Steve Cook

Hughton’s demise was a football decision; not to be confused with the issue around lack of opportunity for BAME managers May 23, 2019 - Brighton became the latest club to part ways with Chris Hughton and in doing so, encountered similar criticism to that faced by his previous employers, Norwich and Newcastle. The national media were joined by many ‘neutrals’ on social media to condemn the decision; the general inference being that those clubs ...
MFW predicts: The Results – Messrs Lewis and Finbow take the gongs… May 21, 2019 - For most of us, Mario Vrancic’s late winner at Villa Park simply served to ease any remaining jitters and ensure the title-winning party started five minutes early. However, for those in the MFW team vying for our own accolade – that of Champion Tipster (for our predictions that have featured ...
An ode to Daniel and his men – ‘The most special of years’ May 7, 2019 - The summer is over, a new season starting, Hope is diminished, through Madders departing. A rebuild, a project, a club in transition, Signs of improvement, the only ambition. Early defeats, against West Brom and Leeds, Dissenting voices, on the Twitter feeds. And radio phone-ins, a place for the moaners, To point their fingers at Farke and owners. ...
Perspective is everything, but in the white heat of a promotion run-in? Forget it! April 25, 2019 - I don’t know about you, but the pressure of the promotion race has completely destroyed my sense of perspective. Early on in the season, with minimal expectations, I was fine. But over the last few weeks, I’ve come to view everything through a singular lens; one that is solely focussed ...
A salute to the Wigan 5,300, whether ‘regular’ or newbie – heroes all April 18, 2019 - Last time around, I mentioned my mate Jack, who supports Leeds, and I tried to counter his ongoing assertion that City have been lucky to climb to the top of the table. His other favourite ‘wind-up’ relates to the size of our respective fanbases, and in particular the travelling support. ...
‘Lucky City’… ‘given a ‘bye’ … ‘sinister forces’ … Can’t possibly be that we’re a really good side April 13, 2019 - Do you believe in luck? For me, it’s just a term that gets used to rationalise improbable outcomes. A suggestion that mysterious forces are somehow bending the rules of probability, when in reality, it’s just a matter of statistics. Or to put it another way… ‘Luck is probability taken personally’ ...
Soundbites and chest thumping? Or winning football matches? You decide… March 20, 2019 - With City sitting pretty at the top of the table, and an international break to savour the feeling, let’s talk about the ‘P word’. Popularity. News of Daniel Farke’s contract extension was greeted with general delight and it’s hard to think of a more popular City manager in recent years. ...
It’s entertaining, it’s exciting, sometimes excruciating, other times exhilarating January 29, 2019 - At my grandparents’ house, there was a small model alpine cabin that would provide a rudimentary weather forecast. A tiny lady figurine would appear through a door on one side, if it was going to be sunny and a man with a brolly - much like Steve McClaren at Wembley ...
Kudos to the City board for not taking their pick from the managerial merry-go-round December 14, 2018 - Let’s go back to March of this year; the 14th to be precise. Southampton announced the appointment of Mark Hughes as first team manager, a little over seven weeks after his sacking at Stoke. The Saints, in desperate need of someone to galvanise a talented squad of underperforming and relegation-threatened ...
Still some way to go before the game we all love is genuinely accessible to all December 1, 2018 - There’s always a risk in broaching a subject which, arguably, you’re ill-placed to pass comment on and one that is as complex and emotive as the issue of prejudice and inclusivity within football. However, on the back of Ian Wright’s two-part documentary ‘Out of Their Skin’ and Norwich City’s support ...
It’s the togetherness and spirit within our club that makes it a joy to follow right now November 29, 2018 - "I think the most pleasing thing of the year has been the connection with the fans and being able to share brilliant experiences with them.” You could be forgiven for assuming those words emanated from a Colney press conference, rather than Gareth Southgate’s reflections on England’s passage to the Nations ...
In the spirit of ‘prediction season’, MFW has one final route to shame up its sleeve August 7, 2018 - Anyone who's had a brief trawl through the transaction history of my online betting account would question why I keep promoting tipster competitions on MyFootballWriter. I'm not exactly Mystic Meg. And yet, hot on the heels of our World Cup competition, I recently asked for Championship predictions, with 37 of ...
CHAMPIONSHIP PREDICTIONS: It’s again crystal ball time for Team MFW August 2, 2018 - Here we go again. Football fans will soon be waking up with that familiar buzz that signals the start of a new season. Up and down the country (and further afield), pre-match rituals are set to be renewed and new shirts given their first proper outing, as football is set ...
Championship prediction time for the MFW team (and the results of our World Cup guesswork!) July 31, 2018 - On the eve of the new season, the World Cup already seems a distant memory, but what a tournament it was. Stunning goals, shock results and England even won a penalty shoot-out. The only minor irritation came from the criticism directed towards the English over the resurgence of the terrace ...
WORLD CUP: Crystal ball time. Can you do better than the MFW team? (Not difficult!) June 8, 2018 - It’s crystal ball time again. Just weeks after our Championship predictions were exposed as little more than random guesswork, the MFW team are putting what little credibility remains, on the line by offering up our World Cup forecasts. For those who fancy joining in, the rules are simple. We’re asking ...
Sporting fails happen to us all, but most don’t suffer them in the glare of multi-millions May 29, 2018 - It’s hard to feel much sympathy for someone who earns more in a week than I do in a year, especially when they ‘earn’ it by playing a game I love. I’m the sort of person who delights when professional footballers shank one into the stands with an accompanying cry ...
MyFootballWriter predicts: The results May 9, 2018 - Like most conversations that I have with my wife, it’s best to start with an apology. Back in August, the MFW team laid out our predictions for the season in our annual tipster competition and extended the challenge to our readers. Shortly afterwards, we moved the site to its revamped ...
Patience? No such thing in football, but City’s slow-burning, self-funding approach flies in the face of the modern game April 12, 2018 - “Impatience can cause wise people to do foolish things.” ― Janette Oke I stumbled across this quote the other day and instantly drew parallels to Norwich City. The current calls for patience from the more measured amongst us who are prepared to give the current set-up the time it deserves, aimed ...
In transition. But transitioning towards what? And does it have to mean little enjoyment? April 4, 2018 - In the current climate and with a divided fanbase, expressing an opinion on City’s plight is akin to painting a target on your forehead and shouting “come at me”, regardless of whether your glass is half-full or half-empty. With that in mind, it’s worth starting this piece with two facts. ...
The best pound-for-pound signing in Norwich City history? Hughes? Coney? Střihavka? March 14, 2018 - In the world of boxing, the term ‘pound for pound’ refers to the comparison of fighters from across different weight classes. It’s an often subjective debate which complicates even further once you extend it across eras to try and crown the best pound for pound boxer of all time. But ...
When we have the man in black in our sights, where does the banter end and the abuse begin? March 8, 2018 - ‘You don’t know what you’re doing.’ ‘You’re not fit to referee.’ ‘Who’s the w***** in the black?’ At one point or another, I’ve shouted all of these phrases to a variety of complete strangers and done so with genuine gusto and venom. All because they were officiating a football match. ...
IPSWICH PREVIEW: Partridge, Toblerone, safe-standing, Russell Grant, Mühren and obnoxious alcoholics February 16, 2018 - When Gary gave me the nod to do the Ipswich preview, there was only one person I was prepared to speak to; my long-term and long-suffering friend, Rob. After all, he’s the only Ipswich fan I know. He’s a man who has a pair of ‘lucky’ red Y-fronts (don’t ask). ...
What’s in a fee? And what if it’s ‘undisclosed’? Plenty either way for ‘clappers’ and cynics to mull over January 16, 2018 - Last week was a lively one both at Carrow Road and on MyFootballWriter. The sale of Alex Pritchard prompted articles and debate. Some views expressed I supported wholeheartedly; others I took great exception to. As always, it was nice to see the MFW family go at it with a level ...
Remember the Kane lad? So, maybe time yet for our ugly ducklings to blossom into swans January 9, 2018 - Harry Kane’s hat-trick against Southampton led to him breaking Alan Shearer’s record of most Premier League goals scored in a calendar year and becoming the leading goal scorer across Europe’s top five leagues for 2017. Not bad for a man I had dismissed as being 'utterly sh*te'. Kane’s short-lived loan ...
Transition takes time but the signs of progression have been fleeting. A big January awaits for Mr Webber January 4, 2018 - Happy New Year and a Happy New Transfer Window to one and all. Since its introduction in the 2002/03 season and being afforded the full Sky treatment, the transfer window has given rise to all manner of clichés. From countdowns and totalisers to Jim White’s yellow tie and ‘Arry Redknapp’s ...
The Canary ‘referendum’ debate continues. Dexiteer or remainer? Or somewhere in between? December 15, 2017 - With nearly half the season gone and City languishing in mid-table, it would take extreme levels of optimism (or pessimism) to consider anything other than a third consecutive season in the Championship next year and with it, a parachute payment-sized hole on the balance books. Not insignificant for a club ...
Can Farke find formula to bring an end to these miserly offerings? Dare we even consider our Christmas future? November 29, 2017 - As the song goes, ‘it’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas’. In supermarkets, it’s been looking a lot like Christmas since late July but with December almost upon us, I figured it wasn’t unreasonable to pen an article with a yuletide spin - especially given the nature of last ...
‘Far from the nerve-jangling ‘smash and grab’ job it seemed at the time, City had delivered the classic away performance’ September 28, 2017 - There were 24,084 fans at The Riverside on Tuesday evening. 24,084 pairs of eyes watching the same game; the same players, chasing and kicking the same ball. However, once you factor individual expectations, perceptions and allegiances, it’s clear that we can see things very differently. City’s visits to Teesside are ...
BURTON PREVIEW: Big Bren’ and our Stevo on third kits, tea towels, bouncy castles and Ted the Ultra September 11, 2017 - MyFootballWriter’s ‘cup draw’ to designate the match previews across the team, handed me Burton at home. ‘That’s a good one’, I thought to myself; but like so many of City’s recent cup ties, it turned out to be far harder than it looked on paper. Tracking down a Burton fan ...
Deadline Day as it (sort of) happened, with MFW’s yellow-tied Steve Cook September 1, 2017 - Missed the ‘drama’ of transfer deadline day? Allow MyFootballWriter to summarise: 09:00-12:00 Sky Sports News report that West Ham Manager Slaven Bilic has been given 48 minutes to save his job. Under-fire Crystal Palace boss De Boer is immediately installed as the odds-on favourite to replace the Serb on Sky ...
All too easy to forget, but our common ground is a love of Norwich City and a heart-felt desire for succeed August 17, 2017 - Those of a similar vintage may have shared the childish glee I used to find whilst watching the TV quiz show Blockbusters and hearing a contestant utter the phrase “I’ll have a ‘P’ please Bob”. Hardly ‘comedy gold’ but small things etc. Let me play the role of Mr Holness ...
Big on talent – big on attitude. Yet Nelson’s far from alone in trying the patience of his coach August 11, 2017 - Two games in and Daniel Farke has already been confronted by (and dealt with) his first public display of player unrest. Nelson Oliveira’s shirt-waving goal celebration and subsequent omission from the squad against Swindon has seemingly divided opinion amongst the supporters who have broadly classified his antics as one of ...
MFW columnists predict: Time for Mystic Mick and the team to look ahead to the next ten months August 3, 2017 - Sport has given rise to many iconic rivalries. Coe and Ovett; Prost and Senna; Navratilova and Evert; Ali and Frazier. You could probably add the names of Ronaldo and Messi to that list; their on-going monopoly of the Ballon D’or and individual attempts to be crowned as the ‘best ever’ ...
If it has to be ‘farewell Jonny’, then let it be with Y’Army’s best wishes. A pro who did it with class July 5, 2017 - Football fans are often a superstitious bunch. Whether it’s a preferred turnstile (number 8 in the Barclay for me), ‘lucky’ pants (other clothing is available) or a prescribed pre-match meeting point, there is a deep-rooted belief that it’s not just the actions of the players which influences proceedings on the ...
“To coach football to John, you have to know football. You also have to know John.” A key message… June 30, 2017 - So far, Daniel Farke has had it easy. With the players away on their holidays, most of his time has seemingly been spent posing for the cameras in a black suit and shirt whilst sticking his thumb up. “OK Daniel, it’s another photoshoot. You know the drill. Imagine you’re a ...
The club have a plan and they’re executing it, and with a rarely seen level of efficiency and effectiveness June 24, 2017 - We’ve all been to ‘those’ matches at Carrow Road; the classic tales of two halves. Matches where the half-time whistle is greeted with a few moans and groans but the overwhelming sense is one of relief that 45 minutes of dross is over and you can grab a beer and ...
Strong, stable and present! In the spirit of the election ’season’ MFW’s Steve Cook launches his own manifesto June 1, 2017 - With a deep-rooted distrust of all politicians, I’ve grown pretty weary of the steady stream of pre-election platitudes, being served by those wishing to secure our votes. Whether you prefer your soundbites to be ‘strong and stable’ or for ‘the many, not the few’, the daily barrage of ‘promises, promises, ...
TalkSPORT, in the form of Messrs Wilkins and Brazil, disapprove. That can only be a good thing, right? May 28, 2017 - Less than 24 hours after the launch of the UKIP manifesto, the radio station talkSPORT served up its own rallying call to all those who harbour concerns over the ‘bloody foreigners coming over here and taking our jobs’. For those who missed it, Friday’s breakfast show hosted by former footballers Alan Brazil ...
Is it possible to have any room left in your locker for a second team? Are you a football fan? Or a City fan? May 22, 2017 - “Who’s your second team after Norwich, Daddy?” I shot my son a look that showed my disdain for his enquiry. “What sort of question is that?” I asked. “It’s like asking me who else I want to be with apart from Mummy”. “But I already know the answer to that”, he replied ...
Pampered maybe, but the life of a top pro is nomadic. Spare a thought for their nearest and dearest May 15, 2017 - Since Stuart Webber’s arrival the focus has been on reducing the age profile of our playing squad and with an average age of 28.4 years - the second highest in the division behind Brighton- it’s clear to see why. (Although Hughton’s band of seasoned pros and elder statesmen didn’t serve ...
The (almost) definitive A to Z of 2016/17, from the highs of opening day to the real lows of the Amex April 26, 2017 - There are only so many times you can say the same things before the words completely lose their impact. Whoever was offered up to the media was faced with the unenviable task of explaining performances which repeatedly failed to live up to expectations.
Three wishes for the new set-up: Clarity, talented personnel and a well defined strategy. Too much to ask? April 5, 2017 - A lot of discussion around the structural review at Norwich City has focused on job titles. We’ll have Managing and Sporting Directors instead of a Chief Executive, a Head Coach instead of First-team Manager, Ricky Martin doing whatever it is he does as Technical Director and an Academy Manager.
What’s in a song? Some corkers have reverberated around Carra Rud over the years. Your favourite? March 31, 2017 - Score against Ipswich and that used to be a sure fire way of being immortalised in song – right up until the point that ‘half of f***ing Norwich’ did it. But McKenzie, MacKay, Messrs Johnson, Howson and Holt all have songs dedicated to them for sticking it to our near ...
‘Expectation’ is what it all boils down to at NCFC. And when they’re not met we search for some answers March 17, 2017 - It’s why the unforeseen victory, the one against the odds, is so much sweeter than the routine win that we saw coming. Or why a defeat at The Emirates or The Etihad is easier to stomach than losing at places like Rotherham, Barnsley or Burton.
Five things we probably already knew before Sunday’s derby but which became crystal clear March 2, 2017 - Ipswich fans delight in pointing out that we didn’t match their achievements from over 35 years ago. We counter that with the reality check that they have become nothing more than a mediocre Championship club which can’t fill its stadium.
Is it perhaps that we are so scarred by the disasters that we now tend to overlook some of the positives? February 24, 2017 - I’ve read the press-conference quotes from Alex Neil and the players - full of good intent and apparent conviction and I desperately want to believe that performances and results will reflect that sense of purpose. However deep down, I simply don’t trust the football club to deliver.
What makes a good match? What separates the mundane from those that can be classed as ‘fun’? January 26, 2017 - There’s a split second, where the brain has enough time to comprehend that something exciting is about to happen as you wait for the inevitable clattering of the pins – whether those pins are skittles or someone’s legs.
So what of 2017? If only it was as simple as wiping the whole sorry slate clean and starting afresh January 4, 2017 - Russell Martin’s post-Brentford assessment referenced the fact that the club and its fans have drifted apart and acknowledged the need to rebuild a sense of togetherness through small steps. In real terms, that requires the team to deliver a series of performances and results that restore some pride. In real ...
No anger. It’s beyond that. Now all I feel for my club is a sense of detachment and indifference December 30, 2016 - The quotes emanating from the dressing room about a collective desire to work harder and turn it round seem entirely at odds with the displays on the pitch; displays that are littered with individual mistakes and which suggest a general lack of conviction and endeavour.
Not accountable for the Canaries’ current woes? For that reason Alex is running very low on sympathy December 24, 2016 - In every coaching course I’ve undertaken, there has been one fundamental message: the key responsibility of the football coach or manager is to create an environment where the players will flourish. Something that Neil is clearly not delivering.
Does it matter if those running the show are genuine supporters? Or is it simply a ‘nice to have’ bonus? December 10, 2016 - Jacob’s decision to commit to City, and resist the rumoured interest from the Premier League, may have been based on his chances of minutes on the pitch but it’s clear he’s settled at the club. So we’re all happy that Jacob’s signed and hopeful that Josh will follow suit.
Cold comfort from an AGM full of straight bats, but are there 26,000 of us who are part of the problem? November 24, 2016 - Wherever the fingers point, one thing that most people seem to agree on is that this isn’t a mere blip and that our current woes are reflective of deep-rooted issues within the club which don’t bode well for the future.
Early doors, but, as things stand, who’d be your tip for the Barry Butler? Allow Stevo to assist… November 16, 2016 - For certain players, that simply means not making a howler or screwing things up. For others – those with a hefty price tag or reputation for example - the expectations are higher.
When does it stop becoming just a football club and start becoming a brand? And what about ‘identity’? November 8, 2016 - We’ve had debate over increasing the capacity, either through redevelopment of Carrow Road or relocation; debate over the merits of changing the age profile of the fan base and reinvigorating the atmosphere at games by altering the balance of season ticket holders and casual supporters.
Alex deserves better. For players not to care’s an insult to those who can only dream of wearing the yellow November 4, 2016 - Russell Martin faced the media following the Brighton debarcle and suggested that some of our players had given up. For me, the contrast couldn’t have been starker.
Five things we already knew but were painfully reminded of at St James’ Park on Wednesday night September 30, 2016 - It’s ‘only’ football and in the grand scheme of things, we should all remember that life is too short to get that worked-up. But when has common ever applied to being a football fan? It’s our passion and on this occasion, the outpouring of frustration and anger was entirely justified.
Is there a way to address financial disparity between Prem and the rest? Or a simple case of “deal with it…”? September 22, 2016 - Despite our relative wealth in Championship terms, we all know that Norwich City have financial constraints. Our ‘salary cap’ is defined, not by the League, but by those who hold the purse strings at Carrow Road – or rather those who own (and fill) the purse in the first place.
Protest or no protest. It all boils down to what exactly we expect from being a supporter of Norwich City FC September 9, 2016 - It’s been a long time since City have had the supposed comfort of closing out a season without either a promotion or relegation battle and facing those ‘six-pointers’ that bring with them moments of sheer ecstasy or abject misery.
Is Master Oliveira the answer to City’s ‘Number 9’ conundrum? The new Holty or the next Strivhavka? September 3, 2016 - It’s commonplace for a buying team to play down the scale of a transfer or insist that the fee is ‘undisclosed’ to suggest that they got value from the deal. However the new Villa owner seems intent on demonstrating just how deep his pockets are and to openly publicise just ...
Five things that we already knew but which invariably rear their ugly heads when #ncfc things go pear-shaped August 31, 2016 - City were never going to steam-roll their way through the division and displays like that at Ewood Park will be few and far between. However in order to challenge for promotion the team needs to fulfil its considerable potential and more importantly do it consistently.
If things go badly south this season, watch for me making an early exit. Sans redecorating the nearest wall… August 20, 2016 - "At half-time, with the home team trailing by over sixty points, the dog wearily got up, urinated against a wall and left the stadium. It was the most damning and yet apt review of a sporting performance that I have ever witnessed...
All is fair in love and football as City prove there is life after the Villa-bound McCormack August 8, 2016 - On the same morning that McCormack signed for Villa, City announced the signing of Alex Pritchard, which certainly softened the blow. It also served to counter the accusations that our Board are unable to conclude their business quickly. In essence, Norwich did to Brighton what Villa did to Norwich and ...
The good, the bad and the ugly of City loanees. Who would make your ‘temporary’ Hall of Canary Fame? July 29, 2016 - Standing nine feet tall and stuck down the pecking order at Newcastle, Forster was a Lambert signing to replace the hapless Theoklitos in what Andy Townsend might have described as the “ultimate chalk and cheese type scenario”.
Shake off the Prem hangover, create a positive, winning mindset, find the new Mark Robins and who knows… July 25, 2016 - Many of the players who clinched promotion were those who suffered relegation the season before. As results took a turn for the worse, the face-palming of Messrs Ruddy and Bassong had an all too familiar feel of darker days gone by. It create a sense of déjà vu and an ...
One final look back and one final salvo for Hooper [S] before all eyes turn to 2016/17 June 1, 2016 - Of all the goals that City conceded in injury time, Lallana’s strike was surely the most painful. Not only did we fail to take any points from a game that was all but won, it also shattered the belief amongst players and fans alike that we had the ability to ...
Miss a good chance; make a mistake; concede a goal. Minus an unlikely fairytale, is the Holy Grail really all that? May 19, 2016 - Miss a good chance; make a mistake; concede a goal; and watch the opponents play keep ball until you ultimately go home feeling deflated. No Leicester fairy tale for us; just week after week of hard grind and ultimate disappointment.
City unlucky? Or victims of flawed technique? It’s not as simple as just bemoaning the role of Lady Luck April 26, 2016 - In a previous column, I made the claim that we had been on the wrong end of all manner of decisions and inferred that we were the victims of a conspiracy theory that would grace any grassy knoll in Dallas. But again, is that bad luck or yet more examples ...
Momentum and belief. Two key and priceless factors borne of the upturn, and key to the run-in April 7, 2016 - It would take a far braver man than me to argue the point with him but from my vantage point in the stands, some of our displays (the no-shows at Bournemouth and Villa for example) were suggestive of a team bereft of confidence and littered with personal mistakes and self-doubt.
The key to handling the agony of a relegation fight: to see it unfold through the eyes of a nine year old March 29, 2016 - We’re still up to our necks in the ‘brown stuff’ but suddenly the world is a brighter place. Four points from the last two games and the end of our win-less streak puts a spring in the step; a renewed and genuine sense of belief that we’re capable of hauling ...
A happy clapper? A moaner? Or a hysteric? In truth, very few of us actually prove to be #ncfc realists! February 20, 2016 - After a goalless first half, the game burst into life with Robbie Brady winning the ball before smashing the ball into the roof of the net; the Irish international furthering his claims to win the player of the season despite regularly being deployed out of his best position...
If it is to be the Championship then here are ten silver linings; aka Prem traits that stick in the craw February 10, 2016 - Last time it was Swansea, this time it’s Bournemouth; teams which were promoted alongside us but which subsequently captured the national media’s imagination in a way that we didn’t. The praise being heaped on Eddie Howe and the whole Bournemouth fairy tale has become tiresome.
Amidst the mayhem of the weekend, did we witness the changing of the Canary guard? January 27, 2016 - Russ has been a fantastic servant to the club. He’s articulate and likeable. He has provided an effective link between the players and coaching staff. He’s a great ambassador for the club and, let’s not forget, a pretty decent footballer too.
If only players could be bought ‘off the shelf’. Instead there are hurdles and obstacles aplenty January 12, 2016 - City fans feel that the transfer dealings of last summer could have been better and with hindsight mistakes were made. However I don’t believe it was due to a lack of effort or endeavour on the part of those who run the club. Those same people are working tirelessly now ...
A conspiracy theory? In reality, City paying the penalty for low tempo approach and daft errors January 6, 2016 - City fans have witnessed both Jamie Vardy and Troy Deeney go tumbling in our box having got goal side of the defenc. By contrast, Norwich don’t possess a quick counter and our attacking play tends to be less direct. The measured build-up seldom stretches the opposition through the length of ...
Twitter triggers Yellow Army raptures and descends gloom upon the prawn sandwich brigade December 21, 2015 - I think everyone of a Yellow and Green persuasion deserved that one. Having been agonisingly close to a couple of notable wins recently, it’s about time the footballing gods finally gave us a break.
Gary Hooper, 4-4-2, fish n chips, sandals and socks, and the cyclical world of football fashions November 25, 2015 - Just when it looked like 4-4-2 would be consigned to the footballing scrapheap, Bayern Munich started a revival. Maybe it was the German’s deep-rooted love of the sandal/sock combination but their version was based on fast flowing and direct football with Thomas Müller operating in a free role behind his ...
What’s the point? Do we go to be entertained? To see City win? Or to be part of the Canary family? November 17, 2015 - Stew recently posed the question about what we as City fans should expect and aspire to. The general consensus seemed to be becoming an established mid-table premier league side. It was even the ‘holy grail’ and final outcome in David McNally’s much quoted seven year plan.
No place like home. A ground rich in history or an ‘identikit’ stadium with facilities for the 21st century? November 4, 2015 - The stadium has changed significantly since my first match perched upon a milk crate on the terraces of the River End. My seat in the Upper Barclay from which I’ve watched us play for the last 15 years didn’t even exist back then.
Sunday was a car crash without doubt, and also a timely reminder of the brutal world that is the Prem October 20, 2015 - City have now conceded more than any other team. Twenty in just nine. Much has been made of our inability to defend set-pieces but in the last two matches we’ve repeatedly been exposed to pacey counter-attacks and as we’re all aware there are sterner tests around the corner.
Steve Cook offers us his worst City XI of all-time. Candidates aplenty but only one goalkeeper… October 15, 2015 - Andy Hughes earned himself the nickname ‘Andy Clap’. His energetic displays demonstrated that he had a ‘good engine’. It was just a shame that the engine was housed in the equivalent of a clapped-out Austin Allegro.
Eight down and six and half halves of good football but the spectre of Simon Hooper is never far away October 12, 2015 - In the Premier League you expect to come up against a decent keeper each week and Butland is surely destined to pick up a stack of England caps. However when a keeper pulls off five or six ‘worldies’ you have the right to feel aggrieved.
MFW’s Stevo Cook joins some friends from Merseyside to mull over City’s visit to Anfield September 19, 2015 - The feeling is that Rodgers has lost his way and no longer has a clear plan and approach. It is perhaps reflective of a man under pressure who is desperately searching for the answer and becoming more confused as a result.
Despite a good old moan, by the time Saturday comes around the Y’Army will be ready to go again September 8, 2015 - Darnbrough was previously at Burnley where he made headlines by sending an email to various agents asking if they had any players. Logical? Or a desperate measure from someone struggling to identify targets through the usual means?
Only one day before Jim dons the yellow tie. But what or who can we expect to see at the ‘gates’ of Carrow Road? August 31, 2015 - The departures of Michael Turner, Carlos Cuellar and Ignasi Miquel mean we have a ‘situation vacant’ at centre-half. The Southampton result will have left many fans hoping for a big money signing to shore up a defence that has yet to keep a clean sheet.
Whose name adorns your City shirt? And which Canary heroes are in your own Hall of Fame? August 6, 2015 - What I love about Fash's goal is not the touch and turn or even the way the ball loops over Ray Clemence. It’s the celebration, or lack of. Despite the goal bringing the sides level at 3-3, he has a swagger and nonchalance that suggests it’s no big deal and ...
Time to embrace the away fans? Or are they simply the ‘victims’ of the most basic supply and demand? July 22, 2015 - A Palace fan site recently published a letter it had sent to David McNally. It was an eloquent and impassioned plea for City to make a ‘principled stand’ by reducing away ticket prices for our opening match. It suggested that the £45 fee is both ‘unreasonable and ill-judged’.
Oh for Ceefax. Thirst for Canary news has bred an ‘in the know’ Twitter generation who are not! July 11, 2015 - It may just be someone commenting on the latest piece of tabloid rumour. Or possibly someone suggesting a transfer target based on hours of playing Football manager and a resulting knowledge of the highest rated free-agents across the European leagues.
A few tweaks still needed but yet it remains crucial that the Canaries retain the team spirit of 2014/15 July 3, 2015 - Holty became a talisman and alongside Wes Hoolahan and Russell Martin, provided the club with consistency and identity. The overhaul of playing staff that took place under Lambert was significant but it always felt like a gradual evolution with Holty as the figurehead.
Now we’re back in the big time, that question again: Just how important to the club is a *bigger* Carrow Road? June 25, 2015 - My instinct tells me that despite socio-economic data (whatever that is) and the fact that we sold our allocation at Wembley, our current capacity is and will remain just about right for us.
Palace first up, the Toffees away on the final day and plenty of nail biting in between June 17, 2015 - Our recent stint in the top flight showed that as the Premier League riches have grown, so has the accompanying circus of statistics and analysis. I still recall the sleepless nights I had, fretting over why we were the only team yet to score from open-play in the first 20 ...
Time to ride the wave, to enjoy the moment and to embrace the Carrow Road feel-good factor June 13, 2015 - Even allowing for post-Wembley euphoria, there is a genuine feel-good factor at Norwich City. In over 30 years, I have seldom seen the club so aligned from top to bottom. From the owners, through the playing staff to the supporters, there is a genuine resolve and shared belief. It’s a ...
Ricky – a sheep in wolf’s clothing? Or one who could yet flourish under the Midas touch of Alex and Frankie? June 5, 2015 - Tony Andreu was signed by Alex Neil from Accies and was the SPL top scorer at the time. He was, on paper at least, ideally placed to spearhead the promotion push but the player struggled to cope with the demands of the Championship and Alex quickly realised there were better, ...

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