Us wordsmiths have favourite words or phrases that we like to occasionally incorporate into our articles, whether on MFW or elsewhere. Mine have included *Bruce was incandescent with rage*, *Leitner adopted a masterly policy of inactivity* and *Colin wasn’t a happy bunny* – the latter of which won’t be required this season unless we meet Boro in one of the cups.
But the current buzzword of the moment that I won’t be adopting** is *undercooked* particularly in its latest incarnation of or beloved football team’s attempts to bring a pre-season campaign to the boil at just the right time. Things like transfer rumours, a couple of unwanted injuries and not least a serious outbreak of positive tests for Covid-19 in the camp come to mind.
Undercooked** has been adopted by luminaries all the way from our illustrious editor Gary down to Pep Guardiola – as well as several disgruntled social media merchants in between.
While I choose to have no direct access to Facebook, Twitter or Instagram I pick up on a few bits, whether friends send me excerpts or fans views are repeated in the media as some kind of undercooked** imitation of dignified journalism.
However, I can see that the mood of the Canary nation is darkening after Saturday’s 3-0 reversal at St James. But come on guys, what do you expect when – through the fault of nobody – our pre-season has been thrown into such disarray, particularly because of Covid. The Mags fielded a very strong side – close to their best – while we were missing six first-teamers and couldn’t even fill the bench while they could introduce several players including Alain Saint-Maximin and, erm, Jamal Lewis.
We could have filled said bench I suppose but Daniel Farke has always proclaimed that right has to be earned, which goes to show us that with the possible exception of Daniel Adshead and Jon Tomkinson none of our current Under-23 crop will be getting a look in this season if that logic continues to be applied.
Maybe that pessimistic mood will be lifted with the arrival of Josh Sargant from Werder Bremen and Christos Zlitos from PAOK Athens this week. These signings are not nailed on yet but I at least expect them to come to fruition before Saturday’s backs to the wall game with Liverpool. Six other prominent Canaries will be free of Covid restrictions, but quite how somebody like Milot Rashica can be expected to get up to speed in less than a week is beyond me.
I’d love to be a fly on the wall at Colney this particular week and that’s for sure.
Our get-out-of-jail-free card relevant to these issues is that surely nobody will expect anything in terms of points from the first four games – apart from the happiest of clappers who sits two or three along from me and would expect our Under-18s to despatch Barcelona, Messi or not. Maybe this horrible timing might yet have a silver lining.
The way the fixtures have panned out could be of benefit in that we will have the chance to integrate everybody before August is up. Some readers might wish to contradict me by saying that every game starts at 0-0 with eleven of each side on the pitch, etc, etc but I would suggest an element of realism should be taken on board. Your view is equal to mine but if we can scrape a point against Leicester I’d be so delighted I’d do a Roy Waller around the ground afterwards if we did.
I’ve always felt our real season would get underway in September and pre-season has further convinced me of that.
But please, please let us keep our powder dry for a while. I’m not prepared to make any definitive judgement until the end of September so I would appreciate it if the Private Frasers amongst us refrain from using the phrase *we’re doomed* during August, at least.
If you feel differently, don’t be afraid to tell me so in the comments.
** Oh $hit I seem to have adopted the word *undercooked* after all. But I promise readers [and myself] not to use it again
I wonder how many of our younger readers will be scratching their heads at the Roy Waller analogy…. Made me chuckle.
Hi Martin
I can’t remember the exact occasion but I think he did it in the pitch black at around 0500 one morning, but cheated by wearing boxers as he didn’t want to get arrested.
I can assure you my claim is meant to be taken with a pinch of salt rather than an actual statement of genuine intent- poor old Roy said in live on Radio Norfolk and I think he found it impossible to back down under listener pressure!
Cheers
As one of the older ones I’ve no idea what he’s on about either, but I’m long-time exile, much of it in the days before the internet. If it wasn’t on MOTD or in the paper (and I’m a broadsheet person so that probably cuts it down even more) I didn’t tend to get to hear about it.
Roy Waller was our Radio Norfolk matchday live commentator for many years before Chris Goreham and he sadly passed away a few years ago now.
I had to look up the date and the occasion but in 2003 he said live on air that he’d streak around the ground if we managed to sign Hucks permanently. He actually did a watered-down version of said streak early in 2004, but I’ve never met anybody who actually saw him do it – which was probably his intention 🙂
You’re quite right – nobody outside Norfolk would be aware of the *happening*!
Cheers
Hi Martin
Football is so unpredictable and who can say that Liverpool will not become our Man C this season.
Will Robertson with his twisted ankle be ready or the reason they lost the unwanted title the previous season Van Djke be ready for a full-throttle 90mins at Carrow Rd.
Our DF knows that he has a tough start and would have liked his yellow and green bottles all in a row prior to the kick off on Saturday but we rarely get what we want.
An American and a Greek wonder wings in over the next few days possibly Hugill might depart to pastures new with a swap muted to get Worrall or even Armstrong the later is vastly overpriced but the India Chicken sellers have put all their eggs in one basket.
We are also mentioned to be in for Fulhams Carvalho who yesterday reminded me of Buendia when he first arrived but had more of a defensive attitude for the team but is also that WHU and a few other clubs are interested agents at work I suppose.
Cantwell was absent so theorists working overtime on the Villa link only time will tell.
Not many days left and can city receive a present from Leicester if Maddison departs to Arsenal then the sell-on clause kicks in but then they might call for Cantwell.
Onwards and upwards
OTBC
Stay Healthy and Keep Safe
Hi Alex
There are too many imponderables around at the moment and I doubt that any side has completed its business yet by any means.
I’ll stick my neck out and dismiss the idea of Adam Armstrong at Venkys price. Do we need both him and Sergant? I don’t think so.
If Saturday showed us anything of value it was surely that Zimbo is too slow for the PL. In so many ways it’s hard to fault the guy but if his lack of pace worries me it must surely concern Daniel Farke even more.
My Arsenal mate Dave reckoned the Gunners had no money – but that didn’t stop them spending £50 million on Ben White from Brighton so you never know!
We can blame covid and lack of pre season friendlies for Saturday’s result,however I still think our defence is too weak and like last time in the epl we leaked too many goals.Thought Webber would have addressed this by now or he could be waiting on skipp?Let’s hope a CB is still on the shopping list or we could be crowned the sieve team!!
Hi Tony
Yes you’re right of course. Very right.
Everybody knows we need a CB and a DM – I fear waiting for Skipp might be akin to waiting for Godot, but Webber did say he’d leave that particular door open until the very last minute.
They’ve certainly learned their lessons from last time so we’ll see what they can tangibly achieve with this knowledge which is why I said I’ll decide in September.
Cheers
If we are still leaving the door open for Skipp, then it knocks the stories of Manure’s Williams coming here on the head, as we’re only allowed two loans from other Premier League clubs. Skipp and Gilmour could be a fascinating pair in mid-field, but it would be a one season wonder, leaving us looking for a new pairing for the following season.
Too true Jim, too true.
I’m more Clive Dunn than John le Mesurier on this one as in the longer this takes to resolve the more I will begin to panic.
But I will stick to my resolution and not start carping until September – it’s the only realistic attitude to adopt just now imo.
Cheers
Glad to see that Jurgen Klinsmann is advising Sargent to stay in the Bundesliga – just like he didn’t.
Hi Tony
These comments have cropped up as a subject of discussion with some friends and our collective advise to Herr Klinsmann would be halt die hoelle still.
My German speaking mate says that means *shut the feck up*
Cheers
Hi Martin
Good point re Private Frasers !! I must admit my head was darkened after Sat. But you right in what you say and I will keep calm and carry on till sept . I think most supporters however want to see that quality strong powerful DM and CB in building. They are the 2 vital cogs that need filling and have done since the transfer window opened. Skipp will not be coming back in my opinion he starting for Spurs in all their games . we need to move to plan B ASAP. Without someone physical with power with presence in mid and a quality CB to add to competition at the back I do fear for us. They don’t like it up em as they say and that bit of cold steel in mid has to be next in the building . OTBC
Hi Will
Yes there’s lots of good reasoning there. As I said to one of the Tony’s [above] these are indeed the two positions we must fill as soon as possible.
SW & DF know that too – it’s just a question of who they can get and when they can get them, I guess.
Mainwaring coped when Private Walker quit [courtesy of poor old James Beck’s early demise] but Ollie Skipp will be much harder to replace.
Thanks – good comment.
Marty, like you I haven’t taken a liking to the culinary adjective or the doom sayers, I’m also not a happy clapper. Given the number of City players available and with some of them being newbies the game was always going to be as meaningful as the Gills game. Also like you I don’t expect much from the first four games. The squad needs strengthening and players need time to bed in, will we survive? I hope so, but we’ve been this way so many times, it’s in the lap of the Gods.
Hi Cutty
In the Lap of the Gods – I know a Queen song about that. Well two actually if you’ve ever heard Sheer Heart Attack.
As long as they don’t start playing *I will survive* in the dressing room before games I shan’t mind – although maybe that might not be such a bad thing!
Cheers
Well Mr P, here we are, with only just over 518 hours until the transfer window closes and hopefully, at most, we will only lose one of Aarons or TC. Both played really well in the game against Gillingham, so it would be brilliant if both were at CR1 when the window closes.
I’ve often said that any points we can glean from our first 4 games MUST be considered a bonus, but I also hope that we can avoid a humiliating defeat in those games, Should that happen (unlikely, IMO ), then Twitter/PinkUn will inevitably go into meltdown with calls to sack Delia/the Board/SW/DF and anyone else they can think of.
Let’s just all enjoy the pleasures of being back amongst the crowd in a packed stadium and meeting fellow fans whom we haven’t seen since the game V Leicester.
I dare say some will feel unsure about being part of a large crowd and I can fully understand that.
Yes, it looks as though as we should have 2 more signings by 5.30 on Saturday and I’m quietly confident that there will be moments to cheer next Saturday and whatever the result, the crowd will REALLY get behind the team.
PS – Can I make a plea that ALL contributors accept that the player we have on loan from Chelsea is Bully GILMOUR and NOT Gilmore!! 🙁
“PS – Can I make a plea that ALL contributors accept that the player we have on loan from Chelsea is Bully GILMOUR and NOT Gilmore!! 🙁”
Certainly but calling him a bully is a bit much too…!
😀
Hi Ed
Yes mate it will be great to be back and if there is to be any humiliation we have a fine opportunity to get it over with early.
Like you I’m looking forward to seeing some familiar faces and it should prove to be a very emotional day.
On the Ball City will probably be heard on the outskirts of Thetford.
Cheers
We need a bit of luck, the rub of the green. We had it at times in 18/19 and in 20/21, but luck seem to desert us completely in 19/20. Not just 2 bad injuries in the same position early in the campaign, but the fact that it was the one season the PL had stupidly decided to shut the transfer window right at the start, even before the rest of Europe.
This time it’s Covid and a disrupted pre-season. We’re not alone of course but given that we have only one outfield player who might even get on the Man City bench (Aarons, not Todd) if their squad is fully fit, that just shows how much clubs like us rely on everybody being available. I think Wilder actually acknowledged in Sheff U’s first season in the PL that they had that bit of fortune with lack of injuries that others like us didn’t.
I actually don’t think our season really begins until October because as we know Watford will overpower us, they always do. So we still have some time. I’ve already told my friends in the north west that we will be bottom after 6 games with nil points.
As for transfers there’s been some good business done, Lees- Melou looks the pick so far. If Tzolis arrives I wonder if that’s the end for Placheta and/or Hernandez? One thing I notice is that we have nobody likely to be called up for the African Cup of Nations which is due to take place in January, although Mumba’s parents are Congolese so he could possibly opt to play for them. I wonder if they’ve actually taken that into account in their recruitment policy?
I really do hope that we have a centre back in our sights because I’m not yet convinced by Gibson. Better than Zimbo of course, and he talks well. But my impression is that he doesn’t have in him the ability to produce his highest performance level for 20 successive games, which is what we need. Godfrey could do it, Hanley still can, but somehow Gibson seems to drop off or get injured. I hope he proves me wrong.
Omo looks as promising as Godfrey did 2 years ago – he seems to smell danger and react to it. But he’s not yet as secure on the ball as Godfrey was, and has even less match time under his belt than Ben did when he made his PL debut. He coughed up possession a couple of times against Lincoln and Huddersfield so who knows what might happen against Liverpool and Man City if he’s not careful.
Hi Keith
That’s a pretty fair assessment I’d say – and I had no idea Bali’s parents were Congolese either, but I can only say that if he is selected by that country he should surely play for them and I am sure that the Club would never stand in his way.
We can’t expect too much of young Omobamidele agreed but a debut full season in the PL is a very big ask and he does not have Godfrey’s loan experience gained at York and Shrewsbury.
I really hope the CB and DM gaps are filled in soon – as we all do.
Cheers
Buendia was the only player who would get into the Man City first team so to lose him has been an immense loss – the size of which is only really dawning on most people now.
Couldn’t disagree more about Gibson. Comfortably our best centre back and a much, much better defender than Godfrey was for us. Also a leader and an organiser. Not our best footballer or our best athlete but in my opinion our most important player for what he brings overall. He will ensure Hanley and AO play. We need him to stay fit or Private Fraser will be right!
Hi Stephen
Yes, Ben Gibson will be very important to us this season so let’s hope he remains fit.
His quotes about *settling in with his new ankle* resonate with me – I’ve broken both of mine rather than done ligaments and I know exactly what he means.
30 years on I get more and more arthritic twinges and that’s just walking, not any longer playing football myself of course.
If you were to use the word ‘undercooked’, you would be in the company of fans of at least 75% of the EPL teams. I think that only fans of the ugly sisters of Manchester and Aston Villa will be impressed with the incomers in their squad, and Villa fans’ joy at being able to watch Buendia and some others next season is, obviously, tempered by the loss of Baby Jack.
I hope, and think, we will see several new signings and a loan (I think we’re only allowed one more). The outfield spine of the team looks as though it is vulnerable throughout. However, Premier League class players at the right price don’t grow on trees. I can’t see SW signing substandard players just to get bodies through the door-surely those days ended when Alex Neil exited the building.
I’m looking forward to the season with neither optimism or pessimism in any great amount. Like you, I think the time to judge will be towards the end of September. Meanwhile, the prospect of the utter spectacle of seeing proper football with passionate home and away fans is something to savour.
Hi Don
We must have grown up going to different pantos mate. My ugly sisters are Man U & Man C, but I know what you mean about Villa although I don’t have any real hatred f0r them.
The spine seems incredibly vulnerable as you suggest but I guess, as ever, that we’ll just have to see how it evolves. If it doesn’t we’re stuffed.
Cheers
Great piece Martin.
You really had me at Waiting for Godot Martin in relation tp Olly Skipp 😂It really does feel like that.
I was probably a bit down with my comments on here yesterday, and I think it is just disappointment over the awful bad luck we have had this summer.
The analogy with the Private Frazer’s is also very funny as I keep thinking of Corporal Jones and saying to myself ” Don’t panic” !!! Not that that will do any good.
I am like you, how in the world are Rashica or Hanley among others anywhere near ready for Saturday ? We must just keep our fingers crossed we get another miraculous Manchester City (home) like performance. Definitely not Manchester City (away)
And Newcastle on Saturday showed without Hanley at the back we need another CB brought into the club with pace asap.
I have changed my mind over the first four fixtures as when I first saw them I thought typical attempt at getting us relegated early by the EFL computer ( Like D. Trump I see conspiracies everywhere) now like you Martin I see it as a bit of luck as you say only the happy clappers in front of you and my mate Marty truly believe we will get anything from those four fixtures in the present situation.
Daniel Farke warned us at the start of the season that we would start slowly and then come on strong. He was true to his word. Lets hope a similar situation develops this season.
Hi Tim
We had to do that wretched book for English A-level and I can’t claim to have enjoyed it but the idea of two tramps waiting for something that will not happen stays with me.
As for your final sentence I couldn’t agree more. Wise words.
Cheers
Hi Martin, I agree with you that there is nothing to read into from the Newcastle match. Or any other pre-season friendly…. and like DF, my rational is that our season really starts in October because these first games are about settling the team and match fitness…. its a long season.
The transfers are incomplete. I am very excited by the additions to the attack. Lees-Melou is unproven but I suspect he will do well enough, and is probably a long term player for us, so for £4m, another great piece of business. Gilmore, however, is a complicated surprise. Exciting, but a surprise. You see, 2 years ago we had a fabulous, dimunitive play-maker paired with other great, but inappropriate midfielders…. Leitner and all. That system failed and for the last 18 months we’ve made 4-2-3-1 work with robust CDMs, Tettey & McLean then McLean and Skipp. So I am very very surprised to see Gilmore/Leitner… I am mega excited by him, but it puts a MASSIVE emphasis on his midfield partner…. and I don’t think we have that player in the squad.
Brentford have forfeited Emi Marcondes and will tinker their base for a Skipp/Tettey type player instead, Frank Onyeka. I just don’t know why NCFC went for Gilmore who will be expected to start, when we don’t have the legs and power from any other midfielder to complement him.
Brentford also went for Ajer whilst we grumbled over another £2m. That’s fair enough, but we were promoted months ago and I (for one) expected signings immediately, especially as they knew Buendia was going. ESPECIALLY, because of Covid travel quarantines etc, they’d need people signed up and acclimatised ready to go.
You are correct, Norwich need a CB and CDM so the job isn’t yet finished, but the attackers are all exciting to see. But I think most people would agree they were the first players we would have expected to see signed up and we are still waiting.
Sarjent aside, who for me is a possible starter ahead of Pukki, and debatably Lees-Melou, I think we’ve (necessarily) signed supplementary players SO FAR rather than core, immediate first team starters that are tailor-made to fulfil DF’s base formation for this season…. which is what Brentford have done. That is the same confusion many of us felt 2 years ago…. but at least so far we have brilliant attacking reinforcements and I am very happy and grateful to see them arriving.
But I for one don’t see an ideal midfield pairing from McLean, Gilmore and Lees-Melou, not yet, not until the Skipp like hole is filled, which surely, surely is a pressing priority.
PS: The local Archant journalists don’t help. I read paragraphs from the main-man highlighting Zimmerman as a weak link on the day, but without blaming the flavours of the month midfield in front of him…. and the same with Rupp…. paragraphs about him yet nothing about Dowell, who was playing an identical, ineffective role. These journalists really don’t help matters when it comes to creating scapegoats for fans.
Hi Mike
Yes you’ve nailed it there as we’ve signed people who will hopefully be good in the sense of the veins but [thus far] not replaced the aorta that was Skipp and the old ticker itself looks a bit dodgy.
But I’m not writing off the recruitment team yet. As I’ve said above elsewhere if you, I and many others see the shortfall I’m sure SW/DF will have seen it too. We live in a suspended state of hope in terms of CB & DCM – without them we’re stuffed and as you so rightly say Gilmour is no Skipp and nor would he claim to be.
Great post – cheers
If those 2 rumored players come (american soldier boy and greek kid) Norwich plan is to gamble with juniors. One of the most common excuse phrase after loosing in football is “but we played with juniors”. There is always reason behind why some clubs are playing with juniors, youngsters and even in junior games with 2-3 years younger players than most clubs.
Of course Norwich is not yet doomed to relegation and hopefully you avoid relegation. There is huge level difference between championship and premier league, its basically same thing everywhere that highest level is just so much better than second level. Usually promoted clubs are trying to get more highest level experience, Norwich is doing opposite. All this is obviously happening because of financial reasons. I just dont see that fair to fan base. It proves again that league system does not work, because there is too large financial differences between clubs. Its very possible that premier league reduce nr of clubs from 20 to 16 or 18 in future. There is also way too many games now, so reasons would not be only financial. In Finland we have 12 clubs league and still there is at least 4 clubs which kind of dont belong there both financially and sportingly.
Hi 1×2
I think you’ve just explained to me why I went to the UEA and not Oxbridge 🙂
Seriously I understand exactly what you are saying and we are perceived in this manner both in the UK, Europe and now we’re back in the PL, probably globally once again.
As fans we have a tradition of accepting Norwich City the way it has always been. That does not mean that we all enjoy it but none of us as supporters possess the money to change anything so we have to put up with it as do many teams in Finland from what you have said.
If I had $10 billion I wouldn’t put a single dollar cent into NCFC – I’d never see it back, let alone a return on it 🙂
Kiitos
“If I had $10 billion I wouldn’t put a single dollar cent into NCFC – I’d never see it back, let alone a return on it 🙂”
OK…………so tell me who has ever lost money who has put it into NCFC? And are the shares not worth substantially more now than when people acquired them?
Hi again Stephen
That was a bit of a clumsy response because what I should have said is that I would not invest in football if I had the magic money.
I shouldn’t have specified NCFC but – who else might I invest in?
For what it’s worth I gave my £100 of shares to the Canaries Trust who have far more need of them than I do [financially they’re not worth a light] as the value to the Trust is measued in % of shares owned rather than any monetary value.
Like many of us I have donated to the Academy and continue to support the CSF in a small way but that’s what supporters do – we don’t expect to see a return, surely 🙂
At least saying we are undercooked is an honest assessment. Would really be worried if we were told we were ‘oven ready’. Can’t think where that came from.
Hi Richard
Nice one!
Thanks
Sorry to not address your article Martin, but the picture looks like a ‘where’s the ball’ contest.
Ha!
I claim no reponsibility for that as I don’t choose the pics but I must say that to me it kind of sums up the pictured players’ reaction to a 0-3.
I think the position of the ball is slightly irrelevant in this case and I thoroughly endorse the editor’s choice.
We did try and source one of Kieran Dowell with beads of sweat on his forehead, but…
I seem to remember an Alan Hansen quote – ‘You can’t win anything with kids!!’
You may very well be proved absolutely right, but I’m with Martin and ‘keeping my powder dry!!’ 😀
I seem to remember that we started very badly in both the18-19 season and again last season ……..
Nowt wrong with referencing two previous bad starts.
Something tells me we’re in for the hat-trick but this time I’m not over concerned.
Let us not be too concerned, we’ve a tough start but so have our nearest neighbours, a hard fought home point against the mighty Morecombe followed by a home defeat to Newport County 🤣🤣
Bring on Liverpool & Man City!
🙂