I left Carrow Road on the hour on Saturday and got some stick from those around me for doing so, including my matchday friends Alan and Mystic Kev. Well deserved probably but getting back home in time to take Geezer for a walk before it got dark suddenly became a top priority.
Talking of the dark, referee Anthony Taylor should be consigned to the depths of Hades for some of his decisions.
Other matchday mates Steve and Michael didn’t turn up at all. Wise men.
Respect to Brentford. As poor as they ostensibly were they had no problem in beating us 3-1 at Carrow Road.
They didn’t need to do very much to beat us from the moment Ivan “F*ck Brentford” Toney was left alone at the far post for his opener as zonal marking caused Brandon Williams to be dragged into the middle. All they then had to do was sit deep and wait for Mr Taylor to make a decision on their behalf, which he did thrice – much to their enjoyment.
We have never been properly equipped for a Premier League campaign in my living memory, although Mike Walker did his best and Paul Lambert had a go too but he wanted to recruit Christian Benteke and Michu and the response concerning Lambert from then-Chairman Alan Birkett was: “He’s the most impatient man I’ve ever met.”
I’m glad I held off from penning this piece until yesterday morning. Waking up to what I’d originally written on Saturday evening made me realise what we are all capable of saying when we are full of bitterness, bile and frustration. A lesson I’ve been taught many times over the years but I wisely thought I’d adhere to it this time around.
MFW regular Alex Bain’s slant on things was probably more targeted than my original effort so here’s what he reckons in full:
“We have a 22-year-old blaming everyone but himself for the reason he went on loan and experienced players who make so many errors in and around the penalty area it’s no wonder we ship goals.
“And an owner that can’t see that her pipedream of self-financing is a major problem.
“Rashica, Sargent, Zimbo, Tzolis, Sorensen Gunn, Byram and Dimi could prove a good base for next season in the Championship. Add in the Irish lads Idah and Omobamidele – and maybe Hanley – there is hope. We have McCallum, Dickson-Peters, Rowe, Tomlinson and Mumba so I am not too downhearted.
“I’m not sure anyone in the Premier League will want Krul except as a backup and Gibson is only a good Championship player.
“We will lose Sinani, Bushiri and Famewo as all are on loans to buy, Soto will be back as he isn’t getting game time in Scotland then there’s a raft of others out on loan who are either not getting games or injured.
“My biggest concern is Smith and Shakespeare as I am not sure their hearts are in it. I hope they have a break clause for the end of the season and leave with nothing as they have given us nothing [that’s a bit strong! – Martin].
“My favourite option would be the “for sale” sign above Delia’s head.
“No one wants to see an octogenarian booed or hounded out but I can see some supporters getting noisy and maybe protesting outside the ground but will she take any notice if they do?”
***
Although I missed it in real-time, this heart-warming incident involving Brandon Williams should put a smile on anybody’s face:
***
Talking of Brandon Williams I read an interesting story in The Sun on Saturday where he described his tough upbringing on a council estate in north Manchester and how he’s had a sleeve inked on one of his arms to portray his journey through life, hoping to make further additions as he grows older. It includes the postcode of the street he lived in.
He also explained his classic working-class route to a better life for himself and his family by concentrating on football and it really is an excellent read if you can find it.
Now while Brandon Williams is 21 and I am 64, we unexpectedly have something in common. I have a fair few personal recollections of life tattooed about my person as well, but the only postcode I have is NR1 1JE. The picture is to establish veracity and credibility, not an attempt to turn MFW into a half-hearted version of Skin&Ink magazine!
To end with, although you declare that I’m one of your children Delia, why do we have to go back to the Championship yet again?
I’ve had better times in Southend.
League One once more? I’d prefer a day trip to Nogdam End so don’t even think about it.
But then again I’m the black sheep of the family:
Good morning Martin after what was a miserable Saturday afternoon, made more so by the fact that for once, all the other results went in our favour!! 🙁.
I nearly spat out my porridge this morning on reading Garth Crooks’ Team of The Week – who did be in there – none other than Mr Toney!! 😳. OK, he scored from a free header and 2 penalties courtesy of Ben Gibson, but other than that, I’m sure there were several strikers more deserving of the nomination. 🙁
The only glimmer of hope we had of staying in the PL evaporated with the firing of DF and his backroom staff!! IMO, what should have happened at that time was for SW to ‘fall on his sword’ along with the entire recruitment team. Yes, they unearthed Pukki and Buendia, but the Buendia that earned us £30M+. was a VASTLY improved version of the one that arrived at CR in 2017. No prizes for guessing who was responsible for the incredible improvement.
All of the recent big money sales (other than Buendia), have been of players who were here in the 2016-2017 season and coached/improved by DF and his coaches. I am really struggling to see any of last summer’s recruits bring sold for a profit.
Yes, DS was Grealish’s coach, but who else has he developed?? If anything, Aarons has gone backwards in recent months.
As Alex Bain said, it’s time for both Mr and Mrs Smith to leave, but the trouble is, who is there out there who would be willing to buy NCFC and restore some pride and passion??
Morning Ed
Yes it was pretty grim and I’m not really moaning too much about either penalty as we would have expected to be given them if the situation had been in reverse.
Maybe we should have had one too for the bad challenge on Williams but referee Taylor could have clamped down early on but chose not to.
I totally agree about Max Aarons. I think it’s a case that he misses Buendia in front of him as much as anything else.
Cheers
Anybody would go backwards with Sargent in front of him.
🙂
Hi Ed , for the first part of this season Smith didn’t know what to do with Buendia, one of my golf crew attends Villa Park on a regular basis as says since Gerrard arrived Buendia now looks the part.
Hi Bernie
Funny how Emi doesn’t start that often for Villa!
Seriously if anybody knows football and footballers it’s Steven Gerrard.
He never would have come here in a million years.
Cheers
A good read Martin, given the sorry subject matter.
Half of my entourage left at the start of injury time, my youngest boy and I stuck it out til the end. I didn’t stay through some distorted sense of duty, more to witness the reaction from the empty stands at the end. It was caustic.
There I little we can do or say following a home drubbing by Manchester City but this is totally different. Brentford are awful. Yet, in a vital six pointer, I found myself looking up at the scoreboard incredulously at the scoreline. Disgraceful. Yet another low point to add to the growing number from the last 25 years.
Yes, the referee was poor. Yes Var was ludicrously over used, adding another ten percent to the length of the match. However this cannot be held up as the main reason for this debacle.
Quite what Dean Smith was talking about after the game is anyone’s guess but I’m finding it increasingly difficult to see him as a viable option going forward.
Its clear that the prolonged use of gilmour is at the behest of his parent club, because he still has Yet to play a good game for us. Lees melou must be as bemused as many of us are at his continued absence.
Everything about the club is so unprofessional. A totally rudderless ship adrift and heading for the rocks while the officers of the watch surf sofas flogging books or piss about up various mountains.
From the outset, the aim of the season was to stock the cupboard with potential big ticket sales, take the money from sky, various foreign owners transfer funds and their own support, fulfil those wretched fixtures and drop back down with the swag.
Saturday was proof of this if needed. The motions, if there were any were barley”gone through” .
Week in, week out a selection of our former players damn this team with accusations that they are not trying. They should know.
The fish is rotten from the head down. The cosy, easy osy attitude to results and performances filters down from the boardroom into the dressing room. Does anybody at the club give a toss?
Hi Chris
I normally reference Dean Smith’s comments on my pieces but I thought I’d swerve it this time around as it seemed like a load of b0ll0cks to me too.
Half of me felt terrible about quitting that early but hey?
Someone somewhere mentioned that the more Gilmour plays the less our loan fee to Chelsea becomes and that could explain a lot.
*From the outset, the aim of the season was to stock the cupboard with potential big ticket sales, take the money from Sky, various foreign owners transfer funds and their own support, fulfil those wretched fixtures and drop back down with the swag.*
Spot on.
Cheers
Morning Mr P, a depressing and frustrating Monday, I feel like I laid my wallet down and know it is lost with large contents. But in truth, I cannot say I am heartbroken, it has been coming since November/ December probably before. Apart from a couple of the new manager bounce wins, everything has stayed pretty much the same. I did allow myself to let a little hope creep in but that was soon dampened down by the visit to Southampton, where a team desperate for points never really bothered to try. Especially Disgusting for those supporters who made that trip.
It is a good job we have gone past the Derby low total, there were times I didn’t think we would, I like many others have been following our club, long before the ruddy cook &co took over, but I have never been embarrassed by the club. There are many things where blame can be laid, ownership, self-funding, poor recruitment, Sporting Director, blah blah.
Relegated six times ( 2004/05, 2008/09, 2013/14, 2015/16, 2019/20), plus a year in league one. hardly smacks of trying to be one of the top 26 clubs in the country.
We use to be known for playing football the right way, now we are laughed at, criticised, and joked about. I honestly believe the world of the premiership has had more than enough of Norwich City F C a bloody embarrassment.
This time was supposed to be different, we were supposed to be better prepared, but when you carry on doing the same things, the results are a pound to a penny bound to be the same. No wonder people are thinking and talking of not renewing their tickets,
Simply we are nowhere good enough for this league, they missed the opportunity and it has not come round again, Paul Lambert had us there, just needed some support. Same old story same old result.
Voices now need to be heard in opposition to the Stowmarket duo NOW, if left again, expect nothing better, just more of the same shite and worse. A few good results in next season and everyone is happy again. Change is needed from top-down, people from a football background need to be employed
I am going to stop there it is just recycling what we have been saying for a long long time, sick of watching things unfold and not being surprised one iota.
As a side note, if Mathias Normann, is still open to staying, perhaps he could get his agent to act by him refusing to return to Russia (like others leaving) , contract terminated by mutual consent, he is in house. Know it won’t happen but did take my mind off the crap for all of 2 seconds.
Morning Lad
I think the trouble with the Stowmarket Two from many supporters’ viewpoint is a question that I cannot answer as in: how the bl00dy hell can we get them out?
They’ve had the wagons circled ever since they arrived 25 years ago and as Alex B has said, who would relish protesting against a very elderly couple?
I wouldn’t. I had a heartfelt dislike for Robert Chase. I can justify that as I met him a couple of times and did not like what I saw. Delia? I’ve met her too [back in the Worthy days] and didn’t get that same feeling of instinctive mistrust and dislike.
While Chase had support only from his close pals such as Jimmy Jones – although I enjoyed talking to him a couple of times – Delia is different. To some she can do no wrong.
I’ve never fought shy of denigrating her and MWJ here on MFW but I’m not sure that I would be happy trading the pen for the sword.
If you’ve any ideas don’t be afraid to share them on the site 🙂
Cheers
Hi Martin maybe she players the feeble old lady as she knows to many people have a soft spot for her, can you imagine how much flak from all over the country and pundits would dump on the supporters if it came to a protest march or placards out side the ground I will leave that to you.
Not sure I’d take part in protests as I’m in my middle 60s now.
I’m not Delia’s doctor so I’ve no idea if she’s feeble or not but she has acquired the habit of dozing off during games.
A bit like a couple of our midfielders!
Dozing off in games may not be her being feeble. It is one way of getting through. How bad does it have to get before Sorenson and Less Melou get picked ahead of Gilmour and McLean? Gilmour won’t be here next season; we might as well start experimenting with what we will have next season.
Hi Sue
The midfield selection remains a mystery to me too. Maybe the rumour that the more we play Gilmour the less we pay Chelsea is true after all!
Thanks
For protesting, the flak would prove too much but would die down. Until next headline, crops up. Any counterargument would be a relegation roughly every 3-5 years, buying below standard or not spending at all , refusing investment, dictating the club.
An empty or seriously low attendance at Carrow Road for a few games , even a drop in season ticket sales. banners and car bumper stickers we used during worthy out.
Brighton did it in a big way a few years ago , they had a few pages giving tips and guidelines. That did include peaceful protests, true different people different reasons.
Brighton did it extremely well.
In the thriving days of NCISA a guy from West Ham was invited to come up here and tell them what they should at least attempt to do.
He was an old work colleague’s brother who wasn’t given the time of day.
At least we have the Canaries Trust these days.
No more hand wringing for this bunch of players. Almost to a man they went missing in action with the exception of big Grant. Brentford remained nasty and cunning to the end and they won. Why were none of our players angry they bloody well should have been. When a team is taking the mickey at least show some passion and try and kick some lumps out of them. Can you imagine Holt Bellamy or Roberts accepting their team mates putting in such a dire shift. No guile, no bottle and not a footballing brain between the lot of them.
Morning Andy
No bottle says it all really, doesn’t it?
There ARE footballing brains out there but far too many of them are crosswired.
I still think Max Aarons has the right mindset and would really progress in a decent side but oh boy he is missing Emi playing in front of him. When he leaves he will go with my absolute best wishes – he deserves a move to a decent side.
Bellers could have wound up a cardboard box but we haven’t had anybody – and I mean anybody -who was as influential as Holty.
As a collective unit we are far too weak both physically and mentally.
Cheers
To your last paragraph, Ed, who indeed would be willing to buy the club? There is no one wealthy enough with any local connections as far as I can see, except as I’ve said before, James Dyson, but he has no apparent interest (and having been a Brexiteer, promptly moved his manufacturing out of the country once we left the EU, so I don’t think his commitment, if it ever transpired, would be reliable.
We may have missed opportunities in the past, but the only ones that made it to public knowledge were the F1 man who eventually took over QPR (and they haven’t set the world on fire), and the lawyer fraud Giovanni di Stefano. I don’t want to end up with an asset stripper. Anyone got any suggestions?
As for the game, poor defending for the first goal and the first penalty, but from where I sit, Gibson got the ball for the second one. Did VAR review that? The referee was the worst I’ve seen at Carrow Road for a long time. He allowed some horrendous challenges by Brentford players that were borderline red cards, but most of the time didn’t even verbally warn the offenders.
I won’t miss VAR next season.
Hi Jim
*Anybody got any suggestions* seems the meme of the moment.
As I said to Canary Lad [above] I don’t have even a single positive suggestion as to how us as supporters can attempt to improve the situation.
If James Dyson were interested we would have heard about it years ago. He went to Greshams school and has many local connections so somebody would have leaked it by now.
In any case Delia would have found something wrong with the offer!
Cheers
Martin, if you’ve got Sky, I recommend their documentary “the Devil’s Advocate”, it shows you what we missed! (Fortunately!)
I’m aware of it but never actually watched it.
I’ll give it a go if I ever get the fecking chance 🙂
You’re right there, you won’t miss VAR next season. You’re right , the FA, god bless them ,are looking to introduce a var light into the championship next season.
Oh, no!!!!!
I’ve not heard that yet but if it’s true I agree – oh no!!!!!
If by a miracle we are still seen as a big fish in a small pond next season it might even work in our favour.
Fecking big IF though!
Funny you mention the 2nd penalty Jim. My seat is in row Row I lower and directly in line with where Gibson definitely got a touch on the ball, but of course no VAR review.
I haven’t found anyone who thinks that all that will happen with the ownership of NCFC is that it will pass to nephew Tom and I really don’t envisage us being mid to perhaps top half of the Championship in the foreseeable future!
I was really looking forward to this season, but I’m afraid we got off to a bad start and it looks like being an even worse end.
I see an article by Krul on today’s EDP website, but I can’t be bothered to even read it!! 🙁
I’m on the back row lower tier of the River End, just off the gangway that side of the goal, and I’m sure Gibson played the ball and Toney then made the most of it.
Too many teams bully us, we’re too nice (Williams’ hug for Ericsson). My wife described Brentford as “thugs” after the game. I’d hoped Smith might have introduced a bit more of that into our game. Where’s a Trevor Hockey when you need one?
In all fairness I think Williams’ hug for Ericsson was simply a display of respect – but yes, we are far too *nice*.
I read the article but shouldn’t have bothered – you missed nothing.
The whole of Archant is going behind a paywall very soon.
Enjoy it for free while you can.
Hi Jim
Know one knows who could be interested in city the shutters have shown the not for sale and no investment sign for 25yrs.
At the AGM they confirmed that they get offers of both but the owners view all and have found none to their liking.
So maybe a Billionaire Thai or American has tried and been turned down as none of these offers will ever see the light of day.
Speculation that no one is interested is wrong Businessmen are always looking for opportunities but they will not keep knocking on a closed door
And there is nothing that we, as mere supporters, can do about it.
The Smiths have known that for 25 years.
Well Watford home now Brentford home we are no further forward under the next guy in my eyes . Why is that ? 😉
Hi Jim
Probably because Dean Smith wanted a quick return to management and felt that he could get a tune out of this squad.
I once was given a guitar with a warped neck.
I couldn’t get a tune out of that either.
Cheers
I didn’t buy a Sunday paper, watch MOTD or read Gary’s excellent article until late last night. It’s not that I was angry, worse still I wasn’t angry-sad and bemused more like.
The last time I left Carrow Road feeling this way was when we lost at home to Reading in 2009. We were still mathematically able to stay up but everyone knew a place in League 1 was waiting for us. I can’t criticise the players; they all seemed to try but hardly any of them are good enough for the EPL. I can’t criticise the management; they inherited the squad and were unable to add to (or subtract from) it and you can’t polish a turd.
So, it can only be the self funding policy to blame. I really wanted it to work, it’s clearly the way football clubs should be run. But a woman who did well out of telling people how to boil eggs against clubs owned by oil rich despots, oligarchs and big business, has got no chance.
My brother arrived from Panama for his first game since we beat QPR 4-0 in 2019. He’s also here for the Chelsea game (a West London triple). It could be a tough watch but at least he won’t have to see Little Billy Gilmour out of his depth.
Finally, one day you could end with a Stranglers song. Something Better Change or No More Heroes?
Hi Don
I’m not sure what league football is like in Panama but watching your favourite team over there would surely have been more rewarding than anything your brother witnessed.
I used *Something Better Change* a couple of years ago but I agree *No More Heroes* would be a timely choice in the near future.
Watch this space 🙂
Cheers
Not only self funding to blame, also the recruitment of said unpolishable “turd,” which has been poor. It is why it should have been Webber that went, not Farke. It seemed obvious at the time that yet again Farke had not been given half a chance with the ‘tools’ at his disposal.
Bought as gambles for future profit with precious little regard for current requirements – don’t see any of the summer recruits making much £ though!
The only good thing about Saturdays display is the majority of supporters, including Robin Sainty, now appear to agree the self funding model has had its day.
As I see it the only way forward is for new owners who will then make all the decisions regarding the club and provide fresh hope.
Will it happen? I doubt it as I think Delia sees herself as the only option.
I must admit I’m finding it difficult to work up any enthusiasm for Thursday night or season ticket renewal.
Hi John
Good point about ST renewal. Me and my ticket have been best buddies for 33/34 years now but I’m not ruling out a summer separation myself.
*Delia sees herself as the only option.*
Too true.
Cheers
Sad to read the comments here and yesterday but fully understand people’s anger. However, I don’t think Smith and Shakespeare can be blamed as they must now see that all the money spent in the summer was wasted on dross and possible prospects for the future. The first person out of the door needs to be Webber “ talks big knows nowt “. Then we need to see a change in ownership to put a large proportion of the club in the hands of the fans.
We are not coming straight back up so set out a rebuilding plan and move forward from there.
Look for new investors large and small.
Look how long Leeds were in the championship and be afraid.
Hi Cyprus
*We are not coming straight back up*
That is very true and the saddest realisation of all.
Cheers
Hi Cyprus
Not sure I agree that city will not come back up but it depends on keeping most of these players but it means finding how to get the best out of them.
Sargent, Rashica, Tzolis and Dimitris aren’t bad players but there is no one getting the best out if them.
Hanley is the heart of our defence and he looks better along side anyone except Gibson.
DS I think wanted time off to recharge his batteries but was offered a quick knee jerk return with big bonuses but his recruitment hasn’t worked and I can’t see it doing much in the future and I hope I am wrong
Dean Smith has recruited nobody mate.
Self funding would not permit it I’m afraid.
You know things are bad when a couple of old buhs start having a go at each in the River End, but yes these are the depths we have plumbed.
Felt so low on Saturday evening that I couldn’t even stomach a post-match pint, which for me, is saying something!
Don’t want to gloss over another poor showing on the pitch, although I’m still scratching my head at how we managed to lose a game effectively from two corners.
I think off the pitch we are reaching a crossroads once again and I wouldn’t be surprised if the Smiths stood down in the coming weeks.
What happens next is anyone’s guess, but I’m so frustrated that another opportunity to establish ourselves has been wasted
I please hope you are right Smith’s standing down but which ones owners or manager maybe both.
Or more likely neither.
Hi Segura
I very much agree with you apart from one crucial thing.
The Smiths will not be stepping down – we’ll be stuck with them for as long as they and nephew Tom will be breathing air. I don’t wish ill on any of them in these circumstances as despite what Bill Shankly said life is more important than football. It is to me, anyway.
The problem is that very many of us ordinary folks would realise we’re not up to the task and quit – that concept has never been in Delia’s mindset. She knows best and we all have to get on with it.
Cheers
A beginner’s guide to protesting when your club is octogenarian owned. Loud , verbally aggressive chanting and marching round the ground .Not really. A silent vigil at the ground, not effective. May I suggest that once relegation is confirmed the next home game is ignored by the home fans. Have a day off, take a loved one out for the day, an empty ground as a one off just might get through to the owners.
Hi Bernie
A silent virgil might work but sadly we have no Geoffrey Watling riding to the rescue this time round and not sure his family would want the hassle.
I just don’t see Alias Smith and Jones answering the phone to any prospective investors or buyers and at a loss for the ineptitude of all the other share holders letting the club get into such a situation.
Surely if they as share holders made their combined feelings felt at continuous boardmeetings it would sink in.
Tim the heir apparent seems to have closed ranks with Auntie knowing what’s best for the family, but surely he must know the general feelings about their ownership or will he be blind to all reasonable offers
Tom Smith won’t get his feet under the table for quite a while yet.
Could be be more flexible than Auntie D?
Possibly. We can only wait and see.
Hi Bernie
Great idea in theory but it will never work.
People such as myself are worried about giving up our STs, even if only because we sit with folks we’ve got to like and rub along with over the years. I’ve been very fortunate in that respect and I’m absolutely positive that I’m not alone.
So what do we do? Pay the Club around £35 a match and then not turn up?
Short of gluing myself to the outer wall of Upper Barclay D block’s disgusting khazi I really don’t know what to do. I wouldn’t survive five minutes if glued inside.
All black humour, as you know!
Cheers
Hi Martin
Looking at the squad since DF departed I haven’t seen on iota of improvement, someone said Grealish improved I doubt that I just think DS had the players that got the best out of him possibly like Buendia got the best reaction from Cantwell.
Maybe Cantwell’s problem was that once Buendia had left he had no one to spur him on or prove he was as good as but he is getting game time at Bournemouth so may be a third promotion.
Team selection hasn’t changed much except Rowe is now on the bench and Gilmour is showing very little promise along side McLean who is going backwards and sideways to much.
DS must have been promised big bonuses to keep city up and he can see them slowly but surely heading back to Stowmarket.
The social media was shouting out yesterday that Stoke City should show ambition and recruit Farke to get them promoted as it say be knows better than most how to win the championship.
Many have said since the season started that Farke is the worst Premiership manager on record at city well I look at it slightly different.
He had one full season where we were applauded as the best footballing team to get relegated but were left short on numbers.
This early season again getting beat with ease due to being under prepared due to covid-19 and injuries also late recruitment and it hasn’t changed one iota.
DF toed the Smith line saying we do things differently in our own way, also agreed that the club needed to sell to buy, how much choice did he have on recruitment or say in those players, he also wanted our to Greeks playing as a unit on the left but never got that, he also wanted Rashica to feed Sargent again injuries stopped that so many of his plans never got off the table in his time and just as it looked he was turn the corner he is shafted by the people he trusted and those he had protected for 4 years.
Was Webber saving his own skin by dumping Farke, was he the cheaper solution fir the Smith’s and was the recruitment of DS&SS another cheap option as no compo.
I hope DF finds a job soon preferably not in the Championship as he could really show us what we are missing next season or maybe we could get him back no compo if DS leaves
Hi Alex
Can’t disagree with any of that.
Something tells me that Neil Adams will be coming back in some high-level capacity at the end of the season. Who he will replace and in what precise role I do not know. Not for now anyway but all will become clear at the end of this abysmal season.
I – along with many of us – backed Webber from the start but have subsequently discovered the idol has feet of clay.
*Oh, we’re in the $hite but I’ll go off to climb Kilimanjaro*.
Good for you mate but I don’t see how that helps NCFC in the January window.
Hang on though, nothing will happen in the window.
Says it all really.
Cheers
She bangs the drums Martin ain’t it the club effectively in her hands her destiny increasingly shrinking .
But also her appointment of Stuart Webber initially a good piece of recruitment now seemingly no good for the premier league regarding recruitment yes the purse strings are tight but did we really need all them players we bought ? Would a 2 or 3 quality signings of been better ? Centre Back ,Defensive Midfielder , Centre Forward . Why Angus Gunn or Tzolis or wasted wages on Gilmour/Kabak did we realistically plan to stay with his buys ?? . Also the recruitment of youngsters supposedly our breadline seems non existent apart from J Rowe who looks exciting prospect to me . You have to look at the top for answers the owners and also the sporting director . I feel sorry for the supporters who pay week in week out and waste their time and money to a club which at the moment is not run professionally .
There should be an Uprising .
Hi CanaryJim
Gunn could be an excellent buy but I agree with Barden and McGovern with had plenty of cover in that department.
SW bigs up his negotiating skills abd says the clubs will only accept their price or only pay their valuation of a player I am not so sure of the last maybe it’s a case being premiership Weare expected to over pay.
Not buying as many players could have left us with a vastly undermanned squad but covid-19 and injuries early on disrupted preparations.
I would ask £30+m for Buendia plus £40+m in the first payment from the EPL all went on bonuses and transfers that are spread over a number of years I just wonder how big the bonuses were as none was left to boost the squad in January
McGovern has kept himself in splendid condition but I reckon he’ll move on to coaching pretty soon – and I reckon he’ll be pretty damn good at it too.
Hi Jim
Of course there should be an uprising but just like in the English Civil War in the 17th century the folks are divided. Then London went one way and Oxford another.
Should we set Diss against Fakenham [just an illustration]?
Delia is extremely crafty and knows exactly what she is trying to do.
As long as she draws breath she will keep the peasants at bay.
She’s actually two inches taller than King Charles I for what little that’s worth.
Cheers
I imagine Stuart Webber and Wife will quit very soon.
Interesting to hear after Saturday’s game some of our former players mouth damming disapproval to what’s been allowed to happen this season, with certain players ‘not fit to wear the shirt’ would sum up their feelings. They almost seemed embarrassed to be present, guys who gave everything and felt privileged to wear the yellow & green.
We’ve lost identity. There’s not a single player on our books who would be on the wish list of another P L club, no fans favourite, no talisman.
The crowd reaction to our late goal on Saturday says it all, an embarrassed ripple of applause from those who remained present.
Somehow, we need a miracle, but a huge one is most needed elsewhere, for us it’s only football.
Sycophants or toeing the line most ex players seem to hold our owners in high regards you never hear anyone giving them grief only the players or coaching staff gets that, Even new arrival say how the Smith’s go out of their way to make them welcome.
SW or Farke I would have kept Farke.
SW has lost much credibility along with the club but again he us toeing the party line as will Adams or who ever takes over from him.
Before we really condemn the players we should turn it on the ownership when you tell the world you are happy being a top 24 club then it shows you have no ambition to be a top 17 club and Stay in the premiership and sadly that cone from the top
You should have heard certain x-players after the game on Saturday, no love lost and not for the first time this season.
There’s a feeling that something has happened behind the scenes to cause unrest. The club has enjoyed a sense of togetherness for some seasons now, all good things come to an end I guess.
Yeah the esprit du corps has entirely disappeared from the squad.
Bring back Holty, Pilkington and Benno!
Hi Colin
I’m pleased you stayed to the end – I simply couldn’t.
It’s a bit like buying a car from a showroom and when you go back to collect it you discover the chassis is warped or there’s a serious oil leak.
Every time I turn up lately I feel I’m being turned over and believe me, leaving before the end of a game was never on my bucket list but it is now.
I’m fast getting to the point where I don’t care any more.
It would make my domestic life easier, for sure.
Cheers
Morning Martin hope you enjoyed your extra sleep just a little mention on Dean Smith he spent £200 plus at villa and still got the sack! See Gérard said yesterday that villa have been too passive when he got there ring any bells to you ?
Didn’t Gerrard say on taking over that Smith had built a great squad, but after a small run of poor results he has turned on Smith so shifting the blame if himself.
Maybe the new man bounce took longer to wear off at Villa but then he spent big in January to add to the squad and Buendia seems to be a bit part player now
Perhaps we have a good squad here but nobody to put fire in their bellys certainly capable of a few more points then we have now 😉
Any fire we might have is kicked out of us in the first 10 minutes – the opposition always work us out long before k/o.
Full agree Kev but the fire should come from the top to start with and we have luke warm owners that will settle for mediocre
I’m struggling to think of an owner that is really passionately behind their club right now in terms of getting off their feet and joining in with onfield celebrations like Barry Fry did at Peterborough.
Oh Jeez, what have I just said 🙂
Hi Kev
Them bells are a-ringing.
I never call out typos but when you said Deano spent £200 at Villa I had to laugh!
Don H will be there instead of me on Thursday – I can’t be ar$ed.
Cheers mate
In theory the self funding model should work , maybe it is that the personnel have executed it poorly !
I think that to be self financing you need a bigger capacity Stadium and these owners have promised.
Until city get investment or a permanent place in the premiership it will not work but then being a permanent member of the EPL does make you self financing
This is the largest incarnation of Carrow Road we will ever see.
They know what developers would pay for the land.
I hope it never happens in my lifetime.
We’ve turned Tzolis from a fantastic prospect into a waste of money. He and Dimi now want to leave.
Rowe looks great but perhaps not as good as Tzolis looked. I can see Rowe being the next Josh Martin or Tyrese Omotoye. Mumba can’t get in the Peterborough side now, Dickson-Peters is having the same problem.
For a club that invests so much in development the end product is very poor
Hi Gil
Will city be picked off I very much doubt it Rashica and our 2 Greeks are possible on 4/5 year deals.
I also think once our fate is confirmed DS will start or should start the ones he wants as first choice next season, if he doesn’t then he is playing players that are up for sale to the highest bidder profit or loss not sure which for many of them
Hi Gil
Yep can’t disagree with you there.
Once Max goes Andrew Omobamidele will be our only readily saleable asset, if the poor b*gger ever gets his back issues resolved of course.
Cheers
We’re like a bunch of drunks relying on Prem dosh to fund our football thirsts. The only way to cut out the need for that money is to go nowhere near the Prem or get enough finance else where to be able to compete in the Prem. How do you compete successfully in the Chump and avoid the possibility of promotion? Under present rules can’t be done. Unless you get a manager and players who are cheap and cheerful and will never win anything worthwhile. Have we reached that? Or will it be Groundhog Day next season? Only one answer realistically; sell the club to someone who’ll splash the cash, and let’s have another round of drinks on the man in the big hat with the bulging wallet.
Too many have been brainwashed into thinking there aren’t people out there that can do better than what we already have.
Alias Smith and Jones have spent their lives telling people how to cook what to read and how to run a football club.
How some got paid telling people how to boil an egg I will never know and telling the world she has 26k of children is really contemptuous and disrespectful to every city supporter.
It is time for her to hang up her mic and apron and go back to Stowmarket
Hiya Cutty
There is no guy with a Stetson and a fistfull of dollars, roubles or even euros for us as Delia wouldn’t accept them.
The only way she’ll quit is an offer on the table of a brace of pheasant in the feather, a huge clump of samphire and a stone of Morston mussels. And twenty million quid as well of course, but the lady from the Home Counties likes to keep things as local as she can.
Hope you’re feeling better today.
Cheers
Morning Martin.
You and Alex hit the nail on the head, though I do wonder if some of the players Alex mentions will still be here. Rashica for instance.
I re-watched the match last night for my sins.
And in my opinion we were not too bad in he first half, certainly played more football than we did in the first half at Watford but as we won that it got glossed over.
The second half was completely different. Bloody awful. I spoke about some of the performances on here yesterday so won’t repeat myself.
But Pierre Lees Melou, who has hardly set the world alight, but did more than Billy Gilmour did all game with his little cameo. I am not scapegoating Billy, there were many others just as poor in that second half.
A lot of debate on here is down to perception. Many on here do not think one or either was a penalty, all I know is that I would be screaming for both if they were our players in the same situation.
Anthony Taylor supposed perception was that he let the game flow, but in my opinion he let Brentford get away with far too much. Dark Arts.
And with Delia and Michael many people really do not like them or their stewardship of the club while others think they can do no wrong.
A guy on Canary Call on Saturday wanted a return to the days of the barricades a la Robert Chase to oust The Stowmarket Two. He was so worked up he reminded me of Marius in “Les Miserable”
I protested strongly as anyone against Mr Chase but as much as I think Delia has taken the club as far as she can I will not be joining him. Delia and Chase, chalk and cheese.
To me one was a like a Robber Baron the other as headstrong as hell but does love the club but by her own admittance Mother Knows Best !
But that’s my perception and I know other do not agree, and that is what makes the game we love so exciting.
Compare our last 20 years with Ipswich Town and at least it has been exciting for the best part, while Town have had millions more than us in those years and achieved diddly squat.
So many of my friends actually prefer The Championship which I can understand but it won’t take long for that love story to end if we start to struggle at that level.
Another perception among some fans is that get rid of Delia and we will definitely return to our glory days of the late eighties early nineties. That ship may have sailed forever.
But I do believe with the right level of investment and the right coaching staff we can compete in the EPL for a sustained period of time.
On Dean Smith he did good jobs with Walsall, Brentford and Villa so I won’t be judging him on this team. Surely he deserves a chance to put together a team of his own before we slate him ?
Yes there maybe another Daniel Farke out there but for next season I am more than happy to have Smith and Shakespeare at the helm.
And lets not forget perception can be a funny thing. My poor old dearly departed Mum came in when I was watching a TV programme years ago which introduced Sir Les Patterson as The Cultural Attache to Australia. My poor mum was aghast ” Surely the Australians have got someone better than him to represent them ? ” As angry as Norwich’s Marius !
It now looks as clear as it can be that Daniel Farke was right in his obvious disagreement with Stuart Webber and that is this squad is not good enough to compete at this level.
So sometimes the truth is somewhere in between differing opinions, but at some point you do reach a point of empirical truth (unless you are Trump) which is where we are today.
I love Les. Curiously charming – and hilarious..
Barry Humphries was an underappreciated genious of his time.
Mention of Sir Les Patterson, brought a smile to my face, thanks for reminding me!
Hope you didn’t spill too much of your tea on your dinner shirt!
It all reality I would guess that all bad press or media cover wouldn’t cross their desk but it’s sad to see that the club they suppose to love they are damaging by their kick of effort to find any investment.
Who said there are none so blind as those that will not see the truth in front of them.
As for players keeping Rashica and our two Greeks I am not so sure anyone will meet the asking price Spainish and Italian clubs are muted about Dimitrios but they want loan to buy and if or when relegation is confirmed SW with want permanent deals not maybe’s.
Can we see DS&SS staying it depends on their contract or a break clause only time will tell
Hi Tim
Of course perception is what it’s all about – I take that as a given.
We will never know what transpired between Webber and Farke, and probably for Farke fans such as myself that is all for the best.
When I take Geezer the Patterdale for a walk I pack my own kit, as in collar on [he doesn’t wear one in the evenings], two poo bags in my right hand jacket pocket, a few treats in case of unexpected urgent recall and a sturdy lead with a spare in my left hand coat pocket.
I perform this simple course of action myself because that way I’d have only myself to blame if anything went wrong.
Daniel Farke never had that luxury and although I know that Dean Smith owns a dog I suspect he might feel the same way as myself on this topic.
Never go into battle when somebody else has prepared your kit before you have thoroughly checked it out for yourself.
Deep down I would imagine Dean Smith is fuming but I’m not privy to the detail but I no longer believe in the concept of Stuart Webber as an armourer.
You’ll cut through my apparent obscurity.
Cheers
Funnily enough if we’d spent nothing in the close season would we have done any worse? Probably not. The money could have been more usefully diverted to the prawn sandwich budget. Another pitiful season. Worse isn’t the fact that no other clubs or their fans or the media respect us, it’s the fact they don’t even give us a second thought. We are utterly irrelevant to the rest of the PL. Like the embarrassing relative who invites themselves over at Christmas, muttering drivel, which everybody ignores, until the missus says, ‘Ooh, put him out in the shed, Eric, with a vol au vent and a can of Fosters – he can’t come to much harm in there…’
Pitifully embarrassing.
Are we ridiculed by everone possible but many struggling clubs so we are told admire are model if that the case why have more tried it.
Every season the media picks on their fall guy, City were expect after last season to make a good fist of staying up but poor decision made that impossible.
Did we spend enough?? We are told we were one of the biggest spenders.
Our owners tell us we have no debts so dies that mean all transfers are fully paid up in a oner because paying over a number of years means we have debts or don’t they count
Hi Chris
Your comment gave me a much-needed laugh – ta!
Mind you at a family occasion hostessed by my ex I think I sloped off into the garage with a special chow mein and a bottle of cider which I thoroughly enjoyed in the passenger seat of my old Triumph Spitfire.
We have zero respect left, Burnley have far more than us and nobody likes them either. Laughing stock isn’t in it as we are such an easy self-made target.
Cheers
Thanks Martin. (Great stuff recently btw). Like you, I am that embarrassing relative – but by choice. The only differnece between fiction and fact is that I wouldn’t be drinking Fosters. (Loved the Paul Hogan ads from the 1980s though – ‘Strewth, that blokes got no strides on!’ etc – but it’s a shocking beverage.)
I loved the Morris Dancing one where he turns to the girl and asks *which one’s Maurice*? 🙂
Thanks Mr. P,
But, believe me, a day in Nogdam End is definitely better than an hour at the Carra nowadays.
I’m now close to 70, and can never recall feeling so desperately underwhelmed by NCFC.
I have NEVER left before the final whistle, and Saturday was no different. However, it did confirm to me that I made the correct decision last week when (being a direct debit customer), I asked them not to renew my tickets. I expect my £1300 or so to provide my wife and I with some entertainment, but boy oh boy has that been in short supply this season.
Saturday’s players must have known the importance of the game, but with one or two notable exceptions game me the impression that they really couldn’t care/won’t be here next season.
Every PL team (except us) have one or two players capable of changing a game. We have absolutely no one with that capability. I cannot think of any of our current players who would be a first choice selection anywhere else – which really sims up just how carp we are.
Krul and Pukki will take their last pay-day; Aarons will be sold (with my best wishes), Gilmour, Kabak and Williams return to sender. Rashica might stay, but I would not be surprised if either/both of Tzolis and Dimi are not here. They’re internationals for their country, but cannot get into a rubbish side here!
The rest (the dregs!!) will be here because no one wants them. Will they be good enough to mount another promotion push? Somehow I doubt it, but will have to rely on MFW and the Pink’un for how it plays out.
The only recent time we looked capable in the PL was with Lambert. A comfortable first season finish, but when his transfer requirements (Benteke and Michu) were turned down, he was off. The Vicar had one comfortable season with Lambert’s players, but was then found severely wanting when he tried to build his own team.
What I would like to hear from Webber is who his initial first choice to replace Farke was. Smith was still in a job when DF was sacked. Unless of course, Webber’s mate at Villa had tipped him off that Smith would soon be available. All one can say about it is that it hasn’t worked, and whether he and Shakespear will be here next season remains to be seen.
O T B C
Hi John
Rashica and our 2 Greeks as I have mentioned are on long term deals so unless a price is met then they go nowhere.
Will DS&SS be here next season I will only say that depends on his present contract and whether SW is still in place will he want to see another person in the hot seat, he made a big fuss over having lists of possible replacement for Farke but did he get anyone that fitted the players in the squad mot to my thinking.
Smith £200+m and sacked he will not get a 10th of that come the summer if he stays.
Hi John
I’ve nothing against Nogdam End – I’ve actually been there. I could have referenced Thetford or Swaffham but don’t want to spark up a debate concerning *what is the place in Norfolk you dislike the most.* Oh okay then, mine’s Bowthorpe.
This really is about as bad as it gets and it’s still only March 7.
I really shouldn’t eulogise about Lambert but he gave us heart, strength and hope. I know personals went on behind the scenes but when Villa came in he saw the possibility of some real backing and quit us for them. His decision for sure but at least on paper he had no choice.
I’ve no idea if I’ll continue my ST next season as I’m getting older by the day [ha!] but if nothing changes over the summer I very well might.
All I need to do is to pop into HSBC in London Street and it’s done. I’ve felt like this before but this time around I just might go through with it because I can’t put up with this consistent on and off field rubbish for very much longer.
Thanks as always