James Finbow

A Canary Love Story (Part II) – How absence made a foot soldier’s heart grow fonder April 30, 2019 - Rewind a year. Saturday 28th April 2018 was a monumental day for me. Not just because it was Wes Hoolahan’s final home game for the Canaries, and not just because it was my then three-year-old Jasper’s first visit to Carrow Road. It was monumental for both those reasons, of course, ...
This is more Yarmouth Snails than Lambert-inspired Nemesis roller-coaster. But ultimately worth the wait? March 13, 2018 - It was one year ago that Alex Neil got the heave-ho. In the face of a barrage of supporter unrest and awful performances over a concerted period, the affable Scotsman had, to the shock of nearly everyone, seemed certain to remain in the hot seat. So much so, that the ...
From waving shrivelled up tenners and being “effing loaded” to being £80 million+ in debt. But if Mr Milne says it… October 26, 2017 - It takes a brave man to write an article about Ipswich Town for a Norwich City website. Well, brave, or stupid. Luckily, I am both of those things. So on the back of yet another victory at Portman Road and a record-breaking ninth derby unbeaten, why would anyone want to ...
Vrančić the enigma: a bit slow and lazy or one step ahead of the rest? October 17, 2017 - The much-travelled Steve Claridge was on Radio 5 Live on Sunday summarising the Southampton v Newcastle game. Following a 30-second spell of calm possession by Saints, the former forward fizzled and berated, “Just boot it forward!! .... I can’t stand this ‘fancy Dan’ stuff”. Based on the squawked opinions of ...
No magic dust so far for City but the best tricks are those that take time to perfect August 15, 2017 - I absolutely love a bit of magic. The illusion of creating something that is seemingly impossible. I sit there, eyes transfixed on the performer, drooling in anticipation. I can feel the suspense of those around me as the foundations of the illusion are slowly and precisely put in place. I ...
Mystic James gazes into his crystal ball. Here’s how 2017/18 is going to pan… possibly (Part 2) July 29, 2017 - Okay…. here’s part two of Jim’s crystal ball gazing/poking fun at anyone who doesn’t wear yellow. Enjoy… ________________________________________________________________________ On New Year’s Eve, City sat in a respectable seventh position on 38 points – three points outside the play offs. End of December: Played 25, Won 10, Drawn 8, Lost 7. ...
Mystic James gazes into his crystal ball. Here’s how 2017/18 is going to pan out… possibly (Part 1) July 28, 2017 - I can see into the future (I can’t really…). But let’s imagine for just a few minutes that I really can. So… here’s the story of 2017-18: ___________________________________________________________________________ Anticipation among supporters for the 2017-18 campaign was rife. Up and down the land, the summer months had been spent either overhyping ...
Some of our personal favourites may ‘exit stage left’ but given time this new world could be a better one June 12, 2017 - I tend to have a love-hate relationship with the summer. Blue skies, wispy clouds, ice cream, sandy beaches, barbecues, blossoming flowers, freshly cut grass, cricket, tennis… I enjoy all these things. The sun and I are like young friends – if he’s out, I probably will be too. But sometimes ...
Still the questions (and moans) come thick and fast. Here’s James’ response to all the FAQs June 8, 2017 - In a similar vein to the General Election debate – which has mercifully ended – and Brexit which preceded it, there’s a great deal of misinformation shared amongst football fans. The following are all genuine questions I’ve seen asked on various internet platforms. I’ve tried to answer them as best ...
The case for the defence: sexy it may not be but defending really boils down to old fashioned basics April 28, 2017 - The benchmark in English football is the Arsenal back four of Adams, Keown, Winterburn and Dixon. During the same 90s era, over in Italy, arguably the greatest defensive unit of all time was strutting its stuff at AC Milan: Baresi, Costacurta, Maldini and Tassotti.
Feels like we have no option but to plan for the future with Neil at the helm. So, here’s a nine point plan… March 9, 2017 - For the board it’s the players who are at fault and as most of them will be gone soon Neil should be given time to rebuild. The fans just don’t see the bigger picture. We are just a bunch of moaners who don’t understand. And yes, I do believe our ...
A 28 year old love story that, bar major changes at the club, will soon draw to a gut wrenching close January 16, 2017 - When I hear members of our board feed supporters another line of drivel, I feel nothing – I just shrug. When I look around at our players at the end of a game, I feel nothing for all bar a couple. I don’t even jump around, hugging complete strangers like ...
Note to Delia: Alienating yourself from the fans is not the best way to lead and inspire your football club November 22, 2016 - Condescending, obstinate, out of touch... the interview ticked all the wrong boxes for Norwich City fans and merely pointed towards two people with their heads in the sand. Football has moved into another stratosphere and just because Delia and Michael don’t like it, doesn’t mean football is suddenly going to ...
The riddle that all but one gaffer has failed to solved: How do I stop the Canaries being pushovers? October 29, 2016 - City collapsing is not a new phenomenon. They’ve continually found exciting and inventive ways of screwing things up when in commanding positions, or missing golden opportunities to treat supporters to a modicum of success.
A big four days awaits as St James’ and then Molineux offer up the biggest tests yet for Canaries September 28, 2016 - We definitely have enough creative spark to scare every single club in this division but there are concerns about the soft underbelly that appears to have rolled over from last season. I worry that a better side will take full advantage, where Burton failed to.
We all love a moan but is it so unreasonable to expect bigger and better from our own great club? September 8, 2016 - Is it unfair to criticise our owners just because they're not super rich? Or is it unreasonable to suggest that a club of the stature of ours – with recent history of top flight football – should be able to find investors able to plough more money into the club ...

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