MATCH REPORT

I usually write my match report immediately after a game.  My thinking is a bit like The Likely Lads – I’m trying to avoid seeing the reaction of others which may colour my judgement. Well, it’s 7.30pm here now. While I have avoided all other reports on the game, I’m still not even sure what I […]

The games continue to come thick and fast in this weird, World Cup-affected season. Following a morale-boosting win at the weekend, Smith put our a team that was evolution, rather than revolution, and one that few fans would have disagreed with. The game exploded into life with a horrific-looking challenge on Sam Byram by Iroegbenum.  At […]

It is not often that I find myself staring at a metaphorical blank screen, unsure of what to write about a game. I think that probably tells the story of this game as much as anything. I watched the game from Delhi, with my Liverpool-supporting friend.  After my groans of despair when the team news […]

Following last week’s dismal no-show against Luton, something needed to change. When Dean Smith emerged from the Brammall Lane tunnel before the game and acknowledged the travelling contingent, it seems that if nothing else, he has recognised the necessity to engage with the fans. Both Isaac Hayden and Dimi Giannouloi, described as not ready to […]

It’s amazing how quickly things change.  Only a week or so ago, City were nine games unbeaten. Whilst the performances were not totally convincing, City were widely expected to kick on from there.  Now, coming into what looked like the easiest game of a tough October they were without a win in five.  Dean Smith […]

The joys of international travel have restricted my opportunities to watch the last few games apart from the odd half here or there. But normal service was resumed last night. Dean Smith made a key decision when it came to his team selection. Few would argue with the inclusion of the fit-again Liam Gibbs, however […]

A lot has changed since City last stepped onto a football pitch. A new prime minister, a new monarch, a new investor. Yet some things remain the same, including the ability of the Championship to produce an absorbing, frenetic game. Short on quality, high on entertainment. The City fans paid their tribute to the late Queen […]

Let’s ignore the Carabao Cup and say that City came into this game on the back of two consecutive wins.  Before kick-off, the attention was on the absence of former City Boss Alex Neil, seemingly on his way to Stoke. City lined up unchanged – from the last league game that is. And the game started […]

Dean Smith has made a point of saying that he will pick ‘horses for courses’ this season. Last night he preferred the muscularity and pace of Onel Hernandez to the more subtle approach of Todd Cantwell. Other than that, Teemu Pukki for Jordan Hugill on the bench was the only change from the victory against […]

So first the good news – spoiler alert – a City left-back survived the game without injury!  Before the game though, the not-so-good news was that Teemu Pukki was not even in the squad – Dean Smith reported afterwards that the X-ray revealed no damage but that his foot was still too swollen to wear […]

City travelled to Hull desperate for a first league win of the season, with over 1,500 Canary fans packed into the North Stand of the MKM Stadium.  The Tigers’ start to the season was positive, beating Bristol and Preston, before a slightly unsettling Carabao Cup loss to Bradford City in midweek Dean Smith made two […]

Two-hundred-and fifty-five days into Dean Smith’s reign as head coach, we finally got to see a starting XI containing a player that he signed.  There may have been some surprise initially that this was Marcelino Nunez, rather than Gabriel Sara but in hindsight, the clues were there in the press conference – not wanting to […]

The first game for the season. The phoney war of pre-season is over. Fans traditionally divided between glass half-full, half-empty, is there even a glass or who cares – HMS PTL is launched.  A week ago Gary asked us all to provide our thoughts for the new season. I was in the cautiously positive band, albeit predicting a […]

Relegation is never supposed to be welcome. There is supposed to be a gut-wrenching, sinking, dread when your team finally drop down a league. A feeling of despair.  These emotions generally result from some sort of crushed hope. That last day or week of the season where your team needs to deliver a critical result, […]

And so to the penultimate game of the season.  Dean Smith rolled the dice again with a switch to a 3-4-3 formation to match up with Wolves.  Ben Gibson was given a chance to redeem for his errors in a three-man backline, with Kieran Dowell given a chance once again up front. The atmosphere inside […]

You know things are bad when you are dreading a game of football. After the limp surrender against West Ham, there was little prospect of anything other than another defeat with the only question seemingly how much of a hit would be taken in the goal difference column. Dean Smith rolled the dice. Tim Krul, […]

That’s it. It’s official. It’s over.  We are back in the Championship. For some reason, it feels like a relief.  Perhaps numbed by the despair of previous relegations. Perhaps because, like Christmas, we have known this is coming for so long now it is no longer a shock to the system. On his return to […]

If ever there was a game between the financial David and Goliath of the Premier League then this was it.  A match-up of ethical ownership versus the morally corrupt. The haves and the have-nots. For those who crave change in the business model at Carrow Road, this was the perfect illustration of their reasoning. Newcastle United has […]

A few years ago, a close friend left the military after 20 years. I didn’t see him for a while but when I did, gone was the regulation haircut, replaced instead with a fop of hair that would not have been out of place on the head of the member of a boyband.  It’s part […]

The Amex Stadium is famous, or perhaps infamous, for being out of town away from any bars and clubs.  Norwich City arrived on the South Coast looking to drink in the last chance saloon.  They didn’t find it. The team selection had more than a whiff of ‘which eleven are fully fit’ about it. At […]