It wasn’t pretty by any stretch but if the object of the exercise was to ensure we were in the hat for the next round of the FA Cup, it was mission accomplished. If the purpose of the exercise was to entertain and offer hope going forward… at least we’re in the hat for the next round.
To be fair, hope did spring in the form of Teemu Pukki’s second-half excellence and a scoring return for Milot Rashica, so there were positive things to take away from The Valley aside from a goal to celebrate and a clean sheet.
That Charlton deserved more, and more than matched us for the whole 96 is irrelevant now. It was job done.
Yet there’s no escaping the paucity of performance in that first half, when City looked every ounce the Premier League whipping boys, so bereft of confidence that even the most simple and most basic of footballing tasks appeared beyond them.
After a bright and breezy opening few minutes, when it looked as if our finest may enjoy an afternoon free of Premier League angst, all of the pain and fear that’s so blighted the performances of the last few months gradually crept back in. Not to mention, alongside the pain and fear, the poor first touches, the under-hit/over-hit/misdirected passes, the missed tackles and the general lethargy that comes when the brain is fuddled and the legs unwilling.
I’ll not name names because, Tim Krul aside, they were all at it – including the experienced pros to whom the younger players look for guidance and leadership – but it was about as unedifying as anything we’ve seen this season. And that’s saying something.
Fair play to Charlton though. They were everything City weren’t – energetic, brave and buoyant. Had City had gone in at half-time a goal or two in arrears they could have had no complaints.
And this wasn’t one of those scenarios where we aim accusing glares towards the directors’ box and cite a lack of funding or recruitment as root causes of the first-half malaise. This wasn’t about coming up against opponents who were generally better, more skillful and more tactically aware.
This was about opponents who appeared to want it more. Who were stronger and more determined and who won every 50/50 going. Who won the individual battles.
But then Pukki, Rashica and Brandon Williams happened; the latter, in particular, addressing the lack of oomph and desire that was so apparent in minutes 1 to 45.
Dean Smith had clearly mixed and matched his XI from the start for all the right reasons, and he was also right to make that triple substitution at half-time.
While there was still plenty wrong with the performance, at least, through Pukki, there was some urgency and a much-needed focal point when we managed to make it into the Charlton half. Rashica added the quality, Williams the edge.
It still felt like a goal was never coming but when it eventually did, it was no surprise that Rashica and Pukki were the instigators. Worth noting too is that Kenny McLean’s only worthwhile contribution of the afternoon did at least release Pukki in that inside right channel; that area that brings so much success to the Finn.
There were of course the late scares to contend with, including that header from Purrington that crashed onto the crossbar in the dying seconds, but held on they did. And when that final whistle signalled only our fourth win of the whole campaign, we were hardly in a position to dismiss it as ‘only Charlton’.
The Addicks more than played their part and probably should have won the game, but they didn’t. And while it was right that Dean Smith and the players should enjoy the moment – so few and far between have they been – it was the fans behind that goal at The Valley who deserved it most. Heroes all.
Whether this is just a brief moment of light relief before normal service resumes at the London Stadium on Wednesday or whether the boost in confidence will produce something tangible remains to be seen, but how nice did it feel to actually win a game of football.
We’d best savour that moment.
Was pleased to see some people protest about our situation because all the moaning and journalism won’t change a thing as you and Martin know – things have to get ugly with constant protests or voting with your feet and staying at home. Or they could always sing the Italian protest song from the great money heist Belle Ciao.
But action speaks louder than words as they say.
And I have come to the realisation that it’s the wages we can’t pay is why we struggle not the actual transfer fees.
Just hope we can get back to the good old days like in the old 1st division and players like Mick Channon swinging his arm round after he scored when we had good footballers, even Jan Molby on loan albeit a bit larger then… lol, but we were an established side then and that it where we need to get back to.
Hi Jim
My two cents is that I only saw the protests on the TV news last night and if they’ve been covered anywhere else I must have missed it. From what I saw very few people were actively involved and I’m too old to join in with that kind of stuff these days – I expended all my youthful energy during the demise of Chase.
And yes, I’m proud of the part I played back then as are many of us.
Chase was an easy person to dislike. I met him a couple of times so I feel pretty much on safe ground voicing that opinion. Delia is not quite the same. I’ve met her as well but on a personal level I felt no dislike at all and you have to remember that many folks would fight shy of a confrontation with an 80-y-o woman who could be your mum or your grandma.
Don’t get me wrong, she will know that too and probably has no idea just how many of us have had enough of her stubborness. Also I don’t think she has the Chase attitude of what can I get out of it in terms of $$$. She loves the limelight but to my knowledge has never ripped off the club beyond the shameful way her and MWJ bent Sir Geoffrey’s 50% share ownership rule.
This leopard hasn’t changed its spots but to my mind she has been a millstone around our neck for years. She has many influential supporters and would, in my humble, be imossible to dislodge.
She reminds me of Queenie in *Blackadder II*, but unlike Miranda Richardson I don’t find her remotely funny.
There’s a Delia-free article from me on MFW tomorrow – I just don’t bother any more as it’s pointless chipping away at the intransigent. Everybody knows what I think by now although you never know – I might well revert to type during the close season!
Hi Martin, to be honest with you, I’m not sure if it’s completely accurate to suggest that Delia and Michael actually ‘bent the 50% rule’ as you describe it.
Their percentage shareholding increased both as a consequence of them committing to acquire 12,000 shares to the public offering, back in 2002, but also by converting existing loans, at various times, into equity. Nothing shameful about either transaction, I’m afraid.
Hi Gary F
Ironically in a way I spent almost an hour with my accountant this afternoon!
Was my word *shameful* wrong? Maybe.
I know accountancy is your area of expertise so while I may well be wrong on a technicality I still stand by what I said because the one thing Sir Geoffrey Watling did not want to happen, erm, happened.
Quite how it occurred I do not understand even after reading your logical explanation for it which I must confess I am too daft to comprehend.
When it comes to finance and the legality of who can do what and where and when I’m safely tucked away in the bottom drawer of the tallboy – which is where I belong 🙂
Hi Martin
I think your reference to Geoffrey Watling’s 50% rule was that he didn’t want any individual to own more than 50% of the Club’s shares. The Smiths circumvented his wishes with individual holdings of less than that but which in total exceeded it thereby giving them effective control of the Club. It will be interesting to see how they pass on their shares to Delia’s nephew to enable him to satisfy the 50% rule.
How embarrassing to be totally outplayed by 3rd division Charlton Athletic, a team without any strikers.
How embarrassing to totally outplay PL opposition and still lose. Perhaps it is the fact that in order to win matches you have to score (don’t we know that!) and despite NCFC being sh1t we still managed to put the round thing in the netty thing
Having been desperate for a win, any win Gary, I feel almost loathe to offer a critique on the manner of the victory or the quality of the opposition.
Listening to the game unfold in the company of Chris goreham and Darren kenton was agony. As stated the lack of desire and precision evident was palpable, even on the radio.
For the second week running a former canary, in this case the excellent kenton directly accused city players of hiding. The old pros trick of marking oneself behind an opponent rendering himself unavailable for the pass. I do wish they would name names but I can make an educated guess.
At half time Smith was right to remove three from the fray, it could frankly have been more. Charlton inability to get anything on target came back to bite them as the serious sight of pukki and rashica, mercifully back from layoffs homed into view.
Then, instead of 22 roughly similar artisans going about the business with varying levels of effort some quality entered the fray. And it proved decisive.
Following the goal, a second should really have followed as we improved. It didn’t as a result charltons 96th minute hail Mary into the box and no less than three consecutive lost headers ensured a narrow escape.
There are now growing concerns regarding smiths handling of the side as we appear to be getting weaker and less motivated than before, if indeed that is possible.
Questions have to be asked as to just how many of this squad actually give a toss or want to be here. We already know about little Lord fauntleroy and his disrespect but how far has the disease spread?
Apart from a (very) few individuals the notion of professionalism appears to be a dirty word from the top all the way down.
A win, as rare as rocking horse do-do. got there at the end of the game, more than some premiership teams did. Have to take any positive. I will take exactly the same this weeks two games, but we know had a prem team had the chances Charlton had, we would have been dead, buried and the flowers died.
At end of it all it is the league that matters, although cannot see any happy ending come May time, we are not adrift, should these players wake the hell up and go for it to get a few points who knows. Charlton raised their game so why not this group ? Do they care ? It doesn’t look like they do that much
Safe to say there’s no Maddison or Buendia in our recent recruitment drive.
No wonder fans are finally going public with protests after watching the latest cut price wonders.
Depressing to see that Norwich had to use Teemu to be able to win Charlton. It was obvious that he will win it for Norwich, brilliant individual effort what other players had difficult to miss. Its Norwich last half season with him, his contract ends this summer and club option does not mean new contract. 100% sure Norwich will not find so high level player to cover him, most likely its Sargent. Williams was other 1 who showed that he does not belong playing in that level, but also he is not anymore in Norwich next season.
Rashica should not be in England, intensity and physicality does not fit to him. Because of that, he dives all the time and hopes to get free kick after every contact. Sargent was surprisingly weak in physical battles. Tzolis cant play that level and its difficult to know which level would suit him in England.
I’ve literally just witnessed the edited highlights of the game. Your description of Rashica is laughably innacurate. By far and away the best player on the pitch.
I watched the whole game and I agree with 1×2 about Rashica. And I’ve seen every minute of Rashica playing in the flesh this season, 90 minutes, at a game, not on highlights. What 1×2 said was ‘intensity and physicality’, and that is an accurate assessment in my mind…., as was are his observations about Tzolis. The fact that Dowell and Tzolis couldn’t dent a league 1 Charlton is what really staggers me. Rashica isn’t going to beat 4 out of 5 fullbacks as a winger in the Premier League but he will certainly have his place…. But like a dozen others, he’s clearly a very unique player that doesn’t seem an obvious round peg for a round hole. Like Cantwell too.
The real problem remains, surprise surprise, we have the most untalented central midfield players I can remember in the last 10 years or more.
Hi Gary
Well from little acorns grow
City win a game and extremely lucky to do so
Protests against the owners all reported in the Daily Mail with much more to follow I would presume but the article had more praise for the Smiths than the stagnation that surrounds the club, no one in the jedia seems to blame them for cities poor recent history in the premiership.
Anyway I was asked by my Grandson and I suspect by his dad was a City win like finding dinosaur eggs 🥚 and lol as both are Spurs supporters and they 2ere in all sorts of trouble at home to Morecambe.
Wednesday away to WHU and then Everton at home would I take 2 points possibly but I hope we just turn up and show more fight especially as WHU will be looking to boost their GD and Everton will be looking to turn their season around Rafa is on a very deep slippery slope but will unlike City be backed in the market.
I agree with you. Both Winter and that awful woman from the Times laid into City, the fans, the players and everyone from Norfolk in the most outrageous way and yet failed to connect the dots.
Cowards, afraid to cast stones at the nations sacred cow? Isn’t Winter a pal of Delia? Either way, it stinks.
Could this undeserved win against a team wallowing in the bottom half of Division Three be the turning point of the season? Probably not. But it is at least a bit positive…
I forgot to mention in my report – hats off to the travelling faithful, especially on 34 minutes for the clearly audible renditions of ‘Nana nana nana nana nah nah nah, Wesley hoolahan, hoolahan, Wesley hoolahan’!
I’m too old for that to martin I don’t even go now sorry to say but it’s in my blood now and all I want is for us to be an established top league side again and I thought with Farke we would do it ,but whatever the fiasco regarding formations and transfers (left foot doesn’t know what right foot doing it seemed ) he was in my opinion sent to war without a gun again and was made scapegoat for it which really was inevitable but sad but I hold Mr Webber accountable for these failings . And yes I agree Delia is nice but nice doesn’t win us games and a little bit of pressure from the young riled section of support may be the kick up the ar$e they need , but quite what they would do I don’t know but to have any ambition something has got to give .
Job done, treat the Wolves game as a practice match for the EPL season.
What made me laugh is that Bali Mumba, a right back, is more dangerous playing as a left back in a left attacking role that Dowell, Cantwell, Placheta or Tzolis manage between them. A fullback.
I would take any of Charlton’s attacking players at the moment. Sure, everyone use their game for a cup upset, but Charlton just have basics covered don’t they? Their lad Gilbey did more in central midfield, by himself, than McLean and PLM managed between them…. And then there is Sorensen. I’ve stuck my neck out a few times with him, I think he’s a class act as a defender facing play but I’ve always proposed he’s a bit flat footed and slow on the turn…. A midfield version of Ben Gibson if you like…, and given that midfield is his expected and preferred position, I thought he was poor.
Certainly a leveller to prove how weak our squad really is, but take the win and move on
I saw that game and likely you are Rashica fan for some reason but like I said he plays in country which football style does not fit to his playing style. That means overall, not just that 1 game. By far and away best player sounds blind fan hope without sense. Charlton defender actually made obvious mistake when goal came and instead of running headless he should have blocked passing possibility to Rashica.
Its not “blind fan hope without any sense” to refer to rashicas 45 minutes appearance as the decisive factor in this game. Its completely irrelevant to state that his goal was the result of a chsrlton error. Virtually every goal scored is the result of an error.
We get it. You don’t like our club.
Your comments about McLean are spot on. Yet it seems his name is alway one of the first on the team sheet. Mind you he did have a powder puff shot on target.
The highlight was Pukki, totally unselfish as always, could have taken a shot but saw another player better placed than him, and found him with a first class pass for the goal.
Sergeant Bilko, when passes could be played to better placed players decided to shoot instead, and as usual they failed. He should watch and learn from Pukki!
The problem is McLean is the only true NCFC player though in central midfield. PLM js new this season, we don’t know if he’s felt settled. I see less in him than McLean because he lacks running stamina. Rupp was a wide player and at best is a utility player who can “do a job”. For a long time, at this level, everyone knows the limits to McLean’s game…. And I certainly agree to those limits…, but at the start of this season he was the only legitimate central midfielder on our books. I’ve seen more limitations to Sorensen in central midfield than I have with McLean. But NCFC have engineered a problem where McLean is the only runner in the middle and he’s one of very few senior pros who truly gives his all, even if he limits are obvious. The trouble is, without Normann, his deficiencies are more obvious.
But even with Normann, I’d argue I’ve not seen a midfield “destroyer” performance from him like we saw in THAT game against Leeds from Tommy Trybull, let alone Skipp, or the consistency you’d see from Tettey or the creativity we’d seen from Vrancic. All those combing factors exacerbate McLeans limits sadly.
“We are where we are”. To drop McLean (nobody has suggested that) opens another can of worms.
Rachica was class. Just a pity that we needed him. Josh is improving.
Hi Gary,
I thought, overall, there were a few players to be complimented on their 1st half performances; overall Hanley, Kabak and Byram turned in solid performance, Giannoulis looked a bit slow and didn’t get his raiding game going unfortunately.
McLean was quite busy and his impressive first half long range shot cleared the bar by only about a foot, Sargent put himself about but didn’t seem to have enough physicality to beat Charlton’s centre backs – top marks to him for his constant trying though!
Tzolis does not seem to fit I’d sell him for what we can get and buy a Championship striker who’s prepared to step up and add weight to Pukki’s speed – a Grant Holt clone will do nicely, or an under-utilised Prem striker!
Overall Norwich looked like a team who hadn’t played for twelve days in the first half. Charlton Athletic looked quite sharp – but then they were playing at home and had very little to lose.
I thought to a degree that Norwich absorbed everything they had chucked at them and weathered the storm, maybe we got lucky a couple of times.
Second half – big change, more endeavour, more speed. Pukki, Rashica and Williams added a lot more offence and we might well have finished the game 2-0, 3-0 up despite Charlton doing as much as they could to up their production. More of our attacking tendencies against the Hammers please!
COYYs !