At my grandparents’ house, there was a small model alpine cabin that would provide a rudimentary weather forecast. A tiny lady figurine would appear through a door on one side, if it was going to be sunny and a man with a brolly – much like Steve McClaren at Wembley – would emerge from the other side, if it was going to rain.
As they lived in Bergen (Norway’s wettest city), the lady made fewer appearances than Matt Jarvis.
City’s results have a similar effect on the fan base – or at least on some of those who take to social media. Win and the ‘sunshine brigade’ come out to play; lose and the ‘wet and windies’ are in full voice.
Symptomatic, perhaps, of what feels like an increasingly polarised world, which tends to deal in absolutes.
Black or white, for or against, right or wrong, leave or remain, Delia in or Delia out.
When it comes to football, results are the most tangible measure of progress and you would think that City’s record and league position would be sufficient to dispel most of the gripes and keep the storm clouds at bay.
Even the most optimistic amongst us would be hard-pushed to say that they expected 2nd place at this (or any) stage of the season, and yet the recent dip in form – two wins from eight league matches plus the obligatory cup exit – has seen a noticeable increase in discontent.
‘The man with the brolly’ has shown his face over recent weeks, to offer such insights as Krul is a liability; Cantwell is lightweight; Aarons will be sold; Farke leaves his substitutions too late.
I don’t intend to counter any of those claims directly or take up the opposing position – there is enough of that on Twitter. For despite how it appears to some, very little is actually black or white, and in the interest of fairness, it’s only right to acknowledge a few things.
City are not the finished article – not by a long way.
We’re not the Wolves from last season who marched imperiously to the Championship title, ruthlessly dispatching sides along the way.
Of the (impressive) 15 league wins picked up so far, only five have come with the comfort of more than a single-goal advantage and of the 52 goals we’ve scored, 21 have come in the final fifteen minutes, with six of them in injury time.
This, of course, is testimony both to the fitness and spirit of the players but also reflective of a team that struggles to put games to bed.
Our ‘game management’ against Birmingham, which was praised by some and which in fairness, got the job done, lacked the genuine self-assurance and conviction that you might expect from table-toppers and was reflective of a side with certain defensive frailties. Frailties that were exposed last weekend by Billy Sharp (twice).
We are a side which consistently looks vulnerable from set-pieces, especially in the second phase, and which features a back-line and keeper who are prone to more than the occasional lapse of concentration.
But here’s the thing; it doesn’t bother me.
In fact, I love it.
There is something genuinely endearing about the current squad and the way they go about things, and whilst my blood pressure would surely benefit from watching a more clinical team cruise towards the top flight, I wouldn’t change a thing.
It’s entertaining, it’s exciting, sometimes excruciating, other times exhilarating.
If we fall short, I will, of course, feel a genuine sense of regret and there will be a time to rue the missed opportunity and dissect the shortcomings.
But I don’t believe that the time is now.
Now is the time to revel in the (over)achievements of a squad that has performed way above and beyond our pre-season expectations.
It’s a time to delight in the drama that seems to follow this team, where even the floodlights seem intent on getting in on the action.
A time to savour the anticipation that comes from challenging at the top of the table, where each game has meaning and invariably brings with it a roller-coaster of emotions.
We currently have a club and a team to be proud of. A team with undoubted weaknesses, but one capable of producing some of the most scintillating football I’ve seen at Carrow Road for years.
We have a Head Coach who has galvanised his players and formed a genuine connection with the fans.
We have a Sporting Director who has overseen an overhaul of the club’s structure and culture and given the club a true identity.
And (tin-hat on), we have owners who instigated it all by appointing Stuart Webber and allowing him to get on with it.
Will it be enough to take us to the Premier League?
No idea, but it’s going to be fun watching us try and the atmosphere at the ground suggests that many City fans feel the same.
For those who prefer to focus on the negatives, a buoyant Carrow Road is currently not the place to be.
(There’s always Bergen where, on average, it rains for 231 days of the year).
Excellent article Steve and IMO, the title says it all.
Yes, our form in the last 2 months has plummeted, but if you look at it over the last 20 games, it is excellent. Amassing 42 points (5 better than the blades in 2nd place!!) and with a GD of 17. The run of games after Xmas was ALWAYS going to be tough and considering the injuries we’ve suffered and then achieve draws with both the Baggies and the Blades speaks volumes. By the time Valentine’s Day is past, we have a run of games where we are facing less formidable opposition and so should start picking up a few more wins, but whatever happens, there will be a few fans who will still be posting negative comments on social media/forums. How any NCFC fan can fail to be hugely impressed by the build-up and finishing for both goals on Saturday ‘beggars belief’ and if we keep playing like that, we’ll give ourselves EVERY chance of finishing in the automatic promotion places.
Leeds can have the title!!!!
I fully agree Steve. This season we’ve massively over-achieved I reckon, I had us down as mid-table mediocrity at best. Some of the football has been sublime, we’ve introduced some great youngsters, Pukki and Stiepermann have excelled, and its all good. Even if we don’t even make the POs, I feel its been a good year to be a Canary!
Hi Steve, an excellent article indeed.
I was one who praised the game management against Birmingham – maybe there would have been less trepidation had Mo Leitner been on the pitch so I guess you make a very valid point.
Btw my aunt and uncle had one of those “Black Forest” style weather things back in the 1970s. Uncle Lou somehow managed to replace the brollyman with a West Ham Subbuteo figure and seeing it always made me laugh as a teenager.
They also had a cuckoo clock with claret and blue painted wooden pendulums.
A brilliant and uplifting read Steve, thank you.
I just love the fact no one expected us to be near the top. We have massively over achieved by doing it differently than anyone else in the Championship and with kids!
There’s a greater air of positive anticipation leading up to each game, the belief instilled into the players by Danny Boy has filtered through to the terraces.
It is amazing what can be achieved when the players are not scared to express themselves, you sense that DF doesn’t do criticism he just concentrates on how to be even better.
Great post
Just keep bringing it on, if we don’t make it .. will be sad. If we do we all know we will be everybodies favourite to go down. Except those of a Green & Yellow Persuasion . But whatever happens, we have had one hell of a season we will have had. exactly what we all wanted and crying for.
Great article Steve.
I do agree that we have way over achieved considering our budget. At the start of the season I felt an 8th place finish would be job well done. And lets be honest here, the scouting team have found some fantastic bargains, Buendia, Hernandez, Pukki etc which to me is a damning indictment of the Alex Neal era. Over 25 million spent on Klose, Naismith, Pinto and Jarvis in that fateful January window. Plus their wages ! Jarvis alone (if his wages are what I have been told by a reliable source) has taken out nearly 5.5 million from the club.
I have some sympathy with him over this, or any player who gets injured for that matter, but just look at the difference in supporters attitude to him compared with Louis Thompson. Because you cannot help thinking while Louis is busting a gut to get back, Matt never gave us that impression. And being on such a huge wage compared to the man on the street does make a difference. Why didn’t he for instance join Rob and Chris on Radio Norfolk for match day commentaries ?
Whether as Steve says you are a Delia in or outer our club will have to run as it is now unless we get a billionaire owner, which is very unlikely.
People now say football has changed and you cannot treat players as in the old days, and recent and historical “bullying” accusations bare that out, and I think it is true but these new continental manages have a new way of working, Pep with Yaya Toure, Pochettino with Janssen and our own Daniel Farke with Naismith, Martin and Oliveira if you don’t fit in you are out no messing about. I think that is a refreshing way to manage. Mind the Chasm !
Great article Steve, summing up the thoughts of many City fans.
At this time last year I was seriously thinking of not renewing my season ticket, and that after some 20 years as a holder, and 50 plus being a supporter.
This time there was no such hesitation. If we go up we get to see some of the greatest players in the world, and I really feel that under Farke/Webber our current group would make a decent fist of it.
If we don’t go up then (provided Farke is still the coach) we can look forward to a further season of development, and if Saturday is anything to go by, some excellent football.
O T B C
Hi Steve
An excellent read and yes supporters are a funny breed these days. I miss some of the quips that starts with one and suddenly get taken up by everyone around you – it sets the tone I even liked the Millwall one that was published this week. (Suspect you’re on your own there, Alex – Ed).
Chanting has always helped the atmosphere at grounds and City’s, on its day, can be one of the best but where or how do you control it. The simple answer is you can’t – PC has gone mad.
The sunny or rainy supporters – all clubs have them and due to all types of social media these days, some think only their opinions count. Being 68 I have learnt to take the good with the bad, the rough with the smooth and after a really bad game say F it, let’s look forward to the next one, it can only get better.
Hi Alex
I used to like some of the older chants as well but I guess there’s no room for them in the modern world we’ve created.
The hardly homophobic – humorous in fact – ones we would sing to Brighton and Watford, the thoroughly filthy There is a Circus in the Town and the old chestnut about sparrows and crows in relation to Ipswich. I enjoyed them all (and several more) back in the day.
But if folks get upset by them it’s best to leave them in the locker of the past where I guess they truly belong.
And as Editor Gary says, you’re on your own when it comes to Millwall:-)
The “Professionally Offended” are everywhere these days Martin. No doubt someone will take offence even at this comment!!
Hi Martin
When I lived at Stanmore I got to a few games at the old Den and the atmosphere wasn’t pleasant, and Millwall as a team never pleasing to watch, but the humour at times was worth the entrance fee. That was the gist of my original comment.
It was never into any form of abuse, no matter what class it comes under.
With the way PC is going, before long chanting will be outlawed as offensive and they will expect the supporters to sit and watch in a quiet fashion as if at the opera.
Sorry if I have upset anyone.
I’m not a big fan of ‘overachieving’ as a phrase. I felt that it disrespects the effort and skill of the players. I didn’t like it for Lambert’s PL season, or this.
I’m very happy with what we’ve achieved. After six games I couldn’t see any real progress, but that’s clearly turned around in the most radical fashion. But more than our position, it’s that we’re back to be entertaining.
It’s a great point regarding ‘overachieving’, Dave. I used it in relation to my personal expectations of what I believed the squad was capable of, but as you rightly point out, the team has achieved exactly what their hard work and efforts warrant. I guess one note of caution is what happens when the fan base’s expectations change, as we’ve seen in the past. You could argue that some of the unrest following the recent ‘blip’ (if that’s what it is) is down to a shift in expectations. The results have been fantastic but, in my opinion, they have been achieved in spite of some underlying flaws and should be seen in that light. As I said in the piece, we’re far from the finished article and have to accept that there will be bumps in the road ahead.
Bring it on!
Hi Steve,
I don’t disagree. As the eternal skeptic, I have numerous concerns. But for today I’m adopting your sunny outlook.
Never mind the danger!
I was at the Leeds game, after which several fans were suggesting it was time for DF to go – they have since eaten so much ‘humble pie’ and rightly so.
I sit behind the River End goal and just after Leeds scored their first goal, Rhodes was in on goal and just as he was about to shoot, a defender got a block in – had that gone in ….. about 5 minutes later, Leeds scored a 2nd and it was virtually game over.
Thanks all for taking the time to add your thoughts and comments. Great to see such positivity and a real reflection of what the club is achieving right now. OTBC