Transcript
Speaker: Hello and welcome to OTBA Norwich City podcast, the Norwich City show that is back to how we know and love it after this week. I'm Ryan Livermore and on the pod tonight, a near perfect week has well and truly kickstarted Norwich City's season. As if being up for the cup wasn't enough, City left Burnley looking firmly claret and blue with a flurry of early blows in the beginning of their bout on Saturday.
Speaker: We look back at the wins over Cardiff and Burnley. Plus, we have Sophie Leaney's Word of the Week and the return of Gun to the Head for this season. No Steve Sanders this week. Let's hope his agent isn't working overtime to get him a move to Turkey as well. In his place, we've made a pre-deadline loan for our own lanky powerhouse. Joining us at OTB for the first time this season, it's Connor Southwell.
Speaker: Connor, I saw you in person for the first time ever on Saturday. You are lanky, but would you describe yourself as a powerhouse? Yeah, I'm now wondering where I saw you and I don't think I did see you unless you were in disguise. which Yes. and Which is also making me wonder if I saw you before West Brom because I had an interaction with said disguise that made me think, was that you?
Speaker: Yes. Before West Brom, did Captain Canary point at you really ominously and then do a really creepy sort of twinkly finger wave that she looked like he regretted afterwards? Yeah, he did actually, he did. And I thought, I wonder, trying to word this correctly. wonder who is in, no, that's not right, is it? Just go for it. Who's in there? Who's in there? That's what I was wondering. What is the soul of Captain Canary? And I felt like I got a bit closer to it that day. So that was quite nice.
Speaker: I'm so glad that is my aim whenever I put the suit on. He says like he's Batman. On one side of Connor is a regular with the direct positivity of Andre Brooks. It's our very own fan favourite, Zoe Morgan. Hello, Zoe. How are you doing? Hello, Ryan. What a nice intro. I am good buzzing after a week of two wins.
Speaker: You've finally seen one as well. I've seen one, yeah. We're off the mark. We're off the mark 26-27. Only need two more wins to equal what I saw last year um and three more to go past it.
Speaker: Are you going to any of the games this week? ah No. So they're probably they're probably going to be flying. so it's all good. Well, I mean, I don't know. You weren't at Millwall and they were trash. That is true. so Perhaps it's nothing to do with me. Who knows? That's never crossed my mind before. And on the other side is our own speedboat without a driver, Dan Brigham.
Speaker: Hello, Ryan. and I now feel a bit guilty because I blanked Captain Canary on Saturday because I was under the impression that it was going to be someone else getting sweaty inside Captain Canary this weekend. So I walked past. new Normally I'd give a little wave or something, but this time I just blanked him entirely. No, no, you did the right thing. captain I was not friends with Captain Canary on Saturday, but i was for West Brom.
Speaker: Oh, West Brom, right. Yes, it was West Brom. so I don't have to feel guilty, that's good. No, no guilt at all. And if anything, I think you should just blank me as well. You know, you usually do when you're in public, so yeah. I think I've told this story before, might even have been on here, but I always feel a special connection with with Captain Canary because I have various members of my family who have ah who have been friends with Captain Canary over the years. My dad was once, which is hilarious when you get to know my dad. um And also my my grandfather was friends with Captain Canary for a long period of time. So um yeah, I've got quite a special connection with him.
Speaker: is it Is there a Captain Canary WhatsApp group then, Ryan? There is. There actually is. It's just me and the other guy who's in the suit with our with our boss, basically. So, I mean, Connor, if you want in, if you want to continue your family lineage, by all means, I'll try and get you in the suit at some point this season. Let's make it happen. that's Surely it's got to happen one day. It's destiny.
Speaker: I would love it if we could actually do that. And you know what? I'm going to try and pull some strings. I mean, it won't come to anything because I have no power whatsoever, but I will try my best anyway. ah Just a quick reminder, we are now on Patreon and Substack for all of your extra content, steering you through the 26-27 season. For just £2 a month, you can gain access to exclusive episodes of OTB and ad-free content on Patreon, and our free Substack will be regularly updated throughout the season if the written word is as much your thing as the spoken one.
Speaker: Without further ado, here is Zoe Morgan with this week's headlines.
Speaker: It's a heartwarming new special this week. Lovely sad man becomes momentarily ecstatic by scoring in his first game for 10 months.
Speaker: Turns out winning is better than losing.
Speaker: Dreadful traitor realises his dream of playing in the Premier League then falls flat on his face live on TV.
Speaker: Jack Stacey has mind blown by a backflip.
Speaker: Dreadful traitor. Now the picture you see when you look up Schadenfreude in the dictionary. Dan, I'll come to you first, please.
Speaker: ah How close has the last seven days been to a perfect week for Norwich City? Oh, goodness me. um well Well, of I'm not going to Manchester City, so take away the big old long drive that Conor and our thousands of away fans will take to the Carabao Cup. um Other than the cup draw, I think pretty much perfect. We put a sort of a second string team out.
Speaker: um against Cardiff City saw a reaction that we needed to see saw CNX come off the bench and um score a you know wonderfully taken goal so already really great news early on in the week and then dismantled one of the relegated sides on Saturday I'm not quite sure how you can get much more perfect than that really um This time last week, we were sort of sat here trying not to get too worried about things after the Millwall defeat. And it's, you know, what is it, nine seven days later after that, Millwall have been absolutely thrashed by Southampton and we've gone and thrashed Burnley as well. so And with only one team with 100% record in the championship, which we all predicted was going to be Charleston Athletic. Just goes to show that you just cannot read anything into the results in early seasons. I think the first six to seven, eight games, teams ah are getting settled. New players are coming in. Some are getting used to their new manager, et cetera. going to get funny old results, which hopefully now, i mean, I guess the week coming up will... ah tell us a bit more. We can put Millwall down as a sort of really bad day at the office and maybe hopefully look back on it as a kind of necessary bad day at the office to remind those players exactly what's needed to win football games in the Championship. I mean, um we'll go into Burnley. i don't think it was anywhere near perfect in the first half. It was very fun.
Speaker: I mean, and we were unbelievably efficient in front of goal. ah But we were also sort of worryingly open in the way that we were against Millwall in the first half. And then second half, I thought we really controlled the game. A really promising sort of 45 minutes that second half. I thought Mattson and Kenny really stepped it up, won the midfield battle. And I know this is easier said than done when you're 3-1 up, but Burnley, you know, score again. and the nerves coming. But apart from hitting the post very early on, after that, we really limited them to to zero chances. um Yeah, and that that that was the Norwich City in that second half that we came to see under Philippe Clement last season. And it it was good to see it come back, although ah wouldn't say massively dissimilar to the performance against West Brom. As Clement said afterwards as well, the only difference really was how efficient we were in front of goal. And, you know, you look at that front line,
Speaker: And you'd like to assume that we can continue to be efficient in front of gold because that's a really powerful front three and with depth to come in as well. We'll talk about the front three in a second. But before that, Zoe, what was essentially the key to the turnaround that we saw?
Speaker: um I think it's it was rediscovering that identity um that we're all a bit worried that we'd lost in the Millwall game. I think not recognising the team in front of us ah was possibly the most worrying part of of that game. um And it took about 10, 15 minutes in the Cardiff game.
Speaker: in the Cardiff game for for that to come back. But then you started to see it sort of seeping back into that team. And I thought that was doubly impressive, really, because that team, you know, certainly won't have played together as an XI previously, but they were all players that aren't necessarily first team regulars. So to have kept that identity and sort of brought that into that game, I think was was super impressive. And then, you know, that sort of explosive...
Speaker: relentless um style of play that saw us get so many good results last season was certainly back on on Saturday. And I think that kind of high energy, fast, not letting and like not letting it the team we're playing take their eye off the ball. I think that's what we're starting to recognise big Phil's Norwich side. And I think that's the delightful thing that it feels like they haven't completely lost after that one game against Millwall. They have got it. It's still there. Perhaps they did need a bit of a reminder that they need to to keep playing like that. um A bit of a kick up the bum. And...
Speaker: um And we've got some new players like Andrew Brooks, so who I'm sure will um we'll talk about later, who, you know, is buying into that as well um and is going to be a really good fit with that team. So absolutely thrilled after one week away to get our team back.
Speaker: I want to talk about the front three, Connor. And I say front three. By extension, it's essentially ah a front six plus a ah an extra striker there as well in Makama, who's obviously not back yet. And then you have three players who can play in the number 10 position. So we're looking at Masaba, who started on the left, Brooks on the right. And then you have Diallo, Cernac coming on for them. Svartal behind Torre. You can look at that as either Slomani or Magoma behind Makama or Kviskar as it stands.
Speaker: how How understated is the depth that Norwich have in that final third now? Because there's always... The solution is always to buy a new player, right? like that's That's always... Especially this time of year, everyone is looking for the next best signing. But yes, they have brought in a couple of players, but there are players there who we haven't seen a great deal of. Like Antti Sionac is now coming back from injury as well. And you look at this depth And it's so important to the way Philippe Clermont wants to play. and and And if it goes anything like it does regularly on on Saturday, then that's going to cause a lot of problems for more opposition than not, isn't it? Having that that kind of quality.
Speaker: Yeah, it is. And i think I think even broadening out from the attack, you look at the players who weren't in the in the matchday squad on on Saturday. Sam Field, who started at Millwall and probably don't need to go there in terms of of how that went. Liam Gibbs, Bruno Alves, that's before you dropped Jovan McCama back in, Paris Magoma, who's injured. So i think there is a lot more options. and And this is kind of the point that I've been making all summer, which is it's a big squad they've got. And I know that they've been quite excited about Diallo and actually feel that he's probably gone a little bit under the radar in terms of people speaking about their options in in that area when discussing kind of left wing options and all that type of thing. and And then obviously that's before they've they've dropped Masaba in, who I think epitomises probably what Philippe Clement wants in terms of wide options which is a bit more conventional I think we've had a lot of years at Norwich where it's kind of been inverted players and and kind of almost half number 10s in those wide areas but he he wants pace and power and and and kind of direct running which Masaba and Brooks bring you I mean yeah just to kind of touch on the the efficiency point and or about this this morning. um Those three, Masaba had 24 touches. Brooks only had 25. Mo Torre scored twice from, I think, 14 touches. All of them had fewer touches than Vladan Kovacevic on Saturday. So that kind of exemplifies the point. and
Speaker: probably everyone walked away from Caro thinking, blimey, how exciting was that front three? And actually they saw very little of of the ball. So, um you know, I almost think about how exciting it could be if Norwich could build a better supply line and get even better on the ball. And I'm i'm sure that will be the focus of Philippe Clement as well. So, yeah, it's options in terms of depth, but I think they've also got really nice profiles there in terms of blend because... um even someone like Matthias Griskor and it felt like a lot of last season was spent talking about whether his profile was the right fit and I think it it feels like it's almost been reshaped certainly internally to now it's a different fit and actually that's a good thing because there'll be cases where you know maybe we play a low block and Norwich needs someone who's a little bit different to kind of the the powerhouses that they have in forward areas as well. And think that's true in in other areas. You look at their number 10, I think Slimani is very effective around the box and and in the press. But and I think probably Magoma is better against a low block. Shatau probably gives you more running power than than both of those two. So even in that area, there's there's different options. um And yeah, on the right, you you mentioned Antti Sinatra there. fact I'm still intrigued to see where Philippe Clement plays him. We've seen him twice and he's played 20 minutes as a striker and 20 odd minutes on on the right as well. And just how quickly he can come back from from an ACL. There's Errol Mundo Smith still at the club. So yeah, there's there's still loads of options. And I think what that gives Norwich is something that Philippe Clement didn't have last year when he was entering games and thinking... right on 60 minutes, 70 minutes, I need to take this player off. I need to make this substitution. It's almost predetermined. And if three or your five are like that, as they were quite often last season, it doesn't give you much wriggle room to change games. I think there's a feeling this year that that depth, the quality of depth that they have as well should give them more tools in different scenarios to um to yeah break down teams or impact games in ah in a better way. And you look at the front sort four positions as ah a really good example of that, I think, across the squad.
Speaker: ah Dan, let's talk about the efficiency of of the side, because as Connor said, not many touches from those players in in the final third. And Philippe Clement did kind of compare Saturday in relation to West Brom. And you can see the the fundamental differences in those two performances. And admittedly, I do feel as poor as Burnley were and...
Speaker: they essentially played into Norwich's hands. You can only beat what's put in in front of you. And what kind of allows Norwich to be more efficient in the in those areas?
Speaker: The big thing about the way Clement plays is, I think I said this um last week in terms of trying to sort of make myself not worry too much about the Millwall performance, is that this the system is really repeatable. It's a pretty basic, quite simple system, both on the ball and off the ball as well. um And I guess if you could sum it up, it's getting the ball...
Speaker: forward as quickly as possible um without hoofing it, I think, like on the ball um and giving it to players in those positions, as Connor was just saying, that sort of can make ah a difference, can sort of really push defences back um
Speaker: a wide sort of spread of threat across that front four as well. That means that defences can't just concentrate on Motore. They can't concentrate the number 10 the players out wide.
Speaker: um And then you've got Mattson and Kenny um as the first choice sort of central midfield pair, sort of really backing that up by playing sort of high up the pitch to win the ball back quickly as well, and then sort of do something good with it. Lots of teams can, and against Millwall, every time we won the ball back and won a duel, we just gave it away again. Against Burnley, when we won the ball back, we kept the ball and created a chance as well. And what it does show, although I do think maybe this squad is probably better shaped to play on the counter, we've already shown on the Philippe Plumont that we can still break teams down um in a low block. And that's before you sort of talk about Brooks and Musaba, who will be very good in those positions as well, because they can really commit players and ah defenders. um
Speaker: But we had, what, 37% possession, I think, on Saturday, which is remarkable. um We haven't really seen Norwich team... a norage team give up possession successfully for quite a long time. I suppose Chris Euten in his first season, you could argue that. There was a bit of that under Wagner, um although i'm never sure that was a deliberate ploy a lot of the time under Wagner. But what it does show is the pragmatism of Philippe Clement is we have more than one way to win matches. We can dominate possession if we want, or we can cede possession. um
Speaker: and hit teams on the counter sort of really um really effectively. And also, efficiency only comes like when it's well-oiled, right? And it didn't feel well-oiled against Millwall. It felt well-oiled, especially second half on Saturday. And I think a lot of that is down to bringing back those partnerships on the pitch. So McConville and dar and and Cordoba at the back.
Speaker: Excellent partnership. And Kenny and Mattson in central midfield. Excellent partnership under Philippe Clement at the end of the last season. And when he said after Millwall, we'll go back to basics. I think that's what he meant. Just get those partnerships back together. What worked for us last season and then sprinkle a bit of magic in Brooks and Musaba in there as well.
Speaker: ah Zoe, it was really good to see Rory McConville back in the side and obviously Pelham Attson came back in and Jack Stacey, I thought, had a very good game as well. But there is only one person I really want to talk about right now. So you now have 30 seconds to swoon over Andre Brooks. Go.
Speaker: Oh God, how can you get through it in 30 seconds? Well, ah firstly, um enjoyed the somersault backflip situation. We're obviously never, ever going to see that again because I presume he felt the wrath of his manager after that. um We can't be doing with anyone getting injured. Perhaps that's what Jack Stacey was thinking when he was mid-tumble. You're going to get so told off. He is...
Speaker: he is So such an interesting player, you know, he's a big lad for a winger. um you know, he's bigger than he looks on the television when you see him in person, I think as well. um And his strength is going to be so important for us. And I think...
Speaker: He just puts himself in places where he can win the ball or find himself with the ball. And I think that is incredibly impressive. He is going to make things happen, i think, all season. um I really enjoyed his interview with you, Connor, after the game. He didn't seem like a chatter. Very efficient answers, those words. very efficient, no wasted words. yeah Yeah, I knew I was in trouble when I think I got four words for the first answer. Yeah. He liked the word obviously and 100%, I think. um But he seemed you know he seemed up for it, really keen. He's obviously ambitious um and, yeah, sweet lad. And I'm really excited to see where he goes this season because, um yeah, I think he'll do some special things.
Speaker: Connor, you have 30 seconds now to swoon over anyone other than Andre Brooks who had a good game on Saturday. Go. ah Yeah, I think I'd go for Ben Kruzene if I had to pick one. I think he's, I'll be honest, I said this on our podcast as well, first year i was, it's not to say I didn't rate him or anything like that. I just thought he was a bit fine, to be honest. And I think particularly in in the last six months, he's hes really, i feel, is has really developed, really kicked on. as out I've had a lot of players, I think, kind of feel like his arc has been a little bit quieter, maybe publicly than than others. but And maybe that is because of kind of the injury noise that that is around him. But even in kind of that that period before his shoulder injury, I felt we were seeing some really good, better performances. And it feels like he's kind of found gears, which I always think is a sign of a good championship
Speaker: performer um i feel like his his body, his athleticism has has improved a lot. i think his kind of attacking intelligence has improved a lot as well. as' some really good stuff on Saturday in terms of when do I support Anthony Masaba and actually when do I just leave him to it and make sure that I don't take the space that is his to run into. um And yeah, as ever with him, it's' it's about fitness, isn't it? I think from from here, because feels like we've been on a couple of these arcs before and then There's been some adversity, usually through injury, that has probably robbed him a little bit of of time in in the team. So, yeah, I think probably many, if if you go back to Tuesday, maybe felt it was a matter of time before Dahlan Yonghua came in.
Speaker: think probably Ben Krizene has got something a little bit of something to say about that because yeah I think he's been in, okay, maybe with the exception of Millwall, but who was good that day? Certainly in in the two Karo Road games, i think he's been I think he's been outstanding, to to be honest. so Yeah, I'll go with Ben Krasene and probably I'll just squeeze, I know you said 30 seconds, I'll just squeeze one in for Callum Mattson who, I thought was an absolute disaster against West Brom and was significantly better this time out. And actually you look at a lot of what Norwich did in transition and and Dan referenced it in terms of converting winning the ball into chance creation and just how effective they were at getting into the box after winning a ball and sustaining possession for five seconds, 10 seconds after it. He was so integral to that and um yeah, felt a lot more like the Palomats and that think everyone knows and loves.
Speaker: Perhaps it's just been the stress of getting through these last exams for his finance degree. And that's taken his eye off the ball a little bit. But he's got some space now to just play some football. I mean, Mill will do play a stone's throw away from the financial district in London. So he probably had a bit of stage fright there, then and there. And that might explain why he wasn't picked above all else.
Speaker: um Dan, how many more gears do Norwich have to go through if ah Saturday's performance is and it is anything to go by? I still yeah i still think um ah still think there's work to be done in the build-up. um We were open in that first half. We were ah pretty open in midfield against Cardiff at times, again, more so in the first half than the than the second half. um Whereas last season, where it felt quite sort of solid out of possession now. And we should, you know, I should caveat that by saying Burnley have some incredibly a talented attacking players. And Aaron Ramsey, you know, who we all hate, obviously, was outstanding, I thought, first half. I thought he really... caused a lot of problems. um
Speaker: But we didn't quite see individually talented players kind of shine against Philippe Plemont's side last season. um And we've seen sort of glimpses of that, or more than glimpses of that this season so far. um But I do think those two partnerships that i talked about earlier will help that. um And there's still a little conundrum about Stacey at right back, who I thought was excellent in offense, was given the runaround by Satpayev a lot, who looks very good, by the way, and probably would have given a lot of fullbacks the runaround. Although when he sort of inexplicably swapped wings, Chris Eni dealt with him pretty well, I thought. um There was one moment where Stacey...
Speaker: try He's in his own third on the right, tries to play a ball into Brooks' feet, who has three players around him. But Stacey has already made the decision that Brooks is definitely winning that ball. And he's bombed on miles past Brooks, but obviously Brooks loses it because there's three men around him. And there's a huge space behind him. And I think we've just got to accept with Stacey, you'll get that, but you'll also get, you know, a machine running up and down. um the wing all day long and you know creating chances as well. But I do think if we want a little bit more control at the back, inevitably, i think Fischer will probably slot back in at right back if he recovers you know from a pretty poor start and finds his form a little bit. but
Speaker: Talking sort of team-wide, though, I do think there's a little bit more work to be done out of possession, which can happen when you've got Brooks is new and Muzaba is new and the way the wide players operate out of possession is so integral to us you know um stifling teams. So they've they've still got plenty to learn, I think, it and we can't really, as as I said earlier, really gauge the full extent to how well we're playing until sort seven or eight games in, I think. Yeah.
Speaker: Zoe, last question of this round will go to you. ah Are we getting a bit too high on the off of the results this week or do they really have the potential to be a springboard and set a statement to the rest of the league that Norwich are now back?
Speaker: Well, we're now a place above Lincoln in the league. So, you know, it's a lot to be excited about. um i don't know. I don't. And this is probably a very on brand answer for me, but I don't see the point of not being excited about it, especially at this stage of the season. um We saw a lot of good things last year and obviously it was getting us, it was digging us out of a massive hole. Like the idea of being able to start not in a massive hole and seeing what happens is really exciting. um You know, one,
Speaker: sort of wayward result against West Brom and then a thrashing by Millwall does not make our season as the seven home defeats in a row didn't make our season last year. So um there is so much potential and so much promise and just the idea of having an exciting season.
Speaker: is a really nice nice thing to think about. um And I think what the league has told us so far in its kind of first few games is that it's very difficult to predict what's going to happen. Teams are majestic one week, get thrashed the next.
Speaker: Recently relegated teams aren't winning games. um Charlton are top of the league. All of those things are happening. um And that's what I think we all... to some extent expected or hoped for. And I think the more unpredictable it is, the more it would allow for us to stealthily be very near ah the near the top um as we start to get sort of properly stuck in. um So, yeah, I mean, let's be excited.
Speaker: We might lose the next game, who knows? But I think a sort of week of two wins, um there was a lot to a lot to smile about. I'm all for unpredictability in the championship, provided Nathan Jones doesn't win anything. So hopefully this Seems unlikely still. Well, hey, I mean, don't count your chickens, but fingers crossed.
Speaker: It's now time for Sophie Leaney's Word of the Week.
Speaker: delicious.
Speaker: Who is the worst person to deal with at the football club? Is playing at Nando's really the zestiest flavour? How many hairs do you actually have on your shins? All important questions our guest will have to answer tonight. Back for this season, it's gun to the head.
Speaker: Thanks, Ryan. So quick little recap on the rules. We give our guests an either or question and ask them which they prefer. Easy as that. ah And our guest today is obviously the wonderful Connor Southwell. And diving straight in, Connor, knee slides or backflip celebration?
Speaker: Knee slides. Every day of the week for me. Yeah. It was a really good weekend for knee slides, I would say. All of that rain everywhere. Good weather. Yeah, exactly.
Speaker: Yeah, you need you need a slick pitch for a knee slide. think anyone that wasn't knee sliding was missing a trick. I do think on the flip side, to contradict myself, is there anything more embarrassing than when a player goes to knee slide and they get stuck in the turf or too dry and they fall over and then they sort have to style it out? So think it has to be conditions. But yeah, who doesn't love a knee slide?
Speaker: have you ah Have you done a knee slide yourself while thumping a header in from a corner perhaps? No, I didn't like heading so i tried to avoid that as much as possible.
Speaker: I don't know if I ever did try a knee slide. I think I was a bit more Alan Shearer arm in the air, sort run away and be a bit embarrassed by the whole thing really if I scored rather than knee slide. But I played on some bad pitches as well, so I'd be worried about glass and dog excrement and all the rest of it. So none of those pristine pitches that you get at Cowra Road and elsewhere. sadly I think there's too much jeopardy in ah in a backflip, isn't there? Every time someone's in the in the air, I'm thinking and they're landing on their neck. Yeah, I think there's also a little bit of want as well. Even if you like the person, you sort of, you know, you sort of want them to get it wrong, I think. It's like it's like when you see someone do a wheelie.
Speaker: see skateboards to fall off Yeah, Obviously, the best acrobatic celebration was Wes's little forwards roll, which was safe. Safe, exactly, yeah. Yeah, control. It's been part of my health and safety at the club that one.
Speaker: Although, have you tried to do a forwards roll as an adult? Because they're a lot harder than they were when you were a child. i Yeah, I've tried. um To be fair, my head is massive, so it's quite an obstacle to get over that initially anyway.
Speaker: think I thought I was going to black out when I stood off ah massive up. a massive head help though with weight distribution to flip you over? It's just hard because when I curl myself into a ball, I like a Funko Pop. So it's kind of hard to get over like get over my my neck as well.
Speaker: So yeah, i i wouldn't I wouldn't recommend if you've got a massive skull like me. This does feel like maybe a Patreon bonus pod coming up. We can do live forward rolling. Live forward rolls. Excellent. Okay, so number two of four questions.
Speaker: Motore or Jovan Makama? Jovan Makama for me personally. Tell us why, Connor. ah so yeah I always feel that it's funny because whenever you go to this debate, you kind of have to go, yeah, park all the brilliant goals that he scored, which is quite a big thing to admit from this. And I admit, but I think in terms of general play and just general involvement, I think he is...
Speaker: uh joe mccarm is a more rounded player at this stage for me i think there's probably elements that motor is better at and funny enough i was speaking to uh he's a norwich fan but he works for talk sport on a on a match day uh mike sewell and he he was saying to me oh motor he compared him to andy cole a little bit and he said oh it's all instinct and you know it's almost like a classic case of of of striker that you know you almost don't want him to have to think about stuff you just want him to swing his leg and score with power, which thankfully both of his goals were on Saturday. So I think Motoy is probably more exciting in that I feel like there's a lot more growth from him. But if in the here and now, I think Joe McCormick is probably a more rounded number nine is my view. But both very good options to have.
Speaker: think we're all nodding there. I think we're all in great agreement. yeah Yeah. It'd be nice to see him back. It'll be nice to have him back. but it's And when Makama was sort of at in that stretch where he was terrorising defenders, it was you could just go on social media after a game and see opposition fans just like, who is this guy? He's incredible.
Speaker: um I think what i sorry to jump in Dan I think what I would add is it feels to me in kind of basic terms that Jovan McCarma kind of knows his body and knows how to use it and I feel like Motore almost like his legs are too quick for his mind at points which you know they're very quick legs so it's not a surprise really but once he figures that out I think yeah he'll be a striker that and maybe it could be this season that goes on and gets lots and lots of goals which would be good Just quickly on Torre as well, i I hope I'm not the only one who thought this because i've not sound like a bit of a knob, but I was genuinely surprised how well he took his second goal on Saturday because I feel like in that situation, it's so easy to just kind of thrash it at the goal from six yards out. But it looked like he had a moment where he sort of went, oh, there's there is a space there and then kind of side-footed it as opposed to laceed laced it, which I was quite impressed with. He did take his time over it. Maybe he was just shocked by Kyle Walker kneeing an assist to him. Yeah. Very kind. Quite to watch, actually, Carl Walker in in that rabble of a back four for Burnley. Yeah. Excellent. Number three, then.
Speaker: In celebration of two Belgian managers in the dugout on Saturday, Belgian waffles or Belgian beer, Connor? Listen, easy I don't drink, so it's Belgian waffles for me. So, yeah, that's that's a pretty straightforward one, I think. I mean, I do drink and it's Belgian waffles for me. How how about Ryan and Zoe? Yeah.
Speaker: Oh, yeah, it's got to be waffles, right? Got to be waffles. i can't Yeah, 12% beer is going to put me straight to sleep. So ah it's got to be the waffles.
Speaker: I'll give you a a peek behind a curtain. I don't know if it's a good curtain, but ah at Christmas time, Philippe Clement was presented with some Belgian beer ahead of a press conference to which he said, I don't really drink. So um he's clearly not that big a fan of Belgian beer. Oh, that's a shame. That's ruined my ah picture of him just settling down with a really strong beer at the end of a Saturday. What does not really drink mean when you're Belgian? think you he was more so, a bit more like so socially, I think more than I go home and I have a beer on the sofa. um Yeah.
Speaker: so Just go out and have 12 pints when I'm with my mate. He's kind of working every minute of every day. So maybe that's not particularly surprising. Sounds like a good idea to drink then.
Speaker: And finally, Connor, 63% possession or 37% possession? or thirty seven percent possession
Speaker: Yeah, I mean, it's a hard one to answer because the answer is kind of, it depends what you do with it, I guess. um I would always prefer personally to watch a team that is in control and has the ball. So I'd say 63%. But I think Norwich showed at the weekend, you can also play with 30% be very entertaining and very exciting as well. So I'm i'm not quite Russell Martin in purist levels, but that if i if I had to choose, I'd rather watch a team that i supported in control of a football match than you know with the ball, because I think that's generally better to watch.
Speaker: um But yeah, umm I'm not big either way, really. I'm not kind of pulling you all over to one camp. I'm quite happy stretching in the middle. You could persuade me probably the other way if you like. probably not very hard.
Speaker: As long as you're banging the goals in, who cares? Yeah. Yeah, whichever one's winning, that's the answer. i think my answer probably would have been different a few years ago, actually, because there was a stage where I was very much like,
Speaker: i was I was quite purist in that I like watching football where teams have the ball and they dominate and almost like a Russell Martin. But I think it's probably developed a bit over the over the years in that there are clearly lots of different ways to play football. So as as Saturday proved, I think it can be very exciting and and positive to watch your team almost control games without having the ball as well. like that That feels particularly in the year we're in probably more where we are. It feels like football works in cycles and phases without getting too deep into it. And it kind of feels like we're in a anti-possession phase at the moment. And I'm sure we'll go back into one at some stage, although probably not at Leicester City anytime soon. Has that change of opinion coincided with watching Russell Martin's teams play?
Speaker: No, i'm I'm probably a little bit of a Russ sympathizer, to be honest, more than more than some people. I think he's he's almost become like the face of it, hasn't he? like he's the He's representative of that style of football, which you think is a little bit unfair at times. and And actually, I think it's probably more like modern coaching and the way that people kind of view these you almost off-the-shelf, robotic, kind of made-in-a-lab coaches. um So, yeah, I think it's it it is ah it is an interesting one.
Speaker: um But yeah yeah, I've probably mellowed a little bit. I think it's probably just watching more football and seeing different styles and different coaches. And probably as we all get older, I think we probably all develop it. And who knows, maybe when I'm 65, it'll be four four two big strikers and just lumping the ball in the box. Maybe that's where I'll end up with it. next So to summarise then, doesn't matter what the possession is is as long as Makama scores, knee slides in his celebration and then eats a Belgian waffle at the end of the ah end of the day. Hang on, hang on.
Speaker: Another doubleheader, this time filled with red and white stripes for Norwich City. A trip to the Potteries and Stoke on Tuesday is followed by a short haul to the Steel City and a visit to Andre Brooks' former side, Sheffield United. At the time of recording, the City have as many points as both sides combined and more wins than the pair put together too, although of course it is still early days. Oh, and there's the matter of the transfer deadline too.
Speaker: ah Zoe, how different does this week look after the one that has just transpired? ah ha In many ways, it's a bit easier than it might have been given given what's just happened. But when you look at it from the other side,
Speaker: the pressure goes up, right? Because we all suddenly believe again after that one one day of not believing. um So, you know, if we if we want to be a serious team and you know in contention with this league, you've got to be looking at these games as we need point to get points out of them. We probably want to win one of them at least. um Certainly try not to lose either of them. um Stoke are in a bit of bother. um Not really, don't really seem to be going anywhere once again. um The manager's under pressure, um which could play into our hands.
Speaker: Also, along come Norwich, so ah you never know there. um And it's always a bit of a humdigger with Sheffield United as well um in terms of ah the attitudes around that. So i think it's going to be a really tricky week.
Speaker: As we saw last season, we often played some of our best football away from home. So I'm not so worried about it in terms of it feeling like they're sort of going off and and we've got no control over it. um I think it will be tough, but a good test for everyone. So yeah, it feels like it would be nice to continue like to try and build a little bit of momentum after that that really positive week we've just had.
Speaker: Is it too early to use the phrase banana skin, Dan? It's never too early to use that phrase. um No, and probably a bit unfair on Stoke, probably, I suppose. I know they've lost every game so far, but they've been at Wolves and Southampton.
Speaker: um Tricky home game against Swansea as well, who started the season really well. um so But i do expect us to i mean We've always done pretty well against Mark Robbins' sides, haven't we? um ah And I expect expect us to sort of be the sort of team that when you come up against a side under pressure, we really kind of ah bury home that pressure for them um as well.
Speaker: It'd be interesting, and I'm sure we'll probably get onto this, but interesting see if we make any changes for that. um Also interesting to see if Sorba Thomas is still at Stoke come Tuesday as well, because I know he's been sort of linked linked away. um Yeah, there's one team going in it with a lot of Pressure in that Stoke City, I think, which is very different to how Friday was when we were the sort team go coming in with pressure.
Speaker: um But you'd only have to look again at us thrashing Burnley after losing to Millwall and Millwall getting thrashed, that we're at the stage of the season where really anything can happen. and But what I would like to see against Stoke City is us to gently step over that banana skin. um play very pragmatically and come away with and a nice comfortable win.
Speaker: ah ah What can we expect from the opposition this week, Conor? Because obviously one in Stoke is desperate for a result, any form of result really. And Sheffield United haven't won a league game yet, perhaps unfortunately so.
Speaker: Yeah, I think it's going to be tough um in that, you know, I think it's easy at this stage to kind of look at results and and see that, you know, both teams haven't won and maybe assume a game is going to be easier. I don't necessarily think that's that's the case. I think Stoke is is generally...
Speaker: a tough place and and there's a whole question around that, right, that is is in football as to as to maybe how tough it is. Mark Robbins' teams generally, I don't think this has necessarily been the case at Stoke, but historically ah are always pretty competitive and and Dan said there is record. It's ah it's one win in 13 and that one win came in their last meeting in in January. So, he hasn't had the best record against Norwich, but I still think he's a coach that will probably set his team up to be pretty open. and I think you look at the stats at Wolves actually and the touches they had in in positive areas and the chances they had as well were were still pretty strong, even though they lost that game pretty comprehensively. So I actually think it could be ah a relatively similar game to the last two where Norwich maybe concede a bit of the ball and look to exploit the the space
Speaker: And then Saturday, I think, will probably be a bit different again. I think Norwich maybe will have a bit more of a share of the ball. um If you look at the way that Sheffield United have set up this season so far, it's been about being solid and pragmatic. And obviously, there's a host of issues there in terms of their ownership and just the general vibe around the club. So, I think if Norwich, and in particular Andre Brooks, could... get on the score sheet, I think that could turn pretty quickly. So i think there's opportunity in both games. I think they're both different games. And think that probably leans in slightly to what Dan was speaking about earlier and that Philippe Clement has built a team so far that is pretty adept and pretty willing and pretty happy to do both sides of the game. It's happy to be a 35% possession team that sits and waits and springs and and transitions and
Speaker: even when it has lots of the ball, you look at the moments where it looks more dangerous and it's almost when they create those transitions themselves. I've probably, I know you speaking about optimism earlier and and so I listened to the pod regularly, so I know Zoe is ever the optimist, which is brilliant and you have to be that way. i um' not Not that I have any great concern, but I think there's there's a few red flags for me in terms of defensively. And I know Dan spoke about that earlier, but also Saturday, i thought their press was all over the place, particularly in the first half. and you know players jumping and the structure not being quite right. and
Speaker: i've I've almost felt less so on Saturday, but certainly around the first two games, to me, it feels like there's been a little bit of overthinking from a coaching perspective in terms of some of the choices that are being made and just just sort of slight tweaks around the edges. They seem to be playing now with this super high line all of a sudden, which is a little bit bizarre to me when those ah you know they've built really solid foundations. and it almost feels to me like...
Speaker: There's maybe been a little bit of an overthink that teams are going to sort of cotton on and adapt to how they were playing last year and almost try and get ahead of that. And I think that's contributed to maybe some of the issues from a defensive perspective and just them looking a bit ragged and a bit open that we've seen so far. So I hope now for just a bit of continuity over this week, which is always difficult in a two game championship week.
Speaker: two different opportunities. And i actually think that they're probably two opportunities that will tell us a lot more about where this team is, because if they can go and let's say maybe not ah a winning week, that would be lovely. But if it's an unbeaten week, I think that would give us an indication that actually this Norris team is one that is going to be towards the right end of the division. If you lose them both, then Yeah, suddenly we're we're in a world where things look a bit different. um So yeah, my my my general message is I'm actually going to start on a petition. So it'd be great to have your guys support in this. I don't think the table should exist before five games. I don't look at them no don't know where Norwich are currently.
Speaker: What's the point? People are in the bottom three, but you've played two games. and It's just nonsense. So um I just don't even look at them. So I couldn't even tell you where these teams were in the table, than probably the starts they've had. So yeah, I think different challenges, exciting challenges, and i think opportunities for Norwich. And think they've got potential to do quite well in both games if they kind of play out in the way that that I expect them to.
Speaker: Is it right that in the olden days, they didn't publish a league table until after? Was it five games? I think it might even have been 10. 10 does ring a bell in my head as well, but not sure. You start when you watch on TV and I've got the Arsenal game on front of me and they flash league tables up and it's like, what does any of it mean? It's complete nonsense. But anyway, that's just a personal rant of mine, but there you That can be ah your um Brad Hills to die on, which we have changed the name of and will hopefully ah be be able to show our listeners later in the season.
Speaker: ah Zoe, so we've got Stoke on Tuesday, Sheffield United on Saturday, and then it's midweek next week as well. So the games are coming thick and fast. How many ah how many changes do you expect to see ah tomorrow against Stoke at the time of recording and on Saturday against Sheffield United as well?
Speaker: Yeah, it's a really good question. um Obviously, we're sort of playing with with a few people coming back from injury, so they're having a bit more of a managed return. So we're not, I guess, at full complement in terms of what what we can choose from.
Speaker: But i you're right, there's a lot of games coming up um before the first international break, and it it feels like The more players we can get used to playing within the system um and playing and starting games, like the better. um Because the last thing you want to do is sort of have the same starting 11 until like somehow they don't get injured until February when they all start dropping like flies. And then suddenly we've got all these players that haven't really started any games. so
Speaker: There's a few people that you just don't change, I don't i don't think. I think it's Kenny and Mattson in midfield. I think we've already made that mistake once. um And I would agree that that that Cordoba and McConville combination is our best one. um But yeah, we've we've got a few people that could come in. i i agree with Conor. I think Diallo's looking...
Speaker: quite exciting when he's been coming on. I'd be quite interested to see if sort of what he could do from the start. um I would imagine that Brooks will brooks will keep playing ah quite a lot and probably Musaba as well. But um I think once Magoma's fit, I think that sort of rotation of the number 10s will be really key um to keep them fresh and lively and a bit of an unknown quantity, I think, for teams as well, um a little bit. I think the magic of Slimani and Magoma especially, um you know, you don't want people working them out um as quickly as as maybe they would do if they were playing every week. So, yeah, I would i would encourage some some light rotation, ah but nothing too serious.
Speaker: I think oh without Diallo or Ciena, I guess, probably aren't ready to start yet. ah Maybe Diallo's getting closer to it, but um that probably leaves you with Schwartau, Brooks and Musaba to two of those to rotate in the wide areas over the next three games, I imagine.
Speaker: um As much as it it was great to see Schwartau in... The number 10, I just don't think you can have Brooks and Musaba starting the next three games while we're waiting for Diallo and Sienac to come up speed. So I imagine Schwartel will probably fill in at some point there just to give one of those two wide players a bit of a break. And then obviously you've got Slimani and Azoua and Magoma hopefully coming back as well to fill in it at number 10. And I imagine like the fullbacks, there might be a little bit of rotation there as well.
Speaker: Yeah. We've not mentioned ah really Adalan Yongwa's performance against Cardiff, and which I thought was really good for for a debut. And we've talked a lot about footballers that don't look like footballers on this podcast before.
Speaker: I would say Yongwa looks exactly like a footballer. He's got the run of a footballer. He's got that kind of... Yeah, strut of a footballer. um So I'm very excited to see see how he gets on. As good as Kraseni has been so far this season, absolutely nothing against him. i think we have got we've got some potential there and and good to have the competition.
Speaker: Absolutely. Absolutely. um Well, Dalai Nongwa is one of many incomings that have happened this summer for Norwich City, and we are very close to the transfer deadline. Now, in Philippe Clomant's press conference this morning, he said that Motore is going absolutely nowhere after being touted with Transponspor for however you say that. I'm very, very sorry. I moved to Turkey. There we go. um ah Constantly through this window. Connor, we just want the window to slam shut now, don't we?
Speaker: That's my permanent status, really. Yeah, it' would be nice to to get some sleep and stuff again, which is good. Although maybe less so this summer, to be fair, it's been a bit quieter. But yeah, I think so. Everyone does at this stage, coaches, players, fans probably as as well. Just that that clarity that it brings everyone. And it just feels like everything settles down, doesn't it? Once that that window is is shut and everyone kind of knows where they are. so Yeah, I think Norwich have gone for a certain strategy. Obviously, time will tell whether it pays off, but they have they set a pretty clear direction at the start of the window that it was going to be about continuity. i think that was probably wise after what's been like two summers of just a revolving door, really, where it was, I think I counted earlier this summer, it was about 30 players in and 35 out of the last four or five windows or so. so
Speaker: You can't keep doing that even financially being ah ah in in the championship for the fifth year. or So there's new financial rules to overlay into that as well. That makes things a bit more complicated. But I think generally that continuity has been by design and not because they've been forced into it. So, um yeah, I think that that that I get the sense they're pretty pleased with what they've done. Obviously, a couple maybe to to shift before the deadline, which I think they will. um And yeah, barring any unforeseen events as we sit here 24 hours out, I don't really see anything from an incoming perspective. And obviously it's complicated a bit by that game at Stoke as well. So hopefully we'll we'll have a good idea of where everything is is kind of sitting by then. So yeah, I think that that continuity has been a good thing. It maybe hasn't translated into quite the start they wanted, but there's still time to make that up. um
Speaker: And yeah, I think it's, it's yeah as you say now about... Maybe the the window, not quite slamming shut, but maybe a gust of wind just pushing it gently onto the latch for everyone concerned at Bury City. and I think they'll ah they'll all be pretty pleased with that that's the case.
Speaker: Go on, Dan. How many points from this week?
Speaker: Four, I'd be very happy with four, I think. I think at this stage of the season, good performances, don't get beat, um and hopefully turn those not getting beat into into winning. But yeah, just the three games on the bounce without defeat would be nice at this stage of the season.
Speaker: Zoe? I would take four, but obviously I think we're going to get six. Connor? Connor? Yeah, four is is kind of my par, I think. it would if if that If they want to achieve what they want to achieve this year, going to really tough places and getting results is going to be key. So yeah, winning the draw from these two, and I think that would be a very, very successful week indeed.
Speaker: Agreed. Agreed with all three of you. That leads us on to Kenny, other business. It was a mixed bag for Norris City women this week. A 2-1 win over Cambridge United in the National League Cup group stage in midweek was followed up by a 1-0 defeat at Rugby Borough on Sunday in the Northern Premier Division. And I've also put, can we laugh at Nunez? Ha ha ha ha?
Speaker: So can we laugh at Nunez? Are we allowed to do that? I certainly did lots of that yesterday when it happened. Watching it again and again and again. Every angle that I could possibly get my hand on. Yeah.
Speaker: Excellent. Imagine your whole dream being to play in the Premier League and in game two, you you do that. And I think now they've signed who they've signed, you're probably not going to get much for a look in from here on in. So, yeah, I mean, it's ah yeah such a shame, isn't it?
Speaker: Such a shame. Such a shame. it but Sorry, Ryan, go on. no i was gonna say it was the knee slide after fernandez scored for me that that really puts the icing on the cake have you uh not that i condone this but have you seen the video him leaving old trafford and just basically being laughed at which was uh no that sounds like a shame so i wouldn't write oh it's clearly a horrible watch you know for anyone of but yeah green yeah what ah I've not yet seen a yeah replay of it from the sort the alternative angle. So i can't I've not yet seen the anguish on his face when he slips. i really want to see that. So if anyone has got that, can you please tweet it to us? what What kind of got me watching the highlights was Peter Drury going, poor Marcelino Nunez. I was like, not poor him, he's a wanker. Yeah.
Speaker: Come on, do your research, Peter. Yeah, come on, Peter.
Speaker: not an EFL man, Peter, is he? No, clearly not, clearly not. He's too big time for that now. Anything else for Kenny Other Business? ah I was going to say, we've only mentioned it briefly, so it would be nice to just take a moment for Antti Sinat and his ah his goal. Shame it was in a bizarrely empty stadium. ah It felt like it was back to COVID times again. um But um just lovely. like He didn't know what to do with himself. Just sort of kept punching the air. um it was It was really nice.
Speaker: It was the shot of the sign line for me where every single person in the dugout is just stood up like all like making their way down the touchline. Yeah, lovely. obviously i'm not not as sweet I mean, on that front, a bit less high profile, but nicely gave Forsyth back for the 21s as well. It's been ah a really, really rough road for me. I mean, i was i was at it was at Cardiff actually that day where he was on the end of a tackle that basically was inflicted after the referee had blown his whistle, which was ah but essentially a two-footer that there was no punishment for. And I know a bit about the the ordeal that he's had over the last two and a bit years. So to get back on the pitch is a yeah a really big moment for him. and Hopefully his trajectory now continues to go upwards and he gets back in around the first team picture or out on loan somewhere else. That would be ah that would be lovely.
Speaker: It does feel apt because we spoke about Nunez earlier in this segment, but I would not wish two-year injury, essentially, on even on my worst enemy. like That is absolutely awful. So well done, Gabe, ah for your minutes for the 21s, and hopefully we'll see you back in and around the first team soon.
Speaker: Anything else, guys? Just one one bit on Big Phil's outfits so far this season. we've seen We've seen the cream chinos. We've seen the weird Norwich City polo shirt ah tucked into quite tight jeans. He had a different outfit on again this Saturday. um We had coat done up, coat unzipped, coat off as well. I wonder whether he's... Yeah, baseball cap back. wonder if he's been playing around with ah his outfits like he plays he's been playing around with the team to try and get the perfect blend. Will we just see this, this is it now for the rest of the season until the sun comes out again? Or will we see a different outfit every week, do we think? I would love to see a graph kind of correlating how well Norwich play when Philippe Clermont doesn't look like a divorcee going to Cuba revolution.
Speaker: Like when he is dressed somewhat like a football manager, I think that's when they do much better rather than him going to like down two Mai Tais or something like that later on in the night. It's one for Steve's spreadsheet, that, isn't it? If he can squeeze it on. Yeah. XC, expected cocktails.
Speaker: Well, that's all for tonight's OTBA Norwich City podcast. A big thank you to Connor Southwell. Thank you, guys. Always a pleasure. Zoe Morgan. Thanks, Ryan. And Dan Brigham. Thanks, Ryan. Thanks all.
Speaker: If you have enjoyed this week's episode, please leave us a rating on your podcast player of choice and follow us on Instagram and Twitter. I will never call it X. We're on there as at OTB underscore pod underscore NCFC. We're on Patreon and Substack too as OTB, a Norwich City podcast.
Speaker: Until the next one, never mind the danger.
Speaker: you
