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"Absolute Levels" ACN Pod 140
600 Plays2 days ago
We have the first 3 real games of the Liam Manning era to dissect and discuss, loads of talking points, lots to be excited about.
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Transcript
Season Overview & Sargent's Streak
00:00:21
Speaker
Welcome to your Long Come Norwich podcast, a small, scruffy, slightly shambolic selection of City supporters smiling as we sift through the season so far. Three showings, some sensible spells of slick passing, some sloppy slips, sure, but there's something seriously satisfying about seeing Sargent scoring and scoring and scoring.
00:00:37
Speaker
Claire and Punt are here with me. Let's get at it.
00:00:43
Speaker
Lost one, won two.
Game Performances & Improvements
00:00:44
Speaker
What's been the performance that's stirred you most so far, Claire? um Definitely Saturday, i think. I mean, it stirred us all in ways potentially we didn't want to be stirred. But however, ah think we've I've taken greater comfort from what I saw on Saturday. Watford was a fantastic performance, but it was a cup game.
00:01:06
Speaker
Both teams didn't have their full strength sides out, although you'd say we're fairly even inside of terms of sort of squad and everything. But if we didn't follow that up with a performance in the league,
00:01:18
Speaker
then it would have have been anywhere near as good. So to see what I saw on Saturday really, really good. um The first half was very enjoyable. thought we were fantastic.
00:01:29
Speaker
Could have been 3-0 up really if Josh had put that chance away. Nine times out of 10, he would slot that in. and Second half, obviously little bit less enjoyable, but what a joy.
Sargent's Near Hat-Trick
00:01:42
Speaker
although that's quite a perverse use of the word joy, to see us roll our sleeves up and do the dirty stuff because we've wanted that for so long. We wouldn't have won that game last season. No way.
00:01:55
Speaker
know think I think you're right. Sargent could have had a hat trick. I mean, he he he had to bust a gut to get to the tap-in, not made it out of the way to get there. um And then, yeah, there were two others that you just thought...
00:02:10
Speaker
ah I've seen you score that goal about 10 times last season. but but Yeah, we had good chances. They were good, good chances in the first half. What about you, Punt? You were similar so sex and in terms of second half being a bit fraught, but with it with it with our shiny steel shining.
00:02:26
Speaker
10 minutes. I mean, yeah I know where he got 10 minutes, but I still wasn't expecting 10 minutes. And then it was really weird. It was almost like the mirror image of the game in so much as the first half of the 10 minutes, we were completely in control and just took the sting out of everything.
00:02:43
Speaker
And then the second half of that 10 minutes, it was like, oh, shit, this is real harem, scare them stuff, but you know, hitting the bar and and then just pinging. balls in, you know, kind of under underneath Vlad's crossbar.
Marcelino Nunez's Impact
00:02:53
Speaker
It was, so I think for me, you know, in terms of coming back to what stirred you, um i think it's, and I haven't seen any post-match about his injury, but I think it's the the fact that Manning's kind of pivoted to Marcelino Nunez quite quickly. And it seems really obvious that we've got way more controlling games when he's on the pitch.
00:03:14
Speaker
You know, visibly we shrunk when he came off on Saturday. Yeah. But actually, so, ah you know, Marcelino Nunez coming to the fore is brilliant um because, as our friend Didi has named him before, he's ah he's a happy, lovely boy or a lovely, happy boy, whichever way around we want to say that.
00:03:30
Speaker
um But also Diallo as well. Like, you know, he was fantastic on – was it Tuesday or Wednesday night we played? Tuesday, wasn't it? Yeah. um Just looks like he's got something about him but also really good instincts.
Diallo vs Borja Comparison
00:03:45
Speaker
And he's almost – We haven't seen him really in the final third work himself into shooting positions.
00:03:54
Speaker
But I think he's really good. And it's actually really interesting that around the the chant that's now emerged for him. i mean, who needs Borja? Because he does the things that Borja did really badly in terms of decision making.
00:04:08
Speaker
He does those really well, so he knows when to just knock it off. He knows when to take on his man. He's not overly kind of selfish with the ball. yeah I like him already. And that cross that he put in on Saturday, just on the volley, um which I forget who... I think it was Sarge, wasn't He got his head to it in the end.
00:04:25
Speaker
It's just line we've got we have got a player on our hands now. Well, Darling, for me, it sits fits in that same category in
Harry Darling's Defensive Skills
00:04:35
Speaker
terms of having a player. I mean he was the one we talked about in the preview that there was universal nods and thumbs ups in terms of that being a fantastic championship signing and through through three games. But I thought particularly on Sunday, great Sorry, ah Saturday. and yes Yesterday, so the the third game, the second league game.
00:04:57
Speaker
the the way He plays the game in a shithousey right on the edge. But that's the sort of game where if you're not actually switched on and captain in material, you do actually get sent off and you do push it. Because the ref, especially second half...
00:05:13
Speaker
was really getting pulled by the momentum of the the team coming back. I think he made some really poor decisions and in terms of like letting certain things go and then pulling up. you know I do think he was really poor referee second half on Stephen Martin on on the second half.
00:05:28
Speaker
But... and ah you know He got his head on on things. yeah okay The long throw that Manning says they only found out about last week. I mean, it's not the longest throw in the world, but hey, it's it's and it's another weapon.
00:05:39
Speaker
um And he took his, although he wasn't marked, he took his header really well. So yeah, Diallo fantastic against Watford. you know Did some really good stuff in the first half on Saturday. But for me, Harry Darling just looks like an incredible signing player who is going to add that rigidity that you referred to in terms of not getting beaten.
00:05:57
Speaker
one, that game could have finished 5-4 at Pompey, you know, if they with them hitting the bar and all the all the rest of it and their extra penalty, which was definitely not a penalty, but, you know, you've definitely seen them given.
00:06:08
Speaker
um yeah Yeah, I think Harry Darling's got a lot to play with that. I think he, and the way he acts on the pitch will reflect well onto the other players that have sort of come in as their first experience of the championship. He is absolute class. Like, I'm trying to think of anything he's at the don't want to tempt fate, but anything he's actually done wrong yet.
00:06:28
Speaker
and
Portsmouth Game Analysis
00:06:29
Speaker
You know, he can score goals. he Yeah, the shithousery is fantastic. Like, we we so needed a player like that for so long. and But, you know, he he's such a good role model for everyone else on that pitch.
00:06:41
Speaker
So, yeah, really, really positive signing. Brilliant. I thought Matic was stronger as well. I thought he had he had a better game. yeah but Saying stronger is if he's had a run of two or three months of bad performances. he' He's played a couple of games. But you know that of if you had to pick holes on on on the the the first game of the season, and then yeah you would have said between him and Vlad, if if with one of them does their job properly, then we we get at least a point from the Millwall game because they both they both shat their pants and caused a goal. If one or other of them doesn't, it's not a goal.
00:07:13
Speaker
and And then likewise, he was a little bit iffy at times against Watford and just because, again, goal came down his side. But and I thought they they were solid. And Pompey, I don't think Pompey are going to challenge the top six, but they yeah they are...
00:07:28
Speaker
and they still had a bit of momentum from the way they finished last season. You could tell that the crowd was really, really with them. You they didn't start, the crowd didn't get edgy and buoy in a way that they could have been tuning or down, you know, so you can tell they still had that positive vibe around the club.
00:07:42
Speaker
um And, know, they are going to chuck balls in it. And I thought, likewise, talking balls into the box, I thought um Josh Murphy, ah put three or four really, really good balls. Luckily, didn't bring his shooting boots with him to Fratton Park. I mean, his shots were horrendous, but some of the balls he put into the box, you think Sargent might have done better off them. and ah Because we're on Saturday's game against Portsmouth, a fantastic gutsy away win. Let's come to a listener question because you talked about when Nunez went off, we
Listener Question: Stacey vs Fisher
00:08:13
Speaker
dropped back. I've got a point or two around that which I...
00:08:15
Speaker
the very, very early signs of ah of a worry that's not Nunez related because I think that's just a coincidence that it happened to be Nunez that went off in terms of Manning's second half so far. But there was one person I thought did particularly badly when they came on.
00:08:29
Speaker
and And there's a listening question about Impunt. There is. i mean, the listener question is is from Izzy. um And I should probably at this point give a shout out to my Izzy, who is 17 years old today. So happy birthday, Izzy, if you're quite possibly never going to listen to this podcast. But if you are, happy birthday.
00:08:46
Speaker
um But anyway, a listener, Izzy, asks, can you give us, I think, you know, the panel's take on Stacey versus Fisher thus far?
00:08:58
Speaker
I think Tom from what you've just said you know you're very clearly in Jack Stacey camp I've got loads of worries about Jack Stacey in so much as he's really good at running up and down and I'm not sure he's much good at anything else I don't see him being a brilliant defender and I don't i don't really see loads of end product from him um I think he's he's got He's got the the one attribute that you really, really need as wingback, and that is athleticism. you know that He's got that in abundance.
00:09:29
Speaker
I just think Kellen's a much better technical footballer. He wasn't on Saturday. He was absolute dog shit on Saturday. Now, just to check on something you said. I'm not in the Stacey camp. I don't even know he's absolute dog shit unchecked because he put a dog shit challenge in. He put a dog shit challenge in.
00:09:49
Speaker
And he had a yeah poor end for last season. And he made a few new made a few bad decisions. But I'm not i'm not in the Stacey camp but and um because I'm not answering that question in terms of who, if you only had one, who would you have? i You know, I think Callum Fisher's done some great stuff and is yeah he's a really, really young player.
00:10:04
Speaker
got loads of potential and I've seen him do some really good things. I'm not picking one over the other. I'm just saying on Saturday, that was another example of when Stacey came out of the team, we
Tactical Formations & Team Dynamics
00:10:14
Speaker
measurably got worse. He handled their, I mean, ah yeah okay, he had a fresh left winger after Murphy, you know, was substituted, but he, he,
00:10:23
Speaker
Part of the Stacey end product, or rather part of what Stacey gives you, is how much he occupies the ball and occupies the opposition. So yes, in terms of how many 8 out of 10, 9 out of 10 crosses is he putting with brilliant accuracy into the box, nowhere near as many as if he was an out-and-out winger.
00:10:41
Speaker
100% agree. However, the number of lung-busting runs he makes and the number of times he offers the overlap and the number of times he is... taking players out of position and and even if it comes to nothing again if you're trying to kill a kill a you know kill time when you're 2-0 up or trying to to wind the clock down at 2-1 that is something so so Claire you you grimaced when when when Punt was saying about you know Stacey not not giving the quality that we need I I'm a bit of a Jack Stacey fan I think he gets a bad rap and I
00:11:14
Speaker
I genuinely don't understand people saying there's no end product because he can put in a good cross and he gets the ball in to the good areas and he can score goals, which Kellen proved last year was not his strongest point at all.
00:11:34
Speaker
I am not anti-Kellen in any way. I think he's a fantastic player. so But I think if we're playing five at the back and i'm in no way am I tactically astute in football. That's not my strong point. But I think if we're playing three three central defenders, Jack is better because of his athleticism.
00:11:52
Speaker
He can get up and down. he can he can attack well. He may not be the strongest defender, but I don't think the modern day wingbacks are. There's very few that are good at both attacking and defending in equal measures.
00:12:06
Speaker
So I think he suits the five at the back more than Kellen. If it's four at the back, then maybe Kellen more. Yeah, I'd fully agree with that. And I think because of the athleticism thing that, you know, Stacey can just get up and down and offers you that width, you know, kind of in in the system that Manning is playing at the moment.
00:12:25
Speaker
I just think Callum Fisher is a much better technical footballer and it depends on what kind of football we want to pivot towards, doesn't it? You know, in so much as, as you say, Claire, I think if it's four at the back and, you know, you're probably playing against one of the players bigger teams in the division and you know you cant you want a bit more solidity, you know, kind of in terms of dealing with the left winger. I think it's Fisher every time. And we saw it last season quite a lot.
00:12:48
Speaker
Fisher would start and play pretty well. But actually, as you were kind of saying, Tom, you know, kind of about occupying space, it was then Stacey that came on later to do that job. And I think it's almost going to be in reverse, isn't it, this season? Yeah.
00:13:02
Speaker
um And I don't you know lot i don't think Fisher's a wing-back. that That's his difficulty at the moment. I think he's too good a footballer to be sat on the bench. And he was second in the Barry Butler last season, I think. Wasn't he second or third?
00:13:12
Speaker
Anyway, he was up there in the top three. He's a tremendous footballer. I just worry that, you know, is he going to be happy sat on the bench? I think he'll get plenty of game time because I think there will be um there will be players, that there'll be teams that we're going to face. you know I mean, I would say teams like Sheffield United, although obviously they've not started very well. But you know for example, Middlesbrough coming up and on on Saturday, you know who who have started started really well. but When we are playing against more possession teams and when we are not expecting to have possession, when we're not expecting there to be as many opportunities for those lung-busting rungs without that leaving us really open.
00:13:46
Speaker
i can ease like To your point from last season, I can easily see Kellen Fisher being part of a back four. just Let's just talk about the four versus three thing. So I'm really heartened by the fact that this the situation seems to be fluid and it seems that the already we seem to have, a ah the players seem to be able to switch between them in moments rather than just going for the rest of the game as a four or rest of the game as a three.
00:14:09
Speaker
But do you feel, either of you, that there is a... there's ah there's a concern there that the it changes the whole mentality of the team. If you go, know, it sends the wrong message to the midfielders and the and the the strikers. Oh, we've gone to three. That means it's it's sitting back because I feel we invited so much pressure on Sunday and and Portsmouth weren't well beaters. They, you know, it's not like we got outcoached whatever. We very clearly decided to to have what we hold.
00:14:37
Speaker
We didn't make the best decisions. And seeing that couple of other other times, we had the ball go to Kiskor as well. couple of times, we just made the wrong decision when we did have the ball. It would been far better to turn inside. And I thought we really missed and either Nunez or Kenny.
00:14:51
Speaker
I think either of those players on, if they'd have been on the pitch last 15 minutes or in that 10 minutes injury time, you mentioned punt. Sometimes it was just put your foot on the ball and go backwards. It was composure. That's what
Mid-Game Formation Shifts
00:15:04
Speaker
we needed. We just need to calm down.
00:15:06
Speaker
and And when we'd been playing, the the thing that surprised me about that was when we, in the first two games, but Millwall included, even though that resulted in zero points, we looked so good on the ball under Manning, really, really composed, really nice football, really nice interchanges. and Top itch seems really comfortable.
00:15:24
Speaker
Right, although he hasn't progressed the ball as much as we would like, looks very comfortable going sideways. So you almost think, why are you not feeling comfortable just killing some time for a while? um So yeah, Claire, what do you think about the whole four versus three at the back thing? Because um ah I don't know, i'm I'm glad we can switch between it, but part of it makes me feel uneasy that um it maybe sends the wrong message to the team when that does when that switch comes.
00:15:52
Speaker
Yeah, i'm ah the jury's out for me on the three central defenders at the minute. But I think, you know, it's it's early days and I think the players have got to get used to it. And hopefully that would improve the more they do play that way. And yeah, it's great that we've got a plan A and a plan B. i don't think it gives the wrong message necessarily. I think it's great that we can switch things up when needs be.
00:16:13
Speaker
ah just think we need more time to get used to it. But I'm not entirely convinced about, but I don't think it really suits the Cordoba particularly, i don't think he naturally likes playing that far out on the left side.
00:16:27
Speaker
and i think we look a lot more comfortable playing as a four, certainly a lot more attacking going on. I think the second half, if we're going to play like that, like the second half like we did on Saturday, it was a weird thing to take off Josh and not put on Makama.
00:16:47
Speaker
because we were just whacking it up long to relieve the pressure but there was nobody then there like ah I love Matthias you know but he it wasn't the game for him he's what five foot eight he's not gonna as good as he is in the air he's not a target man if you're whacking the ball up long so I don't think that helped either because we hadn't without Nunes and then without a target man up front we had no way to relieve the pressure so I think it's a work in progress um But yeah, i'm not I'm not entirely convinced at the moment.
00:17:18
Speaker
So pun on the work in progress element, one thing that I thought, again, it was really clear, particularly in the Watford and Pompey game, was how coordinated and animated we are in the press from from kind of our six most forward players, no matter what kind of formation playing at time.
00:17:37
Speaker
And that was one of the things that surprised me in in how we tactically seemed to change last 20 minutes is that it wasn't just the fact that we weren't being more ponderous and controlled with possession. It was the fact that we seem to have lost, obviously not lost the hunger, but...
00:17:52
Speaker
it it seemed to there seemed to be a directive that we weren't hunting in packs. like for For the for first quarter 15, 20 minutes of the second half, we were continuing to do that. And in invariably, it was going back to their keeper who was kicking it out, same as against Watford.
00:18:08
Speaker
So I think there's two strands to that. I think one is Marcelino because he's, you know, he is dynamic in so ins som much as being able to cover quite a lot of grass and help, I think, get the team up a little bit.
00:18:20
Speaker
And right, maybe isn't that kind of play. So, you know, he's he's a bit crabby and sideways. So, you know, kind of, I think i think you're right. I think he looks like a brilliant technical footballer. um But I think we looked really leggy and I think we've looked really leggy in all three games going into the final stages. And that bit worries me because the club kind of coin have come out and briefed. They've clearly briefed, you know, Pink and Lads and local journos that, oh, yeah, it's it's kind of because Johannes planned preseason and, you know, and all that and I'm like, hang on.
00:18:49
Speaker
Liam Manning came in in, you know, kind of what, May time. You know, if he wanted to rip up some, you know, the way in which they did physical work in pre-season, he absolutely had the opportunity to do that. So I don't think you can blame the fact that our fitness levels aren't quite where they should be on the on the previous manager.
Team Fitness & Performance
00:19:05
Speaker
I just think that's that's a really lazy excuse.
00:19:08
Speaker
um But I think when we when we hit our physical levels, you know, should we hit the physical levels that they want out of the players, I think we'll be a lot better in that regard. And i think we'll look a lot more composed and we will be able to to kind of make those...
00:19:24
Speaker
use those trigger points in the press, which we did really effectively in you know kind of in both first halves this week. we We will be able to do that lots more in a second half, and you know ah as you're alluding to. That will ah that will relieve the pressure, naturally.
00:19:36
Speaker
And I think also then... if you aren't as physically tired and mentally tired as well, you make better decisions. you know There's no doubt about that. Andy Cernach kind of trying to lob the keeper or whatever he did when it was like, mate, just hit the corner. What are you doing?
00:19:51
Speaker
Or just turn around and go backwards. He was in transition, so they were not wall priced. Or occupy them or something. So I think, yeah, what trying to say is when you're tired, you make poorer decisions.
00:20:03
Speaker
we clearly have been tied in all three of our matches. um You know, that there's been no doubt about that for me. And and Manning has said as much as well, you know, kind of that's the bit I'm just like, hang on. but Surely you do the same drills, you know, that you would have done with Bristol City in pre-season, last season. I don't think you can recreate the intensity of,
00:20:21
Speaker
an actual championship game. And obviously we've got a lot of players have come in from abroad. They're not used to the intensity either. That's true. Whereas other teams probably haven't got quite so many new foreign players as we have.
00:20:33
Speaker
um So I think there's that. And then also it didn't help on Saturday that Topic obviously tires at 60 minutes and his drop off is quite significant. And we'd lost Nunez as well. So they've been fantastic for the first half and the first couple of minutes of the second half.
00:20:50
Speaker
to lose effectively lose both of them for the most of the second half didn't do us any favours either. and And we don't have Kenny. and i And like you said, I think, you know, we do miss Kenny and it's, you know, it'll be interesting to see where he fits in in all this. But I did think on Saturday, oh my God, if only we had Kenny right now.
00:21:10
Speaker
So, not forgotten. Well, I think, like you said, Topic is...
00:21:15
Speaker
He may well have been the plan that Topic is going to come off after 65-70. So, you know, he may have did about an hour in the first game and and actually asked to come off maybe a bit early. And then in in the then in the second game, maybe he was going to get 70 minutes, but then obviously Nunez meant that just wasn't feasible. But he will benefit from the fact that he had to stay on. And then, as Manning said with the Pinkham boys afterwards, after the game, you know, we do at least have now, you know, six days in between games for the first time, and you know, in this early
Middlesbrough Game Preview
00:21:43
Speaker
season. and So i think hopefully they can get some rest, get some recovery and then build up again for what's going to be an interesting game on on on Saturday. Because whilst Middlesbrough have got six points in a second or third in the league or what have you, and they they haven't actually and kind of stormed out of the traps on on all fronts. they They sort of narrowly beat Swansea.
00:22:05
Speaker
and They lost 4-0 to Doncaster in the Cup. And then they were actually only 1-0 up against Millwall um until the 87th minute. like They got their second and third goal, 1-87 when obviously Mill will push in for an equaliser and then 90 plus four or 90 plus six or something was the last. And so you know it it wasn't exactly like they they wiped Mill out. And I saw plenty of things plenty of ways in which we could have finished four or five against Portsmouth. To our point, Sargent could have had a hat-trick and that game could have been properly out of sight by half-time and then maybe we would have...
00:22:37
Speaker
it would have been easy to to weather that storm. i'm So yeah, go going back to the list of questions, pun there was there was another one as well, wasn't there? um Alongside the the Fisher, Stacey, one we wanted to pick up.
00:22:49
Speaker
Yeah, let me find it. Hang on two seconds. So um this is from our friend Ben of Along Come Norwich Artwork Infamy. He's asked, is Liam Manning the spiritual successor to Nigel Worthington?
00:23:03
Speaker
Go at teams early on, get ahead and then hang on for dear life. So this is it. this is This is why I think this is worth talking about because and yeah we we could have been really far ahead, Claire, on Saturday and it wouldn't have felt as much like dear life. It would have felt like more of a sun lounger sort of flicking through an airport novel.
00:23:22
Speaker
But and yeah. Does it ever feel like that with Norwich? I'm not sure I ever feel like that, even at Yeah. yeah yeah So yeah, what what do you reckon? do do you think Do you think this is Worthington Mark 2? Yeah.
00:23:35
Speaker
Well, if it is, then great, because we won the league. so But also, I don't really recall feeling that way when I watched his teams an awful lot. Did we?
00:23:45
Speaker
I mean, it was a long time ago. but Well, i I think the the the holding on, and we we didn't score that many goals for a team won the league. We didn't let that many in either. Well, this is it. we did this That's the point. We didn't need to, because you know we had three lungs and we were we were in a position where um bit of magic from Hux and that was yeah sort of enough but the I think that the the style of football is is a million miles away and there's been some in some bits and bobs at Watford some bits and bobs on Saturday some of that first particularly first half an hour against Pompey we played some sumptuous stuff going forward and and we genuinely looked like scoring pretty much every time we were in and around the box um so I I
00:24:27
Speaker
it it does all It's pleasing, actually. I watched the game at home on on Saturday, and I listened to Paddy's kind of half-time, you know, instant reaction stuff. And he mentioned kind of the the Manning template or the Manning and kind of boilerplate already being clear in terms of how how intense the pressing is, how quick we are in transition.
00:24:50
Speaker
we look devastatingly good, counter-attack him. So that actually gives me a bit of confidence, a la Worthington, against the bigger teams in the division. I think we are going to be able to mix it with the big boys if we're going to concede possession.
00:25:03
Speaker
Actually, I think we're going to leave really dangerous on the break. What says you, John Punt? Just um to come back to we didn't score many goals, 0-3-0-4. We were second top scorers in the division with 79 goals and we finished with a plus 40 goal difference. So I'm not ah not sure that's entirely accurate. That's funny. I don't remember that. I remember that team being really...
00:25:22
Speaker
like perfunctory. like like which like winning Winning, but not I don't remember like lots of 4-0s and 3-0s. Darren Huckabee ripping it up. and Yeah, Fauci, Svensson, McKenzie. It was a loser goal.
00:25:35
Speaker
It's a great season. Plus 40 goal difference. I mean ah can't imagine there's many other seasons that we finish with plus 40 goal difference. Would you like to hazard a guess at who were the top scorers in Division 1 that season?
Sargent's Potential Transfer
00:25:49
Speaker
West Brom. Yeah, West Brom. No, they only scored 64 goals. That's poor. That was who I was thinking of. Who was the scum with 84 goals? Was it? Phil Bindel? But they shipped 72, so they were porous.
00:26:03
Speaker
but Good. A bit like us last year. Beneath us in the table as well. Yeah, very much like us last year, although they did finish fifth, to be fair to them. But anyway. Poor league.
00:26:16
Speaker
Yeah, yeah, definitely. That's exactly what it was, Claire. Yeah, absolutely. Although he won So the, yeah, I can't even remember what your question was now, Tom, but I think we look, you know, in terms of Manning, it's it's in the embryonic stage.
00:26:32
Speaker
as so As I said previously, I don't think he's got us where he wants us, you know, in terms of, you know, the physicality and the ability to go for 90 minutes. and And I think we all look different. And he seems to,
00:26:44
Speaker
As Claire said last spot, he seems to say all of the right things. So it's now about doing all of those things, isn't it? It's now about getting you know kind of ah um you know the absolute levels into the players and then playing the kind of football for 90 minutes that we want.
00:26:56
Speaker
But like Nunez can do that. Topic can do that. Kenny has has proven before you know that he can he can go for 90 minutes. you know kind of there There's people in the midfield that we need to be dynamic For this formation to work, we've absolutely got that. you know kind of I've got no doubt about that. Diallo is going to, when his levels are topped up, he's going to be a phenomenal player. And Josh, we know you know as long as he's fit, he he will be able to do it for 90 minutes as well. As long as he's here.
00:27:26
Speaker
as long as he's here. Well, look, that yeah. Quiet. I've just started. He's not being very quiet, is he, He keeps bloody scoring. I know. I've just started to believe, though. Why move, though? He's scoring goals. he could probably be top scorer in the championship. Why does he need to go anywhere?
00:27:42
Speaker
Yes. Yes. and He knows it. Let's all just zip our mouths and just... Take him out. Don't mention his name. Yeah. Okay. Sorry. hey Sorry. jo michael First of September or is it second of September? me can say Well, second. Yeah. Yeah.
00:27:57
Speaker
Well, then we can, then we can speak. i think I think there needs to be, ah if it happened, it would never need to be a sergeant staying party. I mean, that's like 12 points. That's about, I reckon it's four, that's that's four wins difference, maybe five wins difference. Probably more. I think that it's the difference between us being in the top six and not, you know, and, and you know, that's, that's really what it this season potentially boils down to, you know, kind of is him staying and and then, you know, us maybe having a proper tilt at it.
00:28:25
Speaker
Um, Because, you know, that's been the last two seasons before that, you know, had he have kept fit, remained fit last season, you know kind of for the majority, for 46 games, I think we probably trouble the top six the season before that.
00:28:37
Speaker
It was only when he came back and he had a serious run that we then did make the top six, you know. So, um yeah, look, he's going to stay. It'll all be fine. and We'll win the league. Yeah, I i think, i yeah, I think there's um chance creation looks really, really positive in the early goings because we haven't,
00:28:55
Speaker
Chance creation has been really good and we haven't. Do you think it has? Do you really think it has? Like proper chances crafted from football rather than just pressing high. Well, that's that is football. Pressing is high as football. I mean, like, but I don't. I mean, like troubling teams when we've got the ball. That's the bit that I'd want to. I want to see us get loads better at. And I think winning
Possession vs Counter-Attacking
00:29:15
Speaker
the ball higher up the pitch is brilliant and and winning it of itself. But we're reliant on mistakes rather than ah our own majesty kind of bringing those chances.
00:29:23
Speaker
i think it's ah but I think it's a balance. that The and possession is about them. the possession is as much about the other team not scoring as it is about us scoring. And if you are really, really proficient and repeatably force mistakes by the by hunting impacts and cutting out the the the channels to be able to get out, so basically we get the ball at the very least from a throw, and even if we don't take possession off them,
00:29:50
Speaker
they're they're forced to go long and it ends up at our centre-back's feet or out for a throw and then we build and score from that, then effectively it doesn't matter if a lot of our possession results in effectively ah yeah one chance after three or four minutes of going sideways if we're also having those quick goals because i haven't felt I haven't felt very bored yet in three three games of watching Norwich and I'm not sure I went three games in a row of watching Hoff without being bored. Certainly, you know Wagner, Smith, you know,
00:30:19
Speaker
at times, farc when it wasn't great, particularly season one, you know, some, you know, our position has got a little bit more and speed around it at the moment. It's, you know, very early early days, but I, I like being a, being a counter-attacking team who can also, you know, pass you to death as well.
00:30:37
Speaker
That again, going about flexibility, that could really stand us in good stead because you have to win probably more so than maybe any other league. You have to win about eight different ways in the championship because you've got to mix it with the big boys. Then you've got you've got the teams who are just down from the Premier League with still loads of talented players who want to have a passing battle.
00:30:55
Speaker
You know, so you you really do need to... to to mix it. and I want to talk about kind of the initial impressions of some individual players. So Fish has had one kind of 10, 15 minute bad spell, but other than that, not really done anything wrong. Stacey, I think, looks fit as a flea and is going to keep giving us that gut busting kind of run in.
00:31:17
Speaker
Let's talk about Vlad, the goalie. and Claire, we've had and good, the bad and the ugly so far from him.
Vlad's Performance Review
00:31:23
Speaker
what's what's your What's your feeling after two lots of 90 minutes? I don't think he's one that's going to give us keep his board, is he?
00:31:29
Speaker
Oh, definitely not. he's ah After Sass Day, I think he is awesome. What a performance. I mean, I hope that's given him so much confidence. um I don't know whether to be concerned or thrilled that he said it was the hardest game of his life.
00:31:45
Speaker
I think he's prone to hyperbole, even in a second language.
00:31:50
Speaker
But, you know, it it was a fabulous performance. he He really helped relieve the pressure coming out for those crosses. catching them, the penalty save. Like I was watching with my dad and my sister and we all said, Angus wouldn't have saved that.
00:32:03
Speaker
you know, and the fact that he actually caught it as well and held it. Caught it with a smile. He was already smiling. my as as he caught As he caught it, he was smiling. yeah when When they showed the reverse when they shed the reverse angle, he was already horizontal as the player kicked it.
00:32:19
Speaker
A second half was a bit of a blare, to be honest. know He is very likeable. He's very likeable. He's a character and I love that. You know, don't know said last week, where I sit in the upper Barclays, right behind the goal. So I, I, I feel like I have an emotional relationship with the goalie sort of more than maybe other people and other areas of the ground.
00:32:39
Speaker
And I'm really going to enjoy watching him this season, I think. um Yeah, fabulous. I think, you know, the first game of the season, he didn't really know what to expect. And as he said in his own words on Saturday, I know now. I get it now.
00:32:51
Speaker
I'm ready. So, you know, bring it on. Well, I mean, he he was indecisive for that for that goal against Millwall. And if he come that was something that was, again, a very quick turnaround, but that was something that was completely was fixed in inverted commas against Pompey. Every time he needed to leave his line, he was there getting a punch on it, and and actually catching and holding it so many times, which when you are playing a team like Pompey, maybe does slightly reduce...
00:33:17
Speaker
how likely they are to lump it in the box when you've got someone that commanding saying well come get it then a bit like Fraser Fawcett. That's what was worried about with him. like i was good ah That's what I'd been worried about with him seeing him in the the pre-season friendly um at Carrow Road and and then the first game against Millwall was like he doesn't look like the kind of keeper who's going to go and command his box and then I mean absolutely brilliant at Fratton Park that he came and did that. Now whether that's Tony Roberts working with him, whether that's just confidence. I think it's probably the latter because he's had a difficult kind of 18 to 24 months from what the reports ah you know kind of have have stated. So you could just sit here, you talk about the smile, the smiles after the game as well, you know kind of visibly almost you know kind of being thrust upon the crowd and
00:34:00
Speaker
I guess you don't get that much as a goalkeeper, do You you don't get that glory.
Goalkeeper Development Challenges
00:34:03
Speaker
um But I celebrated the penalty save more than the two goals because it was just like, it felt like that was the moment, right, we've won the game and then, all right, it didn't quite work out And the save in the first half as well.
00:34:15
Speaker
you know Yeah, it was great. From that, we immediately scored a second. So that was huge as well. He did. In the in the first half in the Millwall game he made a fantastic save but in both in both instances in real time I thought well straight at him but it's good that he made himself big and then in both case cases like no no no he had to adjust to get there so actually both times they were really good reaction saves now we might stumble across something special there he I'm really encouraged by by that and so and I think just to go keep on Vlad a little bit i'm sorry I think he'll be disappointed with the goal as well
00:34:49
Speaker
Because he gets hand to it. And he probably could have got a bigger hand to it. It's harsh. Topic doesn't close him down. Yeah, but what mean is, by the time it hits his hand, you're like, actually, if you get that bigger hand to it, probably he expects him to do better. But I think it's going to close the hand that big. It was a daisy cutter. It bounced just in front of him. It was a good hit. Yeah, really good hit. He saw it late.
00:35:13
Speaker
I was gutted they let a goal in though because I really thought they all deserved a clean sheet, particularly him on Saturday. You feel like when the clean sheet does come, whether it be Saturday or two or three weeks time or want see that thing he does. Yeah, I reckon there's going to be some big parties for him.
00:35:29
Speaker
and So that that's something that that's that's one of the few things that has happened too a few too many times there to have only been three games, which is us inviting shots from distance.
Improving Defense Strategies
00:35:39
Speaker
So obviously a lot of the teams we're going to play this season are going to shoot as badly as Josh Murphy, so happy days.
00:35:44
Speaker
But and obviously it did actually hurt us on Saturday, and not in terms of points, but in terms of a really dis you know difficult last few minutes, really stressful last few minutes. few? Lots. Yeah. Well, exactly. And we had both Darling and Maedic running backwards, backing off. We had it in the Watford game and we had it in the Millwall game and we had it in the Pompey game, but particularly Watford when we were again defending a lead, and inviting and bars clearly a player like he he he can hit a ball and we're we're sort of backing off. And if Topic is, if we are going to be tiring,
00:36:20
Speaker
in that centre mid until we get, you know, Kenny back, be ah meaning that we can either bring him on on 70 minutes for top pitch or whatever it might be. the point is, if we are not, if we are tiring in that middle bit of the CDM area, we have got to be better at and at kind of going out and meeting and and interrupt them and,
00:36:38
Speaker
It's actually something I think that Cordoba, when he plays a centre-back, I think that is something that is a real skill of his. He backs himself one-on-one not to be turned or dink because he's so fleet-footed that actually I think he does press right up to to to players when they're running at him, meaning that actually the worst-case scenario is he pushes them out wide. They certainly aren't going to get a clean shot off and you know, you have someone like, you a Barry Bannon or someone with a bit of quality, you give them a free shot from 25 yards, then ah unless the keeper's already going the right way, then there's a really high chance of a goal. So that's something to work on.
00:37:15
Speaker
no Another person wanted to call out, though, um is Antti Cern, actually. So we we mentioned him a couple of times. and We talked before the the season kicked off that yeah we were hoping that this would be a year he really kicked on.
00:37:27
Speaker
Before I say what I think, Punt, how do you think was his report card looking Because we've seen a lot of him first three games.
Sernach's Current Challenges
00:37:33
Speaker
Yeah, we have. um And I think it's a six out of 10 for me so far. He's he's in flashes. he's He's looked like he can...
00:37:45
Speaker
He can go up players. His first touch is decent. He can spin people. But it's just, I think it's confidence. I think it's, you know, kind of with him, he needs a goal. But I kind of almost feel like we were expecting Sarge to go. So he would be playing through the middle and it would be a different kind of season for him. And maybe it's not going to work out like that. And, you know, I haven't got a massive issue with that.
00:38:10
Speaker
But Sarge, Sarge struggled for a season and a half because he had someone playing through the middle who was prolific and was one of the best in the championship. And I wonder whether it's going to take that.
00:38:23
Speaker
You know, it's going to take Sernach to step out of the shadow maybe when Sarge either isn't here or, you know, kind of ah has a spell on the sidelines for whatever reason. But he had that last season with Josh out injured and he didn't really...
00:38:37
Speaker
step up massively. He didn't, but then I think it's first season in England. He's 20 years old at that point. I think it feels like all of the raw materials are there for him to be a top championship striker. It's just not coming off for him. If hits it at 22, cool, that's the end next season. Phenomenal, yeah. Yeah, he is...
00:38:58
Speaker
cool that's you know end the next season yeah we've we've got nominal that yeah he is he is Similar to kind of what I was referring to with Stacey previously, his contribution is high, although it's not goals and assists right now to the levels that you'd want to make him first name on the team sheet, what have you.
00:39:15
Speaker
um He's clearly really popular in terms of the the changing room because you could tell from when he did get his goals, just how warm the reaction was, both fans and and players. um And like you say, the physical attributes are there. Like he's got pace, that boy.
00:39:28
Speaker
and So i'm I think he's i think he has he does seem to have kicked on a little bit in terms of decision-making generally. And he seems to be a bit calmer on the ball, which is which is a good early sign.
00:39:42
Speaker
Whether or not he will keep his place when Kvistka is fully fit and whether or not we start seeing Diallo, Kvistka and Sarge as the front three,
00:39:53
Speaker
um But also to to your point on thinking that they're losing Josh, I don't think there's any way that they that they replaced Sarge with Sienac. I think if their plan has always been if Sargent goes for, let's say, 16, 17 upfront plus add-ons,
00:40:11
Speaker
I think they spend 90% of that on a replacement.
Replacing Sargent: Options
00:40:14
Speaker
I think they do, but I don't think they necessarily sign a nine and that in certain action might be the nine and then it might be someone really effective coming in off, you know, kind of like an almost a forward rather than a striker. Because, know, players of Sargent's... Like another Kvistka. Potentially, but players of Sargent's ilk are really rare.
00:40:31
Speaker
You know, know there's there's no doubt about that. And when they're good, they cost nearly 20 million. I mean, yeah, i unfortunately, ive i I have now gone... I've now gone to the mental place where I'm expecting him to stay, even though i keep telling myself that there's a chance he goes. That's very dangerous, mate. I know. i It's terrible.
00:40:51
Speaker
Really, mathematically and logically, you just think that the chances of someone in the top one of the top leagues in Europe he would want to go and play in. and having an injury to a striker or having a ah long running transfer that we don't even know about that they can't quite get over the line, like fall through or whatever.
00:41:08
Speaker
It's still Brimford that worries me. petrick like just they But equally, you know, we said about 20 minutes ago that we were going to stop talking about your sergeant leaving the football club because we didn't want to jinx it. We've talked about it quite a lot.
00:41:21
Speaker
Well, yeah, but you can't jinx it if you're saying it's a possibility. You jinx it if you say, definitely not happening, definitely not happening, definitely not happening. Which you can't have you gone, oh, I've got to the mental place where you're like, la, la, la, la. no no ah But I am, yeah, I i don't know. i i Like Claire said, like he's scoring goals. You just think it's... Yeah, why would he go to Brunford? They're really, really hard season. He may or may not succeed if he did go. They'd probably get relegated.
00:41:46
Speaker
Stay where you are. you scoring goals. You're putting yourself in the shut window. it may only be challenge. Probably another 50 grand a week and Premier League spotlight would be. off Forget about the money. It's not all about money, John.
00:41:57
Speaker
All right. I'll let you tell Josh that. You seem... Yeah. Well, it's it's a very... like it's It's been very, very positive, I would say, in terms of the the the fact that we're, you know, two wins. Okay, one of them is in the cup competition that we will take seriously if we win three more games. But at the moment, it's just...
00:42:17
Speaker
Now, that is interesting. We really didn't mix it up much. Do you think that was due to squad fitness or due to the fact that he went, I want Meadich and Darling to have another game together. I want to get more minutes into my new menu players. like i was I was expecting at least four or five changes.
00:42:35
Speaker
And he kind of he he kind of went, well, yeah, we'll do a bit of both. We'll make a few changes, but you know we'll we'll keep it fairly static. But I think you're right. He wanted the centre-back pairing, or I say centre-back pairing, it's the three of them, but he wanted those two to to get more minutes together and clearly understand their roles and responsibilities.
00:42:50
Speaker
He we definitely wanted some more minutes in Topic's legs, and you know kind of and he got that as well. I don't think Josh would have started because... I think Fiskarden would have played when he went home. I don't think Josh would have started if he'd been there necessarily. So what are saying about Jeffrey Schlupp then in his initial cameo? He struggled when he came on Saturday. He's not fit, is he? I thought he was surprisingly effective on the on the first game in the season when i I was really surprised to see his name on the team sheet starting.
00:43:24
Speaker
um So presumably that's just how impressive he's been in training. and But then, yeah, ah and he definitely tired. Him and Cordoba were not on the same page. And then on, you know, against Portsmouth, they didn't seem like they'd been on the same page. then they've not had much time to work on stuff together because they've been prepping for games, you know, basically since he's been here.
00:43:43
Speaker
So maybe again this week, it's an opportunity. I certainly think he he would be first choice if we could, if we felt that we could get his performances up to scratch. Do you a left wing back and then we put Diallo a bit further forward? That's kind of what's optimal. I think you want, you whilst yes, it was wonderful against Watford to see Diallo sprint 60 yards. I mean, he is, like we'd be told he's the fastest player in the Championship whatever, yeah both in, you know, I didn't see him in person because he didn't get a minute and and in the home game.
00:44:13
Speaker
And I haven' haven't been away yet this year. But on the screen in both games, he is visibly faster than the players that he's running against. so like i actually basic said He looks really slight, but he's not afraid of a tackle. He was getting his foot in as well. That was really impressive.
00:44:28
Speaker
He doesn't like a header, which is fair, and but but he'ss he's happy to go to to to go when it's sort of chest height or shoulder to shoulder. There was a couple of times against Pompey where he did the old lean in and lean out again as if to say, yeah, I don't want to i don't want anything to do with that. Thank you. You look really big. You're big, horrible bastard. don't want you to hit me with your head. Cool. Okay. So let's do some guarantees for Middlesbrough.
Middlesbrough Game Predictions
00:44:51
Speaker
ah Unbeaten Middlesbrough, you don't include getting thwacked by Doncaster in the Cup, which I personally do, because then we've won two out of three. um So, Claire, can I have a guaranteed scoreline and a guaranteed Norwich City goalscorer, please?
00:45:05
Speaker
Well, I failed me should be last time. um I think it'll be... you what I'll go one-all. I don't want to be too optimistic against Borough. Who's going to score? Josh, obviously.
00:45:17
Speaker
Obviously, yeah. You still think you'll be here by then? Okay. and Yeah, yeah, yeah. That's this week. That's this friday this Saturday. yes. Okay.
00:45:27
Speaker
Puntilicious? ah Statement win, 2-0. Kvist Goran will come in off the bench and get one. And then let's go anti-Sernach, edge of the box. Shitpinger.
00:45:41
Speaker
Yeah, that'll do. Wow, he had a dream. yeah Statement win is only 2-0. We're going to go absolutely to town. Statement win against the likes of Middlesbrough.
00:45:52
Speaker
That's what I'm saying. Statement win. I think it's the championship rival. I hope yours is right. Top six rival. Yeah, me too. But then usually when I'm optimistic, it all goes to shit. so you know Yeah, I think we'll win 4-0. Oh, mate.
00:46:03
Speaker
so oh like oh
00:46:21
Speaker
We will wrap up this week with the Along Come Norwich quiz. It's only been about two years. so and Change of format. There's still six questions each. Get your pencil out, Punt, because I'm going to go to Claire first, um but you can steal if you know any of these answers.
Norwich City Quiz & Banter
00:46:36
Speaker
So it's just one question, deal with six different versions. So um the lesser spotted Canaries, which is not, know, it's not the best name in the world because actually some of these people did play a few times. What I want why want to do is give you, Claire, and there's no time there's no time limit other than I do have to go to bed at some point. I'm going to give you the club they played for directly before us, not on loan, were signed on for.
00:47:02
Speaker
And then the club they played for directly after us, not on loan, actually signed for. where they played in the team so striker defender goalkeeper etc and the year they made their debut so i'm going to give you those four pieces of information and then i would like you to give me a name and then punt you write yours down because then once we've gone through them we'll see whether or not you can uh you can nick any of them okay so Hang on, so you're going to do all of them and then reveal them at the end? is that Yes, I am. I am, yeah.
00:47:31
Speaker
Okay. Because if I give away certain ones, then clickers. A tactic of this game, I've already realized even though we've not played it together, is you could say the same name three or four times.
00:47:43
Speaker
Oh, right. It increases your chance of getting it right. So first and foremost, Claire. He joined from Liverpool.
00:47:54
Speaker
His next club was Middlesbrough. He's a defender and he made his debut in 2011.
00:48:04
Speaker
Liverpool. Oh my gosh.
00:48:09
Speaker
This is not going to be good podcasting because I'm just going to sit here with my mind whirring. Well, you can talk us through your thinking if you like, or you can just throw out name. I don't have much thinking. Did we ever sign a player from Liverpool? I'm thinking it was Jan Molby?
00:48:31
Speaker
So Jan Molby wasn't a defender and it wasn't in 2011. No, he wasn't a defender. If he signed in 2011 as well, that would be concerning. He might have been more overweight than he actually was when he joined us. I'm a pass on that one.
00:48:45
Speaker
Okay. um The next one is a goalkeeper. And he joined us from the youth team at Norwich City. Okay. And then his next club was Preston North End.
00:48:58
Speaker
His debut was in 2009. Declan Rudd. Correct. Number three. a winger. wing back winger joined from whole city his next club was burnley his debut was 2015. one my favorite brady yes correct oh okay number four somewhere joined from peterborough next club was wolverhampton he was a defender and his debut was 2012. brian bennett
00:49:29
Speaker
brian bennett Correct. oh She is flying now. nice. Pump didn't have that one. He was confident the last two. That one when he was still looking. No, I didn't have that one. I've got the first one. but Did you know he was in Filth Academy? He was Scum Academy. I didn't know that until I think. I think I did know that. That was the face I made, Claire.
00:49:47
Speaker
Question five. Joined from Coventry, next club, AFC Bournemouth, defender, debut 2010.
00:49:58
Speaker
this is tricky because there was a couple of loans in there from us to somewhere else
00:50:05
Speaker
can When you say defender, can you be a bit more specific with the position? or ah As you're you and not punt, yes I can. Centre back. Centre back. Coventry.
00:50:16
Speaker
ah what Went to where afterwards? born So, joined from Coventry, went to Bournemouth full time, but did have a couple of loans before he then went to Bournemouth. And made his debut in 2010.
00:50:28
Speaker
And all of these fair listeners are right at the time of me looking at Wikipedia about an hour ago. Elliott Ward Yes!
00:50:39
Speaker
My goodness me I have to pass my own expectations there yes You didn't get the Liverpool defender but you know you did get one, two, three, you got the next four so can you get five out of six which would be incredible ah Joined from St Mirren, next club Cardiff City midfielder, sometimes left back debut 2007
00:51:03
Speaker
Ooh, that's a tough one. St Mirren. He got it. Punt's got it. I think I got it. He got it. Went to Cardiff.
00:51:16
Speaker
Yeah, bit of an unknown turned into a right royal signing for us. Really? Oh, no. No, I'll be outrageous. I'll let John have that one. I tried to give you a clue. and Okay, so do you know any clues on question one for you then, Punt?
00:51:31
Speaker
It's Danny Ayala, isn't it? It is Danny Ayala, Oh, yes. course. And then question six. King of Spain, but... King of Spain. Oh!
00:51:43
Speaker
Okay, so he's got a couple of steals, but Claire, you can steal back from him. And you did get four. so She's done phenomenally well. yeah She certainly has. So, punt, I certainly won't be helping You typically harder for me as well.
00:51:55
Speaker
You know it. and Yep. We'll wait till the youth question. 1957. No, no, get that. These are these are all
00:52:08
Speaker
yeah It did occur to me when I was thinking, I can't believe that i and have I've misremembered, despite being there the night we won the league, I've misremembered that kind of Worthington era by that many goals.
00:52:20
Speaker
But it was 22 years ago. gosh, shush. Shush now. my word. Okay, so punt. Punt. okay so ah pun I joined from Hamilton Academical and my next club was Coventry.
00:52:35
Speaker
I'm a striker and I debuted in 2015.
00:52:44
Speaker
and Hamilton Academical? Who was the other? I went to Coventry. I was a striker and my debut for Norwich was 2015. I'll have to hurry you.
00:53:01
Speaker
Why? You said you've got... Claire had unlimited time. ah Was it the one that was always a pain in the arse? What's his name? can't remember his name. Scottish dude.
00:53:13
Speaker
Not Scottish. Not Scottish. Oh, okay. Right, so we'll come back to that one. You keep thinking, Claire, because you have got the opportunity to steal there, so can Google it. He wasn't Scottish, he was Irish. Definitely not Scottish. and Next one.
00:53:25
Speaker
Joined from Colchester United, next club, Bolton Wanderers, defender, debut 2011.
00:53:37
Speaker
and He was an absolute mad bastard. Martini? Martini? Yes. Which which of the clues If you haven't said mad bastard, there's no way I'm getting that. Okay. I started to feel a bit tight for how hard some of yours are. yeah They get a lot easier now. and I joined from Gillingham.
00:53:54
Speaker
My next club was Eintracht-Branchzweig. I'm a striker and my debut is 2010. Is that? No. Hang on.
00:54:07
Speaker
Joined from Gillingham. I'm a striker. A striker of some important goals. My next club, Eintracht-Breinzweig. My debut for Norwich was 2010.
00:54:20
Speaker
He was scoring important goals for us in 2010 or in a year or two afterwards.
00:54:29
Speaker
Topically, at a place we've recently played at. This is really cluey, but only because... Oh, Simeon Jackson. It is Simeon Jackson, yes. and yeah I'd never heard of that football club until Wiki told me it today.
00:54:43
Speaker
and So next one is joined from Colchester United again. What's Colchester here, mate? Well, it's coming up again. My next club was Colchester United. Midfielder.
00:54:56
Speaker
2010. David Fox? I was going to say David Fox. yeah david but I'll give you the point then Claire. I was going to say, I could just do that for anyone. going to say that. I didn't know whether I could just jump in or not, whether I should let you go first. Technically this is this is it this is his time to shine.
00:55:13
Speaker
and Right, this one joined us from Norwich City Youth. His next club was Maidstone. He's a striker and he made his debut in 2014.
00:55:30
Speaker
That's a hard one. Thank you.
00:55:39
Speaker
So part of our youth academy and then ended up continuing his professional career at Maidstone.
00:55:49
Speaker
Made his debut in the Premier League as a substitute.
00:55:58
Speaker
Really highly thought of at the time. but never really did it.
00:56:05
Speaker
I'm thinking of someone, but I think it was too late for him.
00:56:13
Speaker
like going somewhere Oh, hang on. you Did he score unto not city score an equaliser against Huddersfield in like the 95th minute in a game? and Not that I remember. Not somebody that's been in the news recently, is it?
00:56:26
Speaker
No, I'm going to get that. Okay, fine. And the final one for you is joined from Stoke City, next club, Derby County, striker, debut 2014.
00:56:49
Speaker
I seem to have forgotten every single person that scored goals up front for us. Well, I mean, I predominantly remember things from the 1990s, so like you know this is not this is not too recent it's not my patch. um Stoke and then who?
00:57:06
Speaker
Went to Derby after us full-time. I don't think he was part-time for the other teams, but you know i mean
00:57:16
Speaker
know what I mean. I'm not getting that, mate. This is not my era to remember players. Okay, so Claire, I'm going to offer this to you because this could be crucial.
00:57:27
Speaker
Debut in 2014, scored again, think really important goals. And think of what was happening, sort of 14, 15 kind of time. Signed from Stoke. Stoke.
00:57:40
Speaker
I think there might be couple of listeners shouting this out straight away. Alex Neil time, yeah. You got it yet, Punt? No, I've switched off, mate. I'm never going to get that. It's one that feel like should get, but I'll never get. 130 appearances and 38 goals for Norwich City.
00:57:58
Speaker
Lewis Graben. Cameron Jerome. Oh, And then went to Derby. I loved Cam. Oh, that's terrible, Claire. might I cried when he left.
00:58:11
Speaker
And I'm like 40-something years old. 2014 to 2018. And then 2018, went to Derby. Then Gostep. We all remember that. Milton Keynes-Dorns, Luton Town, Bolton Wanderers. 656 appearances he made.
00:58:24
Speaker
141 goals in his career. I had a bet with Lorne that season. He said, we signed Cameron Jerome and he went, Cameron Jerome is shit. And I said, I bet you he'll score like at least 15 goals. And he went, I'll give you 10 goals. And anyway, he got 21 or something that season, didn't he? So, um,
00:58:41
Speaker
Yeah. And Lorne owed me. i think I don't actually think Lorne ever paid up on that bet, which doesn't surprise me. Doesn't sound like Lorne. and Okay. I mean, he's lived in Spain two years and only just stopped paying for his Spotify.
00:58:52
Speaker
Which tells you everything you need to know about Lorne. Okay. Right. Well, that was good fun. um I think we'll call it a draw. and We've got your guarantees for the weekend. Enjoy Mulesborough. Mind how you go.
00:59:29
Speaker
That was good fun. um I think we'll call it a draw. and We've got your guarantees for the weekend. Enjoy Meals, bro. And um no one tell anyone ah In fact, maybe we start rumour Josh Sargent's actually got a bit of a dodgy hammy and he's probably going to be out until like March. See if we can get that going.
00:59:45
Speaker
Enjoy Meals, bro. If he pees it now on Saturday and he's out till March, then that's all on you, mate. I've ruined it. Okay. Enjoy Meals. I'll let it out. Totally natural ending. Totally natural ending.
00:59:58
Speaker
Mind how you go.