Well, well, well, the Canary puts the boot into the Cockerel – and on Chanticleer’s splendid new turf too. And via the most unlikely of mediums: a City win in a penalty shoot-out. Now, this might have happened before but if it has I genuinely cannot remember it.
I recall our relatively recent loss to Chelsea at Stamford Bridge and I will never, ever erase that day at Cardiff all those years ago from my memory. Iwan scored the first and then it all collapsed into predictable disaster as Birmingham entered the Promised Land. For a little while, anyway.
If any MFW reader can remember us winning a penalty shoot-out previously, please let me know.
The match itself attracted its fair share of anomalies.
People in Norwich were moaning about drop-outs and buffering on the BBC iPlayer. No probs for me – I used the red button and all was good. Cheers Dave B(2)!
Meanwhile, some 120 miles away, 9,000 Canaries in the 58,000 crowd were doing exactly what Daniel Farke and particularly Ben Godfrey had asked for. Getting and staying right behind the team.
There was the sight of Eric Dier in the crowd arguing with supposed Spurs supporters who had allegedly abused his younger brother.
There was the sound of the sourpuss that can be Jose defending Dier to the hilt but I’m actually in agreement with him on this topic.
Mourinho said: “I think Eric Dier did something that we professionals cannot do but in these circumstances every one of us would do.
“Because when somebody insults you and your family is there and you get involved with the person that is insulting you, in this case a younger brother, I think Eric did what we professionals cannot do.”
He added that the prawn sandwich brigade might have been responsible as that area of the ground tends to be a temporary home to corporate freebie types. Well said Jose, I’m with you on that one, amigo.
And then there was that spine-tingling footage of our supporters trembling for what seems like ages until Daniel Farke completed the salutations at the final whistle. Not a Tottenham player was left on the pitch at that stage.
Add in the ludicrous concept of the quarter-final draw being made during extra time and we were treated to a somewhat surreal evening.
There’s not much point in me picking over the bones of the match itself as Gary G did that earlier, but I will make a few observations.
That “own box” exchange between Tom Trybull and an equally rusty Mario Vrancic was not, I repeat not, easy on the eye and my language wasn’t pleasant on observing it. Neither was Mrs P’s and Geezer the Patterdale terrier howled in disbelief [well it might have been because I inadvertently tugged his ear].
Josip Drmic’s instinct is something else. I’ve read a couple of match reports that suggested he bundled the ball over the line when Michel Vorm stuffed up Kenny McLean’s long-ranger. I think it was a very incisive reaction rather than a “bundle”.
Adam Idah is cooler than Arthur Fonzarelli. Pressure? No, I’ll calmly place it in the top corner so Vorm has no chance. How old am I?
And to quote our own Gary G from this very morning: “Tim Krul’s plastic drinks bottle will eventually find a place in the Castle Museum, but it was accompanied by a swagger and the type of mind control normally associated with Derren Brown.”
Who needs the Enigma code?
I don’t generally have much time for the Rams but I’ll be willing on Wayne Rooney’s Derby County (TM) tonight.
As I’m sure we all do I tend to get quite a few post-match messages but the first one in my intray this morning said it all really:
“I trust you are feeling better, maybe even over the moon! What a result, totally deserved”.
That was from Phil C, head honcho at a well-known and respected City sales/lettings agency and a fellow City diehard.
It was accompanied by a quote for property maintenance of course – but hey, what the heck.
We’re in the Quarters for the first time since 1992!
I had the displeasure of going with Mrs P to Anglia Square this morning and while in the checkout at Roys with carrying some electrical cabling Alan the postie who sits behind me was delivering mail to the shop.
He silently crept up behind me, belted me on the back, gave me high fives and we danced around like a couple of kids. Luckily the lady on the till knows us both so didn’t summon security. Although the guard was peeing himself with laughter anyway.
Me and Al have got that Cup spirit – how about you?
Previous penalty shoot-out wins:
Leicester (Texaco Cup) 1972
Millwall (Zenith Data Systems Trophy) 1990
Bolton (League Cup) 1995
Rochdale (League Cup) 2006
Swindon (JPT) 2009
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Ha! Big ha!
I’m sorry but I cannot recall a single one of them. Honestly I didn’t have a lot of time before writing this but a quick Google turned up nothing at all – I did try!
Thanks – top geezer.
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Rochdale was the one that came straight to mind – awful game that was.
In truth though we’ve been beaten in normal time so often we’ve rarely gone to a replay or extra time, never mind had to endure penalties.
Apparently Jose’s record is something like 0 from 7 in UK domestic cups so to be honest I’m not surprised we won it.
As for Eric Dier my impression is that he’s one of the milder mannered and more mature players around, so it must have been something pretty serious for him to get involved like that. Personally I wouldn’t have done what he did, but that’s because I’m 5 foot not very much and would struggle to climb over the seats like that, especially as I currently have a hernia… . And I’d probably find myself up against someone a foot taller and several stones heavier if I did get there. But I’m with him in spirit – very hard to blame him for stepping in, however unwise.
PS I quite like a prawn sandwich actually; but I’ve never eaten one at a football match, that’s for sure.
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Hi Keith.
I completely agree with you about Eric Dier. Very out of character and what really annoys me is that the bigmouths always bottle it when confronted. Our Cameron Jerome experienced something akin to that – cannot remember the circs – but he kept his colossal sense of dignity.
I hate that side of life, and not just within football. If it’s kids you shrug it off and laugh but I’m led to believe that in this case it was so-called “adults”. I’m 5’9″ for what it’s worth and have never found height to matter too much in a conflict. Which I have always done my level best to avoid.
Verbal abuse is just as damaging as the physical – as folks such as Darren Eadie and Cedric Anselin would quickly and sensibly remind us.
On a lighter note I spent two summer seasons at a popular [and lately much improved] Broadland Hotel as a chef while waiting for my early pension – the waiters/waitresses used to play a game with our kitchen mob as in: can you spot the customer who ordered the prawn sandwich on white [ugh] through the hatch.
Deputy head chef Mark G was never, ever wrong.
Great comment and thank you.
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Hi Martin
A good couple of days and it’s only Thursday Fleetwood 1 – 0 Isphite and now the papers reporting Paul L has clauses in his contract tgat he must be in the playoffs or he can be sacked without compo, so the double was completed by the Fylde coast clubs over Suffolk the football gods working over time now do the same for city and a win at sheff U.
Can my oldest son’s professcy come to pass Jose gone.
City rode their luck last night and it was about time we had some and Krul was close to having had a couple of penalties retaken but just narrowly gets my MOTM.
Farke gave Idah time to adjust to the game unlike Jose bringing on their own Irish goal machine to late to adjust to the tempo and his penalty was terrible and Gedson again terrible why some of the more experienced players didn’t step up we will never know.
Were cities penalty takers cool or was it a bad choice of goalkeeper Vorm no game time this season but from me who cares we won in a shootout HURRAH.
Todays papers are more interested in the sad Dier incident and reports that Jose has told Levy to chose between league position of beating Burnley or RB Liepzig CL game if he has how long will he last???.
Anyway a good article that follows on from Gary’s today.
Onwards and upwards
OTBC
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Hi Alex
Yeah Gary thought we’d go for a couple of articles rather than just the one today. Last night is something to celebrate after all.
The EADT and particularly the 1p5wich fansite TWTD are full of bile just now. If you filter out the odd Norwich “eejit” on there you will quickly realise how unhappy they are. Shame. Not.
Tim Krul rode his luck in the shoot-out indeed – there’s a great still of him ostensibly winding up young Parrott before his kick taken by Paul Chesterton which is somewhere on Archant today.
Luckily our lad from Corcaigh, Mr Idah, did his job to perfection.
Jose will still be in N17 in August. Although he won’t live within that postcode, obviously. I bl00dy well wouldn’t either!
Cheers mate.
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A surreal late evening sitting in the best stadium on the planet with my eldest, surrounded by vocal Spurs fans, opposite our fantastic support. Sitting on hands and stifling a scream as ‘Timmy the bottle’ collected Gedson’s kind offering was as difficult a task as I’ve experienced at a game but it was worth it just to witness the joy of the 9,000+ throng and the whole squad after 120 mins plus of a what was a strange game of cup footy.
Spurs are lost! Two seasons ago some of their football was breathtaking, now they are a collection of talented creative players, happy in possession but with little understanding it seems that goals win games and to score the ball must go into the onion bag.
Our boys were immense and gave every last ounce and yes Martin, the pain of Cardiff 2002 will remain but somehow the load has lightened.
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Hi Colin.
That day in 2002 [couldn’t recall the precise year when I wrote this] is genuinely something I cannot expunge from my memory. The only occasion Mrs P and I have ever travelled by [in this case a private hire organised by the Hellesdon Bull] coach to a game and neither of us would ever do it again.
I could write an entire article about that truly dreadful experience and maybe in the close season I will. Those who use Club Canary/Cabbage coaches have my very deepest sympathy but everyone has to get to a match somehow of course. Great in terms of financial value but pretty poor in terms of the actuality I’d reckon. I’ve never experienced that particular privilege myself but I know several of those who have. Once.
Tottenham are indeed lost in the undergrowth but that’s not our problem.
I wish I could have been there last night.
Well done mate.
And thanks.
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Well Mr P;
What a result, and by (for us) the most unlikely of routes.
Such a shame that the ex-1p5wich pundit on the BBC couldn’t even be bothered to swot up on even just a few of our players’ names. Still, who has egg on face today Mr. Walters???
Watching like you, when Spurs scored (how many more softies will we concede this season??), and then Aurier got away scot-free with his assault on Dereham’s Finest, I feared the worst. But, what character; what conviction, to then play Spurs off the park until the last 10 minutes of the 90.
And just HOW good were our lads in that shoot-out?? I was praying that Cantwell wouldn’t try a clever Panenka, and boy oh boy, did he deliver!!
I fear we may be just a bit too shattered on Saturday, but this group never cease to amaze.
O T B C
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Hi John
“I fear we may be just a bit too shattered on Saturday, but this group never cease to amaze.”
Spot on. The Wilderbeests have plus one on recovery timescale over us.
I can’t believe the cool of the shoot-out either. I guess Todd and Marco S might be largely forgotten but oh yeah they sure played their part.
A very satisfying performance.
Thank you.
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Hello Martin, great read as always. Farke once again dips into his magic bag of tricks and pulls off something of a miracle.
The first twenty minutes were awful and we looked all at sea. Poor marking from a set piece yet again reared its ugly head and that seemed to be that.
It seemed as though we flicked a switch on 30 minutes and began to swarm all over Spurs, as I paced in front of the television, the air was puntuated by loud screams of “shoot” on a regular basis. Why on earth didn’t rupp pull the trigger?
The second period began in the same manner and we camped in the home half, seemingly unable to turn chances into an elusive goal.
Drmic has been growing with me steadily, his cameos always seem to be full of energy and his movement and tenacity impress. The goal was indeed pure instinct, Sanchez watched Kennys effort arrow towards form while Drmic was moving, anticipating a rebound. This afforded him the split second he needed and although the rebound was awkward, he put it in expertly. 120 minutes of football. Hopefully he suffers no reaction and is able to play some part at Sheffield.
The performance of the referee as usual, left a bit to be desired. The scythe employed on cantwell, the rough tug back on Aarons, the subsequent targeting of cantwell amongst others seemingly unpunishable by card and in some cases even a free kick.
With the tension wreaking havoc with my composure and with the last play of extra time city broke over the halfway line with a three on three break. The Spurs defender opted to take one for the team – only for the referee to ignore the obvious foul and wave play on, with Spurs in possession, which had been someth g of a theme.
It came as no surprise that the keepers trudged to the home popular end to commence the penalties, and memories of Cardiff returned as all the spot kicks were therefore to be played out directly in front of one sides partisan support.
With that in mind, the obvious dark arts of the crazy Dutchman in upsetting Spurs and their players allied to some ouTstandong penalty taking saw us into the sixth round.
The ploy of prolonging the game in order to ensure tottenhams name was on our ball during the draw worked like a dream, having obtained the elusive home tie, we simply had to dispatch them and claim a long overdue cup bond at carrow road.
Let’s hope the massive confidence boost serves to eradicate the fatigue on Saturday.
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Hi Chris.
You make some good points there. Spurs are not the first side to have targeted Cantwell this season and he is just the kind of player who winds others up sometimes simply by making them look foolish. Emi is the same, of course.
Rupp does seem reticent to shoot as we discovered in the Liverpool match.
I like the line about the dark arts of the crazy Dutchman – who knows exactly what he’s doing of course!
We will make a few changes for tomorrow I am sure and it’s a pity the Wilderbeests have an extra day’s rest. At least they had overtime too, which is something.
Now we know it’s United.
We owe them one big style and I’d love to see us beat them, I really would.
Cheers.
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Well Martin, who’d have thunk it – NCFC having the temerity to go to the New Spurs Stadium (VERY impressive) and go on to win on penalties – the first time in 19 years!!!
I’d a great view from my seat in the front row almost in line with Tim’s 18 yard line in the first half. You can just see me in my last season’s 3rd kit half hidden behind a steward in one of the photos submitted by Dave Freezer (aka DDF!!)
I definitely made the right choice to travel down early on Wednesday, chill out in the room I’d booked for the night and have a relaxed meal before heading off to N17.
We were rather slow out of the blocks and it was not much of a surprise when Spurs took the lead. TK was in incredible form, as were Hanley and Godfrey in keeping the preventing Spurs from increasing their lead.
Our equaliser came as a result of a shot from distance and there was Drmic waiting to pounce on the rebound. I’d love our players to take more shots from distance, rather than mostly taking shots from inside the 6 yard area.
Both Idah’s and TC’s penalties were superb for such young players and Stirperman’s was excellent as well.
I was reading an article this week re what the future holds for NCFC and I have to say that I pretty much agree with it. – and I’m afraid that I don’t see the need to see spend large sums on transfer fees to replace the players like to move on in the summer. This is an excerpt – ‘They can lose players like Cantwell, Buendia, Jamaal Lewis and Max Aarons in the summer while going down. But they have the setup to replace them with lesser-known players quickly and get back up like they did with James Maddison. That is where the beauty of Norwich City lies.’
PS – Apologies for the late submission. I didn’t log on when I got home yesterday. I met a few NCFC fans who’d travelled to/from London using the same mode of transport as myself.
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Hi Ed
Back in the day if I went to Spurs, Arsenal or West Ham I would always stay at the Prince Regent in Woodford Green which was on top of my old stomping ground the Bald Faced Stag in Buckhurst Hill. But that was when the firm was paying – I guess it would be much too expensive for me these days.
Sounds like you really enjoyed the experience – our lot looked [and sounded] awesome on the TV. My mates sent me a couple of awesome pictures – the ground seems spectacular to say the least.
Coming back down to earth I read [I guess] the same article as you and I too thought it was pretty good with the huge caveat that we categorically will not be spending any money in the summer wherever we might be.
And profits from sales will be squirrelled away as an insurance against the academy conveyor belt breaking down for a season or two.
I’m so pleased [with a tinge of jealously] that quite a few MFW regulars went to the match.
I’m fit for United though and as soon as TV makes its choices I’ll get my ticket!
Thanks as always.
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What a wonderful night, spoiled only slightly by iPlayer drop-outs and buffering – it was not just in Norfolk it was here in Scotland too!
Three excellent penalties – and glad some one mentioned the Stierperdude as well as Cantwell and Idah!
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Hi MGW
I think it was me who mentioned the Steiperdude but only in replying to comments and not in the original article. A few others elsewhere have quite rightly acknowledged him too.
I’ve never tried to watch a match via streaming and from what I’ve heard from yourself and a couple of others I think I’ll continue to avoid that route.
I hope you’ve got a local side in Scotland you can follow if the mood takes you as you cannot replicate the real thing. I once went to Stenhousemuir and thoroughly enjoyed the experience although the “Warriors” lost at home to maybe Albion Rovers? Alloa? Can’t remember tbh.
Thanks.
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Good article after a splendid win.
Krul may now be my favourite player in this current batch, what mind games. He also made the best run of the match, a full time whistle leggit full pelt down the tunnel (assuming for a well needed p!ss).
Unfortunately a poorly timed Chiro appointment meant I had to stop watching just before end of extra time, so I’ve still not seen City win a penalty shootout (at least that I can remember). Of course I’ve watched the replay.
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Hi David.
I never drink at half time during a match [too expensive] but normally have a few beforehand so I know how Tim Krul might have felt – with the water bottles and all that as well…
It’s amazing how your mouth and throat dry out while you’re playing, even at my lowly level, and those folks who complain about sportsmen spitting really do not understand that it’s essential.
Must be difficult in the US of A to synch life around football k/o times. Sky/BT makes it difficult enough for me in Norfolk so the Lord knows how you cope.
Cheers.
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Having watched City for nearly sixty years Tim Krul is the biggest personality since the great Kevin Keelan!
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Definitely in the GK department although Gunny was a great character too.
Out on pitch there have been so very many. I’ll limit myself to three for now and they’re all Scots: Big Dunc, Flecky and Malky.
Thanks John – you might just have given me a theme for a close season article:-)
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