Thunderbolt and lightning, very very frightening. Donner und Blitzen – and I’m not talking about Rudolph’s mates in Santa’s once a year all-star reindeer display team.
Or in the words of Daniel Farke:
‘In the first half we [were] like a thunderstorm. We created so much lightning.’
And how true. Possibly the best 45 minutes of football I have ever seen from a Norwich City side and for me that includes something like 800 in-the-flesh attendances at games. We were truly awesome and by no means much inferior to that standard in the second period.
As MFW regular John F said yesterday, we surely must be the best £ for £ team in the world.
We were truly awesome, and the approach play seems to have speeded up a little to me. We ran them ragged at times.
The absentee roster included Timm Klose, Christoph Zimmermann, Josip Drmic, Ibrahim Amoudu, Onel Hernandez and Mayor McLean. Did that affect the balance of the side? Not one jot.
Sure anybody could proffer that Newcastle were lethargic and disinterested. I’m not totally convinced by that argument myself although it appears to have some kind of basis in fact from what we saw on Saturday.
So who do we single out for praise? Every single player in a yellow (and this season’s green) shirt, that’s who. I’m saving the best until last as you’ll realise.
First off Tim Krul. He was first class and so wanted that clean sheet. Jonjo Shelvey (aka Nosferatu) denied him that at the death, but what the heck.
Secondly, the boy wonders that are Max Aarons and Jamal Lewis. They both looked liked they had been playing Premier League all their young lives and it’s great to hear that despite a heavy clatter towards the end Jamal left the field simply because of cramp.
Next up? Ben Godfrey. Such a disciplined manifestation of game-reading and controlled aggression, as in being in the right place and doing the right thing at the right time.
Grant Hanley. Barely put a foot (or head) wrong all game. My mate told me later that when he got turned by Shelvey for the Newcastle goal he was cramped up and obviously we had no centre back on the bench, so had to stay on.
Tom Trybull and particularly Mo Leitner. They bossed that there midfield. Leitner, in particular, was superb. Folks sometimes use the word “metronome” to describe him and they’re not wrong.
Emi Buendia. Never stops working. Another fine display. Marco Stiepermann. Unorthodox enough to confuse anybody except Buendia, you-know-who (wait for it) and Todd Cantwell. Cantwell was immense. That turn inside to lose his marker in the first half was pure class and only the legs of the generally excellent Martin Dubravka denied us the opener. He then repeated the trick later to put he who is yet to be named in this article through for the second.
Can I be the first Norwich City writer not to mention that Todd’s one of our own and from Dereham?
And (drum roll) there was some guy on the pitch, a Finnish free transfer who goes by the name of, erm, is it Teemu Pukki?
A wonderful, expansive volley for his first that nearly took Dubravka into the net with it, an intelligent finish through the legs of the defender for his second and the coolest finish you’ll ever see for a well-deserved hat-trick. What a geezer. And his subsequent interview on Match of the Day showed the wonderful character of the guy.
Oh whoops, I seem to have singled out every single one of the team
Actually, the defining moment of this match for me was when Pukki completed his hat-trick and ran towards the Snakepit. The first people to congratulate him had pelted off the bench, as in the Mayor, Super Mario and Sam Byram. That encapsulates the “secret” of our success.
Briefly back to MotD, Alan Shearer was as ungracious as ever. It was wonderful to watch his skin crawl.
As far as Newcastle are concerned, one of my favourite TV programmes of the 1980s was Auf Wiedersehen Pet. There was a classic scene in it where Oz (Jimmy Nail) was subjected to a full body search at the airport.
At the crucial moment, Oz said to German customs: “What yer ganna find up there man? A new striker for Newcassel United?”
Judging by the performance of Joelinton yesterday they still haven’t found one. If he’s worth £40 million, what price Teemu?
No thunder or lightning on the way home, just sunshine and a couple of very fed up Newcastle fans who asked us where the train station was. Keeping a straight face I pointed over the road and said: “where the engines and coaches are on the platforms mate”.
And for NCFC it’s full steam ahead.
Well Martin – a terrific read after a terrific weekend for everyone of a ‘yellow and green’ persuasion and wh could fail to be impressed by the masterclass of possession football that was evident at CR on Saturday?? Even the River End was joining in the singing and applause!!!
How many more plaudits can we laud on our prolific ‘Finnish Finisher???’
I too felt the entire team played well, especially TC – he is such a VASTLY improved player from last season and I’m really pleased that he asked for and was given the number 14!!
I agree with Gary’s article yesterday and I can see us causing a lot of teams problems, especially when you consider the players missing because of injuries, but as happened last season; whoever deputises ‘steps up to the plate’ – fantastic. However, I have to disagree with Gary when he says that we are ‘under the radar’ – especially when MotD2 shows Pukki’s hat trick in its closing sequence
I can’t finish without mentioning Leitner for the part he played in Saturday’s victory and who could ever forget Pukki’s 80 yard dash to rob Joelinton???
PS – How tragic for David Powell and his family last week and I’m certain that all the fans will join in the applause on the 49th minute next Saturday
Morning Ed
Yeah the main MotD ended with ole Krispylugs making a reference to Finnishing as the “intro to their outro” but they only showed the volley – I don’t often watch MotD 2 so I didn’t know they showed all three.
No doubt the media will sit up and notice of us a little more after Saturday, except Shearer of course.
Pukki pegged it back like there was no tomorrow to effect that challenge on Joelinton. He’s a bit quicker than I realised:-)
I only met David Powell once but he seemed a thoroughly nice guy and I too am sure we will all join in with the applause @49 mins.
Thanks a lot.
It is going to take a while to drop completely off this high. “What really hurt me” said a more eloquent Newcastle fan in an interview shortly after the match “was watching the manager going round the ground whipping up the crowd. I wished Newcastle were Norwich at that moment” Norwich are enjoying themselves. There is no sense of arrogance or entitlement he said. The team and fans rise and fall together. It was a lament from a Newcastle fan who wished for some of that feel-good factor. He wondered if it would ever come.
Chelsea hold absolutely no fear. Not because we expect to win. Because we know everyone is committed and invested in this adventure. We will give it our best shot, not cramped by the fear of losing. For that is what it is, a magic helter skelter ride, with lightning bolts and perhaps a few miracles on the way. “Norwich are a small club” went on the Newcastle fan ” a tight club, a country bumpkin sort of club. But they are much better than we are just now. I would give my eye-teeth to be them….” Even more than that. We just might beat Chelsea. If we play our best and they are too good, so be it. No bitter recrimination. But our best, our very best. part of you feels could be enough….OTBC
Hi Cobwatch.
I guess many of us haven’t comedown from Saturday yet.
There are some really interesting articles and comments on various Mags fansites this morning – too many for me to list but they’re on Newsnow with links and very many of them are exactly along the lines you describe. With plenty of respect for us.
I walk down Prince of Wales on my route to the ground then on to Morrisons and I spoke to several Geordies on the way. Lovely people as always.
Their feelings towards Mr Ashley far outstrip ours towards Mr Chase at that time.
I would take a point against Chelsea but I must confess I’m hoping for more.
Thank you.
Excellent read, thanks.
As you have indicated how do you really single ant one player out in such a complete team performance and yes I also am struggling to remember a better performance at the Carra and that includes a couple of pretty memorable victories against ‘that lot down the road’!!
A special mention has to go to our very own G.O.A.T. at the sharp end, were we ever in doubt that Pukki could score goals in the premier league? No doubt here (I know easy to say now)!
However, for a bit of balance we had best not forget that Newcastle were how stall we put it – not very good!! Frank Lampard’s Chelsea will be a different proposition all together next Saturday but who knows what our boys are capable of….personally I can’t wait to find out and of course Chelsea will be playing against 12 men!! 🙂
Finally, you’ve got to feel a bit for Brucey – he might have just bitten off more than he can chew by taking the Newcastle job on….my feeling is the Toon won’t stand for any more performances like the one that was served up on Saturday, as our Daniel would put it – ‘we have to find a solution’……and quick!!
OTBC
Hi John
Yes it’s always an awkward old balancing act as in how bad were Newcastle and how good were we? On this occasion both views factor in but I’m on the side of how good we were if I’m honest.
Frank Lampard’s Chelsea (oh Lordy, here we go again with the FL trademarks!) don’t scare me and I’m sure they won’t frighten our free-flowing team either.
Yes they have some great players (I really like Pedro and Mason Mount) but they’re not quite what they were a couple of seasons ago.
I can’t wait for the match tbh.
As for Steve Bruce none of us will ever forget him as a more than solid CB and indeed for his Milk Cup semi header against “the boys down the road”.
But he’s not a popular appointment with the Geordie boys, who are already referring to him as pancake face and making jibes about his assumed intake of Greggs. Not our problem, really.
Ashley seems like an irradicable disease from the Mag folks I spoke to.
Thank you.
Hard to feel any sympathy for “Brucey”
Sheffield Wednesday rescued him after being sacked by Aston Villa, waited for him while he sorted some personal stuff out and then he jumps ship at the first opportunity. Managers often talk about needing time but are all too quick to move when it suits them.
And now he finds himself at a Club in disarray, they’re welcome to each other as far as I am concerned..
Hi Derek
I entirely agree with you about your comments on “Brucey”.
There are few Danny Cowleys in the football world these days, but there sure is a plethora of Paul Lamberts.
Great stuff as always Martin.
Nothing more to say really other than the MSM continue to undersell NCFC and their prospects.
Saturday was (yet another) day and performance when it all came together.
How brilliant to be a part of this.
Oh; and did Mark Lawrenson really say that our Flying Finn would struggle to score 10 times this season,or did he say by the end of September (or even August??).
O T B C
Hi John.
MSM is strange – some of the Newcastle fans are saying Ki was only selected because of Ashley’s wish to make money from the TV market in Asia.
I’ve no idea how true that is but I bet we’ve picked up a bit of passive support in Finland over the last year or so with an automatic selection of our own:-)
How brilliant to be a (valued, I guess) part of this? Wonderful.
Thank you.
Immense! Great read Martin.
I used to bang on about our lack of a talisman in the team and stated within many a comment over time that without one we were going nowhere. Holty, Hucks, Iwan, Crooky, and so the list went on. How wrong I was! We have a squad full of them, its called togetherness, no one player is crucial, heads no longer drop, the will to win never fades. No talisman, idol or ‘fancy piece’ in this squad and none required.
For me 9/10 for them all!
Hi Colin
Togetherness is the word – spot on.
The reaction from the Mayor, Mario and Sam Byram to Teemu’s third was exquisite and illustrates our collective on and off the pitch philosophy perfectly.
As for talismans I would guess Pukki has already been elevated to that status by many of our (younger?) fans but for me the most talismanic will still always be Hucks and Holty. Maybe I’d add Flecky to your list if he hadn’t have said he’d walk to Leeds if it meant he could leave us!
Dear old Chase.
Thank you.
Hi Martin
As usual another good Monday morning read.
Before getting to the football I was watching Jofra bowling at the Aussies yesterday what an arm he has and speed to spare watch out when he really turns it on.
Bill Shankley was asked many moons ago was is your success he simple reply was getting all the players to know their job in the team and not to play them out of place, a simple receipt I would say.
It looked on MOTD that Sheared was shell shocked and could only except city won due to NUFC playing so badly, and as many pundits will find this coming season if the opposition allows city to get a head of steam up they will be difficult to catch.
The Sunday Supplement mentioned the game but mostly in critism of Ashley and berated his handling of the club and jumped on the bandwagon about selling I just don’t get it one said he should sell up and get out of toon, the problem is no one wants to buy this so called sleeping giant who’s last real success was in the 50’s.
City out played, fought and muscled Newcastle and DF on the Pinkun in game report he couldn’t understand how Dummett finished the game on just 1 yellow, at least their was no VAR issues and as Gary Neville commented on the no goal at least the Spurs supports saw the funny side with a new song praising VAR.
Onwards and upwards
OTBC
Wasn’t it just fantastic to witness such a momentum change during ‘that Joffra spell’. The sight of Sandpaper Smith, bewildered and adjudged LBW without offering a shot was as good as it could get and to parcel that up with City’s brilliant display and togetherness, quite an afternoon of sport!
And Real Mallorca won yesterday – well, it pleased me anyway!
Hi Alex
As I’ve said in replies above I spoke to several Mags yesterday (I love talking to fans of MOST visiting clubs) and for them the Ashley situation has been beyond the pale for some considerable time.
The departure of Rafa has put them on the edge of the abyss and they do not deserve that as obviously they love their club as much as we do ours.
They were far more interested in expressing their anger against him than in anticipating the game itself. Literally nobody with a Tyneside postcode would buy anything from Sports Direct. I wouldn’t either but in my case that’s because it’s ill-fitting crap.
A group of three guys we spoke to on the way back down Prince of Wales afterwards said they would only go away as they were on the boycott.
Talking of a different type of Boycott, the old Jiminy was very interesting. I played a bit back in the day and I would have stood for one ball from Archer and then feigned injury and retired hurt. Before I did get hurt (no helmets or grilles then).
His run-up approach is so deceptive. An automatic selection to me if he’s fit.
Cheers.
Sky have said he had 16 consecutive ball all at an average speed of 92.75mph, the batsman has no time to react it takes about 1/3 of second to travel 22yards or in old money 2 chain.
Yeah – he is quite frightening. Can you imagine keeping to him?
I played a couple of times for Harlow II (amongst many others) and their fastest first team bowler was a guy called Errol Green, the very first West Indian CID officer in the Essex force.
We had a Sunday side too and occasionally I had to keep with Errol bowling when he was available. He was lethal, if a little erratic.
After a six-over spell from him I felt like my hands had been battered with a long plank of fourxtwo.
Not many of the guys wanted to field at slip for him – unlike me they didn’t have inners and gloves:-)
On statistic that stood out for me from the match was the Leitner completed more passes on his own than the 3 newcastle midfielders combined – that takes some doing and indicates quite how pivitol he was – as you say, a metronome.
On MOTD and in the national papers, apart from the focus on TP ,the “pundits / experts” seem more interested in discussing how bad Newcastle were rather than how excellent our whole team work and attacking philisophy was (so ridiculed against Liverpool). I think its good for us to keep flying under the radar for a bit longer, but it dies surprise me just how much every bit of coverage is geared up to just focus on the top 6 and the occoasional media darlings (Bournmouth etc). If it stops other teams being interested in our players then great!
Hi London.
Yes, I saw your Leitner statistic elsewhere earlier and it’s quite incredible – but Newcastle were either too lazy or inept to close him down most of the time. I don’t see Chelski making the same error but Mo is so comfortable on the ball the level of press shouldn’t bother him too much.
I think the media love of Bournemouth stems from the combination of Redknapp’s profile, the prices of property in Sandbanks and the (genuinely) eloquent Eddie Howe.
Not a team I particularly dislike, but I do wonder about the source of their investment.
Good comment and thank you.
During the match replay that I watched with my Dad (aged 99 years – so he wasn’t up for the live game) I mentioned to him to watch how Leitner continually positioned himself as a simple pass from whoever had the ball and, more often than not, a one- or two-touch pass to keep the ball moving meant that it seemed to just flow around the pitch. Leitner is the engine room and if he stays in that sort of form we are going to be really hard to beat. Chelsea will defend high and fast. If we can keep our cool and find Leitner to receive and distribute, Chelsea may find themselves under a bit of pressure IMHO.
Well I’m probably the only one here who’s bloody miserable – because having been ill for the back end of last week I had to reluctantly accept that a 200 mile trip cross country was no longer a good idea. I hope the lucky beggar (other names may be inserted) who unexpectedly picked up a spare seat in the top of the River End sometime late on Friday enjoyed his/her prime view of Pukki’s opener.
I listened to the Talk Sport commentary, followed the Sky live text summary, and watched MOTD later. As far as I’m concerned all 3 were abundantly clear about how well we played, and totally get how we’ve built the team. The subsequent news reports have said the same. There have been numerous articles at the end of last season and the start of this about Webber and Farke, and what they’ve achieved.
Sure, they’ve honed in too on Newcastle’s many woes – but they would wouldn’t they? And of course it helps a lot if they can spot a “£40m flop” – always good copy. And sure, if he’s still missing with free headers after 9 months in the country (not 1) and 32 games (not 2) then that’s what he’ll be. But none of them implied that we ONLY won because they were poor.
So I’m getting a bit irritated by this chip-on-the-shoulder whingeing about the way the neutral media are reporting us. I think we’re getting a perfectly good deal from them . Krul, Godfrey and Teemu are all in The Times team of the week. Picking Pukki wold have been easy, but somebody must have been watching pretty closely to understand Godfrey’s contribution.
I was slightly surprised that nobody has really pointed out how all of that starting XI, plus 2 of the 3 subs, have been training and playing together under the same manager for a year. That compares to Newcastle who can only have stalled from the point that it was clear that Rafa was unlikely to stay, and have had no proper pre-season under a new manager. And above all the new manager they’ve got has a long history of failing to get appropriate performances out of highly paid, often overpaid, players.
My hunch is that Lampard is going to be another in the Bruce mould. He only got the Rams in the play-offs last season due to our floodlight failure. Drop 2 or 3 points from that game and he’d have missed out. I’m astonished that he got the job without some genuine managerial success behind him.
We struck with the hot iron on Saturday – I reckon we have a chance of repeating the trick this week. Hopefully I’ll be a bit less grumpy by then.
Keith, I’ll join you in your misery. My wife and I were flying back from Portugal on Saturday evening, just managed to see the final score before boarding the plane. Got home fromGatwick at ten minutes to midnight, dumped the cases inside the front door, straight on with the tele, fast forward through the recording of MOTD till we got to the marvellous scene of the yellow wall, and sat back to enjoy what we’d missed.
The misery hasn’t been helped by the number of people telling me how good we were.
I noticed watching Frank Lampard’s Chelskie yesterday that they came out very fired up, and pressing very high, but they didn’t seem to be able to maintain the press after the first fifteen minutes. After that, Leicester took control, and should have one the game. I can’t believe that Maddison put that one over the bar after rounding the keeper.
One thing is certain, I’ll be there on Saturday, and next year I’ll book my holidays more carefully!
Hi Jim
It should be a fantastic occasion on Saturday, it really should.
I’m no Chelsea fan but it will be a real test for us and I’m looking forward to seeing how we get on. I reckon we might surprise them. We’ll have to see.
The worst thing for me is that I can only see the “yellow wall” on the telly too – being in the UB I never get to see it in the flesh! We did our stuff with our scarves though.
Mind you the River End gave it some too (which I obviously can see) and that was marvellous to observe.
You’ve outdone me – Portugal is one of the very few countries in Europe I’ve never been to. Hope it was good for you.
Thanks.
Hi Keith
Actually the Pukki volley was possibly even more enjoyable from the Barclay.
We could see the admirable Ben Godfrey step out of his way to let him crack it.
At our end Screeny McScreenface takes a while to turn towards us and I was still on my feet waiting for the replay. Some very crotchety, very old gent some four rows behind me shouted at me to sit down. He had to wait for a few seconds until I complied with his request.
Your assessment of the mainstream media is spot on. We got a lot of credit from most quarters: only Shearer persisted with his predictable approach. It’s the same in The Sun this morning. That Magpie will never change its feathers.
I can’t give an objective view on Lampard because although he’s basically unproven at managerial level he is a total Chelsea legend and will be given every chance to succeed by everybody – from top to bottom – connected with that club.
I’ve got a Chelsea mate (who hasn’t) who met him and Christine in London recently and said he was a very nice bloke. Ben was in too much awe to ask for a selfie.
You’re grumpy? In a week’s time I’ve got to have every tooth in my head (there’s 28 left I think) removed under general at the N&N. I’ve never had general in my life so I’m bricking it already.
Thanks for your usual great comment.
Had a few and honestly absolutely don’t worry, you’ll be fine, fast asleep and can have wonderful yellow and green dreams.
It’s eating the peanut brittle afterwards that hurts!!
I could either say cheers or you rotten $od for mentioning nut brittle:-)
I used to love that growing up, I really did.
Loads of Heinz tomato soup will be in the cupboard – and the most expensive, indulgent ice cream I can find. Without chocolate chips, naturally.
Thanks for the humorous good wish – much appreciated.
Buy Mrs P a soup maker – they make fantastic soups and get yourself to the German supermarket where Goff’s Vauxhall on Aylsham Road used to be – they do some fantastic ‘whipped’ ice creams at a reasonable price – Machiatto and Pecan are delicious, but their Eton Mess takes some beating!!
Hi Ed
Mrs P already has a soup maker – me!
Carrot and mint/coriander, courgette and cumin, leek and potato, parsnip, even Chinese style chicken and mushroom. And Tom Yum if I can be bothered.
The only one I’ve never got quite right is Hong Kong hot’n’sour as I always seem to put too much vinegar in it.
I’ll have three months to perfect it:-)
Hi Martin
I’ve had 3 lots of surgery in adulthood, the longest about 5 hours. Personally I seem to react OK to the anesthetics and recover quite quickly, so I hope that’s the same for you. The first few hours may not be great, but they’re a bit hazy anyway.
The anesthetics are so well developed now that after my last one, to remove a kidney, I was only in hospital for another 24 hours. Mrs B was not as delighted as she should have been – she thought she was in for a long and peaceful weekend… Oh, and the whole thing meant I missed a Norwich game then too – our last (and winning) visit to Old Trafford.
Hope you recover fast and get set up quickly and comfortably with new choppers. Wouldn’t want you to lose your bite.
Hi Keith
It’s a 7am kick-off so I’m hoping the bed they’ve reserved for me “just in case” can be passed on to somebody else.
As soon as I can walk I’ll be asking for an early discharge.
Talking of losing my bite, it’s ironic that I referred to Shelvey as “Nosferatu” in the article (he reminds me of Max Schreck in the wonderful 1922 original).
My career as a vampire is finished.
Thanks for the good wishes – much appreciated.
Martin, I agree in part about the media, but I did note one of the commentators recently asking how Chelsea would approach “1-dimensional” Norwich.
Paul Merson is now predicting that Pukki will score 20-25 goals. That is Golden Boot territory, but i am not too sure he specifically considered that….also says inconceivable that Norwich will be relegated if his prediction for Pukki is correct. We are no longer under his radar….
Oh well we’ve got Lawro on 9 and Merson on 20 plus for Pukki this season.
I wish I got well financially rewarded for making up bolox as I go along:-)
When it comes to pundits Mr Neville is the one and only I trust/respect to be fair. At least he’s objective and non-judgmental. And doesn’t make daft predictions.
It’s funny actually. I cannot stand the political stance of either the Guardian or the Telegraph but I thoroughly enjoy the sports coverage of both.
The Grauniad’s Geoff Lemon-inspired Ashes live coverage is only equalled by the Torygraph’s weekend sports sections.
Great read Martin, what a lovely afternoon that was!
As with all the other contributors, I am in complete agreement. Joyous, colourful, bedlam, from the first minute to the last. Farke is a magician and if he continues in this vein he will attain mythical status.
After last weeks hari-kiri at anfield, the steely determination and performance levels were a wonder to behold. The intensity, the invention, the patterns we weaved across the pitch were bewildering – and that wAs just from my vantage point in the stand.
Krul appears to have rediscovered some of the form which made him a regular premier starter for Newcastle, exuding calm authority and producing one excellent stop.
The full backs, despite rough treatment, ran Newcastle ragged all afternoon.
Hanley responded to last weeks horror show as I hoped he would.
Godfrey was sublime. The way in which he accelerates and tidies up the through ball leaving a striker in his wake before turning and trotting up the pitch with the confident air of a man who is starting to realise just how good he is makes me chuckle.
The restoration to the side of Leitner, a must after last week shows us that Farke, hopefully has rebooted the Dortmunder from 3 years ago. If that is the case we have a premier league operator.
Stipi and Emi excelled, the big German in particular putting in a hefty shift holding up the ball and surging forward to good effect.
Cantwell is truly benefitting from being farked. The trust and positive coaching work that has gone into cantwell this summer has improved the player by a good 25 percent in my estimation. While he maintains these levels he is undroppable. Of course when he does flag, as he did last season we have Mario waiting in the wings.
Add Pukkis super hat trick and constant running and we have the blueprint for a perfect carrow road afternoon. Given the paucity of our striking options on the day it might have been an idea to remove him from the fray a little early as the tackles became more spiteful. Wrapping him in cotton wool would seem pragmatic.
Newcastle are one of the poorer sides in the league, however they still need to be beaten and arrived at carrow road with a genuine, if slightly arrogant belief that they would have too much for us. Chelsea will be a much stiffer test and if I’m honest, I would view a draw as another good result and a step nearer where we need to be. For now though, I’m going to wallow in that 3-1 win all week.
Hi Chris – a few more pars and we could have got another article out of you, ha!
Luckily the bedlam was in the crowd and not on the pitch. The atmosphere was fricking great especially for me as I hadn’t seen quite a few of my mates in the UB or indeed elsewhere since Blackburn.
You’re spot on of course – both Max and Jamal will know they were in a game.
Godfrey just gets better and better with every match. How a young lad like that (he’s still only 21 or 22) can read the game as well as he does is almost beyond me.
The Stieperdude does so much that often goes un-noticed. When I said he was unpredictable I meant it. A great asset for us. Sure he’s a BFG and I’m grateful that he is.
As for Cantwell I can’t praise him enough. He’s showing a new-found maturity as others have also noted above. As for him being “farked” I’m not sure that’s the precise terminology I would use – but I know what you mean:-)
I’ve been wallowing like a hippo that hasn’t seen a river for a month!
Cheers mate.
Good read Martin.
A wonderful, enjoyable Saturday afternoon. Let’s hope they can sustain that level of performance because even at 75% of that performance they will be a handful for most sides outside the top 6.
Interesting that Aarons and Pukki both made team of the weekend in the Daily Mail. I don’t think we are under the radar after our first two games. I can see Sky picking us a lot more often as they did rapt the end of last season for live coverage.
OTBC
Hi Colin
You’re quite right about us increasingly getting noticed. And as for being picked more by Sky, it goes hand in hand with that.
I’ve nothing against Sky and it’s great that so many people get a chance to see us, but… I wish they wouldn’t mess with the kick-off times and fixture dates. I’m a stuck in the mud traditionalist – I like my football at 3pm on a Saturday!
Thank you.
Thanks Martin, I think £ for £ the best team in the world was one of my better comments.
However, in typical Norwich fashion it also reminds me that Webber and Farke are bound to attract a lot of attention this season.
Hi John
You didn’t copyright your phrase so I felt free to use it:-)
Seriously, nobody had [to my knowledge] expressed that view so succinctly before and I was glad to latch on to it because it’s so true.
We all know Webber and Farke won’t be here forever so we must enjoy them while we can. However the longer they remain, so much the better for NCFC.
Thanks for the inspiration!
One of my dogs is called “Pookie”. Like me he doesn’t watch much telly, but last Saturday we watched MOTD together and he was intrigued. He went from ears-pricked-up-head-on-one-side curious to grin-on-the-face-legs-in-the-air smug.
For the record he didn’t arrive from Brondby on a “free”, but from a breeder in Lincolnshire with a price tag of £800. A lot of money 13 years ago. Unlike his namesake he’s probably only worth his weight in glue nowadays, but don’t tell him that. He thinks he’s worth £40 million after watching telly last night.
My other dog is a Labrador called “Dibley”. I intend to re-register her with the name “Cantwell”, hopefully in time for the next MOTD.