“I think there’s still a few people feeling what went on last season, so there was a bit of nerves there, but they [the players] came through that brilliantly, and showed big courage in the way we want to play.
“I’m really pleased that we got the point. We’re two games in, we’ve got four points, it’s a solid start, but also in the two performances there has been so much to be so pleased with, and now loads to work on, but we knew that was going to be the case.“
As it happens these are the words of Southampton head coach Russell Martin – he of the cool good looks and seemingly permanent twinkle in the eye who will be well remembered around these here parts as a key component of Paul Lambert’s double promotion-winning side just over ten years ago – although they could just as easily have been said by his City counterpart David Wagner after a tasty little encounter at St Mary’s on Saturday.
Fortunes fluctuated throughout a game that might not have had quite everything on show but nonetheless contained more than enough to produce five-star entertainment for the 30,000 crowd [2,000 prominent and vocal Canaries included] to enjoy immensely. If MOTD did the EFL Championship, this one would have been top of the shop by a country mile. The Sky schedulers opted for Cov v Boro, which turned out to be the original close, but no cigar for them.
Obviously, you can’t really have a 4-4 without a few defensive errors to help it along its merry way but it would be remiss to dwell there for too long, particularly when we could drink in the moment of sheer class from Gaby Sara that produced a goal worthy of winning just about any game. I won’t say it defies description, but I’d thoroughly recommend that you check it out yourself rather than rely on my efforts to do it justice:
HIGHLIGHTS | Southampton 4-4 Norwich City – Norwich City (canaries.co.uk)
Moving on from what Wagner didn’t say, here’s what he did come out with afterwards, stressing that he felt it was actually a top performance from his side:
“It was a top, top performance from the bottom to the top. To come here against Southampton, to play the way we’ve done. [To be] the braver, creating chances, scoring goals. We had chances to add even more.
“To be a little bit disappointed after the game, to be coming away from the game with only a draw speaks for the character of the group and the demands they have on them. But in general, it was a super football match from both teams.
“Both teams wanted to attack, both teams wanted to score goals. There were some mistakes, which will happen. But in general, I think it was a very good performance. We take this point, we recover and then go again.
“Most of the goals were avoidable for me. The first one, there’s a clear push. The referee has to see this. And we scored another goal that was clearly not offside in the second situation. Yes, Ashley [Barnes] was offside when Sara shot, but the goalkeeper had a clear view.
“But he makes the save, then we cross the ball in and have a tap-in. No offside situation. This is what annoys me more than the other situations, where maybe you can defend better.
“I’m proud of the players today, they deserve a lot of credit to come away to Southampton and to perform and play the way they’ve done. Tomorrow, and the next few days, there will be things to look back and analyse, but everyone can be proud.”
The Canaries travel to QPR in the Carabao Cup on Wednesday, with Wagner adding:
“It looks like everybody is healthy after the game. We’ll double-check and see how everyone recovers. There’s a lot of players pushing from the bench, and the bench gave positive influence again.
“We like to be successful in every single game and that includes going on a cup run as well. This is our aim, this is our standard.”
It was good, at last, to see a team that with the judicious use of substitutes was able to prove its fitness by keeping going for what is fast becoming the full 100 minutes, which was all the more admirable as the Yellows were out of possession for virtually 70% of proceedings. This can only be down to Wagner and the subtle shift caused by the medium-sized churn during the summer window.
I think it is fair to say that acquiring Shane Duffy, Ashley Barnes, Jack Stacey, Christian Fassnacht, and Kellen Fisher and letting go/marginalising the likes of Todd Cantwell, Kieran Dowell, Danel Sinani, Christos Tzolis, and Milot Rashica has certainly paid dividends in this respect, which we should expect to cause a permanent effect.
Although he followed up last weekend’s excellent strike against Hull with a headed goal this time around, Jonny Rowe passed on media duties to Kenny McLean, who was forced to acknowledge the obvious collective disappointment at not winning such a robust encounter.
“It was a good game for the neutrals! It was a tough game, obviously, and we’re disappointed to concede four goals. Some questionable ones that we conceded, but it’s still not good enough for us [to be] conceding four goals. But a draw here against a team who everyone expects to immediately bounce back shows where we’re at, and it shows what we’ve got in there [the dressing room].
“We’ll reflect on it. We’ve done very well and it’s a very good team they’ve got. Most teams will be against the ball when they play here, we could’ve used the ball better at times. We’ve done a lot of good things, we’re still progressing.”
After the first two games of the season, McLean says the squad is feeling confident and spoke positively about the travelling support.
“You see the fans out there, the way they were singing, and all the noise and getting behind us. I think that speaks volumes, we’re all coming together. We need to give them something to shout about.
“When they make that noise and get behind us, I think that shows we’re doing something right.”
And without a single sycophantic thought in my mind: thanks for that Mr Mayor!
Us supporters like to feel wanted by Norwich City and, despite what the suits might think, particularly by the players.
Your words have not gone unnoticed by us, I can assure you. 
***
Talking of “suits”, mention was made that Mark Attanasio and his close family group were at St Mary’s on his way back to Milwaukee from a summer vacation to see his Italian-American family in the home of Peroni, pizza, and Andrea Pirlo.
The Pink Un reported said fact yesterday morning, with Stuart Webber missing from the list of prominent attendees. There’s nothing particularly unusual in that before anybody thinks I’m having a dig by the way because I’m not. He cannot possibly attend every match!
What I did find a little bit strange was that the report included the line:
“Despite not witnessing Norwich record three points, they return Stateside feeling more enthused about their relationship with the club than ever.”
Now call me a pedant if you will, but how can the reporter possibly know that if he hasn’t spoken with any one of the Attanasio clan?
Watch out Mystic Kev – you’ve got some new competition on the block!
***
Before I leave you, dear readers, I’d just like to wish my MFW Posse contributor Herr Cutz, aka Cutty, all the very best for a speedy recovery after spending the last week as a guest of the Norfolk & Norwich.
Glad you’ve escaped at last mate and you know the next line: here’s to a full and speedy recovery – keep a-troshin’. (And so say all of us – Ed).
***
My mate Al said to me over the weekend that we’ve been playing with the devil in us for the last two games and there’s been something downright piratical about our approach.
Older readers will remember Johnny Kidd [I don’t actually, I’m a few years too young] and the Pirates, what with Shakin’ All Over and a couple of other minor hits in the early 1960s. Kidd died in a car crash in 1965, but against all odds, The Pirates carried on without him and earned a very good living on the R&B circuit in London and beyond.
Dr Feelgood’s Wilko Johnson is always quick to acknowledge Pirates guitarist Mick Green as both a maestro and a huge influence who could more or less play rhythm and lead at the same time!
I’ve seen both bands several times and it’s easy to see what he means.
If you wanted a loud rock ‘n’ roll band in a hot sweaty pub like the Brecknock or the Roundhouse in North West London these guys were impossible to better until the advent of Wilko, Lee Brilleaux, and Co.
Enjoy Johnny B. Goode as you’ve never heard it before. And let’s hope we learn to batten down the hatches a bit better if we’re going to continue with this new-found piratical playing style.
Good morning Mr P and let’s hope there are no more departures between now closing in just over 2 weeks. 🙁
I’m sure the performances of both JR (aka Jonathan Rowe) and GS (aka Gabriel Sara, have lit up rasar screens on several teams’ recruitment department with their performances in the last 2 weeks.
I know most fans around me are screaming at the players to just shoot from outside the box and that goal by GS was exactly that. I was just trying to remember when last we scoee directly fom a corner and I’m stumped!!
Interesting that Mr England decided to award a penalty for hand ball and yet we were denied a blatant hand ball last Saturday. Still, I’ll take a point from Saturday’s game, but by far the most pleasing aspect is that the entire squad is playing with passion and intent and wanting to win game’s..
Long may it continue!! 🤞 ⚽
Hi Ed
I’d be monumentally surprised if even Stuart *get ’em while they’re hot* Webber would contemplate selling either of those you mention as both surely need this upcoming season to thoroughly prove themselves.
Sacrificial lambs they may be in 12 months time*** but for now my guess would be that both are earmarked to stay put.
***Yes I realise we will have a new DoS in place then, but his or her mission to support Fan Funding first and foremost will still be at the core of what will be expected to be done at NCFC.
Cheers – hope you’re good.
Considering that most of the fan base had understandable concerns during pre-season as to the likely source of goals, to have scored six in two games, with five different players scoring, is hugely encouraging. Early days, yet, of course, but further reasons for optimism.
Hi Gary
I blinked so didn’t realise how the goals have been passed around – and with Ashley Barnes yet to join the party, of course.
A further reason for optimism indeed.
Cheers
Morning Martin. I know it’s with the benefit of hindsight, not to mention multiple tv cameras, but I think the linesman in both the disallowed goal and the second penalty incident, could have done better. The offside goal was identical to the one in the Newcastle game, being scored by a player initially offside, but not in the “second phase “ as they call it these days. The view from behind Giannoulis clearly shows he was trying to run around Walker-Peters, when the Southampton player threw himself sideways into him, and that’s pretty much the view the linesman would have had. Was it the same lineman in both cases?
The first penalty for handball wasn’t entirely without question either. Duffy’s hands were up, but with the effort of jumping. They definitely were not above head height, and the contact looked accidental, but I suppose the referee saw it differently.
All in all, though, I’m really happy with the start to the season.
Hi Jim
Yes, it was one of those *second phase* incidents – we’re beginning to sound a bit like Rugby with that one!
Very different *goals* but I suppose the same applies to Adam Idah’s winner against Hull in that respect.
The same linesman? Yes I guess so, unless there was a half-time sub from the officials’ *bench* that we’ve not been told about!
Duffy’s unfortunate touch was only ever going to end up one way imo.
I’m happy, glad you’re happy too – as David Bowie very nearly said 🙂
Cheers
The Sky team said on Saturday night that Ref from the game gave more penalties away last season that any other in all 4 leagues most going to the home team.
Let’s hope that if and when he does a game at Carrow Road he sticks to this plan and not change it for 1 game
I’m not fond of the way Darren England’s refereeing usually impacts on us.
Hi Martin
As you say, get well soon cutty.
John Kidd and the Pirates biggest hit sums up most city supporters feeling towards the club “I’ll Never get over you” and being a few years older I got to see them at the Britannia Pier in Great Yarmouth possibly 1964.
Had a message today from a friend who I have been in contact with fir a couple of years when he asked me was Buendia worth the money Villa had paid for him.
Well this morning he said with Buendia out for the season with an ACL and now with their CB has a similar injury they might come calling for Sara and Omobamidele to bolster their squad his reasoning is Webber’s friendship with their CEO so watch this space.
A great Air Show over the weekend and a full Red Arrows display on both days lots of bad weather forecasted but that held off till late evening but noise of the Hawks reminded me of great days at Carrow Road, but if the locals get their way with the City Council the club could have a noise problem complaints that the latest concert disturbed people over a mile away there are some spoil sports about.
Lots of good version of your choice today but I’ll go Judas PPriestbut then Chuck Berry was the master.
Hi Alex
I can see Villa struggling a bit this season if I’m honest. Emi has never been the most fortunate of players with injuries and it’s also fair to say he usually gets a fair old pasting from some of the PL’s less cultured defenders.
Everybody and his cat has done Johnny B Goode at some time or another as you say.
The Priest one is fine but I’ll go for a trio of earlier versions with Hendrix, ELO [it shouldn’t have worked but it did; I’ve used it here on MFW] and for me the best of the lot, Johnny Winter with the +And band – Rick Derringer and that lot.
We can hear Earlham Park concerts easily from Sue’s and it’s all wishy-washy modern stuff so hardly overstepping the 96 dcb limit or whatever it is these days.
City Council don’t like people to have fun unless it’s holding some form of demo, which they seem to encourage with great gusto. Political fun is okay, particularly if it is against the Tories, but that last element’s kind of fair enough by me 🙂
The ultimate Shakin’ All Over itself has to be The Who on Live at Leeds.
If there’s two or three objectors to the Arctic Monkeys at Carrow Road [we heard the odd bit of bass coming from that direction on the wind] they forget all about the thousands of people who thoroughly enjoyed themselves and positively zip into inaction. Nobody really bothers to go into the City unless they have to these days.
Cheers
We must be of a similar vintage, Alex. I remember Johnny Kidd and the Pirates very well, and they still feature on my USB plug in I use for entertainment in the car. That guitar intro on Shakin’ All Over is outstanding. Don’t think they ever played the Rink in Cromer, but if they did I missed them.
The Britannia Pier got a lot of early bands Troggs, Who Stones, Merseys and Gerry and the Oacemakes
Few weeks and I hit 73 but good music memories
Like I’ve said before those seven or eight years you have on me gave you Hendrix, Cream and the Beatles while I missed out on all of them at the time.
I can’t complain though as I grew up with Sabbath, LZ and The Faces, coupled with the Floyd [imo anyway] at their absolute peak.
Yeah I liked all those vans to along the Pretty things and Deep Purple
In reply to Alex , does my mini van count .
I just Wiki’d Johnny Kidd [okay, Fred Heath], and also in the car crash that killed him was then-Pirate and later original Deep Purple bassist Nick Simper, who Ritchie Blackmore infamously threw out of the band when he & Jon Lord wanted to go heavy with Deep Purple In Rock in late 69.
I didn’t need Wiki to remember that he chucked him and Rod Evans out as he thought they wouldn’t have been able to handle it.
Looking back Blackmore was right, but it took Simper and Evans forever to get any royalties from the first three albums, a tidy sum for Evans as he wrote all the early lyrics. That was shabby in extremis.
Nice to read about another positive performance Martin and hard to disagree with your sentiments.
The sharp incisive attacking play and crisp finishes were a joy to behold and the frequency of the goals were an assault on the senses. After the goal drought of last season I’m praying wr can make this the new norm.
To be disappointed with a draw at st Mary’s says a lot about the change in mood music around the place and is testament to Wagners work during the summer, the effort levels of the players and the recruitment of a number of solid citizens who although cheap, appear to be exactly what was required.
Without the frequent intervention of a highly suspect set of officials its fair to say we would be sitting top this lunchtime.
A caveat to all this positive vibe is of course the spectre of defensive frailty and mistakes. On this occasion however it would be pertinent to mention the array of premier league talent at Southamptons disposal, particularly the 2 wingers, who present a particularly potent threat and Alcaraz, who may well be parading his talents on match of the day before the month is out.
I’d prefer to dwell on the dramatic upsurge in the form of Giannoulis, the joyous goal threat of Rowe, the work rate of Sargent, the tireless steaming up and sown the pitch of Stacey and a great many other elements, too many to mention but we all get the picture.
I note that the pink un keeps speaking of Sara as a potential exit from the club before the window closes. It’s clear to anyone with an ounce of common sense that any chance of success this season would die the moment we cash in on this golden asset. Its hard to believe that a serious football club would countenance selling such a player at this point in time but if it does then I fervently hope that the board of directors take their self funding and foxtrot Oscar through the same back door.
Hi Chris
The “solid citizens* you refer to are doing the job, aren’t they?
Maybe that will serve to silence the odd one or two detractors who couldn’t see the difference they would make in terms of effort, commitment and that commodity you would expect from every pro footballer but do not always get: a sheer bloody-minded desire to win.
Something we sorely missed in Farke’s final season and the Smith debacle of course.
We were actually including Jon Rowe when I said to Ed [above] that I didn’t think even Webber would sell just now and I stick by that as in I don’t think he will.
Not out of any finer but feelings but because Sara reallly does need a full season to prove himslef.
He’s not got off to a bad start though, has he?
Cheers
Well the Canaries have got their mojo back and hopefully so will I in the coming days, thanks for the kind words ole partners. Going to be an interesting season, Wagner seems to have a clear plan and the players are on board, we can get a bit more upbeat with our comments.
Hi Cutty
The switch has been thrown, now we need Chief Sparky Wagner to keep the circuit boards together as there won’t be much dosh around for a trip to Heigham Street for spares and repairs.
And yes, it is good to be upbeat with the comments – even if only because I enjoy responding to the comments so much more when they are positive.
Cheers
*** Heigham St must be the electrician’s paradise of Norfolk, what with Panks at one end and Lawrence’s wholesalers at the other 🙂
Morning Mr P, two games down and goals flooding in, can’t be bad just hope that doesn’t fade away Just glad we aren’t favourites to go up as some seem to think over the border., still trying emulate our past achievements of double promotions.
Luton chasing Krull by all accounts, sad to see him go if indeed he does, will we buy in or promote a youngster.?
I do enjoy the newfound steel and the never we are defeated attitude, but it is only two games, It was possibly the best time we could have had to play at St Mary’s, they had many doubts over players’ futures and one set to leave to the smoke.. But still a great result an awesome game to have witnessed especially for the neutrals. I read a couple of reports yesterday heck if I can remember the sites, but both carried much the same How unlucky City were.
All the very best to Cutty, hope you are soon off that treatment table and back on the grass. Along with best wishes for anyone suffering under the weather
Sam at the Pink-un says city will look to bring invsomeone as backup so where does that leave Barden and Reyes and we have 2 options loaned out.
Any money needs to be invested in areas that need strengthening and give Barden a chance
Hi Lad
Webber will be relieved to get Krul’s wages off the books and that’s for sure.
We were told they rated the Chilean/American Reyes at the beginning of the season and it looks like we’ll soon find out if he’s good enough for the #2 spot.
I can see the economics in letting Krul go plus he’s never going to play ahead of Angus any more but GK is one position I would not $od around with as one injury could leave us in deep doo-doo if we don’t recruit a third option.
My take on this one is to let Krul go but replace him in the short term cos there seem to be a few experienced keepers around who could do a job for us.
Please God NOT a youngster on a loan – we’ve got so many *kid keepers* I can’t even remember where all our own youngsters are right now 🙂
Cheers
Hi Mr P,
What an unexpected point, and excellent team performance that was. Certainly helps to keep the doubters like me in check .
Mr England was very quick to punish us on Saturday; much less so as the VAR official in yesterday’s match at Stamford Bridge when if he had applied the same judgement criteria there would have been at least one penalty.
As someone said above, hopefully we will get him as a homer later in the season.
O T B C
Hi John
Doubter? You? 🙂
I’m one of those supporters [and there are loads like me] who is as loath to criticise the team as I am quite happy to have a go at the Board and its suits.
But the Board aren’t on the grass so it’s great to offer recognition and praise when it’s due to those who are, aka the team.
Our team, eh Kenny?
Cheers
Good to read about some positivity for a change.
First time I’ve heard the Pirates version, another addition to Mt playlist. Thanks.
Hi Dorset
Yes, it IS good, isn’t it? 🙂
The Pirates were hand-in-glove with the original punk movement through their history and credibility and around 76/77 they brought out an album called Skull Wars.
There’s a few tracks from it dotted around YT – give *All in it Together* a listen cos if you like JBG you should like it. A lot.
Cheers
Hi Martin
Had a listen and enjoyed it. Will listen to the album later. Many thanks.
Despite the recent wins, Martin, my mystic wig is still on. It’s hard to predict how it’s going to go – have been pleasantly surprised so far. Long may it continue.
Hi Kev
Or in this case more like Realistic Kev!
Course it’s hard to tell after just the two games, but like you I’m pleasantly surprised – and I think a lot of us are too.
Cheers
Darren England was VAR at Stockley Park on Sunday for all the contentious decisions in the premier on Sunday.
Onto City , two games in and the revolution blues are being cleared away. Could we in at the beginning of a good thing .
Hi Bernie
I suppose I’d class Mr England as a wannabe celebrity ref, if there is such a thing!
There is only truly one of those, the admirable Snr Collina 🙂
Cheers
Cheers
Our dear friend Simon Hooper was the referee on the pitch at Old Trafford last night, looking as fat, bald and shiny as ever, and refused Wolves a blatant penalty, which VAR didn’t even recommend him to review on the monitor. I don’t know who the VAR referee was, but PGMOL have admitted after the match that it should have been reviewed, and a penalty given. It’s not often you find the Canary faithful supporting Wolves, but have a look at the Pink’un message board!
Take a look at Gary’s piece this morning.
You can’t miss it – t’s the lead article with the sarky comment about Simon Hooper from me on it 🙂
I’ll take a look at the Pink Un in a bit – I’ve got to psych myself up for that one!
Only 12 minutes of highlights on YT, but the guys are looking good!
Early days of course, but win at home, draw away, is pretty good form.
Sad to see Max Aarons leave, but nobody deserves success more than he does, lets hope he kicks on and gets a few opportunities to get full England caps!
Hi Kev
I can’t say that joining Bournemouth has ended Max’s England prospects but it hasn’t really done much to aid them either.
That final jump at the end of age group international football is such a massive one as so many others have found before.
You can bet your bottom squiddly that, after league appearances, that is the first add-on Webber will have targetted.
Is Max good enough for England? I’d like to think so.
Will he become a full international? He must think so as he turned down Jamaica quite a while back now and hasn’t changed his mind!
Cheers