I’m not attempting to defend Friday night’s performance simply because I don’t feel that I can. Limpid, placid, ineffective and seemingly willingly outplayed are descriptions that immediately come to mind.
James and Gary covered the match itself in gruesome detail yesterday. You know, another one with just one Norwich shot on target.
Dean Smith said afterwards: “I didn’t feel we played well enough with the ball.” Great insight there, Dean. You’re pretty much in Mike Bassett territory there if I might say so.
Max Aarons proffered: “We came here with a game plan and we haven’t done it well enough tonight.”
I feel sorry for the lad being wheeled out to comment but the phrase “no $hit, Sherlock” has rarely been more appropriate.
My post-match inbox quote of the day goes once again to MFW regular Bernie Owen: “Well we got what we deserved out of that game. The midfield with the two Scots just doesn’t work. In the last 52 PL games, when City have gone behind our record is one draw and 51 defeats.“
At least Leeds got a thumping.
That’s enough of that as there other things going on in the world right now as we all so very well know and football has reacted to them in it’s own way as we would kind of expect.
The Champions League final has been switched from St Petersburg to Paris and UEFA are threatening to reject £35 million a year from Russian gas moguls Gazprom, a company I have a little insight on.
But before I offer said insight here is a quote from Russian Football Union president and coincidentally the head honcho of Gazprom, one Alexander Dyukov: “We adhere to the principles of ‘sport is out of politics’ and thus cannot support this decision.”
Good on you Alexander me ole tovarich, if a full-scale invasion of Ukraine is classified as “politics”.
A German company I worked with for 20 years once agreed a joint venture with Gazprom. As head of UK staff communications at the time it was quite literally the only occasion I was ever told I must publicise the joint press release verbatim in the company newspaper.
This proved to be the only time my editorial freedom was temporarily removed but I thought nothing of it as I assumed it must have been commercially sensitive, which had happened many times before and I understood the sensitivities.
But this time around I wasn’t invited to ask any questions. Far from it in fact and this was fully 25 years ago.
Moving on, Manchester United have rejected sponsorship from Aeroflot and Thomas Tuchel at Chelsea is caught between the Lorelei and the Urals as he prepares to face Liverpool in the Carabao Cup final at Wembley this afternoon. What can the poor $od say?
Poland, Sweden and the Czech Republic are all refusing to play on Russian soil. Under the current circumstances I can see why.
Of course, Western Europe is doing its bit by suspending Russia from the Eurovision Song Contest.
Here is my current recommendation for this year’s UK entry and the lyrics stand strong to this day.
They were written by my favourite bass player of all time over 50 years ago. I don’t care that he supports Villa, I think he’s that good that I named my dog after him. Geezer, not Butler, and certainly not Terence!
“Politicians hide themselves away
They only started the war
Why should they go out to fight?
They leave that role to the poor, yeah“
Good morning Martin and on this sunny morning here in Norwich
By all accounts Friday night was one of the worst displays by NCFC this season and just when we needed the complete opposite to give us even a glimmer of hope of staying up. I guess the $64,000 questions is which of the teams above us will be joining us? NUFC look to have escaped, but take your pick from the other 5.
Yes, I know it’s still ‘mathematically possible ‘ that we could stay up, but my glass is definitely half empty in that respect.
I was reading an article in the week trying to find an explanation as to why Tzolis had failed to deliver, when great things were expected of him, but his failure along with that of TC has been primarily responsible for us languishing at the bottom of the league.
So, it’s off to Anfield for an FA Cup game that we could really do without on Wednesday, before we entertain the Bees next Saturday. I just hope that we show grit and determination and erase the memory of Friday’s game and if not, I feel the fans could become very restless!!
Morning Ed
Actually Cantwell had a reasonable game yesterday and gained an assist and was unlucky with a header. Yes, a header!
We can indeed do without the midweek trip to Anfield and as I’m on preview duty for that one I’ll let folks know what the mood is in their camp then. Much will depend on how they get along in the Carabao final this afternoon in terms of selection of course but they’ll have much of the world behind them for obvious reasons.
Saturday will literally be $hit or bust. Lose that one and the trapdoor opens for sure.
Cheers
Extr time and penalties . !
10-11 was amazing it’s but still no way to decide a Cup Final to me!
Morning Martin worrying times at the moment aren’t they .
Apart from that just wonder when we are going to address our scouting/recruitment network it seems we have Stuart Webber and some women he’s hired ATM both of whom are not established professional football players so quite what they are doing spending our millions is a mystery to me really is and hence our procurement . Do we intend to carry on like this ? Or are we finally going to hire some professional people martin .
That’s a very fair comment Jim and we certainly haven’t got value for money, when you look at what we’ve got for close to £60M.
Two seasons ago, SW said that he sent DF ‘to war without a gun’; whereas this season he sent the team to war armed with Lee Enfields and all the other teams have machine guns or artillery!! 🙁
Don’t knock the Lee Enfield – we had to drill with them in the [enforced] CCF at school and as I was in the shooting team I got to fire one of the remaining commissioned ones on the range.
Dad warned me about the kick and he was right – it made one of our .22 rifles seem like a popgun.
Morning [just] Jim
I wish I could answer your questions but in truth I cannot.
My speculation – and it is just that – is that we will carry on as before. From what I can gather Huddersfield fans never really complained about Webber joining us and they’re doing quite nicely just now without him.
While Delia is there I do not see things chaging. Jeez, we’ve had enough cracks at this PL lark but never managed to establish ourselves.
Shame. Well more than a shame, a series of downright wasted opportunities.
Cheers
Hi Martin
Well we have Bielsa looking to have lost his job due to conceding 20goals in February, and Abramovich side stepping possibly sanctions at Chelsea by setting up a charity to run the club while he sits in Monaco.
But is it a real change as all his lieutenants are running said charity and his money will still be funding transfers.
Fat Frank was moaning about a penalty his Everton side didn’t get and said we expect the officials and VAR to get simple and easy decisions right and his daughters at home could have got that call correct, and that they are in a relegation fight and want a level playing field, welcome to the bad decision club Frank and don’t expect it to get any easier for you.
Sky just interview a supporter from each team in the League Cup Final today and sadly the Loserpool one said he expected to win by a penalty when asked a penalty shot out he said no 90th minute with no come back for Chelsea.
When supporters now see penalties as a legitimate way of winning a game then you know the game is losing it’s soul.
More people arrested in Russia for Treason after demonstrating about the war its so sad that an egotistical person can’t see how wrong they are but there are a few of them around even in the world of premiership football.
Boxing has gone back 50yrs last night in a title fight the loser score more hits had his oppolent on the floor yet some how the judges gave it to the home town boy.
Hi Alex
Abramovich has been quite clever here as none of the trustees can easily be linked to him, either formally or informally. £150 billion to him is like you or I might spend on a good night in the pub. I doubt he would want to call the loan in right now anyway!
The trustee set-up at Chelsea has been in place for a while now so with his Kremlin contacts [allegedly] our Roman surely knew that what has just happened in the Ukraine has been coming down the tracks for quite a while now.
The game has been losing its soul for a long time but still the PL remains a commodity the whole world wants to buy into and there’s nothing we can do about that.
It’s a sad, bad and particularly mad world right now.
Cheers
Vintage Canary
Here we go again im afraid stark choices have to be made I said at the start of the season Hanley and Gibson are not premier ship material slow and why on earth doesnt Smity change it allows both to go up for corners and fast breakaways stuff us its sunday morning soccer favoritism get to grips id rather play kabak and zimo and as previous the scoyish contingent play like scotland in europe awful
Lets have lees malue norman and rupp at least they know what they are doing i think max has got eyes for barcelona and you cant play the two scots in midfield its like s otland taking on france or the italians. Id rather see kabak and zimbo in there and put ginolis and byrum at the back. Placheta and tolis.
My team would be Gunn byrum kabak zimbo gianolis.
Lees malou norman rupp
Placheta puki rashicta.
For the cup game set them alight.
As for the polictical world a lot of affluant farming types in yorkshire want yorkshire independance no foriegn aid no molitary intivention anywhere in the world look after the starving at home, the old saying is true charity begins at ho.me
Hi Keith
I can’t counter your chosen line-up because I don’t have a finite one myself!
There are many admirable charitable institutions throughout Norfolk if we look closely enough but perhaps some of them aren’t *sexy* enough to get the respect they deserve.
It’s too much of a red-hot potato issue for me to take any further right now 🙂
Thanks for your comment.
If you think Hanley and Gibson are too slow for the Premier League, you obviously haven’t watched much of Zimmerman. He’s got the turning circle of a 250,000 ton tanker, and is nowhere near as quick as Hanley. Kabak may be a reasonable shout to play instead of Gibson (who is indecisive when on the ball), but that then gives you the problem of no left footed central defender. Probably the best central pairing would be Hanley and Omabamideli, but since the big O is injured, that’s not going to be possible.
Hi Jim
I quite agree about Zimbo BUT… he can do a job in the Championship as he has surely proved before. We’ll need him next season even if only as cover as there’s no way Kabak will be here. Or Normann, unfortunately.
Dean Smith’s problem has been that he could not bring one single recruit of his own in during January. Taking on a Webber-recruited squad coahed by Farke must have been an absolute nightmare for him.
Cheers
Yes, Martin, I agree he can do a job in the Championship, but Keith was referring to Hanley and Gibson in the Premier League, I think Zimbo is not mobile enough for that league. You’re right, Kabak will be gone – my concern is that Omabamideli may be gone too. He is definitely Premier quality.
Omobamidele seems to have a great future for sure. I would hope we could get at least one more full season here from him here before the self funding concept invites him to the exit door.
Good morning Martin.
Couldn’t agree more with all of that.
I think we share the same sense of humour. The times I laugh at managers or players comments after a match is high. They remind me at times of John Cleese in The Life Of Brian. Stating the bleedin obvious.
Events elsewhere really do put football to the side. But credit where credit is due the support for Ukraine in football around the world has been very good to see.
I don’t think UEFA had any choice but to move the Champions League final. I just cannot imagine continuing on regardless, like football sometimes does, with the showpiece final in a country at war.
On to The Great Team, what struck me was Bernard’s comment of the last 52 EPL games played where we have gone behind stands at 1 draw 51 defeats.
This is a disgrace. We all have differing opinions on the club, team, Delia and managers etc but not one of us can feel this is acceptable.
That shows a massive lack of character, no not you Mr Hanley, but it really is mind boggling.
I bet this is something Dean Smith is all too aware of and with his obvious rebuilding job in the summer, EPL or Championship, something he will be at pains to improve upon.
The Lambert/Culverhouse side never knew when they were beaten, we need some of that attitude.
Rashica and Williams have improved a lot this season but were definitely off their games on Friday, again that inconsistency that has plagued all our summer signings.
We will know our fate come 5.00pm on Saturday if we have lost to Brentford.
Come on City lets give this one a massive big go.
Lets all relive the spirit of 1973 in one of my favourite ever Carrow Road games, Norwich City 2 Crystal Palace 1 a last minute Dave Stringer goal kept us in the First Division.
Oh and we had to come from 1-0 down.
Hi Tim
I said in a reply to a comment just the other day that younger folks would come to remember the Lambert/Culverhouse era as our golden years, while folks of our vintage would continue to look back to the era of Stringer and then Walker with great affection. Everything else has been mediocre at best apart from a brace of sparkling promotions under Daniel Farke.
Alex Neil should get some retrospective credit too, of course.
I don’t see Dean Smith going with players foisted on him by Webber but we’ll see where the land lies on that one during the close season.
As for the shared sense of humour I think you’re right!
Thanks as always
I got that comment from a graphic put on the screen by sky during the Southampton game.
Checked it it ain’t wrong .
A good article for a poor game. Have a nice Sunday Martin.
Hi Dave
I couldn’t have made an article out of the game itself I can assure you.
I am indeed having a nice Sunday as the weather is fabulous and the dogs are quiet – for now, anyway – and I hope you are too.
Cheers
Will Russia get a through to the World Cup, and win it, due to no one willing to play them? They should be thrown out of the competition, end of.
As to NCFC, where to start. On the Pinkun’s live blog I posted “Guys, when you do the pod, don’t talk up Norwich’s chances of staying up. Mathematically they can, but in reality they have a snow balls chance in hell”. To my surprise DF brought up my post on the pod. I was in a dark place when I wrote it, can you believe it?? With Leeds. Everton, and Watford losing perhaps that snow ball will survive as could Norwich. If, and it is a huge if, we win our next two matches and get a slice of luck with other results it might just be possible. I really don’t see it though. As we all know, its the hope that kills you.
Hi Tim
Any decision about the World Cup rests with FIFA so it might all come down to brown envelopes filled with different currencies. Cheap and cynical I know but I reckon I might have got that one right!
The Pink Un guys such as Dave F are far more restricted in what they can realistically say than us here within the MFW community because they have to deal with NCFC day-to-day whereas we of course don’t have that privilege – or indeed that restriction. Under the circs the trio do a pretty good job – especially Dave and Connor who are City supporters, unlike Paddy who is a Cov fan 🙂
It’s the hope that kills you? Too right mate.
Thanks a lot
Actually, it was Brentford that lost. Watford got a point at Man Utd. I think Burnley will stay up so have given up on them. If we did go down I hope Everton don’t. They will easily go straight back up. That will be one of the three promotion spots taken up before next season even starts.
No way for me that Newcastle or Everton will drop and Burnely are tough enough to bully their way out of trouble.
For me we have to finish above Watford, Brentford and Leeds, which to my mind is one heck of a big ask.
Sorry to be pedantic but the comment about NCFC’s results when going behind was in relation to away games. Southampton scored first at Carrow Road this season but lost 2-1.
Hi Barry
Not pedantic at all – should I blame the error on Sky or Bernie?
Cheers
My bad !
Thought I’d put in in the original comment . Reread I didn’t ,
Aww – I’d rather have blamed Murdoch 🙂
Next season what ever league city are in it will be a rebuild
Onel Hernandez wanted permanently by Birmingham
Dimi is want by Spainish and Italian clubs
Sinani looks like staying at Huddersfield
Famewo will join Charlton on a permanent
Bushini has the option of a permanent move to Scotland
Kabak Williams, Gilmore and Normann will return to there home clubs
Cantwell, Pukki and Krul all on a year’s option so the picture looks bleak
With so many U23 players out on loan without getting great game time DS could be down to the bare bones unless a few good sales bring in cash for recruitment Aaron’s and Cantwell might get together £25+m, Onel £1+m and the rest will be loose change.
It really is time for the cook to leave
This is likely to be the summer where the utopian concept of self funding really starts to bite.
As for your points above a look at what will be left is anything but encouraging.
And forget any of the parachute payment going towards the playing side.
It is reserved to, erm, sustain self sustainability.