Cometh the hour, cometh the man.
Step forward the great yellow and green hope as in Adam Idah, who scored the coolest hat-trick you’ll ever see. And on a first NCFC start to boot. The stuff of dreams for him and the source of hope for the rest of us.
Our youngest hat-trick merchant of all time.
And our dear old friend Mick Mac is proffering a first international cap for the lad, according to a BT Sport interview with Jake Humphrey.
Idah’s first goal was a thing of beauty courtesy of a wonderful through ball from a Stieperdude who seemed so much happier against a typical championship defence. He’s not slow over ten yards, is he? He got the match ball due to a penalty he converted after being brought down by the “unfortunate” Preston keeper, Connor Ripley. Idah put the pen away with aplomb – with his right foot.
Then there was the small matter, in between, of the cool finish when he picked up a hashed clearance from the “unfortunate” Ripley and calmly chipped into the empty net – with his left foot. Significant, is that.
Several people have pointed out that Adam Idah is reminiscent of Teemu Pukki in the way he makes his intelligent runs and has that essentially cool attitude when he gets sight of goal. But he’s ten years younger than Teemu, significantly over six feet tall and, dare I say it, is one of our own. The world is his lobster, Rodney.
Onel Hernandez also benefitted from the poor display of the “unfortunate” Ripley as the Football Gods were benevolent towards us. Quite possibly due to the fact that VAR was banished for the day. At least Martin Atkinson and his assistants were allowed to referee in the traditional way. Good.
An obviously satisfied Daniel Farke joked afterwards that he might just send Pukki out on loan instead of Idah. Something tells me neither are going anywhere soon.
And for the first time in something like seven years, I’ll be watching the FA Cup Fourth Draw tonight. With some degree of anticipation too it must be said. Will we win it? No. Am I glad we’re in tonight’s draw? You bet I am.
That, as Gary said yesterday, was a very uplifting performance – and I am delighted with it. There’s something to truly enjoy for a change and it feels good.
On a similar but different note, I spent a very pleasant dinner time with some City supporting friends in the Ribs of Beef in the City on Saturday.
After the usual blokey BS preamble, which consisted of the delights of Sharon Stone as opposed to Renée Zellwegger, why never to buy a second hand Jag and one of us [me] once being carted off to Bethel Street in the back of a police dog van [dismissed as a c*ck and bull story by Roops the solicitor but actually true] we turned to matters Norwich City.
All the latest news, our views on the Board and one very scurrilous rumour from the second coming of Mike Walker were aired and we all “helped” Scott with an online football accumulator. He lost, thanks to the rest of us.
As soon as the teams were announced we had a round-robin of score guesses, which were diverse to say the least.
These were: Me: 1-0 City; Scott 2-1 City; Cutty 3-1 City, Bernie 4-0 City. Rupert went for 2-1 Preston, saying he would have gone for the draw if he were allowed to, but he still thought we’d lose in the replay.
He mailed last night to say that he won as he at least got the second half right.
Back in the real world, as for the penalty Todd Cantwell was designated but cheerfully gave the ball to Idah.
That old squad spirit is alive and well, so you never know.
Bring on Man Utd.
Marty, if Rupz is claiming the second half then I claim the first half and the moral victory for keeping faith in City’s ability to win a game or two. Man U will be tougher proposition and as our learned friend pointed out we’re still finding it difficult to play 90 mins. Still it’s good to enjoy the good times and keep a troshin, glad you didn’t publish our views on VAR.
Hi Cutty.
I don’t think anybody would be prepared to publish our views on VAR, not even one of the owners of WHU. Some of the language employed during said discussion was a little fruity it must be said.
Man United are about as consistent as the weather so who knows the outcome of that one? But just think how morale-boosting it could prove if we did get a result. It’s by no means impossible.
Cheers.
Hi Martin
A very interesting and enjoyable read while listening to the cricket with England declaring on 391 a total lead 437 so all is good with the sporting world.
AN picked his comments about offside for 2 goals but both sides were under strength city got the breaks they finally deserved so has Madam luck come down on cities side.
As we all know the silly season is in full flow with rumours of coming and goings ranging from Aaron being priced at anywhere from £15 to 45m but Loserpool wanting EMI and Lewis for a combined fee of £80m now that would surprise me.
I am surprised that there is only 1 rumour of a strike in worse form than Dymic of interest to city but he has now signed for Malmo, Will we see the interest in Rhodes pop up later in the window and could we see interest in the Spur CB on a permanent deal Cameron Carter Vickers he was on loan at Ipswich a couple of seasons ago also Sheff U now at Stoke not getting game time a younger version of Hanley but these and many others will all be given a good disection in the coming days and weeks I suppose.
Onwards and upwards
OTBC
Hi Alex
I too hate this particular transfer window with all the unsubstantiated rumours floating around – as they have been for a few weeks now.
AN probably has a point but surely Preston’s second [a very well-worked goal it must be said] was a bit iffy too.
As for anyone incoming I will only believe it when I see it and I’m not really holding my breath on that one tbh. Rumours are just that – and I’m sorry to say often made up for a variety of reasons by a variety of people.
This test is indeed going well for us – two pretty evenly-matched sides I would suggest, especially as we are the tourists.
Cheers.
I hope we’re away to a lower league team just to get away from VAR-WBA would do nicely for me.
I’ve been hoping Idah would get a run out soon. I fancy him against Slab Face McGuire who has the turning circle of a cross channel ferry. A class act who is going to get better and better.
Maybe circumstance and the luck that has avoided us in the first half of the season will give us hope for the second half. But, as they say, it’s the hope that kills
Hi Don
I wonder if we’ll be calling the Baggies a “lower league team” come August?
As for the turning circle award I guess McGuire can have it now that Seb Bassong has retired. He was more like a hefty locomotive with no turntable if we’re honest.
The hope only gives me superficial scratches – that’s how little I have.
Good to hear from you.
Perhaps I should have described WBA as a VAR-free zone rather than lower league.
Yeah but for how long?
And when the Albion play away on TV they rob our colours!!!
Which they have done may times over the decades tbh.
Cheers.
Martin a follow on question.
Webber and Farke knows that city urgently need strengthening in a couple of areas and have know this for a while now and I might be niave in my assumption but surely if they have plans for this wouldn’t they want new recruits in early raver than later or are they hoping that the Feb break will help them adapt to cities style???
Not sure I can answer this particular question but I’ll have a go.
I’m honestly thinking that there will BE no new recruits during this window so, with my lack of faith in the Board to splash out on anything more than the equivalent of a family bag of salt ‘n’ vinegar I think I’ll stick to that view.
Who of any reputation or worth would join a side seven points adrift from safety anyway? Only youngsters for the under 23s will be recruited and while there’s nothing intrinsically wrong with that it ain’t gonna help us right now.
Our current squad will have to dig in exceptionally deep to get us out of the mire because there will be no cavalry coming over the hill. Which doesn’t bother Delia in the slightest of course as we’ve all discussed before. The Championship is fine by her as in same personal guests and same “catering” facilities. And that is surely all she cares about as in “look at me I’ve got a football club”.
Good luck to our players as they’ve at least done all they could under dire circumstances and given us a few highs along the way.
Hanging on to Daniel Farke will be the hardest part during the close season. The guy is so diplomatic but I’d give a penny for his inner thoughts.
Thanks mate.
Well Martin – we’re ‘in the hat’ for the 4th round of the FA Cup for the first time since 2013!!! I quite fancy a trip to Pride Park/iPro or whatever it’s called now and hope we can avoid one of the other PL teams still in the hat!!! Several ‘fell at the first hurdle’ to Championship sides!!!
AN’s Preston certainly made us work hard for the win in the 2nd half and McGovern certainly played his part and I felt we looked quite frail without Tettey in partnership with Trybull.
It was good to see Mo in the starting 11, though I’m not convinced that we’ll see him play regularly in the PL.
Just how good Idah will be is anyone’s guess, but seeing how coolly he took his 2nd goal on Saturday was brilliant and Dion was full of praise for him. How lovely to see him given the chance to get his hat trick from the penalty spot – I remember Maddison giving the ball to Cantwell on his 18th birthday when we played Dynamo Zagreb Under 23s I think it was in the International Premier League Cup.
Will DF start the young starlet against the might of Man Utd – I think he might, as his speed over 10 yards is electric and you can see Pukki’s influence in his play.
I see several clubs were after his signature when he was still at Corinthians and our recruitment team worked hard to get his signature, as both Villa and Man Utd were supposedly interested.
Back to the rigours of the PL next Saturday and then we have the small matter of Spurs away after entertaining Bournemouth at CR. I wasn’t able to get a ticket for this one and apparently there were about 40 in the queue at the ticket office by 5 am on Wednesday!!!!
Hi Ed.
Yes I should have made a nod to McGovern, especially for that double save towards the end. He’s one of those characters every club needs, although he can’t play around with the ball at his feet like Tim Krul so always seems to kick long.
You didn’t get your Pride Park wish [I’ve never been there, but I did go to the Baseball Ground] as we got just about the worst draw possible – Burnley – which makes it three away games on the bounce after Bournemouth.
I didn’t realise we had such a battle to sign the young Idah in the first place tbh.
Sticking my neck out, he seems to be one for the very top so let’s hope we get a few good seasons out of him at Carrow Road.
Thanks as always.
Farke won’t be going anywhere in the summer. I’d also disagree Delia’s happy with us just being in the Championship.
Hi Andrew.
I hope you’re right as I really rate Daniel Farke. I’m sure he could do a lot more with a few bob behind him, but in reality he’s doing pretty well as it stands.
You make a fair point about my thoughts on Delia’s lack of ambition – if we all held the same views life would indeed be boring!
Thank you.
How nice to be able to read about a victory in your post match report Martin. As they’ve been rarer than hens teeth this season it needs to be savoured.
In truth, it was an ugly cup draw, at a grim northern outpost, sparsely populated ground with a physical, pumped up opponent laying in wait. It screamed early exit to me. I’ll be damned if we haven’t been rewarded by an identical draw in the fourth round!
For once, I’m not really interested in the means, the end justified them as far as I’m concerned. Alex Neil can moan about offsides, although he omitted to mention prestons goal, the record books show we won and in doing so we have layed to rest our appalling third round record.
Rightfully, Idah will get the plaudits, kudos to McGovern, who is a very fine shot stopper, if inclined to flap at crosses. The less said about his footballing ability the better. The drop off in the standard of opponent was of immediate benefit to Stiepermann, a top championship performer, it took less than two minutes before he had grabbed hold of the midfield and didn’t let go all afternoon. At that level, he is a weapon.
The vultures are circling now that January is in full swing and it’s worth pointing out that the starting line up at Preston was sans Krul, Aarons, Godfrey, Buendia, Pukki, not to mention Vrancic. Against lesser opposition the football still flowed. Sadly that could prove relevant next season.
Although I can’t see much scope for incoming transfer activity with our paupers budget, the clearing of decks has started. On the bright side, it’s hard to see any major sales this January. Never say never, particularly when the cook gets the whiff of filthy lucre in her nostrils but surely the sale of Aarons, Pukki, Buendia at this stage would be greeted with hostility.
Hi Chris.
Kudos to McGovern indeed. As I mentioned above he can’t play out from the back a la Tim Krul but his probably his equal as a shot-stopper.
I don’t really see any January sales either, but I reckon there will be quite a few pre-nupts in place for May.
The Stieperdude is awesome at Championship level as I’m sure we will see again next season.
I used to do a paper round [converted to doing the mark-ups for the other guys when old man Doswell in Chadwell Heath realised I could read, write and had some sense of logistics. I was 9]. He got an extra hour in bed for which he was grateful and I got paid in cash, chocolate and Airfix kits. But I had no ambition to own the shop, even then. Feeling like king of the hill was enough for me – and telling my little mates what they had to do gave me a bit of cred at school.
Delia is very different to me. It is her shop and will remain so until the bitter end.
I personally would find it very difficult to be actively hostile towards a “little old lady” and I’m sure that many of our supporters feel the same way.
While so many of our older supporters admire her she will never desist. So I expect nothing to change but Daniel Farke is making a great effort with the so-limited funds at his disposal.
I so hope he sees out his contract. Looking beyond might be a tad too hopeful.
Thanks for a great comment.