I have to say I have had a well-rounded thirty years of Norwich City season tickets on the bounce. It doesn’t make me a better supporter than you, MFW readers, just an older one.
Both my ankles are shot, and I also have another rather awkward condition to deal with, although it doesn’t affect my attendance. You deal with it – you have to. It isn’t life-threatening and doesn’t involve a medical accessory.
But getting to the ground is becoming increasingly difficult for me. No mobo scooter, no walking stick. I don’t do stuff like that. But still plain bloody awkward and occasionally painful.
Walking down Prince of Wales I bumped into a couple of very pleasant Leeds fans who had adopted pink polo shirts and in one case trainers also. A sarcastic tribute to our dressing room. We had a good laugh about it, shook hands and I moved on. I really should have taken a picture of them, but my reporter’s instinct is fading.
As for the match? We came out like a steam train and waited for the wheels to fall off.
They picked us off at will. Sorry, but they did, and we got what we deserved. Zilch.
Gary highlighted one or two players individually yesterday, but I will not do so today. We lost to a far superior side.
I hated the second half of that match with a vengeance. We were not at the races. Come on, we were not, were we?
Personally, I couldn’t give a monkey’s crutch stick about the Carabao Cup encounter with Cardiff. I know folks will disagree with me. Hopefully Ben God,frey will get some game time. Or “minutes” as the trendy term is now.
But on Sunday what comes along – the chance for eleven in a row unbeaten against that lot. The trouble is we have so few players in situ that understand the meaning of this game; in the true sense of understanding.
Our performance against Leeds occasionally sparkled but it never ignited.
The amount of people who left when the third goal went in – a wonderful finish from Pablo Hernandez – was significant. We had a few spells of chest-beating scattered throughout the game but as soon as Mateusz Klich fired home from Tim Krul’s ill-judged punch the outcome was pretty much inevitable.
Finally, a closing sentence I thought I’d never write: Well done Leeds – and you weren’t dirty today.
You’ve been very charitable, Martin, by your standards – I was expecting something more ranting.
Maybe your lack of ‘fire’ is a reflection of City’s second half performance – no criticism, mate, just an acceptance of our current fate, seemingly going nowhere fast?
Yeah I saw your comment at the very end of Gary’s article yesterday:-)
I’d actually written and submitted my bit before I read his, which is very unusual for me. I had a horrendous journey back too which didn’t stoke any fires of enthusiasm. My emotions were veering towards the “was it worth the effort” point on the guage.
If I rant it’s always directed against the powers that be rather than the players. Farke has to play the hand he has been dealt as well as he can.
I just get the feeling that your final four words are pretty much on the money.
Just about as balanced an article as it is possible to make Martin. As a firm believer in the “project” it is hard to defend the current state of performance. I don’t think Sunday’s result will be the defining moment for Daniel Farke but my word the supporters are getting ready to try to oust him.
Stuart Webber is no fool and Farke will see his contract through because it is financially the right thing to do, but I now think unless we begin to see an upturn in performance then the Germans successor will be identified.
As to things on the pitch, there is glimpses of good stuff but we really do need some steel in the side otherwise we will get beaten up by the likes of Leeds and Sheffield Utd regularly.
Must disagree with you on one point Mr. Delf. Webber hasn´t done much yet to prove that he isn´t a touch foolish and lacking in judgement in certain areas, on current evidence anyway. It was, after all, he who appointed the redoubtable Herr Farke in the first place, foolhardy in the extreme, given the circumstances, in my opinion. It would be to his credit if he cut Farke´s contract short ( whether financially wise or not) thereby indirectly admitting some degree of fallibility himself, rather than letting him run it out. The mess we´re in, is after all, as much down to Webber as it is, down to Farke, give that one is ´Director of Football´ and the other is ´Head Coach´.
Hi George
I saw some quote on another site in which the poster reckoned Webber “got lucky” with Wagner at Huddersfield and questioned why the Terriers let him (Webber) go so easily.
Food for thought, nothing more.
Hi Martin
As we all know Huddersfield only request when approached by city was that he could leave or contact city till after tgat January transfer window closed.The chairman was asked if he would replace like for like and his reply was all the identification of players has alwsys been done by Wagner so why pay someone to duplicate the work.
There recruitment hasn’t been so bad since ge left even with premiership money.
Hi Alex
There’s sure some money in football
I sometimes wish we could go back to the old days!
George
given Webber’s brief at the start of his tenure, reduce the deficit, overhaul the playing staff and bring in a new football management structure whilst maintaining a first team squad that could at least survive and at best challenge the top six. I think he has done as good a job as it is possible to do with the resources he had. Yes he appointed Farke who in turn can only work with what he has got. Will it work out? I don’t know I hope so but Webber will ultimately decide Farke,s fate. The trouble is who does he replace him with.
Thanks Andy.
I think most of us continue to believe in the project. As I see it we have little choice other than to back it. For me Sporting Director and Head Coach is just fine. However, self-funding continues to leave me cold. Stone cold.
Your point about the lack of steel hits the nail on the head. I’m not saying let’s get another Carl Bradshaw (that would be truly regressive) but we need more physical strength in crucial areas.
There is indeed antagonism towards Farke but I don’t truly believe binning him off just now would do us any favours. We’ll have to roll with it for a while yet.
Good post.
Without being harsh I’d say that piece lacked any passion or soul and seems half-hearted at best. We expect a lot of the team when we can barely muster anything ourselves. It’s a good job we don’t have to live with the same levels of criticism.
The same goes for the crowd on Saturday, it wasn’t that Leeds were obviously louder and drowned us out it’s that there was no effort made to even raise a voice.
I’ve always been a firm believer in the team needed to lift the crowd first and for 20 minutes you could argue Norwich did that – to be so quiet then was criminal.
The haters hate Delia but even she probably has a little shout every now and then – complain about her if you will but then don’t show yourself to be lacking in passion for the team as well.
Hi Zico – we don’t get many Brazilian superstars on MFW so good to hear from you.
Yes the piece lacked passion – nothing to be passionate about – but lacking soul? I’d beg to differ on that one.
You must have been at the game too from what you’ve posted but surely you’d agree that you cannot force a crowd to chant and sing. Folks make their own minds up and take it from there.
I very much doubt anybody actually hates Delia.
Well said Martin. I understand the supposed lack of passion in your article as like the rest of us you despair at the clubs current predicament.
There is absolutely nothing to be passionate about.
The owners need to sell the club but appear to be the only people who fail to see that this course of action is essential for the clubs future.
The big risk to this club is not new owners but the currents owners clinging on regardless.
I’ve supported the club for sixty years and this is the lowest point I can recall.
Even when we were relegated to division 1 I was optimistic we would get back quickly. Now the game has moved on to such an extent that teams below us have wealthier owners who understand the modern game.
Our owners are the biggest handicap at this club!
As ever John I agree with you.
I felt very flat when I wrote this, agreed. Mainly because I’d seen our beloved team on the wrong end of a harsh lesson in what the Championship is all about!
I can think of several lower points actually. When Mr Chase unleashed Metropolitan Police horses on us and the entire reign of The Roedent. Bryan Hamilton charming Delia while we stuffed it up on the pitch and when Chase let Martin O’Neill quit because he couldn’t/wouldn’t release £250k to buy Dean Windass.. And the infamous Cochester 1-7.
And the Chase firesale when Ashley Ward disappeared overnight.
This situation is less dramatic as it’s a slow, gradual decline. Interminable? Looks like it to me but I’d be so happy to be wrong.
The difference with the Chase regime was you knew that somehow it would end.
I’m afraid with Delia there is no end in site.
Agreed.
The problem as ever is our owners. Without change the club is already starting to decline. The signs are there, empty seats, teams around us strengthening, struggling to beat Preston, Stevenage. Farke is not great. He tries to play tippy tappy in a league that is anything but. He still does not know his best team. He plays three at the back then changes it to four for no reason but he has been hamstrung by having our best players sold and having to make do with poorer quality replacements. The league is stronger this year. We are probably better than three other teams this year but without new investment the only way is down. I suspect even nephew Tom can see that. Talk about a poisoned chalice! I hope and pray that Delia will go while she still has some dignity left.
Hi Catton
I doubt even the Klondyke Mining Company could blast Delia out – even with all that dynamite they carry on routine jobs.
The thing with Tom (and one of my MFW colleagues praises him very highly, having met him, which I haven’t) is that there will be a caveat in that hand-me-down that he can never sell the Club. At least not while Delia is alive anyway. And (hopefully) that will be for some considerable time. Longevity appears to run in her family. Her mum Etty still goes to matches and she’s in her nineties. I’m actually pleased about that and good for them.
Go with (or without) dignity? Not a hope in hell mate.
Martin and JohnF you are absolutely right, there is nothing about the club and team right now to get passionate about. I struggle to listen to more than 30 secs of a Farke interview, boring repetition much like his team.
One thing is also true Webber has to be as much if not more too blame than Farke. The awful style of football etc was presumably know about before Farke and backroom staff were taken on? You might say it’s good enough for Man City etc….yes but as someone else pointed out with good players possession football is played in the attacking third of the pitch….with our “standard” of players it’s played in our own third of the pitch, big difference
Just a final thought in that i agree with all the German players it’s hard to see any other manager being happy taking it on as the squad stands……well here’s a thought Paul Lambert, fluent in German ,hero to most fans and Grant Holt already back at the club and Russell Martin who is a link to current squad….just saying
Phew – a bit much to take in there from my namesake!
What I will say is that I love to see the Liverpool front three of Salah, Kane and Firmino in action. It’s like poetry, it really is.
But we’re in the Championship and it’s quite literally a different ball game.
Sorry to say this but the Lambert boat has been burned. Love him back? Yes I most certainly would. But it ain’t never gonna happen. Too much water under the Wensum.
He provided the most exciting football I can remember in 40 years of support. Mike Walker (with Dave Stringer’s squad) would come a very close second.
Good post and thanks.
Whether we believe in the Project or not, there is little we can do about it, It is a football club not a project for someone to build and play with, haven’t had enough of the club being a plaything ?
We know the drawbridge comes up when the criticism really heats up, I was prepared to give more time 10 games . but we are half way through those games, not a lot has changed.
A limp win against a bus parking team and that in the last 10 minutes. I tried to forget the game and look at 3 points.
Faux (Farke) was either kidding himself or trying to bull us when he said last week he believed we could beat Leeds. He had not done his homework. His reports on Leeds were so far off beam. Or it was all bullsh*t Take your pick as I don’t know.
I fear now another 5 games of this and we will be joining Ipswich near the bottom. if they haven’t gone above us after Sunday. A writer who covers their games believes this is the worst City side in years. And at the moment I find it hard not to agree. The players should be capable of better. you don’t become a bad player overnight, it must be the coaching, tatics, the whole system.
The portculis and drawbridge are being greased up, ready for the Sound of Silence from the boardroom
Hi Lad – good musical reference btw. I don’t like S&G folk music but it’s one of my favourites from their output nonetheless. Along with The Boxer.
I too read that article in the EADT and they truly fancy it this time. Oh shucks.
Our Club has been a personal plaything for somebody for many, many years now. Somebody who hates the Premiership and refuses to listen to any offer of investment. It’s on record, so not a libellous comment.
And people wonder why I sometimes write with a sense of depression?
Martin, you’ve covered my thoughts so may I add this…
A big deal was made about fine margins and painting the changing room pink. To me that has hugely backfired, but is not the most aggregious changing room issue.
The club put out a video of the new home changing room. Looks like they made a deal with a local company to do it cheap/free for a bit of promotion.
This video raised a few concerns. Firstly the existence of often mocked inspirational quotes. Secondly the lack of thought gone into them. Check this screenshot I grabbed…
https://imgur.com/a/5EI3ePp
Why is “Fear” large and at near eye height, while “Victory” is small and at the bottom. We talk about fine margins, but if anyone has ever seen the magic trick where eye-height text subliminally gets into your head, you’ll know this is insane. Also, I read it as Fear The Noise.
Lastly, the reason we’re in this situation is that we can’t afford to do the changing rooms ourselves.
You won’t see this coming out of Leeds this season, Wolves last season, or Newcastle before.
“A big deal” made out of painting the changing room pink? By mischief-makers, perhaps. Certainly not by the club; Stuart Webber mentioned it in a throwaway comment at a Fans Forum, specifically as an example of a very minor action.
Thanks Dave.
I was a wicket-keeper and can remember doing something very naughty in the sink before every match to “cure” the glove inners. Nobody objected – the opposition did the same, after all.
As for the rest of your post an AC-DC album title comes to mind: Dirty Deeds Done Cheap.
NCFC has no class, I’m afraid.
Unfortunately , despite an encouraging first 20 mins , we lack character , strength and belief it seems ,
Our most effective outlet in my opinion is the Lewis / Hernandez combination, this was nullified effectively by Leeds .
It’s hard to put your finger on one thing wrong with our current crop , in spells they look good , unfortunately only in small spells .
We either come out all guns blazing or sit back and wait , usually till the opposition score and then …. ?
We have no plan B ,
Leeds , as good as they were , fully deserved the victory , but they still are no where near the levels displayed by wolves last season .
We have a long way to go , but , I admit or feeling very nervous at present .
After watching the highlights on quest , every team shows more passion , pace and directness, I’m worried if we don’t find our mojo soon we will be in for a long and dire season .
Come on herr Farke , wake up and adapt , your philosophy to date is not working , its clear to see , show us what you brought here for .
Till next time OTBC
Martin:
Funnily enough we seemed to get more joy down our right in the opening period.
But at least Jamal and Onel didn’t seem to obstruct each other so much. One up to the Coach I guess.
As for that mojo and it’s whereabouts I think it’s time I got myself a beer.
Very fair piece, Martin (I was braced for something more vitriolic).
Still trying to make sense of Saturday. It seems to me any assessment has to incorporate that:
. for the first 20 minutes, we dominated Leeds in a way no-one else has done this season
. after their two quick-fire goals, our belief evaporated in an alarming way; the second half was a stroll for them
. Leeds are exceptional (time will tell how exceptional)
The next five games cover a better spread of Championship opponents than the first five have. No City fan could honestly say they’re not worried – but there IS a danger of over-reaction to Saturday.
It will be a big help for the team to produce a strong performance on Sunday.
Nice response Stew … and, yes, was expecting our Martin to come out swinging. As it transpired, he was more measured and sensible that I (good work Martin). Agree that a strong performance next Sunday – which I believe they are capable of – is vital to steady the ship.
Now … brace yourselves for Andy H’s piece!
Ha! I can’t always be incendiary.
I almost never am about the players actually.
Very true mate
Thanks Stew
Forget tomorrow (I guess we have to) but Sunday will be something of a defining moment. One way or the other.
Let’s look at the Farke soundbite regarding Leeds being beatable.
On paper, he was right. The side that effectively took us apart on Saturday were (except for 1 addition) exactly the same set of players we beat 2 1 in Wes’ last game.
The only thing that has changed since then is their manager.
Now I’m not saying Leeds were the proverbial “sows ear” last time, but they are well on the way to being turned into a silk purse by this coach of there’s.
I mentioned on your last article Martin that I could see the positives in Farkes plan of non deviation however this should be teamed with homework and due diligence prior to the game. If this research did occur prior to the arrival of the resergent LUFC then it appeared not to have transferred to the pitch. Why? You or I may never know.
One thing I would say though is we have the players and I believe there is a desire and attitude within them (they shouldn’t be professional players if they don’t ) they just need a focus. It can be done. I don’t want to mention the L name but he did it with a rag bag of journeymen, youth players and a small pinch of quality. We were in a far more perilous state financially also.
It’s not just the coach though, all the moons have to align. There needs to be a desire to succeed top to bottom, the whole club, not just a “designated department” and not just when they’re in the poop and may lose it all.
The only desire I see at the moment is for comfort or the next glass of white wine. If that the only ambition, the workforce will do just enough to achieve it and nothing more.
Hi Chris
So hard to argue with what you say so I’m not going to try.
The problems begin and end at the very top as far as I’m concerned.
They couldn’t give a monkey’s chuff.
While the rest of us ostensibly do…
Thanks Martin,
I’m unfortunately starting to break my self imposed abstinence regarding the upper eschelons of NCFC and I hate myself for it! I suppose it’s like my smoking habit, I’m not a non smoker now, I’m just one who doesn’t partake anymore, however, In times of stress I regress occasionally! ?
I smoked all my life but when my kids were born I gave up. Hard but I did it. For ten years. Then when my marriage broke up I got together with a lady I’ve been with for 20 years who smoked.
She packed it in five years ago… so guess where that leaves me!
Yep, chucked out into the garden every time I light up a Café Crème.
Whatever the weather!
Hi Martin
An enjoyable and interesting read.
Not being at the game and only seeing the short highlights on Quest I was surprised that Trybull after losing the ball just stood and watched no energy to try and get it back just left it the defence which I thought he was a cover for.
Also as with a few others liked the way Leeds played and thst is a first for me to admit too.
According to a few papers city are after a lian from Fulgam another midfield creative player isn’t it about time we got a Bradley Johnson type who will dictate the play and score a few goals for us and he seems down the pecking order at Derby.
As you have said in one of you replies today investment is the last thing the Smiths want to hear about and possibly her supporters too, but no one seems to admit it is needed, are we less attractive than Charlton, Oldham, Blackpool and a few others that have depts yet have investers wanting to put money into the clubs(Blackpool takeover stopped due to Oystons wanting to stay).
The big question is why are the Smiths so determined not to take investment, yes there celebrity status is waning but why take the club down with you, and to put an untried nephew as the new owner once she hands over the reins is just plain stupid.
There is a lot of talk about Farke and his team no being up to the task in hand that could be so but what could he have done with money available and backing to get the right players in, also if Webber sacks him would you trust him to get it right second time round, there isn’t alot out there at present but Carhaval might be a cheap option.
Hi Alex and thank you.
The whole question of future investment in NCFC (if only) is utterly going to be negated by the Smiths. They have told us so in national newspaper interviews, after all. They know best.
Of course they do.
They still have quite a few clingers-on surrounding them and still seem to enjoy their matchday experience. Many older supporters (the same age as you and me) inexplicably continue to back them. My blood boils.
But there’s $od all we can do about it mate.
Chris Anderson took my thunder…….how is it that a Leeds side containing most of those players we comfortably beat last season could destroy us so easily, whilst we are the ones who have supposedly invested wisely in this third of fouar transfer windows? According to those who are paid to report on such things, we have a much more balanced squad this season…..if only somehow those in power could coach some determination and self-belief into our squad then perhaps we wouldn’t all feel quite so depressed.
Tomorrow night doesn’t matter, although I expect it will be used to give players like Godfrey and Buendia some meaningful time on the pitch, but suddenly, given 1p5wich’s poor start, Sunday takes on a whole different meaning. if we win then Farke is safe (for now), but if that which has not been known for years happens then I fear a large outpouring of grief before and during the international break.
O T B C
Thanks John
It’s been said elsewhere that Bielsa has been the catalyst for this turn-round of the Leeds squad and I’m sure that is true.
Heads dropped far too easily and far too early on Saturday.
Play-off semis aside, this is the most important Derby in a long time.