From little acorns mighty oaks do grow, proclaims a proverb that originated in England during the 14th century**.
If they fall far enough away from the tree not to be suffocated by the arboreal donor, passing squirrels do not hoard them over the winter so that they shrivel and die and the weather remains generous to them this will surely come to pass.
Or it would have done in medieval times when there were no massive housing developments that threatened to cut their parents down at will, anyway. No, I haven’t suddenly developed a liking for Caroline Lucas and her crew but I respect woodland and the great enjoyment it can bring to humans and canines alike. Enough already.
Our first little acorn of the season has potentially fallen in a place that might bode well for its survival. As in a most unexpected and thus all the more welcome 0-0 draw at Turf Moor on Saturday when we stood toe-to-toe with Sean Dyche and his Burnley bully boys. They won the match on bookings by five to two but we weren’t innocent in that respect either. Good, says I.
The more times I watch Tim Krul’s challenge for the ball against Matej Vydra, the more I’m reliving the recent Joshua-Usyk fight. Vydra got his head on the ball first and there is no doubt about that. His reward was a double-fisted slap from Krul, who did not touch the ball whatsoever, and Vydra had to go off with concussion about 10 minutes later. We got VAR lucky for once in our Yellow and Green lives.
Dyche and the Clarets fans were baying at referee Kevin Friend for most of the match. Think back two seasons and I have no sympathy whatsoever – this was your turn to suffer at the hands and whistle of the official, my Lancashire friends.
For the first time this season, there was some real Canary steel on display, exemplified by Grant Hanley and his sidekicks Ben Gibson and Ozan Kabak. The latter’s box-to-box slalom was something to behold and I certainly haven’t seen the like of it since Jon Newsome tried something similar back in the 1990s but when he did it everybody backed off him whereas Burnley were snapping in on Kabak like a pack of Orcas.
Hanley put the annoying little creature that is Ashley Westwood firmly in his place on more than one occasion. Again good, says I.
We could argue that it is only a point but to me it’s much more significant than that. Our first of the season. It ruined Dyche’s special day and he must have had a tiff with Mr Friend who this time around rejected Dyche’s offer to assist him in his job. This is my hat-trick: Good, says I.
Yes, we had little to offer up front once more but at the moment the 3-5-2 lends itself to that. Daniel Farke has vowed to reconcile this. Quite how he will achieve it I do not know but we have left the starting blocks at least – and at last. No more 0-0-7 jokes for our head coach to face anyway.
I found a couple of Farke’s post-match comments interesting.
“It was a spicy atmosphere and we were up against one of the most physical and direct teams you will see. So a first point and a clean sheet is something we can build on.
“In some ways, a clean sheet against a team as intense and strong as Burnley is as good as not conceding against Liverpool or Chelsea. My players deserve a lot of compliments for the resilience they showed”.
Looking forward, maybe this international break has come at a reasonable time for us. Our tails might not be totally flourishing yet but they are no longer curled between our hind legs. Despite our many absentees away with their respective countries, Farke will have plenty to work with over the next fortnight and hopefully use the time to good effect before our clash with a surprisingly good Brighton outfit on October 12.
As much as I criticise Delia on occasions, I bet Farke and Stuart Webber both are grateful they do not work for the seemingly faceless owners of Watford, who have sacked Xisco Munoz after achieving seven points from seven games. Kind of makes you think.
I don’t know if Gary brought himself to watch Match of the Day (nope – Ed) but I did with my eyes behind my fingers and the volume turned down very low. They didn’t grant us enough airtime for Captain Smug to be patronising so I survived the experience. Just.
Let’s hope the Yellow and Green acorn grows into an extremely sturdy sapling as soon as possible.
**I’d love to claim I specialised in medieval history at Uni but my knowledge of the acorns and oaks proverb actually comes from a framed poster on the wall of the Hearts of Oak pub in Lowestoft back in the 1980s when my ex-wife’s aunt Barbara and her partner Roy used to run it. Said poster explained the origins of the phrase and it kind of stuck in my memory.
You can learn an awful lot of things in pubs and those you do are always educational in one way or another 🙂
Good morning on this lovely sunny start here in Norwich and I’m one of the multitude of NCFC fans feeling mighty relieved to have got our first point and away against Burnley of all teams.
Yes, it is nice to have benefitted from a decision by Mr Friend and I may be wrong, but I’m fairly convinced that it’s the first time we’ve had a decision in our favour by VAR – I can’t believe that it didn’t even get called to be reviewed.
Hat’s off to DF for his team selection and praise must also go to the defensive triumvirate of GH, BG and OB and as for the latter’s run through the Burnley team ….
I’m sure like me that you’ve seen murmurings that DF has ‘lost the dressing room’ – a comment I’ve seen several times previously, but the coffin lid has been nailed firmly shut after that performance. What was particularly pleasing to see was the work rate and play of both Normann and Kabak and neither looks as though they only want to be here for one season and then ‘returned to sender’.
Hi Ed
I’d never really taken the *Farke’s lost the dressing room* rumblings seriously. Only a genuine insider would know the truth or fiction of that anyway.
As for Normann and Kabak, rumour is that they will only be compulsorily bought if we stay up. Considering it’s Rostov and Schalke respectively I think they might dip a little in their expectations should we not survive and as you say both players seem happy to be here so I wouldn’t write them off as permanent acquisitions just yet.
Imagine what this squad might do in the Championship!
Yet again, it’s a wait and see.
Good Morning Martin
The Munoz sacking is ruthless, but if Watford stay up it will be considered a success. Watford and Norwich have a starkly contrasting strategy. Very different owners indeed. I laughed about the comment I heard on the radio, that you are never more than 50 metres from an ex-Watford manager no matter where you are upon the surface of the Earth.
Well pleased with that hard-earned point. Lift-off? Perhaps not, but the elevator brakes have activated just in time.
Hi Cobwatch
Yes those old air-brakes were applied for sure. And very necessarily so.
The Watford situation is beyond farcical and if Claudio joins them I bet he will be demanding a very, very long contract to do so as he’s nobody’s fool.
Cheers
Summed up perfectly Martin.
However, as I put on Gary’s column yesterday, if we had been the team with 4 bookings before half-time, I’m pretty confident that Dyche’s lot would have got at least one of us dismissed….an opportunity lost, perhaps?
Let’s just hope that Normann’s injury is not too serious – or are we wising up at last?
O T B C
Hi John
As a few friends and I were discussing yesterday, Normann’s *injury* might well be a bit of gamesmanship from Farke. Let’s hope so.
If he works with that lad over the next fortnight – even in light training – it can only prove to be a bonus for us.
I cannot believe Burnley have not seen a red card in something like 90+ matches. A truly horrible side in every way.
Cheers
I can’t remember the last time Norwich didn’t lose a physical battle, perhaps the boys can become men after all.
A precious point from a pressure point. The relief I felt at 5.00pm on Saturday was huge and I wonder how low my mood would have sunk had we lost. I know Burnley are in a poor run of home form but I think that any of the teams we’re looking to compete with will be happy to leave Turf Moor with a draw.
So, as you say, a small acorn has fallen. I’ll be in The Royal Oak (my Wolverhampton local) with the Monday Night club raising a glass with more enthusiasm to all things yellow and green than I have been able to for a while.
Hi Don
There was another poster on the wall about the actor/manager David Garrick, who also wrote the song *Hearts of Oak*. Trouble is I can’t recall the details just now and haven’t got the time to google it just now.
Enjoy tonight in the Royal Oak – named after Charles II, natch.
Cheers
Hi Martin
Great read and with Tinkerman at Watford I just wonder if we will see a push for the title or a run at relegation maybe a new incumbent will again be installed before the New Year then the could resign Munoz.
Too many pundits have meaningless opinions on city but the newspaper article from Messrs Murphy and Wright on Sunday couldn’t stop crowing about Krul and his attempted punch, it was mentioned that both players only watched the ball so no malice ment.
Pep G wasn’t a happy Spanish bunny after a Henderson/Miller 1/2 on Silva, Miller really should have got a second for leaving his leg out it could have done Silva a serious injury.
City have Normann with drawn from international duty due to a recurring injury let’s hope he is up and running for the Brighton game.
Not sure if this is a good or bad time for an international break just hope all players return ready for the next set of games and the memory of how they battled the Dyce menace is taken up a level and maybe score a couple against Brighton.
Onwards and upwards
OTBC Stay Safe and Keep Healthy
Hi Alex
Yes Brighton should be some game and I for one am glad I’m going – who knows what might be served up cos they don’t look a bad side at all. I’m doing the MFW preview for that one so perhaps I’ll get an inside track on what’s going so well for Potter & Co.
No, Pep wasn’t a happy conejo but he did nonetheless give Klopp a nice friendly kiss afterwards – it was a cracking match.
I’m sure everybody involved at Turf Moor will have their own special memories of the game and what with his burst from the back and being very badly challenged by Tarkowski I reckon Ozan Kabak will have more memories than most.
Cheers
Well Martin I cant say you cant see the wood for the trees can I, but I had the pleasure of a live feed for that game and after the fifth take on the Krull-Vydra incident they found a Krull fingertip on the ball before the ball connected with Vydra and Krull cleaned him out.
Now if we can compare City to a slow growing oak that will in time come to a splendid maturity, what do we call Brentfords tree, perhaps a quick growing bamboo that needs pruning in a couple of games time by Farkeball.
Great analogy bernie and I’ve ‘pencilled in’ the (once) mighty Leeds as the game when we see the return of ‘Farkeball’ in full flight.
Disclaimer – I see Leeds had their first win on Saturday!!
Leeds will be a humdinger – it always, always is.
Hi Bernie
I’ve seen the Vydra incident several times now through various media and I still can’t see that fingertip. As for Brentford’s bamboo, that can put down pretty invasive roots as well, so much so that most of ours is in large pots.
Cheers. Tree-mendous comment.
Good read Martin and nothing whatsoever to disagree with.
Burnley certainly like to dish it out, they’re not too good at taking it though.
Mark Rivers, a genius in the co commentator role, pointed to Kabaks storming run as a catalyst which appeared to lift spirits amongst his colleagues. Such moments can force a shift in momentum, both on the pitch and in the stands. This is just the kind of response we need to being rock bottom. It’s imperative we show the same spirit against Brighton.
In regard to the international break we now have a nervous wait until the players are all back at Colney, hopefully unscathed and in good spirits. I note Normann has already pulled out of the Norwegian squad. Good news if its to protect a minor niggle, disastrous if its a major problem. I would go as far as saying if we lose Normann now for any period of time we are as good as down.
Hi Chris
Rivo is great on the radio I would quickly agree. Only the very occasional appearances from Mark Walton top him to my mind.
As I’ve said earlier, I’m hoping the Normann situation is a bit of Farke gamesmanship but we will probably only know around 1400 on October 16.
It’s a schoolboy thing that bullies don’t like it when somebody stands up to them and NCFC did that very, very well on Saturday.
We MUST NOT take a step backwards against Brighton.
Cheers
Dyche saying now that Vydra’s substitution was a back injury rather than head. Also, good of MOTD to not even show the Tarkowski “tackle” on Pukki in the 11th minute which should have been a red not a yellow, but make so much of the Krul punch.
Also laughed at the BBC website report which says that the result is ultimately “of little use to either side”. What very lazy, ill-informed nonsense the BBC come up with these days. It felt like a huge result to me and thousands of other NCFC fans.
I disagree with the “not much up front” argument. We had 10 shots to Burnley’s 14, 2 requiring decent saves from Pope. That’s not bad away from home, and against a Burnley team which chops down anyone who gets within 25 yards.
Hi sgncfc
Yeah, Burnley’s chopping down probably subconsciously triggered my tree intro. No, it might not have done in all honesty but I know exactly what you mean.
I tried to work Chris WOOD into it somewhere but gave up after a while – unbelievably we were strongly linked with him quite a few years ago now.
Huge result I would question but a bl00dy great big one I would endorse.
Cheers
Hi Martin,
Wow, channelling bloomin’ David Bellamy this morning hey?
That was a pretty good acorn from NCFC on Saturday, I’m rooting for it to grow big and strong, would be great if that starts against Brighton! Hopefully we can then leave a few doubters … “Shaken [if] not Stirred”!
I have no doubt DF will turn the goals up front situation around, perhaps a mixture of Cantwell, Tzolis and Rashica. I’d love to see Super-Teemu get a 20-goal haul this season.
All in all, a great weekend, a fabulous performance from the whole squad, am praying for it to continue here!
COYY !!
Hi Kev
The only way I would deliberately channel Dr David Bellamy is by remembering TiSWaS from the early 8os when Lenny Henry impersonated him including the phase *gwapple me gwapenuts, Kwis* rom Compost Corner. It wouldn’t be allowed on air now.
Seriously though, that result and performance should surely give us all a bit of hope and fortitude. And the players too!
Cheers
All comments that I can agree with but let’s not hide the fact that we could have played another hour and we would probably not have scored. What must Idah feel when he is called up for international duty but only gets 3 minutes a game from Farke. We needed some creativity in midfield so what of Dowell or Gilmore as subs rather than the hapless Rupp???
A point away is good but is it just covering up the cracks. Here I go being negative again but it is only because I care.
Hi Cyprus
I think very often many of us are negative and it is certainly because we all care – there is no doubt about that.
I’m of Irish heritage and follow what RTE, the Irish Times and certainly the Cork Examiner have to say about Idah and the consensus there would be that he always plays a lone role for the RoI and to be blunt, they’re not too sure what to make of him.
Lukas Rupp is quite handy to bring on late if you’re shoring up for a point.
Cheers
The clash of gloves and Vydra’s face was as innocent as a clash of heads. It shouldn’t be a penalty and wouldn’t be in any normal game. If you start giving that as a penalty then what about a clash of heads where one player is slightly late? It is nonsense. It was a punch being thrown and a clash of heads is not a headbutt. So no pen.
Hi Tony
All I was trying to say is that it didn’t look too sharp on the TV replays. Both Vydra and Krul were watching the ball and I didn’t realise when I wrote this that Vydra was taken off because of a bad landing on his back rather than concussion, which we now know to be the case.
Put it this way… we’ve seen them given.
Cheers
I don’t think we have seen them given – which is what ex-ref Dermot Gallagher said. It’s hardly Schumacher v Battiston – and if it were a clash of heads – which is exactly the same – then you are going to have 5 penalties given each game.
I just watched the Schumacher incident again just now – I hadn’t seen it in years and you’re obviously right – that was a deliberate assault and nothing like the Krul incident!
I have seen a few of these given over the years actually but can’t remember who they involved so I’ve no admissible evidence m’lud.
Actually no. Dermott Gallagher has said that he has never seen a penalty given for an incident like that, and he should definitely know.
Hi Roger
Same as I said to Tony [below]
Yes I’ve seen Dermot Gallagher’s take on it as well now and who am I to disagree?
It still looks more than a bit iffy to me but as you say if the letter of the law has been upheld then justice has been served. Fair do’s.:
If you are going to give that as a pen then you have to give 5 pens a match for clashes of heads. Ex-ref Dermot Gallagher said that he had never seen one given and it wasn’t a penalty – and it was far (VAR) from a clear and obvious error anyway. So no pen.
Hi Tony
Yes I’ve seen Dermot Gallagher’s take on it as well now and who am I to disagree?
It still looks more than a bit iffy to me but as you say if the letter of the law has been upheld then justice has been served. Fair do’s.
Cheers
Good article as ever Martin.
Of course it’s far too early to say if we have actually turned a corner defensively and being able to compete physically, but there are certainly grounds for a little optimism.
This would then bring us to the not inconsiderable matter of creating more chances and scoring, My view is that this depends to a large extent in getting Cantwell back and firing on all cylinders. I thought against Liverpool he produced some sublime moments of skill, on a much higher plane than Rashica or Tzolis appear capable of.
Hi Mark
Yes I reckon your point about Cantwell is a good one. He is the most creative player we have, although Kieran Dowell and Billy Gilmour might bet to differ.
Rashica and Tzolis look more traditional wide men than anything else, but Farke insists both can play through the middle as well.
We sure do need to start scoring – but easier said than done?
Cheers
https://youtu.be/AG0f50LTEes
Martin! Is this the Jon Newsome solo run you were by any chance, referring to??
I
Hi Martin
Actually no, but I do remember the game pretty well, mainly because of the deflected goals.
I can’t remember who it was against but it was much more like Kabak’s and Newsome [a great player] didn’t score at the end of it either 🙂
Cheers
As you say Martin from small acorns.
I thought it was a very decent performance. Normann looked excellent and I thought Grant Hanley was back to his best.
Burnley were at home, had a very settled side and caught us at a time our confidence must have been at an all point low. And still couldn’t beat us.
If Daniel can get a settled team and stick to 5 at the back I think we have a good chance of improving quite a bit this season.
If Teemu had been just that little more like his old self we could have even won the game.
I am like you I thought the only penalty we got away with, in all 45 appeals !!!, was Krul/Vydra.
Lets put it this way none of them were as clear as the foul on Rashica against Watford.
I wish Brighton was a night match but we need to replicate that lovely “Carrow Road nightime” atmosphere for the Brighton game.
C’Mon you Yellas .
Hi Tim
I’m not sure if the 3-5-2 is the new default system or still at the experimental stage but as you say it seems to make us a bit more solid defensively.
As for Brighton they will provide us with a very stern test as they’ve been the antithesis of ourselves as in they’ve started really well!
On paper it looks like one of our better chances of getting a win on the board but it will be a difficult match as Brighton seems to be a good side which is in form.
Cheers