Transcript
Speaker: Hello and welcome to OTBA Norwich City podcast. The Norwich City show that knows if it keeps doing podcasts how it has been, it'll be absolutely fine. I'm Ryan Livermore and on the show tonight, City make a fist of it against West Brom, but ultimately the visitors punch above their weight as they're handed three points on the opening day. The first game curse goes on.
Speaker: Plus, all we hear is Tony Musaba. There's a stat attack. And Sophie Leaney is back with her one word of the week too. Second week, same panel. Our first guest will be pleased to hear that after Saturday, there are still 135 points to play for and at least 225 goals. It's Zoe Morgan. Zoe, has Saturday done anything to dampen your optimism?
Speaker: Oh, no. and And you can't win the league on the first game. So it's almost better that we didn't win on on Saturday because all the good stuff is still to come. I agree. You lull the rest of the division into a false sense of security and then absolutely rip it up from there on in. Well, that's what we did last year. so we're just going to do that a bit earlier this year. Exactly. We'd lulled them in for four whole months as well.
Speaker: A lot of lulling. The next has spent the majority of his week loitering around stables and racetracks, angrily seeking approval on what it means to be a dark horse. Never mind the naysayers. It's Dan Brigham. Daniel, are you still as passionate about ah what it means to be a dark horse this week as you were a week ago?
Speaker: I mean, you say passionate, i I would say correct, I think. and Which is exactly what someone who's very passionate would say. The moral support I've received for getting a dark horse correct has been overwhelming, and I have to thank everyone for that.
Speaker: Who has given you this support, sorry? At least two or three people ahead of kickoff last Saturday. Oh, people their favourite bit of the podcast was us having an argument about dark horses, apparently. Doesn't mean they think Dan was right about it. I mean, they definitely used the word right in there.
Speaker: And that in relation to Steve, used the word wrong as well. So I'm taking that as a victory, not not just a moral victory. I was going to say, were they horses? but Well, they would know what they're talking about. Yeah, true.
Speaker: And our final panelist is our statistical Snow White, mathematical Mickey Mouse, numerical Nick Wilde, and calculative Quasimodo. It's Steve Sanders. Hello, Steve. So here's the thing.
Speaker: a lovely listener of the podcast accosted accosted me. That's a harsh word straight away. At halftime came up to me and said, oh, I liked the sausage bit. And I was like, oh, good. What shall I do it on next week? And he said, I'm going to Disney. So do it on Disney.
Speaker: And there is your intro. Yes. Oh, no. Doing requests. I know. itd as well It was you in the suit because I think going up to someone and saying I liked the sausage bit with no context would have been slightly on focus. Question, who is Nick Wilde? Yeah, good question.
Speaker: I just Googled him and nothing came up. You guys haven't seen Zootopia? Oh, I think I have seen Zootopia. No, 41.
Speaker: don't be a dick about it mate yeah it's uh it's uh yeah Zootopia Zootopia 2 he's the fox voiced by Jason Bateman Jason Bateman looks like a fox as well that's quite good casting he does in the animalistic way not in a uh sexy old man way bit of both I guess bit of both hey we've moved on to sexy men again in the intro it keeps happening case shall we kick off with this week's headlines
Speaker: podcasters start the season as they mean to go on by leaving the pub too late and having to leg it down the south stand concourse to make it to their seats on time
Speaker: Norwich fans surprised to learn that referees being more lenient this season includes ignoring flagrant hand balls.
Speaker: New PA system already a bit broken.
Speaker: Hull City reportedly interested in buying motore. This podcast would like to state on record that Hull can jog on.
Speaker: Philippe Clement, the Championship's biggest advocate of VAR, also advocate for using your blooming eyes for God's sake.
Speaker: Before we talk about the obvious, Dan, I want to talk about the performance. Ultimately, Norwich did lose and arguably they didn't do enough in the grand scheme of things to win. But how much of the performance gave you encouragement that should they play like that more often than not this season, they will be in promotion contention?
Speaker: Yeah, exactly that. I thought ah most weekends play like that, repeat exactly what happened. we win that We win that game pretty comfortably in the end, sort of go to at you know a couple of goals up. um I thought first half, it was a little bit rusty. Second half, I thought it sort of clicked into gear. We moved the ball really well in the Final third, um some really good combination plays, created enough chances to be pretty far ahead, kept West Brom at arm's length pretty easily. um And it just looked like a really efficient performance, ah particularly, you know, and it felt like we're actually going to go and get three points for the for the first time in a long time at home at the start of the season. But, you know, if I guess the moral of the story is if you don't take your chances, then championship referees will punish you. And especially Tim Robinson, he'll punish you big time. Um,
Speaker: it Yeah, it's hard it is hard, obviously, to go in too hard on the on the referee and the linesman, despite it being a pretty catastrophic error when we've probably created four or five chances in that game, which we should put away. So you're being pragmatic and sensible about it, you've only got yourself to blame. If you've been a bit angry and passionate about it, and quite rightly, we can blame the ref as well. So in terms of losing your first game, it's the best of both worlds, really. We played well and we can blame the ref.
Speaker: Zoe, how much did it mirror games like Birmingham at home last year and arguably Stoke and Watford too, which were all games that fundamentally created a springboard for Norwich to bounce back? And and it's it's a cliche, but they ultimately learned more from that, I'd argue, than in in the games that they won for the most part.
Speaker: Yeah, absolutely. And that was a real, um i guess, ah calling card for the team last year. at Once they got going under Clement was that every time they did have a disappointing result, it seemed that they'd they bounce back very quickly from it, um which um was a really positive thing. i don't think it's the worst thing in the world to have had a bit of disappointment this early on in the season because it can only make you better. it I think we are going into this season in a little bit of a different position. um You might call us dark horses. You might call us among the favorites, depending on your definition. um So, you know, a lot of last season was about us turning around a really desperate situation. Whereas this one we've wiped the slate clean. We're in a really good position. we would have been favorites on Saturday. We'll be favorites a lot of weeks, hopefully. um
Speaker: So yeah, it's, it's not the worst thing for them to understand. Like, think about why they didn't win that game, not just because of the referee, but about taking their chances. um And then looking at all the positive things that they did and and trying to do more of that. Because, yeah, I think we sort of turned it on. Yeah.
Speaker: I guess sporadically throughout the game, as Dan said, probably in the second half, it was a bit more consistent. But when we get going, we do look really good and really impressive. um And that's what we want to see more of because we will win more games than we lose if we play like that.
Speaker: ah Football fans are obviously very emotional, Steve, and that is part of the reason why football is the spectacle that it is. And there has been a lot of backlash about the officiating, which we will come on to very shortly. But I've seen ah a small amount of of loud fans pointing figure fingers at Philippe Clement and Harry Darling and and I'd say Kellan Fisher most of all. And yes, it is part and parcel of the game, but... How important is perspective and and understanding that there are going to be moments in this division that do frustrate you and don't go your way. But that reaction is fundamentally more important than the the outcome of of the of the game.
Speaker: yeah I mean i don ah don't think we need to even entertain any Philippe Clermont criticism or really of any of the individuals. i mean yeah the The second goal, we didn't cover ourselves in glory particularly, but i mean it's but we are going to concede goals this season. That's just a fact. and we'll We can come on to the Darling-McConville debate if we want to, but as as the other guys have said, not a whole lot wrong with that performance. You you would say that you want to come out on the wrong side. You want to come out on the right side of these results. I thought West Brom were pretty decent, better than I expected them to be. You know, they were tidy. They were quite compact, but we still managed to create quite a lot of chances.
Speaker: I've watched the highlights back and i'd forgotten just how much we created. Maybe not anything sort of other than Fisher's header, nothing really clear cut, but we did have a few opportunities that we didn't take. Our XG was three and we scored once. um And,
Speaker: To be honest, that the the most obvious comparison to my mind comes from last season when we finished up with an exact with with exactly the same scoreline. But the way that we went about the game and the performance as a whole was, I thought, chalk and cheese really. like we It was 20 shots to eight in our favour, 15 each in the Millwall game.
Speaker: This time last season, they all had 14 shots in the second half. So they really came on strong and we completely faded. And the goal that we scored was um off a man's arse. Whereas in this on this occasion, it was kind of we we created it and we made something of it.
Speaker: So, yeah, I mean, ah definitely like something to learn from from this. But as the other guys have said, it's... you would rather have that at this stage. And just a quick one, like i don't want to go early on the stat attack, but um we have been promoted six times in the last, what, 20, 25 years. And only once on those six occasions did we win our first game. So early days, guys. In fact, like I said, I said it last week, pointless. This game is pointless. don't You can stop listening now. Everything's irrelevant. Come back at Christmas, maybe. Yeah. okay
Speaker: Okay, just just for the record, do not listen to Steve and Dan. Please keep listening. um It's a weird one, isn't it? Because a lot of people have said fundamentally that I think Norwich didn't quite do enough in terms of the chances created. And I think that kind of comes down to that it didn't feel like anyone necessarily missed a sitter per se. like I feel like the... If Mohamed Torre has the same chance that Kellen Fisher does and the keeper saves it, then you could look at it as more of ah ah a clear-cut thing. But I think people forget as well that Andre Brooks had a chance in the second half and Nat Phillips puts in like a ridiculous block with almost like almost with his jaw. And that it's that kind of defending where you go, you cannot countenance for that. That is just undoubtedly like fantastic defending and so to counterbalance what was a good move. So I don't think...
Speaker: you can really say that Norwich in the end didn't deserve to win the game because there was something that did prevent that. And Dan, I i say football fans are emotional and I'm going to firmly steer into this.
Speaker: Is that the worst refereeing decision you've seen at Carrow Road? I mean, no, ah don't think so. i think the worst refereeing decision was when, i can't remember who was against now, Josh Sargent was cleaned through and was ah wiped out, sort of legs taken from him and nothing was given. It was just allowed to play on. I think that was probably worse. And I'm loathe to be...
Speaker: ah ah too sort of you know nice about Tim Robinson because I do think he is the worst premieer at worst championship referee despite being a sort of permanent fixture in the Premier League. But from his angle, you can see why he might have missed it. But from the Linos' angle, he sort of was right in line with it. So no idea how he missed it at all. But yeah, just you mentioning there sort of the chances that the blocks that were made, et cetera. Also, think Kenny's chance, by the way, in the first few minutes is an unbelievably good chance as well. Got a good apology as well. three Three and a half minutes in from Kenny. I thought Kenny was excellent. I thought he was ah the best player on the on the pitch, but he needs to bury that. It reminded me a little bit, not quite to the same sort of ferocious extent of Norwich under Manning at Coventry last season. and If I was a West Brom fan, I'd be seen looking at that game thinking how how on earth we've got away with that. um we didn't create as many clear-cut chances as uh Coventry did that day but there was a lot of sort of throwing them ways their bodies in the line the keeper made some a couple of excellent saves we spurned a lot of chances as well at did as did Coventry that season uh that game um and I sort of what was encouraging about it for me actually is that there were
Speaker: ah elements last season that maybe we struggled a bit against teams that sort of sat deep and with a bit of a low block but I don't think we struggled with that um on Saturday because you look at the sort of way we got in behind and the chances that we did create within the box um I feel like that's a good performance against a team that wanted to sit tight and hit us on on the break and we created more than enough chances to have won that and I thought Magoma who I think is a bit wasted on the left and maybe hasn't quite got the sort of off the ball abilities you want us in your left winger but I thought second half he sort of came alive and took it upon himself to drive at that um West Brom backline and sort of create chances for from nothing which was really positive to see
Speaker: Yeah, absolutely. kind We'll talk about where Magoma fits in with this side very, very shortly um amid all of the transfer speculation going on. But I'm going to lower the tone again, Zoe, and go back to the refereeing display.
Speaker: can we Can we... afford to complain too much, not least because two years ago we had the decision at Derby where the ball was basically in the front row of the stadium but when Josh Sargent squared it in. And then Jovan McCarma last season as well has a ah goal against Southampton stand when arguably had VAR, I know we don't like to say it on this podcast, but had VAR been a part of that game that would have more than likely disallowed it as well, is this one of those things that's going to happen across the season or is it just so explicitly
Speaker: bad that you can't really see how you're going to recover or even out ah towards the end of the season? um I mean, it was it was a really bad decision um and so frustrating. And I think that's...
Speaker: I think time was passing in the game on Saturday and I think it was starting to feel like, oh God, they're going to score a goal, aren't they? Because like we had all the possession, everything was going our way. We were sort building up ahead of steam. It's like, ah but we couldn't score. So it felt like they were bound to score at some point. um And so it's frustrating when that that comes from something that wasn't necessarily our fault um and and could have been rectified. I do think, as as Steve has said, basically it's a good thing we didn't win on Saturday because of now we are going to win the league. So maybe the ref did us a favour. These things do so balance themselves out, but it doesn't mean they're any less frustrating um when they happen to you, um especially when it's the first game of the season. The ref was annoying throughout. you know he was...
Speaker: He was being really fussy about things that didn't need fussiness. He was starting his countdowns for things like at really arbitrary times. um It was all just a bit fussy and then he goes and make, they go and make that big mistake. um So sort of, yeah, the emotional side of it is like outrage. um How could this happen to us? Everything's very unfair.
Speaker: that's the That's the deal with refs, I guess, and that, you know, it is about human error. And those of us that are against VAR have to take that, right? Like we have to take those bad decisions sometimes because that's what we're advocating for. um But yeah, also what maybe too, too many mentions of Josh Sargent so far in this podcast. and Can I put a kibosh on that? Yeah.
Speaker: On the countdown thing, there was definitely one moment where the ref did a classic parenting thing of five, four, three, two, two again, one. Okay, you're fine. He was doing it with his hand from 60 yards away. It's good luck seeing that. It was bumpy fingers as well.
Speaker: yeah Very stumpy fingers. it was very difficult to see what he was doing. Place for the defence. I couldn't see his fingers, your honour, because they were too stumpy. With with with the new throw-in rule as well, it seems to be that they do the countdown for that from the position where they want the player to take the throw-in. So if you're trying to shithouse your way through the game, you can just step 10 yards forward and go, what? ah but Back there?
Speaker: what Here? Here? No, oh but i'll up it back there? here, sorry, yeah. Five, four, three. It feels like the referees aren't quite equipped to stomp it down yet.
Speaker: Or you just don't pick up the ball. So you just sort of dribble it around a bit and wait wait around um until such time as you're ready to to pick the ball up, which seems to be another thing. Of course, players will work out how to how to sort of try and get around it. i actually thought it helped us trying to take our throw-ins a bit quicker. on like ah we We didn't prevaricate at all, um and I quite liked that. um So I hope that stays rather than just us finding ways to worm ourselves around it I love that we've spoken as much about the six-second rule as we have about the handball. That feels apt, I think. I do genuinely want people to listen to this, and I'm not going say it's like two answers in a row, but I feel like if you want us to come and say that that was an absolute bloody outrage and the officials are a disgrace and we should have three points, it's probably not the right podcast for you. To me, my reaction is like... I hope this isn't an accelerant for VAR coming to the championship. Because actually, I kind of disagree with Big Phil. He's right. The official should see that handball. It's a bad mistake, obviously. But I think it is the kind of thing where obviously VAR would disallow that goal. And it's like, is that what you want in the championship? Yeah. I don't know if we would all agree on this, but I would say, no, still take it away. Don't need it. I mean, I don't know anybody watched the Wolves game the night before where the penalty was, there was a handball, which was basically borderline in the penalty area. Yeah. Five minutes. I guarantee that would have been minutes. Yeah. Oh, 100%. Replays, replays, replays. When you just, it's a 50-50 call, give the penalty or don't give the penalty. That's all you need to do. And, uh,
Speaker: I do think, you know yes, it would have got to the right call, but who said decisions even themselves out of the course? I feel like somebody's used that cliche on this podcast already. but you know yeah they do there's no There's no conspiracy against Norwich City. We got the one, as you said, last season against Southampton, um which was not dissimilar. so you know it's It's annoying. We probably did lose a point at least out of it, but move on and win the next one.
Speaker: Yeah, it's just them be the breaks, don't they? Simple as that. ah Steve, we're going to move on to you and Stash Attack. The numbers are coming, so you better hold your back and get ready for the stat attack.
Speaker: So good. So good. Can't guarantee this one will be as good as last week, because last week was a banger. I think we all agree on that. um Partly because we lost, and that's never fun, and also because I didn't realise I was doing this feature until full halfway through the day when we like, have you got one? um But never want to let our listeners down. So um got a few on the game.
Speaker: um We have played... this This is, by the way, the kind of... um stat that could never be posted on ah social media because ah I'll get the, you know, do want some fries with that salt or something like that? We've had two home games in the last two seasons against West Brom in the league. um Shots...
Speaker: 36 and 12 on target. And shots for West Brom, 13, five on target. We've lost both of those matches. Wow. That is a great stat. And with an XG of 4.62 and we've scored one goal. So... flipping heck but then the year before when a striker who I think I'm probably not allowed to name at this point on the podcast called the winner we were hopeless yeah and somehow came away with a 1-0 win in the home game against West Brom so maybe these things do even themselves out on a similar note I did tweet this one Callum Fisher has no goals from 55 shots for Norwich City Motore who is to be fair probably better at finishing 11 goals from 29 shots for I saw Fisher score a goal in the training video the club put out. So he's got it in him.
Speaker: It was quite a nice little finish as well, tucked under the keeper. They put it out since Saturday. No, no, no. Prior to that game. Seems like red rag to a ball. Look what you're missing out on.
Speaker: This is what he can do, guys. Promise. on my Promise. Question, will he score for us? Yes, no this season. Do we think he'll score for us this season?
Speaker: ah He gets into so many good positions that just the law of averages, which I'm i'm sure you're a big fan of, Steve, that particular law. ah He's got to score. I mean, you cannot say he doesn't get into unbelievably good ah positions. He's got such a good instinct for it. He's just got no natural ability for finishing, it seems.
Speaker: I feel like if he is going to score, it'll be like, do you guys remember when Chelsea won the league under Mourinho and Claude McAlele had not scored the whole season? So the last game, they gave him a penalty against Charlton. And I think the keeper saved it and he almost missed missed the rebound as well. And everyone was like, that's why you're a holding midfielder. I think we're going to get that this year. Like, i forgive me, I forget who we've got at home on our last home fixture, but i feel like we'll get a penalty, Blackburn. We'll get a penalty. Promoted, you mean? Yeah, exactly. So um like it's the lap of honour, the trophy lift, whatever it is, the second place shield thing, whatever, whatever. And Kellen Fisher will take a penalty and score the rebound from the penalty, which is inevitably saved. That is the only way he's scoring this year. Nice that someone listened to my predictions then.
Speaker: what Which prediction was that? Oh, though that's a nice that someone read it because exactly what I wrote in there. LAUGHTER
Speaker: What a job listening to them, as you said first. Although he actually hits the he hits the big screen and that's what topples it over. oh at all That is true. I think that Ryan was deliberately referencing it as a plug for people to go and read it. So um yeah, well done, Ryan. You're welcome. It's big of you. um Yes, a niche one next slightly. The first headed...
Speaker: Norwich City goal on the opening league game of the season from Chris Gordon since the fox in the box, the wolf in the... Can't think of a rhyme. It was Wolfie, yeah, against Everton on the 17th of August 2013. Number one on that day in the UK Trust. We don't stop by anyone.
Speaker: No i idea. Not a Scooby. It passed my generation. How's that? ah Miley Cyrus. Thank you, God. Glad someone got that. Actually, Steve, isn't it cool, We Can't Stop?
Speaker: ah Yes, probably. I did look at it very quickly, but i haven't heard about it. Because I would have got that, otherwise I'll have you know. No, I'm kidding. We Can't Stop, and I'll just clip that up. here Miley Cyrus. Oh, great, great one.
Speaker: If you were going to do the impression again, you probably need to do it a bit huskier because that was far too high-pitched for Miley Cyrus. Yeah, think like EastEnders' pub landlord. A bit like the PA announcer, actually. EastEnders' pub landlord. Oh, my gosh, is it Miley Cyrus? The PA?
Speaker: She could do karaoke at half time. um And the number one film ah was filmed in Norwich, partly. Yes. No, not yesterday. Ah.
Speaker: No, that wrestling one. Famously from Norwich. Famously. Alpha Pepper. Alpha Pepper. Edging out Percy Jackson's Sea of Monsters and Grown Ups 2. Oh, that's a bad weekend for Phil. And finally, Big Phil's first back-to-back league defeats. Oh, come on, we can't count that.
Speaker: I'm afraid we can. The stats don't lie. That's what you get in stat attack. you know yeah You need to get your shield ready, Zoe, because these are are going to attack you hard. um After 32 games, so pretty good. And going back as far as Ron Saunders in the 1970s, the only two who went on a longer run after um for their first back-to-back defeats are two managers, anyone?
Speaker: There's one Paul Lambert. He's correct. 44. It's sort of ludicrous, really. Wow. And I'll give you the other one unless you're... You don't look like you're about to get it. We're we're playing him on Saturday.
Speaker: Alex Neal. Alex Neal. Oh, I nearly guessed him, but then I thought that must be wrong. You lost confidence. it was Yeah, I did. You're being attacked too hard by the stats. That's why. Who was 34 games, so big Phil fell just short.
Speaker: Are we all looking forward to seeing how tanned Alex Neal is on Saturday after a full summer? I don't know. It's a week into the season, so it probably all disappeared immediately, like it always seemed to do with him. It turns up like mahogany, and then within a week is like milk.
Speaker: I think he's going to be like, um you know, when you like open a carton of eggs and they're all nice and bronzed. You know, they're much better than those pasty white ones. I think he's going to be a nice bronzed egg. I think if you do a time lapse of him on Saturday from the first minute to the 90th, he will change shade during the game. we need to kill Michael Jackson it.
Speaker: um That was Stat Attack.
Speaker: One of the big talking points was the lack of wide options on Saturday for Norwich City, with Andre Brooks as their only fit recognised wide player. Now, reports across the football sphere point towards Norwich agreeing a deal to sign Fenerbahce winger Antony Musaba on loan for the season, with an alleged £5.8 million pound option should certain criteria be met. Misabo worked with Clement briefly at Monaco and spent a couple of seasons in the championship with Sheffield Wednesday too.
Speaker: ah Dan on paper, he's pacey, he direct, plenty of pedigree at this level and seemingly has a good fitness record. um Kind of seems like the perfect addition on paper, doesn't it?
Speaker: Yeah, I saw one Sheffield Wednesday fan describe him as a speedboat with no driver, which that's fun, right? Dangerous and fun. Two of the two things you want from a winger. Does a speedboat work with no driver? If a driver fell overboard, would the speedboat continue? suppose it works because you turn the key, don't you? Yeah, yeah. When it's in the dock, if you turn the key and give it a push, I'm sure it it then motors along on its own. Yeah. Hopefully no one's in the water ahead of him. Hopefully he'll be just mowing down opposition defenders if he does join us. Does that mean you can only go in straight lines as well? Oh, I don't think speedboats will go in straight lines, though.
Speaker: They bounce about everywhere, don't they? But if they don't have a driver, how are they... Well, the I guess the steering wheel is... It depends on the current of the water and the waves, if the steering wheel kind of automatically moves, at which point, it's anyone's guess, it's a free-for-all. And the wind as well. Yeah. The creatures as well getting in the way could bounce off those.
Speaker: so Yeah, absolutely. When Masaba plays, is he being buffeted about by external forces as well? Is the pitch moving underneath his feet, do we think? i I do hope so. Isn't everything always moving underneath everyone's feet, if you think about it? Are you suggesting that Colney they should bring in one of those earthquake simulators? I don't think they should bring in any more simulators at Colney. We're done on them. Anyway, I think you're about to make a point. Sorry.
Speaker: um No, not really, other than... good. Glad we cut back to you other than Thanks for that, Steve. it Well, a speedboat with no driver sort of reminded me of Ornel Hernandez, which sends a shiver down my spine. But, you know, if he has the impact that Ornel had in 1819...
Speaker: and he sort of adds a bit of depth ah and championships of experience to that squad, then it seems like a no-brainer. i mean I do think we do slightly overplay the lack of depth out wide when you, and I know Clement sets up in a different way from Daniel Farker and he likes his um wing is more direct than Farker did, but we had no depth in 18-19 out wide, really. i mean, we had... Well, Todd or Arnell on the left, Emmy on the right, and then and then people sort of square pegs in round holes.
Speaker: But, you know, if we have the money um and we have the resources to add depth, then then I'm all for it. It was really good, by the way to see Diallo back on Saturday. um As good as I thought Magoma was, it felt immediately like Diallo was the blueprint for how Clermont likes his wide players, a little bit more direct, taking full backs on, getting in behind, et cetera. So that that was really pleasing. um So, yeah, it just feels like, ah and this is based on the fact that i really do not remember Misaba playing for Sheffield Wednesday a couple of years ago. But if he's played for Clement before and Clement rates him, then i think we should be pretty confident that he's at least going to add a bit of threat to our wide options.
Speaker: Obviously, you have to wait for everyone to return from injury, Zoe. But in theory, on the right, you've now got Brooks and Papadialo is now fit. like He played a a substantial part on Saturday and looked quite good, I thought, as well.
Speaker: Out on the left, now you have Masaba on the left and then Antti Cernac as well. you can argue that Norwich are completely equipped in that final third now, can't you? And ah the only worry I guess would be is keeping those, keeping those guys fit and ensuring that the square pegs do go in the, in the square holes as well, because anti-Sernach, you could argue is more of ah a striker or plays a bit narrower, but,
Speaker: he is an option there and Shvatal can't play on the left. And i I do struggle to, as Dan said, struggle to see this argument where you would feel comfortable with one more wise player coming in as well. ah Yeah, well, obviously ah you've he's now doomed, having said that he's got a good injury record, Misaba. So ah yeah, wait to see what he does within 48 hours of arriving at Carrow Road. But yeah,
Speaker: Yeah, it's ah it feels like we've got a big enough squad and we've got enough players. I know that, yeah, sometimes it feels like this sort of dropping like flies, but fingers crossed, if we can keep them, we can keep them fit, then we have got enough players. Like you said, there's even you know players like Schwartau, like Magoma, who aren't necessarily the type of players that...
Speaker: Clement would want to play out wide they can and they have and they have been successful there um especially Schwartel um so yeah we've got options um we've got a lot of options obviously if we have an in an injury season like we did last year then things start to look a bit threadbare but I cannot imagine that there is another team in the championship apart from maybe West Ham or Wolves that wouldn't um wouldn't um feel that sort of impact if they had those sorts of injuries.
Speaker: Steve, what is this going to do for those players who were being ah essentially ah played out out, not out of position per se, but in a a least preferred position? Like you've got Schwartau who has been brought in as a 10. He has done a job off the left-hand side, but it hasn't quite...
Speaker: ah looked comfortable consistently. Paris Magomar, as we said, a very good player, but he is absolutely a number 10 as well. And it's going to give those guys a chance to actually play in their favourite position and it's going to aid their development as well. And that's kind of part of the bigger picture with this signing, isn't it?
Speaker: Yeah, well, I want to apologize in advance because i'm about to use some sickening modern football technology technology terminology. Sickening modern technology. Just like boat a boat simulator Yeah, this answer is going to be delivered using AI. um But I think we have starters and finishes. Like, that's... the That's kind of what happened on Saturday. You know you could see Magoma wasn't playing particularly badly, but I do think Philippe Clermont, and we saw quite a lot of it last season as well, likes to refresh his attack for the final half an hour, 20 minutes of a game because we have good options all over the pitch. and I think we probably would have seen it more last season if if we hadn't had so many injuries. But now we've got options all over, you know, like the front four, you've got two natural left wingers, you've got two natural right wings if you can see, and I don't forget Forsen is still on the books at the moment as well. Schwartal can play anywhere across the front three, and you've also got two natural options in in the ten
Speaker: plus three centre forwards. So we absolutely have have the depth now. We should have enough depth to cope with injuries. I hear what Dan's saying about 18-19. That was kind of a freak season in that we just didn't really get injuries are to O'Neill.
Speaker: I think O'Neill had a brief injury, but Steepen, Buendia and Puigio were pretty much fit for the whole season. and Whereas Clement A will run as... The ferocious pressing we're doing, by the way, um Andre Brooks looks really, really good on that front, I think. So good. Yeah.
Speaker: the The pressing that we do and the fact that that he will kind of, like Slimani will play for an hour and then we'll come off. that's That's the way we do it. So I think whether we see Musaba start ahead of Diallo, not sure, but he will get starts at some point. um And I think having those two options, I'm like Dan, can't really remember if Musaba is any good or not, but... um like When he left Sheffield Wednesday, it looked like he had a good spell at Samson Spoh, if that counts for anything. That got him his move Fenerbahce for €6 million. euros And Fenerbahce have them picked up Mason Greenwood this summer. So, you know, good luck to them. But I assume that's the root part of the reason why Masaba's left, because he's moved down the pecking order. So, um know nothing about him. But, hey, give him a chance.
Speaker: High hopes. He's predominantly left sided, think, but can also play off the right. And i think Pap Diallo played a few games coming off the right towards the end of his spell last season as well. So they both were coming back off ah off a versatility in those areas as well, which is always good to see.
Speaker: I'm a big fan of how Big Phil says Papa as well. It's one of my favourite words for him to say. Alpha Papa? Do you think he's seen that film? When he first joined, he probably asked for all of the top films made in Norfolk from the mid to just so he could watch them. Which would be a wonderful eclectic mix, right? You've got Alpha Papa, Fighting With My Family and Avengers Age of Ultron. Like, what are we doing? Yeah.
Speaker: It's amazing. Amazing stuff. ah we're Returning this week is friend of the pod, Sophie Leaney's One Word of the Week. Now, Sophie will be going to each game home and away this season, and she's kindly offered to sum up each offering in one word. After West Brom at the weekend, here is her one word for the week.
Speaker: One Word of the Week
Speaker: Predictable.
Speaker: Saturday sees City make the trip to the Den to take on Millwall. The Lions narrowly missed out on automatic promotion last season, arguably thanks to City, and started their campaign with a 2-0 win at Dark Horses, Bristol City at the weekend. LAUGHTER Alex Neal's men are firmly amongst the playoff favorites this time around and will provide a sturdy competition for City as per usual.
Speaker: ah Dan, for me, there are a handful of games where Norwich should be happy with a draw in the grand scheme of things. And I would argue this is one of those, isn't it? or should they be looking to go out and win this game like they did last year?
Speaker: I don't know. You don't get 135 points with that sort of attitude, Ryan. Definitely not. That would 133, Matt. Our record at the Den, I'm sure Steve will correct me, but I think it's pretty dreadful. I thought it was pretty good.
Speaker: is i thought it was quite good. were on there last season, didn't we? Carry on and i will I'll investigate. Okay. You can always edit that bit out as well. um Thanks.
Speaker: No, I don't... I mean, I think we all predicted Norwich to finish in the top five last week. And I think um with respect to an excellent side who seem to have signed very well again in the transfer window, and we know that they've got one of the best managers in the championship.
Speaker: And obviously, you don't want to be entitled and obviously a point away from home is good. But I still think you've got to go in with the ambition that we should be looking for three points from most games this season. um And I think based on the performance on Saturday from us um and the sort of the relatively positive fitness bulletins that we've had amongst much much of the squad, I think that we will go there and give it a really good go um with a lot of depth.
Speaker: um yeah i don't really see Clement ever sort of backing away from his thought process being, we go to most places to try and win it. And last season, we were very good away from home as well, um which was a pretty ah you know pretty rare feature for Norwich City. But I think if you if you're Millwall, you're probably fancying you know any home game. um They like to create a bit of a fortress there, as we all as we all know. um So they'll probably, both both teams will be looking at this as an opportunity just go and get three points. And although Alex Nils sometimes gets a little bit sort of,
Speaker: sniffed at I think with his approach to football I think his teams are often pretty entertaining they're sort of full throttle create a lot of chances move the ball pretty quickly and that's how we like to play as well maybe with a little bit more finesse I think it's fair to say but it's it should be pretty entertaining game i think Well, they were expected to lose a couple of their key players from last year this summer, Zoe, notably Aziz and Kremer, but they've managed to keep them, they've added to them, and I think Millwall get a lot of flack because they're not the most glamorous name by any means, but I can't see a world where they drop enough points this year to not be in promotion contention, so it would be ah quite a coup still if Norwich were to go there and win, right?
Speaker: Yeah, absolutely. And I agree. i think I think we will be wanting to go out there and win. I think, as we all know, Norwich City play better when I'm not there. So ah that's one good thing for them. um And yeah, more more power to Millwall, really. I think it's good to have teams that are a bit less fancied in the mix. i know I'm not interested in the championship becoming as predictable as ah as the Premier League can be. um So yeah, having having those those teams that are managed by someone incredibly capable um and are punching above their weight a little bit. I think, um yeah, I think I'm glad that they're there. Doesn't mean I don't want us to win on Saturday. And it's a good test. I think we played really well against teams that were sort of on paper.
Speaker: slash, you know, in the league table better than us last season. So it'll be a good test. um And I, yeah, I i think we should be we should be aiming to win um because what is there to lose at this stage of the season as well? And as you say, it's ah it's a tough opponent. and No one's going to get too angry if we don't come out of it with with points.
Speaker: Can we look into the result on Saturday too much, Steve? Or should we take it with as much of a grain of salt as we did the West Brom on the the weekend before it? um Well, guess there's there's the caveat, isn't there, that that Bristol City had a man sent off after half an hour. It's always easier when you're playing against 10 men, but it's not given. So um give them credit for that, obviously. These are the two teams with the highest attacking XG. I'm going to bring it up again. ah who created the boat most goal-scoring chances on the first day. So who knows? Maybe maybe there'll be goals. um
Speaker: I'm with the guy. I think Millwall... It's interesting. i don't think I don't know. Did anyone have them in the top? sort of I think I might have had them seventh. But really, like they were very good last season. and ah the There's no real reason why they're going to drop off, Ryan. As you said, they've not lost players. i think Crammen might have been injured. Yeah. for the first game, but the squad looks really good. and They've added to it. Coburn scored twice. He's going to be a handful, I think. um And I see them being top six easily again this season, even though I didn't actually predict it last week. Actually, yes, you can read a lot into that one game where they beat third men. um yeah i
Speaker: However, I have a feeling we might win it. i think we were really good there last season. um and i I just feel like there's going to be extra motivation to write what will feel like a wrong from Saturday. Yeah.
Speaker: Motore is excellent in away games and we'll be starting. and And yeah, assuming we don't pick up injuries and we'll probably get to Big Phil's pre-match press conference and we'll have about five players out who we didn't think we're going to be But um i I think we've got a good chance of winning in spite of the fact that Millwall will be good.
Speaker: it's going to be an interesting portent for for how we get on this season. I think if we can go there and win, then that that is ah already ah a serious statement of intent. um And four wins at the Den in the last eight games. But before that, we'd only won three times in the league in 50 years. So should we call that a score draw? I'm obviously just like sort of 10 years behind him.
Speaker: it my Yes, in mind and you don't even tell the listeners that they really know. sure Go on. With that in mind, Dan, what do you think is going to happen on Saturday?
Speaker: um Well, it's a run of four of our next five games being away from home, including the cup game against ah cardiff's Cardiff City.
Speaker: um And I'd like to think that the way we play may be suited better to teams playing sort of decent teams away from home. who will come out and attack us a bit more.
Speaker: So ah think I'm going to go for a win. I would maybe like to see Clermont react a little bit earlier if... Mattson has another sort of stinker, sort of uncharacteristic stinker as he did on Saturday. I thought he was really poor on the ball, which isn't like him. And I do think maybe loathe to obviously criticise him at all, but I do think he should be more comfortable maybe bringing right into that central midfield mix when we want when we're losing the ball occasionally. And he came on as number 10, didn't he? Right. Yeah.
Speaker: um Although, having said that, when you're playing Millwall, you probably will need your two central midfielders to cover a huge amount of ground and nick the ball back and get physical. and And Kenny and Mattson are obviously very good at that. But um yes, but yeah, win.
Speaker: We're going to win. Zoe? Yeah, ah I'm going to say 5-1 to us. Steve? ah Let's say 2-1 to Norwich City.
Speaker: Nice, nice. I was going to go for 3-0, but I have since ah but become a bit of a wimp, and I'm going to say 2-2. Ooh, nice.
Speaker: oh that is a story that's out of this but the same amount of goals so it's all right one one one fewer one more one more goal is it did i say three one or three now you said three now i thought i said six now what And that leads us on to Kenny, other business. Now, and NCFC women began their first ever season in the third tier of domestic football with 1-1 draw at home to Huddersfield Town. Izzy Moore's equalizer earned Perry Northeast side a point at the nest with City traveling to Hull next weekend. And the only other thing I've got, which we will talk A little bit more so now is Mateo Euricek getting booed after coming off the bench for Sparta Prague. Now, I think we've got some social questions based on this topic, haven't we, Steve? We do. Yes. Thomas Allen, presumably not the bald comedian, has said, um I'm puzzled just to why Euricek has been loaned to a club whose support is hostile to him. See, I don't mind Danny Mills. but I don't want to share the holiday tent with him for both our sakes. um
Speaker: Yeah, I mean, fair point on both counts there. um And Greg has said, do you feel sorry for Eurosec? Would we do the same if an Ipswich player came to us?
Speaker: Well, I don't think we have done, have we, in the past? like weve just The most recent? Alan Lee. There's Alan Lee as well. Liam Gibbs, we arguably. We were in a very desperate state when Alan Lee was playing for us. I think we'd have taken anything. I mean, Father Pride must be pretty desperate. so euce I just feel so sorry for him. like why Why is it so easy to feel sorry for this man? like Everything about him makes you feel sorry for him, and I don't really know why. It's his big sad face and his big sad haircut. he's got such such a sad face. His hair looks like his mum's done it. I don't... ah Yeah, and now he's turned
Speaker: um Your sex mum does your hair as well, Steve. really good actually Now he's turned up at this club where everyone hates him. I just, like, what are the odds for him getting, like, this run of bad luck? I don't know. Who's advising him? like Why has he gone to his biggest rivals having, like, pledged his allegiance to Slavia Prague? And, like, surely they could have found another move for him. Seems utterly bizarre. I feel like you don't need to be advised there to know that you don't go to your rivals. I mean, he should have probably known, shouldn't he? I feel like some self-advice should have shouldve gone down there. yeah
Speaker: But his mum cuts his own hair, so he's not the kind of guy that has sort of free thoughts of his own. Maybe needs to go full Nunez. Did you see the footage of him going behind the goal with the microphone and like essentially being encouraged to speak to their own own fans? like What do you possibly say in that situation? Like...
Speaker: hello, I'm Matej, nice to meet you. um Sorry. Don't hate me. yeah Yeah, don't hate me. I'm sorry for playing for the other team. Bye. think you do need to you need to go full Nunez on it, don't you? that's the only I'm not excusing his behaviour, but, you know, you've just got to disown. Unless you get the mic and win them over with the power of song. We don't know how good his voice is. Like Miley Cyrus at halftime. Yeah, exactly.
Speaker: Exactly. Anything else for Kenny Other Business? um I've got got two things. I've momentarily forgotten the first thing. and So I'll go straight to the second thing. um God, that's going to annoy me. Anyway, um my second thing was, as had anybody else ever heard the chant that the West Brom fans did about halfway through the game? ah And excuse my language, I am just repeating what they said. Delia's right, your fans are shite. which I think was one of the funniest things I've ever heard. i don't feel like I've ever heard it before. And also it's like 23 years late. like for For fans to suddenly start singing something about that incident that I'd not heard before. um
Speaker: Yeah, I really enjoyed it. Like that was the the most fun I've had at opposition chanting for quite a long time. i I feel like I have heard that before, but maybe I'm imagining it from the... Because it's the Fergie's right, isn't it?
Speaker: I think from Man United fans. Maybe we need... Perhaps could could listeners get in touch? I feel like I have heard that before, but I might i might have dreamt it. I don't know why I would have dreamt opposition chance. And really, if they knew a bit more about Norris City, it should be Wes's right.
Speaker: Your club is shite. Yeah. And he used to play for West Brom as well, didn't he, for three minutes. Oh, yeah. That's right. They really missed a trick, though, didn't they? Yeah, they really did. Can we get on a West Brom podcast, do you think? They'll enjoy being educated in that way. yeah um While Zoe thinks of her other point, just a couple of kit a couple of kit things. um Roro537, absolutely right in saying Steve should buy the bus kit and put Sanders on the back.
Speaker: I'm sort of vehemently against doing it. Having my own name on the back of a football shirt just feels wrong. So i might i might have to buy it for a relative and and get around it that way.
Speaker: Or get a relative to buy it for you instead. But then I still have to... appear that i've done it myself don't i you know yeah but it's not out of character for you mate so we should be all right i'm gonna take that in the spirit it was intended i don't know yeah please do so out of pocket i'm so sorry you had to put like a maths equation on the back of your shirt which which maths equation would it be What's favourite? Maths equation. Quadratic equation. i was That is a good one, actually. Thank you for digging me up couldn't think of one. kind of Quadratic equation is great. All the mathematicians listening will know how satisfying. and Maybe open brackets x plus 2, open brackets x minus 1, something like that. Oh, sweet. Yeah. um Again, contact us with your favorite equations, please. absolutely gagging to know um
Speaker: And Johnny asks, has anyone noticed the different shades of yellow in the home kits? Some appear to be pre-2010 mustard yellow and others are bright yellow in the design, right?
Speaker: I have a theory, unless he means in the club shop, at which point, yeah, that's a talking point. But I think a lot of them have been manufactured on bootleg sites, and that is why.
Speaker: And there's a whole debate going on right now about how these bootleg shirts look almost identical, but the quality is much, much less. But however, they are like half the price, which in this day and age, paying like 65. A lot less than half the price. Yeah. It's ridiculous. Yeah, exactly that. So if you're talking about in and around the stadium, I think that's your answer. But if it's in the club shop, then it seems like a manufacturing error, to be honest with you. Okay. Or Johnny, just stop being such a cheapskate. I think that's what Ryan's is trying to say. hi There's not what I'm saying, Johnny. You do what you want. Do what you want, Han. It's absolutely fine.
Speaker: I've remembered the thing that i was going to say. um Absolute miracle that that came back to me. It was just ah to pour some disdain slash scorn on the thousands of people that stood up and left as soon as we conceded the second goal on Saturday. um Again, take the season ticket off them as they are leaving the ground. Don't let them back in.
Speaker: That's my final word on it. it's It's when we then score and then people turn back to go back to their seats. They say, no no no no, no, no, no. You've made your bed. Lie in it. Oh, no, no. In the south stand, we scored and then more people got up to leave.
Speaker: Oh, that's probably it. let's Well, at least I've seen a goal.
Speaker: Better get off. There's something else to be doing. It's so bad. I understand sometimes you want to beat the traffic and it might be on occasion you've got places to be, but you've known when the fixtures are since June. If you're not committing to the full day or the full game, then you shouldn't be looking to go to the football. I'm ever so sorry to sound very harsh, but that is rule 101. You've booked your day around the football just Stay there for three more minutes. are you going achieve? It makes no sense. Were they leaving and celebrating at the same time? Were they, like, cheering the goal as they were walking up? Half a clap. People in the South Bend don't cheer. What am talking about? I guess. Now they only clap ex-players for corners, don't they, Steve? Yeah, I didn't cheer him, though. I want that on record. Just a little clap. I have a lot of KOB for this week. Yes, go for it. a couple of things from the game. Vlad's save. haven't mentioned that. Yeah, hell of a save. was brilliant. I mean, I know it counted for nothing in the end, but turning that one on to the final. Like all of his saves, you do. Yeah.
Speaker: Yeah, say like last week saved a penalty and then the idiots leave a man unmarked at a corner, the resulting corner. um I know he scored and did look quite good, but you can't be going around with a name like Jimmy J. like not it Not now, not ever.
Speaker: Not unless you're wearing a flat cap and you and you're born in 1920. Which as far as I can tell, you I mean, someone someone born in 1920 isn't leaving Harry Darling for dead like that, is he? LAUGHTER
Speaker: 1921 at least. come on it Yeah, it just reminded me of Joey Jojo Jr. Shabadoo from The Simpsons. That was wonderful all I could think of from there. um And just a quick plug. Well, actually, it's not a plug because we've done it. Don't need to plug it now. The um the top 25, which I'm going to call the Canary Countdown. That's that's the name. Nice. um is over, it's done, it closed on Friday. and Thank you very much to everyone who entered. We got a faintly, well, I was not expecting, thought about 30 people would do it. We had 393 people enter. So thank you to everyone who filled it in. Thank you to the nice folks at the Pinken who ran something a piece middle of last week and it absolutely took off from there in a way that I never expected it would. So thank you to Connor. um I'll be groveling to him when next comes on the pod.
Speaker: And we'll be running through the 25 throughout the season on the pod and on our new Patreon. That's right. In fact, our first Patreon episode will not be the new episode of ChatGPT GetBanged. It will be involving the Canary Countdown. That episode, if you're listening to this podcast on the Tuesday morning, is now live on our paid Patreon subscription. Now, if you would like to pay for our Patreon...
Speaker: It is on there as at OTB, a Norwich City podcast, but a bit of admin as well. It is £3 on the app or £2 on desktop if you would like to subscribe to our Patreon. And we've also got a free Patreon too. That will allow you to listen to this podcast without adverts. And it is so very easy to listen to us on your prefer preferred player of choice through Patreon.com. We've put the links in our description so you can click on it, follow the instructions, and you'll be able to listen to us ad-free on your podcast player of choice through Patreon as well. It is really very simple. And just want to say thank you to those of you who will inevitably listen to that episode of the podcast, all three of you. So thank you. That's a very preemptive thank you, isn't it just Just to add to that, and it very well said, Ryan, like this is not we're not turning into the Infantino of the Norwich City podcasting world. You will very much still get what you would expect from this podcast. This is just a little boat basically bonus content that we're giving you. so if you like what we're doing, um then and you're happy to pay a little bit of money for it, we'd love to have you over there, but otherwise you won't be losing out. um
Speaker: Yeah, so this is not a shameless cash grab. We just... For you, maybe. All bonus content will have 30-minute halftime shows, though. Yes, hence the Miley Cyrus plug. And she's here now. Hello, Miley. Is that you, Jimmy J? I'm the other one that was at number one in 2013. LAUGHTER
Speaker: I think that's all for tonight's OTP and Norris City podcast. If that doesn't convince him to come over to the Patreon, I don't know what will. A big thank you to Zoe Morgan.
Speaker: Thank you, Ryan. Dan Brigham. Yeah, thank you, Ryan. And Steve Cyrus. Thank you, Ryan. If you have enjoyed this week's episode, please leave us a rating on your podcast player of choice and follow us on Instagram. We're on there as at otb underscore pod underscore NCFC. Like we said, we're on Patreon too as at otb and our city podcast. Until the next one, um never mind the danger.
