Not for the first time, I need to choose my words carefully. I took an online kicking during yesterday’s game for suggesting that minute 43 was too early to unfurl the #SmithOut banners. My poorly made point was that we could yet go on and win the game and the landscape would shift but was […]
A win in the Carabao… a pearler from Lungi… heroics from Angus… and a Panenka!
I didn’t attend last night’s game and so hadn’t planned on penning a thought piece on events at the Carra. The fact there were no alternative ways of watching the action other than being there tends to render any comment I have on events even more futile than normal… and then Marcelino Ńuñez, in the […]
Our first point & our first goal. Thin gruel maybe but a step in the right direction
It was one of those something-for-everyone afternoons. For the pyro lovers, there was Carrow Road’s best effort yet; for everyone, there was a much-deserved ovation for our heroic Lioness; for the optimists, there was a performance that was infinitely better than its Cardiff equivalent, and for those who continue to demand Dean Smith’s P45, there […]
Marcelino Nuñez is in the building…
So, our first ever Chilean has finally arrived. Last night, following some transatlantic jet-setting, Marcelino Nuñez was finally introduced as a City player amid the now traditional fanfare of slo-mo badge-kissing and name-on-the-shirt pointing. Whether this signing is a stroke of genius from Stuart Webber or another damp squib will only be revealed over the coming […]
Canary Armageddon… ‘a poor man’s Steve Bruce’… and the men from Milwaukee
I’m not sure the defeat in Cardiff is quite the prelude to Canary Armageddon that some are predicting but it was definitely one of those where it was hard to nail down too many positives. I mean, it might end up being all of the things the prophets of doom are saying and more, but […]
City stumble at the first hurdle – Smith with many questions still left to answer
We can blame Dean Smith and Craig Shakespeare, or the players, or some lamentable refereeing all we like for the defeat in Cardiff but the fact of the matter is the die was cast at 10:27 yesterday morning. A Twitter account for The Second Tier – a reputable podcast that covers all things Championship – […]
City’s first defeat of pre-season at Celtic Park but Smith already under pressure
I need to tread a bit carefully. I took some mild stick on Twitter yesterday for suggesting those who bemoaned City’s performance in the 2-0 defeat by Celtic were blubbing prematurely. As I’ve said many times before, I pay little heed to results and performances in friendlies – even those that occur just seven days […]
Oscillating fans… a new Brazilian… rose and gold heaven… and fun in southern France
So, things are finally moving. The friendlies are starting to come thicker and faster, the mood of the faithful is starting to oscillate more wildly than a bedroom fan, there’s a tangible increase in intensity in training and matchplay, and we already have our first casualty of the new season. So, the week that was, […]
That was the week that was: Safe standing… Sara… Sinani… and white water rafting!
So, things are slowly starting to move – both in terms of incomings and outgoings. Still slowly, but they’re moving. We even appear to have a new signing imminent… possibly. So… the Norwich City week that was: Monday 4 July A slow start to the week, with the first team squad partaking of day three […]
Who needs an Old Farm Derby on grass when there’s Twitter… and Mark Ashton
I try not to devote too much MyFootballWriter time to Ipswich Town… Because we’re a Norwich City website, so why would we, and Because it plays straight into the ‘living rent-free’ narrative they love to purport. But, about once a season I do invariably feel the need to open up that festering wound that is […]
That was the week that was… in Canary world.
Given that we’re just a week-and-a-bit into pre-season and there’s been nothing new to report in terms of incoming players or incoming investment, it’s still been an interesting few days in the life of Norwich City FC. Oddly, after a year in which we’ve become used to the news being generally disheartening, the last week […]
Just five days to Dereham… 34 to Cardiff… and the imminent launch of a new kit
And to think we’re only five days away from a ball being kicked in anger for the first time in season 2022-23. Okay, so there’s unlikely to be too much anger and venom on display when Dean Smith takes his squad to Dereham on Friday night – kick-off at Aldiss Park is at 7pm – […]
Arrivederci to Messrs Tzolis and Placheta? … while the wait for incomings continues
It’s been a slow-burner of a summer for City fans, but with some of the squad reporting back for duty yesterday, or for fitness testing to be more precise, we should expect some moving and shaking in the next few weeks. I’m not sure whether Christos Tzolis or Przemyslaw Placheta were among the early arrivals – I suspect […]
No surprises… 23 home, 23 away, but with the prospect of an opening day love-fest
So… we travel to Gareth Bale’s Cardiff City on opening day then. At least we will if, as is heavily rumoured, their prodigal son decides to join the Bluebirds by way of getting match fit for Qatar 2022. If he doesn’t, we’ll just be heading to Cardiff. The other thing to note is that if […]
The Curious Case of Todd Cantwell
The latest Todd Cantwell rumour – and I expect there are more to come – is that Blackburn Rovers are looking to take him to the north-west on a season-long loan. The report emanated from The S*n’s so-called transfer expert Alan Nixon who declared that their new head coach, Jon Dahl Tomasson, has highlighted Cantwell […]
Football miracles… fighting talk from Isaac… wantaway Milot… and an odd December
Miracles rarely happen in football. Not in 2022. Invariably, those with the most money and the best players end up winning the big prizes, although Leicester City’s Premier League triumph of 2016 did admittedly edge into miracle territory. That was good. But the point is they’re very rare. Yet, another occurred yesterday morning. If you’re […]
The healing process continues – NCFC football-less weekends have been a joy
We’re a resilient bunch really. Okay, so we moan a lot (I don’t think I’m alone) and we completely ignore the not-too-high, not-too-low ethos espoused by most managers, coaches and sporting directors. Wins are met with ecstasy, defeats with desolation, and rarely do we trundle along in that hinterland described by Kipling. Balance, even from […]
Relief at Daniel’s new home … the return of Farkeball? … and success from set plays?
When the rumours began to circulate around Daniel Farke going to Blackburn Rovers, it was enough to make the stomach churn. With the greatest respect to Blackburn, it didn’t feel like a natural fit for our favourite German, and the thought of him lining up in a different Championship dugout next season was about as […]
With no white smoke on the Attanasio deal, we can only speculate… and dream
The absence of anything concrete concerning the involvement (or otherwise) of Mark Attanasio in our football club has obviously left the door wide open for speculation. And sure enough… While MFW is far from alone, we (I) have managed to fill a whole week’s worth of articles based almost solely on the fact that Attanasio […]
What type of owner is Mark Attanasio? MFW chats with Brewers’ writer, Jack Stern
As expected, there’s been no white smoke regarding the rumoured investment in Norwich City from a group of US businessmen led by the owner of the Milwaukee Brewers MLB franchise, Mark Attanasio. All we’ve had is a missive on The Athletic that suggests initially Attanasio and co will just be looking to buy Michael Foulger’s […]