We all know what happened on Friday evening but equally probably realise it was a case of what didn’t happen. After 15 minutes the slightly disjointed yellow and green tide ebbed away and the red and white south coastal one flowed in with great intent.
Those in their deckchairs in home gardens with knotted hankies on their heads, eating spam sandwiches and drinking brown ale from the bottle would have enjoyed the game immensely. In Hampshire anyway.
Three post match quotes sum the debacle up perfectly:
“We are of course disappointed. We didn’t want to just win five games, but nine out of nine – that’s always our attitude. The situation after a loss isn’t approved. It’s more difficult now. Of course, it’s better to win the first game. We’re now one back in the nine game series so our situation is a bit worse. It’s no option to give up or be too down. As long as we have a chance, we will keep going and keep fighting”. Daniel Farke.
“What can I say? If you concede three goals, you can’t say you played well. I have to take the blame for that as well. I have to analyse what I can do better. Two goals were a bit too easy. All in all, I’m very happy to be back but losing a game is never nice”. Timm Klose.
“Let’s face it, our players knew the art of social distancing to a man. Dust off your boots chaps, we might be in the team next time out”. My mate Scott from Horsford.
We waited three months for that? Sorry Daniel, it was so poor and on quite a few levels too. 4-4-2 does not work for us and at times it seemed to me like Josip Drmic was clogging up the channels Teemu Pukki would naturally run into. Harsh maybe but that’s how I saw it.
Why was Alex Tettey not involved at all? The axis of Tom Trybull and Kenny McLean does not work for us and at times the Saints had the freedom of midfield. Plus they appeared to be much the fitter of the sides and their high press seemed to terrify us at times.
As Klose honestly and rightly alluded to, two of the three goals were down to poor defending as in a wayward headed clearance from Ben Godfrey and a couple of shadow tackles for the third.
I have probably seen Todd and Emi less effective than they were on Friday but I honestly cannot remember when. I suppose Jamal, Max and Tim Krul would just about emerge with a 7/10 but I wouldn’t rate anybody else over a 5.
If that’s how we came out of the traps Daniel’s “little miracle” looks as likely to be achieved as me winning the Eurovision song contest with my old punk band The Bedsores performing “Death to Death”. Luckily for all MFW readers, there is no audio clip remaining of said offering. I’m quite pleased about that myself, to be honest.
We cannot complain we were unlucky, cheated by VAR or unbalanced by the lack of a home crowd. In fact, even the most loyal of supporters might have “expressed their dissatisfaction” had they have been there on Friday.
We mustered just one shot on target in the whole match, a tentative effort from the Mayor in the first half. When you can’t score and you can’t defend you know the writing is on the wall. And it is, painted with a six-inch brush in gothic purple and black.
As we face the inevitable I do tend to think of this: Buzzcocks – Ever Fallen In Love (With Someone You Shouldn’t’ve?) (TOTP, 1978)
It’s extra poignant as being TotP the Buzzcocks were obviously miming and cruising through their performance.
A bit like NCFC on Friday night.
First 10 minutes were decent and after that Southampton cruised to the win. Every time we lost the ball Southampton swarmed forward with menace.
Farke tried something different with the formation but it did not work.
I agree that Krul, Aarons and Lewis were worth 7 out of 10. Godfrey looked poor playing the right centre half. Klose was short of class on that showing. Trybull was too easy to get past when Southampton got forward and he didn’t do much going forward. McLean has energy but another who is short of Premier League class. Both Emi and Todd were well short of their best. DrMic was not a key worker, unfortunately. Pukki got no service and has been found out by Premier League defenders.
Some of the subs looked better than the starters.
It seems the break has not allowed the players to recover their confidence. They look short of skill, pace and energy needed to compete in the Premier League. Would Byram, Hanley or Zimmerman have made a difference, yes but probably not enough to affect the result.
Would a crowd have made a difference to the Norwich performance? I think that with the start we had the crowd would have really got behind the team and could have got them at least a point.
I think that the club’s financial model will take a pounding. Our prized assets are not performing well enough to enhance their value, particularly as there is likely to be much less money about for transfer fees.
Hi Colin.
There was no confidence that I could see. None at all and I would include Farke in that statement, for probably the first time.
I like the DrMic comment – I hadn’t thought of that one myself.
Pukki is indeed a busted flush. He’s been great for us, but……….
The close season [when it comes] and transfer window is going to be a mess but quality is just that and I’m sure that Max and Todd will be in demand but at £15m not the £30m bandied about before the suspension. Those two at least are genuinely too good for the Championship so we should be prepared to say our fond goodbyes. Not that we can do that physically, of course.
Thanks as always.
In fairness, the way City played, we may as well have gone down on both knees.
Ha! I think we did.
Morning Martin good read as normal i hate spam mate and our. performance friday should be put in atin and thrown in dustbin garbage wasnt it .we as supporters keep hoping that last seasons heroes Will come good trybull emi etc but time and again they fail they not physically strong enough always losing The Ball i would bet that trybull mclean emi lose 7/10 tackles they go in for something we didnt ser with howson Johnson etc .for me this has been main prop this season and o defence gets swamped all The time keep well mate.
Hi Kev.
Yeah the lack of physicality has always been a problem to me too, certainly since the departures of Flem and Malky.
We sorely miss the likes of Bradders but he wouldn’t have been skilful enough for Farkeball I’m afraid, which is why Sean Ragget will join Portsmouth on a free. Both good players imo but not suited to our current style.
I can’t stand spam either. Or brown ale.
Cheers
Most supporters have already accepted that we are headed back to the championship, it looked as though the team on Friday night have reached the same conclusion. It wasn’t pretty watching. We are and will likely remain rooted to the bottom because despite having very good players individually the sum total does not add up to a unit that can compete at this level. Forget lockdown this was likely to be the outcome anyway.
Upon resumption of the next championship season then we do need to see the likes of Trybull, leitner, Drmic,Klose phased out and replaced with players who can provide a central spine that has steel and powerful athletic types of player. Then the creative players that we so enjoy to watch can flourish.
Hi Andy
Yeah you’ve nailed it. The spine is something we simply have not had for some time now and I’m afraid to say our recruitment in this perspective remains poor.
Bark, b0ll0ck and bite? No, we just can’t do it when necessary. Out of the four you mention for next season I’d be tempted to keep Leitner. I don’t know what he’s done wrong but he kept us ticking over nicely in the Championship and may yet do so again.
We just can’t play it effectively though the thirds at PL level as we’ve proved all season. Shame because back in August I really thought we’d have achieved better than we have with the current squad. Que sera and all that.
Thanks.
And what marvellous viewing Cardiff City are delivering.
No wonder I love the Manics so much!
Good old Valley boys 🙂
Impossible to argue with anything you’ve written Martin but, perhaps a slight ray of hope, it would be really hard to play any worse.
Hi Adrian.
That’s worth Ha! of the day.
Cheers.
Hi Martin
An interesting read and to the point but not as I was expecting a much louder rant.
Being a sucker I watched this debacle and for the first fifteen minutes was surprised that city were on top and all those consecutive corners with no end result should have pre warned me what was coming.
Southampton like many teams this season waited till city had exhausted themselves and it didn’t take long for them to do that and then take control.
Can we do better come Wednesday I hope so but with Everton playing LIVARPOOL today they will either be on an extreme high if they win or out to kick city all over the pitch if they get a sound kicking just to prove they aren’t a soft touch.
This has been a strange couple of days for results Villa should have lost Hawkeye really screwed up, Watford getting a draw and Arse-nal losing to Brighton so I was really down then some how both Bournemouth and WHU both lose now all we need is Villa to get thumped by Chelsea and city are still in with a chance.
Watched the Spurs game as well it was even stranger than the city game Jose really likes a 1 – 0 win but with his defence it will not happen, Dier gets the blame for giving a penalty away but where were the rest of the defence standing around watching him struggle and Winks their DM didn’t run at all during the game.
Over all a surreal restart.
Onwards and upwards
OTBC
Keep safe and well
2 – 1 my prediction for Wednesday to City
Hi Alex.
No point in ranting – as soon as Danny Ings scored I realised our season was dead and buried and so did the players, unfortunately.
A cynical mate of mine suggested Todd and Emi were playing not to get injured in case it scuppered a lucrative move for them. Looks like he might be right.
Quite how the Ar$e contrived to lose at Brighton I will never know but we cannot catch them now – they’re 10 clear of us with a much better GD.
And as for City exhausting themselves the kitmen could have returned the kit without washing it – nobody would have noticed – even the players’ wives or girlfriends.
Cheers.
A VERY fair summary Martin and if that’s the best they can muster, I feel that we are most definitely DOOMED tom quote a certain Scot!!!
I must admit that I gave up watching after Saints’ 2nd goal went in and had it been last season, we may have come back, but we have seriously lost our way this. I would far rather have seen ‘TetBull’ rather than ‘LeanBull’ in midfield and the Saints’ midfield was just superior in every department. I read an article yesterday that we played more long balls on Friday than in any other game this season.
Armstrong was guilty of 2 quite robust tackles early in the 1st half, but our ‘friend’ Kevin chose not to even have a word with the player. Had it been an NCFC player however …..
By all means, DF started with 4-4-2, but when we went 2-0 down, why not change formation then. I REALLY wish that FIFA/UEFA.FA would bring in a rule that bans subs after 80 minutes, except if a player is injured/sent off.
A chance for the players to earn the respect of their army of loyal fans on Wednesday and if we play as we did on Friday against ‘the Toffees’, we might as well send out the Under 23s to face Man Utd on Saturday.
IMO, it would at the very least give the fans a glimmer to cheer IF we could at the very least have a trip to Wembley, albeit behind closed doors.
Hi Ed – see below for reply. I was watching Fulham v Brentford on Quest at the time and pressed the wrong button. Two really good sides from what I saw.
We’ll surely face at least one of them next season.
Fitness and tactics played a part of course, but I feel it really comes down as much as anything to basic technique – even our better players were struggling with their first touch, their short passes. They are good, but not quite good enough for the PL.
But that’s why the likes of Ings, Ward-Prowse and Redmond are fringe England players; were Drmic, McLean and Hernandez English they’d be nowhere near the full international squad.
But what can we expect really?
The club has never found a way of affording players one notch up from what we’ve got, exactly the sort of guys that beat us on Friday.
Slightly surprised you’d offer Jamal a 7/10. He didn’t impress me – so many times he was found on the touchline and he was forced back or inside, not able to get outside and put a cross in. For the first goal he must have been sucked across because his side of the penalty area was empty bar Ings. I’m pretty sure Byrom would have been playing if fit, and I think he’ll face serious competition from MacCullum next season. He’s a good lad, but based on this season I think he’s probably set to be a very good Championship full back and no more. I’d love him to prove me totally wrong (as long as he stays with us of course).
Hi Keith.
We were turned over on both tactics [permissible?] and fitness [inexcusable].
I really thought Jamal did okay under the circs but as he’s a player I genuinely like that could be due to a degree of subconscious bias.
Let’s be totally honest if a Norwich player has any serious ambition to become part of the England set-up they simply have to leave us. Madders, Redmond and going back a bit Chris Woods and Steve Bruce are all perfect examples of this. Max will do the same, even if only because he has to in order to fulfil his dream, and personally I hope he does.
I’ve not seen enough of Sam McCallum to comment but all reports say he’s very tidy and when he signed I’m not sure he would have expected Coventry to be facing his new club in the Championship!
Byram seems a great baller but like so many of our signings he is very injury-prone. At the knockdown price from West Ham he was a gamble that has yet to pay off. We’ll see. But let’s hope we don’t sign too many more with repeat injury issues. It’s a long list.
Cheers.
Martin. At the risk of adding to the feeling of gloom that we all feel, I have a question. Can you or one of your equally well-informed MFW contributors explain how NCFC can survive, financially, next season without selling players. It looks increasingly likely that spectators will be banned for much, if not all, of the season. Gate receipts form a much more important part of a club’s income in the Championship than in the Premier League. I can’t see how parachute payments and television income can cover our wage bill. All the brave talk about not being forced to sell may come to sound a bit hollow. And it won’t be a sellers’ market, will it? Forget about £30 million plus for Max Aarons and start to think of £7 million. Please tell me I’m wrong!
Hi John – great question.
As I said earlier I reckon Max and Todd would hold up for £15m exits even in this climate. It’s a bit like “what’s my £ worth against the $ in eight weeks time” really.
Out of all the regular MFW writers I have the least financial knowledge of us all so Stew or either Gary might – no, would – answer better than me.
However what I would venture is that EVERY Club outside of next season’s PL will be in big trouble but perhaps us less than most. I despise our lack of ambition but if there was ever a season to spend zilch on a PL squad this was it. Purely due to Delia and the tightwads of course but for once it might actually have helped us in the medium term as in lack of acquired debt.
The only cheery thought I can offer is that our wage bill is far short of what some folks might imagine it to be.
We surely have enough to tide us over until bums are back on seats and the sales of Max, Todd and quite possibly Ben were inevitable anyway.
How else could the Smith dynasty remain in situ for the foreseeable.
Thanks a lot – nice one.
Now is the time to consider next season. In the championship. For me the big issue is not the fear of losing our top young talent but more the question of whether their motivation, should they stay, will be what is required. Webber might well decide we need to sell, not for the money, but to make room for the next crop of talent with a lot to prove.
If Farke can get their mindset right then fine. Otherwise a complete rebuild might be best. So then at least 2 years to get a promotion chasing team together. Patience essential from the canary faithful. A tall order.
The price of going up a couple of years too early is now only too evident.
Hi Nick.
I think that’s a great perspective to take if I’m honest.
I’d look at it like this: within the last 12 months we have signed quite a few [okay so many I’ve lost count] for the development squad, aka under 23s. Sitti, Senani, the young RB/CM from Sunderland and several others I cannot recall.
Adam Idah and Josh Martin have just about broken through, Akin Famewo looks on the brink but what the current state of play is within the Academy itself I do not know.
Farke’s body language on Friday was not positive but I’m not getting any knives out just yet, I’ll leave that to some eejits on Twitter.
Thanks for a very good comment.
My big worry was the look on Webber’s face when ever the camera panned to him , he will have lots to think about over the next couple of months
It’s always been difficult to see through the Webber mask even if he’s not physically wearing one.
In this case history must not be allowed to repeat itself. When the Terriers were relegated Webber jumped ship – to us.
That must – somehow – not be allowed to happen this time around.
I wonder if Webber should have continued his adage as football’s ‘Littlest Hobo’ and moved on after last season. It added kudos to his ‘Turnaround Specialist’ image and could command a higher fee elsewhere. He does not come out of this well.
Whether Webber genuinely thought Norwich could stay up spending virtually nothing or whether he was putting on a brave face I don’t know, but when the media dissect Norwich City and the end of the season, it won’t be difficult for them to see where the problems lie.
They already have and will further be criticised for not taking the league seriously. I didn’t want Norwich City to spend a fortune to stay up, but either the club has a very perverse sense of humour or simply does not know what the job entails to stay up and then keep moving forward,
Another nailed on relegation shows yet again that the majority shareholders are so out of their depth it is beyond a joke. They are a complete and utter liability.
For the fans that like to be rewarded with failure and back in the ‘good old’ Championship, my words will fall on the deafest of ears. However, but for those who want the club to get back to a time where we were one of the best half dozen or so teams in the country without serious new ownership, with a serious vision and serious finances, this ship will remain a tug boat amongst liners.
Hi IR.
A tug boat amongst liners. Yet another phrase I’ve enjoyed on the comments today but I would say [my Dad was a West India Dock copper so I’ve seen them in action] that tugs are strong and work their nuts off which doesn’t correspond to us. Oh no.
Maybe a Broads cruiser that can’t negotiate the wider reaches would be more appropriate. I dunno.
Anybody who knows me or reads my MFW columns will know exactly what I think of the current ownership but with the onset of Covid-19 it somehow didn’t feel appropriate to go down that road.
But when you continue the nautical theme and say the Smiths are out of their depth I could not agree more.
Saddest of all is that we, as you suggest, have several supporters who are quite happy for us to wallow in the Championship. Okay more than several – loads if I’m honest.
I can imagine Stuart Webber doing exactly what he did with the Terriers – get relegated and move on. Then we are in the $hit, big time.
Food for thought and thank you.
My pleasure. As a dyed in the wool happy clapper I have to take a left field view. As you say, the new young guns are many. Not all will make it, but hopefully enough to reinvigorate the group.
Bali Mumba is the lad from Sunderland. Another DM though played right back and as a winger recently.
Add in Adshead, Gilmour, McCallum, Fitzpatrick, Martin, Idah et al., and you can see the potential for a refresh. I would have added Bushiri but it seems he is back to Belgium for another season long loan.
I also think that when relegation is confirmed, the recruitment of more raw talent will be where the money goes. Webber will ignore the noise calling for more experienced recruits.
Plenty to keep us entertained!
Yeah I agree.
We’ve had our fingers burned with the likes of Naismith, Wildschut and quite a few more in the relatively recent past. The only thing I’d lay at Webber’s door is the lack of quality in some of our recent loans.
Marcus Edwards? Patrick Roberts? They brought their issues with them. Ralf Fahrmann and Ibrahim Amadou didn’t do very much wrong but equally didn’t contribute a lot either
Thanks for filling in my gaps in the U-23 list, I could add Simon Power, GK Archie Mair and the young Icelandic guy but I bet we’ve forgotten a few between us even now!
Hi Ed.
I presume you refer to Private Frazer Forster, rumoured to be departing from, ironically, Southampton at some time soon. As long as Tim Krul remains we don’t really need him but he was terrific for us in that League One campaign all those years ago.
As for banning subs in the last 10 it’s a nice idea but could you imagine all the fake injuries? It would waste even more time!
Doubtless like yourself I’m a veteran of all four NCFC Wembleys but I can honestly say if we weren’t there collectively as supporters it really wouldn’t be the same. Not for me anyway.
But don’t worry – it ain’t gonna happen!
Thanks as ever.
What happened the other night was a direct consequence of a self funding plan that will never establish the club in the premier league.
This has always been about our impoverished (compared to premier league owners) owners clinging onto ownership no matter what.
It is now time for them to inform the supporters how they see the future for the club in plain English because “self funding” sounds to me very similar to “prudence with no ambition”.
It’s time they told us whether their real ambition is to retain ownership regardless of what league we end up in.
I’m thoroughly fed up with all these false dawns and personally think it’s time for a change at the top!
Hi John.
Pretty much like I said to Inside Right [above] of course 60-70% of us would like to see a change at the top but during the pandemic at its height – eg the last three months – I really didn’t feel like broaching the issue and editor Gary agreed with me. So we didn’t 🙂
What I will say is that we have many more years whereby “a change at the top” will simply not happen. One of my MFW colleagues and an unconnected mate, both of whom I respect, speak very highly of Tom Smith but I have heard nothing about him in ages so right now I can only compare him with Prince Charles in a surreal but possibly apposite way.. We’ll see.
Good to hear from you – thanks.
There’s a place in York that is named after the Norwich performance on Friday evening. Its the shambles.
3 months off and they looked like strangers to each other.
Hi Bernie
Yeah I’ve been to York a few times myself – it’s a bit like the Fine City in some ways.
It amazes me that a City like that doesn’t have a competitive football club – I guess they must all be Leeds fans 🙂 🙂 🙂
There’s also a street in Londinium named after our back 4. Rotten Row.
Cheers me ole Tusker
Excellent Piece Martin.
Lets be honest Friday night was as bad as it could be. The team seemed light years from the side that beat Leicester and dumped Spurs out of the Cup.
We didn’t look fit, we struggle every time a certain A.Tettey is left out and it did feel that the players had accepted relegation.
The surprising thing is other than Friday night, Man U away and Villa at home we have been competitive in most matches this season.
I know we all have our theories where this season has gone so wrong and I know its a minor thing but our inability to hit a shot first time has happened time and time again this season.
Both Drmic and Teemu were guilty of this in Friday’s game. Look at Palace away Todd and Teemu had guilt edged chances but took another touch. compare that with Wolves player Neto yesterday.
The first goal is so important at this level.
Personally I felt once we had heard Hanley and Zimbo were out for the season our chance of survival had gone. To me they are first choice centre backs at present and I would push Godfrey into a holding midfield position.
And we don’t know if the players had been affected by the news of Stieperman’s positive Covid test. It must have come as a shock. On that point does anyone else think that Arsenal were a disgrace yesterday, Football gets a exemption from the rest of us regarding social distancing, (££££) and there they are fighting, grappling etc. Yes they lost to a last minute goal but we are living in a different world at present, people have lost loved ones for goodness sake, lets have some respect.
As for the board not spending enough, that is a valid point and if we do get a chance to go up next season lessons must be learnt but look at Ipswich where Marcus Evans has put in 100 million over the years to be 11th in the 3rd division, or Steve Gibson at Boro who sit out of the bttom 3 in the Championship on goal difference.
Money is not always the answer.
Agreed, money doesn’t always ensure success but it would be nice to give it a go for once!
Being prudent left us in division 1.
Hi Tim.
Neto’s goal was something else. Confidence in his own ability? Oh yes. The only time we’ve done anything like that all season was Pukki at home to Newcastle.
Like Gary yesterday I was actually quite restrained in what I wrote but certainly didn’t enjoy what I witnessed. As you so rightly say the first goal at this level is crucial, unless you’re Ar$enal of course. All the stuff at the final whistle in that match was a bit unnecessary in my book.
Many of us want to see Godfrey as DM but for a variety of reasons it hasn’t happened. I’d love to see him there myself.
Finally I met Steve Gibson about 20 years ago and a nicer guy you wouldn’t find – my mate from work had a spare ticket for his company’s [not Gibson’s!] box. Can’t remember who they played – I’ve only ever seen us at the old Ayresome Park.
Thanks a lot.
Martin looks like Leeds are doing the end of season collapse again long may it continue
C’mon Alex. We wouldn’t want to talk that one up for them now would we?
Ha ha ha, he he he.
Hello Martin, how nice it is to read your post match thoughts again after the long wait. Such a shame the topic is a horror show of epic proportions.
Since the return a few sides have looked as though they would rather be anywhere else, doing anything else but representing their club. Unfortunately we appear to be firmly in that camp. In fact, we are the cheerleaders for that camp. Team selection for Wednesday should revolve around the question of who actually is going to puT in a shift if selected. It was that bad.
The repeat injury to Hanley was a kick in the teeth. Probably the only proper defender within the group, his no nonsense toughness and competitiveness were sorely missed. Bizarre that some still have him marked as the weak link!
The lack of centre halves was an issue in August and it continues to be now. The only time farke has ever successfully tightened the defence was when, during his first season he played three at the back. At no stage this season has he even had sufficient personnel to try it. Even from day one.
And yet still, the friends of Delia hail the decision to spend farke all last summer as some sort of club saving moment of enlightened forward thinking!
The plain fact of the matter is that without any money underwriting the club, we are hugely exposed to financial risk as things stand. More so than most clubs in the top two leagues.
It’s high time people realised that, just like ocean going yachts, gated mansions on sandbanks, lamborghinis and private learjets, big football clubs – and yes, we are a bloody big football club, are the preserve of the minted. Until that message gets through we will continue to decline and inevitably, unless we get very lucky yet again, will become irrelevant.
On to Wednesday and Lord preserve us from a rerun of Friday nights crap shoot. Surely farke will add some steel, some pace and some energy, along with some will to win to the mix. I can think of seven or eight who shouldn’t be anywhere near the bench, let alone a starting berth. My main hopes for a rare positive result revolve around evertons date with Liverpool, hopefully a blood and thunder affair, which takes place tonight. This gives us 48 hours to get over our little walk around nr1 on Friday evening more than Everton. Straws, clutching.
Hi Chris.
As I’ve said to a couple of folks already [above] I’ve steered well clear of expressing my views on the Smiths during the pandemic. It just didn’t [and maybe still doesn’t] feel appropriate right now but my feelings haven’t changed, believe me.
A cornered animal will fight to the death. We’ve got a couple of terriers and they don’t like rats, believe me. The dogs are proficient hunter/killers – it’s in their breeding. But one or two of said rodents have somehow got away from them over the woods or elsewhere with sheer guts and a bit of cunning.
We should fight like a cornered animal too but our “performance” on Friday, which was truly awful, proved we’re ready for drowning. Yes the players and probably Farke too have thrown in the towel – of course they have and a few didn’t hide that too well.
Cornered animal? We’re more reminiscent of a lop-eared rabbit that wants to roll over to get its tummy tickled.
In a thread of great lines today I’ll have to include “spending farke all” but for once I’m kind of grateful really. At least we don’t have a Naismith to pay for the foreseeable but as I’ve said a few times above already we planned for relegation last July. And thereby you-know-who got their wish.
As for Wednesday I’d love to know where Farke will get the pace and energy from. We don’t have any cos we got away with it in the Championship but cannot in the PL. Strength? Bring back Tetts over Trybull – it’s the only option.
Don’t worry about your straws mate – there’s nothing worth a clutch.
Cheers.
Only 6inch letter Mr P, thought they were huge. I think that writing has been there a lot longer than we want to admit.
The players we have, are not good enough, some will be when they have a higher class around them. I look at Drmic & Rupp they hardly get the pulse racing. Leitner has probably displayed why he is where he is. Stieperman, Trybull & Vrancic are good championship players, Onel I could add to that list with the Mayor Buineda has the potential but needs to grow up, Cantwell Lewis & Aarons will grow in a better squad.
Talk around the rumour mill today concerns old Swansea boss Carvalhal, although I cannot see City parting with Farke, but I feel another showing like friday, where I feel he was too casual and somebody up in the top room may bring it up. There was a distinct lack of passion, fight and application . Players coaching staff alike all know the score, but to it did not look like they cared, I know that could just be me. but can only say what I feel
I trust you are OK Mr P I am getting over the effects of catching getting infected. still got after effects after 8 weeks I am glad for one thing, we weren’t playing like that when I was ill
Hi Lad
Not seen you around for a while on MFW so I’m delighted to see you’re back and better. I’m kind of OK thanks – still no teeth, calcified vein in the upper right leg and a p-poor back.
But there’s no way I’d go the dentist or the quack just now – I’ll put up with it 🙂
Farke doesn’t deserve the boot and I doubt he’ll get it. His hands have been tied since the day he joined us. I know there are a few knives out for him [mainly on Tw*tter] but I tend to discount that type of reactionary idiocy.
I’m not a betting man but if I were my money would be on Webber and Farke departing at the end of their contracts next summer.
I doubt the shambles that is the Norwich City board would be able to persuade them to stay beyond that point. Why would they?
Anyway great to hear you’re feeling better.
Take good care.
Think their contracts end in 2022, not next year.
Thanks Nick you’re spot on.
In that case I’m not so sure either will see out their contracts after all!
I have nothing to say about the Friday football-I’m following Gary’s advice.
I will say that The Buzzcocks’ album ‘Another Music In A Different Kitchen’ is brilliant and one of the best titled ever.
Hi Don.
Don’t blame you – it was truly dire.
As for “Another Music” I’ve heard it but strangely I don’t own anything by the Buzzcocks.
Thanks.
Well Mr Penney; not really too much to add to what’s already been said.
That was a pi$$ poor a City performance as I can remember, and what made it worse for me was that those on the pitch didn’t really seem to be particularly bothered.
Come to that, neither did those on the coaching staff…..so I wonder if there is something in those rumours of Farke back to Germany.
Yes, we can go on at the lack of investment, but nobody can blame Delia, Michael and co for the basic fact that our shower appeared so unfit compared to any of the other Prem teams I’ve seen back so far.
And can someone/anyone please explain exactly what sin or otherwise Mo Leitner has committed to not even have a place on the bench on Friday? I had such high hopes that he and Buendia in tandem would have ripped up the Prem…..but he’s like the crew of the Marie Celeste; disappeared without trace.
Surely Wednesday cannot be as bad???
O T B C
Hi John.
This fitness issue really concerns me. We are nearly always second best in terms of stature and strength whoever we play [PL or Championship] but fitness?
Maybe we just didn’t adapt to individual sessions at home as well as others did. Perhaps the return to normal training wasn’t handled too well. We simply don’t know.
As I said to Andy Delf [above] Leitner remains an enigma. The only way I can see it is that Farke might think it’s a case of “Championship oui, PL non”. I think Leitner was on the bench on Friday although I could be wrong.
“Shower” sums it up perfectly.
Thanks as always.
No one in that team apart from Krul deserved a mark above a 5, and some were well below that. I’d give Farke a 3 out of 10 as well, and that’s being charitable – no idea tactically.
And still there are people thinking we are still in with a chance. I just want it all to end as quickly as possible.
Watching Leeds choke again will be my hope and prayer.
Hi Stephen.
I excused Max and Jamal but maybe I was a bit on the generous side judging from a couple of reactions I’ve had.
You are spot on: the vast majority of us must surely want the season to end ASAP.
I know I do!
Thanks.
We pay a price for Farke’s inexperience (1, given the last 2 years of exceptional Carrow Rd experience, I am happy to pay – I found Conner Southwell’s article in the EEN this weekend interesting on this), we pay a price for not spending as Villa did last Close season. Relegation is a wholly different prospect for them now (but sure we could have spent some money) related to that we pay a price for the billionaire circus which the old First Division has become. For that reason I refuse to take it seriously. The disallowed goal (Sheff Utd v Villa) was the icing on the cake. I’m not aligned to any strand of opinion on Delia. I think bringing in Webber/Farke was brave & has been brilliant. Friday was dire, yes, & I get that you all care. Really care. But bloody hell. It’s been a hell of a ride!
Hi Richard.
Sure it’s been one hell of a ride and I doubt that any single one of the Canary nation would think differently.
My gripe is that I fervently want us to be the best we can be, and surely that is in the PL, albeit probably the bottom half. Don’t get me wrong, I can see through the PL façade just as you can, but life ain’t half tough outside it 🙂
Thanks – good comment.
Yes, Martin, sure. Sadly that is true. I think the most irritating thing about Friday were the observations of Roy Keane. But then Id normally not be listening to him. Idiot is putting it very mildly