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Plus ca change, plus c’est la meme chose … as they say in the Snake Pit

Plus ca change, plus c’est la meme chose … as they say in the Snake Pit

31st October 2022 By Martin Penney 32 Comments

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They’ve always had a way with words, have the French. Be it Voltaire, Baudelaire. Rimbaud or my good friends Maxim and Bénédicte when I worked with Publicorp on the Rue Rosenwald in Paris, somebody has a poignant expression for seemingly everything.

I’ve never known who was responsible for originating one of my long-time favourites, so I thought I’d have a quick Google to find out.

Plus ca change, plus c’est la meme chose was coined by one Jean-Baptiste Alphonse Karr in 1849 and as many readers will know this phrase is normally uttered with an air of Gallic resignation and means the more things change, the more they stay the same.

Even back then M Karr could conceivably have been thinking about a future Norwich City under Dean Smith, and that proved never more true than in our 3-1 win over Stoke City dans La Rue Carrow on Saturday.

Were there green shoots of consistency? Not really. But was there a small but tangible pendulum swing in which, for once, things went for us rather than against us? Affirmative, says I.

This centred on a combination of three small things that added up to the three goals that went down a treat with the City faithful, the first inspired by young Liam Gibbs.

He won the ball back in midfield, [yes really, he won the ball back in midfield], surged forward, and fed Teemu Pukki who turned his marker this way and that before firing in a shot that keeper Joe Bursik palmed into the path of the incoming Aaron Ramsey who made no mistake from close range.

Todd Cantwell injected some urgency when he and Marcelino Nunez came on for Isaac Hayden and surprise starter [it surprised me, anyway] Onel Hernandez on 68 minutes. Credit to Dean Smith for this double change as it saw City considerably up the tempo.

Shortly after this Gabriel Sara fed Ramsey on the right and his ball into Pukki saw the Finn cheekily stop it virtually dead for the Villa loanee to stroke home for the second. The Pukki of old popped up in style when it absolutely counted.

For the third – and killer – goal a lovely through ball from Cantwell for Nunez saw a decent shot pushed out by Bursik and Sara literally couldn’t miss the rebound.

On another day we wouldn’t have had that burst from Gibbs, the moment of quality from Pukki or that sublime pass from Cantwell. Or perhaps more to the point we might have had all three and received no tangible reward from any of them. It’s worked out that way before this season, after all.

Let’s not fool ourselves, Bursik’s failure to hold on to anything – or lack of desire to even try to do so – helped immensely. I can’t imagine Alex Neil being particularly pleased with that display from his one-cap England under-21 international. 

When the team selection dropped several of us were less than pleased with Smith’s midfield, with one well-known MFW wag [who should surely remain anonymous] suggesting it was “as soft as a box of Turkish delight”. I’m glad to say that Alex B was wrong, even though I did agree with him at the time!

Unfortunately, bookings are becoming as torrential as yesterday’s early morning rain. We somehow collected another six on Saturday, which serves as our compulsory post-match downer.

So what was it like in the Barclay, Don H?

“The first half was the very definition of Championship mediocrity. Nothing much was happening on the pitch and the crowd were quiet.

“The Stoke fans, who didn’t look like financial directors, took the opportunity to let us know that they thought our support was flipping mute [I’m sure that’s what they were singing]. The one piece of quality in the half came with about eight minutes remaining when Gibbs made a surging break from midfield, eventually resulting in a Ramsey goal that probably stopped a halftime crescendo of booing.

“The first 20 minutes of the second half showed no real improvement. But, following the introduction of Sara and then Nunez and Cantwell, things improved greatly. Norwich started to run forward with attacking intent and looked like a team too good for the likes of Stoke. Two more very good goals followed, and the mood lifted considerably.

“The last 20 minutes showed how good we can be when playing quickly and accurately. Dean Smith should listen to the anthem and never mind the danger.”

I’m going to sign off with a couple of further quotes, one from the 1930s courtesy of the French/Algerian philosopher Albert Camus [ top left 🙂 ] who was once a promising goalkeeper with Racing Universitaire d’Alger, and the other from Norwich City Head Coach Dean Smith this Thursday.

You, dear reader, must decide who said which.

“Don’t walk in front of me… I may not follow.

“Don’t walk behind me… I may not lead.

“Walk beside me… just be my friend.”

***

“My team at Walsall, I got headhunted by Brentford.

“My team at Brentford got me headhunted by Aston Villa.

“My team at Aston Villa got me headhunted by Norwich City.”

Camus was an absurdist while the jury is out on Smith. I am sure that one of them knows what he is/was talking about.


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Filed Under: Column, Martin Penney

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Comments

  1. Ed says

    31st October 2022 at 8:21 am

    Good morning Martin and I’m now getting over the shock of seeing us link around 10 or more passed together and attack the opposition which resulted in our 2nd goal!! Even the commentator on the EFL show remarked on it!!

    The thing I found interesting in the following few minutes is that the NCFC fans who have been silent for most of this season (and the last!!), suddenly found their collective voices and CR stopped being a library and actually became noisy!! 👍 😃 Take note Chris Sutton et al – Give the fans something to cheer and they will respond. It’s not rocket science!!

    I would like to finish by giving my thoughts on the goalkeeping that led to our 3 goals, having watched the official highlights and the EFL show (the 2nd and 3rd were only a few feet in front of me!!)
    and IMO Bursik actually did quite well to even get a hand to all 3 shots, as they were all hit with power.

    Reply
    • martin penney says

      31st October 2022 at 11:04 am

      Hi Ed

      Glad to hear there was a bit of fire back in the crowd. It won’t solve the long-term problems but it’s certainly a positive.

      We’ll have to agree to disagree about Bursik as Sara certainly learned from the first Ramsey goal that further profit might be there to be had.

      Cheers

      2
      Reply
  2. Andrew Delf says

    31st October 2022 at 8:28 am

    Martin your teaser at the end is probably my all time favourite. Back to the match, I had the good fortune to not be in attendance. Back on Wednesday where I hope to see a truly magnificent game. ( Irony) for those who don’t get it.

    Reply
    • martin penney says

      31st October 2022 at 11:06 am

      Ha!

      Andy I can assure you I know beggar all about philosophy but splitting each quote into triplets kind of made me laugh.

      If Smith believes the third line of his, what does that say about Webber?

      Your irony is not lost.

      Cheers

      Reply
  3. Gil says

    31st October 2022 at 8:57 am

    Dean Smith might think “,Ca plane pour moi” but he selected a team that struggled against a side in poor form.
    Apres Smith we need a deluge of quality performances..Headhunted from the dole queue, his bon mots don’t butter my parsnips.

    1
    Reply
    • martin penney says

      31st October 2022 at 11:09 am

      Hi Gil

      C’est magnifique – and I don’t mean Hooky Street 🙂

      I’d always attributed *apres moi le deluge* to Delia.

      As for Plastic Bertrand, he was a good loanee in a poor side when he was here.

      Cheers

      1
      Reply
  4. canarylad says

    31st October 2022 at 9:01 am

    Morning again Mr P, funny old game, how you can be second best to most things in the game except the most important thin goals, thought the score line was a little flattering.

    My team at Villa got me headhunted ! wow, I thought it got him the sack . have to read back in case I am mixed up.
    Now it is clear as anything could be, Smiffy is a little bit delusional, or he has elasticated ideas on truth.
    I will now take his post-match comments with a huge pinch of salt, funny I often wondered if we watched the same game.

    For me that win will only serve to paper over the cracks, in the corridors of supposed power, and in certain pubs across the County.
    I can hear the remarks in the boardroom,
    “We can see this disquiet out, (Finance dept chips in “.what disquiet?”) What do those bloody supporters know, we don’t need them until renewal time. He will come good, besides the main thing he is the cheap option still”

    It was a case of a win is all that matters, if we look back we can just how long the board is told to persevere with a manager who is poor, Worthington did earn his prolonged stay. Grant, Roeder, and poor old Gunn didn’t have a clue, Adams was slowly starting to get to grips when he was demoted.
    If any action (doubtful) is to be taken, it will be far too late .

    Nunez to Spain, according to someone in “the know” Nunez is unhappy living in Norfolk and wants out. Unless you are hired as a translator cannot see how the Know is known.

    Reply
    • martin penney says

      31st October 2022 at 11:15 am

      Hi Lad

      That’s exactly why i couldn’t resist the quote – great minds and all that.

      The Board will be ignoring the noise with the aid of their in-house PR team.

      As for Nunez you’re quite right – who knows?

      Lord Elpus.

      Cheers

      Reply
    • Suencfc says

      2nd November 2022 at 6:49 am

      I assumed the ‘headhunted by Norwich’ was a bit of a humorous, tongue-in -cheek rebuttal of the accusation that he loves Villa and doesn’t love us point of view being expressed by quite a few fans. It did endear him to me a bit more as he seems to be fighting his corner a bit, in a typically understated British way. Not everyone is of Gallic, or even Germanic, temperament I guess.

      Reply
      • martin penney says

        2nd November 2022 at 7:58 am

        Morning Sue

        I’m assuming as well but methinks thou dost give Dean Smith a bit too much credit there 🙂

        He’s not totally devoid of humour but I think he meant this comment with a kind of deadly seriousness!

        Cheers

        Reply
  5. AlexB says

    31st October 2022 at 9:02 am

    HI Martin

    Hindsight is great the Turkish Delight comment really easy how I felt looking at the team select and watching the game it looked early on as if it really was.

    Stoke were the Stronger team and I just wonder as AN has said if any of their early chance had gone would Cities midfield have just melted away as it has done so often this season.

    For once we got the rub of the green in front of goal whereas Stoke left their shooting boots back in the potteries, Gayle had a couple of chance and for once he didn’t punish us.

    The Yellow cards are piling up 12 in 3 games mostly for soft fouls yet our opposition get away with more cynical ones has someone at the club not sent the Christmas Hampers out yet or did they and it was a poor offering like some of our football of late.

    Someone I know suggest the EPL has informed the Ref Association that Norwich must not get promoted this season they have to many fall guys with the £150 big spenders Forest taking the crown this season.

    Can we see fireworks on Wednesday or more yellow cards, if this team wants more momentum or consistency they need to stop collecting the cards injuries are part of the game and accepted as such but silly bookings are just that and are avoidable.

    The Dean Smith backers will be all smiles at present, I hope the team keeps winning but see no long term future for him at city.

    1
    Reply
    • martin penney says

      31st October 2022 at 11:22 am

      Hi Alex

      It would surely have been a different game if Stoke had scored first, and they so easily could have done, especially with Powell’s header on a plate.

      The win was very much down to the rub of the green.

      As for the Yellows we are making an occupational hazard look like an art form and as you say we are simply picking up too many of them.

      Politics and compo issues aside there is no reason to keep Smith as of now.

      Cheers

      1
      Reply
  6. Herr+Cutz says

    31st October 2022 at 9:42 am

    Marty, the only appropriate French quote I can think of is deja vu. I’m happy with a win but we’ve been here before, well done the lads now do it again and again only better. And Smudger get some defensive cover on the far post!

    Reply
    • martin penney says

      31st October 2022 at 11:17 am

      Hi Cutty

      Oui. *deja vu* c’est vrai.

      For some reason far post cover has deserted us since, erm, the arrival of Smith and Shakespeare really.

      Cheers

      Reply
  7. Mystic kev says

    31st October 2022 at 10:04 am

    Morning Martin the game summed up season to a T 20mins of good football precided but 70mins of dreadfully dross poor ol pukki running round like headless chicken while most teammates stayed on halfway line . Subs changed it cantwell and nunez at their best .be surprised if hanley plays Wednesday must had 5 bookings maybe tommkinson get his place back he didn’t deserve to lose after Burnley game take care mate .

    1
    Reply
    • AlexB says

      31st October 2022 at 10:35 am

      Hi Kev

      Full agree that our young yank didn’t deserve to lose his place but just think Smugger Smith will go with Hanley and Gibson for experience QPR have some power in their midfield and forward line and either Hanley and Gibson nursing a novice might prove a little to much.

      1
      Reply
      • martin penney says

        31st October 2022 at 10:55 am

        Gibson was caught foot-tangled for the Stoke goal though.

        1
        Reply
    • martin penney says

      31st October 2022 at 11:00 am

      Hi Kev

      I didn’t realise Hanley had as many as five but i’m not surprised. Trouble is that he has to miss a game sometime but I’d play him on Wednesday.

      QPR will not be easy and that’s for sure.

      Cheers

      Reply
      • Jim Davies says

        31st October 2022 at 1:55 pm

        Martin, Hanley is on four yellows (but I believe this season, they are separating league and cup games for “totting up”), but if he gets through the QPR game without getting booked, then he’ll have reached the amnesty point (19 games this year) so he’ll be safe for a bit. Aarons is also on four, with Byram and Hayden both on three, so they should be safe for now. I think the 10 bookings point is mid-March. Stats courtesy of Sky Sports.

        With regard to the first and third goals, whether you think the keeper should have done better or not, we had players getting into the box and able to snap up the chances, which is not something we’ve benefited from too much in recent years.

        1
        Reply
        • martin penney says

          31st October 2022 at 2:32 pm

          Hi Jim

          Sometimes football writers are presumed to know more about the legeslative rules and regs than we actually do so thanks very much for clearing that up – I really didn’t know exactly how it worked but I do now 🙂

          And yes it was good to see a touch of the jolly old *right place right time* on show at last.

          Cheers

          Reply
  8. AlexB says

    31st October 2022 at 12:18 pm

    Hi Martin

    I read this morning that Aarons was dropped due his poor form of late, I’m not so sure it’s poor form but the system he is being asked to play.

    With all the power that QPR will bring on Wednesday I hope that Smith might see it as a time to have 3 CB’s and two wingbacks and use if he’s fit a lone striker in Sargent or Hugill with Pukki coming on as an impact Sub after 75mins, the midfield Hayden and Gibbs plus any 2 from 10 others.

    The rumour of Nunez shipping out is gathering pace saying the Spanish club manager knows him well from his days as the Chilean National Coach so will Webber be tempted to make a fast buck or two in January or hold tight and see if bigger offers come in during the summer

    Reply
    • martin penney says

      31st October 2022 at 3:15 pm

      Not sure about this Nunez one. He’s not been here five minutes and he hasn’t really given himself a chance to settle yet. I’ll say certainly not in January anyway.

      Reply
  9. Bernard+Owen says

    31st October 2022 at 12:50 pm

    Old Deano must have been on Mars when he made that headhunting comment. On Topic , it has to be pointed out the chump is a Marathon . We can get to the Bounty of the promised land this season . It won’t be a Picnic , but another 3 points against QPR will be a welcome Boost.
    Then a winnable away game against the Yorkies of Rotherham , and in the company of Burnley could we Breakaway from the pack.

    Reply
    • Jim Davies says

      31st October 2022 at 2:00 pm

      In fairness, he technically was “headhunted”, as City approached him, he didn’t apply for the job. He got sacked just at the right time for us to go to him, immediately after Farke got the push.

      Reply
      • martin penney says

        31st October 2022 at 2:35 pm

        Interesting one that – can you head hunt an unemployed worker? Any which way you’re right, it was all down to the timing.

        Reply
    • martin penney says

      31st October 2022 at 2:37 pm

      Hi Bernie

      What we need is a family size box of Heroes.

      Cheers

      Reply
  10. John says

    31st October 2022 at 1:21 pm

    Hi Martin,
    You’ll never know how relieved I am to not be the only one confused by Saturdays selection. According to most viewers, fans and pundits, Cantwell and Tomkinson were far and away our stand out performers in a very poor showing at Burnley. Their reward?? Being bench-warmers against the might of Stoke City.
    I could not see how Gibson was any sort of upgrade, and Cantwell certainly made a huge difference when he was called upon….
    Which begs the question, do DS & SS know what they are doing….
    Answers gratefully received

    O T B C

    1
    Reply
    • martin penney says

      31st October 2022 at 2:41 pm

      Hi John

      Squad rotation at its daftest?

      Let’s reward a young man for a fine senior debut with a kick in the goolies?

      Take away what little passion there currently is [eg Cantwell]?

      As you can see, I don’t have any answers either!

      Cheers

      1
      Reply
  11. Tim Ball says

    31st October 2022 at 7:28 pm

    Bonsoir Martin.

    My wife asked at half-time how we were playing, like Brazil I replied. Oh, that’s good she said.

    I then had to fess up. No like Alan Brazil would play now!

    It really is a funny old game as Greavsie used to say. We looked bereft of ideas and for my money have played better this season and lost.

    I concur with many on here today, why were Cantwell and Tomkinson dropped? Strange?
    Perhaps to get Grant Hanley back on his more favoured right? Perhaps.

    Anyway, more by luck than judgement Deano came through what could have been a very tricky few days. QPR will be more of a test, especially after yet another weird championship result in losing 2-0 at Birmingham.

    But from small acorns, who knows?

    To me the big news other than the game was the “broken trust” between the club and the local media.
    Now correct me if anyone here thinks this is wrong (especially you Martin considering your previous positions) if a news outlet gets a story like an American Consortium are buying into Norwich City FC, then surely, they must publish these findings?

    I also wonder how many times the club have misled these journalists. They kept the big loan very quiet and only told the supporters when they had to.

    I think Paddy, Conor and Michael are fine upstanding men and honourable journalists. I am sorry to say that cannot be said of every Norwich City employee.

    A final thought, over the last 18 months if everything is so rosy at Carrow Road how come we have lost so many good people, seeking employment elsewhere?

    1
    Reply
    • martin penney says

      1st November 2022 at 7:57 am

      Hi Tim

      Wherever I look I see reasons for Webber to hold on to Smith – many of which will doubtless suit his agenda.

      As far as the club’s pathetic current stance with the local media is concerned suffice to say I doubt you are entertaining an incorrect impression!

      Far too many *foot soldiers* have departed really for my liking. Take people like Steve Stone, Ben Kensell and Kieran Scott and it’s easy to see that those at the top end of the scale have left too.

      It’s worth bearing in mind that Delia announced over 20 years ago that she only spoke to the national press. That shattered the image straight away for me.

      Cheers

      2
      Reply
  12. Martin+MacBlain says

    1st November 2022 at 6:49 am

    My favourite Voltaire quote;

    God is on the side not of the heavy battalions but of the best shots.

    It now seems rather apt in a footballing context!

    Thanks for the read. Nice to have a bit of culture on a rainy Tuesday morning.

    Reply
  13. martin penney says

    1st November 2022 at 7:45 am

    Hi Martin

    It often tends to be faux culture where I’m concerned – but if so at least I’m happy to acknowledge that as in my comment to Andy Delf [above]!

    I’ve always had an eye and an ear for a good quote though and I’d say my favourites include Camus, Mark Twain and Nick Jones of Manic Street Preachers, who if he came from any other arts background than alternative music would probably be considered a poetic genius.

    Cheers

    Reply

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