“So, what we gonna do now?”. Then the drums come in with that fantastic tick-tock beat from Nicky Headon.
It was called Clampdown and on London Calling by The Clash. The next line was “Taking off his turban they said is this man a Jew?” Joe Strummer in full angst-driven flight and the musicians in the band (Headon and guitarist Mick Jones) doing their stuff. A brilliant track in every way. No political analysis from me, although I infinitely prefer the personality of Joe Strummer (RIP) to that of Jeremy Corbyn.
But let’s go back to the intro: What we gonna do now?
Sure, we lost 5-1 at Sheffield Wednesday. But we lost the jewel in the crown. Madders got crocked with what seems to be a nasty. You don’t leave a pitch in the way he did if you’ve broken a toenail. That guy has played 46 times for us, plus cup matches, further plus England Under-21s. What happened to him was cruel cruel cruel. He appeared indestructible. And almost, nearly was.
So, this occurrence puts our whole summer transfer window into doubt.
You see, Delia’s idea of a self-financing, self-sustaining football club has already potentially fallen flat on its butt cheeks. Our £20million quid is wearing a kneebrace and Daniel Farke says the prognosis is not good.
I am wishing the best for Madders as I hope all of our readers and writers are. But the powers that be have screwed up yet again. How can they be dumb enough to rely on the sale of a single individual to see them through a whole future season?
I once had a fairly decent MX5 a mate had agreed to buy. Two days before the deal was due to go through the clutch went. He did buy it in the end, but for a fair bit less than I was originally asking for.
Stuff like that happens. I wish the people at the head of football clubs would realise that.
I really hope James recovers well, fully and quickly – my wishes are for him on a personal level rather than wanting him to become a Delia cash cow. He’s too good for us. Perceived fact.
Another Clash song I loved (which ones didn’t I?) was called Complete Control. Hmm…
************
All the very best to Sir Alex Ferguson, wife Cathy and family. Without going into tedious detail, I was privileged to meet him on his adopted home turf of Cheshire while he was giving up (much of) his time for the Royal Schools for the Deaf charity in Cheadle Hulme.
An absolute gentleman and I’m very, very proud to have shaken hands and spoken with him.
You’ll beat this situation Alex. If anyone can you can.
I’ve been asked so many times recently; will Norwich sell Maddison? The reason I would always say yes (assuming it was a good offer) was for this very reason – it doesn’t take much for an injury to put him out & then we’ve neither got the player nor the money. The other reason is that he deserves to be in the Premier. Just like you, if it is a bad one, I would feel much more disappointed for him than a fundamentally flawed business plan.
Thanks Dave.
As has been reported they’re not going to scan it until the swelling has gone down which is common practise.
Knees can be funny old things, so let’s all hope for the best for James.
I had a similar thought but along the lines of… if Maddison has a mediocre second season it could wipe millions off his value.
Summer of uncertainty indeed.
Apart from Maddison’s potentially serious injury leading to the loss of our “Transfer fund” comes the news of Eintracht Frankfurt’s alleged interest in Farke.
I am one sitting firmly on the fence with Farke,believing that despite his coaching record, he lacks the qualities needed to combat the rigours of the Championship.
I am alarmed by the fact that we played a whole season without an effective striker and his game plan which seems based on dominating the ball will only work when used in conjunction with speed of movement and decisiveness in the final third, which has been seriously lacking this season.
Testing times ahead for Webber, who has no one in charge of overseas scouting at present,so maybe the interest of Eintracht,gives food for thought in a possible change of management direction which may not entail massive compensation payments?
Thanks MftS.
I think most of us are still on the fence with Farke and his coaching team, just like yourself. He’s so personable it’s impossible not to like him on that level which can tend to cloud the old judgement!
I have always understood DF was here for a two-season, come what may, role. I get the feeling they’ll stick with him – can’t really see Eintracht going for him tbh.
We shall see!
The only crumb of comfort, Martin, was the comment from Steve Stone that, although we need to sell, there’s more options than the obvious one.
For the moment that’s rather secondary, let’s all hope that the prognosis for James isn’t as bad as some fear.
Agreed Gary. James’ well-being is the paramount concern, far beyond any others.
It’s gonna be a long, hot summer from now on:-)
If you do a Google search for “Hillsborough disaster” the first of about 1,630,000 results starts:
“The Hillsborough disaster was a human crush at Hillsborough football stadium in Sheffield, England on 15 April 1989, during the 1988–89 FA Cup semi-final game between Liverpool and Nottingham Forest. The resulting 96 fatalities and 766 injuries make this the worst disaster in British sporting history.”
THAT is the Hillsborough disaster. Using the phrase in your headline is extremely loaded and frankly offensive. I hope you’re not conflating that with what happened to Maddison and City? I hope you’re not – but it looks very much like you are.
Very poor wording on my part – completely unintentional. Now changed. Apologies.
Thanks Gary.
Thanks, Gary.
I visited Pompeii yesterday – near the exit are casts of bodies preserved exactly as they lay covered by lava. Very eerie, and unforgettable. They had died a horrible death (it was the fierce heat that killed them apparently, before they were covered in lave and ash.)
Yet Frankie Howard used it as the backdrop for a whole comedy series without, as far as I know, anyone choosing to take offence where none existed.
So to be honest I think you are being rather oversensitive Mike.
The media use such headlines as a hook all the time – “Battle of Britain” for example. And we’re all percetive enough to take them in the spirit they’re intended, aren’t we?
Ha! I met Frankie Howerd once in a graveyard in Ilford with my journalistic mate Solly (Marc Solomons) to whom Frankie took quite a shine. As was his apparent wont and nothing wrong with that of course. We had to interview and photograph him there because he could only chill in churchyards, Solly and I were told.
He was doing one leg of his “Superfrank” tour at the nearby Little Theatre later that night. He was wearing a knackered old light grey crimplene suit and THAT wig while reading his script for a show that was supposed to have been unscripted,
Never meet your heroes? In some – but by no means all – cases that’s bloody right.
I don’t think he said anything offensive though, as fed up as he was.
‘Let fury have the hour, anger can be power’
This is one of the most miserable seasons I can remember. A win against little 1p5wich and 2 extra time goals are the highlights; that’s it-3 good moments in a 46 game season.
I am starting to think that the idea of this project was sold to the board by the latter day equivalent of a snake oil salesman. I can see that sometimes things need to get worse before they get better but this is ridiculous. Last season’s 8th was a poor result but if we perform equally badly next season we will wind up in 20th which is too close for comfort.
The board need to do something to improve things quickly. I can’t see how selling some decent players and replacing them with 2nd or 3rd division German League players is going to stop the rot. I haven’t got the answers but even if I. or any of the fan base did, it seems Delia et al would cop a deaf ‘un and carry on with the snake oil salesman and any passing alchemist.
All my angst will, of course, disappear if we win our first 5 games next season-bad things can be forgotten (Strummer also said ‘if Adolf Hitler flew in today, they’d send a limousine anyway’). However, id things go badly fury may well have the hour.
Joe famously said: “The future is unwritten”.
I feel that in the case of NCFC, it has been written and engendered into the club. When you know those at the top expect nothing but maintaining their own social life off the back of the club, management, staff and players will respond accordingly. We simply don’t have the heart, the guts or the will to progress. And that finger is pointing at one individual alone.
I was expecting a medium-sized barrage of counter-opinion on this article; maybe it will arrive later. But I have never known our fanbase as split as it is now. 60:40, 70:30? Not sure.
So many influential people continue to back Delia.
But how many of them sit in the Barclay 23 times a year?
You think ‘those at the top’ are just involved for their social lives? That really is the silliest single comment I’ve seen about our club.
Funny how 19 people like the statement.
Maybe you should write 40 articles a year while I butt out.
Deal?
This has a familiar ring to it, poor old Bellamy, as soon as he was fit he was sold, now here we are again with Madders. I do not hear the quote again “Over MY Dead Body” this time.
We are back where we couldn’t afford to keep players of the calibre and related expense of Bellamy or many others. (Name your own player) perhaps Now we will see Lewis, Murphy,Klose become the saviour.
But we have been through it before, where we really cannot afford to be without players of that calibre, they come they go, we get angry, relieved and angry all over again. That’s football life being involved with clubs like Norwich.
I am no expert on many matters I was once in decorating now perhaps a little on Photography but never the working of football finances, I look back and see vast amounts of money pour into the club, from promotion deals, etc and sales of players . In my limited way, as a cap and woodbines supporter, I struggle to understand it. I know someone will say it is in the accounts, but I know from a very small self employed way, that accountants are worth their weight in gold in giving finishing touches to the final books.
I have said a few times we will come full circle and end up where the Stowmarket two are said to have saved the club, well I think we are here again.
I now best laid plans and adopted models can go wrong, but we do seem to have rather a collection of them.
Now with the news that Farke’s services may be in demand in his homeland, will further add to the ruddy great mess I see unfolding. Although Stone has mentioned there’s more options than the obvious one. So as I said above it will be more than one player in his car to other parts.
Best wishes to Sir Alex for a full recovery, and I feel sorry for the Linnets and their fans for that heartbreak.
Hi Lad
I think the best/worst thing I can remember was that awful still photoshot of Chase saying he would pay Chris Sutton £500 from his own pocket for every goal he scored. The look on Sutton’s face was priceless and that picture still appears on some media to this day.
Dave Stringer only played him (Sutton) as a striker in the first place because he wasn’t allowed to buy an alternative. Worked out well for Chris too of course.
They are completely bolloxed with their pre-season recruitment. No big sale of Maddison, the head of the European scouting operation has beggared off to join Coventry and that’s it.
But as long as your friends can enjoy a snifter in the Directors’ box it’s all worthwhile. Stuff the rest of us.
I’m by no means a happy clapper but it seems a bit harsh to call the board dumb in this situation. Maybe you’re privy to more information than me but I’m reasonably confident that the summer transfer window plan will be a little bit more flexible than to rely solely on the sale of one individual. Surely there will be plans in place for scenarios involving the sale of multiple players, which will inevitably influence what players we can bring in.
Out of interest, what alternative approach would you have advocated to managing James Maddison? Sell him in January when, although there was reportedly lots of interest, there were no firm offers so you’d have to assume we wouldn’t be able to get full market value. Or not play him for the rest of the season so that he couldn’t get injured, thus in all likelyhood disenfranchising him, the rest of the team and probably resulting in again receiving less than his true worth, Or keep him and play him and end the season being labelled as dumb?
We’re all upset that he’s injured. In my case because he seems like a really decent lad and I don’t want it to hinder his development, more than what it potentially means for our transfer budget. I’m not the most seasoned Norwich fan but in the 25 years or so I’ve supported the club we’ve always had more fruitful years when the budget has been limited and the expectations of fans are more realistic, allowing us to pull together as a club.
Best reply on here by a country mile.
We all accept our Board have made mistakes in the past but I believe they have learnt from them and are pushing us in the right direction. Obviously, this was a disappointing season but, in reality, this was always the likely outcome.
The current transfer policy seems far more realistic to me and I believe they’ve got more right than wrong in the past year. I still have faith in DF but results like Sunday’s do test that belief.
And well done Martin, it wasn’t a rant, very measured actually!
Cheers Derek.
You are completely correct: we ended up with what the sensible ones amongst us expected at the beginning of our Webberlution. One more entire season for that set-up? Fine by me. And most of us I would imagine.
As Editor Gary will confirm there’s always a guest spot on here if you’re up for it. It’s painless I promise.
Hi Martin
An excellent read and full agreement on your comments for Sir Alex and his family.
I read somewhere that Maddison injury if a long one could possibly give him another season at city and personnelly I would look forward to that, and yes that could effect how many others leaves to fill the widening financial gap.
1) Klose value £6m
2) Murphy value £12 to 15m
3) Oliveria value £7m
4) Lewis value £6m
5) Hanley value £8m
6) Mathews value £1.5m
These are my conservative valuation .
City still need to resolve Naismith, Jarvis and Martin conundrum
Naismith we can’t afford to pay him off and no one will pay what he earns at city and he might have a lengthy ban after Saturdays foul.
Martin again we can’t afford to pay him off he will be on a large salary and his preformances in Scotland will have put anyones interest off his only hope is a players managers job possibly at Kings Lynn.
Jarvis I think his injury record, salary will stop him keaving to another club if he was your pet the vet would have him put down harsh I know but city are paying him money for nothing.
Delia as I have said a few times vowed to leave if she couldn’t take city forward any longer that time has come so please keep you vow and leave with some dignity and stop and disgruntled protests.
City supporters in general are a patient lot but when riled can turn nasty and we don’t condone any of that sitting in your ivory tower and being a poor millionaire, publicly announcing that you will hand your shares to someone else that hasn’t the financial clout to improve city says it all a spoilt child and doesn’t want anyone to play as they just might prove to be better at it than you.
Last Saturday I don’t honestly thing anyone saw that coming nor even Wednesday fans, but by all accounts the Ref was watching and refing from a sunny beach on holiday and at least 1 Sheff Wed player should have been sent off.
Knowing it was the last game I was expecting possibly Abrahams or Fonkeu to get a run out in preparation for next season and with Hanley out it was possibly the right time to throw Raggett in from the start then if we lost by the same margin the supporters could see a plan for next season.
Franfurt are putting out a lot of feelers and yes if all Team Farke leave city will get a few quid in compo and I would hope SW has a possible replacement in mind that can fit into the new system, the big concern is that we could lose Zimmermann, Trybull, Vrancic and any chance of Leitner returning for a second loan.
With the head of the European scouting going to Coventry will any possible new recruitments be compromised as he will know what players we could be interested in.
4 weeks and the transfer window opens and we can start to moaning about the of lack of money,players in and out what a life we football supporters have.
Martin You once promised an article on a poor millionaire is that still in the pipeline?????
Hi Alex
Yeah there will be something relative to a poor millionaire in the close season on MFW if Editor Gary allows it. He probably will.
I have to take issue with your player valuations though. I would cut a swathe of 40 per cent from all: each and every single one of them. Minimum.
And please remember there has to be somebody who wants to buy them – as I’m sure you well know of course.
Murphy? Maybe £5m. Lewis: Around £2m. Oliveira: a kiss on the butt and a packet of wine gums.
The real problem lies with the point you so rightly make. The stamper Naismith, the unfortunate Jarvis and Russell Martin are draining us. How to get rid? I dunno.
Thanks for a great comment as ever.
Hi Martin
My valuation I agree on the optometric side but was hoping we could mug a few premiership clubs and ones going up???
Ha!
Now that Cardiff have gained promotion I read there was a clause in the loan of Wildshut for them to purchase at an agreed fee, if that is the case how much of a loss will city take as I can’t see colin being allowed mega bucks to spend.
Martin, appreciate the response. Apologies, I should’ve started by saying thanks for a thought provoking article, laced as ever with some excellent pointers for additions to my Spotify playlist!
I’d recommend Police and Thieves. The Clash needed to fill up space on their debut album as it wasn’t long enough for release – listen to Mick Jones enjoying himself!
It’s accidental almost, but sublime.
Please keep commenting.
Pre-injury I don’t think Maddison himself was angling for a move (whereas Bellamy was, all those years ago – his situation was more comparable with Pritchard). He might have been happy to stay put, or come back on loan, if we were able to arrange such a deal.
But if he recovers reasonably quickly I wonder if his mind will be changed – we know he was the most fouled player in the Championship, and was frequently undeprotected by referees. I suspect he will now want to get away from that kind of treatment asap.
Hi Keith
You’re completely right about Bellamy. I don’t believe loan-back deals existed way back then. I wouldn’t let Kevin Muscat have a leak in my front garden for what little that’s worth. You had to have been there at the time – what he did to Bellamy was was truly dreadful.
And yes of course as tough as he is (he’s my own weight and height so for once I know what I’m talking about) Madders must have had enough of the $hi$ being kicked out of him in the Championship.
I hope he’s well enough to go. Not to give Delia the money but simply to get him into the Prem where he belongs.
I cannot remember a young guy who has put so much in on behalf of NCFC in a single season whilst retaining such an incredible attitude.
Madders is the original “If you love somebody, set them free”.
I think that’s why (regardless of what £ NCFC gets for him) so many of us want to see him in the PL where referees tend to be a fair bit more aware. James has outgrown us and we surely have to accept that
Martin: to pin you down on one of your many insinuations in this thread, are you saying that Delia personally takes any money from the transfer fees we receive?
Thanks.
Yeah there may well be the odd nuance or two in a couple of my comments. Not everybody loves our majority shareholders unconditionally and maybe that point of view should be respected.by those who may well be au contraire.
“Not to give Delia the money” if that’s what you’re referring to simply means her and the Club are indivisible. It’s a turn of phrase not an unfounded or unwarranted accusation.
When have I ever suggested Delia pockets money from transfers?
I know the answer to that: NEVER.
(English) Civil War around the corner for next season as the penny drops for many (that had dropped for some ages ago) that the club does not want promotion. There is no will, therefore no way.
The Championship Graveyard suits the majority shareholders and that is the best we can hope for unless severe pressure is placed upon them. We can mock our Suffolk neighbours all we like, but infinitely better support aside, we are both firmly stuck in the same boat.
There is absolutely no evidence whatsoever that next season is going to be any better. Even some of the Delia apologists are running out of hope.
I was speaking to a successful non league manager recently and he was in despair of what was being dished up at Carrow Road by Farke. ‘How are you going to get promoted like that?’ Agreed. Unless the club can get 10 Messi’s for £500K each, then the answer is a resounding no.
‘Ah – That’s the point’ I said. ‘I want them to go up, you want them to go up. Most fans want them to go up. However, a few want to us to stay in the Championship and the owners certainly do and so for Farke, that is mission accomplished.’
I could be proved wrong. Delia might get ambitious next season and want a manager instead of a nice, but naive man who should have never got beyond an U23’s set-up. I posted in the early part of the season that his system does not work and will never work. So far, I’ve sadly been proved right. Clubs have peaks and troughs, but a club as well supported as Norwich City deserves much better than the dull, boring, tedious and ultimately ineffective football that is his trademark.
Supporting Norwich City has never been so difficult. Next season could be a (White) Riot.
I had the original picture sleeve of English Civil War with the Orwellian donkeys and all that. The flipside was 1-2 Crush on You or Pressure Drop. The one I’m wrong about was the overturn of Tommy Gun from Give ’em Enough Rope.
If you get divorced or burgled your black plastic stuff tends to disappear.
On topic I wouldn’t hold your hopes out for the Delia “apologists” to run out of gas.
There are still quite a few of them and they tend to move in influential circles.
I have no problem with anybody who backs her views for the future of our Club. They have an absolute right to their opinion.
But the New Party Army came marching right up the stairs…
Loving the references to the late joe strummer, Martin.
Wi h the pathetic result on Sunday, the level on points finish with Ipswich, the nasty injury to young Maddison, it’s been a lousy few days for us city fans.
Confidence in Farke and Webber has taken a huge hit and seemingly the only plan, the sale of Maddison, is now appearing scuppered. It would seem that our only source of transfer income was the cash in option, leaving us with no money to refit the squad.
Add in the return to parent clubs for Reed, Gunn and Leitner and whatever the implications are for Maddison and we are considerably weakened already.
As Sunday showed, when shorn of injured players such as Tettey, Vrancic and Hanley we are truly amongst the weakest sides in the division. A sobering thought.
For the board and ownership, this represents the perfect storm. Little over a year in and the cracks in the “webberlution” are growing wider by the day.
It would appear the whole thing rested on the slender shoulders of one twenty year old lad, who spends each and every weekend being kicked from pillar to post with little or no protection from whichever tool is carrying the whistle on that day.
The likes of Naismith and Martin have carried on their dismal form on loan and would appear to be heading back to Norfolk in June to continue sucking cash out of the club along with the walking health scare that is Jarvis.
With oliveira apparently off to sunnier climes we are left wit the prospect of Srbeny tussling for the number nine shirt with Carlton Morris, both of whom would genuinely struggle to out score Timm Klose, even with decent service and the overdue jettisoning of the tepid style Farke espouses.
In addition to all of this, we now hear that Farke has caught the eye of a bundesliga club and could be enticed away with his entire coaching staff. Incredibly they have been impressed by our progress this season!
Who said the Germans don’t have a sense of humour.
All joking aside, whatever kind of mess would that leave us in? Even if it doesn’t come to pass, it could still be very unsettling and the kind of distraction we could do without, whatever your particular view on the efficacy of Farke.
I’m keeping every thing crossed for James Maddison, hoping he has merely tweaked his knee and not suffered severe damage. If he was to leave, he would do so with my blessing having done everything in his power to help the club and having earned a record fee to boot. As a supporter, I want him fit and in our lineup come August, however unlikely that may seem.
Webber himself has stated that ideally, the model we are following with the academy and the development would be supported by adequate funding. This in itself is a most telling remark. I concur with this sentiment, as I believe it would give us an edge, rather than be a desperate attempt to keep smith in control of the club by means of flogging footballers, with monotonous regularity.
Martin, I know you will disagree, as you believe smith and her family have an iron grip that will never be broken, but I feel we are entering a critical time for the current ownership and the unique idea that a football club can be “self funded”. An idea so preposterous that literally nobody else does it.
Gauge social media and websites, better still speak to real people, there is certainly no stomach for a grim struggle next season. The supporter holds sway now, with the removal of the premier league riches that Delia smith so despises. The dissatisfaction levels are high and growing. Smith herself risks wrecking her reputation amongst the clubs following by overseeing this continuing decline.
If next season starts in an shambolic way it will be a case of “give them enough rope”
Eloquently put Chris.
I won’t add my own slant to this article (sorry Martin) I’ve already voiced a similar opinion on Gary’s piece yesterday.
The summer and beyond will be interesting…
Interesting is one way to describe it Chris!
Absolutely spot on Martin, Strummer was principled and honest. He would loathe such people.
About as far removed from the average British working man as Margaret thatcher in their own way.
Thanks Chris. Truly appreciated. Joe Strummer was the best.
Strummer can’t hold a candle to Weller, Martin. In lyrical and longevity terms.
Don’t know where to start really but I’ll pick out some Jam stuff: Down in the Tube Station at Midnight, Eton Rifles and Going Underground. Plus that sublime cover of Martha’s “Heatwave” at the end of Setting Sons. No Weller lyrics but burning guitar.
If anybody can scribble anything as good as “That’s Entertainment” on a beermat as he allegedly did… one of the most beautiful songs I’ve ever heard in my life. “Pi$$ing down with rain on a boring Wednesday”. Anyone who doesn’t get that should take up residence at Snape Maltings. I’m sure several do, which is their choice, of course.
Most times I go to the match I think of “Saturday’s Kids” although I don’t wear V-necked shirts or baggy trousers.
Thanks Dan – great comment.
And Wildwood if I haven’t got the title wrong
Mike
You continuesly defend the Smiths and in your comments above said you tried to call them if you are so close to them why don’t you do the following
1) request mfw writters and commenters to list questions that they would like an answer to
2) have a questions and answer article on MFW
3) to save being accused of favoritism or only asking question they are willing to agree to have ie Martin along or someone that isn’t of your point of view
4) then do another question and answer session with Steve Stone followed by Webber/Farke
Non of the above should be difficult for someone of your standing in the club??????
It’s Mick.
Well said Martin, I am afraid that Mr Dennis really doesn’t like it when anyone doesn’t share his views – the baying mob who upset Mrs Roeder, anyone? Take off those green-and-yellow tinted specs, Mick, as things stand we will be in League One again long before the Premier League with this out-of-touch, stick-in-the mud ownership.
Thanks New Poster.
I admit I write with a bit of a provocative edge sometimes, but unlike some folks I don’t have an agenda. I’m just a fan like everyone else.
And I know when I’m being conned. People from my background normally do:-)
Folks,
I’m all for reasoned debate – it’s MFW’s raison d’etre after all – but some of the above is sneaking the wrong side of the line in my opinion. Please let’s refrain from making it personal and instead stick to the footballing aspect of the debate. Anything remotely personal from here on in won’t make it through moderation. Simple.
Cheers.
To be clear (and temperate), I wasn’t offended by Martin’s views about how our club has been run. I disagree, but I’m used to seeing his views, and those like them, and understand they come from wanting the best for the club I support.
My outrage was at the two suggestions, among Martin’s answers to comments, not the article itself, that ‘those at the top’ of our club are involved because it provides their social life. Surely even the most ardent opponent of Delia and Michael’s custody of the club must understand that they’re not exactly short of other interests and friends!
In my long life, I don’t think I’ve met anyone with such varied friends and catholic (small c) interests.
I would have thought very few doubt that they’re proper fans, too.
I notice Martin chose not to address the silliness of his nasty slurs that they’re only involved so as to have a few ‘snifters’ in the boardroom.
Thanks Mick.
This thread has run its course and I’m not “silly” enough to prolong it.
Mick
Sorry I spelt your name wrong but it was a typo and would never do that intentionally.
My suggested article would help clear up any and all misunderstanding if it was possible to get a list of questions from MFW reads that could be put to your friends.
Sorry I gave such a churlish and curt response. I was seething about how Martin had defamed and denegrated two friends of mine.
I get called a lot worse by Norwich fans than ‘Mike’!, but I’m not even going to contemplate talking to Delia and Michael about a site that allows such unwarranted slurs about them.
OTBC
Mick Dennis has suggested I should apologise for my comments about Delia Smith and her social life being linked to our club in this article and also the fact that I mentioned that, like many of us, she may enjoy the odd tipple in good company.
In the spirit of fair play I am happy to do so.
I apologise unreservedly to Delia.