England’s England’s Number One, England’s… Number One.
In my lifetime we’ve sung that chant for Chris Woods, Rob Green and even John Ruddy. Maybe even for Kevin Keelan too and if we didn’t we should have done.
But referee Darren England certainly wasn’t Number One on Saturday evening so there was no need for a reprisal of the old tribal chant.
It’s probably a bit petulant of me to openly criticise a match official, which I really don’t do very often, but on this occasion, I feel a little bit justified as his performance was as poor as that display from the multi-millionaires in their red shirts. It’s usually sound to back up an argument with the odd perception or two, so I’ll offer a brace on Mr England.
Firstly everybody wants to see a match official facilitate the flow of a game. I’ve always been up for that and always will be. But some of the niggling little digs coming from the Reds should have been clamped down on early doors. Not a single card from Mr England though until so late in the game that it made no difference.
Harry Maguire shirt tugging at every opportunity? No worries mate, you carry on. Marcus Rashford wants to award himself a free kick? Of course you can pal, off you go. Our ratio of free kicks awarded increased after Manchester United scored and I wonder why?
Secondly, Mr England was like a startled bunny in the floodlights. That’s cynical maybe but I hope I can be forgiven for suggesting that the big-time Charlies played on their perceived status at every available opportunity.
Enough of Mr England – there were many, many positives from this game with our depleted squad showing up very well against a side who will be struggling to make the top four this season, no bones about it.
Lungi, where have you been? Seventy minutes of composure alongside an equally unutilised Ozan Kabak at centre-back was a joy to watch. He’s no speed merchant but our Jacob fitted in seamlessly and really didn’t look out of place in any way whatsoever. He may be required for a while in which once more isn’t his favoured position after a really bad landing for Grant Hanley after a challenge from the Red Devil I’d instructed myself before writing not to mention by name. Speak of the devil and all that.
Steve who sits behind me in Barclay D Block is very much a rugby man and straight away said “dislocated shoulder”. I offered “maybe a collarbone” but he explained the difference and I quickly realised he was right.
Lukas Rupp had a good enough game for me to pick up a chant I’d never heard before. He hasn’t exactly got his own song yet but several chants of “Rupp, Rupp” broke out in the second half and a few “USA USAs” for Josh Sargent who worked so hard while mainly playing on the left, which I’ve certainly never seen before.
Pepe Placheta made what I believe was his Premier League debut and in the absence of Milot Rashica offered quite a lot going forward and gave us a bit of much-needed width. Alex B tells me it was his first start since Swansea last season, in which case I’m even more impressed. He should start against Villa for sure and it would help if Maguire would give him his shirt back. Times are tight, you know.
A little bit of luck and a lesser performance from David De Gea would have seen us win that one so while I’m as disappointed with the result as we all are plenty of hope remains beneath our current position in the league table.
Not normally one to praise myself in prose I deserve a bit of self-congratulation this time around. Well done me for not referring to the penalty, the naivety of Max Aarons and the cynical way it was drawn by the devil incarnate – he who shall not be named in this article.
I’ll cheerfully quote Dean Smith on the penalty incident though:
“It was a soft penalty. There have been plenty of challenges similar to that during the game that weren’t given, so I’m annoyed because I thought there was a lack of consistency from the officials today. [Marcus] Rashford gave himself a free-kick in the first-half.”
Oh well, I always let myself down and breach my own guidelines. I seriously dislike the ego of Cristiano Ronaldo – whoops!
This is dedicated to the match official. I know it’s a Springsteen song but being a bit of a prog fan in my youth I much prefer this version:
Enough about ‘he who shall not be named’…..
What a song! Never heard this version before (or even of the band) – but what a tune!!
Have this blasting currently.
Happy Monday and roll on Villa.
Morning Martin
It’s just the size of #CR7’s head that grinds my gears really.
If you liked the band try this one: Davy’s on the Road again. I can’t send a link remotely but it’ll be all over YouTube. They mainly played the Uni circuit and medium sized venues but were very popular in prog circles.
Happy Monday? Sounds like another good band to me although my pick of that genre would be the Stone Roses.
Cheers
Just listening now. Very good rhythm and some cracking lyrics!
Now you’ve also mentioned some very good other bands. Stone Roses wise, Fools Gold being a classic but I wanna be adored being a personal favourite of mine.
Waterfall for me!
I won’t mention his name either, Martin, ‘cos the missus doesn’t like me spitting in the house. I sit right behind that “incident“ that led to the penalty, and my first thought was that the referee had pointed for a goal kick, and that the unmentionable had just thrown himself on his arsenal too obviously to fool even the starstruck pillock in the black shirt. How come we’re in the Prem the first season they introduce VAR, and it gets overused, and then again we’re there when they decide not to use it much at all? They are applying different rules game by game, and for some obscure reason, it seems to favour the “big” teams. Formula 1 is now going the same way, bending the rules to get the result they want.
Hi Jim
You’re at the opposite end of the stadium to me of course so I haven’t seen it from your viewpoint and once more Screeny McSreenface had the day off.
I feel sorry for Max who made a very rare error. Although Ronaldo has a good leap on him he was never going to get to the cross.
I used to love F1 in the days of Hunt and Senna but I can’t be ar$ed to watch it any more – mainly for the reason you suggest.
Cheers
Hi Martin
CR7 has got his own brand of bronzing out now that you spray on, he will possibly give it free to those who took his picture on Saturday evening.
Ref’s come and go and they all leave us with memories of good and bad decisions but Mr Friend as you say allowed ManU to make the decisions fir him surely the assessment team will have as say it their report or were they complicit as well.
Lots of good things from the game Sorensen, Placheta, Sargent and Dimitrios all showing their desire to play in our colours now we need to find a but of luck on front of the Onion Bag.
Not too much damage done with other results and all the top teams need soft penalties to win their games now if only city can get some of the spoils.
Tuesday lots of covid-19 hanging around the villa team so maybe they could be a soft touch but then the Ref might want to please some scouse git that has bemoaned the way Villa missed out on a penalty on Saturday so even things up.
Onwards and upwards
OTBC
Stay Safe and Keep Healthy
Hi Alex
Yes there was much satisfaction to be taken from that performance.
Smiffy claims we fear no-one and there’s certainly no need to be scared of Villa.
Emi will get a huge welcome back I am sure.
I reckon Stevie G’s lawyers will be coming your way sometime soon 🙂
Cheers
Good morning Martin and I hadn’t realised that it was our old :friend’ Mr England with the whistle!! Remember Kenilworth Road?? 😕
All the supporters around me were calling for the man in black to start getting his cards out much earlier on, but no, they stayed firmly in his pocket¡! Had Placheta gone down when Maguire was pulling him back would we have got a penalty?? I doubt it.
I said on my way to the game that I’d be happy if we gave them a good game and my goodness, did we do that and more. JLS slotted in brilliantly for the injured Hanley and I’d love to see him playing in his preferred position, something watch raised a lot of positive debate on Twitter yesterday. I’ve always rated Kabak and he may get a run of games now that Hanley is injured – his header which DeGea somehow saved was excellent. (I see Garth Crooks awarded him the GK position in his team of the week!!). So, in our last two home games, we have faced two GKs in outstanding form!
I remarked to the fan who sits next to me that Man Utd had brought a lot of fans and his immediate reply was, “Yes, they’re here from Gt Yarmouth!!”. As for the fan who was ‘filming: Ronnie after he scored – if he was an NCFC fan, he should be handed a lifetime ban!!
Like most NCFC fans. I wasn’t filled with glee when DS was appointed as Head Coach, but I’m looking forward to seeing if he can achieve what Steve McQueen couldn’t and get our team to perform the ‘Great Escape’
Morning Ed
We’ll find out more about Hanley soon as Deano’s press conference will probably be early today as he likes to do it before training rather than after like DF did.
The GY Reds do not surprise me at all but I was talking with two of the real thing on the walk to the ground who came from Cheadle Hulme – an area I know very well as I worked there often over something like 20 years.
They have no time for the plastics – Manchester based fans are NOT fond of them.
Cheers
It’s me – I’m just carp at typing on a tablet, grrr!
Martin
Wow, Manfred Mann’s Earth Band, such an underrated band, cheers Martin, a real ‘Joybringer’!
What happened Saturday was just another in-your-face example of what’s wrong with the Premier League really, Man Utd players tweaking the rules to suit themselves while a sub-par referee offered them impunity.
The way to get around your Ronaldo problem is to say the name three times quickly having created your own rule that his name actually means ‘tosser’.
One game soon we really need to thrash the other team, quicker the better as there are still twelve points up for grabs before January. Stunning play from every NCFC player!
COYYs !!
Hi Kev
I speak a bit of Spanish and I know it’s akin to Portuguese but the Spanish for *tosser* is nothing like *ronaldo* but it bl00dy well should be!
You’re spot on – nobody let us down in any respect and almost universally I think everybody left the ground filled with pride in our team.
I saw Earthband at Dagenham Roundhouse around 1975 and they were great – one of the very few prog bands who released successful singles, but with MM’s background it’s understandable that they did.
Cheers
Sadly I wasn’t there, but the game seemed good as far as the Beeb and the highlights were concerned – absolutely refuse to listen to TalkSport!
What a pair of stars Kabak and Sorensen were together – MFW-ers should feel pleased having spent months asking for Sorensen to be actively playing.
Never got to see MM’s Earth Band, but I love the singles, all classy songs – and of course, in another ‘skin’ MM produced several great ’60s hits, ‘Pretty Flamingo’ and ‘Sha La La’ included.
I don’t do TalkSport either – few of us do from what I can gather!
Manfred Mann was/is an interesting character who hails from SA.
He’s classical trained hence Joybringer from the Planets Suite – Sabbath nicked a couple of their riffs from *Mars* which featured on their debut album. I can honestly say the Planets is one of the few classical pieces I can enjoy and relate to.
Looks like Kabak and Sorensen again tomorrow – nothing amiss there!
Probably controversial opinion, but I thought Max was extremely naive in the incident. Ronaldo was never getting the cross anyway. I would love to see a bit more from Aarons, he has all the potential and talent in the world, this is the season for him kick on and reach the Reece James (aim high!!) type level.
Hi Pjct87
Nothing contraversial there – I used the term naive for Max in the original article.
He so rarely makes errors of judgement like that of course.
I too think he is cap-able of making it to the very top.
Cheers
No mention of the Biased Broadcast Collective’s coverage of Linekers Spout of the Day.
Didn’t show MH being dragged down to sustain a serious injury.
No mention of Mr Ego pretending to be injured.
And so it goes on.
Mega OTBC.
Hi NC
We kind of have an unofficial MFW policy that means we don’t mention Lineker unless we absolutely have to.
Surely you’re not suggesting the BBC types are biased in either news or sports formats – I feel really shocked by that!
Thanks – nice one.
Is it all right if we just call him Big Ears?
Yes Jim, with the written permission of the Enid Blyton estate.
The bigger the player the bigger the cheat!Slime ball was not the only one,you could name half the man ure team.They knew they weren’t playing well so had to use every trick in the book to scrape a result.Not that I would like to see it but perhaps our players need to do it a bit more?Anyway we didnt deserve a loss and every player gave their all,let’s hope they can carry that on tomorrow night.And yes the referee was P##s poor.
Hi Tony
Trouble there is that as we’re l’l ole Nodge our antics would be very unlikely to get the same result of those of Ronaldo or, say, Grealish.
Spot on comment though.
Cheers
So yet again it’s a case of missed opportunities ….
As it happens Blinded by the light is on the album The Roaring Silence. Back in the 70s I was a music student and Manfred M, who was a friend of the head of department, gave a series of workshops on pop/jazz rhythms etc. Great guy, though some of the narrow-minded stuffier Bach/Montiverdi scholars refused to be impressed. This led to an invite to our chamber choir to sing on the album…. the following year, after I’d left. So several good friends that I’m still in touch with are listed on there, it’s their claim to fame. But not mine.
Following that digression (sorry!), a few observations.
Placheta – I really hope his obvious potential is about to be turned into some solid performances. He’s barely had a look in since the start of last season but unlike some appears to be willing to get his head down, keep working on his weaknesses, and earn his chance. There are others who would probably have thrown their toys out of the pram after 6 months. It will be interesting to see which way Tszolis goes if he doesn’t get a starting spot soon.
The penalty – should have been retaken for encroachment. Bruno Fernandes is inside the area by the time the ball is kicked. (Why they don’t take the “scored or not” approach of a penalty shootout into the main game beats me – it would be so much easier than trying to police the encroachment rule, and save painting the D, which has no other function in the game).
Aarons – so now he knows he is tall enough to shake Ronaldo by the neck. I wish he’d conducted that experiment in another area of the pitch. It’s probably another example of the fine detail that deters the top clubs from buying him. He’s a very good player, yet not quite good enough in several areas to challenge the likes of Alexander-Arnold or Reece James. Which is good news for us, as he’s stayed much longer than many people expected.
So roll on Villa, when no doubt Emi will take over refereeing duties alongside David Coote. I wonder what the odds are on him being carded (Emi, not Coote)?
Hi Keith
A fascinating tale. There is much snobbery in the music biz, or at least there was in the last century. I think it’s what stands the passage of time that counts.
My background is hard rock and heavy metal but that didn’t mean I couldn’t embrace punk and New Wave when it came along and move on to an obsession with the Manics. Genre doesn’t mean that much to me as I’m the original *I like what I like* kind of guy.
You are spot on about both Placheta and Aarons.
As for Emi I’m sure he’d love to start – although maybe he won’t – and I’m 100% that he’ll get a good reception from us.
Cheers
I think it was Ron Atkinson who said ‘I don’t criticise refs, but he was crap.’ Not for the first time in the last few years, England was found to be substandard.
Surely it won’t be long before performances become points? If it could start tomorrow, that would be great!
Hi Don
Atkinson is only remembered for one disastrous insensitive comment these days of course but he could come out with some gemas as well.
Give the boys a big old shout for me tomorrow.
Cheers mate
Ronaldo 1-Pukki 0 was basically how finnish media wrote about the game. It felt absurd that next story after that was, Ronaldos family is in Finland and photos of them. They were in Rovaniemi, in arctic circle. Just week a go rovaniemi local football club Rops gave shocking information. Because of covid, financial situation has forced Rops to give up professional football, so they get dropped to third level. They tried to get promoted back to highest level last season, but failed in playoff game against AC Oulu which is another club from north. It came in my mind right away after those articles that Ronaldo could easily save vital thing to those people lives, higher level football in there.
Englishman Steven Polack is cult hero there. He played 301 games for Rops and scored 30 goals which is quite impressive for central defender who was also team captain. 1987-1988 Rops went to playing european cup winners cup, their second round home attendance was 8500. Game was played in november so there was already full winter going on. Army game to help because there was so much snow, game was started 1pm because there is no stadium lights and day light exist only few hours. Rops won that game 1-0 thanks to Polacks goal and went to quarter final. They lost quarter final against Marseille, they played home game in Lecce Italy. Rops official stadium capacity is 2900. Later club was known as its game fixing accusations. From Helsinki to Rovaniemi its 820 km, so yes Rops is also expensive opponent, but in third level they can play in north division so it obviously cut their expenses.
Ronaldo injured Hanley, dived penalty and scored it, runned away as fastest he could after final whistle. No matter what, it was also historical moment for Norwich fc and fans. You all will remember that.
Hi 1×2
Yet another fascinating insight about football in Finland. Us UK guys know very little about it really so please keep your comments coming. They are very informative.
Even when has a crap game Ronaldo hits the headlines.
Outside half of Manchester he is a much derided figure in England – not because of his obvious ability and indeed longevity – most of us simply dislike his attitude.
Kiitos
I found myself checking the details, thinking Sir Alex was still in the dugout, with only the ref’s feet showing from said Knight’s pocket. How much did Rashford get charged for his kick? I thought we had a shout for a penalty when the ball hit the player’s arm, but under new rules, his arm was tucked in, no matter the bloody ball hit it.
Jacob Sorensen was world-class on Saturday. You would be forgiven if you thought he was a natural centre-back. Stepping in to replace the injured Grant Hanley, the Dane read the game superbly and kept the likes of Ronaldo and Marcus Rashford in his back pocket. Ozan Kabak was not that shabby for a guy who has been on the sidelines. In total fairness, not one City player was out ofsorts, all stuck to their jobs first rate. A few games like that and the points will rack up. Hopefully not all ref’s like the blinding glare of cameras and Utd
I did enjoy the CR7 air kick and Pukki flattening England’s so-called No1 centre back.
Whether Utd had a poor day, takes nothing away from City, Sod the poor day, we made them look off colour.
Hi Lad
That’s a very accurate and colourful description of the match.
We all had a snigger at the air kick – I didn’t realise Josh Sergant had such influence that opposition players feel the need to copy him.
Many of us have had this on our wish list for some time but surely Sorensen needs to become permanently involved from now on? He was terrific.
Cheers
Great stuff Mr. P, and love the musical analogy.
It’s a shame that VAR was only meant to help eradicate major errors like Pukki’s armpit being offside against Spurs a couple of seasons ago, and unfortunately cannot assist with glaring inconsistencies….
Yes; I reckon that Max did foul he who cannot be named, but can you imagine the outcry from MotD and others had the Maguire/Placheta shirt pull been the other way e.g. Kabak/Rashford…..and had it been Rupp’s arm in the way of a Fernandez shot rather than Gilmour’s effort being diverted……
McTominay committed at least 5 fouls which surely warranted a card after 3, and until Saturday I didn’t know that having an award from the Queen entitled Rashford to referee the game as he wished.
One day, one day I sincerely hope we get a “dodgy call” in our favour….but with people like England in charge I’m not holding my breath.
Oh; and as usual, MotD kindly washed over the selection problems we had, and of course, missed the challenge on Hanley which led to Sorenson having to come on. And just how amazingly good was he? Once they had settled, he and Kabak looked very assured, and a decent pairing.
Now; if only we can score a couple tomorrow night…………….
O T B C
Hi John
Like so many of us music runs alongside football as a great love of my life. I never begin an MFW article with a particular track in mind but something always hit me half way through – and I’m equally surprised and delighted that quite a few readers have been able to relate to this particular choice.
I try not to be too obscure but felt Earthband was stretching it a bit – I was wrong.
There’s nothing but admiration for Marcus Rashford from me as he has the ability to make his influence count both on and off the pitch!
It’s a funny old world though. Should we descend into the Championship yet again many *dodgy decisions* are sure to go our way. As they will for Watford or Brentford, perhaps.
Unless referees are isolated on planet Zog with no access to media hype and are then transposed to matches it will forever be thus.
Thamks – good comment.
Deano couldn’t believe it when Marcus Rashford gave himself a free kick but as you correctly say Martin it was in keeping with the whole game. I tried that in The Business Houses League once, shockingly I wasn’t as successful as Marcus.
We had strong refs in those days. Swear and you were off, something that doesn’t seem to happen in local football nowadays.
But I digress. Onto as you say Martin, an altogether awful refereeing performance. I could have sworn I lip read him singing “Portugal’s No 1, Portugal’s No 1”
I’ve mentioned McTominay on here yesterday and the subsequent 24 hours hasn’t changed my mind or amazement one jot that the young man managed to get through the whole game with zero bookings.
Saturday reminded me of a tackle/GBH from Bryan Robson playing for United many years ago on Ian Crook, one grizzled old EDP scribe announced a few days later in the same paper that Robson’s tackle had finally arrived, it was that late.
Now I am not saying there was anything of that nature this Saturday, just continual disruptive fouling.
17 if you believe the BBC. But that doesn’t include the ones Mr England missed.
A famous footballer once said “The big teams including us get all the 50/50 decisions” he should know, his name was Phil Thompson and he played for Liverpool for years.
However a much improved performance from the lads, especially in such adversity.
Hi Tim
Yes Ian Crook was often an early doors target for the Hornes and Hurlocks of this world but Chippy was tougher than he looked.
Gossy gave as good as he got, as did Andy Townsend and then Sherwood of course. And there was Trevor Hockey.
I played Sunday League in London & Essex throughout the 80s and can confirm what you say about the refs then. Considering how little they were paid – expenses only I think – I’m amazed anybody wanted that gig, but many did!
Cheers
Talking of Manfred Mann, I can remember standing in the Barclay (Yes – Standing) and lauding the mighty John Manning to the strains of the Mighty Quinn. Them were the days.
Otherwise nothing you said was out of line, but I do agree that maybe if we perform like jack-in-boxes when we think we should have a penalty (or even when we don’t) maybe we would get a few too.
Keep up the good work
Hi Gordon
I too stood on the Barclay but more often at the River End although I didn’t get to see too many games during the 70s & 80s.
I missed a trick with The Mighty Quinn as I knew of the song being adapted for Manning but didn’t recall it as I wrote the article. My bad.
My favourite was the Barclay version of *Can’t Take My Eyes Off Of You* for Paul McVeigh. No idea who originated it but the words were superb.
Thanks – good comment.