When I sat down to write this I thought to myself, well this should be really easy, we’ve had such an amazing season. But then I started thinking about it, and realised it’s possibly the most difficult season to rate the players on. When you look back at our opening game, it was a very […]
Craig Bailey
The results are in, the fans have spoken! So, who made the MFW City first XI?
Just over a week ago, we asked you to vote on your chosen Norwich City starting XI for the 2018/19 season, presuming everybody was fit, and the results are in. A huge thanks to the 221 of you that completed the survey, we only had to remove one rogue entry from the data set, who […]
So… you’re the head coach. The job is yours. What’s your chosen City starting XI?
We can all agree this season has surpassed any realistic expectations, particularly when we consider the significant influx of new players, as the changing of the guard continued and more youth team members were promoted. It’s something, as Stuart Webber stated a few times, which was always likely to take a few windows to sort […]
Still the big prize to play for, but even if it ended now, what a season it’s been!
When have Norwich ever done anything the easy way? Never, right? Countless times in the past, when things have looked good is precisely the time when it all comes crashing down. I remember after some of our wins in Europe losing to Oldham – no offence to Oldham! When teams go top of the league, […]
Football has eaten itself. The bubble will soon burst and the vultures are circling
I’ve been thinking about writing this article for some time and simply not found the time, but the situation at Aston Villa gave me the final push I needed. I’m finding myself more and more frustrated with the way money is impacting the game I love. It’s felt to me that it’s been spiralling out […]
MUSIC WEEK: Heard the one about the tuneful Fender DG6 acoustic, the Easy Tigers and the Lunar Mansions?
Music has always played a big part of my life. Growing up I was introduced to The Who, Creedence Clearwater Revival, The Rolling Stones, T-Rex, Deep Purple and Black Sabbath by my dad and Simon & Garfunkel and Buddy Holly by my mum. My own journey down this path opened up The Beatles, The Doors […]
Once labelled a ‘Wes-hater’, but really? He’s in my all-time City XI… is he in yours?
Legend is a term that gets bandied around all too frequently these days. Wes Hoolahan, however, deserves that label and more in a Norwich City context. A few years back I casually wrote a tweet saying I thought Wes was our most overrated player of all time. I have also written a joke tweet wondering […]
Let’s brace ourselves for another summer of ‘transition’ … and still expect more of the ‘t’ word next season
I’ve missed a lot of games live this season due to some ongoing health issues, but somehow have managed, by hook or by crook, to catch the majority of games. I think not going to the games as often has enabled me to take a step back and think properly about what’s happening at the […]
Trying to run before we can walk with the new philosophy? Maybe we need to go back to basics
After an atrocious result against Millwall – something I wasn’t expecting – there’s no doubt been a little soul-searching over whether this new ethos and regime is right. I suspect that includes Daniel Farke, Stuart Webber and even Delia & Michael. In terms of off the pitch, under the existing owners I don’t think we […]
Chill out, enjoy life, sing at games, have a laugh and accept that the Premier League is not the be all and end all
I loved the 90s. The music was better, City achieved their highest ever league position, they played in Europe for the first (and so far only) time, I was younger, could run all day, had more hair and could drink like a fish with minimal hangovers. And football was still about enjoyment and supporting your […]
Cautious optimism is the way forward but credit to the City board for leading us to this brave new world
A lot has happened since I last put finger to keyboard and produced a MFW opinion piece, and I’m pretty excited about what’s going on. The Webberlution is in full swing, we’re signing players in positions we actually need, we’ve shipped out some of the old guard and seem to be replacing them with younger […]
2016/17 squad review. Craig Bailey assesses, player by player, who should stay and who should go
It’s been a subdued start to Wildschut’s City career and I’m certain we’ve not seen the best of him. There’s a dangerous player at this level in there somewhere but it’s not working for whatever reason. However he must stay.
Maybe, just maybe, the board were right all along and their faith in Alex Neil will be justified
I’d have liked to have seen Lafferty, Bennett and Bassong all head out with replacements coming in, but perhaps January is not the best time for that. I suspect those players, perhaps alongside Mulumbu, Whittaker and Turner, may depart in the summer irrespective of the league we find ourselves in.
Hysteria is a step too far but it is time for Delia to seriously rethink her future plan for this football club
Without extra funding to compete, I don’t believe long-term success was possible for either. We don’t have enough funding options to go into debt so we have to live within our means; something that is incredibly difficult to do in such a competitive market. It leaves restricted transfer and wages budgets.
2016 squad review from Craig Bailey, who assesses, player by player, who should stay and who should go
Wes’s season started well but drifted away, I guess like most 35 year olds. He still has the ability to spark that bit of magic that most do not, but this increasingly comes at a cost defensively. One more season, probably his last, is worth a shout, even if it’s as a bit part and to pass on to the younger generation.
Hate to say it, but told you so – AN’s inability to firefight when the chips are down is his undoing
My biggest fear when he was employed was that he didn’t have enough experience to fall back on when things got tough. His ability to deal with tough times, when things go against you, where you’re not meeting or exceeding expectations were, when he was first appointed, a complete unknown.
A funny old week. Yet still the best solution for fans, club and board would be for Alex to turn it around
A win is a win, you only get three points no matter how it happens, but I think the reason fans and media have been so quick to turn on Alex and the board, is that we’ve been incredibly disjointed for most of the season – and winning ugly only takes you so far.
It’s a tricky one. Experience in the top job is key in the Champ but so too is earning the respect of those you manage
I remember seeing an interview with Sam Allardyce where he quoted Sir Alex Ferguson as saying that man management in the top flight was the most difficult challenge. Alex Neil has discovered this the hard way.
The Walking Dead Season 16/17 Norwich style – winning ugly is okay, but when you lose ugly…?
The passing has been pedestrian, allowing teams to get behind the ball, and against Leeds you could see players actively pulling out of challenges; that’s seriously worrying and defensive organisation has been almost non-existent throughout the team.