Regular readers will recall that, while I grew up in Norfolk and will always call it home, I’ve lived the past 35 years in Hertfordshire, around 20 miles from London. When local friends raise an eyebrow at my driving to Norwich every fortnight, my standard reply is “It’s easier than getting to Crystal Palace”. And […]
MAN UTD PREVIEW: Sad but correct managerial changes, and my own dilemma
It’s always special preparing for a City game against one of big boys. Trying to imagine ways we could thwart them – weaknesses we might exploit, ploys we might try, all aided by a fervent Carrow Road crowd. There’s an extra personal challenge for me this time. Because of her various commitments, this will be […]
BRENTFORD PREVIEW: What next for the faltering Canaries?
I have a dilemma. There are several things I ought to be doing this Saturday. I also have a ticket for Brentford. There’s a strident voice in my head – which I suspect will be echoed by comments on this article – telling me it would be madness to expect anything other than another miserable […]
“We’re doomed – doomed, I tell ye!” But are we?
I’m not here to rubbish the pessimists about Norwich City’s prospects. How could I be? The facts are stark: six played, six lost. Yes, we had the toughest starting fixtures imaginable – but we’ve also been beaten, convincingly, at home by Watford. Whatever the strengths of our squad, they haven’t thus far played with a […]
WATFORD PREVIEW – The season starts here
The real test of whether Norwich City can survive in the top flight begins at Carrow Road tomorrow. Before we come back and expand on that, a brief detour to Watford – the club closest to where I live, though not to my heart. My Watford-supporting friends assure me I’m safe to write this column. […]
QPR PREVIEW: City still fighting for the title – and they’ll certainly need to
It matters, and it won’t be easy. I’ve spent a chunk of the past week pushing back on suggestions that it would be a let-down if we fail to win the title. The first and overriding aim of this season was promotion back to the Premier League. It’s fantastic that we achieved it with five […]
PRESTON PREVIEW: Curses, howls of protest and a fog of confusion
“The closer he looked, the less he could make out, the deeper everything sank into the gloom” No need to know the literacy reference (though big respect if you do). The quote is from Kafka’s The Castle. It’s indelibly marked on my memory because it was a question in my final university exam. Just the […]
BRENTFORD PREVIEW: Two clubs who deserve success, but no divided loyalties
This is not a six-pointer. This is not a six-pointer. This is not a six-pointer. It’s as well that I’ve come to that conclusion, as our editor Gary made clear he’d disapprove any use of the phrase. There are extreme cases where I might try to persuade him that a match deserved the label, despite […]
STOKE PREVIEW: Can we get back on track? Reasons to be (cautiously) cheerful
Let’s take a breath. With 18 games remaining, nothing is “must win”. Panic is neither helpful nor justified. We’re second in the league, and we’re what commentators say we are: a very good team at this level, with a formula for success. That said, our mini-blip has of course put added focus and pressure on […]
WATFORD PREVIEW: My most memorable day, and a big big Boxing Day for City
I was proud of myself for preparing most of this column a week early. Bad idea. Like the planned visit to my mum in Norfolk over Christmas, it’s had to go back to the drawing board. Part of my preview was an assessment of why Watford’s manager won Manager of the Month for November, and […]
READING PREVIEW: Lousy forecasts, a memory of good fortune, and… *winningest*
I hesitate to mention this, as it may lead some readers to check my record. There’s no denying it’s a shocking record. And if you’re holding me to account, there are some new offences to be taken into consideration. Yes: each year the MFW writers make their predictions for the eventual top six and bottom […]
COVENTRY PREVIEW: Tales of woe… homelessness….& revival under a City great
Let me start with a disclosure. I have a soft spot for Coventry. True, I didn’t in May 1985 when they beat champions Everton (already in their flip-flops and swimming trunks) 4-1 to ensure their survival and condemn Norwich to relegation from the top flight. But a lot of water has flowed under the bridge […]
BOURNEMOUTH PREVIEW… (after a little rant)
Let me open with a disclaimer. I find it difficult to take a balanced view of AFC Bournemouth. The problem stems, of course, from its portrayal on the BBC and elsewhere as “plucky little Bournemouth”, “Cinderella team Bournemouth” and so on. Not to put too fine a point on it, that’s irritating garbage which makes […]
It’s all different this time. And yet, somehow familiar…
A Champions League final in August? That’s just weird. City playing pre-season games? Well, not so much. A month later than usual, it’s true. And without fans, even the diehards who turn out for such fixtures. Even so, much of it has a distinctively familiar feel. New players, new kit, substitutions and goals galore, very little to read into […]
To hell with perspective – we’re hurting. But in a quieter moment…
Let’s not pretend. We’re Norwich City fans and we’re hurting. It hurts that we got relegated. It hurts that we had ten games when football resumed, and lost the lot. It hurts that the verve and belief, which had helped us win admirers and overachieve for much of the past eighteen months, has gone. It […]
“Your mission, Mr Farke, should you decide to accept it…” And why I hope he does
This season is over, bar the shouting. Or perhaps more accurately, the whimpering. The “little miracle” Farke was seeking at the restart has grown to loaves-and-fishes proportions, and beyond. The really disappointing thing – the main reason for sour feelings among fans, and some unprecedented questioning of Farke’s position – is the appearance of our […]
The players are raring to go – but it’s essential that we all stay away
On Tuesday night, Norwich City’s Executive Committee – Ben Kensell, Zoe Ward and Stuart Webber – gave us 90 minutes of online reporting and Q&A. Fan groups logged in from across the globe (and Peterborough). As well as learning that Zoe had cut Stuart’s hair – it’s OK, they’re partners – we were given a […]
It MAY be attractive and safe to resume. That’s fine for some – but should it be?
Today’s piece is a divergence from my norm. It may not show, but I do usually try to write something vaguely coherent and joined-up. No pretence of that today. Rather, it’s a random set of thoughts around a common issue: the Restart, or not, of football. Each thought leads to a question-conclusion. Among much that’s […]
In the world of the Premier League, some are MUCH more equal than others
Are you sitting comfortably? Yes? Let me try to change that. Or at least, to paint a familiar picture in some more vivid colours. In a discussion on another forum about pay cuts and furloughing staff, I gently ventured the view that some Premier Clubs were in a different position from others. I was promptly […]
Heroes on the pitch and also in our hearts. Yes, the Canaries have produced many
Malcolm Robertson’s recent reminiscences here about his favourite City players over the years set many of us thinking. Fortunately, there are plenty to go around, special players in one way or another who we’ve watched in the Canary colours (albeit in a variety of shirts). Some are genuinely outstanding talents. Others have a special place […]