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Mike Taylor

If it is to be Wagner, then revolution rather than evolution is needed

2nd January 2023 By Mike Taylor 6 Comments

I wrote my previous MFW article before the David Wagner rumours started circulating in earnest. In that piece, I highlighted my issues with Stuart Webber and made references to Wagner and the promotion he’d earned at Huddersfield. Specifically, I emphasised the fact that Wagner didn’t coach the squad he inherited but that Webber allowed him to sign […]

Filed Under: Column, Mike Taylor

Smith may be the first domino to fall but there is an even bigger problem…

30th December 2022 By Mike Taylor 10 Comments

The Dean Smith sacking is an article for others to write. I was an advocate, a big fan. Then I was patient, flirting with the benefit of doubt. Then I was sceptical. Then I was confused. Then I got bored and, eventually, agitated.   It was worth a punt, it failed. We move on. I […]

Filed Under: Column, Mike Taylor

Survival is do-able under the self-financing ethos, but not using this tactical model

5th January 2022 By Mike Taylor 25 Comments

The reality has dawned on far more fans than ever before… We have a woefully inappropriate squad for the Championship next season, let alone the Premier League for the second half of this season. Note I chose inappropriate. January is going to be massive for our club’s future. However, my opinion is that under Smith and Shakespeare, […]

Filed Under: Column, Mike Taylor

Lessons to be learned from the Villa game, but can S&S replicate that same model?

21st December 2021 By Mike Taylor 16 Comments

The Villa game should be a lesson to us in what our short to medium-term future might hold.   For those who don’t know, that was a team that Dean Smith built. Jacob Ramsey exemplified the qualities of a wide player in 4-3-3 and what a fabulous goal he scored. There is currently no player in […]

Filed Under: Column, Mike Taylor

Now S & S have seen inside Pandora’s Box, what could the January window bring us?

9th December 2021 By Mike Taylor 11 Comments

A Pandora’s Box. That’s our squad. Players tactically incompatible with others. Strength missing where strength is needed. Pace absent where it is expected. Players too good to drop, or better than their peers, but played out of position. A squad built for 4-2-3-1 which is no longer played. Some summer recruitment that has raised more […]

Filed Under: Column, Mike Taylor

The case for Dean Smith…

12th November 2021 By Mike Taylor 22 Comments

Frank Lampard did well at Derby but was heavily reliant on bringing in players, like Mason Mount, who were well above the standard necessary for the Championship. I recall the game where the floodlights failed, where City looked well set for the win but where Derby destroyed us after the restart. Credit that to Lampard. […]

Filed Under: Column, Mike Taylor

Should Farke persevere with 4-3-3? Or will we see the much-discussed back three?

16th September 2021 By Mike Taylor 12 Comments

For all the frustrations we currently feel, I remain optimistic that City will survive. But I also think it is dangerous to downplay the last two games and hide behind reputations.  Leicester’s defence was as makeshift as City’s against Manchester City in 2019, which included Ibrahim Amadou at centre-back, and they appeared there for the […]

Filed Under: Column, Mike Taylor

Canary Corners, silly substitutions, midfield mix… and, maybe, Mark Noble?

17th August 2021 By Mike Taylor 30 Comments

First off, what a fabulous effort from the lads against Liverpool.  The result is irrelevant, it was wonderful to see all the old faces around us and to see so many new faces too.   Generally, City were in the game in the first half but they obviously faltered in the second against one of the best […]

Filed Under: Alfie Britcher, Column, Mike Taylor

Intriguing rather than obvious signings so far, and still serious business to be done…

6th August 2021 By Mike Taylor 15 Comments

City have been more active in this transfer window than most clubs. In this article, I will look at how things are evolving as the season fast approaches.  Daniel Farke will have known, for months, his preferred system for the Premier League. He will either want a back three or he won’t, but which will it be? […]

Filed Under: Column, Mike Taylor

Help for Pukki? … formation changes … midfield playmakers … and Alex Pritchard?

25th June 2021 By Mike Taylor 9 Comments

As excited as I am about next season, as confident as I am that Stuart Webber and Daniel Farke will get it right, I am still uneasy about some of the decision-making. For example, we don’t appear to be in the market for a striker, so what happens if Teemu Pukki gets injured? I admire […]

Filed Under: Column, Mike Taylor

A blueprint for PL safety? Imagination and innovation are key if City are to succeed

22nd June 2021 By Mike Taylor 10 Comments

In order for City to progress next season, I believe it is imperative that the unrealised potential of certain current players be fully realised in conjunction with the limited transfer budget.   Put plainly, I have always thought that we impose 4-2-3-1 on to our best players when the alternative is to build a formation around the strengths […]

Filed Under: Column, Mike Taylor

With no Emi, and with a need to beef up that midfield, is 3-4-2-1 the way ahead?

8th June 2021 By Mike Taylor 16 Comments

Emi has gone and nothing is going to change that, but now I would like to see a very clear tactical plan moving forward. If they persevere with the 4-2-3-1, City are stuck with a philosophy they cannot financially afford to perfect. I’d prefer we change the base formation and be optimistic about how we move forward. […]

Filed Under: Column, Mike Taylor

Now is our time. Build from our best and enhance rather than lose the two lynchpins

2nd June 2021 By Mike Taylor 32 Comments

City could buy Ollie Skipp and keep Emi Buendia. It might need some juggling, but they could achieve it. But will they? On the flip side, losing Emi and Skippy would affect 90% of our output. By contrast, I bet that if Brentford buy two players they could improve 90% of their output. Keep their […]

Filed Under: Column, Mike Taylor

The ethos will stay the same but should we still expect a tweak to Daniel’s 4-2-3-1?

19th May 2021 By Mike Taylor 7 Comments

It’s been interesting listening to Stuart Webber this last week. He freely admit that either Todd Cantwell, Max Aarons or Emi Buendia could still be sold if it suits everyone… which begs a question. For me, Emi must be retained at any cost. And if you sell Aarons, you’re immediately looking for a replacement. That […]

Filed Under: Column, Mike Taylor

Lessons to be learned from those two pesky defeats, and more depth needed

21st April 2021 By Mike Taylor 12 Comments

Ouch. 12 points dropped against the teams we were relegated with… No big deal. The wake-up call though is that Watford should have scored four or five last night. Everything I fret about with 4-2-3-1 was exploited by the Cherries and the Hornets; Danjuma is a £13 million player and Max Aarons couldn’t contain him […]

Filed Under: Column, Mike Taylor

With Cherries and Hornets incoming, time to lay down some markers for next season

15th April 2021 By Mike Taylor 14 Comments

The next two games will tell us a lot about our beloved Norwich City. The club’s ambition to become established in the top flight pitches us against the likes of Bournemouth, Watford and those perpetually around the Premier League relegation zone. We lost 1-0 away to both the Cherries and Hornets but are about to […]

Filed Under: Column, Mike Taylor

Looking ahead: what needs to change and improve if we are to compete next season?

12th April 2021 By Mike Taylor 30 Comments

Identifying areas of improvement isn’t moaning. It is part of a healthy cycle to make the team get better. This piece is about learning from lessons past; especially as we know 4-2-3-1 will persevere. WARNING: It will sound like a moan. There is no substitute to for paying for quality unless it is free or […]

Filed Under: Column, Mike Taylor

So… if it happens. Imagine… would a Hourihane or a Knockaert fit the Farke bill?

2nd March 2021 By Mike Taylor 18 Comments

Fantasy Football. No, not John Motson purring over Mark Bowen in the Olympiastadion. Fantasy armchair football this summer. In my mind, this team is going to be promoted with a less capable squad than last time. Hear me out. Grant Hanley and Ben Gibson. Yeah, but come on, last time we had a world-class Ben […]

Filed Under: Column, Mike Taylor

What has tactically changed for Daniel Farke’s men? And how can it be remedied?

8th February 2021 By Mike Taylor 29 Comments

Daniel Farke and the lads aren’t changing their tried and tested formula… but the opposition are. Teams have stopped pressing us and now simply sit and encourage us to break them down.  City rely on breaking a high press, which automatically leaves them with a numerical overload through midfield and spaces to exploit. As opponents […]

Filed Under: Column, Mike Taylor

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arg_norwich 🇦🇷Norwich_Arg⭐⭐⭐ @arg_norwich ·
2h

¡HOY JUEGA EL MÁXIMO GOLEADOR HISTÓRICO DEL NORWICH Y DE FINLANDIA!

¡HOY JUEGA TEEMU PUKKI 🇫🇮!

🏆 Clasificación para la Euro 2024
🆚 Irlanda del Norte
🏟️ Windsor Park
⏰ 15.45 PM 🇦🇷 19.45 PM 🇬🇧
📺 STAR +

#NCFC 🔰

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mattjohnson333 Matt Johnson @mattjohnson333 ·
4h

#ncfc

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mattjohnson333 Matt Johnson @mattjohnson333 ·
4h

It’s ridiculous how good of a game #GTAV is. People complain how it’s been around since ps3 but for me, the fact it’s still going strong on ps5 is ridiculous. Still so so so much to do on it. Has negatives but what doesn’t. Had a great laugh with the #ncfc lads tonight.

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klobo15 Klobo @klobo15 ·
5h

Happy Youssef Safri Thunderbastard Day #ncfc

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socialseas Edd Hind-Ozan @socialseas ·
5h

Do we get money #ncfc folk? https://www.theguardian.com/football/2023/mar/25/reece-james-england-ukraine-southgate-euro-2024-qualifier?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other

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