The signing of Jack Stacey on a free from Bournemouth wasn’t one to get the pulse racing but neither was it one to get hot under the collar over.
It’s one of those that, on the face of it, looks logical enough given that Sam Byram has already departed and Max Aarons seems almost certain to follow. Stacey will not have made this career move if he didn’t believe that right-back berth is his.
At 27-years-of-age, he is theoretically reaching the peak of his powers and age-wise is in that category that Stuart Webber identified as being important to this in-transition group of players – neither classed as one for the future nor a 30-plus veteran in the Ashley Barnes mould.
As ever, only time will tell if Stacey becomes one of Stuart Webber’s rare domestic successes or is another in a long line of Ben Marshalls, Marley Watkins’, and James Husbands.
Either way, we can only wish him well and hope that he’ll turn out to be the second of many new faces to come in and give this ailing squad a new look and feel.
Stacey certainly comes with a decent CV if you’re looking for a competent Championship fullback and departed Bournemouth with some glowing words from Gary O’Neil:
“An incredible guy. To have to just play the small part that he has recently and to still be how he is around the group and to still be how he is in training, I’ve never seen a second from him where he hasn’t been 100 percent professional, 100 percent committed, 100 percent putting the group above himself.
“You’ll never catch me saying a bad word about Jack Stacey. I think he’s an incredible professional.”
So he’s a player who appears to fall within the framework of Webber’s ‘no dickhead’ policy, although it’s unknown whether that particular mantra has been officially dispensed with in the same way as ‘ignore the noise’.
At this juncture, I also expected to be penning a few words on the qualities of Shane Duffy and the perceived wisdom of signing an experienced, international centre-back given that, among other things, Grant Hanley is not expected to recover properly from his ruptured Achilles until 2024.
But no. At least not yet.
A week ago it appeared nailed on that his arrival would be confirmed, with newspapers in England and Ireland reporting that the deal was all but done. But, given that Duffy didn’t sign a permanent deal at Fulham until 1 February 2023, there will possibly be a small fee involved, so maybe that’s the sticking point.
Perhaps, and pure speculation on my part, the Club is relying on the sale of one or more of our saleable assets – we’re obviously talking Max Aarons, Andrew Omobamidele and, possibly, Gabriel Sara – before we can think about bringing in new players for a fee.
[I’ve since been informed that Duffy’s deal with Fulham was only short-term and may end on July 1].
Either way, it’s not ideal that, as a general rule, we have to sell to buy but that is precisely where we are right now, and have been for the duration of the tenure of Delia Smith and Michael Wynn-Jones.
We scrape by.
That the scraping by looks set to continue even under the Attanasios is disappointing but at least then there looks to be scope to draw on finances befitting a Club that wants to be part of the Premier League.
Again, speculation on my part, which is all we have given the legal obligation of those involved in the deal to say nothing until it’s completed.
***
Finally, I just wanted to mention yesterday’s FA Cup Final for which, on the face of it, there was much to love. A Saturday afternoon 3pm kick-off, the game covered by both BBC and ITV, no other games being played at the same time – in many ways, a throwback to Cup Finals of yesteryear.
All that was missing was a whole day’s TV dedicated to the game that included live links and interviews to their respective hotels in the morning, Cup Final It’s a Knockout around lunchtime, an hour-long The Route to Wembley and then reporters travelling on the team busses en route to Wembley.
It then wouldn’t have been complete without the post-match interviews taking place with the winning team supping from bottles of fresh milk.
But, alas, all it had in common with those days gone by was the kick-off time and who was covering it.
The game itself was okay, City deserved the win, United were meh, but, for me, the whole thing served as yet another gigantic reminder that Norwich City, and most clubs of our ilk, stand not a cat in hell’s chance of ever being part of that day.
Wigan and Leicester fans will no doubt remind me of their respective (and outstanding) achievements, but they appear very much outliers in a competition that was once for everybody but is now there to be won by the filthy rich – aka the Big Six plus Newcastle United.
And the worst thing about that? The fact we’ll never ever be in a position to push back when reminded of a certain Wembley victory in 1978.
The magic of the Cup, eh?
My understanding is that Duffy will be a free agent this summer. His loan to Fulham was converted to a very short term “permanent “ deal to free up a loan space.
No fee will be involved.
Cheers for that, Nick. Others have said the same, which renders 150 words of my piece irrelevaant 😀
Yes Gary great piece as always, and to the point .very disappointed on how quite it’s gone on , seems to be a lot of hype with smoke and mirrors. I really can’t see anything changing the way city operate but that’s to be seen. Hopefully the Americans I’ve got money in personally I cannot see it
We mustn‘t underestimate the magic of a cup run for clubs that will never get to Wembley but will do a bit of giant killing along the way and get a much needed cash boast. Cup fever does a power of good, I well remember the 1950‘s run, it was electrical, magical, shop window displays, parties, at school the lessons stop and we listened to the Luton replay on the old school wireless. Similar things happen most years for some small club and communities, long may it continue.
Very good point, HC. True that. I suppose even a giant-killing by City (as unlikely that seems right now) would count as Cup magic.
Hi Gary
Let’s start a rumour – Benzima has left Real Madrid and is looking at a free transfer, Webber takes a private jet to Madrid to discuss terms on a one-year deal. Now that would get the media taking especially if Delia offered to subsidise his salary.
Before anyone suggests it, no I’m not on anything but I do like to stir the pot.
No mention in the local press of the Scottish under-16 International from Hamilton signing up yet either, so two big stories drifting slowly down the Wensum. Maybe Webber is dribbling out information just to stir up interest or to show he’s working his cotton socks off while having talks for a Leeds or Leicester move. Any bets if he gets either a Mr Farke could be his first port of call as both need a new coach?
That’s my stirring complete for today
Would Farke want to work with Webber again Alex?
And are you sure you didn’t stir the pot then smoke it? I hear tell of a pink, laughing cloud floating around the Blackpool area…!
Benzima, is another heading to Middle East retirement leagues in Saudi Arabia and multi billion dollar game.
Contracts normally end this month, not the beginning or the end of the month, so spending any money that’s coming won’t be yet. twiddle your thumbs. nothing to get excited about … somehow I doubt there will be …
What a surprise😱 Alex B & CanaryLad the oh so trustworthy Benzima off to the riches in Saudi Arabia.
I wouldn’t want that “gentleman” within 100 miles of Carrow Road.
I would rather bring back Dean Coney😂
You can bet our best players will be sold and replaced with ageing players who were once quite good but will now ensure we make little progress.
Such is the joy of Delia’s “self funding” ownership!
I’m absolutely fed up with our current owners nonsense. I’m in my 70s and despair at seeing City as an established premiership club, which is where a club this well supported should be.
In January 89 I was a broke student. IIRC I had a temp job over the Xmas holidays and was paid Fridays. One particular Friday I went straight to the pub after work and woke up the next day with a tenner to my name. Walking home I was trying to come up with a suitable sob story for my Mum to lend me a few quid when I passed a bookies on Plumstead Road with a board posting the odds for one particular Norwich V Sutton Utd match. 8-0 was 100/1. Why not as a tenner wasn’t going to get me through the week. Ninety minutes and eight goals later. The magic of the Cup!!
Nice one Geoff Nice to see some positive news for a change ..
I’m happy with the Stacey signing and he’s almost certainly looking forward to a reunion with his old team should we reach the second round of the Carabou Cup.
I’m in 2 minds about Duffy. He had a very disappointing year on loan at Celtic, did well when he got back to Brighton and didn’t set the world alight at Fulham. He seems to fit the profile of a decent signing for us, but I can’t imagine that we’re the only club in for him.
The heyday of the FA Cup TV coverage was when, along with the Scotland v England game, it was one of only two games shown live most seasons. I was always beyond excitement at the prospect of the final in the preceding week. I don’t feel the same now, but the same applies to Christmas. By January, I will once again convince myself that this is the season we’ll have a great run….there’s no fool like an old fool.
Barnes and Stacey signings seem pretty safe bets to me if we haven’t gone silly on agent/signing on fees and salaries. Of course, time will tell. I hope Geoff, that you didn’t do a “M Carroll” with your cash.
Good article Gary as usual, like you I despair at webbers recruitment and selling off the farm. What i can’t get my head around is why this so called further involvement by Attanasio has taken so long, we are led to believe it’s to take up that share issue that was approved on the 13th February, of which all the proceeds would go back into the clubs revenue and I suppose go towards debt reduction, not for any new players I doubt. Surely when this share issue was first thought about it would have been negotiated with Attanasio before it got to share holders approval, that was only to rubber stamp the deal because who else had Delia in mind for those shares? seems so very odd to me, if legalities take all this time ( which don’t ) then the business world would come to a halt, it’s all smoke and mirrors Gary and the supporters are wearing it, season ticket sales are going nicely much to Delia’s delight. To think we’ll be challenging for the top six next year is pie in the sky wishful optimism, more like a relegation battle, and so the demise of this club continues.
Yes I must agree on the Anntasio point he was never going to put money in barring a share issue he runs the Brewers exactly the same as Delia runs City so it’s the basically the same old routine