Well, surely we all enjoyed that. The perfect hat-trick in terms of points as in nine from nine. With no Hanley, no McLean, no Hernandez and Louis Thompson apparently barely fit for duty. But still there were some moaners on the loose on social media and elsewhere. Utterly ridiculous.
More fool Wally McLaren for not introducing Matt Smith sooner to give the aerial bombardment a longer chance to shake us up. And I hope Timm’s snout makes a full recovery.
There’s little point in trawling through the “finer” points of that particular match. Many might disagree with me, but we could have won it by three. I seriously believe that.
Timmu Pukki will never (as such) be the new Grant Holt but how cool was that finish? A deliberate action and nothing spawny about it as he re-adjusted superbly to Marco Stiepermann’s deflected cross to chest it past wrong-footed QPR keeper Lumley. I wish I’d been there to worship it, but I wasn’t.
A thoroughly deserved win.
So on to the conundrum that is Wycombe Wanderers in the Carabao. I’m not about to tell Daniel Farke what to do but I would rest every single squad member who needs some downtime. It would be fantastic to progress for at least one more round in the competition – and we surely should whatever side we field. As much as I have a lot of love for Gareth Ainsworth (a very cool guy) we really should beat his side with whoever we put out against them.
Ainsworth reminds me of Pat Nevin who played for Chelsea in the 1980s. Never afraid to offer an opinion in an interview – often about non-football-related matters. I think he had more articles in NME than I did: football and music ran on the same tramlines in those days and probably do still, except that the modern players ostensibly appear to enjoy R&B and Grime, neither of those genres appeals to me.
On the academy front I am very glad I never removed my contribution from my season ticket renewals.
A little guy I know pretty well (extended family member called Derry) was scouted at Sloughbottom Park while playing for Norman Wanderers and is in now what I believe to be the CPD squad – ie. do well for a year and you’re in the Academy.
My friends at the newsagents down the road have a grandson called Isaac. He has been inducted into the Academy after sailing through his “probationary year”.
Derry was selected for his ability to recognise team-mates and spray the ball around as an attacking midfielder. He is GOOD.
Both Derry and Isaac are fractionally under eight. Derry was discovered a year after Isaac.
Now that folks is our future and as proud as I am of my personal connection it’s good to see local youngsters being watched and getting that kind of chance. It wouldn’t have happened a few years ago.
Also worth noting is that Isaac’s regular coach and Derry’s occasional one is Adrian Forbes, who insists on being known as Forbsey to all the youngsters – no egos floating around there then!
Maybe these guys could be the next Jamal Lewis or Max Aarons. Maybe not. But at least they’ve got a decent crack at it.
Well done NCFC.
Great read Martin and I totally agree that the margin of victory against QPR on Saturday should have been greater – Pukki was a few centimetres away from connecting with Lewis’ cross early on, Cantwell just snatched at Pukki’s cross and then Rhodes should have done better in the final minutes.
Carrying on the discussion re Lewis’ future. I see there is a rumour that he is about to sign a new 4 year contract and if so, that would be a great bit of work by Stewart Webber!!
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Hi Ed – thank you.
If Jamal were to sign a contract of that length it would indeed be great.
James Maddison signed something very similar so there’s no reason for him not to. I cannot see what he’d have to lose tbh.
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Yes I’m sure that Webber is looking to extend Jamal’s contract and ensure he is tied up securely. If we are in the too half of the table come January, though is no chance he will go anywhere. We don’t need any more sales this season and his value will only continue to increase. And if we have any chances of reaching the playoffs he will be here the whole of this season.
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Michael you are 100 per cent spot on.
I suspect Jamal may yet be here for the season after this one as well. Am I being hopeful or realistic? Who knows at this early stage.
Good post and thanks.
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The four year deal is on offer because there are reports of Wet Sham and Celtic sniffing around. Good move by Webber, if anyone wants him they’ll have to pay the price, and he won’t be cheap.
Other youngsters may also be in for improved contracts, and from what we’ve seen in recent games, they’re worth it. I’m sure Webber has eye on that ball, too.
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Jim
I’m not sure that wingbacks/fullbacks command a whole lot of kite on the open market. Wet Spam or Celtic won’t go over £4k for Jamal so I doubt we’d be that interested at that level tbh.
Although with Delia at the helm, you never know…
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If Delia wanted to cash in on Jamal Lewis or Ben Godfrey, she had the opportunity last summer. Instead, she fully backs Stuart Webber keeping them. Just saying….
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Fair comment. I think some of are getting quite naturally a little extra jumpy over Jamal in particular because the lad’s so bloody good!
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Interesting as always Martin , Grime for me needs a water and soap .not a MP3 player. Whether it is needs as must or Farke is a believer in youth, it is long over due to see Academy boys in the 1st team squad. I am sure someone will come up with stats of when we last had this amount of home nutured lads in there. I hope these boys go on the better things than some of our other hopefuls in the past.
It looks like Mr Webber is preparing to slap a high price on Master Lewis, with the new contrat offer. what a shame we won’t be able to keep hold, hopefully until the summer.
Not a proper goal according to the Wally with the brolly . Without going into mechanics of the goal too much , Only thing I would add is; They all count and we got it.
I have watched it several times, now and marvelled at his thinking and skill to pull it off so well; if that had been a Chelski or Man City player they would be raving about the super quick thinking and ability to change as he did on the run.
Yep we could have scored more, but wasn’t that long ago people were moaning we didn’t create chances, someone will be on the end of a right tonking, if this patch continues. When you cast an eye over the teatment room, we have some serious talent who will soon be ready to give a major headache for selection. I personally would use the adage. don’t fix what isn’t broken…
It wasn’t all that long ago neither that we were making comments of a totally different nature towards Mr Farke and his style, I said I would give 10 games before making my own personal view, One more to go, but the truefully the football has not been that bad, with a little more luck and keener finishing the points total would have been a slightly better looking.
For now I am simply enjoying this, while looking to the next game. Long May it reign
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Hi Lad
I think West Brom was a very unfortunate one for us. The Krul cock-up that day cost us heavily but he seems to have got a bit of confidence back, which can only be good.
As you so rightly say let’s enjoy this good little period.
And if it ain’t broken don’t fix it has never been more appropriate.
Good post and thank you.
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Possible team for Wycombe. MsGovern, Pinto Godfrey Zimm Marshall; Thompson; Passlack Trybull Vrancic; Srbeny and Rhodes.
Not bad for second string! And the heroes of the hat-trick all get a rest.
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Whoops! Zimmermann is of course”going again”.
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I would guess that could be a slot for Ben Godfrey. Zimmermann never seems tired though and he’s been a revelation. Perhaps he’ll have to tough another 90 out.
Cos I can’t think of when you take both Klose and Zimmermann out of the situation who would play with Godfrey. One of the other two will surely have to start.
Especially with “the Beast (Akinfendwe) rumbling about.
I get the feeling that this match means far more to Wycombe than it does for us.
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Totally agree with your selection, Nick.
Maybe Nelson on the bench (gulp).
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Probably not too far from the line up Nick. Who have you got down as left back? Pinto?
Nelson is on my bench, I reckon he’s odds on to score.
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@canarylad – TERRIFIC post and totally sums up my thoughts.
I can see us doing a ‘Reading’ (7-1 was it???) to someone and to see so many players in the team who are under 25 is brilliant for our future.
All I can add is take a bow Webber and Farke – you’ve silenced the moaners/trolls!!!!
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Yeah it looks pretty good Ed.
But this IS Norwich City, which is why I never go over the top in terms of expectation.
I agree with your sentiments re Messrs Webber and Farke – we’re in a good place just now.
And long may it continue.
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Good read as ever Martin.
I said last week that four points from two banana skin away fixtures and a win at Wycombe to progress into the latter stages of the league cup would make me smile. Quite what a win tomorrow would engender is unclear but I await in hope.
After the last four years of win averse football three wins in eight days is indeed a feast of biblical proportions. I think the most sage advice is just to enjoy it.
There are many And varied reasons for the recent upturn, not least the baby fullbacks with their pace and defensive nous coupled with quick feet and thought, the lovely pukki, Leitner finally rediscovering his earliest city form, amongst many other individual triumphs. But the standard bearer for me is the surge in form of the unheralded stiepermann. His work often goes unnoticed but for me from the comfort of my living room, he gave a third storming performance in a week. From being a handy Jack of all trades he has to be one of the first names in Farkes mind when formulating his team sheet. Until such a time as his form dips that shirt is his to lose.
Apparently cantwell received a mouthful from Krul for that ridiculous floaty loft into his own area at the death which gave Leitner a heart attack as he attempted to pull the ball down facing his own goal with three home attackers converging. Whatever Krul called him was tame in comparison to the torrent of Anglo Saxon I unleashed. That Said he is maturing nicely and looks as comfortable at this level as he did in the youth cup games I saw him star in a few years ago.
Let’s hope the pot is allowed to bubble nicely without the board once again applying the handbrake with gratuitous selling, pouring Paraquat on the little green shoots of recovery.
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Better than I could have expressed it!
Torrents of Anglo Saxon have long been bandied about at Carrow Road – if you think of all the Sweary Marys those guys gave us over 1,000 years ago. Fair play to all those German invaders – they were exactly that – from that time and I guess we are now enjoying the benefits of 60 or so further generations of their issue into NCFC in 2018.
I cannot put the words on MFW that our Dark Ages invaders gifted to us a nation but F*** C*** and W***** all came from them.
Perhaps they’d seen Simon Hooper officiate.
Cheers mate.
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Everyone’s getting a bit too carried away, for my liking! 😉
At the same time, it’s all very enjoyable. The lads were playing some decent football for much of the game on Saturday; the way that QPR were kept quiet for almost all of the first half was impressive. I was surprised they didn’t press much, but as a result we had a lot of possession. Hoops had more of a go at it second half, but we held firm and stuck to the plan. The goal was a little fortunate and came at a good time, but overall you’d have to say the win was earned.
Wigan and Derby could be very interesting. I wouldn’t want to try and call either.
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I’ll tell you something Ben – I totally agree with you.
Sure there was fortune in the goal but Pikku reacted with total class. And we scored.
I wouldn’t want to call Wigan or Derby either.
Thanks for your post.
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Disagree about the goal. It looked super slick on the highlights and If Pukki had headed it in it would be hailed as a tribute to one touch football of the highest order.
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It’s always great to see the team in green beating Rangers. And you’re right, it could and should have been 3 or more.
I’m really enjoying the run, I just hope it continues longer than last season’s post international break boost.
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Hello Don – totally get your point. Perhaps we should have sported Hoops as well.
To me the Binners equate to Sevco But that’s another story.
Cheers mate.
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Hi Martin
A good read and I hope the lads you know progress, my cousins grandson has started training at city he is from Gorleston and I have been told a very good prospect but never seen him play.
Yesterday I mentioned that Team Farke has done well in ysing so many from the academy and suggested some previous managers nsy not gave done so, I had a reply that Farke should take all the credit as they were bought by others, We must be thankful that others saw some potential and recruited these players, I was also told others didn’t have the the pressure as they had Premiership money at their disposal that is no excuse for not giving youth a chance.
The youth FA cup winners have all departed for pastures new most before the new set up started just how many might have got a chance up this self financing model.
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Hi Alex
Yeah, it’s a funny old one, this.
As I understand it – and I don’t know for sure – Isaac has already played for NCFC at Chelsea and Southend (with a trip to Forest to follow soon) while Derry remains local for his “probationary” year
It’s up to Derry to force his way into the Academy which we all hope he does. He’s not even eight yet but he’s been picked out and as the old song goes we have High Hopes.
I’m just so delighted he’s been given a very real chance.
Thanks for your comment as ever.
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Hi Martin;
Isn’t a week in football wonderful??
Here we are basking in a totally unexpected position being only 4 points away from the top of the league, with a match tomorrow where Herr Farke can, if he wishes, play an almost totally experimental eleven.
I do wonder what the fan’s views might have been had we lost to ‘Boro, but following that excellent win, it does appear that major progress has been made, particularly given what QPR did to us last season..
As commented above, whilst all the current starters are doing their jobs,(with the youngsters particularly so), surely Marco Stiepermann does deserve a special mention in dispatches?? From bit part left back last season, to a really accomplished attacking midfielder, his transformation has been little short of amazing – long may it continue.
As you say, here’s hoping for more local youngsters to make it through the academy, surely the only way that the “self-financing model” will ever work. My grandson has just started with the academy at the ripe old age of 7!!
O T B C
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Hi John.
Yes, Stiepermann has indeed been a revelation, no doubt about it.
They’re certainly recruiting them young these days.
Day one was a bit of a culture shock – from knowing everybody in his regular team to knowing absolutely no-one was like another first day at school! He loves it.
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My skepticism shield is cracking. Is it possible we have a settled first team that plays decent, not too ponderous, football?
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Early days yet Dave, but it’s beginning to look that way!
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It IS still early days. I’m enjoying our good run and the new-found appreciation for Daniel Farke – as you can imagine – but we’re only a couple of flat performances away from the critics and cynics returning in force.
Hopeful signs, as Dave acknowledges. But a long way to go.
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As you say Martin it is early days and as the harpingers of doom and gloom got carried away wanting Team Farke sacked the happy clappers mustn’t get carried away with the success city are having at the moment.
Let’s all enjoy the moment and hope it carries on baby steps in improvement is better than giant leaps that are not sustainable as we all know this is city we support and anything could be around the bend.
So far city are showing the fight that we all hoped for long may it last.
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I wish all the best to Derry and Isaac but to be fair only Cantwell was with our academy at a young age. Thompson and Godfrey had already played League football when we signed them whilst Aarons and Lewis’s only joined us well into their teens. Full credit to those coaches who have developed them since, of course.
Even if these two young lads do make it to the professional ranks they will need a fair bit of luck with timing.
Should we be in the lower reaches of the PL or perhaps have just been relegated – and thus expected to return immediately – it will be a lot harder for the manager of the day to give them a chance than it will be if we are in a rebuilding Championship mid-table phase, as we are now..
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Keith
Poch at spurs when he took over had a very old squad and ditched a lot of them and a few others he decided to go academy and look how he has done.
It needs the right manager to use academy players but also needs a board to hold their nerves as Levy has done
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Excellent comment .Keith -and indeed Alex..
I agree with both of you.
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Did someone say hatrick!
Bah!
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