“We can still catch Norwich”. Ivan Toney. Sky Sports. March 12, 2021. Dream on, Ivan. In fairness to Brentford’s finest, he was only saying what every pro is conditioned to say and, besides, said gent has a certain swagger that probably has him believing that anything is possible. But he’s wrong, just as his manager […]
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VIDEO: Norwich City Loan Report – February 2021 | Norwich Talk
For the love of Todd! – Norfolk’s very own footballing throwback
“Who needs God when we’ve got Todd!” Those were the words of the fans of Fortuna Sittard during the brief loan spell Todd Cantwell had with them in 2018. With each passing week, it seems that they had an appreciation for the gifts of the boy from Dereham that some (including, it seems, Aidy Boothroyd) […]
Wednesday (A) Tactical Breakdown: The key battleground of the number 20s
City came through a stern test to record an eighth win in a row at Hillsborough. So, how did the Owls provide such a problem and what did Daniel Farke do to combat it? The key aspect in the first half was Wednesday’s aggressive press, a problem the Canaries have regularly faced this season. Darren […]
FOREST PREVIEW: Wasted chances… a jinxed Glenn Murray… and Hughton-ball
MFW is privileged to once again welcome back our favourite Forest fan, loyal supporter and all-round scion of matters concerning activities in and around the City Ground Christian Brown to inform us about how things currently stand on the banks of the Trent before our meeting with the men in Garibaldi red. Christian and I hadn’t spoken for […]
“Every day, it’s a-gettin’ closer, goin’ faster than a roller coaster…”
I woke up early on Saturday morning to put the laptop on and discover: Blackburn 0, Brentford 1. Later in the day my mood didn’t improve as I sucked up Luton 0, Swansea 1. And then a Welsh side I possessed high hopes of on the day conceded late in stoppage time to make it Cardiff […]
Eyes on the prize, as City repel spirited Wednesday & edge closer to the p-word
Ivan Toney is a confident chap. Bullish even. Those who watched his post-match interview on Sky last Friday following Brentford’s 1-0 win over Blackburn will know what I mean. Before presenting himself with the Man of the Match award (he would also have awarded himself the trophy) Ivan got the hump when the Sky Sports […]
OWLS PREVIEW: Simon Thomas talks to MFW ahead of City’s trip to Hillsborough
Ahead of City’s attempt to make it eight in a row in South Yorkshire, I was lucky enough to chat to presenter, podcaster, former Sky Sports and Blue Peter presenter, President of Blood Cancer UK and, of course, City fan, Mr Simon Thomas. *** Thanks for joining us, mate. Appreciated. Has been an impossibly hard […]
If *it* happens, what’s on Webber & Farke’s to-do list to help steer City to PL safety?
I’ve been reluctant to look too far ahead for obvious reasons but even the lads at Archant are dipping their toes into the water, so I may as well put in my two-penneth. I’m talking of course of the club’s chances of making 2021-22 more than another single-season stopover in the Premier League. All caveated […]
How and why City’s midfielders now become ‘full-backs’ in possession
One of the more interesting aspects of Norwich City’s tactical setup this season has been the movement of their central midfielders in possession. Oliver Skipp and Kenny McLean are regularly seen receiving possession and covering in deep full-back positions. So, how does this work and why do they do it? The first thing to note […]
Seven-up for the Canaries as, for once, Jones’ Hatters lack sufficient fizz to hurt City
Norwich City fizzed against Luton Town to go Seven-Up on Saturday with an excellent performance that gained a well-earned win and more than a modicum of revenge for two early defeats at the hands of the Hatters at the dawn of the season. That’s another three points in the can as the ship goes sailing […]
Seven wins in a row; five clean sheets in the last seven; and ten points clear
There was a comment from Ben Gibson in the week, posted on Instagram in the aftermath of the Brentford win, that summed up perfectly the mindset in the City camp right now. “We have to win at the weekend so it isn’t wasted.” That this conversation had been had was confirmed after yesterday’s game by […]
Stiepi – not everyone’s cup of tea but was born to score goals and is on his way back!
He’s not everyone’s cup of tea and, I suspect even by his own admission, his Premier League experience was his season horribilis. Born to score goals he may be, but not so much when the Premier League is home. He wasn’t alone of course but I have often pondered what may have happened last season […]
Farkeball, hoofball, and the misuse of ‘pragmatism’
The classic, polite description of a manager who prefers 4-4-2, long balls and a big man-little man striker combination is ‘more pragmatic’. The assumption is that managers who hope to play attractive football – who prioritise possession and encourage their goalkeepers to pass the ball short – are dreamy idealists who have little care for […]
LUTON PREVIEW: Buoyant Hatters at the Carra, after two big wins on the spin
So once more, I’ve drawn the lucky straw and got the preview for the same team I did earlier in the season. If you want to know how that went, I’m sure Mr Gowers will be kind enough to insert a link here. Having read it back, I wasn’t far off. Luton, coming off a […]
‘How to draw the sting from the Bees’: the latest in Daniel Farke’s masterclass series
I hope the rest of the Championship enjoyed their practical masterclass from Norwich City on Wednesday evening. Entitled How to draw the sting from the Bees, the lesson was constructed by Daniel Farke and carried out to virtual perfection by his senior students. The application all over the pitch was plain to see and although we […]
Another day, another win, another Emi special, with a #ncfc double-pivot to die for
I trust we all woke up this morning feeling fine… Emi will generate the headlines. Of course he will. And why shouldn’t he. It was a brilliant goal. But at the heart of City’s fine win over the best the Championship has to throw at us was a quartet whose influence on all that happens […]
BRENTFORD PREVIEW: Two clubs who deserve success, but no divided loyalties
This is not a six-pointer. This is not a six-pointer. This is not a six-pointer. It’s as well that I’ve come to that conclusion, as our editor Gary made clear he’d disapprove any use of the phrase. There are extreme cases where I might try to persuade him that a match deserved the label, despite […]
So… if it happens. Imagine… would a Hourihane or a Knockaert fit the Farke bill?
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 […]
Subtlety and patience: the two main ingredients of City’s success at Adams Park
I’ve never been shy of saying I’m a bit of a pro/am chef so this revelation should come as no surprise to regular readers of MFW. One of the finest things I ever bought for myself is an old-fashioned, traditional pestle and mortar. Make your own garlic mayo? Put together a mix of your favourite […]