So how bad was that then? A very dodgy first quarter against an excellent side followed by almost total domination. The phrase “Farke’s fledglings” appears in the media and the national newspapers are starting to notice us.
And I’m starting to really notice Moritz Leitner. His partnership with Alex Tettey is starting to knock last season’s Tetbull (copyright G Gowers) combination into that proverbial cocked hat.
That the intelligent footballer who is Timm Klose scored twice makes me so proud. If ever a quirky character has loved this club it is our Timm. If we can afford to, let’s please keep him until his legs turn to jelly (okay, a two-year contract renewal would suffice).
As for the “fledglings”, they continue to deliver. Todd Cantwell, Max Aarons and Jamal Lewis are consistent in producing on the pitch. I don’t think Kenny McLean will find it easy to oust Todd from the first-team on his return from injury but hey, what a lovely problem for Daniel Farke to attempt to solve.
The Championship table this morning looks as tight as a shark’s butt-hole (which is pressurised for deep sea diving) but we’re at the right end of the congestion. Look to the bottom… who’s there, oh dear.
One of several cracking photographs taken by the excellent lensman Paul Chesterton that appears on the Archant site features Timm Klose, Jordan Rhodes and Onel Hernandez celebrating Timm’s equaliser (below).
Who is that sulking in the background? I can't quite make it out, can any #NCFC fans help me? BOOM @FocusImagesLtd https://t.co/CVIYQFRUWm pic.twitter.com/jekRJQSRXV
— David Freezer (@davefreezer) October 20, 2018
Whether by design or accident, a slightly out of focus, grim-faced Lewis Grabban lurks in the background.
Yes, he scored from a delightful chip from Carvalho and celebrated in a rather “up yours” manner but I still loved to see the look on his face after Timm had glanced that header home. One of my favourite published NCFC stills and well done Paul.
We should have binned Grabban off when we had the chance and kept Bradley Johnson. But that’s another story for another day.
The news that Onel Hernandez may be fit to face Aston Villa is also a bonus. Farke’s call on whether he starts, not mine.
Our record on the road continues to amaze me. I won’t witness it myself until we go to Sheffield Wednesday when I can stay with friends after the game and drive back (hopefully) sedately the following morning.
Seven unbeaten away? That’s some statistic.
There’s obviously a real togetherness in our squad just now. As supporters, let’s enjoy it. I know it’s still only October, but it looks like we’re making a fair old fist of things.
Although nothing is nailed on by any manner of means in this seemingly forever-changing league we are up there with the best of them and long may that continue.
Just as a parting thought… who would have imagined ten years ago that Huddersfield, Bournemouth, Cardiff and Fulham would be Premier League, while ourselves, dirty Leeds, Forest, Boro, Villa, Birmingham, QPR and West Brom are all stuck in the Championship?
I guess incoming investment occasionally works out just fine.
Let’s hope the media continue to notice Farke’s fledglings.
Mr I’.m too good for league cup game (Grabbon) is out of focus my design due to the apreture size and lens. the focus being on the our lads,
I really hope the stops are pulled out to offer a new deal, plus that Timm, hope that fondness for the club and the area will be enough for him to put his cross on. two more years sounds about right for me.
Like many others I reckon, I thought here we go, when Grabbon slotted home from that excellent chip over, that the International break is over and so is our purple patch. But there is so so much more to the squad this season, Whether Farke takes all the credit I don’t know , I would imagine the players got together to make the togetherness work, I would lay money on Mr Klose being at the front.
As to the media noticing us, I bet many involved are sitting there waiting for something to go wrong to start writing us off or some other derogatory write up. I would be happy to stay under the radar just doing what we have and are doing.
You mention McClean, I wonder where Marshall is ? We seemingly went out of our way to sign him on the New Den’s doorstep, and a few games out of position , and he disappears. I believe he was injured at one point but not seen him mentioned anywhere and not on the long term list.
Vanilla up next new manager syndrome having an effect, we will have to be at our best, hope the crowd stays with them again , the Stoke game ending still very fresh in my mind.
The new manager syndrome certainly not having any effect, down over the border. But credit where credit is due, he built a very strong squad. They are holding the rest up. I’ll get my coat
Hi Lad
I love your last par about the Binners – I wish I’d have thought of it myself!
As for Ben Marshall to the best of my understanding he is fit and ready to rock. But, just now, do we really need him as such? We have Max Aarons cemented at RB and a choice of players (Hernandez and Buendia can play on either flank for instance) in front of him just now. I am slightly surprised Marshall doesn’t make the bench at the moment tbh.
However an injury could quickly bring him back into the fold – no I’m not talking it up!
Thanks for the comment.
“Whether Farke takes all the credit I don’t know ”
As he would doubtless be expected to shoulder the blame were at the wrong end of the table then I guess he does.
Re. Timm, yes he seems to love the club and the area but then so did Jonny Howson when he last signed a contract with us – a year later, or whatever it was, he was off back in the general direction he’d come from. And unlike Timm he didn’t have to consider the impact of second tier football on his international career.
Good point about Howson, Keith.
I guess if you’re from a certain part of the world that you truly love you’ll want to return there if you can.
No criticism from me – he gave everything while he was here.
A fine footballer.
Yes, occasionally investment does indeed work out fine – the occasions normally coinciding with the investor having enough nous to appoint decent managers.
I’ve no doubt that Bournemouth benefitted enormously from investment in their quest to reach the PL, but surely the biggest factor in their both reaching AND staying there was employing Eddie Howe, rather than the sort of manager that looks good on paper but in reality flatters to deceive – Steve Bruce for example.
mentioning Eddie Howe, I was surprised he could not deliver at another club, yet at Bournemouth he just clicks . Bournemouth do seem to just get on with it, no big headlines of investment (unless I didn’t see them) Huddersfield on the other have the same owner yet have spent some decent money, but at the moment looking like second season syndrome is catching them out. They could do with a little rub of the green. I also think Burnley are a fine example of well managed club no massive spending or noise of investment.
Bruce can spend large amounts and still get no where, yet still gets the jobs. he has had Birmingham, Palace, Sunderland, Hull and Villa. have I missed any ? all decent sides at the time .. Mark Hughes is much the same I remember Hughes thinking he was too big for Fulham (think was) bet they sighed a large sigh of relief. As you rightly say KB it is down to the manager, believing in him and trusting him plus giving him the time after the other two
Sheffield United, Wigan x 2,
Just to note that although Bournemouth have had incoming investment, so have Leeds, Forest, Villa, Birmingham and QPR. It’s no panacea.
Hi Keith
Great observations.
When I hear the seemingly educated and well-spoken Mr Howe on MotD I cannot help but think what a great choice he has been for them.
No cabbage comments from me but after what he did for us in the past I won’t criticise SB too much, although I get your drift.
Thank you.
Keith, Bournemouth – investment = division 4.
There are multiple flavors of investment, of course.
The “splurge” for promotion, which catches the eye and has mixed results.
The latter is the revenue gap filling investment. The likes that have stopped Ipswich,Leeds, and even Southampton going bankrupt and sinking through the leagues.
Whatever your thoughts on the former, having the latter through the lean years is vital.
Unfortunately we have neither and I think that’s why we now have a COO to count the pennies.
Good read as usual. Here’s my observation on the photo in your article. Very satisfying to see the tw*t in the red shirt having to suck it up! After Grabban’s strop when he walked out on his team mates (& fans) at Rotherham (in 2015??), when he was in our employ, for me, he crossed a line from which there is no return it just went to show that all Lewis Grabban cares about is Lewis Grabban and how he and his ilk absolutely would have no place in our current closely knit group, Incidentally are there any parallels between this and a certain city striker who is currently excluded from the group?!!
I understand from those who went to the game on Saturday that apart from the first 15/ 20 mins in the 1st half we were very good value for the win and if Stiepermann and Hernandez had taken their chances the score line c/should have been 3 or 4-1.
Just think, had we got something from the Stoke game we could have been level on points with Leeds which seems incredible given that it was only at the end of August they caned us 3-0!!
I’m sure there are many twists and turns to come. its only October, but it seems the Farke/ Webber project is heading in the right direction.
If we can continue our good run against Villa, I think the steering group for improving the atmosphere at the Carra can be temporarily suspended. Ha Ha!!
OTBC
Hi John
I sure agree with you about Mr Grabban and your “certain striker”.
The current stance of our management very much appears to be that of FIFO – and pleasingly the vast majority have elected to fit in. Of the remainder one has been FO’d to Scotland and the other has to all intents and purposes been excluded.
I doubt we’ll see either in a yellow shirt again.
Thanks.
Good stuff Martin, and I agree on a deal for Timm, but I’d be even happier with a longer term contract for Farke. His is now starting to develop a reputation in England similar to the one that he had in Germany where he was regarded as an outstanding young coach so I’d hate to see him snaffled by someone else!
I’ve been to a lot of away games this year and the atmosphere is building and building. The sound of 2000 Norwich fans outsinging 26,000 Forest fans in the last 20 minutes on Saturday was glorious!
Thanks Robin.
I agree with every word you say. I wish I could go away more but circs don’t really allow that from a personal standpoint.
However Daniel Farke will be with us for some time yet. Stuart Webber will ensure it.
(God I hope I’m right)!.
Excellent stuff Martin. High pressure butt holes aside.
I’ve always admired Klose, I concur with your sentiments entirely.
Regarding the match, the first quarter of an hour seemed to follow a familiar pattern. The word uttered seemingly more than any other by the commentary team was “sloppy”. Time and again and no player appeared immune.
The, as if someone had pushed a button, we snapped into action. By rights, we should have been level at the interval.
The second half sounded so one sided it defied belief. As often in the past, a vast number of corners were squandered before the deliveries found their range and from 2 set pieces came the goals.
Corners have been a bugbear of mine since hughton. The sheer weight of flag kicks won and going unconverted has been criminal. I maintain that with better delivery we would have scored many more goals last season and finished several places higher. With an operator like Klose in the area, mentioned time and again in the commentary making near post runs, we have a player with the instincts of a centre forward in the box, with his timing of runs, appreciation of space and powerful execution of headers. Some teams get promoted as a direct result of their set piece output. More please!
Tough assignment tomorrow night, villa, like Stoke will finish much higher than their current placing. It does however, together with Brentford present a huge opportunity. Mustn’t get carried away but with excitement so thin on the ground for three years let’s allow ourselves a little moment.
Plaudits to farke, he is starting to show that he might just be a smooth operator t this level. Results such as Saturday’s cannot be ignored.
Hi Chris – great post.
You really should contact MFW Editor Gary in order to write a guest blog.
You’d be more than welcome – both Don and the General have been through the process – give it a go!
Hi Martin
A other good read as usual
Read a Klose interview were he said that there were offers on the table and Farke and Webber convinced him to stay saying they need him to guide the youngest this season he also said he was grateful they wanted him to stay long may it last, but money talks and if a good bid comes in and he is interested then a very big decision will have to be made.
At least Kranaka admitted Norwich were the better team after the first 15 minutes and that they could have had at least 1 more before city got their act together.
Tuesday’s game will be another tough nut to crack, Villa had a lucky will v Swansea and all teams need luck at times during a long season lets hope this doesn’t kick off their season for an away run.
Everyone is mentioning Marshall and Mclean not getting a games due to injury how would you feel being Hanley looking how well the 2 CB are playing and thinking how do I get back in, it would be grossly unfair to drop either Zimmermann or Klose when he is fit.
As for the blue noses it would possibly do them some good to get relegated but I think they just might scrap enought points to stay up and I don’t think they can afford to sack the manager and his backroom staff, Spurs or Arsenal might buy Dozzle to give them some trsnsfer funds and that could keep them up.
Hello Alex
Great comment as usual.
Villa will indeed not be easy – I guess nobody expects it to be.
As for our returning lads I reiterate that just now we don’t particularly need them. It will only take a pull a scrape or a tug too far for Grant Hanley to slot back in.
I’ve not felt this confident in ages!
A great result. Would have been happy with a point.
We found the money for Tettey, let’s find it for Klose too.
Something tells me might find the money for Timm, Dave.
If we don’t I’ll be seriously depressed.
Tettey accepted, after deep consideration, the offer of a new contract on significantly lower terms than before.
Like everyone else now, I’d love Timm Klose to stay; it was hard to feel that way in the season after relegation, but he’s been revitalised under Farke. However, I doubt finances would allow anything like his current deal.
Fingers crossed a way can be found.