Jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle all the way. Oh what fun it is to see the City win away. And with such a significant victory, yet again under duress and unfortunate circumstances, probably never better sung than by our hardy 1,300-strong supporters who made that long, long journey. I know what that trip’s like. I’ve done it more than once.
That we ended the weekend in second after Leeds last-gasp-winner at Villa was slightly disappointing… but only slightly.
We were kicked about a bit, particularly in the first half, weren’t we, Tony Mowbray? Diagnoses of Emi Buendia and Moritz Leitner await and let’s all pray those are positive as they are both key elements of what is fast becoming the Norwich City machine. We took a bit of a physical battering early on but came through it with flying yellow and green colours.
As MFW editor Gary alluded to yesterday, this incarnation of Norwich City will not lie down and roll over for anybody or anything.
It’s another late winner – so what?
Social media I’ve picked up on from Leeds supporters is that roughly half of them would be truly happy to accompany us into the Premier League while the flipside suggests we are jammy to score all these late, match-defining goals.
Well to me that latter view is pig poo. Mario Vrancic threads Onel Herandez through who seemingly effortlessly puts it across for the previously relatively anonymous Timmu Pukki. Would he flunk that chance? Not a hope in hell.
Daniel Farke said immediately after the game that he wasn’t interested in praising Pukki too much, adding that “our fans will do that”.
He added: “I’m more interested in praising our entire group of players”.
Now if those statements are not the mark of a focussed, sensible and level-headed head coach I do not know what are.
I doubt many MFW readers or writers would question Farke and his team just now. I sure wouldn’t.
That’s eleven unbeaten in a row now and our record on the road is second to none.
Certainly there’s a couple of toughies coming up at the Carra. Forest and Frank Lampard’s Derby County™ will not by any means be easy. But we are exactly on the cusp of the turn of the season and there is no reason why we cannot replicate what we achieved in the first half of it in the second.
And when we have a centre back partnership of Ben Godfrey and Christoph Zimmermann keeping Grant Hanley and the brilliant but unfortunately slightly fractious Timm Klose out of the starting XI we all know we’re onto something.
Jordan Rhodes? Tim Krul aside, he is probably the only “name” we have in the squad. And he’s sending out signals that he’s happy here and wants to stay. You never know – maybe we can work something out. I’d welcome Jordan for his committed attitude alone.
My wish for the January transfer window is simply this: keep everybody, maybe get suitable cover at left back (Jamal is understandably looking a little jaded on occasions) and bin off Nelson. The huge hit we take on Steven Naismith’s wages will have to continue until June. I really admire Naismith for his generosity to and work with homeless people, but he never fitted in at NCFC.
I’ll finish as I started, but this time with a parody of one of my favourite Norwich chants. Clue, it concerns Mystic MFW.
Top of the league on Cookie’s board, top of the league on Cookie’s board.
I won’t get too carried away – I’m sure our redoubtable Andy H will rise above me by season’s end.
Have a fantastic Crimbo one and all.
Thanks again Mr P for you efforts with a pen or should we say keyboard now. It is all the writers on here, that makes it my only come to site. and that after running a fan site for 16 years.
If you cn’t win don’t lose, was the mantra only last week, now we can look again at a can;t draw . win it. which is becoming a bit of a habit. (long may it reign) Let’s face it we are more of a target than ever, we may not be a team of with a Trevor Hockey or a Vinnie Jones dotted around, but Saturday proved these lads can take the rougher end of the stud, yep two were crocked and is a tad cause for little concern as they are deemed first choice.
But depth of the squad and mindset runs deeper and deeper than many give credit to. Mario has proved more than once he can step in when needed, Onel after a blistering start faded a little, mainly because of a Dereham lad. But both stepped up and delivered just at the right time.
There are so many good things about scoring, but add to that when a late one moves the net, it showed with hw some of the Blackbum players reacted. I don’t know about how Mowbray reacted to the defeat behind closed doors, but in the press he thought they were unlucky. I think the opposite, two disallowed goals, two top draw saves, what could have been, surely paints a different picture , like a 3-or-4 nil defeat. As for Dirty Leeds, scoring late counts as much as doing it early, in fact to me it is better, it destroys the morale and does not allow so much time to come back.
So much to admire, so much to praise and so much to enjoy, I nearly forgot it is Christmas. That has not happened that often, once in a green moon,
All the very best wishes to writers, readers of MFW for a great family Christmas and if you can spare a few minutes and some food, old clothes, don’t forget those without. Giving is what it should really be about.
Thanks Lad.
I’m grateful it is keyboards these days – I genuinely think I’m the only one who one can decipher my handwriting – it’s always been terrible!
Knocks to Buendia and Leitner do not help but as you say there is so much to praise and enjoy.
The irony of some Leeds fans calling us spawny for so many late goals is not lost on me after yesterday:-)
Thank you for your comments about MFW they are much appreciated.
And your final point about not forgetting those without is admirable. I guess many folks don’t realise how lucky they are. “What shall we have for Christmas dinner?” is a much better thought to have than “where is my Christmas dinner coming from?”
That’s why (for me at least) it’s great to see what Steven Naismith does and that many of our players are quite content to give up some free time and go into places such as the James Paget to hand out a bit of cheer and some gifts.
Heartily agree Martin. The game lasts for 90 minutes and both sides have the opportunity to take full advantage of that fact if they have the fitness to keep going and the ambition to drive forward for the points.
Blackburn looked like being a nasty bump in the road, coming as it did directly after a tough long distance trip to Bristol and before the chance to enjoy home comforts.
With Reed keen to play well, Dack being lauded as “this seasons Maddison”, Graham’s unhappy propensity to score goals against Norwich City, the much vaunted up undefeated home run, it had all the hallmarks of a pre Christmas dampener and I confess I would have been reasonably content had we escaped with a decent point.
My pessimistic view is that both Leeds and West Brom will continue their winning ways long into the new year and set a blistering pace which will be hard to match. However, the decent point approach is more akin to a play off chaser, a Middlesbrough, Forest, Sheffield for instance. The full three points from such a fixture screams “top two”.
Even allowing for the thuggish targeting of our midfield by that ugly dinosaur Mowbray which saw us depleted by two players before half time and the clueless refereeing display which allowed such violence to continue unabated, we found a way to win against this set of cloggers. Up yours, Mowbray.
The pulling of the wishbone will no doubt be accompanied by hopes that Leitner and Buendia haven’t been crippled by the hatchet men and that we can continue in the same vein on Boxing Day.
Hi Chris
Yeah, West Brom worry me more than Leeds tbh.
I always had a lot of time for Darren Moore as a player and he has quickly revised his troops and assembled a strong Championship squad as a manager – he knows what he’s doing and the Baggies directors have done well to stick by him.
Bradley Dack ain’t no Maddison, as was proved on Saturday. Did you see that sublime slip through from Madders to Vardy against Chelsea btw? Class.
Mowbray is indeed an ugly dinosaur – I’ve stood toe-to-toe with him after a match at the Riverside for a quick chat when he was a Boro player – but I must say he seemed a really nice bloke and was good for some banter.
I’m not short but to look him in the eye was a bit like stargazing. He’s a giant.
As you’re here, maybe MFW will get that article from you in the New Year? Go on, you know you want to!
Cheers mate and ATB for Crimbo to you and yours.
Thanks Martin, and you you and your family,
I did indeed see the Maddison through ball, Vardy was on it like a flash and dispatched it with aplomb. Playing alongside such players as Vardy and co. Has brought young James on a bit more and he looks England ready. As you point out, Dack is no Maddison.
With regard to the Baggies, it’s the forward line which makes them the stand out in my opinion. Gayle is mustard at this level, Rodriguez is no slouch either, reference his cap for England. The real irritant however is Barnes, who seems to excel every week and is barely containable at championship level. How I would love Leicester to do us the favour they owe us and recall him in January!
Ahh, my article! I would like to and I have to admit, some friends have urged me, even my better half is in agreement. The thing is, I simply have no idea of the “topic” I would find to write about!
Keep up the good work in the new year everybody, both with the articles and the eminently readable comments that follow.
Merry Christmas Martin and a big thanks to all those at NCFC or the early Christmas present!
Cheers Dave
Whatever happens at the end of the season NCFC has done us all proud indeed.
A most excellent Crimbo to you and yours too.
Thank you.
Hi Martin
This was an excellent way to start the Xmas Hols and yesterday with Spurs putting 6 past Everton really got the family in the festive mood, Saturday evening was very lound with colin conceding 5 at Cardiff.
Sky showed a stat that Vilka have score just as many late goals as city this season and Leeds are 1 behind but could be level after yesterdays game.
As for Mowbray he will never give city any credit being ex Ipswich player and manager but he has got Blackburn playing well and he is lokking to get the title Dirty Blackburn, we have all seen his side before always a tough nut to crack but I will expect them to be there or there about for the playoffs.
City are possibly the surprise package in the first half of the season and there will be a few teams that will think they can kick the brown stuff out of them which is proving hard to do at present but a coupke more injuries will slow progress down so I am hoping for some Xmas and New Year cheer with firstly Team Farke signing extensions and 1 or 2 signings possibly on loan, Oliveria to become a Turkey for Besikitas and hope that Sheff Wed new manager doesn’t have a recall for Rhodes.
Not to much to ask for and not a beer/brandy insight since Oct 7th, might partake over the next few days and I will keep my finger on the Red Button for the Forest game.
All the best to one and all, hope you get what you ask for over the festive period but keeping my wishes till May
Hi Alex
As previously well-documented by myself on MFW, Spurs are very much my second team (with Celtic coming a very close third).
Exiled in London until 1988 I watched Tottenham much more than us “in the flesh” – I must have been to White Hart Lane something approaching 100 times. For me it was the original When Saturday Comes. I had to be at the game and I had some great mates to go with. You can’t afford to drive from Buckhurst Hill to Norwich when you’re on apprentice wages!
Your family members might remember enjoying a pint in the Olive Branch or standing on the Paxton or the North Bank?
I like the bit about Oliveira the turkey – I’m sure he isn’t actually said turkey but he just doesn’t gel with the rest of our squad and it’s time for him to go.
I hope I’m correct but I don’t think Sheff W have a recall on Rhodes.
Cheers for your posts this year and here’s to 2019.
I was in the Paxton when George Best played his last game there for Man U also for Glen Hoddles last game as manager v Southampton time we got back to Euston his tenure was over
Hi Alex
A few of my mates played for a pretty useful Sunday side in the Eighties called… Club Paxton!
Well said Mr Penney, and also to the “lad” above.
Three excellent points, but from watching the extended iFollow highlights (and commentary) it looked like a real “smash & grab”. Didn’t see either of Godfrey’s disallowed goals, but what a save from their ‘keeper from his header. And Pukki (again) did what Pukki does – unfortunately it seems Leeds have been watching and following us a little too closely.
Shame that the late, late winner was so similar to one of Millwall’s goals against us – perpetrated by a well established international full back, whilst theirs was from a Villa player!
Even though we go into Christmas in second, in truth how many of us Canary fans would have thought we had a glimmer of hope of such a position at the end of August??
Absolutely loving the fact that this group of players are so united, and don’t know when they are beaten.
Given the next run of fixtures, if we’re still in the top two when 1p5wich come to the Carra then I think the open top bus can be booked, don’t you??
Merry Christmas to one and all.
O T B C
Hi John
Ha! Open top bus? I’m sure our beloved City Council would contrive a way to stop that from happening. I’ve got an open-top car and the Council are currently doing all they can to stop me (and thousands of others) from driving into the City. End of diatribe.
Seriously we would all, surely, settle for where we are right now.
It might work out for us, it might not. But I do know that so far we’ve given it a bl00dy good shot. And that is all I would ever ask, under any circumstances..
We do indeed have a terrific group of players in situ and long may that be the case.
I’m no psychic but I’m picking up the feeling that our young Ben Godfrey will be crucial to the progress of our season.
Thank you for your constructive comments throughout the year.
Martin, the City Council are not only contriving ways to keep us motorists out of the city, they then contrive to keep us in. Have you tried getting out of Rouen Road after a game? Whoever decided to do away with the lights at the top of the hill has never driven a car!
I haven’t driven to a game since I lived in Blofield – and that was nearly 20 years ago now.
Both Mustard Pot and Clarence Harbour didn’t mind me parking there for free as I used the former before the match and knew one of the matchday security guys at latter.
These days I usually bus to Tombland and walk, then walk about three miles home. Unless my back’s playing up and then I head to the Courtesy office on Prince of Wales!
Thanks for this Martin, and for all your excellent articles this year.
I notice that the editor pushed it down the board very quickly though, with 2 more articles released – I do hope this wasn’t so we would be blissfully unaware of your relative positions in the prediction table….
Re. late goals, if I remember rightly the great Shankly sides of the 60s and 70s were renowned for grabbing points right at the death. And there were a lot of goals scored in Fergie time too. It does seem to me that referees are (rightly) adding on more time this season than before, and we seem well geared up to take advantage. Long may it continue.
Hi Keith
Yes. it’s nice for MFW to get a hat-trick – and on Christmas Eve as well!
Our prediction league positions may well appear on today’s Forest preview. I’m not gloating though as our Andy H is poised to pounce. I know cos he told me so.
As a footie phrase Fergie Time is still very much used to this day of course and I agree with you that we are well equipped to deal with it.
Thank you.