Norwich City have players from quite literally all over the world, from Cuba to Greece via Poland, Finland, Argentina and several other countries too. But the win we ground out against *the Rams of Rooney* [c. G Gowers] was to a large degree very much courtesy of our brace of Scotsmen.
Granite Hanley from Dumfries and Mayor McLean of Cambuslang – an outlying suburb of Glasgow to the uninitiated – were outstanding in a second half where we were harried out of our usual fluid game by the men in white. That’s possibly the best I’ve seen from Hanley to date and Kenny wasn’t far behind him.
As far as our trip to Pride Park is concerned we did just enough to win. A superb up and over the wall free kick from Kieran Dowell on the edge of the *D* was a goal fit to win any game and I’m sure Mario Vrancic would have heartily joined in with the celebrations from the bench. He’d have been proud of that one would our Mario, and it will prove to be just as valuable as that Vrancic special against Sheffield Wednesday two seasons ago.
We took our collective foot off the pedal after the break, particularly after Dowell and Emi Buendia were hooked around the hour mark. Buendia had received yet more targeted stick, not least when Andre Wisdom [anyone remember him?] followed through after winning the ball. It looks a lot nastier on the replays – have a shufti.
Emi returned to the bench complete with the inevitable ice pack so it was obviously the right decision from the Head Coach but that double change hardly helped the rhythm of our passing game. Marco Stiepermann and Pepe Placheta offer different things, of course.
Patrick Roberts and Todd Cantwell were also having a tit-for-tat in terms of naughties. No love lost there I would suspect.
We saw both sides of Tim Krul. A flying save from a fine shot from Teden Mengi brought out the best in Holland’s Number One, but an incredible gaffe in stoppage time so nearly could have proved fatal. The otherwise excellent Andrew Omobamidele put Krul in trouble down by the corner flag and he was rinsed by Colin Kazim-Richards who laid it off to the unmarked Graeme Shinnie.
Preston again? No, Shinnie shinned it over the top of the gaping goal. Relief all round.
With Watford winning on Friday, Brentford strolling the lunchtime fixture and Swansea destroying Preston that will turn out to be a very important win for Norwich City indeed.
For probably the very first time this season Daniel Farke acknowledged how close we are to the Premier League once more.
“If I am honest 90 points has always been enough in the past to get promoted. That is why this was a big win. To bring it over the line,” he said afterwards.
“We have some strong sides to play and we are still a young side. I think the pressure is away now.
“My gut feeling is we will now celebrate promotion to the Premier League at the end of the season. But it is not completely over the line so we cannot fully relax.
“We need maybe two more points and it is no guarantee but I don’t see us losing our last five games. We have to go on with the same focus and confidence and then I am quite confident we will be in the Premier League.”
Now the dust has settled and a glance at the Championship League table makes for a very satisfying feeling – as it has done for several weeks now – it’s so very nearly time to concentrate on what might happen next season, but that’s one for the near future, not right now.
BREAKING NEWS: Swansea City receive two-point deduction for wearing the worst football kit ever seen in Europe.
The only piece of music I can really leave you good MFW readers with just now is this one, even if the band are playing in Derby County colours, and I’d like to dedicate it to all supporters of Watford, Brentford and Swansea everywhere.
Ending with the Dave Clark Five, never thought I,d see the day. have not got one for City. But do for Bruce up in Newcastle. with his remarks concerning Norwich Way.
Living in the Past Jethro Tull.
Good sum up Mr P. not a lot I can add really, that hasn,t already been said.
Will the nerves getting over the line and getting the trophy kick in, ? They did a little last time. or are we more experienced . With still two very tough homes on the horizon we may have to settle for a point from each. Then get the title, would take shine off a remarkable season. To think after 3-4 games I said give him 10 games to properly judge. That looks a tad silly now..
Morning Lad
The DC5 were before my time but some of their catchy hits have always been played on the radio – I used Glad all Over after one particularly fine win earlier in the season.
I heard Bruce’s comments too and like you I wasn’t impressed. I’ve developed a real dislike of Newcastle ever since the unpleasant entity that is Ashley took over and this only serves to heighten my distaste for the Mags – the club, not its supporters.
There were nerves in that second half and that’s for sure. There will be until we get over the line I’m afraid. I wouldn’t be surprised at all if both Bournemouth and Watford end up as draws as you say – and that would be enough for us to relax – players, coaches and supporters alike.
Cheers
The only saving grace for Newcastle is that they paid decent money for Murphy and Lewis.
I sensed neither Murphy would be missed too much but I feel a bit sorry for Jamal as he was good for us but hasn’t really impressed since he left.
Great headline and choice of music – your choice or Gary’s??
Yes, :Catch us if you can Indeed!!’. OK, our GD took a bit of a dent, especially to Brentford, but we are SOOO far ahead on both points and GD, that if they get anywhere near us in either I’ll have no hats left!! 😄. Especially with an away game at Vicarage Road to look forward to next mouth. 🤔
Onto the game itself. Stunning free kick which deserved to be a match winner and yes, I’m sure that Mario world have been very proud of it, as would James Madison formerly of this Parish!! (I see that he and a couple of his teammates were dropped for the game V WetSham for partying. Absolutely right decision!!)
I know a few people are not Hanley fans, but after that immense display on Saturday, even they should be won over. IMO, he has been fantastic all season and the number of clean sheets we have had back this up.
Thankfully, DF and his coaches now have a complete week to work with the players before the double header of Bournemouth and Watford (I think I’m right in saying that they are the only 2 teams who can do ‘the double’ on us this season ll).
I’d LOVE to see us clinch promotion V Bournemouth (if results go our way, we could be prompted before we even kick off) and then win the title in the Watford game!!
IF that was to happen in front of a full house in NR1, then we’d certainly need a plethora of roofing contractors there next Wednesday.!! 😆
Morning Ed
Headline Gary’s [it always is], music mine [it always is].
I didn’t see the bit about Madders on the lash but as you say, Hanley’s been first class. It doesn’t matter if he plays alongside Gibson, Zimbo or Omobamidele, his performance level is consistently high.
As things reach the crucial stage I agree that all of us will surely be lamenting our collective enforced absence from the ground even more than usual. Blackburn two years ago was unforgettable and those who then travelled to Villa Park must have enjoyed that experience even more.
Cheers
DF said after the Huddersfield game, that he would have taken a “dirty 1-0 win”, and that’s what we got on Saturday (not that the play was “dirty” particularly, but that’s what we got).
I think we’re done and dusted for promotion now, just need to clinch top spot. Neither Watford nor Bournemouth have good away records this season against top six clubs, so let’s keep that standard up when they visit us.
Hi Jim
The language of football has expanded incredibly over the last half a dozen seasons to the extent that young journos like Archant’s Connor S won’t remember the days when phrases like *high/low press*, *duels* and *win dirty* didn’t exist.
That famous poetic line *the child is father to the man* has never been better exemplified as the old ‘uns like me have to assimilate the new speech!
As CanaryLad says [above] a brace of draws will do us, but I very much doubt our Daniel will settle for that.
Cheers
Hi Martin. I probably get more than my share of “new football speak”, having a son who coaches for the Community Sports Foundation, and a grandson studying sports science at university. Bit of a change from my day – “just get stuck in, boy, you’ll be alright”!!
Funny old world. We’ve got a mate round replacing a fence today and his boy is part of the City under 18 squad while doing the prelude to just such a course at [I think] Easton College.
He’ll be sweating soon over what we allHe hope is his first professional contract at the club, but it’s no myth that the Academy encourage and back the youngsters in terms of their education away from football on a *just in case* basis.
He is Billy Walker and dad Darren didn’t even know he’d named him after a famous British boxer until I told him.
What a difference a 10-year age gap can make 🙂
Do you remember Terry Downs he was from an Eastern boxing clan
Yes I do remember Terry Downes although I never saw him fight, even on the tellly. Dad met him a couple of times.
He came from somewhere in North London and if I remember rightly he moved up from middle to light-heavy.
Downes died only a few years ago – I’ll have to google him later.
A very good read, Martin. Sadly, I do remember Andre Wisdom. Gave away a stupid penalty against Sunderland towards the end of 2015/16 season which led to us losing the game 3-0. We were well on top at the time and had we won that game, I don’t think we would have been relegated. Still, mustn’t live in the past. We’ll leave that to our friends down the road!
Hi Malcolm
Your memory is certainly better than mine in that I recall Wisdom as an inauspicious right back but not the Sunderland incident. He’s certainly filled out a bit since then!
Poor old 1p5wich – I think that’s 2.5 games played without a shot on target now.
Thanks a lot
2.5 or 25??? Not too sure really!!!
🙂
So Martin; it’s nearly done.
Saturday was always going to be a bit of “after the Lord Mayor’s Show” following the demolition of Huddersfield, and we needed a shot of WKD (that’s Wicked Kieran Dowell) to do it. And what a shot it was; certainly as good as Mr. Rooney;s at the Carra back in October.
As DF has once again been overlooked for the Manager of the Month (how do they pick the winners as I thought Robbie Savage was on the BBC panel??), it would be incredible Karma to beat Bournemouth to clinch promotion, and then do the same against Watford to wrap up the title – since both games are live on SKY. I just hope that (particularly against Watford) the officials are up to it.
What a shame we cannot get to be there for either match.
O T B C
Morning John
Yes those two fixtures would have really been quite something to attend in person, but I guess that’s a case of que sera, sera.
Danny Wilson [ex-Barnsley & Sheff Weds] joins the player panel for the Manager award and I can’t immediately think of a grudge he might have against us 🙂
I’d like to seal it against Bournemouth too – the little club with the big $$$
Cheers
Excellent song choice-I’m glad all over that you’ve kept away from the prog.
After the Huddersfield game that was full of highlights, it’s good to see we can still get ‘a filthy 1-0’ with only one highlight. Good teams win lots of games 1-0.
Steve Bruce reckons Newcastle would probably get relegated if they played like Norwich. A wise person on Twitter countered that Norwich would definitely get relegated if they played like Newcastle. I don’t like or dislike Newcastle but I’m still hurting after being at the Sports Direct Arena when we lost 3-2 despite being 2-1 up 3 minutes into stoppage time. It’s the only time I have had altitude sickness watching a game.
Ha!
I used Glad All over earlier in the season, can’t remember which game.
I’ve only been to the old St James’s Park, but I dislike Mike Ashley and respect Mags supporters in equal measure.
Believe it or not I suffer from mild but significant vertigo so I’ll cross the new stadium off my wish list for next season – they’ll surely stay up.
Cheers mate
Not sure I’ve ever seen such a nonchalant, exocet missile of a free kick, just stunning, David Marshall’s reaction said it all, some player Kieran Dowell.
Grant Hanley is 29, at the peak of fitness and his career but most of all it’s his leadership qualities, he’s becoming our talisman, so vital to any team.
Win the next two and we can as good as celebrate being champions again and look forward and start preparing ourselves for next seasons version of survival, VAR, MOD, the ‘lovely’ Mike Dean, etc, etc.
Hi Colin
*A nonchalant exocet* – I like the concept and in this case you’re spot on. It was.
VAR opens up the opportunity for biased interpretation, which didn’t exactly help us last time around the PL sun.
What frightens me as much as anything is that they’ve promised to *improve it*.
Lord ‘elp us.
Cheers
Many of these Buendia “knocks” are surely as much to do with his wholehearted approach as any skulduggery on the part of opponents. The one that seemed to trouble him most in the PNE game was in the first half when he went into a 50-50 and came off worse – not surprising, because compared to most of the people tackling him he’s the lightweight. He takes quite a few contacts like that.
But it doesn’t stop him getting stuck in face to face, shin to shin, ankle to ankle.
By comparison Screamy Todd (potential rhyming slang for diving sod?) never seems to get into that kind of tackle but in some games spends his time falling over with the least contact from behind. The PNE game was a classic for that – given the difficulties we faced I felt Todd, who was fresh having played only a few minutes in the internationals, was one who let Farke down that night. To be fair though he’s stayed on his feet more and put a better shift in in the two games that followed.
As for Steve Bruce, what he said may be technically correct – but coming from a guy who has one of the worst records I can think of in spending big whilst achieving little, it’s a bit thick. I think we should respond by thanking him politely for vastly overpaying us for Jamal Lewis (yes, he did, nobody else was ever willing to pay that sort of sum) and suggest he makes no further comment until he has the Magpies established in he top 10.
Hi Keith
Yes there’s a lot in your point about Emi, but I still believe he’s targeted.
There’s a lot in your point about TC too – a heck of a lot – but he has seemed much more effective when he’s dropped deeper during *game management* time. He doesn’t put the tackles in agreed but he knows how to hold up an opponent for a few vital seconds.
Steve Bruce is one of those who will call anybody out to deflect from his own faults. Anybody but Ashley in charge and he would be stale toast.
Cheers
Hi Martin
DC5 all Spurs supporters in the day only 3 surviving members of the band now living in USA 🇺🇸 and DC is one of them.
On the Danny Wilson thing in his playing days he was a top class Midfielder with Luton Town and a few other teams and can find no connect to Ipshite so not a clue on his possibly gripe with city.
Hanley as I said yesterday some Blackburn supporters liken him to Mike England let’s hope unlike him Spurs don’t come calling he looks like a Jose type CB.
Rooney is looking for a major rebuild fir next season and their young talent Sibley could be a steal for city and their are a couple of others the bigger clubs are interested in.
I see the old cliche came out from WR that they gave city to much respect that in real terms mean nothing just say you were rubbish but did better in the second half, I respect many people and treat them so but it wouldn’t stop me trying to beat them in any sport.
Bournemouth are blowing hot and cold 🥶 so who knows what will turn up come 8pm Saturday a draw will be a let down at this stage as I think we can turn them over but time will tell.
Watford have turn a poor season around by taking up the bully boy tactics Chalobah abd Sarr and taking it in turns during the game to get the niggling little taps in as they orchestrated against reading but they also have the modern Mustoe in Hughes so this will be a game not for the faint hearted and A-O will be really tested now this I will be happy to see as a draw.
Onwards and upwards
OTBC
Stay Safe and Stay Healthy
Any news when the delayed kickoff will be played
Hi Alex
The DC5 used to call themselves the Tottenham sound as a pi$$take of the Beatles. I didn’t know they were Spurs fans but it seems logical 🙂
I might have seen Mike England in 1967 but I was only nine so can’t remember anybody that day except Greaves and Pat Jennings.
As far as I know all other EFL games are moved back to 1230 with ours remaining at 2000 for TV purposes, natch.
Bournemouth are blowing a bit hot just right now so we’ll have to wait and see. They certainly can’t afford to play for a draw and we never do that anyway so it could be quite some game.
Cheers mate
On the DC5 there was a prog on Sky ladt year and it showed them with Bill Nick and the team after the European Cup win.
All Tottenham born