Back in the day when I had to work bloody hard for a living, my job involved visiting factories and/or tech bases all over the UK and occasionally Europe as well.
I was Norwich-based, which meant many hours of travelling time, but if I had to get up at four in the morning and stay over it didn’t bother me. It was the company’s car, not mine and driving 60k a year was nothing to me.
One of the places I went to about once a month was an ink factory in Huyton, Merseyside. It was directly opposite what was then the “Waste Transfer Station” and made Swanton Road smell like Chanel #5 if the wind was in the wrong direction, particularly on a hot summer’s day.
However I loved going there, I really did. Because of the people and the warm welcome I received every time.
As soon as I disclosed that I was a Norwich supporter (the tie kind of gave it away) I got the predictable retorts, but they were so good-natured I didn’t mind.
The shop floor area was literally covered in posters of everybody from Tommy Smith to Ian Rush, with a little bit of Kenny Dalglish thrown in for good measure. Even Jan Molby. Many of them came from Shoot magazine.
I spent many a happy dinner break in either the Chapel Brook or the Hare and Hounds and all these guys wanted to talk about was football.
Sure I had their history repeatedly rammed down my throat but I’m thick-skinned enough to accept that. Fergie (not that one) had even been to Carrow Road a couple of times and said how much he loved the atmosphere. Tony concurred and he was at the game when the Fash wondergoal occurred, which our Ed C-L so admirably recalled on MFW yesterday.
I wasn’t there myself I’m afraid. I was stuck in London at the time.
A quick walk upstairs to the Huyton offices led me to meet one of the nicest guys I’ve ever met in my life, one Ken Stringer, who I got to know well.
I’d sometimes play five-a-side at the nearby Pitz centre with Fergie and his mates, but Ken attempted to teach me the error of my ways. He was the only Evertonian among around 80 employees and gave me a dare for the company rag I produced, as in: If I get a picture of me in the Anfield boardroom wearing an Everton scarf would you publish it?
He did and I did. Ken knew some high-profile people around the “Stanley Park” area and was somehow allowed to get away with his stunt. True.
One Friday, Fergie said his mate had been involved in a bad accident at work and would I like to go with him to the final game on the standing Kop.
I bit his hands and feet off and I would imagine I was the only Norwich fan standing on the Kop that afternoon. Emotion doesn’t come into it really. Poignancy has never been better observed, at least not by me.
The Liverpool fans were lamenting the demise of the old-style Kop, not a 1-0 defeat courtesy of Gossy.
I actually consider it an honour and a privilege to have stood there that day.
To Fergie, Ken and Tony, come August 9 I’ll be wishing you what you wish me of course.
But congrats on the Champions League triumph!
And thanks for all the banter, even if I had to drive about five hours to listen to it.
Well, it all happened yesterday! For starters, everybody’s favourite son of Dereham, Todd Cantwell, signed a three-year contract extension. Whatever any comments have been made elsewhere about Todd’s agent, the deal has been sealed.
Maybe he’ll be sent out on a short-term loan, although the award of the #14 shirt would tend to go against that.
Max Aarons has most deservedly got his coveted #2 while several stalwarts continue as they did last season.
And there’s the small matter of Teemu Pukki signing a new, three-year deal. Small matter? I’m only joking.
Rocky Bushiri has also joined from KV Oostende, or Ostend as us non-Belgians know it.
We’re also in most serious pursuit of Schalke 04’s club captain and goalkeeper Ralf Fährmann.
And to top it all it looks like we’re in Lewis Hamilton position to sign Partick Thistle’s emerging star, Aidan Fitzpatrick.
My head is spinning after all that being revealed in one day, but we’re becoming so adept at planning for present and the future in tandem.
And no squad number for Oliveira, Husband or Marshall?
Rather predictable and rather welcome in equal proportion.
Good article as always Martin and fabulous reminisce of times gone by.
As you mention, quite a day at NR1 yesterday with lots of business being attended to. Great to see Todd and Teemu being rewarded with well-deserved contracts and also the clear investment being put into beefing-up the U23 set-up.
As you say no surprise in Oliveria, Husband or Marshall not being given squad numbers. The arrival of Heiss last season put pay to Husband who never really delivered on the undoubted potential he showed earlier in his career. Marshall I fear blotted his copy book with all the fuss about reportedly pushing through the loan move to Millwall and as for Nelson, who knows? Reading seemingly have a ‘soft transfer ban’ (whatever that means!) so that may put pay to a permanent move there. Watching Wimbledon, a certain Nick Kyrigos’s antics remind me so much of Nelson – such talent but with a self-destructive attitude that only succeeds in preventing him from reaching his undoubted potential.
As for transfer incomings, as suspected, a fairly quite summer. My money is on another GK to challenge Krul (seemingly movement on that one) and a RB to push Max. Other than that, I suspect that will be that and ‘no’ I don’t see a return for Jordan to the yellow and green especially with Drmic signing-up.
OTBC
Hi Jon
Some good observations there.
Ben Marshall would not appear to be the player he was when we signed him from Wolves, as illustrated by the fact that Neil Harris at Millwall does not appear to want him back.
I’m no newshound but I understand from a good source that this time last year he had “issues” which naturally means he wouldn’t fit into the DF/SW progressional masterplan.
Husband too would appear to have lost his way as you point out.
Nelson is a petulant enigma – just look at how many loans he “enjoyed” while with Benfica! I very much doubt SW would have signed him in the first place.
Rumours are that AEK Athens want him either on a full-wage paid loan or a perm. No, I don’t get exactly what a “soft” transfer ban is either!
Your views on future incomings concur with mine to the letter.
Thank you.
Hi Martin,
Will also be interesting to see who gets the nod as third-choice striker to provide competition for Teemu and Drmic. I’m not sure you would need both Srbeny and Idah around if Norwich play as last season with a single striker. Both seem to have pre-season to prove themselves with a loan probably beckoning for at least one them.
I have to admit I was half expecting one-or-two more loans of youngsters from PL sides – much like the Patrick Roberts loan signing. However, I guess loan moves and their respective clubs will want a reasonable guarantee of some action and given the squad is pretty competitive throughout its difficult to see where that could happen. The potential loan move the Schalke goalkeeper, which appears to be gathering momentum, could provide some serious competition for Tim Krul.
OTBC.
Premier League clubs are only allowed two “on-loan” players at any one time, so with Roberts being here for the full season (except games against Citeh), we can only have one more….which of course could be split into 2 half season loans.
O T B C
They are: – Premier League clubs may not register more than two players on loan at any one time. – The maximum number of loans registrable in the same season is four, and, under no circumstances, shall more than one be from the same club at any one time.
Hi John
What I find interesting is the non-allocation of squad numbers #3 and, particularly, #9.
If Fahrmann comes in, which seems to appear increasingly likely according to this morning’s media reports, as you quite rightly say that’s our loan allocation used up.
There’ll still be one or two more. RB cover definitely, at least.
Thanks.
Hi Jon
The striker issue you raise is one I don’t have an answer to but I’m happy to make a prognosis. OK, a complete guess:-)
With the arrival of Josip Drmic and the stated intention that Adam Idah will train with the first team squad during pre-season plus the fact that Farke very rarely goes 4-4-2 anyway it seems very unlikely to me that we will bring anybody else in for that department.
The issue of the #11 to Onel Hernandez seems to have settled the issue of any possible return for Jordan Rhodes.
I can see Dennis Srbny having a bit-part to play here rather than going out on loan.
However the vacancy for squad number #9 to be filled makes me doubt my own reasoning on the whole topic:-)
Thanks.
Alex: thanks for that.
Patrick Roberts is here on a full-season loan and I guess Fahrmann wouldn’t come here for any shorter length of time himself.
So no January loan-ins I guess.
Hi Martin
Another enjoyable read.
,
Having spent many years working away from home the majority of Liverpool supporters can be good company in small doses but there are the few that are major A-holes.
Family members that support the red side can never give credit to other teams and when they lose it’s not them that played badly, it’s either the ref was wrong in all his decisions or the other side were cheats. And yes, lots of other teams have similar supporters but the biggest and worst part is that they think they are entitled to win everything and ex-players seems to perpetuate this on TV with their punditry.
Sky Sports News is breaking that City are giving a medical to the Schalke goalkeeper and the signing will be announced in the next few hours. I might be wrong but surely this will put McGovern out of the first-team picture, so could he be a possible late departure. All know is that City have got players to sign new contracts just prior to selling them – one to watch I think.
On the Rhodes transfer, Bruce has said he doesn’t really have a future at Wednesday due to the forwards they have. FFP is going to be a problem for them if they don’t get a few players sold and I understand giving them a free transfer doesn’t help in this matter, so another to watch.
A soft embargo means the club could technically buy players as long as the EFL ratify the deal.
Will Leitner, Aarons and possibly any others that haven’t had it announced that they have signed new deals be talking to the club? I do hope so, but I just wonder if all contract have is a relegation clause.
We are now looking at Leyton Orient 20-year-old centre-back but they have a quarter of the Premier League looking at him, so it could be a tough call to get this over the line.
A player I was looking to see in City colours to at least prove he could do a job for us this season was Sean Raggett – a no-nonsense CB. It is one of the strangest transfers SW/DF have completed; he’s now on loan to Portsmouth for the season and his contract ends next July. All his previous loans have given good reviews, even during injury layoffs, so it seems he has no future and a wasted £350k. Not a large sum for a player but the question is why did City buy him?
Onwards and upwards
OTBC
Hi Alex
A lot of meat on the bones of that comment!
All I can say about the Liverpool fans I mentioned is that they were, to a man, very good to me and great fun to socialise with, for more than a few minutes..
But as you so quite rightly say, every club has it’s buttholes and we as Norwich are not immune from that ourselves.
As for Michael McGovern, he surely realised when he signed his new contract that he would become number three – in a similar role to our “own” Rob Green at Chelsea last season. I doubt he’ll be going anywhere anytime soon. A #3 can easily become a #2 if there’s an unfortunate injury – not that I’m talking up that scenario.
These relegation clauses are never announced so your guess is as good as (if not better) than mine.
Sean Raggett is indeed a mystery. I’m thinking he was signed pre-Farke, who obviously doesn’t fancy him (if you see what I mean). Too old school? Maybe. No, probably. Apart from Lincoln v Burnley on the TV I’ve only seen him play once so I can’t really judge.
Mind you with Godfrey, Zimmermann, Klose and Hanley in situ I’m not over-bothered.
Thanks as always.
Hi Martin,
Some really interesting thoughts and comments and thanks to Alex and John for clarifying the position in relation to loan players.
The striker situation is intriguing especially with the absence of no9 on the team sheet. However, do you think Norwich would sign Jordan Rhodes to effectively be a third choice striker? A very expensive signing who may warm the bench occasionally and get the odd game? Not sure Rhodes would want to sign up to that either. I do wonder whether a loan for Srbeny to the Championship or Bundesliga 2 may help polish those rough edges which may mean some game time for Idah. I guess a lot will depend on how Srbeny and Idah perform during pre-season. Maybe an AM to fill the no9 shirt to challenge Stiepermann is a possibility? Personally, I’d like to see McLean have a pop in that role because I think his energy and running would perhaps be better suited there than in the deeper playmaker role.
The CD position is an intriguing one. Like Alex, I was quite keen on seeing what Sean Raggett had to offer. However, given his injury woes last season the opportunity to get plenty of game time in at Portsmouth makes sense. Norwich currently have 4 centre halves on the books which is fine if they continue with a 2-man CD, However, if Norwich switch to a back 3 then this could leave them a bit short especially if they pick-up the odd injury or suspension.
Then there is the Louis Thompson situation – a player perhaps more than most really needs a good amount of game-time under his belt. Could another holding midfielder be on the cards? That said, if reports are true then Norwich did miss out on several central midfielders from Germany.
Lots of iffs-and-buts – will certainly be interesting to see how pre-season evolves and in time the team for Liverpool.
Hi again Jon
No I don’t see Rhodes coming back, although like many of us I’m well aware that he absolutely loved his time with us and really enjoys living in Norfolk.
Maybe if Brucie dropped the price to a cool million to get JR off the Wednesday books it could still happen of course, but as good as he apparently was around the dressing room and training ground, even that seems a little extravagant.
Like you I think The Mayor could play the #10 role, after all he often did for Aberdeen.
As I said above they clearly don’t fancy Raggett but I’m not too bothered.
If Louis Thompson can become (and remain) fit we already have a natural successor to Alex Tettey in the house.
Talking of Tettey he can always slip into a back three. He’s done it before.
Smoke, mirrors, swings, roundabouts. And we’ve got another month of them!
The Charlie Gilmour rumour is interesting – I initially wondered if he was the son of Pink Floyd’s Dave as in the eejit who tried to shin up Nelson’s Column:-)
Thanks once more.
I do enjoy telling Liverpool fans that it’s ironic that the best goal ever scored in front of the Kop was the last one. It always endears me to them.
Ha!
I haven’t seen the guys referred to in my article for years and I suspect that dear old Ken may be no longer with us.
But what I do know is they would all produce a grudging, wry smile at your comment.
Hope to see you next season.
Just watched the highlights above, forgot how good that team was.. I was there and remember the Kop singing late on “You’re supposed to let us win”
Hi Cannock.
Gunny was superb that day. I cannot believe it was 25 years ago!
Thank you.
09.02.2020 40th anniversary of that Fashanu goal. Date for the diary methinks
Hi Dave
I think you’re right there!
Thank you.
Thoroughly enjoyed reading that, Martin.
My recollections of that game were as a 14 year old watching the highlights on MOTD. We could’ve won by more!
Oh what a season to lord it up over my school friends…. Europe, The Last Game of the Standing Kop and that Leeds game. I thought this was the ‘norm’!
Cue massive egg (and cress) on my face for the next decade.
Great article.
Hi Martin
I’d actually forgotten just how good that Gossy shot was!
He didn’t score that many, but when he did, etc.
I was fortunate enough to see all three matches at the Carra and Bayern in the Olympic stadium. They really were unbelievably good matches, all of them, and we were scared of nobody.
Halcyon days for sure.
Thank you.
Indeed, Martin, in the much maligned Chase era. Just saying…..
Hi Dan
There was an oft-quoted phrase going around at the time that we were the only club who had ever qualified for Europe DESPITE the Chairman.
Mr Chase was never popular with the great unwashed, Certainly not in the twilight of his incumbency anyway:-)
Thank you.
Loving the nostalgia Martin. You’ve been around bit haven’t you!
I remember well the Fashanu goal, from my vantage point clinging to the fence in the Barclay it was in from the second it left his boot. Outrageous.
Bck to the present and our transfer dealings to date I feel quietly confident that for virtually no outlay Webber has produced the optimum results. Farhmann appears to be a significant upgrade giving us two sound custodians. Drmic is clearly worth a lot more than the “free” tag he picked up following the expiry of his Borussia contract.
The plethora of young players all appear to have one key thing in common. Without exception every one of them is currently an international at his age level, thus raising the level of the under 23 side which has been stripped out over the summer. I look forward to making my way down to carrow road to have a look at all the new players plus a few others picked up in January whom I haven’t had the pleasure of watching yet. A fascinating development.
I still feel a decent sum of money should be spent on a savvy and destructive defensive screen for the back four or five and a couple of million invested in a back up for Max. save a little for January tweaks and give the champions the chance to step up and shock football all over again.
Hi Chris.
Yes it’s fair to say I’ve got a few miles on the clock, probably a few too many for Mrs P’s liking:-)
As I understand it this much-vaunted figure of £20 million includes loan fees AND wages for those signed so all in all there should be some, but not a great deal, left to play with.
We may be okay at DM. I rate Tom Trybull, Mario Vrancic can play there too and there’s life in the old Tettey yet. Plus if Louis Thompson stays clear of injury (jeez knows he deserves some luck) he would surely be an option. Ben Godfrey can play there too – Timm Klose wouldn’t be a bad replacement at CB!
RB cover is, as you so rightly say, essential. Cover it will be, as neither Felix Passlack nor Ivo Pinto were ever going to dislodge Max Aarons.
As for the youngsters you’re spot on. It’s so refreshing to see this approach rather than having a panic and buying a “January Naismith” for £8 million or whatever.
Thanks as always.