We’re riding along on the crest of a wave and the sun is in the sky. There are chips, chips, as big as battleships in the quartermaster’s stores. And Jesus wants me for a sunbeam along with all of my colleagues in the 4th Goodmayes cub scout pack.
No I didn’t want to join – I was hardly consulted. When you’re eight years of age it’s hard to argue with the establishment. Well, it was in the early 1960s anyway although I’m sure modern children would run to Social Services if they were forced into such a weird organisation via parental coercion.
Join the Cubs and everything will turn out just fine, hey?
I seriously fear I saw the last of our remaining cubs on Saturday. Todd Cantwell has ejected himself from the pack and Emi Buendia will always be a lupo which makes him really rather different.
The cub I refer to is Max, obviously. He played very well again at the weekend but it’s surely time he went for his own good and also his professional aspirations. He deserves better than this $hitstorm.
Against Derby County, nothing turned out just fine. At all. That game had the lot from my standpoint. Everything that is bad about Norwich City, all displayed on the pitch at varying times during the same match.
Before you could put your woggle on your necktie there was the feeling that surely, surely even we could get a result here against a team that had forgotten how to win, Wayne Rooney and Phillip Cocu notwithstanding.
Then the definitive ACN scenario unfolded. Perfectly and so ironically in temporal terms.
We bossed the game for 15 minutes, without having a shot in anger of course. Derby, superbly marshalled by an ageing Curtis Davis, crept back into the game and stiffed us out until half time.
Then seven or eight minutes after the break the most blatant handball you will ever see provided us with a penalty. Up trotted the goat, he fell on his ar$e and the rest is history.
Some joker on the Sky commentary team said that if it had gone into the net it would have had to be retaken because Pukki used both feet to connect with the ball in the first place.
I’m sure that can happen to anybody but I can’t remember the last occasion that it did. Okay, we’ll blame the groundsman. Well you can if you want to, I blame Teemu Pukki.
Then inevitably, half an hour later, Lukas Rupp decides to bring Derby sub Jason Knight down on the edge of the box – in Rooney territory. Not the halfway line, the edge of the box. A magnificent free-kick I freely acknowledge and if Mario Vrancic had done the equivalent I would be praising him to the hilt.
Throw in a couple of terrific saves at the end from David Marshall after the belated introduction of Jordan Hugill and there was only one other incident of note in the entire second half. The compulsory strop from el lupo emerged when he was taken off for Hugill.
We are all signed up to supporting a self-sustaining, self-funding club whether we like it or not.
It ain’t working, so I suspect something to happen over the soon-come international break.
Do I expect Max Aarons, Emi Buendia or [hopefully] Todd Cantwell to be with us at the end of said break?
No I don’t.
But I’m also getting the feeling that Daniel Farke has had enough as well.
And that my friends would be tragic
Gary G said yesterday he was mildly concerned about pitchforks in Carlton Colville. Well in my neck of the City there are a few folks calling for Igor complete with chains and his baying hounds. For Daniel Farke, not MFW writers.
No guys. We have to give the scientist a little bit longer in the castle before we bring the torches out.
Morning Mr P, you sound a tad ratty,To be honest we have seen this few times before, but not with departing players . I have expected it or something very close to it . Faroe turned to the faithful Steipo, who of course was in need of a little wd40 to remove the rust. I would not have included EMI in the team as good or as bad as he can be. The boy doesn,t want to be here so he doesn’t get to take someone place. I will not comment on the Dereham wonder kid, I have very personal reasons, and will hold on to them in public. I have tried to get behind him but …
Wonder how many other players would jump at the chance of catching the bus for other towns, for me Trybull & Leather would have been kept in the squad for this league. I might be a bit old school but if they don,t want to play, then train with the kids.
If anyone has a right to make a noise for me it is Hugill, brought here because of his style of play but gets countable minutes, it is early yet in the season, but Farke had little hesitation in chucking on a striker who clearly out of his depth last season. Now we have a guy who knows the league plus proved he knows where the goal is, left on the bench for over 80 mins. Ludicrous in my eyes. He has to play third fiddle behind a kid, I would be wondering what and why.
Farke,s flowing football is known to all and sundry including the tealady, easy to stifle plus frustrate, he promised plan b , but seen far too !ate, as 7 points have flittered away. How much longer will this continue ?
P**s this Farke has a job for as long as he wants it, how many clubs would stick with him and his record ? Waiting for lightening to strike twice, even the quiet Bournemouth decided steady Eddie had ran his course. Another ACN
I am not calling for his head just yet I said a couple of years ago, give him 10 games, this time 10 starting from the return for this break. It has been said about losing players in this window, well Bournemouth have and seem to be managing quite well, sure they have their own wantaways too.
On weekend of strange results Leicester, Manure ? Liverpool I again give some credit to the Linnets history making stuff for them, when fans are allowed back in I will be paying The Walks a visit, won’t be as hard to get in. And players might be a tad more honest
Morning Lad
Sure I sound a bit ratty – I wrote this at 3pm on Saturday fer chrissakes!
As for your comment on TC I’m pretty sure where you’re at but like you I choose to keep those thoughts private.
The Hugill conundrum continues to confound most of us I think A 4-4-2 with Pukki playing slightly behind Hugill to effectively make it a 4-4-1-1? I’ve seen a lot of opinions that suggest this is a way forward and I’d certainly be up for it . Or even a 3-5-1-1 come to that.
Lynn is a bit far for me geographically [realistically it would have to be Wroxham for me] but I understand your sentiments, believe me.
As somebody said here yesterday I’ve never actively welcomed an international break before but for once it’s surely come at the right time.
Thanks as ever.
Morning Martin, the whole club feels like it could do with a good shake, I agree about Max he deserves to be playing at a higher level. Daniel Farke looks dejected, I have been a firm believer in his brand of football but the last six months have been bloody awful. I know the virus has been upon us but it has not been exclusively our virus. Other teams throughout the pyramid seem to be coping better.
So I think Mr Webber some rockets need to be launched up some southerly passages. We look like a team/ club that needs to man up PDQ.
Having said all that it is early in the evolution of this new team and I really hope Daniel can pull it round. as Farkeball has so much to admire when it works.
Morning Andy
Rockets launched up southerly passages. Quite right my friend.
Farke does indeed look [and occasionally sound] dejected but like you I feel he should be given a while longer to blend this new-look NCFC together.
I understand why [more than] some folks are calling for Daniel’s dismissal but I am not one of them. He must be given time after the window closes, until Christmas at least imo.
Unless there’s a typical Webber leftfield selection out there what would we be left with anyway? The Cowleys? Eddie Howe surely wouldn’t want the gig – he enjoyed too much support at Bournemouth to want to come here.
I guess, as much as it pains us, we should be patient for a little while longet yet.
Cheers.
Excellent read Martin.
I think teams have worked out if you pack the middle of the field we become ineffective. It’ll be interesting to see how we respond during the season.
I also think Max deserves a lot better than Saturdays mess. Of all the youngsters I rate him the best. Certainly City’s best ever right back and we’ve had some good ones. Not at all surprised Barcelona are interested.
It’s just very depressing at the moment, especially when you think of what might have been if we’d shown some ambition and taken a bit of a risk last year. As it is we played safe and are still selling our best young players.
Hi John
Interesting observation on Max as our best right back of all time. I’d offer one Ian Culverhouse as a decent alternative. Such a different style of player from a different era of course but somehow I always felt secure with him on the right and Mark Bowen on the left.
I truly wish Max well as I do equally Ben and Jamal, come to that.
Show some ambition…… now chance would be a fine thing 🙂
Cheers
Culver house was my second choice.
Just seen Ben’s farewell message. I wonder if Ancelotti will turn him into a holding midfield player as once or twice last year he went on a charge demonstrating exceptional pace and power.
Ben’s message was sheer class – see my comment below.
Carlo Ancelotti will bring the very, very best out of Ben which is why I’m sure Everton was a great choice for him.
Just as with Madders it’s terrific when the Canary nation come together to wish a departee all the best – and mean it.
Have to say Martin that I wish all that promotion side well wherever they end up as they gave me more enjoyment than any other City team.
It’s Lambert’s mob for me. Not for style but for sheer excitement.
I was moving a daughter into university on Saturday so didn’t get to see the game. I dipped in and out of the commentary on TalkSQUIT sort of ‘knowing’ that this was going to be an ACN game. It was obvious Rooney was going to score as soon as the free kick was awarded. I still haven’t watched any of the game, I doubt I’ll ever bother.
Two years ago, when our record after 4 games was the same as it is now, I said I would wait until we had played 10 games before I got too fed up. However, that was when we seemed to be at the start of a new way of playing and operating-I’m now wondering if we are at the end of it.
I wonder who will be about when we return from the ridiculous international break.
By the way, I got kicked out of Cubs not long after I joined-I think I dodged a bullet.
Dear Marty, I’m writing this as passenger on the not so good ship Canary. After last year’s debacle I was reluctant to step on board again but like the optimistic fool that I am I believed the blurb about a new crew and a return to better destinations. The Master is a pleasant fellow but I can never understand a word he sez, he stand alone and dejected on the bridge. Up in the rigging also on his own is seaman Pukki, he looks so small and unsteady amongst all that canvass and yesterday he fell. Some of the crew have already mutinied and one is in the brig. The sea is getting rough, we’ve sprung a leak and we seem to be following the same course as last year. I’m too old for this, I need to find a new and enjoyable pastime. Cutty.
Oh blimey!
When I saw the word *rigging* I was worried because we all know the word that rhymes with that but luckily you were not referring to the good ship Venus.
Actually Pukki with Finland home kit on and his beard does remind me a tad of a sailor during the Napoleonic wars. I’d never considered that before but thanks to you I now have.
Yeah I think a few of us salty old seadogs are getting a bit miffed.
We could be like the Marie Celeste come January.
Splice the mainbrace and all that.
Cheers pal.
If the good ship canary has a destination, right now I only see fog. Hopefully a lighthouse will appear shortly and we don’t hit the rocks below.
Now if you could see Kenny FOGgo that might help. Even now.
Lighthouse? Ask Delia. She likes lighting candles.
Hi Don
I wouldn’t watch that match back if I were you. Not even the Sky highlights.
The irony was that Cocu was preparing to take Rooney off when the free kick was awarded. And why didn’t Lukas Rupp take Knight down just over half-way? Rupp wasn’t last man so it surely would only have been a yellow.
However Rupp did look a lot better in centre mid so hopefully a few will get off his back.
I too was ejected from the Cub Scout movement – when I was about 10. The incident involved myself, two of my little mates and 10 Players’ no.6.
Surprisingly my old man didn’t go ape$hit – but when Baloo brings you home there are no guarantees. Good luck to your daughter – these are testing times for everyone living away from home just now.
Thanks mate
This is not something I would normally do – eg break into the comments on my own article – but if any one of our readers wants to witness pure class:
Check out Ben Godfrey’s comments on his move to Everton.
What a man and all the best to him.
Pleased you got it off your chest Martin.
I’m happy to take a longer term view and don’t expect fireworks this season whilst we re-build. The loss of Kieran Dowell is unfortunate as we lack that quality elsewhere in the squad.
We look weary and lacking belief, ‘Lady Luck’ plays a part too.
I love Emi but tbh he’s been rubbish for ages now, he’s Argentinian and 23 years old and thinks he’s too good for Norwich as does Cantwell.. I thought Emi would go to Villa but somehow they got Barkley instead.
Let’s give it another month, it’s going to be a strange season but we have a decent squad that just needs to get on the front foot to win games.
Hi Colin
As I’ve mentioned earlier I’m more than prepared to give it another month. Two or even three more months in total perhaps.
Other NCFC folks are less inclined to cut so much slack but I stand by what I’ve said.
I could actually see Emi fitting in to this season’s version of Villa but they don’t look like they need him right now.
Us MFW folks of a certain generation have [quite literally] seen it all before so very little would surprise us.
Thoughts surrounding that particular game needed removing from my chest asap so you’re quite right there.
Thanks as always.
Thanks as always.
Hi Martin
Enjoyable read and what a weekend of football.
No Cubs for me Sea Cadets in Gorleston lt was ok in the summer but the winter walking along Yarmouth Quay and getting the old ferry over the river soon lost its appeal on cold and wet nights.
Any Football yesterday I was called a happy Clapper for not wanting Farke out my simple reasoning is the past is the past you can’t change that, this is a new season, Team still trying to find their feet so they need time to get.
I was pleased but very surprised with the Spurs result and the LIVARPOOL result was better than anyone could dream of just a pity it was Villa that got the result.
Now we have big question that will need answering Godfrey, Lewis out the door, Aaron’s, Emi, Hernandez and Cantwell all possibly out, how will they be if some or none get a move in the next 11 days, can they put it behind them and fight for a starting place, if they do depart then we will have a smaller squad maybe that’s what Webber wants or will he surprise us with a couple of late additions only time will tell.
Onwards and upwards
OTBC
Stay safe and stay healthy
Something to add justvread that Klose is about to sign for a nominal fee and return to Basel, sad to see him leave but in truth we have never seen the best of him with all his injuries.
Now we are really short in the CB position so come on Webber surprise us all and sign Cameron carter vickers
Carter-Vickers? I’d love him as you I and a couple of others have said over the past few weeks. We’re done mate. Nobody else coming here.
Hi Alex
I don’t want Farke out either but I have no idea what he will be like under pressure from those who do and they are slowly gaining momentum from what I can see.
Forget any late additions to the squad. They will not be arriving.
I hope Cantwell goes, Emi might depart and Max deserves to leave us. He’s too good, a phrase I haven’t used for anybody else apart from Kevin Reeves and Madders.
Working at Carrow Road/Colney just now [in any capacity] must be akin to trying to pump the gas back into the R101 or refloating the Titanic.
But Delia will be pretty happy with the newly-found £4o million for Ben and Jamal so surely that’s all that matters?
When I changed schools I was shoved straight into the CCF. We all were apart from a few kids whose parents were CND-style objectors. When you got to 13 you drilled with a Lee Enfield and at 14 were allowed onto the range with a .22 rifle. Under extremely strict supervision of course.
Looking back I quite enjoyed it. The CCF, not the Cubs!
And the Spurs go marching on.
Well written piece Martin.
Given Webber and Farke have signed a load of new players whom I assume they think will suit their style of play I think they must be given more time, probably until Christmas. A new manager/ head coach would need a bit of time to assess the squad before the next transfer window.
I remain optimistic that the after the transfer window closes the ship may get on to an even keel. I’m not convinced that Farke knows his best eleven yet. If I was him I would be experimenting more with different combinations but he does tend to stick with players and formations.
As I have said before I hope Godfrey does well at Everton, he deserves a chance as does Aarons. The sooner we get shot of Cantwell the better, so disappointing.
If as seems likely we keep Trybull and Leitner I would consider them for the team. Their display against Newcastle last season was really good.
Hi Colin – interesting.
Everyone and his dog seems to know that something *went wrong* with Mo Leitner last season. Myself and our dogs must be the only ones who don’t know the ins and outs of it all. They’re typical terriers – great ratters but they don’t pick up the goss from the other dogs on the beach or the woods. Labradors? We don’t bark with them, kind of thing.
TT I would welcome back in an instant. But somebody at NCFC knows better so he’ll not be available for us any more I’m afraid.
We just have to stumble along for a while imo. It’s the Norwich way after all.
Thanks
Norwich forced Pukki to play against Derby, he has infected leg and is not playing at least against Poland. Surely that is not first time when Norwich has forced him to play.
Hi not good
I’ve only picked up on this issue very recently so didn’t reference it in my article because I simply didn’t know about it.
On face value it seems ridiculous. Teemu’s had this problem for a long while now. Injections only go so far – I’m pretty sure it’s still cortesone that most physios use.
Strangely I had a similar issue myself six weeks ago when my left calf was badly swollen and the skin on the leg turned into pork crackling. A course of anti-bios and Zerobase creme has made things much better but it took a month to be rectified and I couldn’t walk the bl00dy dogs properly for about three weeks.
The doctor gave me tests for diabetes ffs! No, I haven’t got it.
How Teemu [or anybody] can play under those circumstances is totally beyond me.
Thanks for sharing.
Hi, Martin. Your article was good and I had same opinion about Teemus penalty kick. Now those injury problems makes things little bit sad, I did knew that Norwich will play Pukki as often as possible, but pushing player to play also when he is obviously too injured goes too far. Norwich also has 3 other striker options, I can understand that Norwich wants to play Pukki but if he is all the time injured and keeps playing its not vise idea. Finland will not push him to play if he is not health, he surely wants to play at least some in nations league games.
My opinion Norwich main problems are Pukki, Buendia and likely Cantwell too. I doubt that you are able to solve problems until they have moved away. You have difficult to keep them out of playing and thats why nothing will change before. Also situation where Norwich does not get results and they dont play well affects to their careers too, mainly buendias and cantwells. To Pukki it affects to his national team starting place.
Cortesone has always been overused in sports, sad to hear about your experiences. Cortesone and physiotherapy are recommended because they are way cheaper than actually solve problems.
Hi not good
Teemu has never made any secret of how proud he is to play for Finland and us NCFC supporters are well aware of how much he is loved in his homeland.
He originally damaged his toe against Leicester around the turn of the year and has never been the same player since.
I thought it was a bit cheeky when Markku Kanerva said Pukki should leave us in the summer when we were relegated but if we were playing Teemu when not fully fit then your national manager had a very good reason to say what he did after all.
Thanks again.
A very entertaining take on what was anything but entertainment from Saturday’s offering.
I’ve never been a “good loser”, in fact I think the phrase is stupid – there’s nothing good about losing. However, the constant water torture of defeat after abysmL defeat has worn through my veneer and left me feeling drained. One can be congratulatory and sportsmanlike in defeat but that’s a different thing.
Quite how we contrived to lose to that awful Derby outfit is the question. I venture the omission of the monster that is hugill had something to do with it. Some decent service went a begging yet again as pukki was negated by Farkes own tactical set up.
Aarons again was excellent, rupp did OK, until he failed to scythe down his runner until he hit the red zone, Gibson was what we expected, a centre half. Mario produced a beauty of a ball for Max’s chance, as did skipp for hugills thumping header. All in all however, for that much dominance to end in the ubiquitous norwich city nil refrain is simply not good enough.
The summer brought perhaps a dozen new faces into Colney. However, four of these were immediately sent on loan, two are teenage boys and a three are loanees. Temper this agains the expulsion of Drmic, trybull and Leitner, the return of Duda, the loss of two more and the pending loss of others and the “huge intent” we apparently showed is seen in a sharper focus.
Cut through the bull, Webber has stated that an instant return is the clubs target, or did I hear him incorrectly? If this isn’t just a sound bite, a load of bollox, then further substantial bolstering of the squad is necessary, particularly if others leave.
Anything less and the “model” or “project” or whatever it is is defunct. And then we all know exactly where we stand.
Hi Chris
I’ve been pretty restrained so far today and when you get a comment from *not good* above who I can only presume is of Finnish extraction it tends to drag things into perspective. A top geezer, looking towards the welfare of his national side’s main striker and quite right too.
*Cut through the bull, Webber has stated that an instant return is the club’s target, or did I hear him incorrectly? If this isn’t just a sound bite, a load of bollox*
I’m sure you noticed that I cut your quote off at the word b0ll0x.
While we have joint majority shareholders who have no ostensible desire to be part of the Premier League because they feel it is beneath them rather than above them, what the feck can we do? Sodding nothing mate, that’s what.
We’ve always had models throughout the Smith dynasty and always will have a new one beginning a few weeks after the previous one collapses into abject failure.
I cannot stand any more of the Smith-Wynn-Jones family values and doubt I’ll ever return to the Carra even if only because Mrs P tells me I keep putting up with being treated like poo and paying for the privilege.
And she’s rarely wrong in such matters, believe me.
The only remotely good thing about Covid is it has helped me make the break. After 33 years of ST’s but right now is the time I can see our situation will never be allowed to improve.
I’ll keep writing though – I’m an awkward $od!
Cheers
Hello Martin, I wholeheartedly agree with those sentiments.
I manage to compartmentalise my feelings on the subject in order to maintain my attendance, which pricks my conscience somewhat.
I’ve long since seen through the smiths and I hate the direction the club has taken under them. However, unlike some, I do not see smith as Norwich City FC, the institution I fell head over heels for when a small lad. The experiences, the memories, the triumphs, the disasters (which have increased over the last 20 or so years) are what I support. It’s the badge. I feel no affinity and certainly no loyalty to whoever sits in the directors box, never have, never will.
That said, the one crumb of comfort gleaned from the record breaking, club history making all time run of shite results and performances is that smith will pay me back every cent and I’m not bugger ing off up the Thorpe road cursing, drenched to the bone, wondering why on earth I bother while being forty or fifty quid lighter in the wallet.
Hi mate we’ve all been there. Trouble is that some of us acknowledge it and others don’t Nothing we can do about it.
NCFC’s a great place wherein to get your feet under the table.
A old HM band called Deep Purple recorded this yonks ago and I’d like to dedicate it to the Smiths:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5R-voFL4ZL8
But the trouble is they DO fool a lot of dedicated, hardcore fans.
I’ll give it a while but not forever.
A great read and interesting comments regarding Farke.
In hindsight, had Daniel walked – or at least threatened – to walk at the start of the season for not being financially supported/taken for granted etc, the pressure would have immediately swung to Webber and our hapless majority shareholders. with Farke’s stock very high. I wonder if he looks back and wonders?
Whatever Farke did last year, once we got going we were virtually unstoppable. Few expected it and went against the plan. What was his reward?
Maybe Daniel is too nice. An old school manager would have made his views very clear, howling about how he achieved triumph over adversity and brought Norwich back to the top tier and wanting to stay there. The last part of that sentence it is moot point for the club.
If Daniel realises that he is swimming against tide, Norwich have a dilemma. Few managers would work under the current criteria, so it is likely we would get a Farke clone and a cheap one at that. That would take time, if it every worked and I’m not entirely convinced that would be a move forward.
As ever, who is at the top dictates what happens below and that is the sad part in the story of Norwich City Football Club.
Hi Inside Right
I really couldn’t agree with you more. I’ve never met Daniel Farke or any of his current coaching team but they’ve hardly done a bad job under the circs.
You mention a couple of poignant things. Maybe Daniel is indeed too nice and we’ll never know what his personal reward was for promotion. Probably a slap on the wrist from Delia for over-achieving, I would imagine. People of my ilk shouldn’t feel sorry for Daniel and his colleagues but I do – I’d hate to do his job even if I had my badges, which I don’t!
*Few managers would work under the current criteria. As ever, who is at the top dictates what happens below and that is the sad part in the story of Norwich City Football Club*.
Sorry to cannibalise your post but the resulting amalgam [above] says it all.
Thanks – great stuff.
Good stuff (and comments) as always Mr P…..I said to a fellow Canary supporting dog walker on Friday that if ever there was a typical Along Come Norwich match then Saturday’s was it. Derby were pointless and pretty much clueless prior to it, but why, oh why do we continue to be so accommodating to these struggling teams, and perpetually give them a helping hand (or in this case slip)??
Yes, we have to integrate so many new faces, and already lady luck has shown she will not be won round easily (see Dowell’s injury and Pukki’s studs), but please everyone, we are 4 games into the season. As for the transfers, I wonder how many Canary fans truly thought that the first 2 out would be Jamal and Ben? Good luck to both of them for what they’ve done here, and what they will do for their new clubs. I really thought Max would have gone and unless things improve he will definitely be on his way in January. Todd has burned all his bridges; Emi is Emi and it seems will do his own thing!
I never thought I’d say this, but with the ongoing BCD scenario, I’m getting to feel less and less bothered by it all and felt rather more peeved at not being able to go to The Walks on Saturday!
I’m sure a win at Rotherham (a game for Hugill surely??) will make things at least appear rather better than they seem at the moment!
O T B C
Hi John
You’re by no means the only MFW reader to suggest [or desire] a visit to The Walks in the last couple of weeks! One merry prankster suggested the Linnets had more ambition than us – but after a little consideration I concluded that the poster was probably being serious.
I reckon a win against Rotherham will be harder to achieve than some folks might think. As nice a guy as Warney is he’s established an extremely physical side there who seem capable of dishing it out when they feel they have to. And they’re not bad at set pieces either.
When we take the dogs over Sloughbottom Park international football is often a hot topic of conversation for the *humans*. On any given day there could be representatives [socially distanced, natch] from Greece, Portugal, Bulgaria, England, Ireland and, if Silva’s there….. Brazil!
We’ve made lots of moves to shake up the squad since relegation so Farke must surely be given time to mould them into a unit. We all know how readily stagnation is accepted as the norm at the Carra but we’re not at that stage. Yet.
Thanks as always.