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Long May Our Current Ascendancy Continue! - Notes for Norwich City
Friday, 16th Feb 2018 10:15 by HarryFromBath

HarryFromBath assesses the mood in the opposition camp ahead of Sunday’s East Anglian derby at Carrow Road by delving into their forums.

“I’m never confident the week before a derby. There is always a nagging doubt it will go wrong”, “We're on a decent run and appear to have possibly found some home form so can certainly go into the Ipswich game with some confidence, but of course it's a derby day where anything can happen.”

“I still don’t see us troubling the play-off positions but I’m hopeful that we’re building and heading in the right direction”, “Enjoy the rest of the season but I expect some inconsistency which will prevent us reaching the play-offs”, “It’s fascinating watching this revolution and I’m proud to be a Canary.”

Sunday’s rivals may be solidly anchored in mid-table and separated by goal difference, but a run of five wins and two draws in their last eight league games coupled with taking Chelsea to an FA Cup penalty shoot-out have left Canaries confident of extending their nine-year unbeaten derby run.

“We’re moving in the right direction”, “Despite the optimistic outlook of some, my view is that the play-offs are out of reach this season. Nevertheless, we have some exciting youngsters and if we can keep most of them I can see us in the play-off positions next year if we can keep most of them.”

“We are a good Championship side, top 10 certainly but not good enough to be in the top two”, “The only reason we are not in the play-off is a lack of consistency, possibly due to Daniel Farke’s inexperience and learning about English Championship football and the availability of fit players.”

Daniel Farke

“Farke has reminded us that this large upheaval is not a one-season shot at glory but a longer-term plan. It’s obvious it will take two or three seasons to really be able to call everything his own work”, “He has a vision. It’s a bright new dawn for us after 18 months of Alex Neil who got lost in the fog.”

Daniel Farke imageDaniel Farke

The 41-year-old former Borussia Dortmund II boss replaced Alex Neil as head coach last May. He has won the backing of the majority of fans as he has tried to instil his playing philosophy with his squad at the same time going through a major rebuild as a series of high-earners have departed.

“Stick with Farke”, “He is tactically a better manager than Alex Neil. He’s getting more out of lesser players and shutting the door to those less committed, no matter what they cost”, “We must give him our backing and show patience, even if it takes a couple of years to build a decent side.”

“Innovative, intelligent and hungry”, “Daniel is intelligent, honest and passionate and the system he plays is attractive. He’s a good coach and is managing to bed in his new way of playing while pruning the squad to something affordable”, “Given time and the right backing Farke will do a great job.”

“We are still trying to clean up the financial mess from previous regimes.” Defender Russell Martin, striker Cameron Jerome, midfielder Alex Pritchard and winger Yanic Wildschut left Carrow Road in January and they have been replaced with lower-priced acquisitions and promoted youth prospects.

Building From the Back

“We have gone down the route of being a very hard to beat side, bolstered by the decision to go with three at the back, but our inability to score more than one goal per game hampers any desire of pushing at the top end”, “I don’t know if our lack of goals is down to the personnel or the system.”

“Technically we play decent football and we will become a more cohesive unit”, “It’s good to watch our patient play and the way we move the axis of attack from side to side”, “We look a good side up to the edge of the opposition box but we still need to work on creating more meaningful chances.”

“We defend astutely and look dangerous every time we go forward.” Canaries like the mix of passing and “direct, fast-breaking football” being developed. They have conceded only five goals in the last 10 games, but they have also only found the net 10 times and this lack of goals needs addressing.

“Our defence is looking strong and we have good options in midfield, but we need to sign at least two good strikers to progress”, “At the moment we have eight players on the field who are focused on protecting the defence and only three going forward. It’s little wonder we struggle to score.”

GunnHanleyZimmermannKloseReedTetteyLeitnerLewisMaddisonMurphyOliveira

Most Canaries expect Saturday’s starting XI for their 1-1 draw at Derby (above) to be unchanged for Sunday’s game apart Ivo Pinto’s possible return from a knee injury in place of Harrison Reed at right wing-back. Midfielder Moritz Leitner made a solid starting debut replacing the injured Tom Trybull.

The 3-4-1-2 shape is solid, but the balance can be too defensive. “At times it looks like we can’t shift the ball fast enough to threaten and penetrate. On a few occasions there looks to be too much of a gap between the two holding midfielders, who are virtually in a back five and the forward three.”

“It’s really good to have confidence in the defence. They look more and more together.” The solid quartet of keeper Angus Gunn and centre-halves Grant Hanley, Christoph Zimmermann and Timm Klose have been well shielded by the highly praised defensive holding midfielder Alexander Tettey.

“It’s vital for next season that we keep the spine of Klose, Tettey and James Maddison.” Maddison scored City’s October winner at Portman Road and the playmaker’s form is vital to the side in the short-term. “We have scored eight goals since Boxing Day and he has scored or assisted six of them.”

“The problem this season is our attack. We are toothless up front, failing to break teams down and put the ball in the net on a regular basis. This has left us reliant on the wonder kid Maddison to score wonder goals from midfield. When he performs we do well but if not, it can be dire.”

“It’s pointless having wing-backs charging down the flanks. They inevitably have to stop and play the ball backwards as there is nobody in the box.” The finishing and wider attacking play of City’s only frontline striker Nelson Oliveira has been heavily criticised. “We are pretty but toothless up front.”

Derby 1 — 1 Norwich

“A decent point that”, “This game shows our level, we are at least the equal of Derby”, “That was a great fightback. Let’s hammer the Binners [Ipswich] now. It’s time methinks for the Carrow Road floodgates to open”, “All to play for against Ipswich who were shocking against Burton today.”

Matej Vydra put the hosts ahead on 12 minutes with a low shot but Norwich failed to equalise when Rams’ keeper Scott Carson saved Oliveira’s first-half penalty kick. He was unable to repeat this feat when the visitors were awarded a second spot-kick on 72 minutes which was scored by Maddison.

“We were as good as Derby in all aspects and every area of the pitch apart from up front. It has been like that all season”, “We are the weirdest team. We rip Derby to shreds at times and but then pass all the way back to the keeper. Why can’t we mount an attack? Are we scared of making a mistake?”

Norwich 1 — 0 Middlesbrough

“One of the most comfortable 1-0 wins I have ever seen”, “It was a technically satisfying and solid display but there was a real dearth of excitement”, “It was poor of Boro to let Trybull have so much space and time. He said ‘Okay then, if you’re going to give me so much room, I’ll have a free shot’.”

Tom Trybull’s long-range strike a minute before the interval won this game for the Canaries, but the pivotal moment was the dismissal of Middlesbrough’s Rudy Gestede on 29 minutes for a lunge on City’s Grant Hanley. “Gestede was rightly red-carded, from then it was virtually all one-way traffic.”

GunnHanleyZimmermannKloseReedTetteyTrybullLewisMaddisonMurphyOliveira

“We played two up top with Maddison a fraction deeper in behind (above)”, “A game where it felt as if City played more passes than any time in their entire history”, “It was one of the clearest examples of how Farke wants us to set up and play, totally dominating the ball and the game in general.”

Brentford 0 — 1 Norwich

“A good victory, Brentford have a very good home record”, “Defensively we got it spot on, but it was frustrating not being able to string five passes together and hoofing it up top constantly”, “A great away result, it feels like the kind of game we would have thrown away at the end under Alex Neil.”


A Maddison strike after five minutes proved to be the only goal in a game which saw Brentford’s 13-game unbeaten home run come to an end. City’s style of play contrasted with their later Boro win, they were not afraid to play direct football with their defence under constant Brentford pressure.

“It was a fast-paced game, we only had 46 per cent successful passes compared with Brentford’s 81 per cent”, “We were excellent in the first half and defended our hearts out in the second but the football was next to non-existent with constant hoofing. It was frustrating but it got the job done.”

GunnHanleyZimmermannKloseReedTetteyVrancicLewisMaddisonMurphyOliveira

Farke’s starting line-up (above) included Mario Vrancic, who lacks mobility but who is praised for his incisive passing. “An excellent half of slick passing football before the break, but we struggled to do this after the break. We needed someone to put their foot on the ball and slow the game down.”

Goalkeepers and Central Defenders

“The importance of Angus Gunn to this side cannot be underplayed. He is a fantastic keeper.” The 22-year-old son of Canaries’ legend Bryan is on a season-long loan from Manchester City. “He has certainly not let us down and I cannot think of any mistake he has made which has cost us a goal.”

Angus Gunn imageAngus Gunn

“Gunn has made a series of outstanding and vital saves”, “He’s neat and tidy with his feet and plucks the ball out of the air with confidence. He has great catching skills and superb positioning”, “He is far more imposing than most keepers his age. Having him in this form gives the defence confidence.”

“Christoph Zimmermann is turning into a cult hero figure and is clearly delighted to be playing at this level considering where he has come from.” The 25-year-old acquisition from Borussia Dortmund II “ is accomplished on the ball. He looks extremely fit, bombing up and down the pitch as he wants.”

“Zimmermann appears to be significantly better when he plays against more talented opponents”, “He is given licence to get forward, sometimes I don’t think he will stop running until he ends up in the stands”, “He was superb at Chelsea. His attitude is first class, he has a real affinity with the club.”

“Grant Hanley gives us some defensive steel.” The 26-year-old August signing from Newcastle “was obviously signed as a reaction to the defensive horror shows at the start of the season”, “He helps the organisation at the back with his determination to get into position and he communicates well.”

Grant Hanley imageGrant Hanley

“As sad as it sounds, I really enjoyed Hanley booting the ball up the pitch at Brentford”, “His passing is a mix of aimless hoofing and Beckham style 40-yard cross-fielders bang on the nose”, “He seems to get the ball forward a lot quicker”, “He’s a real defenders defender and obvious captain material.”

Timm Klose

“Klose is enjoying his senior role in the team and Farke’s style of play.” The 29-year-old ex-Wolfsburg man “was the first to admit he didn’t find the adjustment to physical Championship football easy. He is a calm player who can bring the ball out from the back more. We improve when he gets forward.”

Timm Klose imageWillian (Chelsea) v Timm Klose

“Since we went with three at the back, Klose looks to have been given a roving role when we attack, drifting forward centrally and on the left”, “You need to watch where his headers go, often straight back to the opposition”, “He struggled with physical forwards, but has been more consistent lately.”

Central Midfielders

“Wes Hoolahan is increasingly a peripheral figure.” The 35-year-old former Ireland international “can pull the strings but his City career seems to be slowly moving to its endgame”, “He is a positive influence on younger players and he is a cute player to have when guile and skill around the box are needed.”

Hoolahan imageWes Hoolahan trips McGoldrick

“Marley Watkins isn’t a poor player but for whatever reason it hasn’t worked out for him.” The 27-year-old ex-Barnsley man “is better going to a team of sloggers where hustle, bustle and high work rate, low quality football may suit him better. I like his tenacity but his end product is non-existent.”

“Enjoy Moritz Leitner while we have him, he is far too good for this level. He was instrumental in everything we did at Derby.” The 25-year-old January loan arrival from FC Augsburg impressed on his full debut last Saturday. “He looks one hell of a player. The quality of his passing was unbelievable.”

“Ipswich will be so obsessed with Maddison that they will pay too little attention to Leitner”, “What a ball player Leitner is, beautifully effortless and a joy to watch. He wants the ball and is perfect for our system, but it will be interesting to see how he gets on when things are a bit more physical.”

“Mario Vrancic is a fine player with quick feet and an equally quick brain.” The 28-year-old Bosnian arrived this summer from Darmstadt. “His style of play isn’t running around like a headless chicken and sliding all over the place. His range and weight of passing is more effective from a deeper role.”

“Vrancic has to be the slowest player to ever wear a Norwich shirt. Playing deeper suits him and he slows down play in a forward role”, “He’s a deep lying playmaker with a fantastic range of passing”, “He is not physical enough and scrappier spoiling teams don’t give him time and space on the ball.”

Alexander Tettey

“We should not underestimate the importance of Tettey to our defending.” The 31-year-old former Rennes midfielder “started a run of 10 games in which we won eight, drew two and conceded three goals. The way he balances the team is indispensable, his presence is far more valuable than Maddison.”

Alexander Tettey imageAlexander Tettey

“Tettey is critical to how we play. He reads danger so well and gives us a physical presence, breaking up play and being disciplined in keeping his position”, “Idiots will moan because he doesn’t play 50-yard passes, but he is less prone to chase the ball”, “He is the glue that holds the midfield together.”

James Maddison

“Without Maddison we would be 18th and three points off relegation.” The 21-year-old ex-Coventry playmaker “has basically created double the chances of any other player this season”, “He’s dynamic and is the best striker of a football in our side. His quick feet make decent defenders look clumsy.”

“Take Maddison out and we are toothless, he’s the only player we have with an end product”, “He’s the sort of quality player we should build a team around”, “The brightest prospect we have had in countless years. For so long we really wanted a proper flair player in midfield and now we have one.”

James Maddison imageJames Maddison

“Maddison seems to thrive on being the pantomime villain”, “If I were Mick McCarthy, one of my tactics would be to get at him very early on by fair means or foul. Sheffield United did it effectively [in a recent 2-1 away win at Carrow Road], with different players doing it to avoid getting booked.”

Wing-Backs and Wingers

“Onel Hernandez looks strong, direct and pacy.” The 25-year-old January addition from Eintracht Braunschweig “cost a fraction of what we paid for Wildschut. He must be a signing for potential as the form book doesn’t look too exciting”, “A fast left winger who cuts inside on to his right foot.”

“Marco Stiepermann is a decent utility player who doesn’t look wholly comfortable in one position.” The 26-year-old summer signing from VfL Bochum “is versatile, reliable and strong, and has done a good job covering on the left flank”, “He’s a more physical player with his solid all-action style.”

Marco Stiepermann imageMarco Stiepermann v Martyn Waghorn

“My one concern about playing Harrison Reed as a right wing-back is that he gets exposed.” The 23-year-old loan signing from Southampton “is tidy and technically good in central midfield. He’s more mobile than Vrancic but is a poorer passer. He works hard but can get knocked off the ball easily.”

“With Reed on the right, we don’t have a player to settle things in the middle”, “He seems to be a square peg in a round hole. He’s brilliant against tired legs, but can’t help but chase the ball”, “He has done well by all means as a wing-back, but he isn’t the outlet that Pinto can be down that flank.”

“Good to see Ivo Pinto on the bench at Derby.” The 28-year-old one-time FC Porto youth player “has run himself into the ground lately”, “He’s excellent going forwards and is physically strong. He makes many energy-sapping runs during the game but often he doesn’t get the ball even if he’s in space.”

Ivo Pinto imageIvo Pinto (Norwich City)

“Pinto is a very strong character and leader who has a proper go and makes progress down the right flank, but he’s not a tactical weapon”, “He is more restrained as a right-back in a four-man defence. Having an option ahead of him doesn’t free him up to attack. It actually hinders his attacking ability.”

Jamal Lewis

“Jamal looks a class player to me.” The 20-year-old youth product “impresses more and more. His strength in holding off opponents and his ability to win back the ball are really impressive”, “Given his age, it is incredible how athletic, strong and quick he is, a natural in the left wing-back role.”

Jamal Lewis imageJamal Lewis v Clayton Donaldson (Sheffield United)

“True left-footed left-backs with pace to burn are hard to come by”, “What stands out for me is his decision-making, a mature head on young shoulders”, “He’s a total star and we could have done with him earlier this season to get this system rolling”, “His goal at Chelsea was a centre-forward’s finish.”

Strikers

“Perhaps when we are 3-0 up against Ipswich, Dennis Srbeny can come on and get an hour on the pitch.” The 31-year-old January signing from Paderborn made his debut from the bench at Derby. “He looks sharp in front of goal and has been scoring in Germany. He isn’t afraid to get stuck in.”

“Josh Murphy has obvious pace, but he seems to be unaware of his team-mates when passing the ball.” The 22-year-old youth product “is greedy and poor with his decision-making”, “He needs to make better decisions around when to shoot and when to play in a team-mate in a better position.”

“Murphy has to accept that he is going to get hurt sometimes, and pulling out of 50/50s will always get fans on your back”, “His hesitation often means that chances slip by”, “He needs to be more proactive without the ball as he seems to be not fully focussed on what the team needs from him.”

Nelson Oliveira

“Our striker is single-handedly costing us points. I would guess that the good half-season he had for us was the exception but his current form is the norm.” The 26-year-old ex-Benfica man “is good for eight games a season, otherwise he’s a poor van Wolfswinkel. He’s a selfish, over-rated clown.”

Nelson Oliveira imageNelson Oliveira

“Oliveira is the main reason for us not scoring this season. Look back at the times he should square the ball for better placed colleagues”, “He is arrogant when he has no justification. He does not hit the ball well”, “You have to go back years to find a Norwich City striker less likely to score than him.”

“Oliveira pulls defenders all over the place band leaves gaps in defences by playing a free role”, “He holds the ball up well but his strike rate is absolutely abysmal”, “He is never going to get too many chances when he is so reluctant to run into the box when we are attacking down the flanks.”

Canaries’ Views on Sunday’s Game

“The Binners will be swept aside as we continue our good form”, “Pride comes before a fall. A couple of weeks ago people seemed utterly convinced the Binmen were going to beat us, now it seems the opposite. I hope the players don't fall into the complacency that is permeating through here.”

“Every single Ipswich player would rather sign for us”, “Once again this is their cup final. To us it has been a disappointing season in terms of league position, but it’s quite an achievement for them to avoid the drop. I honestly think if they win they will have another star and an open top bus parade.”

“Ipswich haven't beaten us for nine years. The law of averages suggests it has to happen sometime. At least if it is this time it will be on an occasion when the result doesn't really matter”, “It annoys me when people say this. They might get lucky but that has nothing to do with their being due one.”

“This is the most meaningless derby for years.” City fans are widely confident of maintaining their unbeaten run against us despite the occasional nervous comment. The one other theme which has often cropped up is how little is riding on this game given that both teams are solidly mid-table.

“I would imagine Ipswich will pack the midfield and look to play out fast and direct but I'm pretty confident in our three central defenders to handle the longer balls”, “They could win for once and I think they have a better strike force so anything could happen as Farke doesn't do goals any more.”

“Are we applauding in the 16th minute to celebrate Town's 16 years in the Championship? When we did it last year as I recall it was quite funny and they didn't take it too well so it's worth repeating”, “It would be a shame not to.”

Canaries’ Wider Views on ITFC

“Did anybody notice the Ipswich gate against Burton? Under 14,000. The debts pile up, extinction is coming”, “How I would love us to announce our attendance during the second half next week at 13,815 and then correct the ‘mistake’ on the scoreboard to reveal the figure of almost double that.”

“A massive debt, £80 million and rising, crowds of 13-odd thousand and falling. The council owns the ground on which the stands sit and the stands are covered in foliage. Marcus Evans owns the training ground. The have a playing staff of freebies and cheapies worth next to nothing…

“It won't be long now fellow Canaries, especially if we beat them on Sunday.” One interesting recent discussion about our current status veered from the familiar wishful thinking through to the realms of fantasy and finally into a damning albeit coloured assessment of our sojourn in the Championship.

“If their gates continue to plummet maybe they could downsize, move in with Colchester perhaps? They could close Portman Road and there would be the added attraction of playing to a full house for the first few seasons anyway. Maybe have it as a sort of a museum, which it pretty much is now.”

“What they are really dreading is that feeling of claustrophobia by being penned in by a large crowd, something they haven't witnessed since we played at Portman Road earlier in the season”, “They may well be a bit distressed [on Sunday] by not having dozens of empty seats around each of them.”

“There are a few decent realists on their forum who realise even a win against us next week, the first for nine years, would only lift the perennial fog of gloom above Portman Road for maybe 24 hours such is the long, slow, creep of tiring boredom and downwardness that pervades the entire club.

“Five years of Mick McCarthy doesn’t help either. While the guy I guess has done well enough on the meagre rations given to him, his five years are a mirror of Town's 16 in the Championship, safe, solid, stable, solidified, stale and stagnant.

“It’s the worst kind of stagnation to, a season by season never ending, very slow stagnation, no wonder so many of their fans are up for any kind of change. Some on here bemoan Delia but just try Marcus Evans’s approach down the road and it won’t take long to come running back here.

“I bet most Town fans look at the huge overhaul and change we have had in the last nine months and think why can’t they have any change? Just try something different, but no. I guess that’s why only 13k folks in Suffolk don’t yet watch paint dry to get more excitement on a Saturday afternoon.”

Websites

The busiest Canaries’ forum is The Pink ‘Un and additional comment can be found at the brightly-coloured Wrath of the Barclay which operates in thread mode.




Photo: Action Images



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jayessess added 10:25 - Feb 16
Jesus, this is a grim bloody read.
8

vanmunt added 10:26 - Feb 16
Nice one Harry, pains me that I pretty much agree with their assessment of our current situation.

Also this comment actually made me laugh.
“Once again this is their cup final. To us it has been a disappointing season in terms of league position, but it's quite an achievement for them to avoid the drop. I honestly think if they win they will have another star and an open top bus parade.”
5

Steve_M added 10:36 - Feb 16
For a set of fans who claim they are far superior to us they manage to be incredibly obsessed with us too. Everything was dreadful a couple of months ago and now they're brilliant apparently. The bravado has a think veneer, they are as midtable as we are at the moment except they spent an awful lot more to get there.

Sooner or later, we're going to win there and it's going to be well worth the wait. Imagine the reactions of all the smug fools above when that happens.
8

itfcserbia added 10:40 - Feb 16
I don't remember ever being this depressed after reading Harry's piece.
6

blueblood66 added 10:45 - Feb 16
Its depressing that I cant argue with much of what they have to say about us......
8

Surco72 added 10:46 - Feb 16
For me I depressingly agree with their overall assessment , shame a number of our own fans cannot see what is glaringly obvious with MM in charge
10

ArnieM added 10:48 - Feb 16
Amazing how the inadequate are so often fixated by size isn't it !

Town to win ........and the Town faithful to out sing the plastic budgies - again
2

Northstandveteran added 10:55 - Feb 16
I'm afraid to say that was the current plight summed up fairly well.
Couldn't really argue with that summary.
This, unfortunately, isn't just the view from a Norwich perspective but from the wider community of football supporters.
What sorry times......
5

FrankBrogan added 11:15 - Feb 16
Oh dear! Oh dear! Good read Harry but yep, its pretty depressing. I think they got us "bang to rights" on this one. Its all so sad as i would love to see us win on Sunday but cant see it. They will be up for it and I doubt whether we will be. They will want to show us and we will want to hang on. We will be negative and unsure. Not forgetting the curse of SKY TV. I would love to have something to cheer about but it wont be this weekend. Its a very sad time right now being a town supporter. The once proud white horse is now an old cart horse and its bound for the knackers yard.
7

GFH added 11:18 - Feb 16
Summed up pretty well, we are going nowhere apart from downwards. It's very sad to see the team I once passionately supported dying a very slow but certain demise.
8

TimmyH added 11:19 - Feb 16
As much as we hate what they're saying about us it's not far from the truth...agreed fairly meaningless derby particularly for them and maybe as they stated it's more like a cup final for us. Doesn't mean we''l win it...another tight affair beckons with little quality.
3

Northstandveteran added 11:31 - Feb 16
Despite this being the poorest Norwich team in many years, I really am struggling to find any enthusiasm about this match.
We will set up to stifle the game, nullifying it of any entertainment value, yet again in front of the nation.
Norwich will be fired up with a big crowd, have the psychological advantage knowing we haven't beaten them in nine years and the overriding deciding factor
'Mr McCarthy' is they will be attempting to win the match. Yes, that's WIN the match not trying to gain a point in a mid table match with nothing to play for than pride.
Of course I shall watch the game. But Mr McCarthy, what will you do when Norwich score? Attack with heart, passion and soul or try and defend a 1-0 deficit?
Unfortunately we know the answer.....
3

Taricco_Fan added 11:36 - Feb 16
Hard to disagree with their assessment. Perhaps some of the TWTD happy clappers will now see what is patently obvious to those of us with a serviceable brain?

Although I must say, the Canaries' should perhaps keep their smugness in check. They have a huge budget compared to us and at this point, are only 13th in the table, below is on goal difference. They won't make the play-offs as they don't score enough goals. Once the parachute payments dry up, we'll see where they are.

But no argument from me, Norwich has been a better rum club in all aspects for a long time now. Evans needs to make serious investment and lose McCarthy, or get the hell out.
7

OwainG1992 added 11:36 - Feb 16
I did not enjoy reading that one bit.
5

Taricco_Fan added 11:58 - Feb 16
Regarding the Burton attendance: it was so obvious that would be the lowest gate this season so why not run a ticket promotion? I know some season ticket holders moan, but they are facing the prospect of sitting in a very empty stadium next year.

The club needs to do more to win back fans. Norwich did so when they dropped into League One and the club was going through tough times.

Evans the ticket tout really hasn't got a clue.
6

Deano69 added 12:16 - Feb 16
Obsessed with the size of the crowd, lol
2

shoopdelang added 12:19 - Feb 16
What's the “ Binners” and “ binmen “ thing about ?
4

mathiemagic added 12:23 - Feb 16
It is nice to see them getting their excuses in early such as "Its the most meaningless derby for ages". Another good piece from HFB. After getting the worst performance for years out of the way last week I am quietly confident for Sunday. If not then there is always next season as they are going absolutely nowhere #COYB
1

blockb_steward added 12:25 - Feb 16
I feel angry now.

I feel a la Kevin Keegan...'and I would love it if they lost'

grrrrrrrrrrr
3

The_Great_Cornholio added 12:30 - Feb 16
I'm genuinely in pain having read what those horrid little inbreeds have written. Quite a lot of it is true but they do seem to have delusions of grandeur. God I hate them.
4

HarryfromBath added 12:39 - Feb 16
shoopdelang - The 'Binners' reference is the only things they can find as a wind-up. It's based on a scene in 'Lovejoy' when (if I recall correctly) a binman finds a beanie hat with a Town crest on it and decides to wear it. They find it funny.

I'm sorry that this has come across as such a gloomy read, but let's wait and see how they are feeling next season when their parachute money finally does run out. The instalments next season could be a bit different, especially if their owners keep their hands in their pockets.
8

LankHenners added 13:12 - Feb 16
Thanks Harry, especially for the sacrifice of having to undergo something close to staring directly at the sun when looking at WOTB's colour scheme.

Not sure how they can still have a pop at us having stars on our shirts with a straight face what with their 'participants' honour and grandiose celebrations of meager "achievements". Anyway, every time we've played them over the last decade we've said it's our best chance to beat them since the last time. How well we played in the home fixture gives me some hope; our reaction to going behind that day less so. It'll likely be a cagey affair, either 1-1 or 1-0 either way.
5

christiand added 13:18 - Feb 16
Top work Harry as always. Perhaps their over confidence will comeback and bite them hard on the backside?
4

JohnStirk added 13:24 - Feb 16
Harry - as much I hate Norwich I do think the Binners nickname for us is one of the funniest and most creative nicknames I have come across in the entire league. I have always wished it was the other way round. Scum will have to suffice.
4

Luggworm added 13:33 - Feb 16
“A massive debt, £80 million and rising, crowds of 13-odd thousand and falling. The council owns the ground on which the stands sit and the stands are covered in foliage. Marcus Evans owns the training ground. The have a playing staff of freebies and cheapies worth next to nothing…

This comment could really come back to haunt them. It's correct but our position is sustainable if uninspiring. We have an owner who is able to cover the losses and is not demanding re-payment of that debt. If they don't get promoted this season their losses will be at least £20mill next year which be far too rich for Delia. A fire sale of assets and no replacements will see them in a worse state than us this time next season. All the scummers I've spoken to are completely unaware the period of milk and honey will come crashing down without promotion this season.
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