
Hats off to Farke for bringing Lewis into the first team set up. He’s done amazingly. But let’s remember that we need to be doing that for multiple players every season, so that we can sell them.
That is the “self-funding” model, also known as the “selling” model.
Just to note that we didn’t equate the self-funding model with being a selling model when we were in the Premier League.
Indeed, many fans (me included, though clearly not Dave) believe that if we’d spent the same money a little more wisely in 2015-16 we’d have survived in the top flight. That’s to say, the self-funding model can indeed be successful.
“Indeed, many fans (me included, though clearly not Dave) believe that if we’d spent the same money a little more wisely in 2015-16 we’d have survived in the top flight. That’s to say, the self-funding model can indeed be successful.”
But we didn’t, we didn’t, and it isn’t.
I believe you’re talking about the “Premiership funding model”.
If you’re model only works in a league you’re not in, it doesn’t work.
Southampton are in the Premier League; do they get to keep their shining stars?
With our self-funding model, we found ourselves in the Championship in 2010-11 and 2014-15 – and got promoted both times.
Either you have a very short memory, Dave – or you’re trying to pull the wool over people’s eyes.
People who bring up Southampton have never looked into their accounts. There are major misconceptions about how they are run.
http://www.dailyecho.co.uk/news/15155581.Saints_invest___94m_in_squad/
One example – Many recent seasons they have had a net Transfer spend.
Second example – The club runs at a debt, held by their owners
Two things we can’t do.
People will of course point at Van Dijk, which will help their books this year. But they were using Southampton as a reference long before that sale. VD is an anomaly, not someone from their academy, and not someone we’d be able to buy (Southampton bought at around 15M).
In short, replicating Southampton will lead us to bankruptcy.
Stewart, since the formation of The Championship we’ve been in it 7 full seasons.
4 – No change
2 – Promotions
1 – Relegation
It took 4 seasons in TC to lead us to near bankrupt in 2008. We are now in our second season and we have a 30M+ revenue deficit. Even in our last promotion season we ran a debt.
Our self-funding model only works in The Premiership. There’s ZERO evidence it works in TC. It’s fantasy.
If the board want to come out and say their goal is promotion, I’m all for it. But it needs to be this season. I don’t buy any version of events that has us in TC for an extended period.
We’re in our fourth Championship season since 2010. Of the previous three, two have ended in promotion. The other seasons have been in the Premier League.
Zero evidence that our model can work? Hmm.
Classic Norwich City – playing better against better teams.
Very impressed by Lewis so far and Gunn’s performances are bitter sweet because he isn’t our player. I doubt we could afford him if Man City decided to sell, but one can live in hope as he has a long future ahead of him.
Olivera just doesn’t look right to me and one could argue if Jerome had been fit and still been our player, we could of beaten Chelsea, It’s all hypothetical, but he doesn’t look like someone who can lead the line for the remainder of the season, so I hope something is in the pipeline.
Magnificent, heroic, ‘Roy-of-the-Rovers’ stuff from the boys last night.
However, taking both Arsenal and now Chelsea to the absolute wire in important cup games does beg the question how can ostensibly that same eleven be losing at home to Brentford and failing to beat lowly Burton Albion and Barnsley?
The vagaries and inconsistencies of football, I guess, but take nothing away from the lads – play like that every week and we could really be onto something next season.
I hope DF’s search for a right back, striker and winger bear fruit in the next fortnight so we can see genuine, longer term signs of progress as opposed to good result, poor result, etc.
Special praise to Gunn, Lewis, Josh & the 3 CBs last night.
When was the last time we saw a city team with three colossus / colossi (?) in defence? I hope Malky and Fleming were watching! 😉
Adding to my previous “shop window” comment, Newcastle fans are keen on Josh Murphy, and Liverpool fans are raving over Angus Gunn. The Toon fans are suggesting that they do a swap. deal, Gayle for Murphy! I’m sure they weren’t the only ones to have impressed last night. We need to stay strong!
Gayle would never consider such a wage cut
Bah!
Well, we have to admit we were probably a little lucky with the Willan non-penalty, but given the general cheating antics that Chelsea were producing I don’t think many neutrals will have much sympathy for them. And with four strikers in the studio and a winger in the commentary box it was inevitable the pundits would take the “he made contact it must be a penalty” line.
Apart from the other two dives in the area I noticed a couple of their players fouling ours but then bouncing off and rolling around as if they’d been assaulted themselves. I hate the arrogant way players at clubs like Chelsea, Man C, Man U et al approach the game and it was a reminder of how much I don’t miss that aspect of PL football.
But anyway, I thought our performance was magnificent on the night and very encouraging for the future.
One player that I would comment on was Maddison. For all his brilliance in the Championship I think it showed he still has work to do before he’s ready to mix it at the top of the PL, and by inference, in Europe. Under the sort of pressure top defenders apply his first touch wasn’t quite as a assured as it needs to be, and of course he was never going to be allowed to turn away from his man in the way he did at Bristol on Saturday. He set piece delivery wasn’t particularly effective either. It was a shame he didn’t get the chance to hit a free kick, but that perhaps reflects how good top teams are at not giving them away in key areas.
There’s likely to be some fall out on Saturday, and there are some tough fixtures to follow that, but the side is more settled and better drilled now than it was 2 or 3 months ago. The key question now is can we start to find a way to win more home games. 4 from 13 is simply not enough and everyone will know that if they turn up a CR and press hard from front to back we’ve yet to find an answer to that.
Through gritted teeth I have to say a genuine well done for last night. From what I saw (not all of it) your team made a better fist of a BBC televised replay than what we did this time last year. Certainly didn’t embarrass you as our team did at Lincoln.
Felt you rode your luck a bit at times, Morata had numerous chances to kill you off and personally I felt the Willan incident was a penalty, certainly seen them given, but in fairness you hit the post, and Klose should have buried that last minute free header which would have prevented the penalty shoot out. When you went for it, you looked a decent team. So you deserve the plaudits you are getting.
My one consolation about the forthcoming February battle is that you are at home, and that seems your Achilles heel results wise, Perhaps your new style is more suited away from Carrow Road. meaning hope springs eternal about taking something back down the A140.
.Enjoy the moment, beware the vultures that are gathering, and be careful of the landing.
Love and kisses……….
Thanks for comments Graham …. annoyingly hard to disagree with most of that (especially the gathering vultures).
And yes, home hasn’t been particularly sweet this season.
All the best.
Wow; a tractor boy talking sense!!
Thank you Graham; here’s to a good game in February when we overtake you (if we’re not already ahead by then…..hopefully)!!
O T B C
We hit the bar as well and forced a desperate save from the keeper. Goalmouth action was quite even. No championship club will go to Chelsea and not have to ride their luck. We are blessed with a large number of players in the mold of Lewis, the most I can ever remember. Now all we need is somebody adept at wringing the necks of vultures.
Brilliant performance, excellently summed up Gary.
Yes, after last night we owe these guys a loud backing on Saturday.
They were all heroes, but I have to agree with those who have made a special mention for Herr Zimmermann. Who can say that Farke and co cannot find a few more gems in the lower German leagues?
Yes, maybe Willian should have had a penalty early in extra time, but only a yellow card for the blatant gamesmanship of Pedro somehow evens that out. I wonder if the laws will ever be changed to a straight red for such blatant cheating.
And why were the penalties taken in front of the Matthew Harding stand where the Chelsea fans were? Surely it would be more fair to have had them at the other end?
O T B C
I also thought penalties were – ABBA etc and NOT ABAB!!!!
I think they tossed a coin to decide ends and who went first.
Bah!
Hi Gary a great read and excellent summary of last nights game.
So come Saturday Wilder will be looking for payback.
With all the energy spent and late return last night lets hope that city can jusr find enought to keep Sheff U at bay.
Reports today are saying Mclean will sign for city and that Norwich are in for Dunk at Blackburn one or even both would help if signed before Friday lunchtime and are available for the game.
Not being a cynical person but Spurs have loaned city the up and coming Edwards now Liverpool have stopped the loan to Sunderland of their young star and offered him to city, Manchester City could offer Gunn another season at city at this rate and are they all trying to get first option on the MERCURIAL Maddison they are all suppose to be offering a loan back for this season abd possibly part next, since when has a city player been in so much demand.
Now last night the cameras zoomed in on the Smiths and showed her with a big smile on her face was this fir the city preformance or her calculating how much more she can get for certain players? ?????????
Knowing her (slightly), it was all for the performance. She’s a fan through and through, and was as proud as the rest of us last night.
As the kids say. LOL.
Yes Stewart is right, the one thing Delia is not is a cynical person.
Last night was a truly wonderful performance, but I really do hope that we have enough energy left for Saturday now. The one I would hate to see is the whinging Chris Wilder have any reason to smile at all.