Martin Penney

From Segura through to Buendia, the NCFC Hispanic contingent have been a mixed bag March 27, 2020 - Well, it's matchday and I'm getting ready to go to the Carra to watch us take on the quieter side of Merseyside, aka Everton. Enter Mrs P stage left who slaps me round the kisser with a Yarmouth bloater and reminds me that I'm not doing that at all. Being ...
City’s Men of Harlech – some Canary greats who graced the red shirt of Wales March 20, 2020 - In the early 1990s at the time of manager Dave Stringer's squad transitioning into the tenure of Mike Walker, NCFC boasted a rare gift. We had a trio of Welsh internationals, all first-team regulars at the same time and truly amongst the very heartbeat of that famous squad. All wore ...
No Carrow Road for a while and all for the right reasons… but where from here? March 16, 2020 - Anybody of my vintage [1957] will know all about measles, mumps, German measles [rubella] chicken pox and the rest. Younger readers might not of course and I'm glad for them if they don't ever experience any of these horribles. Chicken pox came back to bite me on the butt one ...
Defeat at the hands of the Wilder-beasts and the bell tolls on City’s brief PL stopover March 9, 2020 - Tony Dunne was a fine Irish international and full back for Manchester United. Clive Dunn was the unforgettable Lance-Corporal Jones in Dad's Army - as in "don't panic Mr Mainwaring - they don't like it up 'em" - and also had a horrendous venture into the Top Ten with the ...
The rarity of a winning penalty shoot-out for City and their first Quarters since 1992! March 5, 2020 - Well, well, well, the Canary puts the boot into the Cockerel - and on Chanticleer's splendid new turf too. And via the most unlikely of mediums: a City win in a penalty shoot-out. Now, this might have happened before but if it has I genuinely cannot remember it. I recall ...
The Cooler King made the right calls on Friday as City forged a tiny sliver of light March 1, 2020 - I think we're at the point at which Steve McQueen has robbed the Wermacht soldier of his motorbike, worked out that there's a little bit of petrol in the tank and thus given himself a chance of jumping the wire. No guarantees, no promises but genuine hope. That result will ...
Is VAR the problem? Or the interpretation of the laws? Either way, right now it’s #$@&%*! February 25, 2020 - He's a likeable, obviously well-educated and erudite youngish Premier League manager in his forties. His fans idolise him even when things go wrong for the team and their supporters. As they often do, seemingly ever-increasingly in the second half of this season. And did I feel sorry for him at ...
City pride… Scottish lynchpins… a fine Justin tribute… and some iffy supporter packages February 17, 2020 - Well, if you can't be proud of that what can you be proud of? Considering the value of Virgil van Dijk alone would outstrip that of our entire squad quite literally twice over, we gave it a right good go and so nearly held out the Champions League winners who ...
LIVERPOOL PREVIEW: Crisp passing… King Kenny… and “just the three” for the Reds February 14, 2020 - Here it comes. Our biggest home match of the season, or at least it is for me anyway. Can David and his slingshots wielded by Teemu Pukki, Emi Buendia and Todd Cantwell bring down the Goliath that is Liverpool? A big match deserves a big MFW preview, so we turned ...
What a week… and not a Norwich City First XI game in sight. But talking points aplenty February 10, 2020 - Well, that was the week that was. Philip Schofield came out as gay [I wasn't exactly shocked by the "news"], Keith Richards reckons he's given up smoking 60 Marlboro reds a day and North Norfolk District Council has refused to fly the Union Jack at its HQ for "Prince" Andrew's ...
Light and shade… the haves and have nots… aka City versus the champions-elect February 7, 2020 - You can't beat the concept of light and shade. Whether it's a piece of music, a film or indeed an MFW article it is an essential part of the creative's repertoire - and for good reason. Think Pink Floyd, Hammer Horror or even some of my garbage on MFW if ...
Farke’s “little miracle” now assuming epic proportions after City fail to win at St James’ February 3, 2020 - I've worked all over the place - and I know I'm not alone in that amongst the MFW community. This dubious privilege has taught me a few valuable lessons in life, of course. The best authentic Chinese food is to be found in London's Limehouse. This was the original Chinese ...
Who next for City as they enter the dream world known as the FA Cup Fifth Round? January 27, 2020 - Norwich City have reached the fifth round of the FA Cup - for the first time since 2012 - and they did it with a great combination of flair and resilience it must be said. It's easy to say Burnley didn't really want it, particularly as their manager Sean Dyche ...
Same old for City at the new ‘Lane’. Easy on the eye but coming up just short… again January 23, 2020 - I felt a certain amount of trepidation before this one as soon as it was confirmed that Mike Dean would be in charge of VAR. I was as disappointed with that as my Spurs mate Nicky would have been to see the name Serge Aurier on the teamsheet. Factor in ...
Canaries still on the slipperiest of slopes but for now at least we’re still standing! January 20, 2020 - Phew! When Paul Tierney blew that final whistle on Saturday the relief was audible, tangible and celebrated by absolutely every Canary in the ground. To me this was encapsulated by Tim Krul and Todd Cantwell enjoying the most heartfelt man-hug since Oliver Reed grappled with Alan Bates in Ken Russell's ...
The Norwich City FC 2019-2020 Premier League campaign: c’est fini January 13, 2020 - Well, that was always going to be a little bit too predictable wasn't it? I deliberately didn't put a personal score guess into the MFW Man Utd preview for just that reason. We've been described almost everywhere in the media as "poor" on Saturday and with pretty good reason from ...
MAN UTD PREVIEW: No love for the Glazers… more time for Ole… and hoping for the best January 10, 2020 - MFW regulars [we love you all] may recall that our previous Manchester United preview featured my Norwich neighbour, the admirable Sean Tilsley - who happens to be married to Debbie who is a rabid Citeh fan. But there's been plenty of water under the bridge since then so it was ...
Adam’s hat-trick… Mick Mac… the fourth round draw! … and lunch in the Ribs of Beef January 6, 2020 - Cometh the hour, cometh the man. Step forward the great yellow and green hope as in Adam Idah, who scored the coolest hat-trick you'll ever see. And on a first NCFC start to boot. The stuff of dreams for him and the source of hope for the rest of us. ...
The likes of this group haven’t been seen before, but are soon to be split asunder January 3, 2020 - Phew! There were some pretty powerful and heartfelt comments on Gary's article yesterday - all of which I very much enjoyed reading. I'll return to that later but first a few words about the match itself. Personal circs dictated that I couldn't attend, which is a real rarity for me, ...
Gallant City must keep-a-troshin’ but VAR in its current form is welcome to do one December 30, 2019 - It's not football any more and that's for sure. There was not a single person in Carrow Road, including referee Kevin Friend and his assistants, who thought Teemu Pukki was offside from the assist of the season courtesy of Mario Vrancic. Then some c*ckwomble many miles away in Stockley Park ...
City enduring a bleak midwinter, with Wolves the latest to depart with all three December 23, 2019 - I don't normally deal in prologues, which are best left to Frankie Howerd and Geoffrey Chaucer, but this is an exception. Following on from Gary G's article yesterday and the excellent appraisal of Martin Peters courtesy of Mick Dennis, I feel I have to. 2017 was a year bemoaned by ...
There’s life in the old dog yet! ‘Inconsistent’ City slug it out at the King Power December 16, 2019 - My next door neighbour in Mundesley, Matt, is pretty much like-minded to myself in that he watches Match of the Day either on Saturday night or Sunday morning and then takes his dog out to do the a.m. canine things. Yesterday morning on Mundesley Rec, Oscar the beagle and Geezer ...
‘We’re close, yet so far away’. Too far away. Welcome to the world of self-funding December 10, 2019 - My old man was a great lover of both westerns and epics such as Ben Hur and the one about Moses. These always had either Charlton Heston or Kirk Douglas in them - and no I don't mean Spartacus. The Moses one was called something else I cannot now remember. ...
‘Look to the future now, it’s only just begun’, with City’s season on an upward curve December 3, 2019 - We often notice on MFW that many of our readers love a debate about whether it's better for us to watch our beloved club in the Championship or the Premier League. I reckon Sunday's enthralling encounter surely saw the old swingometer tilting even more in favour of the Prem, and ...
ARSENAL PREVIEW: Mixed messages… Ian Wright Wright Wright… and a bullet dodged November 29, 2019 - Mundesley is famous for three things. Firstly I live there for much of the year, secondly it has a beautiful beach - in the Trimingham direction which we love to run our dogs on - and thirdly it is known as God's waiting room. But there is a fourth highlight. ...
Us vs The Rest! City from the perspective of others is always worth a chat… November 27, 2019 - I have always been one of those folks who tries to negotiate his way around the football world without wearing blinkers in that I love nattering about the game to anybody, irrespective of who they support. Maybe it's my historical circumstance that dictates this attitude. If you're born into a ...
Win over beleaguered Toffees breathes new life into City’s Adventures in Wonderland November 25, 2019 - When Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley wrote Frankenstein in 1818 she kicked off a bit of a trend. Georgian, and later Victorian, folks had a great fear of being quite literally buried alive, so insisted they were interred with a cord around their wrist and a bell on the surface that they ...
EVERTON PREVIEW: Canaries to provide a Silva lining for the struggling Toffees? November 22, 2019 - Well, they always say that football is a funny old game and the origin of our MFW Everton preview certainly proves that. Over 25 years ago I occasionally worked alongside a lovely fella called Ken Stringer and because of a random line in a previous MFW article his son, Sean, ...
In the PL doldrums maybe, but have we ever felt more loved as City supporters? November 18, 2019 - It seems a strange thing to say as we are in the Premier League doldrums, but have we ever felt more appreciated as supporters? We have a situation in which the Canaries Trust, Proud Canaries, Along Come Norwich, the Barclay End Project and maybe other organised supporters' groups I'm not ...
Munich? Wembley? Where and when was your favourite ever Norwich City match? November 14, 2019 - Yes folks, it's yet another international break so this time round MFW thought we'd ask our readers which has been your favourite Norwich City match and, as ever, why. Of course, your favourite match may not even involve City at all as I'll delve into later. Anyway, to give plenty ...
City now mired in The Slough of Despond after yet another bad day at the office November 10, 2019 - When I was a sixth former I had to read many "classic" books of English literature, several of which I could barely finish and very few that I actually enjoyed reading. As I trooped long-faced out of Carrow Road on Friday night a section of one of these returned from ...
“Lucky to lose 2-0” … Brighton’s “easiest three points of the season” … Tim the hero November 4, 2019 - This was supposed to have been one of my two away matches this season. I would have met my Brighton-dwelling friends, sat in with them at the game and enjoyed a good old natter about the football afterwards and a meal, scrounged a bed for the night and returned home ...
United’s light and shade offered City a harsh and brutal Premier League lesson October 29, 2019 - Number one son and I went to the UEA to see a Swedish progressive metal band on Sunday night. They are called Opeth and were absolutely brilliant. They exceeded our expectations and went down a storm. Opeth's strength is light and shade. The riffs and fills were very heavy while ...
MAN UTD PREVIEW: Pinot Noir… Martin Buchan… 1967… Nobby… SAF… and a shadow October 25, 2019 - Some MFW readers might recall that our Manchester City preview featured my friends, Norwich neighbours and married couple Sean and Debbie Tilsley. Last time around it was Citeh fan Debbie's turn, and now Sean has his say on behalf of Manchester United. I did the most coherent interview I could ...
Unspectacular maybe, but a point at the Vitality and a clean sheet. What’s not to like October 21, 2019 - I never thought I would be celebrating a 0-0 at Bournemouth with quite so much satisfaction as I currently am but that is how I feel this Monday morning. The reason for this feeling is primarily that we've gained a very useful away point and clean sheet. Both firsts for ...
International coffee break quiz – so, who’s won a cap while in the yellow and green? October 14, 2019 - The international break - don't we all just love it? And on top of our horrendous injury list, Jamal Lewis didn't travel while Kenny McLean and Todd Cantwell were sent home before they could kick a ball in anger. Surely this is unprecedented - nine players out and three more ...
Your favourite City manager? Mr Grumpy? Mr Mousehold? Mr Unmentionable? October 10, 2019 - During the previous international break, MFW asked our readers for their suggestions regarding "who is your favourite Norwich City player of all time - and why". We got some cracking responses from all concerned, including one from the great man himself, Darren Huckerby. This time around we want to know ...
Cold semolina… Singapore noodles… herds of wildebeest… and a Carrow Road hiding October 7, 2019 - Anybody of a certain vintage [I was born in 1957] will remember the original concept of school dinners. The inevitable piece of grey meat covered in bright orange breadcrumbs. Dessert [I hate to disparage a word] almost always consisted of a bowl of semolina with a teaspoon of strawberry jam ...
VILLA PREVIEW: Spending shedloads… JPA… hitting the ground running… and HRH October 4, 2019 - It's the Villa up tomorrow and one we're surely all looking forward to. I know I am. I wasn't fortunate enough to have been there when we clinched the Championship title but I know many of you were Of course, that will count for nothing tomorrow - as Villa manager ...
So, how have the summer signings fared so far? Early days but Martin P takes a look October 2, 2019 - Us MFW folks thought this might be a good time to evaluate our summer signings and I drew the short straw... To kick things off, Ibrahim Amadou and Sam Byram became Heroes, even just for one day. Any Bowie fans [I'm one too] can wait until the end of this article for a link* ...
More injury woe for the Canaries as the 16-year Selhurst Park famine continues September 30, 2019 - Well that was all a bit too predictable really, wasn't it? Off we go to the graveyard of our ambition aka Selhurst Park and the inevitable happens. Anybody surprised? No, I thought not. But surely we must have expected it. Gary G mentioned our ever-increasing injury list yesterday so I ...
Crashing and burning in the north-west… Webber’s contract… and a prickly Zaha September 23, 2019 - A week is a long time in politics said Labour PM Harold Wilson famously in the late 1960s. And it is a bloody long time in Premier League football as well. Most of the football nation outside 95 per cent of Suffolk have been in love with us since we ...
Aguero? De Bruyne? Silva? No, We’ll stick with Pukki, McLean, and Buendia, cheers September 16, 2019 - Sometimes you just run out of superlatives, but I'll do my best. Things do not get better than that. Eight players out, two keepers on our bench and we still notched a thoroughly deserved win. Blue Moon? I never heard it on Saturday. That has to be one of the evenings of ...
MAN CITY PREVIEW: Bravado aplenty from the Citizens, sadly with very good reason September 13, 2019 - Would you ever consider marrying an Ipswich Town supporter? Possibly, I suppose. But luckily for us, Mrs P and I are both City through and through so that issue has never concerned us. So spare a thought for Sean and Debbie Tilsley, who live a few doors away from us ...
Peters? Keelan? Forbes? Bowen? Hucks? Who is your greatest Canary of all time? September 6, 2019 - A couple of weeks ago one of our commenters, Cyprus Canary, suggested that Martin Peters was arguably the greatest player he had ever witnessed wearing yellow and green. So, most appropriately as Man City are up next for us at the Carra, let's follow up Cyprus' comment in the spirit of the constantly ...
It wasn’t defeat at West Ham that rang the alarm bells, it was the manner of the defeat September 2, 2019 - I guess it has happened to all of us in one form or another. You buy a new shirt, clean your shoes, have a longer shower than usual and for once in your life look in a full-length mirror. You then spray on slightly too much Aramis or whatever and ...
No disgrace in City coming up just short against the Europa League Champions August 26, 2019 - So we came up short by the depth of the Barclay crossbar against the Europa League champions where despite a transfer restriction of sorts they still have well, erm, quite a few handsomely-remunerated young gentlemen in their squad. And we gave them a bl00dy good run for their money, we ...
Thunder and lightning on a glorious Carrow Road afternoon when the planets aligned August 19, 2019 - Thunderbolt and lightning, very very frightening. Donner und Blitzen - and I'm not talking about Rudolph's mates in Santa's once a year all-star reindeer display team. Or in the words of Daniel Farke: 'In the first half we [were] like a thunderstorm. We created so much lightning.' And how true. Possibly ...
A clear philosophy on the pitch, played some very entertaining stuff, even in a 1-4 August 12, 2019 - Well I'm not getting my Calvin Klein's in a twist after the 4-1 reversal at Anfield. For starters, we were missing two key centre backs as in Christoph Zimmermann and Timm Klose. Already some people are leaping on Grant Hanley's back, but he was (not arguably but factually) our only ...
Four days and counting, and then City’s Premier League adventure begins… August 5, 2019 - That was an impressive way to end the phoney war, as our very own Connor Southwell described it yesterday. Sure, les Violets should have been put to the sword more clinically than they were but it's no bad thing to go into a Premier League season with a win under our ...
Just two trips to Carrow Road to mix with our European friends, then it gets serious July 29, 2019 - Well, if Carlsberg made friendlies... we couldn't have asked for much more. No injuries. I repeat no injuries. And there was also the small matter of a 5-1 win against a side who strolled to a well-deserved promotion last season against the odds. Does that remind you of another team ...
German tour over and now it starts to get real, with the Bees and Hatters up next July 22, 2019 - Well, the half-time whistle has blown and it's time for a (very) brief period of consideration. Our pre-season tour of Germany is over, but the action will resume on home turf very soon. Was our Westphalian excursion successful? Yes, I would say so and for several reasons. In the simplest ...
Chase out… the Battle of Naseby… pigs bladders… and the 16:45 to Liverpool Street July 18, 2019 - During this off-season, we've experienced many ups, as in sensible, cost-effective recruiting, the impending departure of Nelson Oliveira and the announcement of very appealing home friendlies against Atalanta and Toulouse. A temporary, short-lived down was relieved by the discovery that Ben Godfrey's ankle injury is not as bad as first ...
NCFC vs ITFC: Divergent paths (for now) and two *very* different models of ownership July 15, 2019 - A dozen doors away from me in the city there dwells an Ipswich supporter. I have had many conversations with him over the years but I can truly say I do not know his name and he probably doesn't know mine. That's urban life for you I guess, but he's ...
New kit… top German keeper… new, quality Under-23s… classic vid… what’s not to like July 8, 2019 - It was quite a week for all us Norwich City folk. A clutch of new arrivals, including what to me looks like the release of the best kit I've seen since the classic Asics one from the late 1980s. Players must be at the forefront of consideration of course. In comes what ...
When Gossy spoiled The Kop’s final hurrah… and a busy old day down in NR1 July 4, 2019 - Back in the day when I had to work bloody hard for a living, my job involved visiting factories and/or tech bases all over the UK and occasionally Europe as well. I was Norwich-based, which meant many hours of travelling time, but if I had to get up at four ...
Finally down to business for City. The hard work starts now… in Westphalia, Germany July 1, 2019 - As June turns to July, it's time for MFW to take a look at our pre-season friendly fixtures. There's no Dereham Town, no Lowestoft Town and thankfully no Cambridge United on our schedule this time around. I'm sure Timm Klose would agree with me regarding the latter. A crocked knee ...
So, the countdown begins and Liverpool (a) will be here before you can say Josip Drmic June 25, 2019 - The incredible march of time dictates that pre-season training for Norwich City (and doubtless many other clubs) means that it's all back to Colney within a week. Not you Nelson, but everyone else will reconvene to face a serious medical and physical analysis of how they have behaved on their ...
The direction is clear, no marquee signings, but this time around we’re cool with that June 20, 2019 - Oh My, how the times have changed. We've just signed a young lad from Rochdale called Dan Adshead, for, it's suggested, around £300,000. He's 17-years-old and Rochdale Chief Executive David Bottomley had this to say about it: 'On behalf of the Chairman and Board of Directors at Rochdale AFC, I ...
Welcome to the Prem, City! Liverpool away first, and then it gets really tough… June 13, 2019 - All the nightmares came today, and it seems as though they're here to stay, was written and sung by somebody in 1971. Nearly all of us will own a CD, album or mp3 download created by him. To the very few of the MFW community who don't know who I'm ...
TV WEEK – It’s a wrap! Martin P signs off via tales of Frankie, Fiona and Bernard… June 7, 2019 - Well our MFW TV week certainly revealed a lot of common likes and also a fair bit of diversity. I never thought we'd conclude with a magnificent appraisal of Star Trek from Ed Couzens-Lake, but that's life Jim, just not as we know it. There was quite a bit of ...
TV WEEK: Martin P kicks it off – starting with Sooty and concluding with Red Dwarf June 3, 2019 - I guess relatively few of us will remember last off-season's MFW music week. I do because I was quite involved with it and we had some fine contributions from readers and writers alike. Well, this time around we're collectively going for a TV week. One of the greatest things about ...
Forgotten City “heroes”? Time to look back on some infamous names of yesteryear May 30, 2019 - Well, we all know by now that Villa have joined us in the Promised Land. In my personal view, it should have been Leeds as they finished third but that isn't how the football world works these days. More's the pity. But out of the four teams involved in the ...
Martin P and pals sum up the season with a few at the Ribs of Beef… May 26, 2019 - At the very end of the season there's always an excuse to meet up with some NCFC mates in "off-duty" circumstances. So, being a person who can extract a quote from an angry dragon I thought I'd meet some friends in the Ribs of Beef on Saturday to see what ...
City are big time on the global stage again folks – let’s enjoy the ride May 24, 2019 - For all those supporters of other clubs - and indeed most of our own - our Championship triumph will have come as something of a surprise. To myself as well if I must be totally honest. And several of us here on MFW will surely feel the same. Let's face ...
City have every right to mix it with the big boys and not every fixture will go Pete Tong May 22, 2019 - Juggernaut. Steamroller. Or maybe just simply awesome. And with squillions of quid to further reinforce them (as if it's really needed). Yes, we'll be up against Man Citeh twice next season. So welcome to the real world of the elite of the Premier League. We'll have to swallow the occasional result ...
Self-belief and motivation: Two key components of Norwich City FC 2019-style May 18, 2019 - Back in the early 1980s I often had to work a 1400-2200 shift, or two to ten as the Old Bill called it. With a bit of overtime I often didn't get home until midnight. No worries, I was well paid and the underground from St James's Park to Buckhurst Hill ...
Schadenfreude overload across the Canary Nation as ‘dirty’ Leeds denied by FLDC May 16, 2019 - My three favourite "words" of German are Farke, Zimmermann and Leitner. Very closely followed by schadenfreude, which we all know means deriving satisfaction from the misfortunes of another, often an old enemy. Which neatly brings me on to the play-offs, which have very recently taken on a whole new twist. ...
An early look at where City *may* pick up points in next season’s Premier League May 14, 2019 - Chris Hughton's demise at Brighton probably surprised nobody. Certainly not myself. Captain Negative does his stuff in the only way he can. Park that proverbial bus, aim for a 0-0 and a 1-0 is a bonus. If you're lucky. No freedom for his players to express themselves and no creativity ...
The opening salvos have been fired. So… who should stay and who should go? May 9, 2019 - On the day that City have elected to release eight academy/development players, most notably including Tristan Abrahams and Pierre Fonkeu, I thought I'd take a look at who of a more senior level might be joining them in a mini-exodus from the Carra. Regular MFW readers will know that I'm ...
I’ve witnessed four promotions but this one tops the lot. And this time we have a plan May 6, 2019 - For once in my life I listened to the whole of Sunday's game against Aston Villa on Radio Norfolk. I really enjoy Chris Goreham's commentary but am usually too nervous to hear it over the course of 90 plus minutes. Leon Barnett kind of tempted me to keep tuned in ...
With the feelgood factor off the scale, these glory days have to be celebrated May 2, 2019 - If you're going to City's Parade, be sure to wear some flowers in your hair. 1969 was the last real year of the Hippie era and love and peace were everywhere. The sky was all one colour and the grass was green. The draft-dodgers, other longhairs and all like-minded folks ...
Off we go to the land of Klopp and Pep, and this group deserves a fair crack at it April 29, 2019 - How bad has this season been folks? The rollercoaster ride is over and we no longer need anything at Villa, even though a draw to secure us the title and medals for the players would be the mutt's nuts. I guess we'll see two teams who won't be trying too ...
Fret not folks, we are UP. Two celebratory dead rubbers to come. Going up up up… April 24, 2019 - As we were struggling a little, ostensibly collectively tiring and finding it increasingly harder to pull the boat to shore Brentford and, more poignantly, Sergi Canos threw us a lifeline. Well, a bit more than a lifeline really - that result has helped us to achieve our dreams and justify ...
A curate’s egg… a seething Farke… a dodgy official… flags in the UB… and a point closer April 21, 2019 - Good Friday? It was a bit like the curate's egg - good in parts. Forest had a player very harshly sent off which enabled the Wilderbeests to cruise to a 2-0 win despite the lack of Messrs Sharp, Egan and Basham. Then followed the miracle of Elland Road wherein Wigan ...
No reason to fret. Seven points clear of third with four to play? That’ll do for me. April 16, 2019 - Growing up in Forest Gate London E7, I had two uncles who would always be around my grandma's house on a Saturday dinner time before they headed off to Upton Park. A few times they took me with them except that actually meant that Pete accompanied me while Joe stayed ...
A seven-point gap between ourselves and promotion with five to play – we’ll take that April 12, 2019 - When I was a kid, we had the joy of Goodmayes playground, right next door to my junior school, Barley Lane. It's well over 50 years ago now but I remember it well and with some kind of affection. There were swings, a roundabout and slides. The older boys used ...
An Emitional afternoon for our brilliant Argentinian, but “we only need ten men” April 8, 2019 - Scintillating. Effervescent. Unremitting. Unconquerable. Indomitable. Flamboyant. Okay I've put the dictionary back on the shelf now having used six words, as in one for each of our remaining fixtures. As Kenny McLean said yesterday, the opposition simply cannot live with us. Sure QPR were as pi$$-poor a side as I've ...
Fitting in, working hard and truly running with the pack – Norwich City style April 3, 2019 - Mrs P and I own two terriers. I am well aware that several MFW regulars have dogs too and quite a few of you might relate to what is to follow. One of ours is a four-year-old Patterdale named Geezer after Black Sabbath bass player and rabid Villa fan Geezer ...
Shaken maybe but definitely not stirred, as City stride on. Zimbo’s all over this… April 1, 2019 - I can take James Bond films with the proverbial pinch of salt, particularly those that have been made without Sean Connery or Roger Moore. But if the Championship's Manager of the Year runner-up walked into a hotel lounge, announced: "the name is Farke. Daniel Farke", and asked for his Martini ...
Nearly time to batten down the hatches for that final push for the treasure March 23, 2019 - You don't have to be a Bristol Rovers fan to love a pirate. Whatever our generation, surely we all love a buccaneer. Captain Morgan, Bluebeard, Blackbeard. Maybe Johnny Depp as Captain Jack Sparrow. Or even Long John Silver as portrayed by that old ham Robert Newton in the 1950s. I loved ...
Top, five points clear and pretty much a fully-fit squad, but I’d take second right now March 18, 2019 - Flat caps, whippets, ferrets, Geoffrey Boycott. All slightly ridiculous clichés I know. But if you add in the weather conditions and the fact that we were battered like a piece of Harry Ramsden haddock by a very physical Rotherham side but could never quite be dipped into the fryer, you'll ...
‘That’ flick… Marco Elliott… Beccles’ finest… sweeper keepers… and the final countdown March 15, 2019 - Let's make the simple difficult. Let's absolutely outclass a side for 44 minutes and then see Tim Krul do what he occasionally does, e.g. get closed down by a forward such as Fraizer Campbell and shank it to the edge of the box. One astute pass later and Marc Pugh ...
A change of kit… a Zimbo-esque ref… the Man from Argos… and three points in the bag March 10, 2019 - ‘Tense? I had to have an entire kit change at half time!’ That was a message I received from my mate Scott after Friday night's game and in no way do I disagree with him. The conditions were dreadful, Swansea threatened to overwhelm us in the first half and the ...
Eleven to go. Let’s back the poppy of Norwich against the white roses of Yorkshire March 4, 2019 - What I absolutely love about Daniel Farke's Norwich City is how difficult it is to pick a bog standard "Man of the Match" after any given fixture. In fact, it's almost always impossible. Sure I've got a personal choice from Saturday's efficient, gutsy and ultimately crucial performance at the New Den but ...
MILLWALL PREVIEW: Blandness down Zampa Road and avoiding the depths of Hades March 1, 2019 - We started the ball rolling last season by asking Nick Hart – @CBL_magazine on Twitter and creator of the “Achtung! Millwall” podcast – one simple question ahead of our home game against the Lions: ‘We all know your song (“No-one likes us, we don’t care”), but what is the spirit behind it?’ ...
The long six minutes – but guts and a few superstitions saw City home to victory February 25, 2019 - I am a very superstitious person. My father told me of an old Anglo-Saxon good luck charm whereby you rap three times with the fourth knuckle of your right hand on the third knuckle of your left. I tend to employ this action a lot, especially if I want to ...
With 13 to go it’s now a numbers game, so to hit four at the ‘Reebok’ was a timely fillip February 18, 2019 - I'll make no bones about it and no apologies for it - I was a casual sports sub-editor on The Sun in the 1980s, which was a fine way to supplement the "average" wages from my then day job with a well-known East London newspaper group, which is somehow still going to ...
BOLTON PREVIEW: Mini-tour of the north-west concludes with a Remi reunion February 15, 2019 - In the absence of our Bolton press geezer who's gone mysteriously quiet and hasn't delivered, our Martin - the good egg that he is - has picked up the 'preview' baton... *** After a single day stay at a rented training camp in the relentless sunshine of the North West ...
Q: A minor blip or a tiring squad running out of gas? A: Plenty of gas left in this tank February 14, 2019 - So, which is it - a minor blip or the first manifestation of a tiring squad that's running out of gas? I reckon we'll only know the answer to that one after Bolton, to be honest. A repeat of Wednesday night and I will be starting to worry. Aw c'mon ...
A Sunday lunchtime like no other… complete with songs, marches, flares and three points February 12, 2019 - I quite enjoyed my Sunday dinner time for reasons that won't come as a great shock to any of our readers. It began with a lengthy walk to the junction of Prince of Wales Road and King Street with my mate until he went his way to the ground and ...
Skill, dedication, entertainment, tetchy reactions and our own pantomime villain February 4, 2019 - I am not a fan of musical theatre. Never have been, never will be. Give me heavy metal and hard rock every day of the week. But that amazing City performance of Saturday evening and the fallout from it would put the cast, production team and audience of Les Miserables to shame ...
To the few dinosaurs: let’s all be proud that Norwich City is diversity in action January 30, 2019 - I had a very interesting exchange in the comments section of Steve Cook's excellent article yesterday with our very own MFW regulars Alex B and Dan Rear concerning the advantages and disadvantages of chanting at the Carra. We all agreed that it boosts the atmosphere, genuinely helps the players and ...
No disaster. No damage done. But crunch time with Los Blancos just five days away January 28, 2019 - There are times when you just have to man up and present the truth as you see it. So following on from that standpoint I'll declare that anything other than a draw on Saturday would have been a travesty of justice for either side if I'm strictly honest, which I ...
Time to let the Bielsa Spygate saga go and forget daft talk of a points deduction January 21, 2019 - One of my many jobs involved working for the biggest international chemical company in the world as their tame-ish house journalist and PR man. I had 20 years of being treated like a Koenig (or indeed a King) by this German-based firm. New company car every year, enough expenses to ...
A fine first half from City but the second was game management at its very best January 20, 2019 - Walking back home from the Carra on Friday night I felt like a dog with two... tails. I had been privileged to witness one of the most complete performances from a Norwich side in my living memory, which is a long and almost all-inclusive one. Class, more class and class ...
Down to third in the league but, as Del Boy would say, ‘the world is still our lobster’ January 14, 2019 - "We'd have taken a point before the game". "Any point away from home is a good point" and "Astute substitutions change games". Three of the biggest clichés in football but they are clichés for a reason. All are bang on the money and have become well established in the language ...
City were pretty adept with ten and at least they avoided the dreaded midweek replay January 7, 2019 - "They’re a likeable club with a likeable manager and we should wish them well for the next round and in their promotion charge." Thus wrote MFW editor Gary yesterday and with no hint of toadying he hit the nail on the head. I couldn't agree more. Getting the 28 bus ...
Three refs in a row who have been less than exceptional but still our Canaries plough on January 3, 2019 - The calmest person on the planet, aka Daniel Farke, said following the Brentford match... I am still annoyed about several decisions against us. My feeling is we were more or less not allowed to win. Strong words from our Daniel indeed. And very atypical of the man, it must be ...
The madness at the Carra continues but guts in abundance from Farke’s men December 31, 2018 - I'm going to break my personal MFW protocol and construct this article before I've read Gary's piece which will have appeared before all you lucky readers see this. The madness at the Carra continues. How did we not get at least a point out of that? We were 2-0 up ...
Morale in the Canaries’ camp must be sky high after the Boxing Day miracle in NR1 December 28, 2018 - "Forest will score first and someone (from Norwich) will miss the one golden chance to equalise in the 95th minute from 5 yards. The Carrow Road faithful will still give the team a roar of approval at the end." "Sure we might only get a draw but that wouldn’t be the ...
FOREST PREVIEW: Woolly neighbours… Lethal Grabban… and JustPark life December 26, 2018 - Whenever a Forest game hovers into view and we start thinking about the MFW preview, our job is an easy one. "Contact Christian". Simples. For those that don't know, in his own words, Christian Brown is 'Editor, festival goer, uncrushed saboteur & BleakhausBand bassist'. Luckily for us, he's also a Forest aficionado.... Karanka ...
Festive cheer at Ewood. This incarnation of City will simply not lie down and roll over December 24, 2018 - Jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle all the way. Oh what fun it is to see the City win away. And with such a significant victory, yet again under duress and unfortunate circumstances, probably never better sung than by our hardy 1,300-strong supporters who made that long, long journey. I know what ...
One lucky Tetts but City survive a visit from the man flu to earn an Ashton Gate point December 17, 2018 - Man flu. Possibly one of the most divisive words in domestic relationships throughout the world. Does it exist? Most of our male readers will surely confirm that it does, while I would guess several female MFW followers would disparage the concept in an instant. Mrs P suffers from random attacks ...
Pukki strikes late and celebrations reverberate through the Upper Barclay December 10, 2018 - Daniel Farke made a reference to Pirates of the Carribean at his Friday press conference, referring to Johnny Depp and Keira Knightley in his comments. Well, on Saturday we lost our anchor 10 minutes before we set sail, found the treasure and then were robbed of it. But in the ...
BOLTON PREVIEW: Flying starts… flat caps… and being a member of the IWTC December 7, 2018 - Next up for City are Bolton Wanderers, so as usual MFW could once again only turn to the Bolton born and bred Tim Sheppard - as in City's long-standing physio legend, Hall of Famer and supporter of both the Canaries and the Trotters in equal measures. And the only physio ...
The kids are united… and so right now is the whole of Norwich City FC December 3, 2018 - I love it when a plan comes together. That's what Warnario - aka Paul Warne - must have been thinking at half-time at the Carra on Saturday. Rotherham pressed, frustrated and were the width of a post away from going into the break 2-0 up as Ryan Williams' edge of ...
“If they want to ignore, ‘little old Norwich’, that’s ok with me.” – And so say all of us November 26, 2018 - "You have to say that this is a team that looks like it knows where it's going". "If they want to ignore, 'little old Norwich', that's ok with me. Keep it a secret, don't allow the media to let on how good our players are, let them ignore us until ...
Respect to Eadie and Anselin for their openness – anxiety and depression don’t discriminate November 19, 2018 - 'For many men, they may not even realise they’re suffering from depression. I certainly didn’t, I felt down, and I felt low, but I just thought that it was just me. 'It was when I started having more bad days than good and that I realised this had been going ...
Nothing beats a late winner – Martin P takes us through a few of his favourites November 16, 2018 - The Millwall game and how we snatched victory from the jaws of defeat got me thinking. Occurrences like this have happened before but OMG not really that often. It's time for a few of my personal memories to come to the fore during the international break, I guess. I'll start with that header from ...
“Top of the League” … unsung heroes … slight aromas … and hugging strangers November 12, 2018 - When we were younger, I bet most of us went to the playground and enjoyed swings, roundabouts and what could become a big, scary seesaw if we overloaded it with three of us at each end - which we often did. Until the park keeper (we had them then) came ...
MILLWALL PREVIEW: Comfy cushions… Partridge… Zak Whitbread… and ‘hapless Ipswich’ November 9, 2018 - Martin started the ball rolling last season by by asking Nick Hart – @CBL_magazine on Twitter and creator of the “Achtung! Millwall” podcast – one basic question as part of our preview ahead of City's home game against the Lions. The questions was... 'We all know your song (“No-one likes us, we ...
Let’s look at the Championship table while we can and smile, smile, smile November 5, 2018 - In almost 40 years as a professional journalist, I have never been vain enough - or had reason – to quote myself. But following that superb second half from City at Hillsborough I am going to make an exception for the first time in a long career. One of our ...
Farkeball is making the rest sit up and take notice. Uncle Joe would have approved! November 1, 2018 - My uncle Joe was an enigmatic character. A hairy-ar$ed Cockney painter and decorator with industrial language to match, his great loves in life were the boozer, yer West 'Am and hanging on to Teddy Boy clothing long after the rest of East London had long discarded it. But he also ...
Forget ‘penaltygate’, it was a deserved win for our buoyant and flying Canaries October 29, 2018 - I can only begin by endorsing editor Gary's article of yesterday. I had no idea of the tragic events at the KingPower or indeed the situation surrounding Glenn Hoddle until early yesterday morning. I am sure all readers and writers at MFW join the rest of the football world in ...
Well let you off the odd stray Sky Sports expletive Timm – please don’t leave us! October 25, 2018 - Who the heck can moan about that? Nobody. Sure we took a bit of a first-half battering, but we nailed them in the end. Villa are a good side and Jack Grealish, as annoying as he appears, is a very good player indeed. But we beat them down, held them ...
In the era of ‘Farke’s fledglings’, it’s quirky Timm’s love affair with City that resonates October 22, 2018 - So how bad was that then? A very dodgy first quarter against an excellent side followed by almost total domination. The phrase "Farke's fledglings" appears in the media and the national newspapers are starting to notice us. And I'm starting to really notice Moritz Leitner. His partnership with Alex Tettey is starting ...
FOREST PREVIEW: A full(ish) City Ground… Carvalho on another level… and dear ol’ Daryl October 19, 2018 - Our first match after the international break sees us at the City Ground, Nottingham where we meet Forest... obviously. So when we face the guys who used to wave inflatable trees at us while our plastic Canaries looked equally aggressive in response, let MFW once more talk to loyal supporter ...
Jumpers for goalposts? Not quite, but Martin P still leads us down Memory Lane October 13, 2018 - I thought I'd reminisce a little bit during the international break. If anybody finds any of the following (all true, honest) tales offensive please sue MFW Editor Gary for damages rather than myself. I do a good impersonation of being skint so you wouldn't get anything out of me in ...
“Heroic and unlucky defeat” – one that Martin P unfortunately didn’t get to see! October 8, 2018 - I knew the Stoke match wouldn't end well for us when I attempted to leap out of bed to get the dogs up at stupid o'clock on Saturday morning. My brain (no comments please) emerged but my body stayed in its pit. Manflu. Of the very most serious nature. Mrs ...
Wigan’s chosen few take City to the wire but make no mistake, it was a deserved win October 1, 2018 - If ever a town had clichés written all over it, it is Wigan. Eric Blair (George Orwell) started it with his novel The Road to Wigan Pier. Which is nothing like Cromer Pier I can assure you. I've been to the former once and the latter more times than you could ...
Perfect hat-trick for City up west, as academy investment starts to bear fruit September 24, 2018 - Well, surely we all enjoyed that. The perfect hat-trick in terms of points as in nine from nine. With no Hanley, no McLean, no Hernandez and Louis Thompson apparently barely fit for duty. But still there were some moaners on the loose on social media and elsewhere. Utterly ridiculous. More ...
A fine battling performance. The moths can indeed compete with the mammoths September 17, 2018 - I was never one for the Bible. One of my parents was Church of England and the other Roman Catholic but they never forced anything upon me, although I did endure "Scripture" lessons at school. In my very late teens I had to do some digging into the great book ...
Hucks was the pick of the bunch, but we’ve had our fair share of quality loanees September 10, 2018 - The other day our very own Stewart Lewis suggested somebody should do an article on NCFC loans in. Fool that I am, I threw my hat in the ring, drew the short straw and so off I'll go. I won't remember all of them - who could - but there ...
The Good, the Bad and the Forgotten: a look into the Canary annals at some unmentioned names September 7, 2018 - As we have a bit of a collective break just now I thought I'd take a look at a few of our former players who never, ever get a mention. I don't know why, but nobody seems to remember them, let alone speak about them. It's not just MFW, nobody ...
Not a great one but despite the setbacks City stood firm and stiffed it out September 3, 2018 - I couldn't help it and only I could do it. I wrote in my MFW preview piece that Cole Skuse is my least favourite binner. And then he picks up the original injury from hell. Cole I am genuinely sorry for my reference and wish you all the very best ...
There is a trio of young guns battering down his door for inclusion in this City side August 29, 2018 - 'No changes for either side at HT. Probably because there were enough before kick-off.' A direct quote from Archant's Michael Bailey of course but it does kind of sum up the way this "competition", aka the Carabao Cup, is viewed by managers and head coaches across the footballing spectrum. Give ...
A few brief spells of chest-beating but City ultimately undone by a much better side August 27, 2018 - I have to say I have had a well-rounded thirty years of Norwich City season tickets on the bounce. It doesn't make me a better supporter than you, MFW readers, just an older one. Both my ankles are shot, and I also have another rather awkward condition to deal with, ...
With that first win under our belt things all of a sudden feel a lot more comfortable August 23, 2018 - I don't think the pink dressing room theory works. Preston displayed at least as much testosterone as we did throughout the match and were only dissected right at the end by a brace of finishes applied with surgical precision. Alexander Tettey said after the game he had "enjoyed" his worst ...
No disgrace in coming up just short at Bramall Lane but best to steer clear of the league table August 20, 2018 - ‘Oh, gawd blimey’. My late lamented father used that phrase every time something blew up in his face. It could be his car failing to start, the garden gate coming off its hinges, the dog running off or my mother kicking off at him for no real reason. It could ...
What happens when the real destroyers come to town? Will we be bruised out of it? August 13, 2018 - MFW Editor Gary and I have a semi-official agreement that I never write my regular piece for the Monday after a weekend match until I've read his article that appears as regular as clockwork early on the Sunday. It's a great system that works. But this time around this piece ...
Some traditional Norwich mistakes but still enough good to cancel out the bad August 6, 2018 - Well, I must say I'm happy to settle for that. Embargoed or not, Birmingham City is no easy place to go and to get a second equaliser at 90+4 says something about us. Yes, we still had those awkward, crab-like spells either side of half-time but when the chips were ...
The alternative view on all things NCFC … from chez Penney July 20, 2018 - When I read Stewart Lewis' piece about he and his wife Barbara's discussions on all things NCFC, it struck a few chords and, in many places, gave me a fit of the giggles - as did some of the comments thereafter. It made me realise that when your partner is ...
And now on to the real stuff… and so far it’s a ‘well done’ for Stuart Webber July 16, 2018 - The King is dead - long live the King! Well, that's how it feels to me just now as one of the best World Cups I can recall comes to an end - and I've lived through 15 of them, even though I remain totally oblivious to events in Chile ...
Four in the house, but the keeper situation still needs resolving July 2, 2018 - I think it was only two weeks ago that I made the rash statement in a comment on MFW that whoever was coming into NCFC, I wouldn't have heard of them. It was my bad because that remark was off the cuff and turned out to be untrue. I'm surely ...
It’s all about recruitment, recruitment, recruitment. Good luck Mr Webber! June 22, 2018 - ‘Positive recruitment leads to positive policing’. I was sat in a hot as hell office in New Scotland Yard as PC Tony De Souza and I knocked out a press release. That phrase meant nothing to me but after I'd grudgingly agreed it could be the intro and our "jackets" were ...
It may have been brief, but the Maddison star shone brightly while he wore the yellow and green June 20, 2018 - I go back a heck of a long way with Norwich City transfers out. At 60 years of age I guess that's only natural. I was gutted when Flecky was sold and really disembowelled when Mr Chase dispatched Chris Sutton through the door to Blackburn for £5 million despite his pre-sale denials. ...
£10m for Josh, say £20m for Madders but we’ll still be scratching around for frees and bargains June 12, 2018 - The Romans were well clued up. Even Monty Python acknowledged that. They had a double-headed God called Janus, a household deity who was capable of both good and evil. Which neatly brings me to the sale of Mr Joshua Murphy. No messing around, to get ten million quid for him ...
MUSIC WEEK – THE FINALE: Martin P runs us through The Final Countdown June 8, 2018 - MFW MUSIC WEEK - the week that thinks it's a fortnight. Our writers have thoroughly enjoyed it and luckily so have many of our readers. We have had some fantastic comments from all you lovely posters and covered so much of the musical spectrum it's incredible. So, I guess the ...
MUSIC WEEK: From the 1970s glory years at Hammy O to Mastodon and Hayseed Dixie May 28, 2018 - So... given the propensity of the MFW comments to scoot off in a musical direction, we thought it worth filling some of the close season voids with some musical thoughts of the team. First up, the one and only Mr P... *** The Stones, The Kinks, The Who, The Small ...
On the Beach City? Why young footballers *should* make the most of their summer break… May 24, 2018 - One of the most hackneyed phrases in football is "they're on the beach". Directed at any side with nothing to play for at the end of a season, it's assumed minds are elsewhere, wishing the bodies were too. And Good Lord we were the prime example of it the other ...
More memories of the UEFA Cup run of autumn 1993… May 18, 2018 - When I read Gary's article on Wednesday the memories all came flooding back. They were the glory days and let nobody ever tell you any different. I'd seen Spurs thrash Club Brugge 3-0 at White Lane in the 1980s but that had been the only UEFA Cup match I'd ever witnessed. ...
Wednesday disaster sends City careering into a summer of uncertainty May 8, 2018 - "So, what we gonna do now?". Then the drums come in with that fantastic tick-tock beat from Nicky Headon. It was called Clampdown and on London Calling by The Clash. The next line was "Taking off his turban they said is this man a Jew?" Joe Strummer in full angst-driven flight and ...
City’s win over Leeds: The ultimate compliment to a great professional April 30, 2018 - When I was about six or seven my parents took a holiday to Jersey and unusually let me accompany them. For once I wasn't dispatched to Grandma's in salubrious Forest Gate. On the last morning, Dad decided he'd buy me my first watch - a Timex. It was like getting ...
One down, two to go, and it can’t end soon enough. But one final hurrah for a hero April 23, 2018 - Preston North End 0, Norwich City 0. Oh well, that's the end of my match report. Alex Neil can hardly make the playoffs now, but I derive no satisfaction from that. Like many of us I suspect, I bear him and PNE no ill-will. The candle of their season burned ...
Colin didn’t disappoint – physical, intimidating, bullish, and that was Cardiff’s technical area… April 16, 2018 - We all know what a Neil Warnock side is like. Many of us have seen enough of those over the years and know exactly what to expect. And on Saturday we were not "disappointed". They will bark, b*ll*ck and bite, and orchestrate themselves to take it in turns to snuff ...
Brace yourselves. With just four(!) to go, everything points to another hectic summer April 12, 2018 - With four games left to go (yes, just four) I've noticed something quite uplifting - a statistic that cheers me immensely. After what was apparently a crazy game on Tuesday night at Sunderland complete with Fog on The Tyne (sorry, Wear), Ivo Pinto's last-gasp strike means that still, as of ...
SUNDERLAND PREVIEW: Tough times for the Black Cats but another ‘send in the Canaries’ moment incoming? April 9, 2018 - Well, a few of us who don't have to work the next morning will be heading up the A19 on Tuesday. Pick a rude word of your personal choice and direct it at the idiots who make up the fixture dates, by all means. But there should be no blasphemous ...
VILLA PREVIEW: HRH, Cameron, Geezer, a Liam Gallagher haircut, Thailand and Lewis Grabban! April 6, 2018 - Before we've even kicked off, there's one aspect of Saturday where Villa have us beaten hands down. The famous fan count. Delia Smith, Stephen Fry and (allegedly) Hugh Jackman? Ha! Who the flipping heck are they? Villa can boast (token I guess) support from HRH Prince William and former Prime ...
Take Angus, Harry Reed, Tettey, Leitner, Nelson, Wes and Maddison out of this squad and what have you got? April 3, 2018 - I used to drink in, and briefly worked in, one of the best-known pubs in Broadland. As you entered the establishment the first thing you saw on the wall was a massive, framed illustration of two early Victorian railway engineers staring up at a broken aqueduct with the equivalent of ...
Beaten by a better team on Friday. Let’s hope that’s not the case with Olly’s boys in Shepherd’s Bush April 1, 2018 - One thing I have always almost perversely prided myself upon is that as either as a player or a supporter I have never really, deep down minded too much about losing to a better team. Defeat still rankles but sometimes you just have to take it on the chin, as ...
It’s a knockout! Martin P takes us through some Canary kerfuffles of yesteryear March 26, 2018 - Boxing is heavily engrained in my DNA. While I cannot punch my way out of the proverbial wet brown paper bag, my dad Len was Royal Engineers middleweight champion either twice or thrice (depending on how many lagers he'd had when recounting the tale) and boxed for the Army against ...
‘An enjoyable and open game of football and three lovely points for us at the end of it’ March 19, 2018 - When you walk something like three miles to the theatre of pipedreams on a cob-freezing day, eventually take your seat and realise a couple of your mates and several of your acquaintances haven't managed to attend for various (unknown but hopefully solely weather-related) reasons, the least you expect is to ...
For Emergency Ward Ten read ‘Colney’s treatment room’, and a hat-tip to our Alex March 14, 2018 - When I were a lad (quite an appropriate expression after a visit to Barnsley) I was very lucky in that my dad had a real taste for often black comedy on the TV - and radio - and by that token, I grew up with Steptoe and Son, Rowan & ...
You don’t chuck away a fiver and celebrate finding 50p… and social media can go where the sun don’t… March 12, 2018 - Seven goals, three penalties (forget the fourth as it only existed in referee Tim Robinson's mind until it unfortunately became a reality). We lost, and a necessarily hungry Hull won. Madders' hat-trick added to his summer sale value, we've probably lost Moritz Leitner for the season and I expect very ...
That’s (not) Entertainment! The Modern (Farke) World is proving the Bitterest of Pills at Carrow Road March 7, 2018 - To these ears at least The Jam's finest moment was That's Entertainment. A sarky, poignant set of lyrics about life on an outer London council estate penned by somebody who knew that environment all too well and wrote all too honestly… one Paul Weller. Well, the sarcasm was flowing around the ...
More draws than Furnitureland but I’m by no means giving up on the style Farke is imposing… February 26, 2018 - When it comes to music I'm a hard-rock loving, progressive metal adoring ex-longhair with a soft spot for The Faces, David Bowie and Manic Street Preachers. One genre I cannot abide is American soft rock, with one exception: the 6:30 of sheer beauty that is the Eagles' Hotel California. After ...
BOLTON PREVIEW: The Lion of Vienna, Freddie Flintoff, Pot Black and next season’s FA Cup Final? February 23, 2018 - Well, it's time for a slightly revitalised Bolton Wanderers to visit the Carra, so once again who better for MFW to turn to than NCFC Hall of Famer and former long-serving physio, the one and only Tim Sheppard - Bolton born and bred and as proud of that fact as ...
The magic of Klose. Enemies one day, besties the next, and all because of our Timm February 19, 2018 - If Timm Klose dyed his hair bright red, had some deconstructive dentistry and adopted an exaggerated Scouse accent he could easily become the next Cilla Black. I know this because as his imperious header in the late, late show hit the back of the Barclay net he sparked off the ...
Six days and counting – and, penalty miss aside, time to cut Nelson some slack February 12, 2018 - I can't help but kick off this piece by bringing Daniel Farke's "philosophy" on penalties - and more importantly, who takes them, to the forefront. After an excellent point and result against Derby - which could, or couldn't, have been more - Farke said there were two nominated penalty takers in ...
The ‘Prince of Wales’, the Compleat Angler, frustrated Boro fans and Yorkshire’s favourite pigeon fancier February 5, 2018 - On the way to the ground I have to pass the Prince of Wales. That's no big deal, I'm sure loads of us do likewise. However, I literally bumped into a couple of Boro fans and one of their sons who were bemoaning the demise of the Compleat Angler as ...
A most welcome 1-0 “grind-out” on away turf and up to 40 points. Now just to lock Madders away January 29, 2018 - The key to writing a successful novel has always been, as any literary agent would tell you, is to start off with a cracking intro to draw the reader in and to finish with an awesome twist to the tale at the conclusion. Oh boy, we must have written a ...
City squad is currently like a blue Rizla: thin, fragile and on the point of burning out January 22, 2018 - Unlike all the rest of our MFW writers (I've met most of them) and readers (I can only guess) I do something I guess you all don't. I smoke. And more fool me. I packed up for ten years when my kids were born, fell into bad feminine company and ...
“We had a special plan and it totally worked”. Now that’s precisely what the Y’Army likes to hear! January 15, 2018 - “I can only praise my lads today. it was a tough week in personal terms. We lost two players, we had injury problems and travelled with a really thin squad. We had a special plan and it totally worked. “It was a well-deserved win and I am happy to end ...
Farewell to Pritch. But who’s next? Where will Delia Smith’s take on austerity end? January 12, 2018 - What do Gary's Field and Gowers, Stewart Lewis, Dave Bowers and many of our readers and other writers have in common? Apart from the bleedin' obvious as in being NCFC diehards, they all know a lot more about finance, particularly footy finance, than I do. However, the sale of Alex ...
A replay no-one wanted but a well deserved one. Now we brace ourselves for what the window brings January 8, 2018 - Well who was happier with that result then - I'd guess neither Antonio Conte or Daniel Farke really wanted a replay? However, we acquitted ourselves pretty well against a Chelsea side that although it featured several non "first choices" still contained some rather famous names - the likes of Pedro, ...
Mistletoe and whine, and, this time, not a load of old Carrow Road Jackson Pollocks January 3, 2018 - Christmas time, mistletoe and whine. Yep, it carries on unabounded. We thoroughly deserved that win on New Year’s Day, we really did. As Gary has mentioned, Tetbull were superb - I actually think Alex Tettey outshone our first goalscorer - and Josh Murphy had an excellent game. And as for ...
Still destined to be a damp squib, but has Farke only just now hit on his best line-up? December 28, 2017 - There are some fascinating opinions floating around just now concerning the ramifications of our comfortably beating by what by all accounts was a very poor Birmingham side. I was not one of the 900+ hardy souls at the game so will not incriminate myself on a fraud charge by saying ...
If you love somebody set them free. Go on Delia, you know it’s the right thing to do December 24, 2017 - If you have a puppy and it craps on the inside doormat instead of making it into the garden, if your drains are blocked or if for some reason the neighbours' dustbin hasn't been emptied for three weeks in the summer, what do you get? A very bad smell. Stagger ...
What seemed an exciting, forward-thinking concept is currently struggling to tread water December 18, 2017 - Back in the day there was a progressive rock band called Yes. I couldn't stand them as I thought they were pretentious, mixing up time signatures just to show off, knocking out endless noodlings and as for Rick Wakeman's cape, well... One of their staple tracks was Yours Is No Disgrace and that's ...
An invigorating second half warmed the cockles and a Canary disaster was averted December 11, 2017 - At 1810 hours precisely on Saturday evening I started to drift into a frost-induced dream world. It concerned a wood burner in full effect, two dozing dogs, my favourite home-cooked meal of Singapore noodles with raita on the side and watching Strictly with Mrs P. I was envying her cosily ...
Were the seeds of our current demise sown at the back end of those halcyon days of Lambert? December 3, 2017 - It would be very easy on this bleak morning to bleat on about yet another spectacular failure from Daniel Farke and his yellow and green army. I could bemoan the fact that we have 24 points from 20 games and that if we repeated that ratio until the end of ...
Lower mid-table stamped all over City but true test of Project Farke will be when injured stars return November 27, 2017 - The omens were not good. I set out for The Carra dressed as an old scarfer (I'm sixty today so I'm entitled to) because it was bloody freezing. The first gloves of the season were deployed. A few doors down a neighbour and big City fan was cleaning his taxi. ...
Time for those in power in Carrow Road to take a long, hard look at this club’s direction of travel November 23, 2017 - Whatever happened to the heroes? Whatever happened to the heroes? No more heroes any more No more heroes any more Now I'm not daft enough to go on about Trotsky, Lenin and ice picks and my recreational habits are much more conventional (I would imagine) than those of Hugh Cornwell ...
FOREST PREVIEW: Martin P talks Cloughie, Birtles and the Irish Maradona to an ‘uncrushed saboteur’ November 21, 2017 - When a fervent Nottingham Forest supporter describes life's delights thus: "Nottingham Forest are magic, as are Fab ice lollies. Muse also make the grade. I'm an editorial assistant, festival goer, uncrushed saboteur and bassist", you just know he's going to be interesting to talk to. This guy has also played football ...
Still work to be done (Part II). Discrimination still a thing at the Carra but the club doing all it can November 10, 2017 - I recently read a fine article on this site by Robin Sainty relating to racism rearing its ugly head at The Emirates. Robin wrote: Just about the last football club I would expect to appear in the national media in the context of a case of racism is Norwich City, ...
We expected blips with our “new approach”, but three knockbacks in a row is a bit more than a “blip” November 6, 2017 - So it's into (yet) another international break on the back of that most unwanted of hat-tricks: three Championship reverses on the bounce. Consensus amongst most of us of the yellow and green persuasion is that, for once, this break is welcome, if not only because this depleted squad has been ...
TROTTERS PREVIEW: Martin P chats to one of our own – Mr Tim Sheppard – about the Wanderers and all things Bolton November 3, 2017 - Tim Sheppard should need little introduction to NCFC supporters - particularly those of a certain vintage. Whether this is unique for a club physio I know not, but Tim was not only an inaugural inductee into the NCFC Hall of Fame, he was also given the honour of a Testimonial ...
No shame in being beaten by a better team but still concerns there to be addressed November 2, 2017 - So, just how horrific was our Hallowe'en? The absence of Nelson Oliveira and the late withdrawal of Yanic Wildschut for personal reasons did not help to blow away any cobwebs left over from Derby, that's for sure. The ghost of Jacob Marley Watkins flicking a header fractionally the wrong side ...
Focus on Wolves – from the inside. Don H talks to Martin P about all things Old Gold and Yellow October 31, 2017 - Regular visitors to MFW may recognise the name Don Harold, as one of the site’s regular commenters. With Don, in addition to being a massive City supporter, being a resident of Wolverhampton it made perfect sense to turn to him for an ‘inside’ view on the Wolves of the Black ...
They’ve never felt more singing the (Maddison) blues, when Norwich win and Ipswich lose… October 23, 2017 - “The game was full of passion and emotion - (winning) was a sweet feeling." - Daniel Farke. Well there's no arguing with any of that. The records continue to tumble, we are unbeaten in eight, clean sheets away from home seem almost de rigeur and we are into the top ...
The Lambert years but under a different guise? Who knows but this collection of players do not and will not give up October 16, 2017 - A long throw from Marco Stiepermann, a flick-on from Cameron Jerome and what looked like a backheel from Nelson Oliveira and we nicked a well-deserved point in the over-run of injury time. The Lambert days are apparently back in a slightly different guise. Shades of Simeon Jackson and Derby. Because ...
What’s in a shirt? From the egg ‘n cress to the blue and white half ‘n half, it’s been… interesting October 7, 2017 - I read an article about Kate Moss the other day. Okay, I had a quick look at the photographs as well. The prose featured a long list of the fashion designers she had posed as a model for, including Jean-Paul McVeigh. I'm sure they got the spelling wrong in the ...
A message to Daniel: Beware the curse of Manager of the Month (not that you’ll worry either way) October 2, 2017 - My knowledge of Norse-Germanic mythology is pretty sketchy to be honest. I am sure Daniel Farke's would prove far superior. However, unusually for me, I have done a little research and will attempt to read the runes. Andvaranaut was a magic ring named after the shape-shifting dwarf Andvari, and was also ...
Post-Millwall malcontent has evaporated. City not yet the free-scorers we all desire, but first things first September 25, 2017 - Have you ever been forced to deliver a "presentation" at work? Or even worse, been forced to sit through one given by somebody else that you don't rate either professionally or personally? These "events" at my old company were so boring we used to print out "bullsh*t bingo" cards, i.e. ...
Message to Mr Wilder: If your objective is to bully others, you may want to think twice before trying it on us again September 18, 2017 - The Biter Bit: Someone or somebody who has caused harm to other people in the past who has retrospectively been hurt big time by those he wished to harm in the first place. A quote from some famous geezer I can't trace c 1650. Go Wilder: Track on an old Tenpole Tudor album. Sample excerpt ...
No cutting edge but, equally, we never looked like conceding. Just one of those September 14, 2017 - Back in the day there was an arcade game called Breakout. It emerged a couple of years after Space Invaders and the objective was simple: put your, 20p or whatever it was then, in the slot and try to batter down a brick wall with a paddle. If you got through the wall, ...
Those elusive leaders are slowly starting to emerge. Three more against Burton and we really will be up and running. September 11, 2017 - "It's important that I'm a leader on the pitch and a strong person for the young lads. I need to bring the fighting spirit out of them." Timm Klose. Well Timm, you made a fair old fist of that on Saturday and it was terrific to welcome you back. And ...
We all love ’em – players with mayfly-like ability to light the old place up and burn brightly September 1, 2017 - Everyone has their favourite chippy - and indeed their favourite footballers. No Ian Crook link intended. My old boy was a typical man of his era in that as much as he "loved" my mother there were (many) times he couldn't wait to escape from her. Very early one sunny ...
Old doubts starting to resurface for some? How much P word will it take? August 28, 2017 - Back in 1973 when most MFW readers and writers were in nappies, there was an ambitious band called Queen, previously known as Smile. They recruited Freddie Mercury (aka Bulsara), changed their name and released a single called Keep Yourself Alive. It bombed. A single from the second album Queen II - ...
Evolution takes time, as will the ‘Webberlution’. We have to stick with it August 22, 2017 - Back in the Dark Ages when I was at school, we had a science teacher called Graeme Penman. He was a Kiwi with a fantastic sense of humour and also the Junior Colts cricket coach. Nets with him were fun, and his lessons were more than bearable even if, like ...
Zimmers dominating, the artistry of Wessi & Maddison, and a confident Angus. What’s not to like? August 17, 2017 - Well, I thoroughly enjoyed last night - a well-marshalled defence in which Christoph Zimmermann was outstanding, the artistry of Wessi and James Maddison, a fantastic save by Angus Gunn from the irritant that is Jamie Mackie... ...and the best atmosphere I can remember at The Carra in a long time. ...
A few positives to cling onto but still plenty of hand wringing and furrowed brows August 14, 2017 - So the Black Cats got the cream - and for the simple reason my mate was the first around us to voice but we all knew: we had all the possession, they scored all the goals. All summer us on MFW and many others elsewhere have been advocating patience. We ...
Sunderland Preview: Grabbs, that Sunday afternoon in March ’85, Larry Grayson and George Orwell August 12, 2017 - It's the new season and City have a new management structure and a much-changed squad many of us have yet to see in serious action. In the spirit of progression, MFW has improved/updated its website and is introducing (imagine a fanfare, we don't do audio - yet) match previews. With ...
‘Celebration Day’ at the Cottage (of sorts) and early signs that ‘change’ is going to be exciting August 7, 2017 - The lead riff wriggles out of one’s hands before it can be grasped, just as another scattering riff comes bounding in over the top. When it all falls away for the isolated hook, it’s like taking a deep breath of fresh air … (Lester Bangs) Led Zeppelin brought out a controversial ...
It may take a few windows for this squad to be fully revamped but now there’s a real mood of optimism July 31, 2017 - Well, that was certainly different, as we all expected it to be. The crowd of 12,907 could easily have been 12,906 thanks to the vagaries of Vauxhall engineering. Anyway without doing a Clarkson on engine management system “idiot lights”, I missed meeting up with my Brighton friends until after the ...
The new Carrow Road broom has swept clean the fields of Colney and the offices of ‘the Jarrold’! July 24, 2017 - Have any of you ever actively wanted to swerve a visit to Carrow Road – as in you would rather have been anywhere else but there that day? Sure, the possibility of ‘meeting’ some irritating Leeds fans or what constitutes Millwall on the road isn’t exactly appealing, but we all ...
There have been one or two disasters along the way but it’s now hats off to the club’s PR machine July 18, 2017 - Well, it came on Saturday. As it usually does around this time of year. Sandwiched between a bank statement and an AA renewal letter. Don’t worry, I’ll be on to the AA very soon to waste 20 minutes on the phone to get the obligatory 40 per cent discount. As ...
Feet of Clay. Prompted no doubt by his agent but Jonny H’s final NCFC act did leave a bitter taste July 10, 2017 - Feet of clay. It’s an old phrase, often misunderstood in this day and age but it’s meaning is still relevant to any supporter of football, whichever that club may be. “A flaw or vulnerability of someone who is otherwise admirable. In the Bible’s Book of Daniel, King Nebuchadnezzar dreamed that ...
A grotesque drain on football? A necessary evil? So, would football be a better place with no agents? July 3, 2017 - Okay class, sit up, pay attention and stop making silly noises on the desks with your rulers. Question one: What do Craig Revel Horwood, Keith Lemon and Cameron Jerome have in common? Question two: What links Russell Martin to John Bishop and Dawn French? Question three: What commodity do Ed Sheeran, JK Rowling ...
Time for the dreaded fitness tests. Let’s hope for a team that doesn’t run out of steam on 70 mins June 26, 2017 - Today our lot head back to the ranch for the dreaded fitness assessments. I wonder what is going through their minds. And I’m not sure I even want to know what has been going through their physical systems during that glorious “month off”. With money to burn, many of them ...
Once a player yourself? Still one? Fancy sharing the good, the bad and the ugly with your MFW friends? June 19, 2017 - We all moan when CamJam blazes over from six yards and we’ve also known we have had a defence built on the foundations of a Rowntrees’ jelly for some time now. Michael McGovern scares the S out of me when he shapes up to take a place kick. Although all ...
Who should stay and who should go? Right now the Outs at NCFC are every bit as crucial as the Ins June 13, 2017 - Peaks and troughs. We’re all thoroughly aware of the concept and understand the implications. Indeed that great philosopher Ronnie Wood of Faces and Rolling Stones fame hit the nail smack on the head when he said: “Nobody likes a drought or a flood; we all want a gentle, warm rain”. ...
Let’s dream… so who’s up for being the fan rep on the Norwich City FC board? There any takers out there? June 9, 2017 - Last week I read a great article by Steve Cook where he presented his “manifesto” for NCFC, included in which was an ostensibly sensible point about supporter representation on the Board. Steve suggested three re-electable supporters in the hot seats, which I will immediately shoot down by saying we’d be lucky to ...
Second teams (Part 2): Martin P this time takes us to Mallorca and a whistle stop tour of the Balearics June 5, 2017 - The first time I stepped on Spanish soil was in the year 2000, in Mallorca. Two of my three uncles chose the early part of that year to snuff it, and my dad had been diagnosed with terminal lung cancer. I had left my wife and two wonderful children over ...
Second teams (Part 1): Martin P takes us around North London and explains why for him it’s Spurs May 30, 2017 - In sixth form at school, I was considered far too limited to study three subjects at A-level. So English and History it was. However, the lack of any third subject left plenty of free time, and my friend Si (in a similar situation) and I exploited it to the nth ...
Two years ago today: Y’Army witnessed one of the greatest days in the history of Norwich City FC May 25, 2017 - Today is May 25th – and you don’t need me to tell you what that means. Two years ago on this very day the yellow and green hordes pitched up at Wembley for one of the greatest days in our club’s history. For many of our younger supporters, it was ...
No match day routine for ten whole weeks! And no Euros or World Cup this summer to soften the blow May 17, 2017 - There’s an exiled Binner further down the road who keeps a goose and a few ducks in his front garden. He’s always good value for a quick natter – he really doesn’t rate Marcus Evans and often expresses the view that we at City have nothing to worry about in ...
A warm fuzzy feeling, some old school 'banter' between the Pit and the Barclay, and a Ruddy good send-off for JR May 9, 2017 - Ivo Pinto has to stay, I wouldn't mind if we kept Timm Klose and The Beast should be retained if Ajax and his agent can be suitably persuaded. Likewise, I would hate to lose Jonny Howson and despite the Rangers rumours I would rather retain Graham Dorrans, who I thought ...
To get the club's business done 'early doors' would be a huge improvement on our recent history May 2, 2017 - We also had the ‘gambles’ of Oli Johnson and Anthony MacNamee. Limited success is being kind, but at least their goals brought us wins over Southend and Stockport respectively. And believe me, those games could have otherwise combined to yield one point rather than six.
This is no time for NCFC evolution. Revolution has to be the name of the game as the new era kicks in April 27, 2017 - Make no mistake, Webber cannot achieve his objectives by being nice and gentle. For him to be successful, the olde worlde order at Carrow Road has to end. He will know that and is prepared to act on his intellect I am sure. He would never have joined City if ...
Still two games to go but the silly season has begun and already there is gossip and rumour abound April 23, 2017 - Naturally, Stockdale’s reception from the Barclay for the second half was rather appropriate. Quite apart from his ‘Suffolk connections’ he’s played a couple of blinders against us in the recent past so his luck had to expire at some point. And absolute praise for Messrs Ruddy, Martin and Bennett.
Season is deader than a dead thing in a dead place. And now plenty of scope for a cull of some dead wood April 16, 2017 - It must be said that Fulham employed every trick in the book to knock us out of our stride, but apart from a four-corner burst after Cameron Jerome’s goal, we didn’t really hit a stride of any particular note. But that counts for nothing in the grand scheme of things.
Reading on the beach? City playing with no pressure? Either way, a chink of light at the end of the NCFC tunnel April 10, 2017 - Russell Martin has had so much stick - some warranted, some not - this season, but the Barclay could see how much his goal meant to him. I really feel we should retain him in some capacity. More importantly, it’s simply not true.
No belief, no confidence, no mutual trust and precious little ability. And the Terriers up next April 3, 2017 - No Pinto, no Dijks. Seems to me like a toss-up between Russell Martin and Steven Whittaker for either full-back role with Sebastien Bassong and Ryan Bennett in the middle. I reckon the Terriers could put under-18 strikers out against that shambles with no worries at all.
The four stages of our brave new world. Stone's in, Webber's on his way, who's next through the door? March 27, 2017 - Finance may well dictate the futures of Timm Klose, Steven Naismith and John Ruddy. I wouldn’t be that sorry to lose any one of them to be honest; my worry would be how much would we get for the trio? Possibly less than for Rod, Jane and Freddy, I’m afraid.
The play-offs are unlikely but still vaguely possible and the flicker of desperate hope flickereth still March 20, 2017 - I do not get why so many people on social media appear to want a manager, head coach or whatever you want to call him, in now. Why pick up what’s left after Derby and Forest have jumped like scalded frogs? We’re not going down and we’re highly unlikely to ...
Only people who can sort this mess out are the Board. The rest of us have to suck it up and accept it March 15, 2017 - They have a lot of important decisions to make and indeed crucial appointments must be made. I too am hearing good vibes about Tom from some quite disparate quarters, although being me I am still deeply suspicious of him, mainly through his family connection and lack of backstory. but please ...
Owls of pain and derision but it's as you were at City, even after Cam's bold but unsubtle lifting of the lid March 6, 2017 - If I heard: "We tried our rocks off but lost to a better side", I would be disappointed, but understanding. But I wouldn't be as disgruntled as I feel right now. Sure, CJ has his detractors but his application and effort are beyond question. When a player like Cameron says ...
Where do we now go from here? The Premier League looks a long shot and it's clearly a chance missed February 28, 2017 - The money is about to run out. The excellent Mitchell Dijks is highly unlikely to be here next season, and the admirable loyalty of the Murphy brothers (particularly Jacob, who gave a fantastic radio interview yesterday) is bound to be tested in the close season. Should either brother leave, they ...
A Brief Encounter: In a pub, in that Suffolk town, with two legends from that very same Suffolk town February 23, 2017 - One night I got home to Blofield and had my primitive fax machine billowing all over the floor with crude Suffolk Punches strangling Canaries and words I cannot repeat. I knew the EADT would be doing the "Well Done Bryan Gunn" badge long before they published it themselves.
Talking points aplenty for the faithful after the most entertaining one at the Carra in many a moon February 16, 2017 - I happened to fall in with a small bunch of Mags on their way back to the train station and they were just as elated as I was. They berated Benitez for not bringing on Dwight Gayle earlier, I responded by saying I'm glad he didn't and we should have ...
Forest done and dusted, now eyes turn to the Toon. Simple, “If we don’t turn up, we’ll get turned over”. February 13, 2017 - While we scored five, our striker didn't feature on the scoresheet but let's put this firmly into perspective. Nelson Oliviera worked his butt off, linked play superbly when he could and looked every inch the five million pound striker. We also had one Cameron Jerome on the bench.
We have what we have and now all we can do is hope City have enough for a decent tilt at the play-offs February 6, 2017 - There is no real point in berating Alex Tettey for attracting the inevitable final yellow either. It's the way he plays, bless him, and we have Ben Godfrey and Youssouf Mulumbu. One to play (hopefully Godfrey for me, give the lad his chance) and the other on the bench.
Dijks is close, City going toe to toe with Rams for Wildschut, but will anything concrete transpire today? January 31, 2017 - It also seems inevitable that Robbie Brady is off, which on paper should give us the funds for a left-sided wide player (a true replacement for Brady, and not an auxiliary left-back) and, whisper it quietly, a better centre back than – Timm Klose apart – we possess already.
Keep it civilised good folk of NCFC. Opinions differ, no two the same, but we all have one thing in common… January 27, 2017 - All the people I refer to go to Carrow Road because they want to be there - even the guy who cannot pick out which player is which. And he's younger than me and doesn't appear to need glasses. He might not know who the players are, but seems to ...
Three points from an afternoon full of colour but with eight days left in the window it's over to the Board January 23, 2017 - So, three points against a club that - let's be honest - few of us admire. And what I believe is our first double of the season. Unlike some folks on social media I am not concerned about putting a spoke in Paul Lambert's wheel. His tenure leaves me with ...
This season is shot. Gone. No play-offs. No Wembley dreams. Solitary upside? We won't go down January 16, 2017 - I don't always watch the Channel 5 Highlights show all the way through, but I did this weekend. The sheer exuberance of Leeds, the grit and endeavour of Preston and the way Fulham knocked it around for fun made me consider how proud I would be to support any one ...
Eleven days in. No senior players in, no-one out, and still plenty of square pegs in the Canaries' squad January 11, 2017 - We also have a top-quality international centre back who wants out and we own the registration of the kind of player most people would want up front for them in this league but is obviously thought of as not good enough for us by certain people.
Saints replay offers echoes of a happier time but marketing gurus beware: don't take us for granted January 9, 2017 - Back in 1992, I went to The Dell for our quarter final. A 0-0 bore draw and we were shoehorned onto old trestles with 'seat' numbers on the back. Anyone on a packed Sleazyjet aircraft who complains of sitting next to a large person on one side and a small ...
A lost weekend, a hotel in Bavaria, a hangover in Teesside and a curry surrounded by some Wolves January 5, 2017 - We had the temerity to beat Wolves 2-0 and it was the night their wonderful fans decided to put half a breezeblock through one of the Club Canary coaches. Tucking my scarf under my Liam Gallagher parka, I walked back through the subway towards the Novotel. Tucking my scarf under ...
A question for Delia: Is your vision of the future still valid? And if so what of Dr Goretex's next generation? December 29, 2016 - Alex Neil is so past his sell-by date it is beyond belief. He is kept in situ and the silence from the boardroom is deafening. The majority of NCFC fans - including myself and I am sure most, if not all of the MFW writers - have been patient for ...
Martin P's on an Xmas tour – from Big Dunc to McVeigh via Huckerby, Ward and the Manics December 21, 2016 - "There is a circus in the town - where George Burley is the clown". Again, far too rude to detail, but I used to sing it with gusto. A true NCFC original and I absolutely loved joining in with it.
It really is now time for the change. Nothing will improve under Neil – I am now convinced of that December 20, 2016 - After Villa, I wrote that Alex Neil had earned a further chance to put things right. Well, quite frankly, he's blown it. I'm not screaming for Gary Rowett or any other individual - certainly not Roy Hodgson, anyway - but something has to change.
Onwards and upwards? A win over the Terriers and things will be going in the right direction for City December 15, 2016 - Many of us thought last night's team selection appeared too defensive on paper. I don't care - it worked. Winning ugly? To an extent, but I would settle for this level of performance in every game right now. We need those points and it really doesn't matter how we get ...
Footballers: Too much too young but ask yourself, 'what working class boy wouldn’t give it his very best shot?' December 8, 2016 - I have no jealousy at all aimed towards those who earn x, y or z, but if I respect Grant Holt and Bradley Johnson above others, it is because I truly believe they have earned their rewards the hard way and respect them from the lessons I have learned in ...
Still more questions than answers but for now the the Yellow Army is onside and things look a tad brighter December 5, 2016 - It's an open secret that it's "sell to buy" in January and given our recent track record I don't hold out too much hope for much of any use to happen in terms of ins-and-outs. But if Saturday is anything to go by, things are looking a little more towards ...
Never meet your heroes? Martin Penney takes us on tour with Lemmy via Foxy, Gunny, Russ and one Ruud Krol! November 29, 2016 - This white VW Golf convertible had been tailing me for seemingly ages with rap so loud it was almost drowning out my Iron Maiden. As we pulled up side by side at the lights the occupants looked over. Foxy in the passenger seat and Lee Power driving. I just waved ...
No longer just 'left-back in the changing room', a City trinity who have graced our left side with skill and distinction November 23, 2016 - Mark Bowen has to be one of the very finest players ever to wear the yellow shirt. "You'll never beat Mark Bowen" sang the Barclay, and were invariably correct. He could play anywhere, too - midfield, striker, even in goal once at Coventry.

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