It’s so bloody hard to be objective when you’re inside the Canary bubble. We’re all so wrapped up in it, ensconced in it, invested in it, it’s impossible to see what everyone else is seeing.
They see a team that plays the most beautiful football, that’s finding a way to beat every opponent put before them and who are on an imperious march not only to the Premier League but to the Championship title.
We see a team of heroes who we think are doing all of those things but who also have a path ahead of them that is littered with banana skins – one at every turn – with the prize close enough to see but still some way from being in touching distance.
They also see a head coach who is ice cool, who trusts every member of his squad implicitly and who, inconceivably for this time of the season, has a fully-fit squad to pick from. A coach whose squad is carrying out every instruction he gives them to the letter.
We still live in fear of injuries (or suspensions) to key players that could potentially derail our final push, or of a daft refereeing decision that could deny us a point or three when we need it most.
But we need to start listening to the ‘experts’ and Ian Holloway. To a man and woman they believe we’re nearly there. That it’s almost job done.
And I have to confess, experts we most certainly are not, but my dad and I had a moment yesterday just after Teemu Pukki slid in goal number three.
‘We’re going up aren’t we, Dad’
‘You know what, I think we are, boy’
A daft, stating-the-bloody-obvious type exchange to many, but to two gnarled, grizzled veterans of many a failed promotion campaign, that was about as brave and daring as it gets with six games to go.
The false dawns, the disappointments, the numerous heartbreaks, have all taken their toll, and we’ve become almost conditioned to fear the worst and take anything good or brilliant as a bonus.
In everyday life, my dad lives his with a half-full pint glass in his hand and has encouraged me to do the same. But this is football. This is Norwich City. Until Christoph or Alex or Grant or Timm are there on the balcony of City Hall with the trophy held aloft neither of us will fully believe.
Yet, there was evidence aplenty on offer yesterday to suggest that this is indeed our time.
Of course, QPR were poor, probably the weakest opposition we’ve seen at Carrow Road this season (yes, including that lot), but over the aforementioned years, we’ve lost to plenty of cr@p sides and managed to find a way to drop points. At that level, no game is easy, and even QPR yesterday would have had a sniff if City were operating at, say, 90 per cent.
But that was never likely to happen. They were on it from minute one and to offer up a footballing masterclass of that magnitude under that kind of pressure was exceptional.
It’s one thing rolling over weaker opponents during the season when there is no finishing line in sight and the only objective is to accumulate points. It’s quite another to beat those same opponents when you have to win. Those who have played the game will know what I mean.
Things that earlier in the season were done instinctively can become the victim of too many touches. Those who are normally relaxed in front of goal feel their shoulders tightening up when an opportunity comes their way, and everything seems that little bit more difficult and disjointed.
That’s what can and sometimes does happen.
But these are extraordinary times at Carrow Road. This is an extraordinary squad. And we have an extraordinary head coach.
None of those things happened yesterday. Not one. It flowed, the passing was precise, Pukki was ice-cool in front of goal and with just seven games to go, with the biggest prize in sight, they conjured up an opening 45 that was as good as anything they have produced over the course of the whole season.
QPR’s resistance was futile. But it’s not just QPR who they will take to the cleaners when it purrs like a Rolls Royce engine as it did yesterday.
There was an obvious downside of course in the form of Emi Buendia’s needless red card but it has been coming for some time.
Part of what makes him so brilliant – and he is absolutely brilliant right now – is that he plays on the edge. He competes for every ball, no cause is lost, and because he takes plenty of stick himself, there are plenty of candidates to ‘leave something’ on.
Only he knows if that was his intention yesterday, and it could just have been simply over-zealousness, but no complaints about the red card from me. We’ll miss his individual flair, but there are plenty of options in that midfield area. We’ll just have to do things differently over the next few games.
And so we march on. Leeds slipping up was a bonus (so too their fans playing the ‘no-one tries against Norwich’ card) but it really matters not what is happening in the minor placings behind us.
From Daniel Farke to Stuart Webber to the players to all the staff… there is a focus and determination inside Carrow Road right now to get this job done and get it done in style.
There is nothing this group deserves more than to get their hands on a trophy. Let’s play our part in making damn sure they do. And my dad… he deserves it too.
You may have noticed that in order to *hopefully* safeguard the future of MyFootballWriter, we’ve started a fund-raising drive using the Patreon membership model. If you think you could help, or if you’re at least intrigued as to what it’s all about, please have a look here.
We’ve made a steady start but there’s still some way to go before we can look forward to, hopefully, reporting on City as they mix it with the elite of the English game. We’d really appreciate your help people.
Many thanks
At approximately 7.30pm last Saturday something happened inside my head. A paradigm shift in the very fabric of things. The nerves dissipated and I became a believer. No more need to ask friends for logic and reassurances. After all these years (and there have been a lot of them) I changed into a different Norwich City fan. I went to the game yesterday confident we would win and Teemu would score. We are going up.
Wonderful performance and wonderful result yesterday, and yes, just keep these performances going a few games longer and we should be over the line.
However, whilst the players all get high marks for their performances, DF only gets 6 in my book for his game management yesterday. 3-0 up at half time and cruising with another game on Wed, and a bench full of patient pros waiting for their turn? For me, you turn up the pressure by giving some of those players who desperately need it game time, with two early 2nd half substitutions (before 60 mins), and the last one by 80 mins latest, when DF belatedly made his first. Buendia should have had his feet up before 70 mins.
Now DF actually has to make a selection decision on Wed, the only tough thing about it being who to reward for their patience…
Cracking article as always. It does my head in though how some people still can’t help moaning about Farke. He doesn’t make any subs, he makes his subs too late, never changes the team, why isn’t Rhodes getting a start ffs how about him getting the credit he deserves. I’ve been watching for 50 years this is the best football I’ve ever seen us play. He has spent almost zero money, brought youth through and is imo the most charismatic manager we have ever had. Rant over but please please please everyone give him complete backing because we will miss him when he’s gone.
I do give Farke my full backing Julian, but that doesn’t mean I have to agree with or like everything he does. As someone that has a lot of experience with people management over the years I feel a great deal for the extremely experienced and competent pros presently sitting on the bench and who also deserve and need some game time. I believe it would be much more motivational for them if they were given some, when it is perfectly feasible in terms of the game situation to do so, especially as doing so for example yesterday early in the second half would likely only have ratcheted up our performance even more.
“DF only gets 6 in my book for his game management yesterday”
6 out of how many? You don’t actually say.
“Now DF actually has to make a selection decision on Wed”
He had one to make yesterday, and chose the 11 players that he thought were the best to do the job. As it happens they were the same 11 who he had decided to choose on the previous 7 occasions.
We won the lot so for selection choices I’m giving him 8.
(Out of 8).
Friday evening I was eating dinner with my family and said, ‘I’ve just got a feeling this will be the one we stuff up’ I also said I thought Pukki would never score again! What a way to be proven wrong! Some of the football we played in the first half yesterday was ridiculous – so assured and confident. And yet, while I want to believe, I know I’ll be heading to the game on Wednesday saying, ‘I’ve got a bad feeling about this one’ It was ever thus! OTBC
—and to my Dad too, who took me and I didn’t really want to go, to my 1st game at CR 63 years ago. Now I touch and sometimes tell him the lastest news every time I pass by his name in the “brick in the wall. He’s long since departed this world but his spirit lives on in the form of myself, my sons & Grand-children, especially the youngest for whom this is her 1st year as a ST holder. If we achieve our aims in the coming weeks and you see an old fart talking to a brick in the CR wall with tears in his eyes, that’ll be me.
Lovely comment William.
Even though my old boy was a West Ham die-hard I know exactly what you mean.
Lovely comment William … beautifully put.
I’m still lucky enough to sit next to my dad in the River End, and to see him lapping up the football this season (when he’s able to go) is very special indeed.
At 84-years-old, I can seldom recall seeing him ‘want it’ as much as he does this season. The fire still burns, big time. And then I think why this chance of seeing silverware being lifted here this season means so much to him, and I get it. And that, above all else, is why this season is so very special.
It also happens to be, in his words… “the best passing football I’ve ever seen from a Norwich side”. Quite something from someone who’s Carrow Road debut was in 1946.
Love him.
Great sunday read as usual. One thing still sticks in my well more than one, (1) was a 60 yards dash from Teemu, to help break up Q-pee-r’s playing in our right coner 2nd half. we were 3 up cruising, yet still this striker ran and helped the defence. (2nd) Max Arron guardng near his post, went to cover behind Lewis, the next second his out wide in his position tackling and clearing away. (3) Emi was far left won a ball, ran the width of the pitch to receive again from the play he started. Just a little of what stuck in my mind, not forgetting Zimmo, hitting a 60-70 yard pass to the feet of Lewis (1st half) Onel twisting & turning on 5pence coin. Sure I and others could add many many more to this little list.
Even in a comfortable position in the game, playing at times what looked like training ground passing (sublime) yet they worked their socks to not give anything away, amazing squad, amazing attitude.
Now 55 years since I first entered the gates at Carra, I am going to stick my head over the settee and say I have not seen anything quite like it .. Yes seen some excellent stuff and players over the years, but this squad/team are way ahead in many, if not all depts.
The cost of the whole lot would hardly pay the weekly wage of some Premier League clubs.
I do not want to tempt fate or put any mockers on anything but I cannot see anything stopping up, It is ours to lose. I would be disappointed, perhaps gutted, but hell fire what a season we have seen. One I have enjoyed more than many over the years, even Eclipeses , Lambert era for me
Great post @canarylad .
There seem to be many fans who’ve been making visiting CR for half a century or more and ALL agree that this mazy football we play is the best they’ve seen.
100% agree that this ‘eclipses the Lambert’ era and what impresses me most is the way EVERY payer seems comfortable with the ball be it Aarons or Stieperman. Some of our play in the first 45 minutes was like ‘watching Brazil’ and I doubt any team could have stopped us from scoring at least a couple of goals.
It’s hard to believe that for one game last season, Archant were giving out DF masks to fans as they trudged to watch the game. The crowd heading to the games nowadays have a real spring in their step – as though they are almost expecting to win!!!
Still got my Farke masks I got that day
Hi Gary
A good Sunday morning read and summary of yesterday’s game.
I was a little disappointed that Farke was slow to react in taking Emi off, a few games ago I recall him being pulled early after city had secured the win.
Yesterday was another game city had won and Emi was getting all the attention that QPR could give him within the rules of the game, no protection from the Ref so he needed to be pulled once the second half was underway.
He is a one off for city and he got a few very heavy tackles that were borderline and you could see he was getting wound up just before the sebding off, it was a bad tackle but worse was the bench not realising earlier he needed to come off.
Thats my moan over.
City should have had doubled the score yesterday if they are as good on Wednesday then I will feel sorry for Reading.
Onwards and Upwards
OTBC
This has been how the season has progressed for me…
Late July – We’re too good to be relegated
Early August – I don’t think we’ll be relegated
September – these buggers don’t give up
Boxing day – I knew we wouldn’t lose
Today, text to mate…
and now you’re gonna believe us
OTBC
My first home game of the season & it was a good one!! Slightly unusual to walk out from a 4-0 win feeling slightly disappointed, but such was the impact of the red card. It happened right in front of me & being 3 rows back I had an ideal view. I don’t think it should have been a sending off, but I can see why it was given. We’ve arguably had the benefit of the doubt in other games with Stiepi (Forest & Boro) so I don’t think we can complain too much.
Indeed, the first half yesterday was superb, some of the best football I can recall in almost 60 years of going to The Carra.
As others have said, the total committment throughout this squad was surely epitomised by Pukki’s superb chase back to help out the defence when we were 3 – 0 to the good.
QPR were poor, but they certainly did a job on Buendia. I lost count of the number of niggly and unpunished fouls which were made on him. He (eventually) over-reacts and (rightly??) sees a red card, but – 1: surely Leistner should have been pulled up and booked for a foul immediately before Emi’s challenge, and 2: I’ve played and re-played the incident in slow motion, and am pretty sure that he didn’t touch the QPR guy. I’m convinced that if the “tackle” had not been in front of both the QPR fans and the assistant referee, at worst it would have been a yellow card.
When are the players who people pay decent sume to see going to get some decent protection from the officials??
If the decision is upheld, at last some fans will get their wish and Farke will have to make a decision.
But what a position to be in, does he pick Leitner who we all thought was going to be this season outstanding player, Vrancic, who as recently as January was voted best player in the Championship, or Cantwell who in all honesty never let anyone down in his previous appearances….
Oh; and lay off Farke; unlike some of his predecessors, we will greatly miss him when he’s gone but hopefully that won’t be for a few more seasons yet.
O T B C
It’s not many weeks since Leeds were 4 points clear; now they are very much at risk of having to rely on the playoffs, and possibly throwing away the opportunity altogether.
The curious thing is that despite the many frustrations and disappointments over the years I can only remember one season where something similar has happened to us.
We lost a play-off final, but we’d never been in pole position for promotion that year. We’ve had relatively late surges to clinch promotion. On other occasions when we’ve been there or thereabouts by March/April we’ve got the job done.
The one exception is the first year of the PL when I think the title was briefly in our own hands, but we imploded in the final weeks. Or have I forgotten other similar occasions?
Yesterday was like watching a Premier League team take on non-league opposition. We look the real deal. Buendia will be a massive miss but I think we have enough to pick up a decent points total without him. One thing came to mind recently. The only time we had such a dominant promotion run to the PL was 2003/04 but that was with a team with players just past their peak (Gary Holt, Malky etc), this time it is with players who are still developing. Imagine that back 4 after another year of improvement plus Buendia. Add in a few older players who are still at their peak and we could stick around for a few years. The nearest other promotion to this was 1986 and look how that team developed and stuck around
Farke said he wanted to wait for a fourth goal until he made a sub. That is understandable – we have seen three goal leads overturned at carrrow road this season! Neither have we completely stopped giving away needless goals. However, the wonderful thing about this squad is that there is an abundance of talent to step into Emi’s shoes. OTBC
“we have seen three goal leads overturned at carrrow road this season! ”
Not a three goal LEAD. We’ve scored 3 and lost, twice. But we’ve not been 3 ahead and had that overturned.
Emi Buendia my player of the season, he’s world class and will eventually leave for £40+m. Emi cares and is an inspiration to his team mates. He will learn from it and a rest will do him or us no harm others will step up.
We are on a different level than the rest. The battle for 2nd involves two Yorkshire teams City are a cut above for sure.
Great article, Gary, and some interesting comments. I told my family before the game that this was the banana skin we were going to slip up on. Shows how much I know!
The next worry, of course, is how we cope without Buendia. I presume Cantwell will be the direct replacement but I’d also like to see either Leitner or Vrancic alongside Trybull (if fit) or Tettey to give us enough creativity.
Of course, all through this season we’ve lost key players at times and someone else has stepped up. I’m just looking for something to worry about.
Cracking article and all the responses too. It’s not just the team who are excelling this season.
I myself am a well known fatalist. I subscribe to the theory that if it can go wrong, it probably will. Last week, I’ve had people telling me we are home and dry, even in one case slowing his car to Tell me that I am worrying in vain as he lent out of his window! When I’m outside city hall in May with all the family watching the celebrations with tears in my eyes – then I shall accept it is done and dusted.
Every game, every opponent, assumes Herculean proportions during the run up. Reading will be no exception.
The intent, the pace, the snappy passing, the movement we displayed, right from the first minute did much to allay fears yesterday. As did three goals, which could (should) have been at least five before the interval.
Perhaps the addition of another goal would have allowed Farke to give significant game time to important squad members at the same time resting and protecting tired limbs. It may have been the plan, we will never know.
The red card probably put the tin hat on such plans, with the protection of the three points paramount.
While Buendias offence looked a proper red card, the referee set the scene with his hitherto lenient attitude. Indeed, some thirty seconds earlier, an identical knee high, straight leg, studs up lunge had Buendia taking the airborne route in order to escape serious injury. A card, be it yellow or red was not deemed necessary. Surprising then, in the immediate aftermath that the red was shown with such a flourish. If referees do indeed want “respect” they will have to,do much better than this. Buendias lunge could have left us in trouble, was ill advised, however, if adequate protection is offered it wouldn’t have happened.
Pukki has emerged in my opinion as the rightful player of the season, potentially we will never again witness a years work such as this in our lifetimes. To put it in context, the name Ralph Hunt is being mentioned in connection with Pukki. Such is the rarity of his seasons efforts.