The formalities of Shane Duffy becoming a Canary won’t be completed until July 1, but his ‘launch’ on Friday was, in the end, a relief for those of us who feared the cooling of the rumour was indicative of the player considering other offers.
It wasn’t. When they arrive at Colney in a fortnight for fitness testing, Master Duffy, along with Messrs Barnes and Stacey, will be among them.
One or two eyebrows were raised when it was revealed Duffy has been given a three-year deal, taking him through to the summer of 2026 by which time he will be 34, but it boils down to how important Duffy is to Stuart Webber and David Wagner’s plans.
And I’d suggest, given that Grant Hanley’s ruptured Achilles will likely rule him out for the rest of 2023, he’s very important. Doubly so when it appears Andrew Omobamidele has been tagged with the world’s biggest For Sale sign.
Duffy has not been brought in to be a squad player or be a backup to anyone. He’s here, hopefully, as part of a new-look spine; one that won’t wilt and crumble when put under the slightest hint of pressure. And, as such, if it took the offer of a three-year deal to get it over the line, then so be it.
As someone mentioned on my Twitter feed, for a 31-year-old, perhaps a two-year deal plus an option for another would have been the ideal compromise but, equally, from the perspective of Duffy (and his agent) this is likely going to be his last big deal.
Not for the first time and definitely not the last, it’s a signing on which scorn has been poured by many from outside Norwich City, not least Celtic fans who have nothing good to say about the 18 games the Irishman played on loan for them in 2020-21.
Scorn also poured in from south of the River Waveney, as that very very chirpy lot in blue collectively decided that because we’ve already signed a 33-year-old and have, in addition to Duffy, been linked with another 30-something, we’re looking to bring together a Dad’s Army of old heads.
It’s complete rubbish of course – for all the faults of Webber and Wagner, what they’re trying to do right now, is address the fact that at the end of the season, it was a team that was too young, too inexperienced, and too naive.
I have no problem with that, and I don’t think any supporters do. But let them chirp. They’re on cloud nine at the minute and are fully expecting to steamroller all before them in next season’s Championship in a Paul Lambert 2010-11 style.
Bless ’em.
We really should play along with our Suffolk brethren and the Club’s social media team should give the full unveiling treatment – slow-mo vid, the tour of Colney, the interview – to a Sergeant Wilson.
Back in the real world, the other 30-something mentioned above was Tom Ince. Whether this one has any legs is very hard to say, but it is one that appeared to emanate from a Reading paper, where it was revealed that the release clause in Ince’s current contract is just £50,000.
The cynic in me thinks perhaps it’s merely a mechanism for the player’s agent to make other clubs aware of the oddly low release figure.
Either way, he’s a player I’ve always thought was quite good but who appeared to save his very best form for when playing for his dad. It feels a bit too premature to have strong feelings about this one either way.
But things are definitely moving.
Obviously, if the only additions to the squad come opening day are the three we have already, no one will be happy, especially given that Max Aarons, Andrew Omobamidel and, possibly, Marcelino Núñez could be departing, but that’s unlikely to be the case.
Right now, Barnes for Pukki, Stacey for Aarons (maybe) and Duffy for Omobamidele (maybe) looks like a collective downgrade but the purpose of the exercise is to make us better and so there is still work to be done and time to do it.
*******
Having been, by my recent standards, reasonably upbeat in this piece, it feels only right to end it with a moan, if that’s okay?
Like many of us, I watched last night’s Champions League final. But, unlike many, I was completely unmoved by City winning it.
The tears of Guardiola, Grealish, and Rodrigo meant nothing. I felt not a single ounce of pride that an English team had just lifted European football’s biggest prize. It felt hollow. Even for Man City fans, it must have felt the same, as does every single trophy lift. At least a little bit.
Because this is no football fairytale, as much as the BT Sport commentators and experts try and convince us otherwise. And I certainly didn’t agree, and I quote, that, “The greatest story in club history finally has an ending”.
What rubbish.
And I couldn’t have given a monkey’s whether or not Joleon Lescott was feeling nervous as the minutes ticked away.
Of course, they’re a brilliant team with brilliant players and are managed by the best coach in world football. For me, the greatest achievement is Guardiola’s, in how he manages and motivates a squad of such supreme quality
He is exceptional. Of that, there is no doubt. But it ends there.
It’s all been achieved, thanks to Sheikh Mansour, on what is effectively a bottomless pit of money. And with them armed with said bottomless pit, UEFA and then the Premier League both believe they have played fast and loose with the rules, specifically those of Financial Fair Play.
For the record, they are currently facing 115 Premier League charges of breaches of financial rules, charges that they deny and for which they will defend themselves.
Worth noting too is that the UEFA charges, for which they were initially given a two-year ban from European competition and a fine, were eventually overturned on appeal.
But when you have an endless supply of cash you can, of course, afford the best lawyers.
Sheikh Mansour was in Istanbul last night. It was only the second game he had attended since buying the club in 2008. The second.
What a fairytale.
So forgive me if I give a swerve to the live coverage later of City parading the European Cup through the streets of Manchester. I have no wish to see a still-leathered Jack Grealish belting out Blue Moon or a gurning Kyle Walker at the front of the bus in his designer shades showing off his trophy.
I’m sure Man City fans will lap it up though. And good for them.
There… I feel better now 🙂
Someone cleverer than me should find a way to adapt the Dads Army theme tune into a chant.
Oh c‘’mom “ “Who do you think you are kiddin mr Webber”…………. Oh yeah it’s not that easy really, still it’s an obvious start😉
—
‘Who do you think you are kidding Mr Wagner?’
—
‘Dont Yanic!’ – Corporal (Michael Wynn-) Jones
—
‘Vot is your name?’
‘Don’t tell him, Pukki!’
—
They don’t like it Rupp ’em!’
—
‘You stupid, buy!’
—
‘We’re doomed!’ (Without a benevolent multi-billionaire state financing the the whole shebang.)
—
*They don’t like it Rupp ’em*.
Fecking priceless, Chris 🙂
Arthur Lowe’s wife in real life plated Wilson’s girlfriend and Pike’s mother in the long running series.
Sorry to be a pedant, but Arthur Lowe’s wife, Joan Cooper, played Private Godfrey’s sister, Dolly.
Janet Davies played Mrs Pike.
OK I new she was in it somewhere
I tried to resist but there was a war on, people were hungry.
Hi Paul – here’s my attempt to prove I’m NOT as clever as you 🙂
Who do you think you are kidding Mr Webber
We all think your job is done.
We are the fans who will wave you off to Leeds
Your recruitment doesn’t satisfy our needs.
Cos who do you think you think you are kidding Mr Webber
If you think the City’s done.
David Wagner tries his best
But he does not stand a chance
When you met our new signings
At the Age Concern tea dance
So watch out Mr Webber
It seems like your race is run
If you think you can fool us
I’m afraid those Days are done
Cos who do you think You are kidding Mr Webber
We all think your time is gone.
***Personally I am actually quite happy with the arrivals of Jack, Shane and Ashley.
*** I appreciate not everybody feels the same way about Stuart Webber as I do and I have exaggerated these feelings to fit the metre of the song.
***That’s enough caveats 🙂
😂😂😂
Excellent Martin!!
You should post that online.
Could we be in for Godfrey?
Not Ben but Private😁
I can just see dear old Arnold Ridley running down the wing.
Mind you I would rather have his niece Daisy in truth.
Who is none other than Rey Skywalker in the Star Wars movies.
We need this experience but we must start to get some 26-28 year olds and not continue down this line.
I was a bit more enthusiastic than you Gary over Manchester City’s treble.
True it is all based on money.
But the days of a Forest, Derby, Leeds etc winning the EPL are at best now remote.
Even Blackburn’s win was down to Jack Walker’s millions.
And let’s be honest Everton have spent very nearly as much as Liverpool in the last 5-6 years and look how bad they are.
So I have to admit I still think it was a great achievement to win a treble despite agreeing with you that the ££££ spent in all football now is in truth obscene.
Thanks for that,l too have no problem with the recruitment so far, still plenty of time to moan though 😉.
The ultimate club dream soured by the realisation that it was purchased not earned. Poverty on the increase, important sport events being subject to extra charges despite all the advertising that we still have to endure. Yet we pay them and hope for more investment in our club.
I doubt the City fans give a monkeys. Bit like the toon army celebrating CL next season, bought with Saudi money.
I watched it on youtube…..didn’t cost me anything! (Neither would the Wet Spam final had I been bothered).
Hi Gary
It’s a global game and sadly the end of a dream for local lads to make it big at their local club.
Even going back to the 60’s there was always the richer clubs snagging the talent from the less well off but clubs found a way to be success even Alf Ramsey took his wingless wonders from Division 2 and won the First Division with Crawford leading their scoring exploits.
That team was the fore runner of the 66 world cup winners.
Pep G might see out the next seasonvand try abd retain the UCL but Man City have forgotten they were the original Yoyo club along side Chelsea till the oil riches of Abu Dhabi and a Russian Oligarch stepped in.
Tom Ince comes with big baggage his dad and I just hope both stagnate in Oxfordshire, as for Andrew Omobamidele, Aaron’s and Giannoulis all possible exits with Sheffield United interested in them surely they all deserve a better move than that
The big question is….will Webber at last buy a defensive midfielder? If he does then i wouldn’t mind if he was over thirty,as long as he was decent.
Rumour is that Skipp will be allowed to leave on loan next season now that would be good news if Webber could pull that off
Experience tick
Need a quality CDM, at least one CB with pace Gibson and Duffy together are captain slow. Also some quality out wide
Must also be agent pressure to move Sargent and Sara too who won’t benefit from a mid table season in the Championship wilderness
This Summer is a major overhaul and rebuild
If Shane Duffy can replicate the form shown by a fellow Celt in the age period 31 to 34 playing as a CB for city I would be more than happy. Big Malky wasn’t too bad at that age .
I agree with all of that, we desperately need experienced heads in the dressing room and some to bring it all together.
As for Man City, who cares? I felt the West Ham success the other night was and is a much bigger story than Man City, absolutely delighted for them
I agree, Tony. The West Ham win felt completely different and had an infinitely more authentic feel about it. Like you, I was dead chuffed for them.
Norwich transfers look strange, like Norwich would prepare to avoid relegation to League 1. Aging less skilled players means less skilled football, for sure young less skilled players are better at battling.
Manchester City is brilliant, yesterday not so much but overall. A very tight game yesterday, Citys core midfielders Rodri, Silva and Gundogan have won so many games for them. Haaland actually again was quite bad, plenty of his goals in City have been tap in and penalty kick goals.
Minnesota press news about contract with Pukki are strange. Pukkis agent commented yesterday that everything is open. Pukki by himself has commented that basically he does not even know which clubs so far have made their contract offers. He said that he has not thought about it much at all and he only knows that he has some offers and that there is more coming. It seems that he will start looking at them after qualification games. Either he and his agent lies or Minnesota reporters. He also commented on his last season with Norwich that he didnt enjoy playing. Overall transfer to Minnesota is something that Finland fan base is very much against. The only reason would be Robin Lod and Lod have severe knee injury and its possible that his career is over. If he really cant live without Lod, its best that they both quit playing in the national team and walk daily hand in hand to the candy shop. Every national team player should be ambitious, that would cross the limits.
Did anyone enjoy playing for Dean Smith . Didn’t look like it .
During a Norwich game at Bournemouth, I remember Chris Goreham observing that substitutions now meant Godfrey, Frazer and Wilson were all on the field together. I could imagine some younger listeners muttering “So what?”
Of course we’re seeing a re-balancing in the City squad, with an injection of experience, mental toughness and winning mindset. After last season, I’m glad to see it. Perhaps we should also bear in mind that signings announced now – ie before the opening of the window – are likely to be older players, out of contract at their clubs.
I’m sure we’ll be targeting some younger players too. But those deals won’t be done – like the sales of Max Aarons and whoever else – until we’re into the official transfer period.