I am not a fan of musical theatre. Never have been, never will be. Give me heavy metal and hard rock every day of the week. But that amazing City performance of Saturday evening and the fallout from it would put the cast, production team and audience of Les Miserables to shame for skill, dedication and entertainment, tetchy reactions from several of those wearing white shirts in the “cheap seats” and subsequent media reviews.
After such a high-quality performance everybody suddenly loves us. Not City supporters of course, we’ve always loved us, particularly with the cast we have treading the boards at the moment. Some of us even think the understudies are surpassing those who have previously held leading roles.
La theatre du Farke has taken its time to produce these consistent performances but all the hard work in rehearsals is now paying off with consistently brilliant shows on evenings and matinees alike.
And being a forward-thinking troupe, we’ve even created our very own pantomime villain, although we might have to suspend the big Dutch lad from any City Varieties Theatre Leeds gig in the future, in case the audience reverts to the stale tomatoes and cabbages routine from the stalls.
After all the pre-match over-stoked hype we stuck to our script and blew Leeds off stage.
I couldn’t believe how well we played – yet again. Was I in the pub watching the match or was I in Norwich City heaven? Both simultaneously, I guess.
There have been so many superlatives floating around over the weekend and Gary G and so many others elsewhere have already covered them, so I won’t dwell on individuals beyond:
I’m singling out Marco Stiepermann as my man-of-the-match. Tom Trybull, Mario Vrancic and Max Aarons were only the width of a Rizla away from him. And every other outfield player was merely the width of a Blue Rizla (the flimsiest ones) away from them.
Many Leeds fans have also had the very good grace of complimenting us on our performance. Not too much of the “we made them look good” approach but more of the praise for the way we played. Thanks lads and lasses.
So back to our pantomime villain, aka Tim Krul. He sailed too close to the wind at times for my liking. When he cleaned out Tyler Roberts, he had the good sense to turn his back to the Leeds man and I suggest that turned a potential red into a yellow. We had two covering players behind the keeper at the point of contact anyway.
Shortly after the stage curtains closed Krul indulged in a bout of handbags with Patrick Bamford, ex of this parish (and many other parishes too). Head in with intent? I don’t think so and any retrospective punishment would be ridiculously harsh. I think we’ll get away with it – if indeed there’s anything to actually get away with.
He does worry me sometimes though, does our Tim. So calm 99.9 percent of the time, but…
So now the travelling theatre is back to its home city for an encounter with another actor/manager who is perceived by some (not me) as a pantomime villain with a complete rag-tag of a supporting cast. Banana skin? Not after what I saw on Saturday, for sure.
And then it’s putting on a show in the Lancastrian home of our former impresario, one Alex Neil.
Leeds, Ipswich and then Preston within ten days? You couldn’t make it up.
And as those of you who do appreciate musical theatre will know, you have to pass through London’s Cental/NortherCentral Bank station on the way to the West End’s theatreland. No need to alight but when the carriage doors open go look out for the original ‘mind the gap’. It’s painted on the edge of the bowed platform and you can’t miss it.
Talking of which that gap is now 39 points and very likely to increase to 42 at round about 1400 hours on Sunday coming (please don’t tempt fate, Martin! – Ed).
Let’s all enjoy the league table this week.
This article is dedicated to Clement Scott (a name Norfolk people may be familiar with). He’d turn in his grave if he were alive and able to read it, I’m sure
Well Martin, another brilliant article and the comparison to ‘Les Miserables’ etc!!!
What a game and what a result at Elland Road despite all the dirty tricks (playing ‘white noise’ at full volume over the PA as we were attacking) attempted by Leeds. I lost count of the number of times Buendia was fouled and he really is some player.
The fact that ‘all of the Germans’ – mostly recruited from their lower leagues and a smattering of Academy products were able to stun the (once) ‘mighty Leeds’ speaks volumes and lays down a marker to the other teams in the division.
I’m sure I’m not alone in being worried about results in the run of games culminating in going to a sold out Elland Road, but DF and his staff have worked wonders over the last 18 months or so and I’m not convinced that Leitner and Klose can expect to reclaim their places in the starting 11. To have come through the last 5 games and gleaned 9 points is amazing to say the least and over the next 5 or 6 weeks, all of the other teams in the top 5 have to play each other, so by the time we change the clocks, the table could change significantly.
From what I saw watching the game on Sky (barely standing room in the pub I was in!!) and reading reports in the press, we didn’t appear to have a ‘weakest link’s and Krul had very few saves to make, but the one from Roofe was massive!!!
Only a few months ago, you could still back us at 4/1 to be promoted – now you can only get odds of 1/2.
PS – I did earn myself a few £s at the bookies thanks to Bamford’s goal.
Hi Ed – cheers for your opening line!
Several good points in there. It is incredible that Klose and Leitner will probably not walk back into the team when fully fit and as that speaks volumes for Mario Vrancic and Ben Godfrey, it really does.
We’ve now got (amongst others) the following who don’t have a starting berth: Klose, Leitner, Hanley, Tettey, Rhodes and Cantwell. Add dear old McGovern and that’s a bench any Championship head coach would kill for.
Yes that save by Krul from Roofe was massive.
I said before this sequence started that I’d happy with seven points from Birmingham, Sheff Utd, Leeds and Ipswich. Well we’ve got them already before we’ve played the Binners!
Cheers
You know the lads who have come in due to injuries have done well, with the greatest endorsement being that we sit top of the pile.
But are we stronger with them in? Should we keep going as is? The lads have earned their shirts. But might the now fit again players do even more?
Is Timm’s experience and defensive know how of greater value for the derby and run in than the attributes and skills of the current incumbants? Is there a day for Hanley’s more ‘no nonsense’ beef at the back?
What of Lietners silky skills that really tied the midfield together? A few weeks ago it would be unthinkable to exclude a fit Lietner. But such has been Vrancic form that the answer is far from easy.
Tettey too, through out Farkes reign, Tettey has been key to City being tough to beat. But he has also shown so much more this season, no longer a liability on the ball. Trybull has been excellent in his absense, but I still believe we look more vunarable with trybull than Tettey, but do trybulls other skills trump the greater defensive resolve?
Those for me, are the most obvious questions. Rhodes has been excellent but as long as Pukki keeps scoring and working so hard, he can have no complaints. McClean we all want to see, but for whom? Of course Todd will get another go, but Onel and the revelation Buendia are too good currently.
For me, when fit to start Lietner goes straight back in, such is his influence. with him I feel there is a dominance we can exert that perhaps no other player can bring. I see him with Tettey as our strongest pairing and so I would look to bring him back too. Whether that is a hangover of my opinion bourne of last season that Trybull was not up to the defensive midfield role I’m not sure, but I think they constitute our best pairing. Harsh on TT and MV but the way I see it.
In defence I think I would look at horses for courses. For any long ball merchants I do think Maybe Godfrey is a little exposed and not commanding enough in the air and the more commanding presence of Klose or Hanley might be a better call. But All of our CB’s have made mistakes, so who is more justified?
Our best spell defensively came with a settled back four with CZ and TK at the heart and I think maybe I’d go with that again. But Godfrey and Zimmermann might just be building that understanding now too.
I’m not picking the team and thats probably just as well. But maybe at the heart of our success is the knowledge that if you come in and do well that you will not be dropped for a perceived favourite?
Who ever gets picked for the next game and the rest of the season, DF has earned our trust in his decision making. I might want to add in some small criticism that he makes his subs sometimes too late or that he could rotate the team better when the games are coming at there championship thickest and fastest. But he has us top of the table on a shoestring budget, playing some damned fine football. So I reckon he knows best. (Still won’t stop me thinking CHANGE IT in the moment or a period of pressure, but that’s easy from my arm chair!)
Bah!
Hi General
Selection is quite a conundrum. I would agree with you. Absolutely.
In my humble, my favoured CB pairing from hereon in would be Klose and Zimbo Unfair on Godfrey if he were to be benched – you only had to see his reactions to our goals and the final whistle on Saturday to appreciate that – but yes, Timm should be in for the Binners as you say.
Hanley might get his chance against the Blackburn cloggers. Farke tends not to do “horses for courses” but Blackburn were pretty brutal and I would suggest that match also looks appropriate for Tettey. Our management will remember how they kicked two of ours out of that first match and hopefully act accordingly in the rematch. We cannot rely on a strong official as we are unlikely to get one.
Leitner/Vrancic is an impossible one for me to call. I agree with you that Leitner was (is) brilliant for us but Vrancic has barely put a boot wrong. You can call that one!
Anyway it’s a nice problem to have for Farke and Co. Like you I’m glad I don’t pick the team.
Thanks as always for a great comment.
That is a different style Mr P. very enjoyable, like you I cannot stand Musicals stage or otherwise. I did enjoy watching Diry Dancing with the kids.
I can imagine Farke saying to Marco, get in their faces be a bloody trouble maker, unsettle in anyway but don’t get yellow/red. For me he did just that, unsettling their defence at every opportunity but no short of some skill. Hard hard job to pick a MOM a total team display. If there was doubt in anyones mind that the young lads and German imports cannot handle a big game, then that surely laid that to rest. I am still amazed at times how our team of the young and inexperenced handle themselves at all levels. Lesson for Mr Krul. set the example Sir.
Added to Krul’s antics last weekend to saturday’s I really think some very strong words are needed in his lug hole. Zimmerman looked a little riled up when he pushed Krul away in no uncertain terms. It was hardly head butt in anyones eyes.
As you would expect the lesser educated white supporter using choice language to describe how they want Krul’s blood, forgetting the face push on Pukki and countless tackles on Emi. Honours even in that I think.
Onto Sunday. a banana skin in waiting, I cannot see it either, but I never relax in any game, these guys have the bit between the teeth a little more now , complacency must have no place.
I don’t know about mind the gap, perhaps the Grand Cannyon mind the edge, might be closer.
Great read as usual Mr P
Hi Lad
Like you I reckon it was the ultimate team performance. I picked out four players and that omitted Buendia!
Zimbo’s “dealing with Krul” immediately after the final whistle makes him worthy of retaining that captain’s armband in my eyes for sure. As for pushes, the one on Pukki’s face could have been interpreted in a different way by a different referee but our fine Finn made no real issue of it.
I cannot wait for Sunday tbh.
And as for the musicals theme that came from nowhere. When every City writer everywhere is virtually saying the same (eg how bl00dy good we were) it was just a desperate attempt to try and be a bit original:-)
Thanks as ever.
Having recently been dragged to the Theatre Royal to sit through two and a half hours of purgatory called Guys and Dolls, I’m not sure I appreciate my football team being likened to a stage musical, Martin!
However, since you must, our pantomime villain Mr Krul deserves full credit for the save when Roofe burst through straight after our second goal. If that had gone in, Leeds’ confidence would have increased, and the result might have been very different. Krul has explained the post-match incident as rushing in to protect Godfrey, though I think Godfrey is perfectly capable of looking after himself. Still, it’s good to see older players looking out for the young ones, and it was good to see Zimmerman exert his authority to move Krul away from Bamford.
Ha!
My idea of musical theatre is Alice Cooper, Mott the Hoople and early Queen.
I totally concur with your analysis of the Krul non-incident – see my reply to Canarylad above.
Godfrey is as tough as the proverbial old boots as you say – he couldn’t play at CB if he wasn’t. Krul has seen the lot and done the lot and it is indeed encouraging to see the more experienced standing up for the youth as well as helping them along.
That is one of the many good things about this squad. That balance is there for a first time in quite a while and most importantly we have no selfish players.
Thank you.
Excellent piece Mr Penney; who else could have so completely taken a theatrical side to what seems to be the almost complete away performance??
Presumably the doom-mongers (are there any left??) will point again to the lack of a clean sheet -or should that be curtain?
We were out, and when the phone alert beeped could not believe it at 1-0, let alone 3-0.
From what I’ve seen a pretty complete performance from the 11 who started; the 3 who came on; those left on the bench; but particularly from Herr Farke and his back-room team whose preparation and coaching of this group must be as close to perfection as you can get.
Can anyone enlighten me as to exactly what happened when Buendia (what an inspired signing he has been) was slaloming through and about to shoot?
As you say, when Leitner and Klose are fully fit, will they be able to get back in; somehow I doubt it!!
So, we’re no longer under the radar and no doubt Mr Lambert will have his troops fired up for Sunday.
Normally that would worry me, but somehow, not this time……it just doesn’t fit in with the Farke methodology.
I’ve said it before, and will no doubt say it again – what a time to be a City fan. This is Farkeball, and we’re lovin’ it!
.
O T B C
Hi John
I think we’ve not been under the radar for some time now. Even Jamie Redknapp in his recent Daily Mail column thinks we’re equipped for the PL – as this squad stands. I don’t read the Mail – I picked that up online:-)
Without wishing to bring a legal action against Jamie or the Mail I could claim I made that statement first myself right here on MFW back in November.
The Independent and Telegraph, amongst others, have also written some high-praise articles about us. We are indeed more than a faint, intermittent blip on said radar.
All we have to do is grind this season out until the finish line. Maybe we will, maybe we won’t. But it’s sure been fun along the way.
Being City fans we are all slightly worried about Sunday as we are about every match. But if we can survive and profit at the Elland Road cauldron we have nothing to fear from PL’s desperate Binners. I hope he doesn’t get that bad a reception and if he does I won’t be part of it.
As for the musical take on the article I always write for a Monday so feel I have to come up with something a little bit different after all the Sunday stuff. Inspiration (if you can call it that) eventually arrives after an early-morning dog walk.
Thank you.
Good stuff.
The key point about Krul’s Yellow was that the striker had got his (wayward) shot away before TK clobbered him. So the foul could not be a DOGSO (denying an obvious goal-scoring opportunity).
Hi Mick
Absolutely. The ball was long gone at point of impact.
I’ve a fair bit of respect for the way Leeds fans in general have reacted after the game but when a couple (and it really was just a couple from what I can ascertain) are talking about serious foul play and a six-match ban for TK – que?
Thank you.
When I saw it I cringed, thinking it was a certain red. I haven’t changed of that opinion and I went back and checked the rules.
Watch the replay. The attacker does get a shot off, of sorts and by mere milliseconds, yes. But to do so he shoots in a manner to protect himself from an imminent collision. Surely that in itself is DOGSO?
You can kind of see it in this screenshot (attacker turning in prep, keeper connecting with player, ball 2 yards away at most). And consider the speed this all happens – https://imgur.com/a/G1lmpxB
Of course, I’m happy to take the decision we got, but if roles were reversed, I’d want him off.
I guess the point is, previously people would kick the ball early to then prepare for or try to avoid bone-crunching tackles. To what degree do we expect a player to keep playing (and possibly get injured) when an obvious foul is incoming?
I preferred the old rule. DOGSO is too vague a concept.
Mick, you have read the rules incorrectly..
A DOGSO can come into force any time a free-kick applicable infringement is made. This includes being charged at or jumped at. Both of which Krul did, with no sign of a tackle. The rulebooks does not specifically state getting a pass or shot off overrides earlier infringements.
After all by definition most fouls end up with the loss of possession.
It does say that likelyhood of keeping or gaining the ball should be a consideration, to which I would say had Krul not charged and jumped at the player, he would not have taken a haphazard shot, and retained the ball. Cause and effect.
Consideration goes both ways and there is nothing that explicitly states “getting a last second shot off means the player wasn’t denied a goal scoring opportunity”
The fact that the player missed, in itself suggests a goal scoring opportunity was denied.
Well yes, the two performances of le weekend were, in my humble, from Norwich City and the BBC’s concluding episode of Les Miserables both very professional and moving in their own way. Two productions that featured an obsessive antagonist incapable of seeing the bigger picture, the view of the goal obscured by complexity and prone to deflection.
I’d predicted defeat for this match followed by sliding into a play off position in the forthcoming weeks. Leeds are a good team, albeit inconsistent of late, I still think they have a good chance of promotion. We made them look like fools at times, constantly picking their pockets like Fagin prodigies. They were lucky they didn’t lose more heavily, but, you know what, I’ll take 3-1.. I think Bielsa would make a good Inspector Javert, occasional criminality aside.
Hi Dave
You’ll gather from the original article that I haven’t chosen to watch any of the TV version of Les Mis but Mrs P saw every episode and loved them all so there must be something good going on in there with this type of thing.
Mind you she isn’t averse to a bit of Sabbath, LZ or Purple either so perhaps her tastes are a little more eclectic than mine.
I think quite a few of us expected a decline in our fortunes, myself included. But it has not happened and now I do not believe it will. Sure we might not make it but nobody can say we’re not giving it our very best shot.
Equally you’re right when you say Leeds are still very much right up there in the mix, as are another half a dozen very decent and capable sides. Only time will tell.
Maybe Teemu Pukki is our very own Artful Dodger. Chris Wilder is nailed on as Bill Sykes.
Thank you.
I agree
Great stuff, Martin. Every time I watch snippets of Saturday, I see another contender for Man of the Match. Jamal Lewis matched the fantastic Max Aarons, for instance, while Ben Godfrey had his most solid game yet (if he’s to become the ‘world class’ central defender Farke thinks he can, how important is this experience?). Buendia had a heck of a game.
Not everyone will agree, but I have to say I’ve enjoyed watching Tim Krul this season. Yes, of course the odd heart-in-mouth moment. But his experience, his passion, his guidance and support to the young defenders in front of him – and some vital saves – tell me he’s a pretty important factor in our success.
Speaking of Tim Krul, some interesting quotes from him today about our preparation for Leeds. “Leading up to the game, the manager [Daniel Farke] made it clear they’re not unbeatable. He told us to respect them, to be humble, but to hit them. They’re not Barcelona.” And hit them we did.
Hi Stew
Yeah – I feel terrible about not specifically acknowledging Buendia as I’ve already said in the comments section above. It was such a TEAM effort but he stood out alongside the quartet I highlighted, as did literally everybody else. I can’t think of a single soul who had a bad game!
Being in the Barclay I think all of us therein would agree with you about Tim Krul. His communication with us is as good as it must be to our young back four. He has a huge, beneficial on-pitch personality that is much appreciated by players and fans alike. I presume Gary G and his colleagues in the River End would surely say the same. He’s up there with KK and Gunny Snr in that respect.
ATB
Hi Martin
A great read and as for a musical theme The Jersey Boys and a famous song with Frankie Valli leading the vocals “Oh want a night” but then the 4 seasons had some classic music.
Really enjoyed watching on Sky and for a change the Ref didn’t crumble under the pressure the home supporters put on him, except for the call when he gave a corner instead of a goalkick which resulted in a goal for leeds.
Some Leeds supporters need to learn a few rules a foul outside the pen area by a goalie isn’t a Penalty and some calked Pukki a diver for that push is just crazy.
A former footballer (loosely called) by the name of Savage has a downer on city on his radio show he has stated that Aston Villa, Birmingham, Derby, Leeds, WBA, Forest and Stoke al, deserve more of a chance of promotion than city what have we done to upset this moron.
Lastly yesterday I mentioned that city had proved they can go to the cauldron of Leeds and and win against a backdrop of noise and intimidation now we have to prove we can do it at home when they are expected to brush Ipswich way, we all know it will not be an easy game and PL will not want to lose this game so they will be up for it OTBC.
Hi Alex
I guess the Ref thought Tim Krul got fingertips to the shot that came off the woodwork and therefore gave Leeds that late corner. It really didn’t matter in the end – we were almost entitled to that defensive lapse in any case. I blame zonal marking again but I really don’t give the proverbial monkey’s in the context of the game, which had been long and deservedly won by then.
And if Savage doesn’t like us I’m that proverbial happy bunny. His pi$$ taking walk from the pitch to the bench that added enough time on for Simeon to “stomach in” the winner against Derby was the best example of poetic football justice I have ever seen.
As the Four Seasons might have put it: Oh what a night.
My wife and 3 daughters are all very musical and I’ve had to sit through far more musicals than is fair for any man. The only one which gave me any real enjoyment was Billy Elliott, mainly for some fine lines about Thatcher and Heseltine.
The performance on Saturday was as brilliant as everyone says it was. The debate about the strongest team is interesting but I’m the last one to opine strongly on this-I previously called Mario Vrancic the new Ian Murray and said that Harry Kane would, at best, become an average Championship striker. What I will say is that Daniel Farke and his coaching team have been brilliant. The improvements in most players are clear as is the massive improvement in the playing style. The sheer joy of watching this team is something that I couldn’t have imagined as recently as September.
I think DF will stick with the team that is doing well until he has to do something else through injury or suspension. The players will know that a place in the first eleven is precious and that they have to cherish it; a bit of me thinks that Hanley may have come in for Godfrey if he hadn’t messed up against Portsmouth-tough for him that Godfrey is growing into the role and improving game by game.
Hi Don
I reckon Hanley’s chance might come against the oh-so-delicate Blackburn as I’ve said above in replies to other comments. It takes a genuine hard man to sort out the bullies and Grant Hanley certainly fits that bill. You cannot rely on the Ref.
You’re spot on about Godfrey. He is becoming quite a player and while he can lose his sense of position on rare occasions I’ve been really impressed by him. He certainly has great on-the-floor ability in abundance and is never afraid to get stuck in. He’d be perfect for us in the PL if we get there, he really would.
As for family Mrs P is an artist who can create in any medium, daughter is definitely a hard-working prima donna and number one son plays both guitar and tennis equally averagely, thanks to his dad.
Thanks Don.
Great words, Martin. The whole City seems to be buzzing today. Everywhere I’ve been, I’ve heard snippets of excited conversation alluding to the performance.
Even my ex missus admitted to thoroughly enjoying the win when I picked my youngest up for work today – and she always hated football.
Before a ball had been kicked in anger last season, I recall stating somewhere on MFW that Messrs Farke and Webber would need to display all the attributes of old time alchemists if our new approach was to work.
Whether mined or transformed from base metal i don’t know and I don’t really care, but the seam of solid gold encompassing the signatures of Stieprmann, Zimmermann, Hernandez, Buendia, Vrancic et al is the best to happen to Norwich City in years,
We’ve been good for most of the season, very good at times but this was something else. While watching the fun, constantly found my self on my feet bellowing at the screen. At the precise moment when Buendia waltzed round 4 Leeds defenders on the edge of the box I lost myself completely.
I don’t know if we can complete the story in the manner we all hope. Still a nagging voice persists, “surely it can’t happen”. However, i am sure of one thing, if we were to achieve promotion this year it would be totally deserved.
I love watching this team and for that, I heartily thank farke and Webber for making Norwich City fun again.
Hi Chris
“Still a nagging voice persists, “surely it can’t happen”. However, I am sure of one thing, If we were to achieve promotion this year it would be totally deserved.”
I think that sums things up perfectly.
Thanks.
The season has been brilliant, and I’ve only seen is once so far, Rovers away. Got PNE, Wigan and Bolton to come. Whatever happens next, it’s fantastic!
Agreed. Big 🙂
I was there, level with the Krul incident. In normal time, the attacker got his shot away well enough. He did have to hurry, but his attempt, with a high-bouncing ball, was decent. The ball was well on its way (we all thought goalwards) quite long before Krul clobbered him. The scoring opportunity had been squandered before the foul. The law says the goal or chance has to be ‘denied’ by the foul. Neither was the case.