Picture the scene. An autumn night under the lights at Carrow Road where a soulless Norwich City fall to yet another defeat under the stewardship of a balding manager, his headless Sporting Director and their American owners. No, it’s not 2025 or even 2024 for that matter (JHT’s hairline was a marvel); the year is […]
Column
More Carra misery. Even more questions for Mr Knapper
There’s no point in sugar-coating it. We are, at the moment, a bit of a mess. To continue on this trajectory only ends one way: the way we were heading under the auspices of Liam Manning before he was humanely relieved of his duties and the keys handed to Philippe Clement. That path – the […]
City 0-1 Southampton: Another defeat as the wait for a clean sheet goes on
City fell to yet another defeat, meaning it is now seven losses from ten games. It is also five defeats in a row, including the cup and the first time that Norwich have lost two home matches in a row in 2026. Daniel Grimshaw started in goal, just his second Championship start for Norwich, with […]
MONDAY MARDLE: City attempting the gegenpress but without the press
Well, football is back… and you almost wish it wasn’t! Admittedly, there has been more than a 50% improvement over the previous period, but sadly that only applies to the goals conceded tally. Another lead surrendered. Another loss and performances that match, at least in terms of results and points on the board at least, […]
Questions to answer as City’s progress of early 2026 grinds to a halt
It was supposed to be a full reset. Three weeks to iron out the flaws of August and September and to start afresh on our assault on the top eight. And for 46 minutes the signs were promising. It was far from perfect, of course – had Adam Idah opted for football boots instead of […]
Swansea City 2-1 Norwich City: A promising start slips away in South Wales
After an international break that felt longer than watching paint dry, proper football was back on a Saturday lunchtime. “Hooray!” thought sleepy-eyed Norwich fans as they set off for South Wales; however, the long trip back will have given them plenty to dwell on. For half an hour at least, the Canaries had given themselves […]
MONDAY MARDLE: A sad week for the Canary Nation…
It has been a very sad week for the Norwich City family, with the news of the passing of Michael Wynn-Jones. When I first read the news, I couldn’t stop myself from uttering ‘oh no’ out loud – which confused some of my colleagues somewhat. I never had the privilege of meeting Michael, but he […]
In a world of ADUG, be a Michael
“One of our own” A phrase gibly thrown around and sung about those we deem part of the soul of our club – usually a young player who has come through the ranks, man and boy, and in whom we feel a sense of pride. But the sad passing of Michael Wynn-Jones gave it another […]
Manchesterism – the Dark Side
I used to really like Manchester City, on a kind of third-club basis, after Leeds where I was born and grew up (1954-1972, including the glory years under Revie), and Norwich where I lived for nearly thirty years (1990-2018, starting out with the early Premier League and the UEFA Cup run, and ending with ‘All […]
TALES FROM THE CITY: The late, great Michael Wynn Jones
A Norwich City great has left us. Not a bigger supporter of our football club has there ever been. It’s with the kind permission of Tales From Publishing and the editor of its Norwich City version, our own Mick Dennis, that we repost this excerpt from the trilogy of Tales from the City – first […]
SUNDAY MARDLE: City all over the world… still giving away cheap goals
As I write this, I’m in the departure lounge of Marrakesh Airport, about to fly home after a week’s break. It’s a small old world, int’it? Day one, met a person staying at our hotel who was from Fakenham. Day two, a whole group from Barnham Broom, barely 10 minutes up the road from me. […]
Three weeks! Not sure whether to berate Infantino or give him a big hug
This is different: an international break that started after the Bolton game on September 20th and goes through until October 10th. Three weeks, three sodding weeks. Infantino continues to prove he’s a complete chancer corrupted by power and money. It’s not funny that UEFA have lodged legal papers in Switzerland, and Infantino responded by having […]
Kamikaze football from an under-performing group is a recipe for disaster
I don’t subscribe to the charts and graphs style of football analysis, and if you ever want me to switch off quickly, present me with a diagram of how a team transitions from defence to attack with a series of arrows and lines leading to an xG conclusion. On Sunday, the only graph that mattered […]
Thirteen goals conceded in a week … let’s not pretend that’s normal
Hhmm … that was, by any metric you care to choose, a complete shit show. One of few redeeming features and, worse still, one that bore many similarities to the Class of 2025-26 in the autumn of 2025. They’re fitter in body now – that much I will say – but sharper of mind? Not […]
City 3-4 Bolton: Defensive woes continue as Canaries’ injury list starts to grow
Norwich suffered a 4-3 defeat in the league for the second week in a row. After conceding five in their midweek cup tie away at Manchester City, the Norwich defence failed once more on their return to league action. And to further worsen the mood, three key players suffered potential injuries. Philippe Clement made 11 […]
Manchester City 5- 0 Norwich: Canaries have their wings clipped
Well, that was a bit of a kick in the teeth, but when you get drawn against one of the most expensive sides in world football you know you might be on for a disappointing evening. Norwich arrived at the Etihad with the luxury of being able to treat the League Cup as an opportunity […]
A traditional Etihad spanking – Will things ever be good?
It’s times like this that I envy my wife. Yes, I’ve got one; look at me being all capable at being an adult. On nights like Thursday, as I write this, she’s blissfully going about her evening like any normal, football-ignorant person, with her mood being dictated by rational things such as the volume of […]
MONDAY MARDLE: Gutting, but let’s laud our fine attacking triumvirate
Boggis, Bunce and Bean. One fat, one short, one lean. These horrible crooks, so different in looks. Were nonetheless equally mean. Some may recognise those words, crafted by the wonderful Roald Dahl to describe the main antagonists in ‘The Fantastic Mr Fox’. Talented though Dahl was, I doubt he could rework the sentiments to describe […]
Middlesbrough 4-3 Norwich City: Injury Time Heartbreak
City headed to the Riverside Stadium in high spirits, aiming to make it nine points out of nine for the week. Facing last year’s twice-beaten play-off finalists, at a place that has not been a happy hunting ground for the Canaries in recent years, it was always destined to be a tough test for Philippe […]
Middlesbrough v Norwich City preview: Can the Canaries make it three in a row?
A week ago, the prospect of City heading to Middlesbrough in search of a third straight Championship win felt a fairly distant one. City had just lost 1-0 at Stoke, despite having 72 per cent of the ball, and had been beaten in three of their opening four league games. The exception was a 4-1 […]