Everybody loves a character who ostensibly puts their body and soul into the cause of Norwich City and rarely leaves anything on the pitch. Reference Duncan Forbes, Flecky, Iwan, Hucks or whoever your favourite happens to be.
On Tuesday night at St Andrew’s, a long-simmering candidate for this particular type of regard from the supporters boiled over with a vengeance. Step forward Carrow Road’s favourite Cuban citizen, one Onel Lazaro Hernandez.
As the many second-half substitutions and lengthy treatment to a Birmingham defender for cramp racked up seven minutes of injury time City turned the screw on a tiring Blues defence another notch and fellow sub Teemu Pukki slipped in Hernandez for a well-taken winner that sent the 1,650+ travelling Canaries wild with delight.
Our Onel ramped things up even more by taking off his shirt and pointing to the tattoo of the Club crest that he had inked on his right bicep as he ran to celebrate with the faithful with no regard whatsoever for the Bluenoses who had given him a generous reception when he came on.
The niceties of life go out of the window when the adrenalin is pumping and Onel’s adrenalin went off whatever scale is used to measure it. He had not a thought for anybody but the Norwich supporters, totally enraptured by the heat of the moment.
He confirmed his commitment to the cause afterwards simply by saying:
“It feels incredible. I love Norwich and I’m happy to be back here. I’m grateful for every opportunity I get whether it is 10 minutes or whatever, I will give my best. I give more than 100 per cent to the club because it changed my life.
“I live here. I don’t ever want to move away. Even after my career, I don’t want to move away. I want to stay here forever.”
That’s just fine by us, Onel – we’ll even lobby Norwich City Council to make sure Argos stays open for you.
Another misfiring display was completely redeemed by City coming from behind to win away from home for the first time since I genuinely cannot remember, winning four on the bounce and proudly sitting second in the EFL Championship table.
Dean Smith summed up thus:
“When we went behind we had to do something different to try and change it up and I thought the players did that themselves on the pitch after the goal, but then we have the strength to do that with the subs as well.
“I thought on the balance of chances we deserved the win. It wasn’t the prettiest of wins and we will play better to win in the future but at the moment this bunch of lads find a way to win and that’s really healthy. It was tough but we got there in the end.”
And for those who harp on that we haven’t played Watford, Burnley or West Brom yet, I agree with Gary [yesterday]: we don’t choose the fixtures and can only beat what is put in front of us on any given matchday.
Dean Smith also went up a notch in my estimation, not just for his timely choice of subs but also for persuading his old Villa mates to allow us to train at what I presume was Bodymoor Heath. Nice one Dean – if you don’t ask, you don’t get after all.
MFW regular Don Harold went to the game and made a rather sad observation on St Andrew’s as things currently stand.
“In the 30-plus years I have been resident in the West Midlands, I have been a neutral at many Blues games when St Andrew’s has been loud and intimidating. Following many takeovers by, it seems, mainly outfits with nefarious intent and sub-mediocrity on the field, a midweek crowd looks like this.
“It’s a shame to see half the ground closed” [and an attendance of just 16,156 – Martin].
Don quickly perked up, adding:
“There are not many better feelings than seeing your team score an injury-time winner. The fact that Onel scored made the feeling even better and, thankfully, he doesn’t believe in the nonsense of not celebrating a goal against a team you previously played for. He really, really celebrated and so did the travelling Yellow Army.
“The great thing is that this team are becoming trustworthy and lovable. They’re a long way from the finished article but the garden is getting rosier.“
Musically, it’s difficult to end with anything other than this:
Our manager likes to take credit for the efforts of the players that have saved his job. On Tuesday it was the substitution on Saturday Hanley played well because Smith had told him to block shots, I’m sure our captain had never heard that concept before.
Norwich trained on the Villa training ground and as a Villa fan Smith wanted one of their players, Ramsey to start against their local rivals. We have got left footed players but they never play on the left. The quality of our unselected players got us there in the end in last minute desperation. Onel managed to break rank and deliver on his natural foot. Great to see him score again after so long.
I think the Blues fans were more upset to see Ruddy celebrating! I remember a last minute Oliveira goal at Wolves a few years ago – and last year Kenny on the cup.
Hi Gil
I think that’s a touch harsh on Dean Smith tbh.
I’m pretty sure he didn’t select Aaron Ramsey as some kind of reward to Villa for kindly letting us use Bodymoor Heath, anyway.
If the ploy is to introduce Hernandez, Cantwell and Sara from the bench to face tired legs, somebody has to start and on this occasion it happened to be Ramsey.
Okay I wasn’t over impressed with him tbh, and the quicker Isaac Hayden can prove his fitness the better, but effectively Rashica leaves us us one light at the moment.
I would expect to see Cantwell, at least, from the start against Cov.
Cheers
Hi Martin
Deputy Dawg and his hangdog looks will never sadly to say convince me he is the right man for the City Hotseat.
Is it his coaching or the players determination that’s getting the job done and as Gil has said he tak3s credit away from the players when we scrap for an away win, we have no answer to being bullied in every game so far this season but that’s been the case for a few years now.
Just like Farke he is blinded by McLean who surprisingly faired OK at left back but then he could only go forward as there wasn’t anything or one behind him, as a DM he makes a good traffic controller waving and pointing to everyone where to cover while he saves his energy for a run into the opposition box and leaves the defence without cover.
A friend said that DS&SS have fallen on their feet at city like at Villa a little twist a couple of players in and then all things with a BIG ‘P’ in front unlike Villa if it happens he’s not going to get £200m to spend on players.
His last words is the strength of the squad and bench but with players like Gibson and Rashica I can only see problems mounting if they don’t get game time £18m+ for those 2 and not one enquiry for them, Cantwell rebuilding his career and will walk come May and Aarons gets an offer from Farke with a loan and an option to buy someone suggested that maybe he has reached his peak maybe but the jury will have to hold on to that decision.
Anyway football is about opinions and those change all the time I am not advocating that DS&SS get the Parker treatment I just don’t agree with the hype since city started winning its taken then 10months to get a run together does this bode well for the future and those saying it’s not his team I agree but he’s had time to make it his team longer than many get in the job with his poor results for the previous 9months, 1 good August doesn’t make a season
Hi Alex
i saw a funny comment from a Bluenose somewhere saying that everybody from Birmingham looks like that even if they’re off their t*ts at a rave 🙂
I’ve lost count of the times I’ve said here that I’m yet to be convinced by Smith and Shakespeare but when it comes to McClean we’ve done quite well for the £350k that we gave St Mirren for him – although I agree with you that he will never be a DM in the accepted sense of the phrase. Age is creeping up on him too.
We can’t do a Steve Cooper at Forest and nor would I want us to. I’m with the herd on this one in that success is welcome however it comes right now!
Cheers
This notion that his facial expression or lack there of some how tarnishes his managerial reign is crazy.
I would say winning all of the last 4 games might represent some answer to the bully boys too.
I get it McLean has been found out twice at PL level, but for me he is a good championship player. He filled in well at left back, now through injuries he is back in the centre and I thought he was decent against Brum. He has never let us down at this level, lets get off his back. I hope the evolution of the squad and the fitness of Hayden and Gibbs means we can afford not to have to rely on Kenny, but in the meantime I hope he keeps his current form going, because he’s doing alright.
4 wins on the spin and second and it’s all negative still. That we have players of Gibson’s Championship pedigree on the bench is indicative of evolution and that our squad grows stronger and maybe just maybe we might get near 19th if we get promoted!
Rachica was a mistake, but our model will always have those. Webber rightly took criticism for the signings last year (A few too many of ‘those’, but everyone is strangely quiet now we’re winning and some of his signings are looking good.
I’m also not sure who is hyping Smith? Some of us certainly advocate that he should get more time, most were sensible enough for that even before the 4 wins.
Then having won 4 on the trot, I’m not sure its unreasonable to start thinking maybe he might be a good manager and a decent fit for us. It’s still a maybe, we certainly can improve, but even Farke didn’t have us playing in either promotion season until 6-7 games in either.
It’s like you want him to fail because he isn’t Farke and he doesn’t smile enough! There is a certain irony in your undoubtedly grim look as you moan about Smith after a 4th win in a row
Hi Winston – unusual name for a cat 🙂
As I mentioned born and bred Brummies make their sometimes deadpan expressions a joke amongst themselves so there has to be some truth in it somewhere along the line.
The difficult thing for Smith – not that he probably cares too much himself – is that Farke is a hard act to follow in terms of charisma and for that reason alone he will never win some fans over, which is grossly unfair.
I’m not moaning about four wins on the bounce and neither are the vast majority of supporters – far from it in fact.
In fact I’d quite cheerfully take five against Cov on Saturday.
Cheers
Your comparison with Hucks, in particular, is a good one, mate. Not since the great man arrived in here in the early Noughties can I recall a City player falling in love with the place in quite the same way.
He may not be everybody’s cup of (Cuban) tea but my god he adds some oomph to the place, both on and off the pitch.
A proper character in a game that so badly needs them.
He’s one of us now.
Hi mate
Yes, Hucks is my all time fave for exactly the reasons you state.
It’s impossible to directly compare him with Onel as their backgrounds are so different but the sense of their both feeling so much a part of it is laudable in extremis.
Hucks’ telling his agent where to go shortly before that Boxing Day is certainly my finest off-pitch memory as a City supporter and his one-man demolition of Cardiff in what we thought would be his final game in Yellow is something I will never forget either.
Cheers
Absolutely! Hucks vs Cardiff ranks as the finest individual performance I’ve ever seen in a City. Spine-tingling.
I’ve told him as much 🙂
Aww!
I’ve only said *Hi, how ya doing* a few times.
I should have said what you said 🙂
Our Cuban Canary is a lovely chap and wears his heart on his sleeve as well as a Canary on his arm. Players don’t normally celebrate too much when they score against a previous club but he just couldn’t help it. Hope he gets a few more before the season’s up he’s definitely a local boy now.
Hi Cutty
Well said old chap!
Cheers
we won again on the Road, I am not fault finding or moaning well played to carry on not knowing when beaten , will do
credit from subs down to coaching staff. not forgetting the Yellow Army. vas long as we don’t get promoted under that lot again , that scares me again . Bournemouth should be in the prem it is what we got when Chelsea hammered is
Hi Lad
You’re right of course – the points mean everything, they really do.
As for Bournemouth I didn’t realise the extent of what Scott Parker had been saying or for how long so he made a rod for his own back really.
Cheers
I’m surprised DS is still getting so much flak. As stated earlier, he is a typical Brummie bloke and his demeanour is the same as plenty of the business owners and senior managers I deal with regularly-if they’re happy and enthused they seem to see it as their duty to hide the fact.
4 wins on the trot, going from bottom to second in a fortnight and making game winning substitutions should put him, at least temporarily beyond much in the way of criticism.
Hi Don
I don’t like to stereotype people but sometimes you can’t help it and like you I’ve met several Brummies through work who have been just like that.
That’s not saying they can’t let their hair down though 🙂
Cheers
Couldn’t agree more! He may not be as outgoing with the fans as Daniel but he certainly knows how to use subs. I don’t understand the bad mouthing of Kenny McLean as I think he has been pretty solid so far this season.
Hi Cyprus
Opposition managers know by now when the subs are likely to be introduced, but knowing and being ablw to counteract it are two different things.
Agree about McLean as I said to Winston [above].
Onel is like Hucks, Iwan, Holty, Simon Lappin etc who really get the football club Martin. They love it.
Onel looks to cause mayhem when he comes on as a sub. And what an attitude from Onel when told he was dropped, whatever is best for the team he responds to DS’s news. I can think of a certain Mr Grabban who wouuldn’t 1) get the club or 2) Give a rat’s a… for the team.
I’m in the keep DS camp, let’s see where we are come the World Cup break.
Daniel Farke looms over this football club, and quite rightly so but just like whoever replaced dear old Sir Alex at Manchester United it was going to be an almost impossible job.
So I feel that DS is suffering from “not being Daniel Farke”. Daniel was so exuberant and had that bond with the fans but cast our minds back to 1969 and the appointment of one Ron Saunders, probably the most important managerial appointment in the clubs history.
Now Ron was absolutely a brilliant manager, he went on to win the First Division and it was his Villa team that won the European Cup, but another Jimmy Tarbuck or Brucie forget it. In fact he treated journalistic questions as “none of your business”😂
But he brought this club from the dark ages into the light of top division English football for the first time ever. So he didn’t run up and down the touchline like a demented village idiot from Monty Python, but I would take him any day over some of these lunatics.
DS still has things to prove, for one I think at times we need two holding midfielders, especially at places like Watford, Sheff Utd and Burnley, but we shall see in the fullness of time.
I also think we, and I mean we as I keep falling for it, that we should be beating this “lot” 🤬 which when you think about it is very disrespectful to our opponents. The way 99% of the EPL look at us.
But going to places like Birmingham and Sunderland and getting anything is hard. We are a scalp lets be honest about it. Even under Daniel there were loads of victories by a one goal margin.
With the depth of squad (minus any left backs) we should have done better than we did in the first few games but understanding one another’s game takes time. Even in amateur football I knew exactly what my dear old friend Marty was going to do when he went at the opposing right back and cut the ball back so I knew where to be to score.
With Nunez looking very promising Sara getting up to speed and hopefully Hayden only a few weeks away it is starting to look a lot better for us.
Finally Martin the “crowds” at Brum, Stoke etc make my heart sink. So Mr Webber next time you say “the fans abandoned us” be carful what you wish for.
Hi Tim
Lots of good stuff in there I agree with.
Don H thought that picture of St Andrew’s was particularly poignant – okay we had awful crowds in the late 90s/early Noughties but the stadium never looked barren like that. Could you imagine that on a regular basis?
Ron Saunders is before my time as I was living in London then but Dave Stringer wasn’t one to go ape$hit with showing his emotional side too often and he achieved some great things too.
Right now we don’t have a single fit holding midfielder to speak of but maybe Hayden and Gibbs could team up there when both are fully fit.
The looking down on/up to clubs reminds me of that old TW3 sketch with Cleese, Corbett and Barker.
We shouldn’t do it but invariably we do.
Cheers
Hi Martin, I think it takes a bit of time to adjust to life at Norwich without Daniel Farke and the free flowing football we always played under his leadership. We struggled to play this system in the Premier league both times Daniel took us up and could not change his style of play. To be fair the first time if it hadn’t of been for Covid I think he might have made it. I’m with Tim regarding Ron Saunders his teams were very hard to beat and as fit as any Norwich teams I have seen play over the years. Gave 100 per cent effort every game, with not too much respect for the more skilful players of the opposition, the tackle by a Forest player on Spurs Richarlson the other day when playing keepie uppie would have been something Big Dunc and Trevor Hockey would have been proud off ! 😂 As much as I love an attacking style of play I cannot wait for Hayden to be in our midfield, I agree Kenny is out of his depth in the top league but can still do a good job in our championship squad. We are going about it differently to get promotion this time but I believe Dean Smith knows what he is doing, we still play a lot of possession football which tires teams out then bring on our cavalry which teams are struggling to deal with the quality of them. I did not want to see in football that you could bring on 5 subs but this rule is benefitting Norwich big time as other teams do not have as big or quality of squad as we have. As Tim says when you can bring on a winger like Hernandez to run at and beat players and make others come to you it leaves spaces for forwards to run into and score when picked out.. If Dean Smith can get us back up, maybe he can keep us there seems Aston Villa fans would rather have him still in charge than Steven Gerrard !!
Hi Tim
I agree with all of that – and for what it’s worth I don’t truly agree with five subs either, but I’ll take any advantage we can get!
The Gerrard bubble is slowly deflating at Villa ’tis true, but that’s their problem, not ours 🙂
Thanks – good comment.
Hi Martin – I even got my own name wrong!