For 15 minutes it was pretty good. In that respect, it felt like we’d been transported back to the heady days of the nine-game unbeaten run. A win but an underwhelming win. The type to which we’ve become accustomed. But so poor has been the run we’ve been on, it was just a relief to […]
Time’s up for Deano and Shakey
I don’t say it lightly. I’d resisted the urge to demand change longer than most because I wanted to see a side with a Dean Smith imprint on it, and by that I meant one that contained Isaac Hayden, two fit South Americans and a proper left-back. I’ve seen it now. Amid the barrage of […]
CITY v BURNLEY (A) – THE PREVIEW
A quiet revolution has taken place down Turf Moor way. Where once the Burnley faithful saw hoofing, now they see passing: that extraordinary phenomenon where one footballer uses his skill to pass the ball to another, the idea being that Player B then uses the same technique to pass to Player C and so on. […]
A point at a feisty Brammall Lane but the malaise runs deeper than a chaotic 45
If you’ve not seen Robin Sainty’s EDP column of yesterday, then I strongly urge you to give it a read. As ever, he nails it and one sentence, in particular, stood out: “What should be a pleasure is becoming a chore for many and that’s not good.” Too right it’s not good, but it’s absolutely […]
Where from here after another pre-Halloween horror show at the Carra?
Dean Smith was right in saying that last night’s performance was not dissimilar to those we put in during the nine-game unbeaten run. But that’s part of the problem. The performances during said run were okay for a few parts of a few games, but were generally accepted as being uninspiring, tepid, and disjointed. It […]
CITY v LUTON (H) – THE PREVIEW
By nature, I much prefer to play things down rather than up – probably part of the reason why I only ever made it to the very lowest levels of sports writing – but even I’m struggling to downplay the importance of tonight’s game. A good win and the ship (for a few days at […]
A miserable night for City at Vicarage Road. More questions than answers
It was almost a game of two halves. Almost. But almost was not enough. And the first was so poor, it would have been nigh on impossible for the second to be as bad. To make it doubly disappointing, Watford are not the Championship galacticos Mick McCarthy would have us believe. They’re an okay side […]
City lose their first in ten on an ‘along come Norwich’ afternoon at the Carra
Before I start I should warn you I’m not as angry as some. If you’re looking for some Dean Smith-related rage look away now. Yes it was disappointing, and yes we were profligate in front of goal and sloppy in defence, but those of a certain age have seen this a hundred times before. It’s […]
Entertainment v Points – another night when the latter was victorious
Hhmm. Traditional footballing convention tells us we should be happy with that. A point away from home against the side who were third, just two points and one place below us, sounds fine. So too the fact the league leaders lost at home, which means we’re now level on points with them and only second […]
CITY v READING (A) – THE PREVIEW
Not many were predicting an early-season promotion charge from Reading and, in fact, the bookies and experts were talking up a right Royal battle at the opposite end of the table this season. But something is stirring down Berkshire way and a home win at the Madjeski tomorrow night would see Reading leapfrog City in […]
Pukki is the difference after another gritty afternoon of classic Smudgerball
And on we plod. No trees being uprooted, not too much swashbuckling, the entertainment meter only occasionally flicking into life, yet another three points on the board. Those in the ‘Smith out’ trenches are still able to hold the line after another afternoon of carelessness, blunders and staccato football, while those for whom three points […]
Second in the table, a new investor on (the) board, but nowhere near our happy place
We find ourselves in what my dad would describe as a rum ol’ place. Some would call it a rut. Second in the league; averaging two points per game; a new, vastly wealthy American investor on board (and on the board), yet there’s barely a hint of joy evident across the Canary nation. Wins are […]
The joy of slow, laboured, staccato passing that somehow still earns a point
I deliberately gave social media only a light touch last night. The fallout from anything other than a win was always going to be unedifying. When I did dip in, it was typically laden with I-told-you-so’s from those who, since the start of the season, have been pointing out that despite being second in the […]
Sloppy.. ugly… and a bit lucky… but it’s six out of six for City
There are many different ways to win a football match; the list is almost endless. Yet Dean Smith’s City keep discovering new ways… usually inadvertently. Last night it was… a) Race into two-goal lead while playing like the away side, b) Give ball away with alarming frequency and so invite thoroughly decent Bristol City to […]
No rights or wrongs, but unfair to suggest football can’t be trusted at times like these
To not have a live game to watch on Friday night was disappointing but, as Kathy described beautifully yesterday, it was probably the right call by the EFL. Whether it was right to call off the whole Premier League and EFL programme yesterday was rather more contentious but was, I guess, one of those damned […]
Our Todd is back, and Dean Smith’s squad is all the better for it
It’s not often it can be said that Todd Cantwell has gone under the radar. That’s not his style. But he has, or at least his road to redemption has. It feels like, almost without noticing, we have our old Todd back. The one who clearly loves playing in the yellow and green, is warm […]
City go top but a sense of unease for some even after five wins on the spin
Yesterday was was a funny ol’ day. These are funny ol’ times. City won 3-0, it was their fifth win on the spin, it took them to the top of the Championship – just three weeks after being bottom – and they still have some key players to come back into the team. By almost […]
Finally… City rediscover that winning feeling after going a goal down!
I wrote on Sunday morning about there being few more satisfying ways to win a game than a backs-to-the-wall smash and grab. Well, last night was the perfect demonstration of one that matched it. Maybe even trumped it. Who doesn’t love an injury-time winner? That we did it via a similar route to the win […]
CITY v BIRMINGHAM (A) – THE PREVIEW
On paper, a trip to struggling Birmingham shouldn’t hold too many fears. But this is Norwich City. And the Championship. Nothing comes easy and nothing gets taken for granted. The Blues may have had a tricky start to the season and may have off-field struggles ongoing but at 7:45 tomorrow evening it’ll all be back […]
Sunderland test City to the limit but Big Grant and co ride out a Wearside storm
Those who’ve played the game and who’ve come off the pitch with three points after taking a proper shellacking will have recognised the pride and joy in Andrew Omobamidele’s voice. The young Irishman’s voice quivered as he spoke glowingly of his defensive colleagues in the direct aftermath of yesterday’s win. “The excitement of that defending […]