Malaise, apathy, inertia and ennui are four descriptive words that refuse to leave the sides of many Norwich City supporters this season.
They cling on like Winston Churchill’s black dog of depression, which faithfully but disastrously refused to leave his shoulders until it was well and truly ready before returning again and again with monotonous regularity.***
Gary led the MFW week yesterday with heavy citations of the subject and included the mention of a worthy article by Robin Sainty, who on this occasion used the Pink Un as his sounding board. Robin’s theme used a different word: he described the matchday experience as a chore.
A 2-2 draw at Bramall Lane is not normally to be sneezed at and the hardy 2,700 Canary souls who made the journey might have been slightly disappointed in the final score but will have been nonetheless pleased that we have stopped the canker of three straight defeats in a row.
There were circumstances that dictated why we did not win the game, some foisted upon us and others very much of our own making of course.
In the absence of Gabriel Sara [through some unidentified illness I have gleaned, although I’ve yet to hear anything official] we enjoyed a healthy total of eight corners. Each and every one came to a resounding nowt which surely has to be yet more food for thought for set piece coach [yes, we have one of these] Alan Russell.
Referee Josh made like he was another Smith too many. It took both sub Onel Hernandez and then fellow incomer Liam Gibbs to be grounded in the box before he awarded us the penalty we did get, ignored a blatant ‘last defender’ shove on Josh Sargent on the cusp of the box and contrived to let us beat the feisty, volatile Blades 5-2 in the “battle of the bookings”.
Teemu Pukki had the ball for the penalty simply because he was on a hat-trick. His body language had the aroma of impending failure and so it proved. To balance that though the goals he scored were just reward for sheer hard work – closing down the keeper like he did Adam Davies for the first is something he does a minimum of three times a match, every match.
If you happen to read this in Finland 1×2, please let me know what you thought of the denouement of the Pukki penalty. 😀
Dimi and Isaac Hayden did well to contribute what they did. The same performance level tomorrow night must be doubtful.
Appealing Kenny McLean’s red card against Luton was naive at best and fatuous at worst.
As was our lack of defensive presence at the far post for the Sheffield opener. This really is becoming an unwanted habit.
It took a terrific reaction save from the feet of Angus Gunn to deny the head of Olly McBurnie at the death and at least we didn’t roll over. That might be a small platform to build something from. Just what, I am not sure.
It wasn’t much over a year ago that I wrote this before our 3-0 defeat to Liverpool at Carrow Road:
“It was my first sight of L 0091 in what seemed like a lifetime but the emotion vanished as soon as it came – the place was heaving and I got to see some footy mates for the first time in a very long while.
“Mystic Kev of MFW commenting fame, Alan the Postie and possibly the most amusing trio you will ever sit in front of at any football ground anywhere in the world, Rob, Steve and Michael.
“Out came the flags, which we all had far more fun with than grown adults surely should, and then Andre Marriner blew his whistle and away we went. It was terrific to be back amongst the banter, it really was.”
Right now I couldn’t feel further away from those emotions if I tried. Sure the medication I am on is depressive – most of the considerably stronger stuff is I am reliably told although doctors tend not to care to admit it – but I felt just the same way in early August and I didn’t start the tablets until the last days of September!
While it may be different for the youngsters, fan base members I know tend to be in the 35-75 age group and to a man are like-minded this time around. Add all the wonderful MFW readers that I don’t know personally and that quota only seems to grow.
When looking ahead at the probable future of Norwich City brings only depression it doesn’t do much for any of us.
It’s not quite as bad as taking ciprofloxacin [other super-strong prescription antibiotics are available], but there are definitely marked similarities!
***
Hi Martin,
I too read both Gary and Robin’s articles. I think an unmentioned factor in the current feeling around FCR is the dreaded Covid! We had a frustrating season in the Premier League under Farke prior to lockdown. We know what happened after the restart. But for the glorious Championship season that followed, apart from a lucky few thousand, no-one got to experience the euphoria of being in the stadium whilst City cruised through the league. Instead we got to return to the brutal regime of the Premier League and almost certain defeats.
I think that this effect does nothing but amplify the feeling of hopelessness that Robin picked up on – if we get promoted, we will only be straight back down. We have a glimmer of hope in the new board members that, IF we are promoted, then we may be able to do something different, but my fear is that Attanasio’s wealth, although considerable, is still pocket money in football terms. Presumably by the direction of Robins article, others feel the same.
Inevitably 3 out of 4 seasons we’ve witnessed dross. It’s not really acceptable.
Too true.
Hi James
I’d never really considered Covid as a factor in that way before but you are quite right, it must have had an influence in that manner, even if only a subliminal one.
As for Mark Attanasio this might come across as ridiculous but I kind of feel that if he had put any more money up front Delia would have run a mile in a sheer blue funk.
The *F* component has gone from FCR I am afraid and I don’t see it returning for quite some time.
Cheers
Morning Mr P Hope you are improving, sadly I know what being on strong medication is like, I have been on tramadol for 20 years, and according to NHS it should be 3 -4 months as most. It isn’t for the want of requesting a change either.
Well I find myself lost for words about football I feel I have summed up my views and how I feel over the last couple of weeks. Unless things change it will stay the same. that is none more than true concerning our team. Another match of mundane stuff littered with errors, bad decisions and weakness, plus Smith’s usual comments about bad refereeing decisions, and being robbed of penalties and making errors, somehow he forgets to add that it is his coaching that has failed to remedy these errors in 11 months.
Rumours starting to gather pace that we will try and prise Russ Martin away from sunny Wales, turning a Swan into a Canary. Think it may be a case of 2+2=6. He is not really setting the world alight , and certainly, the team are not firing dragons. He would be too much of a yes man, they would twist him around their little fingers. And that isn’t because I don’t like him, in fact, he was one of my favourite players.
I didn’t think we would have to endure such drab, clueless football again, we have had more than our fair share of that. We need another Lambert and Culverhouse to be found to get some belief and pride back
Hi Lad
Unlike you I’m new to this medication game so never had a clue how bad it would be in reality – a bit like seeing Yanick Wildschut play for the first time I guess!
Dean Smith’s comments are starting to grate with me as well – it really is same old, same old now and I get fed up with hearing them.
The Russell Martin rumours are quite logical and not unexpected but personally I don’t expect him to move. For everything we know about the troubles at Norwich he will know more and probably more than enough to put him off.
Belief and pride are in short supply right now.
Cheers
But somehow R Martin has got his Swans into position four in that championship table.
Hi Bernie
I’m largely reserving judgement. By it’s very compressed nature the table still has an embryonic feel to it and I don’t see QPR and Blackburn there at the end – although we’ve yet to play either of course.
Cheers
And playing some quite decent ‘Farkesque’ football if this weekend is anything to go by.
Hi Sue
Yes Russ plays some decent stuff from what I’ve seen too.
Even if we did push Smith I reckon that Russ, lovely fella that he is, would be too much of a ‘yes man’ for what we need right now.
Cheers
What is required at carrow road is a big clearout, Smith,Jones,Webber Ward for starters,then theres the coaching team,then Krul,Pukki,Mclean,Hernandez etc Build a team around the younger players with a hungry younger coaching team,or even Mark Robins ! Everything thing is stale at the moment,thats why a big change is needed. PS,cant see it happening but i can dream,lol.
Tony I couldn’t agree with you more.
But who exactly is going to instigate the required clearout?
Hmmm
Cheers
Losing the early two goal lead,the presence of Gunn and Fleck,the aggressive home crowd – all reminded me of a 3-2 win at Millwall under Dave Stringer, Difference is we didn’t get a fantastic winner from Fleck- why can’t we score goals like that anymore? We did score 2 as a result of corners -how did we manage that without a set piece coach?
The other time I remember us losing a 2 goal lead was the famous “let’s be having you” game. At least we kept them to 2 on Saturday.
Hi Gil
I’ll never forget that match, live from the old Den on what I think was a sunny Sunday afternoon early in the season on [in my case] I think Thames TV.
I moved to Norwich permanently later the same year – well over 30 years ago now.
No, we don’t do performances like that very often any more!
Cheers
Hi Martin
Cities 20mins of control went up slightly to about 25 mins in this game so a little better but nothing to write home about.
Smith and his cohorts knew what they were getting into when agreeing to come to Norwich it’s wasn’t for the love of the club or the county it was money and a small chance to rebuild a reputation after getting the sack at Villa.
Do Ref’s talk about which clubs are a nightmare to go to, which club are going to bully them onto making decisions and which clubs are easy on them sure they do and most will be wary of the Watford, Burnley, Sheff U and a few others, City must be a dream rarely do we harass them into making a decision, remonstrate in the Tech Area too the 4th official, and we have lost the dark arts of niggling fouls to break up games when the opposition are on top.
Blackpool stood up to Sheffield United’s bully boys and got 3 players sent off, City took it on the chin and got 5 bookings they argued every decision forcing the Ref to their way of thinking even Heckingbottom got booked for his arguing.
Every manager has said finish above City and you will be in the promotion race and they know we have a weak spine, lots if skill but collapse when going behind.
The set piece coach really isn’t fit for purpose or that’s the way it seems, at a corner we can’t hit a barn door or reach the penalty spot.
Was McLean missed in no way Gibson took up the pointing gig for him and the side ways passing so not much changed, as said many times Hanley leads by example, cover for others and in doing makes error, Gibson works best in a 3 CB on the left when he has time to think in a 2 CB he is harassed into losing the ball or bad passing and we don’t have the DM to shield him.
Tomorrow could be Halloween coming early a nightmare game against a team getting into their stride under a progressive manager and coach not sadly one that is out dated in his methods.
Money they say is the root of footballs ills and I agree but without it you go bust and our owners are wasting every chance they have been given to take the club forward with their outmoded business sense and thinking they know better than everyone else.
Christmas cookins dinning evenings it’s a football club not a Delia cook book just get real
Hi Alex
There’s a couple of interesting points there. Of course referees talk amongst themselves but I think we’d be surprised at just how many don’t like coming to Carrow Road or, say, QPR because they are going to be subject to a more subtle incarnation of the dark arts.
It’s surprising just how many oppo fans moan about us in that context.
It’s purely a personal thing but cooking demonstrations under the Delia umbrella do nothing for me. You and I know enough about that game having worked in it to know where the smoke and mirrors come from!
I fear Smith and Jones have ran out of chances to take the club forward. How many opportunities have they had and missed?
Cheers
Highlights only showed Teemus penalty, penalty felt similar what he missed against Bosnia. He still won that game for Finland and their fans gave him a standing ovation which is very rare. His last national team penalty kick was again against the same Bosnian goalkeeper which he converted. I dont know what you Martin mean about simply because of hat trick chance, who else Norwich player could or should even consider to shoot penalties? Teemu scored 2 goals for Norwich out of nothing, simply individually did those but it was not enough because Norwich is not good in defending. He also created Sargents scoring chance. Actually the referee made a mistake in penalties, there was a clear penalty for Norwich when the Sheffield player pulled Sargent down in his shirt. It was one of them most idiotic fouls I remember seen, but referee was same way idiot. That last minute penalty call didnt look like the penalty should be rewarded.
Sheffield United was better and they were way better statistically too. Their attacks were much more dangerous, they got the ball to danger areas and that is where you get goals. McBurnie had brilliant last minute chance. Teemu gave you 1 point which you didnt deserve. 3 points would have been way too much, so football gods decided that 2 was enough for Teemu. It felt fair. He is a very good penalty taker, problem to players who take plenty of penalties is that there is a lot of video material on how they take those. It gives goalkeepers more chances. Norwich problems are all other areas than strikers, difficult to say if its tactical to me it looks lacking in quality. Tell me a Norwich player who has quality in midfield or defence? I remind that its easy to overpay transfer fees and salaries, that does not tell much about the players quality.
Sheffield Uni
Hi 1×2
Thanks for that – appreciated.
Nunez, Sargent, Sara and Dowell could all also take a penalty as well as Pukki and if any one of them had been on two goals but not Pukki he might have given them the ball. I stress might, not would 🙂
I would straight away agree that we have little quality in midfield or defence. Possibly Hanley and young Gibbs are the best of a bad bunch?
I am not sure!
Kiitos
Marty, it’s a long time since I had to work for a living but in those far off days we had annual staff performance reviews. It required me to have a formal chat with all my senior office staff to assess personal performance and to set goals and necessary actions from them and for me. May be that would be be a good idea for Carrow Road, the Set Piece Coach would have a challenging few months ahead, but then again so would Smudger, Webber and probably a few others. We all make mistakes but the same things over and over again is P45 time. But enough of the gripes we got a point which was one more than I expected and neither the Goat or Sarge have given up and Gunn is a star, and a few others earned their corn on Saturday P.S. your fan base is wider than you think, I’m a few weeks short of 79.
Hi Cutty
Yes I remember that environment in the great big corporate world . I would have made a useless traditional manager so although I had to be a shrewd judge of character performance levels were not my remit.
Of course the same mistake once too often should be the end of the line and I can think of a few at NCFC this applies to.
It is particularly ironic when the job of some of them is to cut out errors made on the pitch by others.
Cheers
Morning Martin hope you’re on the mend thankyou for your kind words earlier like yourself have missed a couple of matches for work and family reasons first home miss for 7yrs but for first time I couldn’t careless such as the state of play at the moment . Another wasted opportunity for 3pts Saturday after being 20 up the “best” teamin the division should have seen it out .but defence is so porous and Has been for long time they’re either been trained poorly or are just poor can’t blame ds for that it’s been same last 4seasons despite being promoted twice .Think we’ve likely to loose 3or 4 1 tomorrow might get a big surprise but unlikely though we’ve norwich so anything goes keep well mate ,
Hi Kev
I think a lot of us are very pi$$ed off with this *we’re Norwich so anything goes* malarkey by now.
It’s horrible to miss and genuinely not care. I never thought I’d feel that way and I’m willing to bet you didn’t either!
Cheers
I think the ‘yo-yo’ effect is really taking it’s toll. A club that claims it wants promotion – which is debatable – but certainly doesn’t like the consequences of it. Everyone associated with the club, whether fans, players, staff, reporters and so forth have seen it all before with many thinking that history will repeat itself once more – so what’s the point?
I haven’t seen anyone in this league that really excites me and it may be one of those seasons where nobody shines with a narrow spread of points from top to bottom. That in itself gives us a chance, however bland or tedious things are on the pitch.
I’m not currently thinking replacing Smith is the answer, as the club’s issues run far higher than him. Russell Martin would give Gunn a run for this money in the yes man stakes and would be exactly what Norwich City doesn’t need, should the offer be made to him.
Pukki looks like a man that wants to play in the EPL, but knows he is no longer good enough and is struggling to come to terms with that. He just looks a little uncomfortable, wondering what to do next. He’s not old, but at an age where he hung around Carrow Road too long and will just have to deal with it. His missed penalty was of no surprise and I would rather seen Josh take it – I never thought I would hear myself say that!
I’m still reasonably optimistic we can finish in a play of place at least, but any Fireworks can be left sole for November 5th because that isn’t how things are, either in the short or longer term.
Hi IR
Your first paragraph is a symptom of the Canary universe and spot on imo.
So are your comments about Russ Martin and Teemu Pukki.
As you say a confirmed *yes man* is the last thing we need.
Cheers
Morning Martin, as your headline suggests most of us would have settled for a point pre game and that would have been acceptable under normal circumstances.
Bearing in mind the situation we find ourselves in free falling down the table at an alarming rate and bereft of confidence and ideas, then having somehow got ourselves into a two goal lead the emphasis has to be on the word ‘would ‘in the first sentence. Good teams simply don’t take their foot off their opponents throats just because to quote Dean Smith ‘the crowd got involved’.
Sadly it just confirms what we’ve known for a long time, there’s a soft underbelly running through the team which can be exploited far too easily by teams who don’t mind a scrap. The likes of Sheffield Utd and Watford certainly fall into that category and I fear Burnley at Turf Moor will as well.
I have to confess that I haven’t read Robin’s article as yet (but I will) but to quote someone else who I rate very highly as a pundit, our very own wing wizard Mark Rivers ‘I don’t see any leader’s either on or off the field’. What a damning statement that is to make but he’s absolutely right and it’s been like that for too long now.
Worrying times ahead as far as NCFC are concerned and as far as I can see the people that really matter are doing a passable impression of Emperor Nero.
Hi Bob
You do well to single out Rivo there.
He is superb alongside Chris Goreham, second only to the rarely-heard Mark Walton to me and only that by a gnat’s.
These are worrying times and Mr & Mrs Nero is a pretty damn good description of the people who do, so unfortunately, count for so much.
Cheers
Hi Martin, if only our team could perform, I think many of us would feel better.
On Saturday we managed to grab a draw from the jaws of certain victory, whilst Burnley put in possibly the best 45 minutes in the Championship this season so far.
I really fear what might happen to our team tomorrow.
O T B C
Hi John
Yes I’m fearful for us at Turf Moor tomorrow too – they tore Sunderland apart for fun from what I saw, which was a reasonable chunk of the game.
Mind you right now I can find a reason to worry before every match!
Cheers
Coming back from Bramell lane I feel quietly optimistic. Dimi and Hayden will make a massive difference. We could and should have killed the game with a number of clear counter attacking chances. Time to get behind the team.
Hi Cap’n Zimbo
Our squad was never going to last the 90+ on Saturday and is most unlikely to tonight.
Get benind the team by all means, as pessimistic as most of us are I am sure none of us are suggesting otherwise.
Good username 🙂