Almost to this very day two years ago I had to go to the NNUH for a full dental extraction. The guy in the next bed to me was a Polish fella called Marek who was in for some kind of preventative DVT operation. Neither of us could stand the noise from the other patients so he suggested we retreated to the little waiting room just off Coltishall Ward where some cards and board games were provided for visitors.
I helped him into that area and discovering the cards only numbered 49, he asked me if I could play chess. I said that I could, but only because I know how the pieces move. He battered me twice in less than 10 minutes I’d guess, although neither of us could wear our watches.
Out of sympathy, he suggested we switched to draughts and I gave him a much better battle, although I think he beat me about seven to five in a best of 13.
Objective achieved, we had about an hour of respite from the noisy boys who had quietened down by the time we returned to the ward.
Why am I going on about one of the worst nights of my life?
Because at Premier League level Norwich City are forced to play chess, not draughts. In either board game, one wrong move gives you a massive setback and a second consigns you to the bin. People better at either game are going to beat you if you stuff up.
And, oh boy, did we stuff up at Goodison Park on Saturday.
MFW has already done the Everton match to death which, like chess, gives me little room to manoeuvre, except to say that having seen two obvious errors from firstly Ozan Kabak [you cannot kick a player on the thigh in the box, mate] and yet again Kenny McLean, kind of points to where we are.
We’re off to Burnley on Saturday and I’m glad I’m not on MFW preview duty for that particular game. I have nothing nice to say about them apart from a grudging admiration for Sean Dyche and what he’s achieved. Grudging admiration, but genuine too.
We’ll get as battered in that game as much as I was on that tattered old chessboard on that awful night.
The question of course remains: where the flipping heck do we go from here?
Should the knives be out for Delia, Daniel Farke or even Stuart Webber?
I genuinely don’t know but this time last week I was happily responding to some positivity from MFW readers. Right now, apart from us getting on top for a 15-minute spell in the second half, I have no reasons to be cheerful.
In terms of my proverbial glass, the tide has gone out.
I hope Brandon Williams enjoyed watching the Joshua-Ukay fight on Saturday. Williams comes from a boxing background and, of course, he deserved his night at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium with some friends and family. I’d have loved to have seen it as well but £25 to Sky Box Office is a bit too much for me to splash out.
For heaven’s sake boy, how did you allow that to leak out online – anybody might think you had commitment issues or something.
The October international break will be extremely interesting in terms of what happens. I’m confident there will be no invitation issued to Big Sam and that Daniel Farke will still be at the helm come the resumption.
But for the life of me, I cannot see how this squad could pull us out of the Championship yet again. Rashica, Tzolis, Sergant? I don’t see any of them cutting it in that dreadful league and that’s for sure.
We won’t have Kabak or Normann either as it’ll be *return to sender* in both cases. No Mario, no Tetts, no Stieperdude. No Skippy or Emi either of course. Think about it.
Maybe some MFW readers will castigate me for putting my arms in the air and waving the white flag rather than the yellow one too early and fair play to any who might. But we’re not long for this PL world that we currently inhabit if something doesn’t happen quickly.
I’ve no idea how we can progress from here and it seems that Daniel Farke doesn’t either.
Some folks have said that watching us this season is akin to having your teeth drawn. I know a bit about that and would say that both are equally painful, albeit in a different way.
I didn’t come around from general anaesthetic particularly well and a kindly doctor gave me a bonus recovery night in the NNUH and kept his word by discharging me at 0730 [the shifts those guys work!] the next morning and I hope Marek was equally fortunate, although he was still there when I left, understandably fast asleep.
Even then he would have beaten me at chess. How good are you, Daniel?
Good morning Mr P and sadly I see the ‘scouting party’ has already got DF in their sights.
Whatever happens, I most certainly DON’T want Big Sam’ foisted on us.
I think your analogy to chess is really good and yes, I’m sure you’ll find a growing number of fans willing to help you to raise the ‘white flag’, but I’m not quite there – yet!!! I’m willing to wait until after our trip to the Brentford Community Stadium before agreeing with you. They have made an excellent start to life in the PL!!
I despair of some NCFC fans – one even said that we shouldn’t have sold Emi – another fan quickly pointed out that we didn’t have any choice in the matter.
All I’ll say following yet another dismal defeat is that I hope DF can find the ‘potion’ that transformed the habitual losers at the end of our last foray into the PL to the Championship winners the following season. IMO, it’s time to confine the 3-5-2 formation to the bin and get back to taking the game to our opponents.
Good morning Ed
Actually I’m not really advocating the raising of the white flag as such. It’s more a case of what Daniel can do to put things right as there is no way he’ll be replaced any time soon and tbh I think that’s the reasonable approach.
Delia’s lack of ambition means PL survival is not critical to her so I don’t see any triggers being pulled in haste.
Good point about Buendia. I’ve lost count of the number of times I’ve had to say exactly the same thing on MFW – we simply were not in a position to keep him as he no longer wanted to stay – end of!
Cheers
The point about Buendia is a warning flag that SW does not yet appear to recognise.
City’s recruitment as to come into alignment with a certain timeline. Young players like Emi need to reach their peak in the first Premier League season, which culminates in a survival, and not in the promotion season before. Likewise, the old guard must not be at an age in that first Premier League season where they can no longer compete due to physical limits on their bodies.
This season has seen the perfect storm and that blame should lie, dare I utter such words, with DF and SW for being rather naive last season. Buendia dangled the carrot 2 years ago, then last season he came of age…. and he’d even had an agreement he would leave promotion or not. But at the same time, Tettey & Vrancic for off the other end of the spectrum. And look where those 2 examples leave us:
An immature McLean (I don’t mean that in a nasty way, I mean it as a player who needs guidance on the pitch) making mistakes he’d never have made with Tettey…. result? We needed to buy/loan at least 3 other midfielders. And did we get a Mark Noble type player? An experienced operator that can control McLean and help him learn? No. Result? 4 midfielders with effectively little to no experience in the Premier League. We see brilliance in Normann, who completely bypasses the need for Gilmour…. and have we got a CDM to let Normann truly thrive? Of course not. Such illogical recruitment.
In attack, Pukki looks quite lost. How did we approach this in the summer, who keep Pukki thriving? By buying 2 left wingers…. it’s not like Pukki scores headers from crosses is it? We got Tzolis and Rashica (when Cantwell already played on the left) and we bring in a solid operator in Sarjent, but again nobody to put an arm around Pukki and help carry him. Pukki is a softly spoken guy, but DF and SW seriously over-estimate his character, expecting him to carry the young guys around him, like they assume of McLean.
Even in defence, lest we forget, we released Tim Klose who magically fell out of favour (for whatever reason). The result? Hanley has to carry the burden of leadership when he’s outclassed by every attacking unit he and his defensive line face. Like McLean, everyone knew that Hanley and Gibson are at there utmost limits at this level, and they need figures who can give them a lift when the chips are down. Instead, like Pukki and McLean, they expect Hanley to carry the young defenders when he’s struggling to stay afloat himself.
Instead our most experienced operators, our biggest characters in the dressing room, our onfield leaders…. these guys KNOW they are at their limits in the Premier League but SW and DF have generally brought in little to no Premier League experience and DF and SW expect our existing stalwarts to be able to carry the flag. If our experienced pros, knowing their limits, feel outclassed (and they are) then heads will drop and you know you’re screwed when the most senior guys in the locker room are the first to feel defeatist.
What SW and DF should have done this season was bought in players LIKE Johny Evans, Mark Noble, There are guys like Sean Morison or Aiden Flint, Moussa Sissoko or Conour Hourihane…. even Charlie Austin to slap Pukki on the back with a smile and wink.
I am talking about characters. We could have gotten in a midfielder like Jake Livermore, a defender like Aiden Flint or Sean Morison. Experienced, never intimidated, leaders. I sit here and think Alex Mowatt, Conour Hourihane and Kenny McLean would absolutely destroy any midfield grouping we are now able to put out given that SW and DF decided to recruit for 4-3-3. There REMAIN plenty of available players out there, except we’ve now blown our bank.
Sadly, I very much feel like it’s time to start a new chapter. With these players, we should be more competitive but without certain stalwarts, the CDM that never materialised or the height and power (we won’t be bullied) that never materialised, I can’t help but think that it MIGHT be that the only way to give these guys a new spark is with a change of leadership. DF doesn’t want old pros who know better than him, in my opinion, and without them on the pitch I really think we will struggle.
I am very much in favour of Eddie Howe. I recognise some say he’s a one club wonder, I recognise his failure at Burnley, I just see him as a character with a smile that will give the guys a lift and from a point of view of being Hanley or McLean, a new coach who DID cut it as a Premier League manager ….. and in the worst scenario, a coach prepared to operate in the Championship too. We have too many players that need a soft touch rather than who will run through walls, so we need an appropriate coach to SUIT the squad of players remaining. And that squad is a really, really convoluted, eclectic and jumbled mix. So inappropriate to what we should have gotten with a promotion without Buendia and Skipp. Just such damned inappropriate players.
Imagine losing Normann, Krul or Pukki to injury? So sad….. January could be absolutely vital to avoid a repeat of 2008-2009. Everyone on MFW knows what relegation means with this group of players. IT IS FRIGHTENING. The timeline is so out of synch.
Hi Mike
It took me a while to read that and now I’ll just pick up on a couple of many accurate points that you make.
Firstly of course we all know what the consequences of relegation will be with this squad in that they won’t have either the heart or nous to do the promotion job. As much as I admire Scott Parker I pretty much dislike Bournemouth, but together with WBA they are showing everybody else how to get out of the Championship.
Coventry will doubtless fade so I suppose Fulham will be the third team to gain promotion. *Yo-yo* clubs? Yes, all three of them. We’re the fourth.
Either you, I, or somebody else was the first to say that Alex Mowatt would have been a great signing on a free from Barnsley.
But Aiden Flint? I’ve seen enough of him not to want him, put it that way.
And as for Farke being wary of seasoned professionals, he and Alex Tettey got along really rather well, didn’t they?
Thanks!
I don’t think wary is what I’m eluding too…. DF strikes me as being very much like Arsene Wenger after the success…. 😉
Sorry it was a long reply Martin, my stand alone pieces aren’t popular anymore. The last one was published 10 days after I wrote it although they do take some editing!
Regarding Tettey 4 years ago….., Tettey was marooned out of the picture… he was literally 6th choice or something.. It was injuries that saw him recalled to and not a tactical choice. Good job given what followed really!
Some interesting comments in this post.
My basic understanding of football, is that when things are going wrong look to the midfield – we have of course lost two influential players in this area and the new signings haven’t cut the mustard, yet.
What the solution is, I’ll happily admit I don’t know, but would just add the following…
Mowatt – Good player, but is 26 and never played above the Champs.
Morison – Solid champs player, no better than we have, see Flint.
Hourihane – Lovely player, but is 30 and no prem clubs seemingly interested.
Sissoko – Would be perfect for us, but I guess, depressingly, we can’t afford his wages, see also Noble and Evans.
I guess we need to find a younger version of Tettey, hopefully Normann can be that player.
Hi Segura
Maybe Normann could become a new version of Tettey. I sincerely hope so but our Alex is pretty difficult to replicate.
Probably one of our best value for money signings ever and I’m ashamed to say I can’t remember which manager brought him in at the time. Either Lambert or Hughton I’d guess but I can’t remember which.
Cheers
You seem to be suggesting something is in line with my thinking. It is not that individuals in this team are not good it is that they need something alongside them that we don’t have in the squad. I had thought that we had enough about us to compete but after the Watford match I just felt that we didn’t have the right mixture even when firing on all cylinders. The performance wasn’t that bad it just wasn’t good enough
Hi John
I don’t think we were truly that poor against Liverpool [in the League] and Leicester but Watford was a real disappointment, to me anyway.
Cheers
It’s definitely too early to give up. My son is an Arsenal fan, and just a few weeks ago, I could not see how Arteta could possibly stay. They looked hopeless. Yesterday, Arsenal found their best starting 11 and formation and it just all clicked together. I’m sure the same will be true of Norwich. Farke is still looking for that combination, but I feel that he is getting closer. For Arsenal, they were better without Pepe. It may be not the formation/11 we would have predicted for Norwich that is the answer..
Hi Steve
A very good point. My Arsenal mate [we’ve all got one!] said exactly the same thing late yesterday – and had the cheek to thank me for our helping them to kickstart their season.
Which I guess we did, in a kind of way.
Interesting – thanks
Things won’t change until we get owners with some financial clout that will enable us to keep and buy quality players
Hi Baz
So true. And looking at how the deck is stacked, nothing will change in my lifetime. Gloomy, but realistic I’m afraid.
Thanks
Totally agree Baz. The ‘self-funding’ model keeps being touted as the Norwich way but what is so wrong about getting owners in with that financial clout? If they were appointed properly after doing due diligence (to make sure we don’t get a bunch of crooks in!) I don’t see the problem.
Grateful as I am for what Delia has done for our club I can’t see how we’ll ever get out of the rut we’re in without serious financial input from investors
Hi Chris
The concept is built on feet of clay because it is totally dependent on player trading and parachute payments, neither of which can go on forever.
When was the last time 1p5wich, Sunderland, Wednesday and so many other ex-PL clubs sold any one for any real value?
Cheers
Agree entirely Baz. Delia’s biggest trick is that no matter how bad things become she manages to convince a substantial number of fans that it’s not her fault for failing to provide the necessary finance to establish the club in the premiership.
I’m firmly of the opinion that her only ambition for City is to retain ownership regardless of which league we end up in.
Morning John
Delia believes that enough of us consider her to be a benign, benevolent favourite auntie and many of us fall in line with that perception.
However, many of us think otherwise but she *ignores the noise*.
As I’m in a bad mood [it’s hissing down outside] I might loosely compare her to the Wicked Stepmother in Snow White, as in *mirror, mirror on the wall who’s the fairest of them all*. Maybe one day the mirror might make a different response but it will probably say *Tom*.
Cheers
Good morning Martin
Burnley will be very tough. A point will be an unexpected bonus. Honesty about the Everton result is refreshing too. Not even close to good enough.
I dabble in chess, but I am very inconsistent. Sometimes I play surprisingly well against a strong player who underestimates me and manage a win. I am certain Dyche will not let Burnley fall in to that trap. They will be embarrassed if they do not win. Norwich. The whipping boys.
The response to the Spurs defeat by Arsenal is illuminating. Fierce criticism. Not acceptable. No mucking about, The critics are not disloyal boo-boys. Even now, after this horrendous start, criticism of Norwich is viewed ambivalently. No more. It is unacceptable. The players and club do not even seem to be particularly bothered, Embarrassment? No sign of that. Spurs fans hold their team to minimum standards. They demand more. Why is it wrong for a Norwich Fan to do the same? Relegation with honour is just about tolerable. Collapsing like a house of cards every week needs to be called out.
Where from here? The only way is up. Or not. DF has earned the time to try and right the ship. I will always support the club that I love, but do not take me for a mug. Criticism is more than fair at the moment.
Totally agree.
My comment of the day – but I’ve not seen them all yet 🙂
Hi Cobwatch
Can’t remember the last time Burnley won at Turf Moor. Can’t remember the last time we did either – maybe that 5-3 under Lambert?
It’s got Along Come Norwich written all over it.
I’m not in the vanguard of the *Farke Out* brigade either and as you say he should be given more time to sort it out.
That’s a very pertinent comparison with Spurs as well.
Thanks – good comment.
Just seen Ref watch and Dermot Gallagher really is bias in favor of his old mates.
Everton penalty was clear and obvious even after the ball had gone yet Kane with a clear change of scoring was kick by White of Arse-nal was a grey area and VAR would have back any decision made by the Ref strange but both pundits says it was a clear penalty
Hi Alex
I don’t think there was any malice in what Kabak did but Allan understandably went for the penalty and got it. You can’t make contact like Kabak did and expect to get away with it I’m afraid.
As for the Kane incident I agree with you.
Cheers
Hi martin another miserable Monday Morning like yourself can’t see any light at the end of the tunnel farke got to get at least 50% more out of these players or the 21pts of last time. will seem alot see you mentioned our Kenny again same as last time given it away and us conciding to me
he’s in same mould as trybull lietner they weren’t premiership yet their long gone and he plays every week find it baffling give sorresan a chance can’t do anyworse can he? 🙃
Morning Mystic Mate
I can’t fathom why Sorensen doesn’t at least make the bench either.
I’m not sure about Todd’s personal reasons for his absence and that is obviously none of my business but… both scenarios make me wonder.
See you for Brighton.
Cheers
You speak for (I suspect) thousands of us Martin.
Personally, given their injury problems, I thought Everton were there for the taking ….but what do we do?
Only set up with the most defensive line up we’ve seen so far this season.
The guy in the Telegraph summed us up pretty well:-
“Norwich cannot defend, offer little threat up front, and lack pace and physicality in midfield. They are pretty hopeless at set-pieces in both penalty boxes, too.”
Both Brentford and Watford kept to their beliefs and systems, and bought to strengthen them. For some mad reason we’ve ditched ours; gone to a bring and buy sale; got the cheap (but hopefully sellable in the future) bargains and are a laughing stock.
I’m already a bit fearful for Saturday and Dyche’s bullies.
O T B C
Hi John
*Norwich cannot defend, offer little threat up front, and lack pace and physicality in midfield. They are pretty hopeless at set-pieces in both penalty boxes, too*.
I don’t particularly go for the Torygraph’s politics [as I don’t for those of the Grauniad either] but the one thing both papers have in common is first rate football reporting and analysis. Cricket too, especially the Guardian live feed.
Nail. Hit. On. Head.
Cheers
John, really interesting you picked up on a really defensive setup. THANK YOU. Of course, the happy clappers will say “we changed formation with 3 CBs which is what everyone wanted AND we played TWO strikers, which is what everyone wanted” and DF and SW will say “we played 2 strikers away from home. We can’t be anymore attacking than that”.
You though John, are bang-on. People don’t get the nuances of different set-ups but Pukki and Sarjent are less suited to 3-5-2 than Idah and Tzolis with Gilmour amongst the midfielders.
DF would get the exact same defensive effect if he played 3-4-2-1 with Sarjent and Cantwell behind the ball whenever we are out of possession, but on the ball with Cantwell we’d have genuine attacking and creative instincts from which Pukki and Sarjent would thrive. But guaranteed, Sean Dsyche will already be briefing his lads: “stop Normann and they have nothing”. Harder to stop Normann from deep, AND Cantwell in between the lines, AND stop a lofted ball into Sarjent, AND man-mark Pukki from the through ball, AND cover wingbacks. But if it’s just Normann like it was against Everton, Burnley will kill us.
I’d largely agree with that.
The current silence from Webber is unsurprising but nonetheless ominous.
Superb analogy and a great piece, Martin. The bookies don’t make money being wrong and have Norwich at about 3/1 ON to go down. After 6 games. Shocking, appalling and embarrassing. Norwich to stay up?
..
..
(Sorry, laughing too hard to type.)
..
..
Sadly, the rest of the league look down upon us a leaf on the lawn, nothing more than a minor irrelevance, so easily swept away.
When can we have a proper football team? You know, like the the ones all the other boys have?
Pitiful and shameful. The fans do not deserve this.
(For the record, Farke’s record in the Premier League is to lose 3 out of every 4 and to win only 1 in 9. How is he still in a job? Every single other club in the professional leagues would have arranged a ‘by mutual consent’ yonks ago.)
Hi Happy [probably a misnomer right now 🙂 ]
I read somewhere this morning that Tim Krul has become only the fourth player in history to have been on the losing side in exactly 100 PL games – and we can’t blame Newcastle for all of those, now can we?
Farke’s new four-year deal seemed appropriate at the time but I’m more than a little bit concerned about it now.
Being a leaf on the lawn in late September tops me in the analogy stakes – you’ve given me a morbid reluctance to go into the garden after that!
Thanks – good comment.
The only comment I can think about for Burnley upcoming is , after getting go go 6 handed to us by Everton Burnley can give us the magnificent seven.
Kinda hoping we beat this run before we get oceans 11 and 12.
I reckon we’re heading for level 42
I love my music but not that lot. Ugh 🙂
Sham 69?
Nah. The Clash.
There’ll be a few of those on Saturday of course 🙂
Hi Bernie
Brighton could give us as many straight defeats as an arachnid has legs and if they do you can bet your life Chelsea will knock us over like ninepins.
Cheers
It’s hard for me to see where to find some optimism. As I have said previously, I believe that in the vast majority of football matches, the team with the best players will win-regardless of tactics or the nous of the decision maker in the technical area. Looking through the league, I can’t see evidence that we have better players than any other teams.
Two other things that can influence results are the coaches’ ability improve players’ ability (DF and his team have a good track record with this) and to have players with real ‘fire in their bellies.’ My god, we’re short of players who appear to have this trait. I haven’t seen any snarling belligerence which can knock better players out of their stride and it’s difficult to imagine that this is going to change against East Lancashire’s finest.
My white flag is still in the drawer, but getting near the top. I hope that we’re not as deep in the doo-dah as we seem to be, but I increasingly feel this is blind hope.
Hi Don
Yes I’ll probably turn an old Clash T inside out and get Sue to sew it to a garden cane to create my flag – I don’t think we have any white pillowcases.
Right now we don’t appear to have a single player that would get into an alternative PL club’s first XI. Maybe Max could be a good squad option for one or two but I’m really struggling to think of anybody else unless somebody wanted Tim Krul as a back-up keeper.
Cheers
Fire in their bellies. Exactly. Such inappropriate recruitment for a newly promoted team. I’d rather have signed Jake Livermore to replace Tettey, Conour Hourihane to replace Vrancic and Stierperman and Alex Mowatt to replace Skipp.
Mowatt is a good call [see below].
Yeah, and he went to a direct competitor didn’t he. Now, come January, no such players will touch us if relegation is imminent and they are close to promotion, like Conour Hourihane with Sheffield United, for example. Out of synch,
Morning Mr P, Think you know my views on many things. But here goes. Yes it is getting closer to the cut lose of Mr Farke. I like him, but as much as he is a lovely guy, good in the championship, but 5 wins out of 44 premier games isn’t a record to shout about.
Delia is happy for little Narwige to be up and down like a yo-yo. yep we have invested record amount this summer, but the rest has moved on way ahead of us again.
Our next opponents Burnley who are around the same type of club…according to transfermarket – they spent the grand sum of £28.71m which was offset by £8.37m for Gibson to us. So they spent around 20 million. They are not pulling up trees at the minute but they have more than we do and will no doubt finish above us. They are not scared to go a little ugly, nor to bully teams, something we will not do. We are too lightweight and too nice.
Personel is different, this time round but the errors and mistakes are still the same, we are simply to easy to play against, yep we can get periods we dominate but unless that is turned into goals it means buggar all. Well it does give those little straws to cling too. I will be honest I have had enough of little straws, I want a lump of rope to hang onto.
I was watching a stream of the game, the penalty was given and scored, I retired to my garage/workshop. I knew the outcome, I said to my lad. we will have a little while on top, but won’t score. Neverton will add at least one more perhaps 2. . He came out to me at 5pm and said Dad you called that so right.
We will never be a regular premiership team under this ownership, they do not have the clout, nor the mentality to do so. I know they saved the club . but all done to their advantage, with (share repayments) they are supporters first and foremost.
I am losing the will .. I like \ f\ircrack at anything, but I do not feel we are getting that
Hi Lad
It’s as depressing as it is reassuring for me to read all the comments as in everyone is having their individual take on a recognised truth: we are simply not good enough to compete in the PL so I know I’m not talking out of turn, which means a lot to me on a personal level.
The ownership is intransigent and the real tragedy therein is that Delia and therefore Michael believe they are acting in our best interests.
As Uriah Heep [the band not the Dickensian character] said: Look at Yourself.
Cheers
Very gloomy summation Martin. I don’t think a healthy dose of realism counts as raising the white flag.
Were currently in a league of one, the new signings look average to poor, the promising youngsters are going backwards and losing value, the manager appears unable to motivate or set up a vaguely competitive team.
I understand the calls for us to ‘get ugly’. There is nothing more I would like than to send out a team designed to grind out a result or two using any means possible but we simply don’t have the personnel to accomplish this.
Because we see the small, technical, creative types as the cash cows to promulgate the self funding ethos, we fill the squad, at all levels with such players.
I’m pretty sure that if we had a choice, a fair proportion of the support would happily jettison the turgid, slow, error strewn borefest we are enduring this season for some good honest English football. There is absolutely nothing entertaining about the style of football we are failing miserably to deploy. Two goals scored, one a penalty. Dismal, boring, unacceptable,
Hi Chris
Yeah, I think Gary nailed this yesterday when he asked if, at the very least, we could have our Farkeball back.
For me there’s been a little too much discussion of formations and not enough introduction of necessary athleticism into the squad. Mathias Normann is my only hope in that respect and a player plagued by cramp after about 75 minutes concerns me.
I don’t mind going down fighting, but we are and we’re not if you see what I mean.
Cheers
Excellent piece as always Martin.
We have done to death the mitigating (excuses ?) circumstances on here.
So how do the ” Manchester City of The Championship ” go from that wonderful accolade to This.
At Everton some neat and tidy football at times is a complete waste of time if the ball doesn’t stick upfront. Add to that the fact that continual individual errors are being punished that is the EPL I’m afraid.
This is embarrassing, as bad as Project Restart.
To lose 15 consecutive games is bad but this is worse, we have lost 43 of the last 44 top flight games we have gone 1-0 down in. That shocked me. It shows a total lack of character, fighting spirit or the ability to change a game.
The new players Normann excepted, have along way to go to replace Vrancic, Buendia or Tettey in the hearts of the Canary faithful. Kabak looks promising but the penalty wasn’t his only rash challenge. Calm down my man.
We agree Martin that self-funding cannot succeed forever when you are competing with billionaires.
We both agree that Delia or far more likely her nephew Tom will HAVE to consider investment one day but to me that was a side issue until I thought about our recruitment policy this year which has been applauded by me.
And that is Tzolis, Sargent, Kabak and Gilmour are all 21 or under. That’s a young age to be joining a club that is inevitably in a relegation dogfight however optimistic a canary supporter you are, even my mate Marty.
I am not saying it is right or wrong but in the cold light of day it is curious to me when you add Todd, Max etc to that mix it is a very young squad. Add that to our signings for the development squad this summer then the vast majority of our business this summer are mostly under 25.
So is Delia’s reluctance to look for investment already affecting the clubs transfer policy ? Could we have done with a couple of 28 year olds with EPL experience ? It is a valid question.
Where I differ from some supporters is that I do not believe there is at the moment a shining Knight (or Knightess) out there interested in buying Norwich City. But there is nothing wrong in putting out a few feelers, is there. Look at Villa.
But Delia was here when we beat Manchester City, gave Arsenal, Spurs and Chelsea tough games, over saw two Championship winning seasons so to blame her and Michael for all of this debacle would be unfair.
Daniel Farke will go down as a great manager but he has to prove it at Premier League level. I for one really hope he can turn this around.
“Tzolis, Sargent, Kabak and Gilmour are all 21 or under. That’s a young age to be joining a club that is inevitably in a relegation dogfight”
ABSOLUTELY BANG-ON.
Meanwhile, Tettey, Klose (remember him), Stieperman, Vrancic… even Leinter and Trybull are 28…. all gone. I said it all last season and all through the summer. The timeline is out of synch and unless they change that in January, and possibly sooner with a new coach to freshen it all up, the culmination NEXT SEASON could be even worse.
Hi Mike
As I said in the original article I am seriously concerned for next season, even in the unlikely event that we do stay up. Where’s the fight?
I think Mario and his Mrs would be happy to hear that he’s only 28 – that’s the only bit you got wrong!
Cheers
No, Leitner and Trybull are 28 mate
I made the point about Vrancic’s age 2 seasons ago, that THIS season he’d be beyond an age where he could have salvaged something from some gym work. Aligned with Tettey and Klose, and we knew Stierperdude (love that!) Tommy T & Leitner were not going to be given a second chance….. so after relegation the last time we needed to invest in experience.
Hence when you mentioned Aiden Flint, he is one of those insane warriors that you don’t just bully…. and like Russel Martin, Grant Holt, Adam Drury, John Ruddy, Brad Johnson…. this club would be the pinnacle of a career, guaranteed to start and that mentality of going that extra mile because this is as good as it will ever get.
With Hanley, McLean, Pukki, all arguably the same…. but those guys need just that bit of extra leadership, in my opinion, so that they can focus on their own game rather than being tasked to carry those around them. Sean Morison is the same, also Jake Livermore.
No better technically than what we have, but put our players around them, and suddenly it’s viable. Nuances and complexities of a dressing room!
I know – probably my clumsy interpretation but I thought you meant Mario is 28 as well – he’s 32!
Hi Tim
Robert Chase is hated at city but he oversaw a European season the highest finish in the PL.
His lack of vision in rebuilding the City Stand to a large double tier one has held us back with revenue income but he is remembered for selling off the crown jewels which Delia has done a lot more starting with Bellamy another that wanted out.
All the managers that have been relegated in the last 25 years and 16years in the championship are all done to her.
A few promotions doesn’t cover up her failings in increasing ground capacity that would have seen more incoming to sustain a PL status.
She has out stayed her welcome and her trusted advisors need to tell her so before it turn nasty
I guess these trusted advisors are Ed Balls, Roy Hodgson and a few others I’m not aware of. I’ve plenty of time for both Ed and Roy actually.
Having said that, the Thai family’s advisors at Leicester crank it up a notch or two compared to us 🙂
I thought that ED Balls got out at the right time maybe he could see how or where the club was going
You’re probably right about Ed Balls’ timing. I think Stephen Fry did likewise around the same time?
Two hugely likeable characters though.
Hi Tim
All good reasonable comment there. Add in Omobamidele, Mumba and Idah and you reduce the age of the squad even further.
Plus when Delia does eventually hand over to Tom she will still be sitting on his shoulders telling him not to consider outside investment while she has breath in her body.
As for putting out any *feelers* they do not do it and we have to ask ourselves who exactly would be mug enough to put any money into NCFC right now when the best they would get out of it is to become a director who would always be outvoted by a triumvirate of Smiths if they endeavoured to go against the grain?
Auntie knows best because she says so.
Thanks as ever
Thanks Martin.
Firstly Todd will soon be back in the fray, it is a personal matter.
Delia reminds me of Jeremy Corbyn at times, heart in the right place over a lot of things but totally misguided. And Jeremy lost an election to a guy who actually has a BAFTA Award for a comedy performance.
There is a kind of Fawlty Towers about us at times. Gunny gets the managers job all those years ago from Delia for no better reason that he is a lovely fella. Correct, but his next job is at a Mobile phone company !!! Can you imagine Pep leaving Manchester City to work for Carphonewarehouse ?
I have said on here that the day the club does get sold worries me, and I stand by that as there is no guarantee that the incoming owners will be what we hope for. But as things stand Delia must think what is in the best interests for the club ?
But we are a laughing stock at the moment and I feel for all City supporters especially those hardy souls who follow us all over the country.
So the time has come for change, and I am not advocating sacking Farke. It could be a look at our coaching, fitness levels, giving Dowell and Sorenson a game or two.
I think us supporters do deserve an explanation from above as to why this season has been so bad, look at Brentford ( for the moment) why have they performed so well when they were some way behind us last season. We may not like the answer but its better than nothing.
Also Alex thanks for the reply regarding Mr Chase. Personally I have seen things which means I do not see Delia and Michael in any way like Mr Chase.
I assure you Delia wouldn’t dream of allegedly doing what the said gentleman has done (or tried to do) to this club.
Hi Tim
I like the way you compare Delia with Corbyn – it somehow seems very appropriate given her occasional political spoutings
You’ve also provided me with this image of Pep behind the counter in Chapelfield or somewhere – nice one!
And you’re spot on about Chase. For all her faults – and there are many – Delia is nothing like the Halvergate heavyweight. Reckless, scatty, naive, maybe selfish also to a degree but he was a different jar of jam altogether.
I had to google to understand what you have been going through. In here prices for that are high.
There looks to be still 5 teams without win and only 3 points to 17th place. As long as so many others does not win, there is plenty of time and changes to suddenly change position out of relegation places. It looks that so far lowest points ever should be enough to avoid relegation.
Norwich next game against Burnley might mean that there is 1 team less without win. If Norwich loose that then 100% sure all players who manage to get international duties, more than happily leaves and when coming back day comes faces of relief turns back to bitter reality. Well, you must never forget that their salaries helps their feelings. They are not at all like regular people, no matter what results or pressure are they have happy faces knowing they get their nonsense salaries.
Hi 1×2
That’s a bit gloomy for you!
Many of us in the UK feel exactly the same as yourself about footballers’ exorbitant wages when the average wage is around £35k a YEAR, not a week. Many Brits don’t even earn anywhere near that of course – I don’t know what it’s like in Finland.
*They are not at all like regular people*. You are right, but a few have proved to be pretty decent folks – Rashford, Sterling etc – despite their crazy money.
Kiitos
Breaking news!
Teemu Pukki has bought in last july a luxury house from Helsinki. It has reported to cost about 1,6-1,7 million euro. 1 of his areal neighbors there is formula 1 driver Kimi Raikkonen, area is closed. Is Teemu heading to HJK? Haha no. Is he going to play there or in any other finnish club in future? I doubt, you see salaries for footballers overall in Finland are not much differ than regular people salaries. Finland national team manager Markku Kanerva salary is 200k per year. Average salary here has been reported to be 3000 euro per month, I would guess that 80% of people gets less than 3000. Richest finns are people who have also russian citizenship, Putins close friends. Highest salary for footballer has been about 500k, which is quite high because our league is about 6 months league.
Wow! Teemu deserves everything he has gotten from the game and it’s great that he is going back to Finland to live. He will not need to *work* again after his time with Brondby, Celtic and particularly Norwich City.
I bet many Finns will quickly learn where his house is though so he might not achieve all the peace he requires. His children are still very young and he must surely and quite rightly wish to bring them up in his own country.
I did not imagine Kanerva would be on such a low salary in all honesty and I know the cost of living is high in your country but even so, I’d settle for that!
I would imagine Teemu will see out the last 18 months of his contract with us and return home to Finland with many blessings from Norwich.
Martin, he just bought it for summer place where he can visit if he likes or he might rent it and likely feels as an investment. Kimi Raikkonen example is basically never in Finland and has no plans to move here again. I suppose Teemu is doing the same and they see those apartments as investments.
Common opinion here is that Teemu should leave Norwich in january. Im 99% sure he will never play in finnish league again, not even when he is 45. He should finally think his own career and show that he has ambitions as footballer instead of just enjoying his salaries and co-operation money. He should have about 5 very good seasons left as footballer, he has not had any bad injuries in his career. In my opinion he contract with Norwich only until next summer, so in january Norwich would get also something when they sell him. I cant even imagine situation that Teemu would start carrying Norwich back to premier league once again. Whole scenario is absurd and then he should not play anymore for Finlands national team, that everyone can forget here that he is even existing. We are not happy either how Norwich is playing, its painful to watch. He is wasting himself there, no matter how much he earns but there must be in sports also other ambitions than just money. Teemu has done Norwich more than anyone can ask player to do, its just enough and time to move on and without any bitter feelings on either side.
We have many footballers in the UK who do the same thing. Robbie Fowler of Liverpool and England bought so many houses as investments that the Liverpool fans would sing *we all live in a Robbie Fowler house* to the tune of Yellow Submarine!
I think the main reason Pukki could be considered wasted at Norwich is that he no longer has Emi Buendia with him so does not get those low balls through the gaps that he so much loves to run onto.
One thing I do know is that there will never be any bitter feelings between Teemu and our supporters, whenever he choose to leave.
He will always be an NCFC legend!
That is nice to hear. Teemu is strange dude as professional footballer. He is able to score several ways and different situations, there is just things in football he dislikes to do. That is the only way how im able to explain it. Against Liverpool carabao cup game he suddenly won at least 3 header battles. Why is it very difficult to bench him, its because he has incredible ability to either score or get penalty and score on that from basically nothing. We have seen that in national team games so many times, its without any sense really. When he plays in his normal level, his passing game is also so good that its very difficult to drop player like that.
Buendia factor is true, I question just how it has been possible that Norwich have not been able to find any other players who have ability to play with Teemu? Buendias role in Norwich was so huge, in Villa he will never get similar role so its not surprising that he is benched.
Thanks for Robbie Fowler story, hopefully he has not been Mike Tyson type of investor.
We have always had many funny football songs here in the UK and you don’t have to support the team singing them to enjoy them!
One of my kind of favourites is when the Gunners come to Carrow Road. We sing *worst support we’ve ever seen* and they reply with *you’ve only come to see the Arsenal*. We’ll be getting that exchange again in the New Year and that’s for sure.
Another one I’ve always liked is if a poorly supported team turns up with very few fans we will always sing *Come in a taxi? You must have come in a taxi*.
Some are much ruder and in these PC days I won’t mention any of them but they never fail to make me laugh.
Hi Martin
An excellent read and follow up comments
Over the weekend I read a comment from the ex Derby owner Morris who said he resorted to putting the club into administration to save it and find a buyer.
So you save the club and risk bankruptcy for local businesses that you owe money too really great of you.
Like many I think we’ll know that Chase got things wrong then GW came riding in and save the club only to be convinced that Alias Smith and Jones are the good guys to take the club on and there is no one on the horizon to ride to our rescue.
Where as Chase sold players thinking he could still find gems and got city relegated in the process and paid a heavy price for it.
We now have a similar situation that is oh so familiar but more relegations than any other club in PL history not one supporter has called them out, no protests they have a charmed life.
She once said that no investors are interested and that she would help city to go forward it has possible had potential investors but with a big sign saying no open for business would have turned them away especially the American trust funds but we never know the truth.
The latest Tabernacle called Turf Moor ownership in the hands of the Mormons investment fund will be a nightmare on Elm St or even St Elmo’s Fire this weekend so not for the fainthearted maybe it’s not an ACN but more ACB we live in hope things can turn round for the club.
Warnock on Sky just said City lost their identity with bringing to many players in???? Is he right
Hi Alex
Yes the comments have been great today – just like they were on Gary’s piece yesterday. They prove that MFW readers really care for the Club.
Derby have followed the 1p5wich model I’m afraid and if I were Rooney I would have walked by now, unless he’s helping out Colleen with her legal battle against Mrs Vardy, of course. People never fail to astound me.
The debate surrounding Delia will never go away unless she does, which means get ready for plenty of Groundhog Day for years to come.
Cheers
Talk comes easy to her and very rarely does she back up her words and doing interviews I would presume all questions are pre arranged and they get a final say how it goes out so anything they dislike is binned before publication or showing on Sky
Dunno about that.
I had a good friend David L, who was a producer/occasional presenter on Radio Norfolk for many years and the best bit of advice he gave me was:
*If you’re forced into an interview situation, always insist it’s live. Then nobody can feck around with what you say on an edit*.
I don’t know if Delia even has a PR advisor. NCFC have full time staff in that capacity but on a personal level? I haven’t got a scooby!
Thank you for a well written article.
My pre season optimism has already gone. I can only see us winning a game when the opposition have a nightmare and we have all the luck going. We are a young side that makes errors when pressed hard. All the teams know that. We have to play the ball on the ground to try to make chances for Pukki. We have no release by playing a high ball to a big striker like Toney or Chris Wood. We are not good enough to play Farkeball in the Premier League. You need to have players of the quality of Machester City. I would given Idah a chance with either Tzolis or Sargent. I just can’t see us winning with Pukki. If we play 3-5-2 then the wing backs need to be able to get forward. That is why you have the insurance of 3 centre half’s and a CDM. I think Giannoulis is a better attacking wing back than Williams.
Whatever we do it is only papering over the cracks of a squad that is not physically big enough not strong enough and too error prone.
I can’t see Farke being sacked. It would cost too much and he still has the backing of the board. Will he move back to Germany after this season.
Hi Colin
You definitely saved the best until last there.
*Whatever we do it is only papering over the cracks of a squad that is not physically big enough, not strong enough and too error-prone*.
I’d be in a rare old pickle if I disagreed with that.
*I can’t see Farke being sacked. It would cost too much and he still has the backing of the board. Will he move back to Germany after this season*.
It’s not just Farke on the four year deal, it’s Eddie and both Chris’s as well. Queen Bee won’t stump up enough to pay off all four of them – plus I think one of our medical team is a Farke import too – somebody more knowledgeable than me would have to confirm that cos I’m not sure.
Who could identify a coaching staff called Danny, Eddie, Chris & Chris as German hey?
I absolutely love the differing christian names in UK football these days – everything from Cristiano through to Mohamed – but we couldn’t get anything exotic ourselves from Germany!
I suppose Maximillian, Mathias and Christos are the best we can muster – which pushes us back to Max, Matt & Chris I guess.
Cheers
You can’t possibly win the Championship twice in quick succession, and then be terrible in the league above.
To me, Webber has recruited well. However, there appears to be a distinct lack of motivation in this group right now. One win would change all that. But like anyone else, I agree that I can’t see where the points are coming from.
Losing 30 games in a row when falling behind is just ridiculous. This is quite clearly a mentality issue. Even random odds would suggest that you would at least win one and draw some others.
If Brentford and Watford can do fine with their squads, which are substantially worse than ours, then something is seriously wrong. The players are good enough. The won the Championship with a club record points haul.
We are lacking leaders in this team. That is obvious. Hugill should have been kept in the dressing room. It’s no coincidence that Pukki has struggled when he hasn’t had the character behind him. Rhodes and Hugill proved the point.
Farke’s record speaks for itself. It’s embarrassing. I don’t want him to go because of the great work he’s done but you can’t argue with the stats. They are damning.
If we get nothing from Burnley, he simply has to go. Our season started 6 games ago and we’ve choked ever since.
Hi Daniel
You’re right: there simply has to be a mentality issue – whether among many individuals or as a collective I’m not too sure.
From what I can gather Hugill didn’t want to stay around for [very] limited game time after the emergence of Adam Idah and the signing of Josh Sergant, although there’s no doubt we’ll miss his character. I’ll always remember him for his lockdown cooking contest against Emi on NCFC official – now there were a couple of characters who didn’t accept losing gracefully!
Thanks
I have been a NCFC supporter for over 60 years. During this time I have seen the ups and downs. However, one thing has never changed and that is the loyal support of the fans. We have one of the very strongest group of supporters in the UK. How would the “management” react if the supporters started to stay away. After all, they all travel to home and away games to see their club do well. From what I’m seeing, there is a lack of confidence and willingness to give everything from the players. Not one player has that look that he is enjoying the game. At times, they look terrified of the opposition.
Hi Tavira
*Not one player has that look that he is enjoying the game. At times, they look terrified of the opposition*.
I’d totally agree with that assessment and I would question if there is a blanket ban on playing with freedom this season following the three home PL matches I’ve been to.
If we go back to the wilderness years between, say, 1995 and 2003 the ground could sometimes be half empty or even less for a rainy night match against Tranmere, Preston or whoever. I doubt we’ll ever go back to that but I’d never say never.
Thanks
Tavira, Martin,
Quite agree with you guys, the players appear unhappy, sometimes uncommitted in tackles – I actually got the feeling Kenny McLean’s injury last season (courtesy of Barnsley’s Mowatt) was caused in part because he was protecting himself for Scotland’s Euros tournament – look where it got him if that is so!
I seem to remember the England and ManUtd great Bobby Charlton, years ago, saying how the easiest way to get yourself injured in a football match is to make a half-hearted challenge on a committed opponent. Know that to be true in many sports!
Of course, the game has changed a lot and the old blood-and-guts centre halves have largely left the game. No Bremners, no Tommy Smiths, no Choppers – and no Forbes and Stringer come to that!
At least our players don’t have to cope with a heavy duty football made of thick leather combined with an internal bladder, tied in with the lace from a size ten boot!
The current balls seem to be much better for heading to me – can remember trying to head a rocket of a cross in a school game on a damp day, and feeling quite lobotomised!
Great article Martin, thought-provoking as always!
OTBC !!
Hi Kev
That’s interesting about McLean. We’ll never know for sure but as the Barnsley match was largely without meaning I reckon you could well be right.
As for the footballs I started a little bit after the lace-up balls and don’t think I’ve ever headed one. The worst ones for me were the old Mouldmasters we used for training – they were like bullets.
Mind you I didn’t head any football very often – I was useless in the air!
Cheers
It is maybe not the time to raise the white flag but you have to ask what the Board expected this season? Did they expect to be already 2 points behind everyone? Did they expect us to at least give it a go? It looks like the Buendia money has been spent on providing depth but our starting XI is weaker without him. After the Watford game I immediately thought about our prospects for next season. We looked ok against Leciester but the Watford match was back to Project Restart and we don’t look likely to reach 20 points. Therefore, we need to look at the squad and consider who is going to be at the club next season and who is going to add value. I am expecting a few players to be returned back to their parent clubs in January if that is possible. Sargent will probably look good in the Championship as will Tzolis but what are their wages and what are their aspirations? I understand that we kept pay at Premier League levels last season. It paid off but would the Board do the same again if we go down or will they look to cut their losses? I would also be surprised to see Farke and Webber want to stay if we go down. The silence from anyone above Farke is considerable and I get the feeling that all is not well. This partly goes back to BK8 and Kensell but also the delayed team building and the fact that almost uniquely we seemed to have been badly impacted by Covid despite being based in one of the areas with fewer cases than the rest of the country. This is more than just a few bad results and we need to rebuild dramatically
Hi John
Yes I think you’re probably right about the silence at the top and when you say *the Watford match was back to Project Restart* you are definitely spot on.
As I said in the original, this international break should prove interesting.
Thanks – good comment.
It may be true that we had to sell Buendia – but he was under contract and we did sell him in May. Even Villa waited a decent length of time before letting Grealish go. Maybe one could argue that the white flag was hoisted just after lifting the Championship Trophy?
If one looks at City’s record over the last 3 years then one cannot overstate the importance of Buendia to that success. If we had realised the full extent of his importance – which we didn’t though the signs were there for all to see – then I think different decisions would have been made. But the lure of £33m plus the undervaluing of his real worth has led to this situation. Only now do we realise his true value to us and Farkeball.
Hi Tony
Buendia is interesting. I probably should have said in the original article that he was sold with what appeared to be indecent haste and probably was a tad undersold too..
Apart from the supporters, the guy who will be missing Emi the most is Teemu Pukki.
*Only now do we realise his true value to us and Farkeball* – spot on.
Cheers