I am a very superstitious person. My father told me of an old Anglo-Saxon good luck charm whereby you rap three times with the fourth knuckle of your right hand on the third knuckle of your left. I tend to employ this action a lot, especially if I want to get out of a supermarket queue or encourage a bus to arrive.
In my amateur playing days, I always put my left boot on first and still do this with my shoes or trainers to this very day.
But I was not prepared for the breaking dawn of Saturday morning. Not by a long chalk.
When I sat on the front bench for my doubtlessly poisonous first cigar of the day at 06:45, what was awaiting me? Two Robins. Not just the usual one that roots around on the vegetable patch – he had brought one of his mates along. They didn’t squabble, which was spooky in itself.
Two Robins and I genuinely realised at that point Bristol City would score twice. Bunkum if you like – I’m open to all opinions.
But… we scored three!
Possibly one of the most exciting games I have ever seen. Bristol City were outstanding value for their performance and so were we for ours.
We completely bossed the closing stages, but Bristol were very, very good and until Kenny McLean’s second hit the back of the net myself and everybody around me were getting increasingly concerned.
Possibly the longest six minutes of injury time I can remember in a long time.
And although many of us Barclay Boys wanted to get home to watch the rugby, I can assure readers that none of us quit the Carra in order to do so.
Standouts for me were Christoph Zimmermann, the goal-scoring Ben Godfrey and guess who else – okay Max Aarons and Jamal Lewis as absolutely always.
McLean? I think I kinda like him.
Despite our back-four parting like the biblical Red Sea for the Robins’ second I thought that, otherwise, they were magnificent.
What are they financially worth as a collective? Oh, please, don’t ask me. £40 million if I had to guess on a buy three get one free basis.
I’m really sorry but I’m going to have to end with a couple of gripes about the referee – yet again – and so many MFW readers often tend to concur that I don’t even feel guilty by doing so.
Bristol City could conceivably have had four yellows before the break. Their timewasting alone was blatant even at 0-0 after five minutes. But largely that came back to haunt them with a Tim Krul masterclass in that dark art at 3-2 to us.
And sorry guys but please don’t ask us for 500 extra tickets when you haven’t sold out your initial allocation.
No disrespect intended to any Bristol City supporter though. You sang long, loyally and lustily during the game and were full of top-class banter before it. We all enjoyed that game for sure?
Now Superstition was a wonderful Stevie Wonder song most effectively covered by Jeff Beck.
But my personal foibles remain.
Luckily for Mrs P they don’t involve boxers. But I sure as hell will be rapping the old knuckle joints between now and season’s end.
I feel that both the Norse and Saxon Gods will be with me.
After all, I had a German grandmother.
Excellent article as always Martin!!
Well, that’s another hurdle safely negotiated in this remarkable season and probably the one I feared the most – a mere 12 more hurdles/cup finals to overcome in what looks more and more likely to culminate in promotion at the end of the season.
In just over 6 weeks, Bristol will have played the 4 teams above them in the table and either they or their opponents will drop points.
I’ve seen several supercomputer predictions in the last few weeks even allowing for the more pessimistic of those, we should have the title sewn up by the time Blackburn visit on 27th April.
Should that be the case, cue MASSIVE celebrations for our final home game and it would be brilliant if the various fans groups could replicate the march to the ground that preceded the game V Ipswich.
PS – I have ‘23’ on my NCFC shirt, as I was (and still am a HUGE James Maddison fan), so it was a ‘no brainer’ for me ass to which number I should have this season – especially as last season’s ‘23’ spoke so highly of Kenny McLean.
Pedant alert – his surname is pronounced the same as ‘lean’ and NOT ‘len’!!!!
3
Given that Kenny is Scottish the correct pronunciation of his name is not ‘lean’ but ‘lane’.
1
Quite right both – Kenny mentioned that himself back in the day!
Also Mac and Mc (as in son of) prefixes to Scottish names should be pronounced slightly differently. and how the Welsh surname Powell was originally ap Howell and then abbreviated.
And the Irish O’Neill, O’Brien etc has the same derivation.
All part of our Celtic heritage.
Plus most Icelandic surnames are to this day tending to end in with the father’s name bolted on to son or dottir, as in Gylfi Sigurdsson.
It’s a bit like the distinctions between Frau, Fraulein and Hausfrau, but I think I’ll leave that one to Daniel Farke!
Language is a fascinating – and often confusing – thing!
0
Hi Ed
You’re spot on when you describe it as another hurdle safely negotiated. It was a very satisfying win, not just because of it’s significance but also because the oppo were very impressive for large parts of the game and for me a win against a good side is satisfying indeed.
Bristol City will indeed have a huge say in the final denouement.
I too continue to admire Madders as a player and a person.- I think many of us do.
Thanks once again.
1
A good Monday morning read Mr P I’ll go with the Robins, had canary’s been wild sure you would have seen three of them. “wink” cigar nicotine rush.
A game I was concerned about, as they are a tidy side on a good run too, had a family outing to the pictures. When I tuned in when we got back to the car,I felt my concerns were justified. After a quick visit to supermaket, back in the car, City were level and then in between getting out the car and indoors to turn on wireless we were in front.
So missed the delightful excitement of Chris Goreham describing a goal. although unlike some radio stations, Norfolk does replays, on the radio.. but this is norfolk.
Glad Sky put the goal video up pretty quick. that second for McClean, was a tad special.
Have spoken and read many of us old City boys and all say that was one of the best games they have seen at Carrow for many a year, we have seen some stuff over the years so that was something extra special.
As we said a few weeks ago when people were wringing their hands just waiting for the bubble to burst. We reckoned that any player in the squad would fit in knowing their role perfectly and that still holds good. We have managed to carry on without Klose, Hanley, Mo, Tets and Super Mario , although all thankfully coming back.
On the dreaded Canary Call (only kept it on as it was Greg Downs) The question was posed who out of the squad was Premiership class. Already the numpties are looking to put down some of this brilliant squad.
I could not get on to voice my anger, It is as a collective we play a bloody team; man to man they know their roles and what is expected, plus from what I have seen our football would not disgrace that league at all.
Why can’t some just enjoy what is on offer and support them, not try and degrade what we have. Beats me just about everyone was crying out for this type of football it is here, it is magical but some still not happy.
March at the end of the week , getting closer to finish line, not and easy game in this league banana skins round every corner, only 3 games cause me a little concern, Saturday against the long ball battering ram, then Middlesbro
and Stoke both very much a like.
I would be even more concerned if you write next week of seeing a couple of Lions while having a smoke. Think I can safely say there will be none , which hopefully relates to no goals for Millwall.
Have a good week Mr & Mrs P
,
5
Love your comment about the Lions, Lad!
0
Hi Lad
You probably won’t believe me but I really do have two stone lions in the back garden in Mundesley!
I’d have to be smoking something a little different to imagine them come to life though.
I simply don’t do Canary Call. End of.
I historically love a moan about things when I see unaddressed shortcomings but I really don’t know how a single soul can complain this season.
I met my mate Scott and his sons in the Iceni before the game and the atmosphere was beyond belief – the place was heaving. Ten behind the ramp and the poor devils were struggling to cope.
There was the most delightful afterglow following a great game between two excellent sides. I walked back via the train station yammering away to a couple of Bristol fans and all three of us had adrenalin still pumping.
They were a top class bunch of supporters in every respect as their participation in the fourth minute applause for little Denver Clinton amply illustrated.
Thanks as always for your comment.
1
Martin, I used to breed canaries ( long story ) but I can’t recall seeing around 20 or so each morning meant City we score that amount – if only!
0
Hi Jim – you’re a saucerful of secrets!
When I lived on Mallorca, entering Llucmajor town on foot – no point driving as the road was carp – we knew we we’d arrived when we heard that wonderful sound – seemingly every third piso had an open window and the cage behind it was full of canaries and finches enjoying the sunshine. They were mostly Zebras but there were other types too.
Brings back a few memories that I’m sure Emi Buendia would share with us given the opportunity. It’s engrained in Spanish culture to keep cage birds. And cats. And one large dog as a guard and a smaller one as a pet.
Muy bien!
0
Buenas Tardes, Martin
I ended up with a pair that my sons girlfriend gave him, and they started breeding – it went on from there. Most expensive (for me!) present she ever gave him!
Off to Vietnam now, so may have limited wifi access for the next couple of weeks.
Keep the winning habit going!
P.s. Any swans near you for the following game?
0
Ha!
When we’re in the City we run the dogs on Sloughbottom Park, cross Marriots Way and let them have a drink from the Wensum – there’s a convenient slope.
Yes, there is what looks like a breeding pair of swans in residence!
I’m telling myself that the omens only work if the birds come in the garden:-)
Enjoy Vietnam. I’ve never been but number two son has and reckons it’s fantastic, particularly the food.
0
If in the unlikely event that 1p5wich are likely to ever score against us again, look out for the horse sh!t in your garden.
A fantastic win on Saturday, the first points BC have dropped this year. With Leeds and Sheff Utd both winning, even the point I would have settled for at half time would have been a bit deflating. We have to keep going, not least because neither set of Yorkshire charmers look as though they’re likely to have the kind of catastrophic collapse I have hoped for.
The lucky socks have been washed and are ready to do their magic on Saturday.
1
Hi Don
Although Gary must adjudicate (if he wishes) I would give you the MFW comment intro of the season award right now.
Sure it’s a three-horse race when we only want two runners – I don’t give a baboon’s if we finish second – but a lot of folks expect one of our two friendly Yorkshire rivals to capitulate.
If we keep strong and steady whatever occurs elsewhere is irrelevant.
I hope I’m still saying that at the end of April, but this time around I really think I might be.
0
Good read Martin – unfortunately you are going to have be wrapping my knuckles from now on. I can be quite superstitious as well and at the start of the second half I decided to go for a run whilst listening to the radio through earphones. My silly superstitions stupidly told me that if I stopped running before the end of the game, bristol would score, and the 6 minutes of extra time nearly killed me in more ways than one!!
I feel this is a game we would have definitely lost last season, and apart from Leeds away is probably our most impressive result this season. Bristol have been superb of late and to come from behind twice says a lot about this team.
Another note, how many teams in this league could even dream of having a bench as good as our was at the weekend? McGovern (a very solid back up), Klose and Hanley (our first choice CBs at the start of the season) Leitner and Vrancic (two of our best players this season) and Rhodes (a fantastic striker at this level).
2
Hi London
First off your remark about our bench – spot on.
With my “I am a bighead” hat on I think I was the first to mention the strength of such bench after the 1p5wich game. Unbelievable at Championship level and it just goes to show how much Daniel Farke trusts those who currently own their shirt.
Back in 1993 I spent the entire second half pacing around Blofield Rec for our final game of the season against Middlesbrough with my primitive headphones on while basically ignoring the Blofield United Res v St Andrews Res match. Son Josh was two at the time and in the pushchair. If he’d fallen out of it I wouldn’t even have noticed.
Luckily when the final whistle blew that day the buggy was on the flat and there was no following allegation of child cruelty against me.
Great comment – cheers.
0
You’ve gotta lay off them there roll-ups Marty they’ll do for yew in the end. As you know I’ve managed to get on Canary Call a couple of times to lighten things up a bit but it’s mainly the numptys that get selected. Like Canarylad I’ve supported City for more seasons than Desperate Dan has had cow pies and this is the first season l’d say the whole squad are worth playing in the Prem. In the past you could pick out one or two star players per season but at the mo they’re all stars.
1
Hiya Cutty
I don’t do roly-rolls – I’m posh so it’s Café Crème cigarillos for me. Wish I could stop but that’s far easier said than done.
As for everything else you say I couldn’t agree more.
Scotty and his lads can’t always go that often – but they sure picked that one well!
Cheers.
0
12 games & counting …
8 wins & even 4 losses would do it as long as we endeavour to avoid any draws at all costs! A draw may feel ok on the day but at this stage, with a tight pack of teams in contention, it’s a defeat in disguise.
8 wins = 24 points plus 66 we have = 90 points should do it!
1
Hi John
Yes I agree with you. As Don suggested above there are a couple of games where I too am slightly concerned if not actively worried – Boro and Villa tbh.
What really makes me on edge is looking at the last two fixtures to be played by our friends down the road. I won’t spoil that treat for you – check out the fixture list.
But the unfortunately conniving Mr Lambert will be sentenced to League One by then and I wouldn’t put it past him to invoke a little charm of his own – as in don’t try too hard, boys. He really hates us as we’ve seen.
Thank you.
0
Once again I enjoyed the article, Martin, and Gary’s match report.
How many seasons as good as this have your readers seen? I go back well over 60 years and I’ve come up with just six – 1958/59, of course, (I will always remember that one) 59/60, the first promotion I saw, 4th in the 1st Division, 3rd in the Premiership and the two promotion years under Paul Lambert. Has anyone got any others? Not sure any of that football was quite as good as some we have seen this season.
Last year almost all the comments on your site were negative. We need new owners, new investment, Farke has no idea how to manage in the Championship, players from the fourth tier in Germany, etc. What a transformation! It is great to see but I just wish it wasn’t quite so nerve-wracking!
0
Hi John
I actually wrote this virtually straight after the game. I normally wait to see Gary’s Sunday stuff first but on this occasion I didn’t – hence the lack of match detail from myself as I knew GG would supply that. Pure adrenalin on my part. Exciting it is.
You’re quite right – commenters and writers on MFW this time last year were indeed heads down and negative. Along with a couple of others I’m totally in the frame for that.
But when we are all loving what is put in front of us we praise it to the hilt.
You hit the issue on the head when you used the word transformation.
And if your nerves can take it, mine sure can too:-)
Thank you.
0
Great Monday morning read as always Martin. Like many others, the build up to Saturday’s game had me slightly nervous whilst walking to the ground, the Robins have been on a great winning streak and a reputation of playing off the front foot and pressing hard. They didn’t disappoint and to be fair, the main reason why the first 20 minutes were ‘biting the finger nails’ viewing was the aggression of the high press which was very effective.
Many teams have now sussed that pressing Tim Krul and the defenders can generate mistakes or the chance of turning the ball over if Norwich have to kick long. Both Preston and Bristol City managed to do this really effectively but the challenge is being able to maintain that intensity for a sustained period of time. Against Preston, as soon as the pressing intensity dropped a little, Norwich controlled the ball and were able to play their way – very similar against Bristol City too.
Big shout out to Onel Hernandez and Christoph Zimmermann for their performances. Zimmermann was immense, constantly putting himself on the line. When Hernandez gets the ball in space, there is almost that sharp intake of breath and expectation from the crowd that we used to get when Huckerby received the ball wide left and used to take defenders on. Exciting stuff!
I would also second Canarylad’s excellent comment about one of the callers on Canary Call. The success of Norwich this season really is down to the ‘team’ and whilst there may be one or two players who have grabbed the headlines, their success is the success of the team.
Finally, a big shout to all the fans – both Canaries and Robins fans, for the very poignant and moving minutes applause for young Denver Clinton = respect and class! OTBC
4
Hi Jon
I really agree with you about the Robins’ fans – they were superb both inside and outside of the ground. All ages too and totally refreshing to see. I’d put them up there with the Forest and Boro folks as in always pleasant, knowledgeable and respectful.
We in the Barclay diverted the last few seconds of Denver Clinton’s applause towards them cos they deserved it for their decency and, as you say, class
Teams cannot keep that high press going against us for 90 minutes and we know it. So do they tbh.
I should have highlighted Hernandez and indeed Buendia in the article but on Saturday it was Lewis and Aarons who caught my eye. So good and so relatively young.
I checked Zimbo though!
Thanks as ever.
0
Great stuff Martin.
I’ve managed to cure my superstitions otherwise after missing Saturday’s game does it mean I can’t go anymore?
I fancy Pulis to manoeuvre Middlesboro into an automatic spot as I believe Shef Utd, Baggies and Leeds will feel the pressure, expectation will be a huge burden on all three. We are under less pressure and have the best all round squad so I’m feeling confident that we will get the job done. Would love to see Lee Johnson take The Robins up via the play-off’s. Really like the lad (only 37) certainly be cheering them on too now that Saturday is out the way of course.
Get yourself some mittens to cure the knuckle tapping then take up vaping, lemon sherbet flavour her in doors reckons, but the aroma of a cigar….nothing like it !
I hope everyone who partakes in MFW has signed up for subs, great way to keep this forum going.
2
Hi Colin – an interesting comment in many ways!
I too like Lee Johnson and also wish him well. What his side needs, to me, is a Pukki-style fox in the box but they won’t be getting one of those between now and season’s end.
It’s time Tony Pulis misses out. I don’t dislike him as much as some other folks do but no – his luck’s out this time around for me.
I actually have a pair of yellow and green fingerless gloves which you might call mittens – an old girl used to knit them and they were sold in a charity shop in Upper St Giles.
Finally I have personally contributed to MFW funding but Rick and Gary know a lot more about this “topic” than I do!
Thank you.
0
Great stuff as always Mr Penney.
I too was fearful of Bristol prior to Satuday’s game, however many of my worries were negated when I heard that the lovely Mr Hooper was in Cardiff on Friday evening so could not be our man in the middle on Saturday (yes, and he again managed a howler!!!).
As for the match, what a great advert for the Championship. Bristol are a good side – you don’t win 7 on the spin in this league otherwise, but we overcame them with I think a bit to spare. If Pukki had been fully fit then it could/would have been more comfortable. The back 4 were magnificent, given their ages and relative lack of experience at this level. Both goals conceded were from losing possession much further up the field, and for once our challenges for the excellent O’Dowda goal just didn’t happen.
Along with the performances of the youngsters (just how good can Max Aarons be??), what continues to impress is the seamless way our “fringe” players just fit in. OK, Mr Farke had to tweak things a bit at half-time, but what a player McLean can be. Missing Leitner and Vrancic, some teams might, but not this one!
As someone said above, how many other Championship teams could field a bench like ours on Saturday.
Only 12 to go now, and if we can get 3 points on Saturday when we may well be starting in second place given that Leeds play twice before then, then the P word most definitely is on!!
O T B C
0
Hi John
I too have a soft spot for Simon Hooper – aka a bog in Felthorp Woods.
But in all honesty was Gavin Ward much better? We were moaning about him, Bristol were quite rightly moaning about him too as we made some clumsy challenges in the second half but as he let all their antics go in the first 45 I guess it just about evened up.
We cannot worry about Leeds as I am sure DF will be saying to the players. Okay you I and thousands of others will be worrying to the nth degree but that’s always been the nature of football.
Finally I reckon Bristol did a useful job on Pukki, who didn’t appear unfit to me.
The trouble for opposition teams is that we’ve got several other players who know where the back of the net is as well:-)
Thank you.
1
Hi Martin
An excellent read for a lazy Monday morning.
Off subject for just been reported Mike Dean dropped as 4th offical at the Chelsea v Spurs game Wednesday after the confrontation between them if Poch is investigated then Dean should be as well for his remarks that upset Poch and team.
Now I was glad you like my Besty reference yesterday.
As many have already noted in the replies today city just don’t know when to give up the chase and it must be hard for any manager trying to give a team talk and not mention it at least once that they keep going for a full 90+mins, I would think and I am possibly going to be proved wrong that city are more vunerable invthe first 10 to 20 mins than at any other time during the game.
Speculation has started about transfers in and out for next season there has already been suggestions there are a couple of out of contract players city could sign now to bolster the squad for the final push, buy why upset a squad that is doing so well,
Saturday’s remark from Lee Johnson about city blowing them away for a 25 min period was pleasing to read not too many managers will say that to the camera’s.
Oliveria seems to have got his career up and running at Reading and the supporters are backing him to keep them up so all could be rosy for them to make an acceptable offer come the summer.
1
Hi Alex
I’m glad your Monday morning was lazy – mine certainly wasn’t:-)
That Man Ure-Benfica game has honestly never really left me. Me and my little mates tried to recreate the goals in Jeff Siggers’ back garden. Nobody could do the George slalom although we all got a couple of goes at it.
We nicked Jeff’s dad’s flowerpots for goalposts. True.
Speculation surrounding next season can and will have to wait. We have no idea – yet – of where we will be.
I’m not a naturally rude person but I couldn’t give a flying fig for Nelson or indeed Naismith. What we have now is far better in every respect. No egos!!!
Thanks as absolutely always.
0
A fine read, Martin.
Bristol City were impressive, and I’m delighted to see they still have Leeds, Sheff United and West Brom to play.
I was involved in hospitality on Saturday (a story for another day) and told my table confidently at half-time that we’d create enough chances in the second half to turn the score round. I was later told that Stuart Webber said exactly the same to the table he was hosting!
I always thought Kenny McLean would make a telling contribution at some stage. Also in my crystal ball, I have a nagging feeling that Jordan Rhodes will do something special in one of the late games.
1
I share Mystic Stew’s view on Jordan Rhodes – I even wrote about it. His time is imminent.
PS. His reaction to goal number three and at the final whistle is not of a loanee who’s already thinking of a return north
2
Todo correto.
Jordan was up with all of us and meant it. What a man.
0
Thanks Stew.
As I’ve said above Bristol City will have their say between now and the end of the season and as I keep repeating their fans were truly excellent in every respect.
Walking down PoW to the ground one of them said to me we know Pukki and Krul. Can you name two of ours?
I snapped back with Frank Fielding and Callum O’Dowda..
He couldn’t come up with a third player of ours so I won with Andreas Wiemann. Luckily I only had to speak it, not spell it. Yet another 3-2 winner for NCFC!
Really not just because we won – they seem to be genuinely lovely people as we’ve surely experienced before.
My balls are not made of crystal but the wheel of fortune keeps on turning.
Mrs P (also a City fan) tells me the Five of Swords (Tarot) dominates us from now on..
I’m not into that particular kind of mumbo jumbo but I did check it out.
Have a look yourself if anyone is brave enough.
0
One of the many things I love about DF and his coaching staff is their ability to resurrect the careers of ‘failed’ players – Leitner, Pukki Rhodes etc and I MUST also mention the development of youth players. WHO in their wildest dreams could have predicted that we could have 5 Academy players in the first team squad, with 4 of them in the starting 11??
I was quite sad to see Middleton leave last January, as I’d seen him several times playing for the Under 23s, but I’m fairly certain that he could never hope to displace Hernandez/Buendia.
0
Good point Ed.
It’s also good to see that Cameron McGeehan and Conor McGrandles are regular starters too, albeit in lower leagues.
Quite what the Bros Murphy make of life at the moment I don’t know but both have a fighting chance of still being in the PL next season.
Either up against Max and/or Jamal would be epic!
0
Entertaining read again Martin. Many good comments as usual.
I think the highlights dvd is going to be high on my Christmas list this year, I can’t remember a season of so many classic encounters, including some defeats! We certainly have had our money’s worth.
This was a little close for comfort, Bristol looked a good side, potentially another Sheffield United in my opinion and it’s hard to believe that when they visited Ipswich earlier this season they were on a run of four straight defeats and Johnson was tipped for the sack.
We gave a microcosm of a performance, with the good, the bad and the ugly all wrapped up into 90 minutes of rip roaring fare. The good was the exceptional 25 minutes during which, in the words of Johnson, we blew Bristol away. The bad and the ugly encompassed the first half aberrations which gifted two goals to the visitors. It’s hard to be angry with this team, despite possessing a deficit of attention that a ton of Ritalin couldn’t correct and a number of very bad habits, it’s guts and the beauty of some of its football render such concerns almost an irrelevance.
Almost – I think we could all do without the tendency to concede immediately from a restart and some of the sloppy passing.
McLean, as I always believed, gave a glimpse of what he can offer. By his own admission not at his best, he gave a cameo of some of the aspects of his game that I witnessed while watching Aberdeens televised matches. In The nick of time he has slotted into the first X1 and given a match winning display to give our promotion bandwagon a shot in the arm, a glance at the bench tells us that a few more could have a similar short term impact in the run in.
And, after all that, I still can’t quite believe that we will be hosting the Arsenal and not Huddersfield next August. It couldn’t be possible, could it?
1
Yes Chris it could be possible.
They’ll still sing “you’ve only come to see the Arsenal” and other stuff at us but I really feel we could give them – and others – a right royal game.
But we can respond to their generally good-natured goading with a fine rendition of “My Old Man Said be an Arsenal fan”. And I’m sure we will.
Good, bad, ugly, guts and beauty. You’ve got it mate. Spot on.
Thanks.
1