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 […]
Webber and Farke still committed to Norwich City – a club that’s “going places”
I’m going to make a leap here. I’m taking as read that most of us like Stuart Webber and Daniel Farke, and want them to be motivated to stay and keep working for Norwich City. No need to re-hash the detailed reasons why. Suffice to remind ourselves that they inherited a huge challenge: a team […]
“You don’t know what you’re doing”. Perhaps true of City in the past, but not now
I’ve been pondering a mystery. No – not why I’m still overweight and unfit. Little mystery about that, I’m afraid. The mystery is this. City are bottom of the table, with 3 wins out of 22, and relegation is all-but-certain. I’m disappointed, of course – but why am I not angry? I know some readers […]
A lousy day at the seaside. But not the only way to judge City’s future
This is my first article for a while. Some of you will know the reason: I was looking after my wife through illness, an illness that eventually took her life in September. Fortunately, the quality of writing on this site means I haven’t been missed (except, apparently, by the editor’s dad!). So it’s above all […]
Luton 1, Norwich 5. Eric Morecambe wouldn’t have enjoyed it, but 642 of us did
It’s easy to read too much into pre-season games. Perhaps especially this time: in football even more than in geography, it’s a long way from Luton to Liverpool. And yet – for those us getting a first look at the 2019-20 Canaries, it’s not unreasonable to look for some pointers. The equivalent visit to Luton […]
TV WEEK: From the Doctor to the Inspector – with kidnapping and the Spanish Inquisition along the way…
Being of a similar vintage to Martin Penney, I share many of the TV memories he so vividly conjured up a few days ago. And a few different ones. In very young days I certainly watched Andy Pandy and the Flowerpot Men. I’ll resist the temptation to compare their dialogue to certain current-day politicians…. Strong […]
Keys to the Championship? Tight defence, and don’t play kids. But that was all BF
Yes, I did say BF. Before Farke. There are still practitioners of the traditional approach, notably Tony Pulis at Middlesbrough. All season he fielded experienced players, several of whom individually cost more than our entire team. And true to his principles, they conceded 16 fewer goals than we did. They also sucked the life out […]
Always a joy when good guys and the beautiful game prevail. And now it’s OUR good guys and OUR beautiful game?
I’m going to need some help today. Not because of celebratory after-effects – understandable as that might be – but because my words simply aren’t good enough to describe the achievements of this Norwich City team and the feelings they’ve inspired in us. I’ll need to borrow some words from others. Starting with Canaries Trust […]
Norwich City’s 2018-19 season? It’s like something out of a movie…
As I write, we’re not promoted – but we’re very close. In the end, the reason we’re close is a difference between ourselves and Leeds. Nothing to do with fluent football; all to do with character. In the cauldron of promotion and facing dogged opponents, we’ve dug deep and kept our unbeaten run intact. Despite […]
The blueprint for Norwich City’s success – and you heard it here
It’s almost two years since I interviewed Stuart Webber for these pages. It was before we appointed – and in most cases before we’d ever heard of – Daniel Farke. We now know that Daniel was top of Stuart’s list, but very different names were on our lips. Thank goodness it was, and is, Stuart […]
Norwich City, your examination starts now. Please put all calculators away
I’ve an important message to help my fellow Norwich fans preserve their sanity. Do as I say, not as I do. Are you scouring the remaining fixtures, trying to assess how many points we’ll get from each game, then doing the same for our rivals and attempting to work out where it means everyone will […]
Dramatic highs and lows over the past decade – but success this season would top the lot
Someone recently said to me: “You must really be happy – City top of the league, and you predicted it all”. If only. They were referring to an article I wrote here on 5 September after the 1-1 draw at Portman Road. In it, I argued for patience with Daniel Farke, saying that I saw […]
Special City teams, the changing Premier League – and why we need technology
As regular readers will recall, I sometimes like to start articles with a trivia question related to something I’m going to discuss. Today’s is this: of the 22 clubs in the inaugural Premier League (1992-93), how many are still in the PL today? As a secondary: are any of them no longer in either of […]
We know about lies, damn lies and statistics – but sometimes stats DO tell the story
As I write, City have played 22 league games out of 46. A fair point for a half-time review. Others have given well-deserved praise to individual players, and to Daniel Farke and his coaching staff. I’ll take a slightly more statistical slant. But first, a question to ponder while you read. Who is the only […]
Daniel Farke may be getting national recognition, but I still have a thing or two to teach him
That headline may be greeted with open-mouthed incredulity – especially by the Capital Canaries players I managed in the West Fulham Sunday League. But I stand by it. You see, Daniel doesn’t always get it right. He’ll sometimes say, for instance, that he’s “pretty pleased” when he clearly means he’s very pleased. It’s because he […]
Farewell to Steve Stone. He saw us through turbulence to calmer waters, and with a smile
A disclaimer to begin: this is neither an investigative article nor a gossip column. I’ve no scoop on the reasons behind Steve Stone leaving the club. My speculation would have the same validity as everyone else’s (ie. very little). However, Steve has been a key part of Norwich City’s journey and changes since 2015. His […]
Against the odds, City find form and harmony – and the opposite elsewhere. It’s all rather paradoxical
How quaint the ways of paradox At common sense she gaily mocks Readers of a certain age and schooling will instantly recognize The Pirates of Penzance. Gilbert’s paradox, in that case, involved contracts and birthdays, but he might just as well have been talking about football. In particular the past few weeks of Norwich City FC. […]
The Nest is progressing and we should be proud of it. Now it just needs a little more feathering
You may think, as I did, that you know the Community Sports Foundation. And you may be, as I was, a bit wrong. I thought CSF was largely, if not exclusively, about giving young people a chance to play sports. Nothing wrong with that, of course – but it turns out CSF is about much, […]