To these ears at least The Jam’s finest moment was That’s Entertainment. A sarky, poignant set of lyrics about life on an outer London council estate penned by somebody who knew that environment all too well and wrote all too honestly… one Paul Weller.
Well, the sarcasm was flowing around the Upper Barclay with the sages of all ages in agreement: Norwich City versus Nottingham Forest was not entertainment in the established sense of the word.
Five draws in a row – I cannot remember the last time that occurred, although I’m sure some of our readers will.
I don’t see the point of referencing that utterly forgettable match beyond mention of two incidents.
The first was like discovering rocking horse poop – yes, a header from Josh Murphy, in the box and from a James Maddison corner. Now I might have seen him get his nut on one in the box before. I truly believe that was against Forest at Carrow Road too – in the Youth Cup semi-final in 2013. A rarity indeed; somewhat akin to wandering past a dodo in Waterloo Park.
Secondly, and with no sarcasm whatsoever, to me the stand-out moment of the entire game was Grant Hanley’s cavalry-style rescue to help out Timm Klose when the latter, erm, stuffed up. One heck of a player is Hanley. He’s already got his own song!
Considering we had big Zimbo (personals) and Ivo (injury rehab) on the bench, the defence is shaping up very nicely. Back three; back four – they adapt to either with solidity and efficiency. If anyone had told me pre-season our back four for this match would have been Jamal Lewis, Klose, Hanley and Harrison Reed I would have laughed like a drain. But thus it came to pass and very effectively too.
Now down to that nitty gritty stuff. The hard yards. The issue no writer wants to dirty their paws with but has to even if only in an attempt to retain any limited credibility they ever had: What’s going on with the bloody strikeforce?
Cameron Jerome has been flogged off. Carlton Morris (who sent Shrewsbury to Wembley last night with a headed winner against Yeovil) is out on loan. Pierre Fonkeu and Tristan Abrahams are realistically nowhere near the first team and if Marley Watkins is a striker then I wear clogs and smoke a Meerschaum pipe.
The full debut of Dennis “the Menace” Srbeny was slightly underwhelming, which leads on to the absolute inevitable.
“When I don’t have the feeling there is a player willing to work in a disciplined way to improve his situation and that of the team I will do without them.”
When the head coach says that about the only recognised, front line striker on the club’s books you know something is very, very wrong.
Where is the nice guy who felt wanted and settled after so many loans that he was glad to be here?
Too many strops now Nelson and I’m pretty sure you’re shortly on your way to a different club you can probably be petulant with.
You could always knuckle down and battle it out with us, but I think somebody else will be wearing the number nine on their back next season.
That’s one for Messrs Webber and Farke to resolve of course, but the last thing we need is a would-be Eric Cantona without the inherent genius that made it all worthwhile for Fergie and Man Utd.
I realise it’s an over-worked analogy, but I would much rather be in the trenches with Cameron Jerome than Nelson Oliveira.
As many of us here on MFW and elsewhere reiterate it will be an interesting summer.
A bit like when The Jam introduced the keyboards for A Town Called Malice – drastic change was in the air. Certainly for Bruce Foxton and Rick Buckler anyway.
And before anybody else says it, on Saturday it’s to Hull and back… another one with 0-0 written all over it!
Perfect summation Martin.
Oh; and when are the callers to Canary Cackle going to realise that Josh Murphy is no longer “a young lad learning his trade”?.I feel that he needs to take a long look at Hernandez’ first half display to see how it should be done.
And we still leave no one on half way when defending a corner – surely given the defensive prowess of some of our players it would not enhance the oppositions chances of scoring if said Murphy strolled around some 50 metres further forward – and keep a couple of said opponents busy further from our goal??
O T B C
Very pertinent point John. Hernandez ability to get on the end of forward balls could make for an interesting option whilst defending corners.
Been saying the same re corners all season , if the ball did break we would probably end up passing back to klose , Gunn etc and gain no advantage .
In the first half when we moved the ball quickly we looked good until that final third .
Homework for pre season Scoring , and not by trying to walk it in !
OTBC
I remember one classic, beautiful goal against Notts County that would illustrate your point perfectly. Butterworth or Polston hoofed it up to Chris Sutton in the centre circle, he knocked it wide right to Foxy, pelted for their box and nutted in unchallenged from the cross around the penalty spot.
We don’t do the simple stuff any more.
Top comment John – thank you.
Got to say it’s a Start but I remember when we were young I use to go in the city we’d all be wondering just who is the 5 o’clock hero. So now when I’m in the crowd standing next to David watts I ask myself watching Norwich is precious and we aren’t after all absolute beginners
You nearly got to double figures there Simon – perhaps you were slightly away from the numbers.
Excellent reference to the Jam Martin.
Judging by the reaction to the repeated home no shows today there may be hope that our “English Rose” “Son” may indeed be “setting”.
If I had a pound for every time someone mentioned being bored by the football I’d buy the club and run or properly.
I fear we need a Brand New Start, Martin… Sorry!
Good to see quite a few of us remember and appreciate The Jam. People of good taste, natch.
negative negative. Roman was not built in a day, we are building a new team with a new idea.
Indeed Rome wasn’t built in a day and nor was North Walsham. I’m fully behind what Webber and Farke are trying to achieve but it is palpably not a new idea, merely new to Norwich.
And as it gets out of babygros and into infants school uniform I see real signs of progress, which is certainly pleasing.
But entertaining it is currently not.
Everyone has quickly forgotten Holt actively forced his way out of the club under Hughton due to the miserable football and the very limited chances. Familiar…although this football is far worse and at a lower level.
I bet the man himself threw many a strop that season, admitting his training application left much to be desired.
Personally, I like a striker who is selfish and acts like a posstot from time to time. That’s the mark of a good’n.
I think Holty quite justifiably played the martyr in that particular situation.
However Nelson does not have that degree of love “in the bank” and I doubt most of us care if he stays or goes. He’s never settled anywhere, which tells me something that I’m sure you will understand equally.
I’ve always been a Nelson fan Martin. Last season, after finally getting a chance under Neil, he scored regularly, good goals too.
What appears to be happening is a softening up for the sale, with Archant running their usual vox pop as to whether we should sell or for how much, acting as a bellwether for the appetite for yet more sales.
What we should be asking is what will replace Nelson when he’s gone? To replace a Portugal international with a cut price nobody with no pedigree might suit smiths aims but how will that benefit the team?
Regarding the flow of news it’s pertinent to note that all of it is coming from one source, namely the club. There are always two sides to every coin.
Yeah, fair do’s.
I’m not too happy with Nelson’s attitude, but playing his role at NCFC just now must be really, really difficult so I do feel for him. Honestly.
If I were to comment about Archant in any detail I’d lose a good gig I enjoy but I think I can safely say I generally agree with you.
Sadly the comment about Murphy is so true. Simple really he lack the guts to get stuck in. Lewis may be of slight build, but this lad truly gets stuck in, and he is hard to disposes . Yet Murphy with much more experience, simply bounce of any player of the opposition. His only asset has or was his speed. Now very really used.
The comparison between young Lewis and the adult Murphy (he’s 22 now, fer Chrissakes) is a good one Ken.
As much as I genuinely hate to say it if I had been a neutral on Tuesday I would have thought: Jamal is the future and Josh has blown it.
I would expect to see the name Hernandez on the teamsheet a lot more often from now on.
Again nail and head Martin. there a few things about this Farking style , slow slow sideways, backwards slow . The problem has been there all season, true the defence frailties, were exposed and dealt with. But this lack of goals can only be down to our strikers suffering from Scorachievemephobia , we can blame each and every player, there has been some golden glaring fluffs. But overall I feel the main reason is the type of football our coach wants to play.
I always have believed in a manager who knew his players and tried his hardest to bring the best out of them by adapting the type of football they knew. This is what happened to Van Wolfie, and to Holt. Holt had scored and scored almost for fun under Lambert, then along comes Mr Defensive changes the style and Holt fails to score. Jerome had scored goals where ever but not for Farke. He cannot fit round pegs into triangular holes, which looks to be happening.
Perhaps one answer is to play a bit more championship, what is wrong with a few lofted balls , what is wrong with getting a striker in the middle and reigning crosses into the box, defenders hate it , ask ours they couldn’t cope with it. Or was that zonal Marking ?
There are many many questions and at the moment only too few answers. even our coach can’t
As to Norfolk’s latest Nelson, not a lot has really changed since the opening day, the only difference today is the coach doesn’t need the name pointed out on the back of a shirt. I would imagine he knows who he is ..only too darn well
Hello Lad.
Your point about the lofted balls is interesting – I can remember that before the emergence of Chris Sutton, Dave Stringer tried that tactic with Flecky and Foxy playing up front and through the middle.
Winning the first ball was impossible and rarely did we win the second. I doubt that is the answer myself as even an interested Nelson is simply not up to it and as for the rest of our “front three”, the height and strength is simply not there.
Broken record time again from me: let’s see what Farke sorts out in the summer.
I get the impression this team has one decent chance in them every game. Some are converted and some, as we have seen recently aren’t.
For every Maddison goal at Middlesbrough, there’s the Leitner miss against Bolton.
The similarity between the both instances are they occur after a sustained passage of play from Norwich which they seem unable or unwilling to continue unless they are behind. If we go in at half time nil nil you could probably bet your shirt that this will be the final score.
The more I see this the more I wonder if this is part of the Farke game philosophy. I’ve seen some really dominant control football from City recently leading up to what I have dubbed “the chance.” After “the chance” (whether it’s scored or missed) it’s as if there’s a switch goes on and we resort to containment mode and preserve what we have, be it a win or a draw.
The only time city revert back or attempt to, is if they go behind (ala Ipswich).
This game plan has its merits but it’s a risky policy and requires quality disciplined players to execute. We have a smattering of them now, (minus a striker) to see us through. But if I am correct in my theory of the Farke game plan, I worry for the future unless previously unheard of gems (and let’s not forget cheap as we are now self funding?) are unearthed in the next transfer window.
Spot on Chris – I couldn’t agree more.
Hi Martin
A very good read.
Not being at the game and only reading the in-game reports from MB and Dave Freeze it seems city had their chances to seal a win but for some bad luck and their goalie playing well.
I can’t remember the person’s moniker who was putting comments on the Pinkup in-match reports but he is something like Jeff on here, basically saying the German experiment was a complete failure and needed to be ditched now so that a new Manager could come in and rebuild.
Possibly if Farke and his backroom staff left wherever he next took over he would want the players from City that have adapted to the championship. This person needs to get a grip on reality – we have no money, no investors and owners that seem happy to let the club continue along this path.
At present a few clubs less attractive than City have been taken over this season – it is now reported that Charlton have 2 consortium’s fighting to buy the club. Oldham and Barnsley now have owners willing to put money into the club; Barnsley have a Chinese and the founder of Moneyball as owners.
As many have said, and the owner of Burnley said in the papers, clubs without investment will die a slow painful death. I am watching it in Blackpool – the Oystons family are at loggerheads; they have all resigned from the club except Owen Oyston and it is believed that he will do whatever it takes to keep the club no matter what his family or financial advisers tell him – and he still has £25m to find to pay off Belokon.
Let’s hope City doesn’t come to the same end, blinkered owners or fading celebs and City are the only thing that they have to keep them in the limelight – poor millionaires that still have more than us.
Hi Alex
As I said to Canary Lad above, I don’t think this is the time to dismantle project Farke.
Because of the intransigent ownership this is realistically the best we can do on an increasingly restricted budget.
If we’re in a similar position in 12 months time we will know the project has failed. Until then I am very much prepared to watch it evolve and hope for the best.
As for the owners and that limelight they seemingly crave, well there is a price for fame and their popularity is on a slow, gradual but inevitable decline.
Hi Martin
Yes I agree we need to continue with the Webger/Farke project to change coarse now would be folly and expensive.
When a so called celeb starts to decline there is always a trail of missed chances to enhance your status and for me it is time the Smith Family all sold up and moved lock stock and cheese grater back to suffolk.
Surely it would be better for them to depart on good terms with the city supporters than have the club turn into another Blackpool, Bolton or worse an ispwich.
Watching from the outside it seems they have lost theur hold on reality and that their self financing model is the be and end all system, at present their is possibly someone will to buy the club or invest if the open sign is put up, Oystons at Blackpool got the club for a £1 plus depts it is now losing £40k aday and the scavengers are circling the wagon waiting to pick it off PLEASE do let city go down this rd again after Chase/South/Jones now the Smiths what can we expect? ????????
Thanks Alex.
I think the key problem here is that the Smiths have come out and said they will not relinquish what they consider to be theirs. And it (cheese!) grates with some of us, but not those of us with any influence,
They have a small but formidable little clique around them including much of the local media – it is one of the great things about MFW that I and some posters are allowed to criticise the Smiths (in a civilised way, natch) while other writers have the freedom to actively support them.
That’s what it’s all about and why I so enjoy writing for this site.
But even after that diatribe I still don’t deserve this year’s bacon roll:-)
Insightful comments Alex. Add Wigan to the growing list, the. Commentator during their game at Blackburn informed us that the Whelan family were looking to sell in order to progress the club.
Local papers sre saying 3 interested parties all looking at the books and all but one from over the pond, can we send the smiths there to help out Trump with his financial plans???????
Is that in Wigan Alex?
Local lancashire papers.
Tetty on the stalemate of contract talks on the Pinkun today: “I respect Norwich and I know things are not going to be as they are this season. As you mention, it is difficult to take because the club since I’ve joined has always been either a Premier League club or a club that is going to the Premier League.”
Last line troubles me. Tetts inferring that the new wage structure will inhibit chances of ‘going to the Premier League’. Hope this frugal new world is sold better to others than it has been to him. I so hope the Smiths share Webber’s view that it is achievable. but unconvinced.
Gary, read the article and it looks like City wants him for another year at least and he is willing to stay. He says he isn’t greedy but the terms have to be right and we all have to have the right terms before we agreed a deal – not a problem with his comments.
It has been mentioned many times that the Smiths take nothing out of the club in directors fees or interest on loans – they have made the club but as I said a few weeks ago investment is the life blood of any business, sp to say that the club is closed to investment is blinkered. To put conditions on a sale is also crazy but it is doing what they want it to do and that is getting no enquiries to do either. It is a sad state of affairs that the Smiths prefer their so-called love for the club causes it to decline in stature’ Leave now while they still fond memories of the club and let someone else take the task on.
No one will remember the bad times with them and their legacy will linger on and we all know the saying better the devil you know but having a board of directors that are yes men to them doesn’t help the club.
Gary the rumour is £8k a week max. Oh (insert your own word)!
Why would Tetts stay for that – he might even be able to equal it in Norway, and it’s an open secret that’s where his partner wants to be, and good luck to her.
Your view is the correct one and some of our folks need to wise up – right quick.
Sinility might have set in to the older generation on the board and can’t see beyond the end of their Gin and Tonic and they will never realise that what they are offering is below parr for the league.
Karl Oyston a few years ago asked an ex Liverpool player to come out of retirement to play for Blackpool he was said to have offered him £90 aweek with extras for a win, full games played and goals scored is that the city self financing route we are on????????
I had a quick look online and one Quora article suggests the top paid player in Norway earns 4.5M NOK, that is pretty much bangon £8k per week. With the best will in the world, I cannot see Tettey getting the top salary as an aging player with dodgy knees.
So if offered top whack with us, I reckon he couldn’t do any better and staying at City would probably trump any other disruptive EFL move or anywhere but Norway. I’m sure the wife could hang on for one more year if it was to be his last near the top. (But then I never quite get my way once the wifes mind is made up!)
Bah!
I think the point is that the old guard such as Tettey who have had those bigger wages are not going to accept less and remain hungry. It appears though from several of our new Germanic recruits that it is possible to find a number of players that will come here for those sort of wages and be hungry to impress, partly because its an improvement on their current terms and also because they are on the up and hoping to impress for a shot at the PL gravy train.
Whilst Tettey has been excellent but still limited this season, I think once again where attacking is concerned he will be part of our problem, he is hardly dynamic with the ball and given our stodgy slow build up play and the fact Farke saw him as surplus to requirements at first, suggests so did he.
I hope that even if he can fall into line with the new wage structure, that Thompson maybe fit and able to play in his place or if not him Godfrey after his Shrews experience, we need to use him or lose him, judging by rumoured interest.
Tettey will constitute the past as soon as we can mathematically no longer reach the playoffs, far better to try to build some sort of still solid side, but with enough dynamism that we won’t pass endlessly infront of our opponents.
Bah!