Standing at the crossroads has become one of the most hackneyed of clichés over the years, usually referencing a sea change in the life of the person concerned who is forced to make the right call on an extremely difficult personal decision.
I’ve heard it applied to Julius Caesar, Chairman Mao and a myriad of modern politicians whose names I have conveniently forgotten.
On Saturday, it was my turn for such a moment. I finally emerged from a well-known high street bank with my children having tortuously completed what we all assumed would be a ten-minute business meeting that contrived to run to an hour and twenty minutes.
My crossroads wasn’t a particularly aesthetically pleasing one as it involved the junctions of Prince of Wales Road, Castle Meadow, Tombland and King Street, none of which are particularly easy on this eye these days.
My phone told me it was 13:23 and the score was Norwich City 0, Wigan Athletic 1 – my important decision was this: do I peg it down to the ground to catch the second half, or do I go home and watch via the gift of the mighty football god known as Murdoch Astra?
The decision was quickly made for me as the X29 appeared on the horizon and so Sky won the day.
I actually saw a fair old bit to be cheerful about. At the time I hadn’t seen the Gibson howler but I’ve seen it quite a few times now and these are happening a little too often for my liking.
I only saw the tail end of what by all accounts was a useful debut from Marcelino Nunez. We have Isaac Hayden to enter the fray [I know, I know, not until September] and Gaby Sara provided a pleasant little cameo that can only bode well for the future.
Andrew Omobamidele looks frighteningly composed and mature for a young man who has just turned 20 and he brings the ball out of defence with the confidence that Gibson simply does not possess.
Andrew’s no longer one for the future. He is one for right now.
Of course, not all is sunshine and light.
We seem to have 10 to 12 midfielders on board which to my mind seems farcical. Aaron Ramsey has joined on loan but if the consequence of this is, say, Jonathan Rowe [when he has recovered from injury] or Tony Springett going out on loan to a League One club I will not be best pleased.
After the awful injury to Dimi Giannoulis and the wipe-out of Max Aarons surely Dean Smith can see how thinly resourced we are across the entire back line. Don’t worry lads, we’ll get in another midfielder. It really quite defies belief.
Teemu Pukki seems to have lost that half-a-yard of pace which is so vital to his type of striker although that cracker that Wigan keeper Ben Amos somehow flicked onto the bar shows he still knows very much what that part of the game is all about.
We look desperately thin in the striking department as well. Another midfielder, anybody?
Alex B beat me to the punch with a comment on Gary’s article yesterday when he questioned why on earth it fell to Wigan manager Leam Richardson to be the one to get the referee’s attention over Dimi’s injury. Why were our back room boys so seemingly unaware?
Gary said yesterday: “I try not to waste column inches on moaning about referees as I’m hardly impartial and confess to seeing everything through yellow-tinted contact lenses.“
For once I disagree with him. Sure Tom Naylor initially made full contact with the ball but followed through with his studs up and that’s foul and dangerous play to me. This all happened within 10 yards of referee Matt Donohue’s unobscured view and was a blatant penalty.
A possible red card is more debatable but remains a very real possibility nevertheless.
At least it’s off to Hull with a bit of heart and we couldn’t have said that after Cardiff.
I couldn’t find the theme music from 1960s soap opera Crossroads [I didn’t really try very hard] so I guess I’d better leave you good readers with this instead:
Guess Leam R reacted first because the tackle was right in front of the away dugout……
Martin you missed some decent football up until Gibson’s all too predictable lapse. City played some good stuff (at last!). If the first 28 minutes is Smithball, then let’s see more of it.
Second half was attack v defence but got a bit desperate as the clock wound down.
Personally, and you can call me unambitious, I intend to just enjoy being back from exile with a season ticket behind the away dugout at the Carrow cathedral. For me this is a year of transition and I refuse to let my drug of choice lead to a heart attack. Relax, savour, enjoy.
Hi NiIck
It’s unfortunate for me that I missed our performance up until the Wigan goal – friends who did see it would totally agree with you.
The second half was indeed attack v heavy-handed defence but at least we came under no ostensible threat.
I’d never leave the Barclay but have seen a couple of Cup games from your new perch and it’s a great spot to watch the game from.
Cheers
I felt a tad sorry for the Latics subs as the irate fans in my row pummelled their Perspex roof in frustration. Particularly as Max was wiped out. I of course restrained myself as I wasn’t sure whether pummelling the away dugout was one of the new banning offences………
Don’t start me on the new banning offences. I’ve never had a cross word with a steward in some 33 seasons so presume they won’t be affecting me although you never know these days…
I dont think Teemu has lost any of his pace. His mindset is not 100% there, that affects little bit everything. Remember it was your club decision to keep him and actually against his own will. He is way too important to Norwich, he knows that and that kind of situation is often not very healthy.
Norwich seems to buy or loan new players all the time especially midfielders. To me this looks like a mess and kind of panic.
Hi 1×2
These things are very difficult to judge for sure but it honestly looks to me that Teemu has lost a little bit of his pace.
I agree our signings have had no real structure to them for some time.
Kiitos
Martin, Im sure Teemu will be as fast as before when he plays for Finland. Also its very difficult to compare his speed when we dont know how fast is a player who runs against him.
I was expecting that “Teemu has lost this and that in his game” claims by Norwich fans the player suddenly does not change so much. His mind is for sure not 100% in Norwich, that is a price you have to accept or accept his transfer away.
If Wigan is one of the worst teams in the championship, its possible that Norwich just is not going to be good enough to get even in the top 6 position. You play 5 games before the transfer window closes, if results have been bad it might make your club leaders think again Teemus transfer saga.
The EFL Championship is not famed for speedy defenders so that should tell us something!
I still agree with you that it would have been better for Teemu to leave but it really is not a saga and never has been.
Teemu Pukki is far too good a man for that to happen.
I agree with you about Pukki which is why we really need another striker preferably one with a bit of pace
Hi Baz
We sure do. Idah is unfortunately injury prone and if Sargent is a striker he is yet to show it. We’re terribly thin on the ground in that area I’m afraid.
Cheers
Yes. the first 25 minutes we were certainly on the front foot, but after Gibson’s gift, our heads went down until half time.
The changing point for me was the introduction of Hernandez and McCallum (I know some fans weren’t too impressed with the latter, but I feel he has potential.
As you say Martin. I (along with 99.95% of City fans) don’t understand why we have soooo many midfielders in the squad, especially when we are desperately short of defenders and strikers.
I guess one snippet to take from Saturday is that TC is back on board, but conversely Pukki:s missing pace is a major concern, as is the fact that DS left his 2nd batch of substitutions so late.
I’ll end by saying that so far, we have had 2 referees who allow ‘robust’ tackles by our opponents to go unpunished – no change there then!! 😕 ⚽
Hi Ed
Yes I certainly agree with youu about the refs. I don’t see many flair teams in this division so it looks like we’ll continue to suffer.
And of course we’ve hardly introduced any real physicality, have we?
Cheers
We played well for the first twenty minutes but it wasn’t exceptional.
I hope when Hayden is fit we revert to one holding midfield player because playing two leaves us short of options when we go forward. Oh for a second Skipp!
I would agree that Pukki has lost a yard of pace and become far less effective. There were at least a couple of times that the old Pukki would have worked the keeper rather than been caught by the defender.
The two new guys look neat and promising which is a good thing as it’s safe to say we’ve wasted a fortune on Rashica and Sargent.
As for Crossroads I’d say it’s Clapton’s best solo!
Hi John
You’re right about Rashica and Sargent and I totally agree with you about Hayden with the caveat: when he gets fit, will he stay fit?
I can think of two Clapton solos [both more laid back] that might rival Crossroads as in Badge and Presence of the Lord.
Cheers
I also liked Badge. Great band. Whenever I go back to listening to Cream I find myself following Jack’s bass lines.
Yes Jack Bruce was one of the very best and trying to hold Clapton and Ginger Baker together can never have been easy for him!
Good vice, too.
Morning Martin missed you Saturday have to agree short at the back most of what we have got are error prone need two ch at least
Not a bad game to watch but Wigan very poor so not getting carried away nunes will be a good un Sara looked decent two time to trim the deadwood even if it means a year more in championship.
Hi Kev
I’m doubful for Huddersfield and won’t make Millwall for sure – my mate Don H will be there *on my behalf* instead.
I’m like Isaac Hayden as in struggling to make my 2022-3 debut 🙂
Cheers
Morning Mr P . I used the delights of finding a streaming service for the match. Re Gibson, perhaps the errors is why My Dyce didn’t really fancy him after shelling out, take him to one side and instruct one to one to clear mistakes out.
I was impressed with Omobamidele, Aarons and Cantwell, never thought I would say that again. perhaps the penny dropped, nobody came in for me, and Bournemouth didn’t want me either. Better get myself back in the window. Hernandez changed a lot for me, I will have him ahead of Rishica and Sargent any day.
There was some reasonable football played, with good passing and touches, until Wigwam got the pass from Gibson, we withdrew a little, no doubt a here we go again moment. Clearly, some words said at halftime, brought about the desired, constant pressure and finally deserved leveller.
The horror foul. The “I got the ball claim ” does not come into play on this one, the follow-through comes under the Careless, Reckless and Excessive Force. Penalty and very likely a Red,. The camera clearly displayed an uninterrupted line of sight of he who was supposed to be a referee. The commentator was shocked nothing was given .
I cannot see the point of bringing in Ramsey, when I saw Arron Ramsey I thought was a bloody good signing, wrong one.
We have one or two lads of our own who would offer something else and need the experience more than somebody else’s player. I will be having a rant if any go out on loan I used Dickson-Peters as my go compare, spent time out at L1 club knows where the goal has scored a brace in PL2. It started to look like our academy was slowing down in producing 1 st teamers, no wonder when we bring in others.
Got a ticket for me and the lad for the Brummy game tomorrow, said I would not spend money at the club again, until we had massive changes. I be long gone before that happens, plus the pressure from offspring and £8 for 2 of us who could refuse. What worries me is the cost of a KFC before game. Plus getting out in time for last bus back to Dereham normally means missing last 5-10 mins
does the 2250 service , firstbus still leave from norwich bus station to dereham or has it been canned [again]
do not know my friend they changed the service making it complicated one bus goes straight past Dereham, another goes Easton and something else. normally catch Konect’s fast 8 none stop after Norwich. that leaves 22-10 if they run over time too much I struggle. will have a look at the
first bus or whatever it is called now.
First Bus get a lot of stick [mainly for running an outdated fleet] but their service from the City to Fakenham via Drayton is pretty good from my experience.
Mrs P got her bus pass in March and has used it just once – Mundesley to Cromer and back.
Her version of the polite phrase *never again* is still ringing in my ears.
Hi Lad
Agree with you about Onel – he’s so very hard to push off the ball.
You’re quite right about the buy-ins to the academy as well of course as so very few have prospered since [one of] the Murphy boys and to a lesser extent Jamal.
Ticket sales for tomorrow seem worryingly slow and I don’t see Brum bringing that many with them either tbh.
Enjoy what must be your first visit for a while.
Cheers
Hi Martin.
Good choice of music.
Liam R blotted him copy book with his statement that the officials were spot on with possibly 2 penalty decisions the Hernandez one maybe could gave been given with VAR and Sargent wrestled to the floor by both the keeper and Keane but him saying Aarons went down much to easy was poor judgement.
A local rag up here has quoted some blogger as jumping on the bandwagon with another remark from LR when he said that they are 4 injuries down from their strongest team and still needed to get more players in to strengthen his squad for a long season, the blogger said that Wigwam had their reserve team out against the Ex Premiership team out out played them.
Sorensen got hooked again while McLean was kept on, Lungi was fouled leading up to a Wigan chance and the REF waved play on a 2 handed shove in the back at full tilt 8s a foul even the commentators said that.
It’s looking that all the moaning about decisions from Smith are coming to bite usi in the rear end whether a blatant foul or not city aren’t winning any decisions.
Come tomorrow’s game I would like Andrew O along side Sorensen just to see how they work together both are intelligent players and look to read the game well it would also give us more options in defence.
People are suggesting Hayden, Nunez and Sara as our midfield of choice but where would teachers pet McLean fit into that and the new lad Ramsey plays in the same role as Cantwell and Dowell, having numbers and cover is great for competition but also hurts players chances of game time plus those coming up from the U23 see the door slaming shut.
We were or are known to give youth a chance but it seems that youth is from other clubs, a side note Chelsea hasn’t registered Gilmour in their first team squad numbers up till yesterday.
Hi Alex
Thanks – that live cut’s photography is awful but the audio makes up for it!
I’ll excuse Smith a bit here as we have really not been treated very well by either of our officials this season. Knowing our luck we’ll probably receive the gift of Simon Hooper at one point and that really will put the tin lid on it.
There’s been a few outs at Chelsea – Werner has gone back to RBL and Hudson-Odoi is the latest to want to leave.
it sounds petulant but I’m not really fussed what happens to Billy Gilmour 🙂
Cheers
In normal circumstances a 1-1 draw against what was a poor Wigan side would not be good but I saw lots of positives and yes a few negatives (injuries, errors) so overall a step in the right direction. Certainly there was some evidence of seeing the type of philosophy that Dean Smith is trying to employ – high defensive line, high press and compress the opposition in their own half. However, in my mind, very much work in progress.
Nunez certainly caught the eye, his ability to pull away from opposition players and find space plus have the vision and ability to pick an attacking pass look really good. I can see how and why Dean Smith described him as a link player and I’m looking forward to see how he develops with more game time. Aarons and Dimi were excellent – both attacking and in defense, and I just hope that Dimi’s injury isn’t as bad as it looked. Andrew Omobamidele was superb and I have a sneaky feeling that he will turn out to be better than Ben Godfrey. AO shares the physicality that BG had during his break through seasons, but his calmness and decision making under pressure are just on a different level.
Several posters have highlighted McLean and Pukki. I thought McLean had a good second half especially when he switched back into the holding midfield role after JLS was substituted. I thought he commanded the role well and his distribution was also good. I also can’t help but think that Pukki is a bit of a square peg in a round hole in this system. Pukki thrives on playing off the shoulder of the last defender but with Norwich playing a high-block there simply isn’t the space behind the last defender for Pukki to exploit. In my mind, this system would much more favour a bigger more aggressive striker like a Hugill or Idah. Just a brief comment on Josh Sergeant who again divided opinion of those sitting around me in the South Stand. His physicality certainly added an extra dimension and caused problems for the Wigan defenders, but again that lack of composure on the ball is telling.
Liked the yellow and green fireworks at the beginning of the game and great to see Lauren Hemp getting a standing ovation before kick-off!
OTBC!
Hi Jon
Bad news on Dimi announced today I’m afraid which I’m sure you’ve seen.
i agree with you about Pukki and I know it’s cheap and easy to say it but he really hasn’t been the same player since Emi left.
Severl clubs put out the red carpet for their local Lionesses and I am really pleased NCFC were no exception.
Rumour [okay the EDP] has it she managed to hit North Walsham Beer Festival after the game and, quite rightly, I bet she didn’t pay for a drink all evening!
Cheers
With Dimi out for a minimum of 8 weeks, probably more we now have Sam M as our only senior left back , and with Byrams fitness record I wonder if Webber will be in get a defender in on loan , even if only till January, or is Sorenson going to cover there again.
With Max having to be rested , surely in the cakapoo cup , what will our defence look like.
Hi Bernie
It might as well be McCallum [I was quite rightly told off last week for saying that he can’t play on the right when he can], Tomkinson, Gibson and Lungi.
Even if only because we surely won’t want to risk Hanley or Omobamidele.
Do you think Smith has seen how thin his defensive cover is yet?
Cheers
Good morning Martin, so sorry you missed the game.
I was initially really disappointed with the performance on Saturday, and I still am to a degree.
Lets be honest Wigan were poor, as were Cardiff last week. I see both clubs bottom 8.
My mood wasn’t helped when I switched over to Soccer Saturday to hear Jeff Stelling say ” so it has ended Fulham 2 Liverpool 2 😱 and Norwich 1 Wigan 1″ That encapsulated where we are.
Until the boardroom realise that we are in dire need of this proposed investment even clubs like Fulham will not be within our reach in a very short time.
However that aside the squad we have is surely capable of more than 1 measly goal and one measly point after these two opening games ? After last year’s tough start I thought the fixture computer was very kind to us this season and thought a minimum of 4 points from these 2 opening fixtures was essential.
Even the first 20 minutes when those who wanted to see a “style” from a Dean Smith side got their wish, high tempo and a high press. But even in that we made so many wrong decisions. Teemu should have laid on Nunez for instance. When you are on top like that you have to score, or at least not concede a comedy goal !
I think we missed Grant Hanley big time.
Nor did we test the Wigan keeper enough, for all he had little to do Tim Krul had to make two excellent stops while the Wigan lad, only Teemu’s shot on to the bar springs to mind.
But I cheered up when I thought of the performances of Nunez, Cantwell and Aarons. From small acorns ?
And Dermot Gallagher and all those in the Sky studio have just said the Naylor/Aarons clash was a definite penalty all day long. 🤬
Personally I thought there was a foul on Josh Sargent as well which could have been given. I thought Onel’s one wasn’t a penalty until I saw a brilliant picture on the Pinkun website today with the defenders hand on Onel’s shoulders !!!!
And Teemu was so unlucky in hitting the bar, so in a way it was just one of those days. And a definite improvement from Cardiff.
When you say we have so many midfielders/number 8’s-10’s Martin and I agree with you, but we will still need a holding one if Hayden doesn’t recover very, very soon.
Sending Bali Mumba away on loan I thought at the time was strange now it looks foolish. I still think Max will go and we will have no right back ready for action. Sam Byram, bless him, cannot be relied upon i’m afraid. And would it be fair to deny Max a move now because the club has cocked up ?
But Hull City away now takes on greatly added pressure even this early in the season.
Tim saying we can’t catch a team like Fulham their owner owns an NFL team and has a small fortune over £5billion mainly from making Catalic Converters for the motor industry.
He has said that the club must find its own level but will not see them go bust and will invest as and when the club needs it so a much more considerate owner than we have.
Tim
Placheta who got few game with us is getting good review in a new position.
Eustace the Brummies new manager is using him as a RIght Wing Back and he covered the L3ft Wing Back position the other night.
He himself said he played that in Germany early in his career but is now learning to do it the right way maybe Webber and Smith using this loan we just might get a more rounded player back
Hi Tim
Yes I agree with everything there.
No it wouldn’t be fair to deny Max a hard-earned move and believe me if any *acceptable* offer comes in for him it will be snapped up.
I remember saying at the time on MFW that Mumba to Plymouth was the action of a Village Eejit and like you surprise has turned to something far stronger.
Poor old Sam Byram has proved consistently before that he does not possess Lazarine qualities and – through no fault of his own – cannot be relied upon.
Thanks – good post.
With the injury to Dimi and the fall out of another Gibson error leading to a goal … would put money on picking up a loan deal from a PL team desperate to get their younger players experience. As long as we don’t have to guarantee a place to anyone if their performances do not warrant it, it may be a quick sticking plaster which will provide cover.
Wonder if Man Utd will loan out Brandon Williams if no other club comes in to purchase him 🙂
Hope not
Hi Dave
Hi Dave
Nice thought about Brandon Williams but I don’t think some time in the Championship would do him very much good 🙂
Having said that I’d welcome him back in a shot!
Now residing in Hull I have my tickets and hope to see further improvement from a disappointing Wigan result. I think you risk being accused of heresy by criticising the GOAT but you are dead right. He has lost that spark and on Saturday missed the opportunity to give Nunez a tap in by being greedy. Many people have it in for McLean but I agree with the writer above I thought he had a good game particularly second half. SW has a thing about signing midfielders unfortunately he’s not been too successful at it other than Emi !! Cantwell was excellent as were Obamidele and Aarons. So something to look forward to. We must solve the issue of hitting the net though and I fear Pukki is not the solution.
I agree Hernandez provides a spark but not able to finish his good work. Pleased to hear someone in the crowd to look at Rashica maybe we could offer them Sargent too to temp them.
Some promise for sure but some way to go feel confident.
Hi Cyprus
Yes, I thought McLean did pretty much okay too, although as I’ve admitted in the article I only got to see the second half 🙂
If somebody wanted Rashica I think the gift of Sargent would be sufficient to put them off the whole deal!
Enjoy the game – Hull is one of several current PL/Championship grounds I’ve never been to.
Cheers
Norwich to Hull not an easy journey! Good stadium.
i went to Immingham for work a couple of times and will confirm that the drive is a complete pig!
There’s a lot of talk of ‘green shoots’ and ‘signs of improvement’. I think some realism is in order.
We’ve just come down from the Premier League, where we were told we had tanks, bazookas, the lot. We held on to every big name we wanted. Spent potentially record amounts on new players. Yet we’re drawing with a newly promoted team, at home.
Most of our shots were long range shots, we gave away ANOTHER goal to the opponents on a platter (and almost another), and we’re clinging onto hopes the ref will give us a penalty (which IMHO is 50:50). Our defence and attack look particularly sparse and apparently our saviour will be Hernandez, despite everyone generally agreeing he has no end product.
God forbid we encounter a decent team.
Hi Dave
There were a few green shoots [okay, by no means enough] that we didn’t show against Cardiff.
I never mind a shot from outside the box if there’s nothing else on.
Cheers
I watched some exciting sport on TV on Saturday lunch-time…..enthralled by the Commonwealth women’s 20 over semi-final. I was following NCFC via the BBC and Pink ‘Un text services, and how very much the first half was (again) Along Come Norwich. 80% possession; lots of chances; no end result. Then Gibson takes a hand and (again) helps the opposition in a big way.
Yes, we huffed and puffed to a point, but honestly; a return of one point from matches against Cardiff and Wigan??
The squad already looks hopelessly unbalanced, and what on earth are we doing loaning in a youngster from Villa who has never played at this level?? What sort of message does that send to our lads like Gibbs, Springett et al, particularly given that his League One stats last season were not as good as our own Josh Martin’s?? Surely it’s money we could have better invested elsewhere!
O T B C
Hi John
Unbalanced is once again the word
I couldn’t agreee more about the feelings of the likes of Gibbs and Springett and I don’t think an untried and possibly disinterested 19-y-o is any kind of answer.
Letting Josh Martin go remains a mystery to me.
Cheers
Soon be able to field a full team of midfielder players.
As you rightly say another striker desperately needed, as has been the case since we first went up under DF.
Why this has been neglected for so long heaven knows.
If we can see this why can’t Webber and Co?
Hi Ken
We haven’t really had a half decent back-up striker since Jordan Rhodes and he wouldn’t have cut it in the PL.
Numerically we could put out a team of midfielders tonight if Smith wanted to – but please don’t tell him that 🙂
Cheers