Last school year was a collective disappointment as our boys huffed and puffed but ultimately failed in the end of term examination to make the grades we knew they were capable of. The school have made a lot of changes to ensure that this disappointment is not repeated and the teaching staff has been replaced […]
Championship Preview Part Three: From Alex’s Preston to the big sending Wolves via the mighty fine city
Here we go… the third and final part of Andy’s team-by-team Championship preview: Preston North End The fortunes of Alex Neil’s Preston will provide an interesting sideshow for Norwich fans this season. Last year they clearly overachieved under Simon Grayson, which earned him a move to Sunderland. Whilst they appear to have retained their […]
Championship Preview Part Two: From Rowett’s Rams to Warbs’ Forest via Big Mick’s finest
On Tuesday Andy looked to the prospective fortunes of Aston Villa to Cardiff. Today in the second part of his three-part preview of the Championship it’s Derby to Forest… Derby County Although they’ve lost Tom Ince to Huddersfield, Derby still have all the ingredients in place to mount a serious promotion push this year. Although […]
Championship preview Part One: From Brucie’s Villa to Colin’s Cardiff via Harry’s ‘triffic’ Blues
With the new season approaching at a rate of knots, it’s time to sort the Championship contenders from the also-rans. How will the new-look Norwich fare against the relegated teams? How will our three-starred neighbours cope with the unknown vista of a Championship season? What about Norwich Reserves, or Wolves as they used to be […]
It looks like it’s going to be a 4-1-4-1 or a variation thereof. MFW’s Andy Head looks at its finer points
Norwich have tried various formations and systems over the years, to varying success, but with the arrival of Daniel Farke, given the brief to establish a “Norwich-style” of play, it appears we are to be set-up in a way we never have been before. 4-1-4-1 is the style favoured by Farke and which he used […]
An extended deal for the skip but let’s hope Daniel doesn’t hitch his wagon, hook, line & sinker on Russ
I’ve never understood booing. A kind of ape-like whoop to signal distaste that, other than in football grounds and the more theatrical sessions of PMQs, was last seen in a non-ironic sense in the days of Vaudeville. Yet it bizarrely continues at grounds around the country every week. Whilst booing the referee or a […]
No fire breathing dragons at Colney but there is a softly spoken Welshman with a hand on the tiller
To borrow a phrase from Game of Thrones, it was clear from January onwards that for many of the City squad, Winter was Coming. The long summer that had persisted for more seasons than usual was coming to an end and those who had dined at the high tables had become fat, enjoying the fruits […]
The Ins depend on the Outs, and it’s the pricey Outs that may just be the chink in the new masterplan
It’s June, the sun is shining, and despite a deeply-disappointing previous campaign everything in the Norwich City garden is looking rosy right now. The principal reason for this is Stuart Webber. Our new Sporting Director has yet to put a foot wrong since arriving at Carrow Road, releasing expensive older players and under-performers, refusing to […]
“He’s great going forward but he can’t defend”. MFW’s Andy Head examines the Pinto files
Recently I wrote a Headmaster’s Report for the season which was generally well received and generated the usual raft of “you were a bit generous there” or “that was harsh on Player X” responses. It was great. We all have different views on players and football in general and an article such as that was intended to prompt […]
With a nod to the Y’Army fanzine, Andy Head gives us the school report on the Class of 2017
Hoolahan: A very popular pupil entering his final year before graduating, he was awarded our highest honour at the end of year awards. Whilst he displays less stamina than in previous years he still produces work of a quality that others can only dream of recreating, and maintains an exemplary work rate.
Remember the one about Joaquin Larrivey? A salutary tale of how not to deal in a transfer window
This was a club failing to prepare and preparing to fail. It was a sign that Alex Neil was out of his depth with top level transfers. A sign that the club had no coherent recruitment strategy. And a sign that David McNally had begun to lose his previously vice-like grip in allowing this mess to occur. An accident waiting to happen.
What next for the skip? A great guy and City ‘through and through’ without doubt, but is that enough?
Martin has an unshakable belief in his own ability. You can hear it in every interview he gives. Whilst he commendably doesn’t shy away from admitting to a mistake, he will always believe that he can put it right and that he should be in the team to help right any wrongs.
‘A time for new heroes’ take 2? Roeder made it personal but he did conjure up an Irish magician
It can’t be denied that the demands of a 46 game Championship season, playing Saturdays and Tuesdays, (while still playing for the Republic of Ireland in every international break) are catching up with the wee man. As much as we may want him to, he can’t go on forever.
Time for the latest return of Big John? The stats and evidence against McGovern are damning
We have McGovern with two years left of his contract who inspires zero confidence from the City fan base and seemingly little confidence from what currently passes for our defence, as they have no clue where he is or whether he’s coming to collect the ball at any given time.
A point earned with ten men but the ship’s far from happy and we keenly await the Board’s next move
Parts of the crowd turning on the back four seemed akin to a teacher calling the kids in the bottom maths group stupid when giving them an arithmetic problem he/she knew they could never solve. You might feel better for releasing frustration but you’re not really helping. These are never going to be straight A students no matter how much you shout at them.
When we’re good we’re good, but when we’re bad… It’s been either black or white with precious little grey
If we can keep Jerome, Howson and Wes healthy, add in a fit again Naismith, and Pinto we can still light up the darkest of days going forward. But with all the positive attacking potential we know the negative defensive potential that undermines it and cancels it out.
City in centre back ‘purgatory’ and this position, most of all, awaits a major summer overhaul
This summer represents a watershed moment for the entire defence. Whittaker, Turner, Bassong and Bennett are all out of contract whilst Dijk is highlighting on social media at every turn a “four months” caveat, which serves to remind that left-back is far from settled.
The players have got us into this. It’s up to them to get us out. But still the Yellow Army has a key role to play
Lambert was very aware of the mood of the crowd. His post-match comments repeatedly highlighted how conscious he was of the ability to turn Norwich’s own fans against them, and how close his team came to doing just that after their equaliser, and capitalising on the tinderbox housed within the Barclay, the Snake Pit et al.
Derby was a start but still loads of hard work ahead. This club is in desperate need of a cunning plan
The famous scene that defined the movie was where Al Pacino’s embattled head coach had seen his team reach the Super Bowl and in the inspirational speech-to-end-all-speeches he explained that, like life, football is a game of inches.