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The silly season is upon us – rumours aplenty of ins, outs and 50% pay cuts…

The silly season is upon us – rumours aplenty of ins, outs and 50% pay cuts…

9th July 2020 By Martin Penney 80 Comments

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With what could be called an assist if we push the boundaries a little bit, Onel Hernandez set up Emi Buendia for what was quite strangely his first Premier League goal and it arrived in July! Not only was it a beautiful finish but it saved this current squad from creating a very embarrassing record in the “failure to score in successive games” category.

Five minutes in, yeah we were doing okay, weren’t we?

There quickly followed yet another classic example of our inability to defend a set piece. Etienne Capoue sends a great delivery to the far post from a free kick and the giant Craig Dawson easily escapes the attentions of Alex and Jamal and it’s even Stevens after 10 minutes.

To our credit we showed much more spirit and determination than of late but Danny Welbeck’s Hertfordshire version of a worldy [and it was a great strike] confirmed the inevitable, as in yet another defeat.

We’re well on course to achieve the lowest total of points scored by Norwich in a top-flight season and unfortunately no longer can be considered as title contenders for the unwanted “best team to ever have finished bottom in the PL” award.

It was good to see Marco and Mario back, even with an understandable coating of red oxide. We will need them both next season and of that there is no doubt.

So now we have to look forwards, with a pertinent glance over our shoulder at the failures and misfortunes of 2019-20. These are patently apparent to MFW readers and writers and therefore will be to Stuart Webber and Daniel Farke as well.

The rumour round has already exploded. Although silly season is a little late this year we have “learned” that while we are in advanced talks with a Danish defensive midfielder [Jacob Sorenson] we are also after a Romanian international winger called Dennis Man. I don’t know about Sorensen, who sounds like our typical recruit but as Man’s agent rates his charge at £12million plus that one’s off my radar.

In the “do you laugh or do you cry” section Sheffield United are supposed to want Todd Cantwell for £10million. Good luck to Mr Wilder with that one. And we have set a price of £50million on Ben Godfrey. Good luck to Mr Webber in this case. If either tale is true of course.

One recent story that slightly confuses me came via Charlie Wyett in Tuesday’s Sun. Despite the anticipated derision from many of you at my referencing that particular Red Top, experience tells me that Wyett is often not too far off the mark.

What he is saying is that our players have signed 50%, yes fifty% relegation clauses in their contracts. Should this be true the Carrow Road exit doors are liable to be pretty busy over the next few weeks. But is this true? I dunno, I really don’t.

And this is just the start of the rumours and often deliberately made-up speculation. My brain hurts and the season hasn’t finished yet.

As quite a few of us have said in this week’s comments we are all looking forward to seeing how the 2020-21 squad will shape up. Trepidation, anticipation. I certainly feel both emotions already and nothing’s really happened yet.

As for the Prem, we gave it a reasonable go with what we had but were doomed from the start if we’re honest.


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Filed Under: Column, Martin Penney

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Comments

  1. Ed says

    9th July 2020 at 7:45 am

    Oh well Martin – at least our team found some pride and passion again and a superb first PL goal from our diminutive Argentinian, but as usual, we were undone by a couple of avoidable defensive errors. Groundhog Day comes to mind.

    Still, the result makes it more difficult for the Villains to escape the relegation trapdoor and all the financial implications that will surely follow after their exorbitant spending spree in the summer. Whilst on the subject of transfer windows, I see a rumour that the transfer window when it opens may remain open until the end of January 2021. Yikes!!

    I see that DF has slapped a £50M fee on Godfrey alone and he and SW state that they do NOT need to sell anyone – though I’m not convinced.

    Without doing a bit of research, I’m sure all of our young stars are contracted to at least the end of 2022 season and they were more than willing to sign their new and improved contracts last summer, sob IMO, it seems quite unfair to now be willing to ‘jump ship’ at the first opportunity, but I’m enough of a realist to realise that loyalty is the last thing on the mind of most footballers. I would like to say, however,, that it has been the coaching of DF etc that has turned them into the players that they have become and it seems fair that they could repay that by staying at CR for another season. Mind .you if the 50% pay cut is true, then like you, I can see a queue of players heading for the Exit door, never to play again at CR, unless it’s for the opposition

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    • martin penney says

      9th July 2020 at 8:27 am

      Hi Ed

      They would say they don’t need to sell anybody, wouldn’t they 🙂

      Seriously if the right offer comes in for [say] Godfrey, Buendia, Aarons or Cantwell I wouldn’t blame them for taking it. I might question what they might do with it afterwards but not the principle of the sale itself.

      It’s this 50% relegation clause that worries me. If it exists in the first place of course!

      Cheers

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      • David Bowers says

        9th July 2020 at 12:54 pm

        It wouldn’t be the first time, only for them to recant after the fact. Some people ate it up last time.

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        • martin penney says

          9th July 2020 at 1:56 pm

          🙂

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    • Jim Davies says

      9th July 2020 at 8:50 am

      Yes, Ed, I think you’re correct, and that Webber was canny enough to tie them in to long term contracts, so even if players are dissatisfied with the 50% cut they agreed to on promotion, they can’t leave unless we let them, in which case it will be at a price. (I know you don’t want a bunch of dissatisfied players hanging around, but I’m sure Webber and Farke will have their ways of dealing with that. Just ask Olivera!)

      The £50M price for Godfrey seems to be quoted because of interest from a couple of German clubs, Borussia Dortmund and F C Leipzig. Be interesting to see how that pans out. As for Wilder offering £10M for Cantwell, he’s having a laugh. Don’t expect to see that one come off. Now that Emi has shown he can score in the Premier League, he may generate some interest too, especially with his assist statistics.

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      • martin penney says

        9th July 2020 at 10:53 am

        That’s a very good point Jim.

        Sometimes we see graphs via Archant and elsewhere that illustrate length of contract for every player and the developing youngsters are all on very long ones.

        Webber is canny indeed and particularly in this respect. It means the club can ask more for these folks when they go. These players are still free to leave if the right money comes in for them so it’s an all-round win really.

        Reply
  2. Andrew T says

    9th July 2020 at 7:45 am

    Good morning Martin,
    I don’t take the view we were doomed from the start. Had we not had key defenders injured early on the season could have turned out differently. That’s all for me.
    Andrew

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    • martin penney says

      9th July 2020 at 8:17 am

      Hi Andrew

      Yes you can – and should – factor the injuries in. It’s a very legitimate thing to say.

      Maybe a 38-game run of, say, Hanley and Zimbo with Godfrey alongside Tettey in front of them and things could indeed have been very different. We’ll never know!

      Thanks

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  3. Dan Rear says

    9th July 2020 at 8:35 am

    A 50% pay cut sounds bad. But maybe it just takes them all back to where they were in the 18-19 season, ie Champ. style wages, for Champ quality players?

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    • martin penney says

      9th July 2020 at 10:55 am

      Hi Dan

      Absolutely.

      But I bet their agents aren’t too happy!

      Cheers

      Reply
  4. Tony says

    9th July 2020 at 9:06 am

    At least we won’t be told to ignore the noise any more because the sound of relegation is now deafening.

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    • martin penney says

      9th July 2020 at 10:55 am

      Pardon? 🙂

      Reply
  5. Steve says

    9th July 2020 at 9:07 am

    Why did we not recruit any central defender’s throughout this campaign? Knowing that our defence wasn’t good enough in the championship, and don’t get me started on zonal marking , in my opinion if Newcastle get taken over and Bruce loses his job , I’d take him over farke any day ? Steve

    Reply
    • martin penney says

      9th July 2020 at 11:09 am

      Hi Steve

      I’m totally with you on zonal. We’re not Barca. I mention it occasionally but it makes me hit the wrong keys every time I think about it.

      Bruce? No way. He would have been here a long time ago if he’d ever been wanted.

      No manager could have more cred with us supporters but I’m keeping a beady eye on Mark Bowen. You never know.

      Thanks.

      Reply
  6. Nick says

    9th July 2020 at 9:09 am

    If the 50% pay cut is true, then this suggests that the rises built in to the new contracts on promotion were DOUBLING the old rate…… those who want to know where the money right there is at least part of the answer. I also suspect that if there is an immediate bounce back then the 50% cut is restored via a promotion bonus.

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    • martin penney says

      9th July 2020 at 11:13 am

      Hi Nick

      There was a rumoured £20million promotion pot last time and if it hadn’t have been paid out we’d all have known know about it.

      I’ve never worked a job where wages and bonuses fluctuate by a huge degree but then again I’ve never been good enough to be a pro footballer!

      Sound comment.

      Reply
  7. Tony says

    9th July 2020 at 9:14 am

    AS for relegation clauses of 50%, sensible as that sounds given our 5% chance of staying up, why would you play your hardest when you think that you are down already and quite fancy playing at Premier League club the next season elsewhere? Talk about perverse incentives! But it would appear to explain why tools seem to have been literally downed over the last few months…and how we accumulated 21 points only to cease to do so with a juddering halt.

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    • martin penney says

      9th July 2020 at 11:22 am

      The problem is the cliché that footballers’ careers are short.

      To me, £5k a week over 10-12 years would set me up for life but I’ve never had an agent driving me on to rake in more, more, more.

      It took me 10 years and several transfers to find a job I enjoyed enough to stick with for 20 years but when I found it I stayed loyal. I’d have been slitting my own throat if I’d moved – the money wasn’t spectacular but well above industry standard. And I could afford to retire 7 years early when the option of redundo [and it was an option] came up.

      There’s so much greed in football and not just amongst the players as we all know.

      Reply
      • Tony says

        9th July 2020 at 12:55 pm

        Just questioning the wisdom of a contract system where it encourages the rats to leave the sinking ship and search for pastures new when the writing is on the wall. It is almost encouraging players to engineer relegation so that they have every excuse to go elsewhere and seems to confirm the suspicion that we had no hope of staying up all along.

        Reply
        • martin penney says

          9th July 2020 at 1:59 pm

          Phew! Unfortunately I think you make a really good point.

          Reply
        • Jim Davies says

          9th July 2020 at 4:18 pm

          I don’t know how you could arrange the contracts any differently. If you worded it such that there was an incentive to stay up if in a relegation fight, then the tendency might be to go easy earlier in the season to get into that position, then bust a gut to try and stay up. (I know, it would be a risky strategy for any player.) If you don’t up the wages when they get promoted, you’ll get players wanting away from the start of the season when you go up. If you don’t cut them back to Championship levels when you go down, you’ll find yourself in the same position as some other clubs, deep brown stuff

          Reply
          • martin penney says

            9th July 2020 at 5:43 pm

            Cant argue with that mate.

            When we started out as supporters life was so much simpler.

          • Tony says

            9th July 2020 at 6:08 pm

            I wonder how many clubs have these contracts? But it would explain – Norwich’s, and Bournemouth and Villa’s awful showing of late…lack of ambition and encouraging relegation.

  8. Keith B says

    9th July 2020 at 9:39 am

    I’m happy to believe Webber’s claim that we don’t need to sell anyone for financial reasons (imagine those last 3 words in italics). It’s certainly the correct negotiating message to potential predators.

    However we will probably find ourselves having to sell for the simple reason that some players, or rather their agents, will make it clear that if they are made to stay against their will they will kick up a massive fuss.

    I think the most telling comment this week was Farke on Cantwell.

    “Todd Cantwell is not available, he’s moaning about a few hamstring problems. During the game, in the first situation he was touching his hamstring a few times and he still doesn’t feel comfortable.”

    No, I’ll bet he doesn’t feel at all comfortable at the thought of getting injured right now. It’s the word “moaning” that makes me suspicious. It could be that the club have had some big interest in him already and are protecting their asset. But wouldn’t they just say, irrevocably, “he’s injured”?

    Reality is that were, say, Sheff Utd (possibly playing in Europe) to bid a paltry £10m for Cantwell, I suspect we would struggle to keep him. His agent would know all about it, including how much more money he’d be earning. Of course there would be negotiation, and there’s no way we’d accept the first bid, but in the end players have the power these days – especially when faced with a 50% pay cut.

    Reply
    • martin penney says

      9th July 2020 at 11:37 am

      Hi Keith

      That’s a pretty accurate reading of the current state of play imo.

      Your mention of the Farke-Cantwell interchange/comment is spot on and that’s for sure. Todd, Max and Ben are the three I feel sure will move on.

      I wish I knew if the 50% figure is true or not but as I said in the original article I simply dunno – but I have found Charlie Wyett to be pretty much accurate over the last few years. And players [specifically their agents] do indeed to have the power these days.

      Thanks as always.

      Reply
  9. JohnF says

    9th July 2020 at 10:19 am

    £750,000! What planet are our owners living on?
    They should publicly apologise to Daniel Farke and the fans for this embarrassment of a season.
    Collars up, shades on time!

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    • martin penney says

      9th July 2020 at 11:43 am

      Hi John

      I think I was let off quite lightly yesterday considering the topic – no high collars, shades or WWII tin hats for me cos I refuse to do Twitter!

      Don’t expect any significant on-pitch investment next season either. I don’t.

      Chirpy chirpy cheap cheap 🙂

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    • Nick says

      9th July 2020 at 12:04 pm

      Hi John. I think you’ll find that with the loan fees, the extra £3m for EMI, plus the contract upgrades mean that we actually spent north of £20m on promotion. Still peanuts I know.

      Just read articles on Wigan and Birmingham City. Lessons there in abundance for those that want pure investor owners. Be careful what you wish for.

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      • martin penney says

        9th July 2020 at 12:57 pm

        Good point – particularly about Wigan as I’ve read a bit about Dave Whelan’s reaction to all this and the ground-sharing Rugby League club wishing they could help out in some yet to be formulated way.

        Whelan dragged that club up from nothing in an RL-dominated environment and I have to respect him for that. I don’t know much about him as a person but it seems just about everything he did was good.

        It’s such a divisive issue is this old ownership thing. But my fingertips are still full of callouses from yesterday so I think I’ll give that particular subject a miss for a while!

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      • JohnF says

        9th July 2020 at 2:35 pm

        These are on costs rather than direct transfer fees.. I’m sure the other clubs who were promoted also had to meet these costs on top of the £millions they paid for players.

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  10. Trev says

    9th July 2020 at 10:58 am

    This is a wonderful website. A place of reasoned and respectable debate brought forth from a myriad of perspectives. Well done all.
    Recently though, its descended into ‘Gospel According to Martin Penney’. Why so much air time? I used to enjoy EDP contributions until some clown called ‘Mad Brewer’ ruined it. Now we have the latest self-appointed arbiter of all things Canary. I’m sure you’re a nice person, and your articles can be interesting and provocative (if shockingly/needlessly self-referential) but please Martin, sit the odd one out.
    Apologies for being a grumpy old git, but I avoided commenting after your recent ownership debate article, where you pretended to acknowledge both sides of the debate. I’m saddened to see more of your stuff today. A more balanced diet for your grateful fan base please Mr Gowers, I don’t use social media as I specifically didn’t wish to follow MP, or anyone else’s every breath, whim or epiphany. Even Jimmy Anderson takes a spell once in a while, fine leg beckons.

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    • Dan Rear says

      9th July 2020 at 12:49 pm

      Not having this Trev, sorry. MP is an excellent and diplomatic writer on here, his stuff is always good IMHO. I don’t agree with his music tastes (or Politics!), but he’s usually spot on with his Canary comments/views

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      • martin penney says

        9th July 2020 at 1:10 pm

        Thanks a lot Dan. Appreciated. I’ve responded to Trev [below] but he wasn’t particularly rude so I don’t particularly care!

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      • Trev says

        9th July 2020 at 1:12 pm

        No need to apologise Dan, respectfully put. I always read the people that I don’t tend to agree with, for balance, and MP is one, or was. He is, I find at least, becoming the first, mediating, and last word on everything and anything NCFC related… roughly 3 articles a week and infinite comments?
        Too much of one voice stifles any debate.

        I do wish MP better health, mind, and would love to hear his thoughts, in a more refined and regular rotation.

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        • martin penney says

          9th July 2020 at 2:11 pm

          If anybody is kind enough to reply to an article I write for MFW I feel it a duty to respond in kind – I have the time to do so and I enjoy the subsequent banter.

          I strongly feel I stimulate debate rather than restrict it.

          Rick W owns the site, Gary G is editor/moderator and I don’t get a single cent for anything I contribute in any way. That’s hardly unusual with sites like ours.

          Please don’t question my health or mind because you’re going towards an area that is neither your business or concern.

          I’m sure Gary would provide you with my private email address if you wish to discuss anything privately but MFW is not the place for it.

          Thanks.

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          • Trev says

            9th July 2020 at 2:48 pm

            The health remark was in reference to a thigh you mentioned, yesterday, if memory serves correct. I might be wrong, mind (same use as above).

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          • Jim Davies says

            9th July 2020 at 5:03 pm

            Martin, I think you have misunderstood Trev’s last comment. He wished you better health (as we all do) and added the word “mind” in the sense of “mind you, I wish him better health” – at least, that’s how I read it. I don’t think he was casting doubt on you mental condition! It’s just that he has an issue with your profligacy – but you can ignore that, I enjoy your articles!

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    • martin penney says

      9th July 2020 at 1:09 pm

      Hi Trev

      It was pure coincidence that two of my articles have appeared consecutively. It’s not what we normally do on MFW but our Editor Gary is in charge of the schedule, not me.

      As for my self-referencing it’s a personal style of writing. Jeez it’s hard to kick off a story when we’ve lost to Southampton, Everton, Brighton, Watford et al all in a row.

      I’m hardly self-appointed. Gary would kick my stuff out without a backward glance if he didn’t think it was worth publishing. And has justifiably done so on a couple of occasions.

      I don’t use any form of social media either. And as for your Archant reference I never comment on the Pink ‘Un or the EDP so I cannot comment.

      A day to avoid for you will be Monday 13/7 when I’ll be back after the WHU match.

      Thanks for your views.

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      • Trev says

        9th July 2020 at 2:33 pm

        Thanks for replying Martin. I never used to avoid your articles or opinions, before they started coming at me as though I were facing a state sponsored dodgeballer on amphetamine.

        I appreciate covering NCFC during BCD mustn’t be easy.

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    • Gary Gowers says

      9th July 2020 at 1:13 pm

      Sorry Trevor… but that’s very unfair IMHO.

      Martin, as always, comments on each game on the day following my own comment piece; a routine we have stuck to for nearly two seasons now. Because the games are now coming thick and fast, mine and Martin’s voices are heard more regularly – as simple as that. Occasionally, either of us will chip in with an ad-hoc piece looking at the wider picture, as Martin has done with his his ‘Time for a Review…’ piece.

      As editor, I value greatly Martin’s contribution to MFW, just as I do all of those who contribute. A broadchurch of opinions is my aim and Martin’s voice is one of many.

      I’m sorry you feel this way.

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      • Trev says

        9th July 2020 at 1:49 pm

        Thanks for replying personally Gary. “Because the games are now coming thick and fast, mine and Martin’s voices are heard more regularly – as simple as that” seems very fair mitigation. Understood.

        Perhaps the broader piece could have waited a little longer though? I
        I’m really not trying to bully or campaign against Mr P, I just thing temperance and rotation should be encouraged. Before one gets a Bercow complex and thinks they need to be the first and final word on everything?

        Though we laughed at many of the ludicrous opinions I used to love Canary Call, before Rob Buttler took over, now he talks rubbish and when someone corrects he shouts them down, before patronisingly calling them a ‘topman’ and hanging up in a smug lacking self-awareness crassly ignorant kind of way.

        Please be careful not to over create the Rob Buttler of MFW.

        Still a great site, thank you

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        • martin penney says

          9th July 2020 at 3:13 pm

          Ha!

          I’ve met Rob Butler and I can assure you I’m nothing like him in shape, stature or indeed the ability to conduct a phone in radio show.

          I’ve no resemblance to him at all I promise.

          Neil Adams was the best on RN without a doubt.

          You’re not bullying me at all so no need to apologise. I’m normally on MFW every Monday and not otherwise but these are strange times as we all know only too well.

          No offence taken.

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          • Trev says

            9th July 2020 at 5:09 pm

            Sorry, its unfair to liken anyone to Rob Buttler, that was a step too far.
            I completely agree about Neil Adams.
            I’m also glad Mark Bowen is on your radar too, should we ever need him.
            Thanks for the respectful dialogue…. I’ll leave you with this hypothetical… You must have Buttler or Roeder over for Christmas (and boxing day). Which?

            1
  11. Tim Ball says

    9th July 2020 at 11:15 am

    As you say Martin it is the start of the silly season, thankfully it is going to be a lot shorter than most summer breaks.

    Despite the club saying they do not need to sell some of the rumours, like Michael Bailey saying there are 4 more players coming in to be announced and Farke admitting the next season will most likely be with a “New” group this certainly worries me.

    I just hope we do not lose all of Aarons, Lewis, Cantwell, Buendia, Godfrey and Pukki, because if we do it will mean starting from scratch practically. And as good as Daniel did last season, sorting out the mess he inherited his first season was anything but good. Totally understandable but not good.

    Reply
    • martin penney says

      9th July 2020 at 1:28 pm

      Hi Tim

      Yeah I’m largely with you. What will next season’s squad look like?

      As I said yesterday it’s that awful combination of anticipation and trepidation for me.

      I don’t expect Max, Ben or Todd to be with us but as ever I could be totally wrong. We all have to speculate as we don’t really know!

      Michael Bailey is a great journo and I would trust what he says. Really.

      Thanks a lot.

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      • Tim Ball says

        9th July 2020 at 2:42 pm

        Indeed Martin, Michael is a great journalist and his info is usually spot on.,

        I am like you, cautious optimism with a sprinkling of dread !!!

        Not having the fans at Carrow Road will be a huge blow for next season as well.

        I know this is not the time for laughter but when I was replying to you article on the board yesterday, every time I wrote Smiths my predictive text came up with Siths.

        As any Star Wars fan will tell you that is quite apt in our present situation !!!

        Reply
        • David Bowers says

          9th July 2020 at 5:34 pm

          Always two there are.

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        • martin penney says

          9th July 2020 at 5:57 pm

          Ha!

          Can you believe I must be the only 62-y-o in Britain NEVER to have seen a Star Wars! I don’t like sci-fi period but I fully get that other folks do.

          Funnily enough a guy called Rich who did a few tattoos for me yonks ago named his studio on Heigham Street “Sith” so it’s obviously a popular theme.

          Yeah no fans in situ has probably hit us very, very hard.

          But until we’re advised differently what can we do?

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          • John says

            9th July 2020 at 6:43 pm

            I’m not 62 Martin, but 66; am I therefore allowed to compete??
            I’m proud to say that I’ve never seen any episodes of not only Star Wars, but will also raise you to Star Trek and even Doctor Who…
            Whenever any of the above have been on TV, I’ve always managed to find something better to do.
            The words paint and dry come to mind!

            O T B C

            1
  12. AlexB says

    9th July 2020 at 11:41 am

    Hi Martin

    Silly season and a transfer window really is a contradiction in terms.

    I am old enough to remember when there was no transfer window and you you could buy players 24/7 then it was fun deals were done over night and you would find out that you had signed someone via the papers.

    Bill Nicholson says in his Autobiography that he called Burnley to sign Ralph Coates a price was agreed, he drove up the M6 and met him and there chairman at a stopover agree wages and it was done in 24hours.

    Now with agents it takes weeks if not months of behind doors dealing to get done as the agents let everyone club knows who is available and at what price.

    European football started the windows and force everyone to follow and FIFA got involved to ensure world football took it up, but let agents run riot with their percentage of the take so increased players fees.

    What do we need as most say a commanding CB if Zimmerman isn’t fit can our Faweo help out hopefully or why not give Raggett a chance to prove himself as we will not see Bushini at the club for another year.

    Loans are all well and good but bringing in a young Belgian international then loaning him out to a Belgian club really doesn’t get him use to the english game or living in this country, 6 months with the U23 side to see how he adapts should be a given then a loan.

    Will Fenerbachy come back in for Pukki or another Turkish side or will he want to help put this season to rights and help promotion and can he do it all again only time will tell.

    As others have said 50% will be a killer for the players but I expect none will be on any less than last season maybe Klose/ Hanley/Krul/Drmic and Bryam might be hit more than the others due to first deals but they all knew what they signed up for.

    This will be an interesting couple of months so let’s get ready for a bumpy ride

    Onwards and upwards

    OTBC

    Keep safe and well

    Reply
    • martin penney says

      9th July 2020 at 6:09 pm

      Hi Alex

      Straight away forget Ralph Coates – we both remember the League Cup final in the 70s. Seriously though I’ve never read Bill Nick’s book but tucked away behind Romford Market was “Ted Ditchburn Sports” where I once spoke briefly with the man himself.

      He wasn’t there often I gather as it was kind of a franchise but he was quite good to a kid he knew wouldn’t spend any money.

      It’s a genuinely dreadful and certainly contentious thing to say but I really feel the game was far more enjoyable in those days. And certainly on a more even footing for all parties to be sure.

      I’m not really a nostalgic but I remember the late 60s and early 70s – before the violence got truly out of hand – with great affection in many ways.

      Cheers mate.

      Reply
  13. Chris says

    9th July 2020 at 11:44 am

    Hello Martin, food for thought and some insightful comments.

    With regard to Wilders bizarre assumption that Cantwell will be available for 10m this summer, I suggest he takes his head out of his backside. The purpose of lengthening all the contracts was to maximise the sale value of each individual player. City would barely recoup the extra money lavished on salary increases if they were to start giving players away this summer.

    In any event, cantwell can certainly do a lot better than Sheffield United and if they do rock up with an insulting bid they should receive a two word response.

    Just how small a fraction of income from transfers will be reinvested in the team is a moot point. I wouldn’t be at all surprised if Webber announced the lowest transfer budget in championship history in keeping with alas smith and Jones policy.

    2
    Reply
    • martin penney says

      9th July 2020 at 6:27 pm

      Hi Chris

      Never forget that Chris Wilder loves a wind-up. Although I don’t like him he’s been a fantastic manager for them – last night kind of proves that

      If you gave him the first word on his derisory bid I’d quickly chime in with the second. Or the other way round if you like.

      As for next season’s squad I’ll stick with anticipation and trepidation as far as the budget is concerned. They know we’re pi$$ed off [again] but what will they do about it?

      Cheers mate.

      Reply
  14. canarylad says

    9th July 2020 at 12:39 pm

    A couple of days have pasted and no denial from Mr Webber of a 50% wage cut. personally I cannot see it being that much or there would not be many accepting those terms. Knowing that they had a good chance of coming down again after one season.

    I noticed yesterday Mr Friendly Wilder, in his supposed chase of Cantwell, said he is only on £8k a week we can increase that and get him for £10m. Two major things wrong, 3 if you count the man hmself. One Cantwell will clearly think he can do better, and 2) the club know they can do better.

    It will do none of the little clutch of players we expect to depart, to have another season with the club, should the hoped for promotion doesn’t materialise then that may be different. Should promotion come round they win again. But this is football.

    I am taking the line, we are down, why prolong the inevitable and any agony. been here two many times and always more or less with the same story. The trouble lays in the corridot of power, always has and always will while …

    1
    Reply
    • martin penney says

      9th July 2020 at 6:36 pm

      Hi Lad

      Yes I quite agree with you as you would expect.

      It’s been a horrible season for all of us so while we can’t wait for this one to end we equally anticipate the next.

      You’re quite right that we’ve all been here before and will unfortunately be here again. Dunno where, dunno when, etc.

      Those in the corridors of power never fail to disappoint me. So near but so far as always… they don’t fool me. Oh no.

      Thanks as always.

      Reply
  15. John says

    9th July 2020 at 12:45 pm

    Good stuff regarding the game Martin.
    I’m surprised you didn’t mention Mayor McLeans’ “effort” to stop Sarr in the break for Welbeck’s goal. Even then Max’s attempted clearance could have gone anywhere rather than to Welbeck. Yes, it was a good finish but leads me to ask if one Simon Hooper would have allowed it given how high his feet were.
    Silly season on transfers as you say. At this time if we were offered 40m for Godfrey he would be gone, but 10m for Cantwell isn’t even half enough.
    The players (or rather agents) will have the final say, but why sign a contract with a relegation clause if you’ve no intention of honouring it? I expect that they were happy enough to take their promotion bonuses.

    O T B C

    2
    Reply
    • martin penney says

      9th July 2020 at 6:41 pm

      Ha!

      Love the Hooper comment – of course he would have allowed it if it was against us!

      Although to be fair I saw nothing wrong with it.

      You’ve got the probable reactions to the contract details spot on imo.

      Cheers.

      Reply
  16. David Bowers says

    9th July 2020 at 1:00 pm

    Here’s an exercise for you Martin. Imagine none of the existing City players were ours. How many of them would you be willing to purchase at a price tag of 10M? How many would you be happy to see Norwich reported as having spent 10M on?

    7
    Reply
    • martin penney says

      9th July 2020 at 6:48 pm

      Presuming I had Delia’s budget I’d ignore every single one of them and go to Sloughbottom Park to buy the best from Norman Wanderers for around £200 each. I could even pay for them myself at a stretch which would please her.

      I’d then pick up our star striker and marquee signing Dirk McNasty from Trafford Park for a huge £500 outlay. Sure Dirk’s 37 with shot knees but I don’t mind.

      In other words a good question I cannot answer. 🙂

      Reply
    • Tony says

      9th July 2020 at 7:37 pm

      None.

      Reply
  17. Chris S says

    9th July 2020 at 1:08 pm

    All fair points, MP. There could be quite an exodus this short summer. Trouble is the ones you want to go are rarely the ones who do! Having said that, I don’t want anyone to go – I just want us to be better.

    Reply
    • martin penney says

      9th July 2020 at 6:52 pm

      Most of us want us to be better Chris – it’s such a pity that the odd few [ironically some of those at the top] don’t.

      The only ones I truly want to go are Duda [nailed on] and Drmic.

      Thanks.

      1
      Reply
  18. Alex B says

    9th July 2020 at 2:56 pm

    Story from EDP is Steau owner a B- S or what

    Becali claims that the Norwich representatives have returned to England to discuss a potential deal with their board of directors.

    “I made a deal with them,” he continued. “Depending on the games to pay 10 million, plus five depending on how he plays there. That’s what they agreed on, they take him to play.

    “They said they would talk to their owners and give an answer in a few days. I have no problem with Man leaving immediately.”

    Meanwhile, national newspaper ProSport claim that the Steaua owner has told them that Norwich were also impressed by attacking midfielder Darius Olaru, who set up the only goal on the night.

    1
    Reply
    • martin penney says

      9th July 2020 at 6:56 pm

      I’ll tell you something mate: this particular groundless rumour goes straight into my deletion box. Can you imagine us paying £12million for anyone?

      Sorry I don’t have a euro sign on my keyboard.

      It’s a pile’a $hite man.

      Cheers 🙂

      1
      Reply
      • Alex B says

        9th July 2020 at 8:43 pm

        I just wonder why the EDP has given it headline space must have been a filler lol

        1
        Reply
      • Mike C says

        9th July 2020 at 10:04 pm

        € is Control+Alt+4

        Everything is here

        OTBC

        1
        Reply
        • martin penney says

          10th July 2020 at 7:33 am

          Hi Mike

          I got a keyboard map with the laptop – pity I was cocky and slung it!

          Ch€€rs.

          Reply
  19. Tony says

    9th July 2020 at 7:19 pm

    Can I just agree with Trev about what an excellent website this is. I don’t know the ‘Politics’ here regarding MP or any other contributor. (I honestly have no idea what the beef is about there!) All I see are articulate and reasoned contributions by people who want to see the best for NCFC and to let off a bit of steam (there is a lot of it) in the process. So keep up the good work – no one individual is the keeper of the faith with regard to NCFC and it is great that you have a forum – which I hope continues to grow and become even more widely known. So well done to you all – contributors and readers alike, and I suggest you all help to spread the word.

    1
    Reply
  20. Tony says

    9th July 2020 at 7:24 pm

    Oh, and can we stick with talking about the football. As Tony Benn use to say it is the ‘ishues’ that are important not the individuals!

    Reply
  21. Bernie owen says

    9th July 2020 at 8:45 pm

    Silly season indeed, 9 at least of the match day squad will move on . Rumours of four new incomings to be announced shortly, Probably mainly from leagues that have already concluded. We have ,McCullem , Sitti, Slimani, the US guy whose name escapes me already in the wings or coming soon. That’s eight or so to arrive . With Martin and Idah also taking first team squad places some surely have to go. Aarons , Godfrey, Beundia , Cantwell , Pukki, would be on my list oh and loanee Duda. Lewis may go if Hiese returns

    Reply
    • martin penney says

      10th July 2020 at 7:50 am

      Hi Bernie

      I doubt that Heise will be coming back if I’m honest and we’ve already got Sam McCallum [£3.7m from Coventry] as competition/replacement for Jamal. He looks bl00dy good too from what little I’ve seen of him on EFL on Quest.

      That’s the trouble with the new crop – few of us have seen most of them play. Hopefully we might be allowed in to “safely stand” at Dereham Town, Emerald Park or wherever we play our traditional local pre-season friendly to have a gander for ourselves.

      Now that would be good!

      Cheers.

      Reply
  22. Herr Cutz says

    10th July 2020 at 9:00 am

    Marty, you’re getting too popular, so many replies that by the time I’ve read ‘em all I’ve forgotten what I was going to say. Oh yes the silly season, thank goodness, it’ll take our minds off what has happen on the pitch. The prelude to the new season will give us plenty to discuss and hope will once again spring eternal. Keep up the good work ole partner.

    Reply
    • martin penney says

      10th July 2020 at 1:15 pm

      Hi Cutty

      I love the comments too – just about all of them actually. And yes there’ll be plenty to debate for all of us pretty soon. It’s a crucial six weeks or so to come so let’s all look forward to what might transpire.

      Cheers mate.

      Reply
  23. greg says

    10th July 2020 at 10:47 am

    Hi Martin, I have been saying for years the only way NCFC will ever be successful is to have new owners. Over time people forget what fans have had to put up with some forgetting that without us there would be no NCFC. In 17 years you remember the successful managers we have had, purely judged on promotion success then who have kept us in the Promised land of Premier League football? Paul Lambert and I also have to mention Ian culverhouse who I felt was a big part in his success! The rest including current have been poor choices or not the finished article.
    Applying a small amount of common sense would suggest that NCFC have made the same mistakes for the last 17 years the board go from one extreme to the other!
    Unproven manager throw money at him.
    Unproven manager don’t throw money at him
    Proven manager throw money at him.
    Proven manager dont throw money at him.

    That fundamentally sums up the last 17 years.
    Some will argue Micheal and Delia have sunk fortunes into the club. 8m pounds were paid to Geoffery Watling in 2003 and since that who knows, but I haven’t seen Micheal and Delia shutting the door to their one bed flat in City?
    Some will say we risk taking on a new owner who could destroy the club, that is a risk but better to try in my opinion then treading in quicksand like we are at the moment.
    Questions are being asked by supporters “Why?”
    Some comments are unjustified but as far as I am concerned the proof is in the pudding in any other industry success is measured on Money earned and we have been bang average!
    In this game doing it cheap doesn’t work and NCFC fans will have to endure this until the changes are made at the top.

    Reply
    • martin penney says

      10th July 2020 at 1:23 pm

      Hi Greg

      Yes I think pretty much along the same lines as yourself.

      “Unproven manager throw money at him.
      Unproven manager don’t throw money at him
      Proven manager throw money at him.
      Proven manager dont throw money at him”

      is a unique way of looking at it but I sure know what you mean.

      Doing it cheap rarely works and we have been caught out many, many times in that respect. But they never appear to learn.

      I wish some people would remember what Geoffrey Watling did for the club but unfortunately a surprising number of folks don’t.

      Thanks – good post.

      Reply
      • AlexB says

        10th July 2020 at 3:36 pm

        Martin

        Geoffrey Watling was the second to come to cities rescue in 1919 his father Charles Watling help reform city after going in to liquidation in 1917 and help get city into the newly formed 3rd division south in 1920

        Reply
        • martin penney says

          10th July 2020 at 4:01 pm

          Blimey mate – I didn’t know that. Thanks.

          Reply
  24. Ken says

    11th July 2020 at 12:20 pm

    PROMOTION WHATS THE POINT?

    Going for it is the best bit. Getting it is truthfully as complete total waste of time.
    Now proud holders of the record……..for the most relegations! FIVE for goodness sake.
    This season never has the lack of commitment been worse. Not by the players . But by the powers that be. They definitely showed a total lack of commitment . But have now
    I guess they are also holders of another PL record. We are now the very proud holder of the lowest transfer spend by a newly promoted club.

    I recall in the days of one Robert Chase, after selling Sutton for a British record fee. We often heard the supporters singing “where’s the money gone”.

    WELL ?

    1
    Reply
    • martin penney says

      11th July 2020 at 4:20 pm

      Ken

      I wish I could give you a straight answer but I can’t.

      Back in the Chase days there used to be a guy in the Barclay near me – I didn’t know him – who had a Sutton 5 scrambled egg & watercress shirt on and he had somehow managed to get £m printed onto said shirt next to the 5 by a non-official outlet.

      He became a bit of a low-key celebrity and might even have featured in the Pink ‘Un but it was a long time ago and I cannot honestly remember.

      Reply
      • martin penney says

        11th July 2020 at 4:25 pm

        I forgot – as for WELL, I feel ashamed that I can’t give you a direct or accurate answer but in all fairness I doubt many MFW [or other writers] could either.

        Financial structures with many incomings and outgoings can create black holes is all that I know. And not just within the football industry.

        Some folks out there will know the truth but I’m not one of them.

        Thanks.

        Reply

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