In Lambert we Trust

It’s been a poor start to the season for the armchair managers and all the Monday morning message board quarterbacks. This season, due to an influx of new players and a different league to play in, we have more than ever suffered with a mass of easy to form instant opinions on NCFC. Just add half a pint of boiling water to a packet of stale post match analysis soup, mix them together and we get the following gems.

After game one our centre backs were a liability, our right back is suspect, the diamond formation isn’t working, and we’ve not got enough pace in the team. Plus who on earth scouted that keeper?

After the second game we were only playing lower league opposition and if we had performed like that in a league match City would have been stuffed. Surman is out for three months and why was Jackson dropped?

After winning at Scunthorpe, our centre backs are now as solid as a rock, but our left back is too old, the diamond formation is the cornerstone of how we should play and our forwards can now score for fun. But we still rely too much on Wes. And that keeper is settling in well. And how about benching Surman for Lappin?

There’s only one opinion that ultimately counts at Norwich City and luckily it’s not mine or any of the other views I have heard or read after our first three matches.

I was at Scunthorpe on Saturday, despite my resolution that this season I would try and save my pennies and visit a few new grounds. Why not travel to pastures new as opposed to an afternoon out at same ‘ole same hole?

But I didn’t take a great deal of persuading after finding out that the choice was either a trip to the athletics at Crystal Palace with the family or a day out at sunny Scunny. As most City fans, myself included are of the ABS variety, “Anywhere but Selhurst”, I arranged to meet at a railway station near the M25 early in the morning for a day out at Glandford Park.

I was last at Glandford Park just before Christmas 2007 in a state that could best be described as less than sober. That day I saw an epic central defensive performance from the Doc, a good piece of play from Jimmy Smith that led to our winning goal, a shot that hit the target from our Jamie and an all too rare away win. It really was one of those days.

Back to this season and after a cardboard lunch at a cardboard pub that served hooligan juiced in plastic glasses we decamped to the ground. I was pleasantly surprised to be charged a full 40% less for a cup of coffee than I would have been charged at Carrow Road. The staff seemed to be coping admirably with the un-rounded price for the simple reason that the refreshment kiosk was adequately staffed and all the boiling water taps worked. It was a refreshing change from the previous Friday.

I watched the warm up in excellent company observing our keeper, who played a blinder during the 90 minutes, struggling to keep hold of a shot in the twenty minutes we watched him. I saw Grant Holt attempt some headers, none of which remotely troubled anyone. Of his two headed chances during the game he scored from both, but unfortunately one was disallowed. We also saw the players fire almost all of their warm up shots high over the bar into the watching crowd, but come the match our goal attempts were mostly on target.

As regards the game we played decently in the first half as did Scunthorpe. I was impressed again with Chris Dagnall who I last saw in the flesh playing for Rochdale; he looked lively that evening as well.

In the second half City were different class, dominated Scunthorpe and could have won by more than the odd goal. The game reminded me a little of our trip to Wycombe where City were much the better side, but we scored late on just after a scare at the other end.

I’ve no idea what Paul Lambert did or said at half time but I’m sure that there would have been no hairdryer treatment as City had played quite well. He must have re-organised the team, got a couple players playing slightly differently and worked out the danger men in the Scunthorpe team. The end result was a win that could well have been more convincing, but I’ll never tire of seeing City win a football match in the last minute.

And I’ll finish with the only opinion that really counts at Carrow Road. The Manager’s one.

In Lambert we trust.

£14 poorer at Dagenham

Another pre-season friendly and another £14 poorer for the pleasure.

Unlike the Stevenage game we started with a very much second string side with only Ruddy, Ward, Smith, Martin and Jackson realistic contenders for a start against Watford. It showed in the first half as Dagenham passed it round us, and more alarmingly played straight through the middle of our defence on more than one occasion.

Elliott Ward made his City debut and had a few good moments but unsurprisingly was more than a little ring-rusty and Tomlin, the Dagenham number 10, gave him and Tudur Jones the other centre back plenty of problems. George Francomb had a steady game at right back but Remy Gordon really struggled on the other side of the defence. He made three mistakes in the minute leading up to the goal and when Green ran at him he backed off the cross and Tomlin deflected it in. The midfield tried hard but couldn’t really get anything going at all, and I can’t really remember a concerted period of possession in Dagenham’s half.

City livened up in the second half after the cavalry came on, and had more of the possession but didn’t really test the Dagenham keeper. Wes tried hard, Fox looked a useful player again and Oli nearly broke through a couple of times. Dagenham however had their moments as well and could well have added to their lead.

Not the best game I’ve been to, but looking at the positives, Ward got 45 minutes, Ruddy looks to be a good keeper, and Jackson will give us some much needed pace up front. Francombe looks an improving player as well.

See Stevenage and Pay

In common with 400 other City fans, I was not deterred by the £18 admission to see Stevenage vs Norwich and even took my two daughters along as well. The total cost was £28 as the guy on the turnstile “misheard” my elder daughter’s age so not too bad, taking into account the free parking across the road. Can’t think why some enterprising local or some jobsworth councillor doesn’t try and make a few quid from that car park.

It was not the best pre-season friendly I've ever seen, but by no means the worst. City passing it around well in the first half, but not too much end product. Nelson hit the post from a corner and Jackson had a good shot saved. I think I missed another chance as I was talking to Lil from the Rosary whilst in the half time queue for a drink. I also bought a doughnut; a first for me in a football ground, as they had run out of chips.

The highlight of the game was the mega-sub-a-thon after an hour of the game where City made ten changes with some of the players coming on in shirts that were not their own numbers. I was informed that the two mystery players were Michael Ball and Richard Brindley and both youngsters acquitted themselves well.

Gemma took a video of the mega-sub-a-thon and if it’s any good I’ll stick it in on Youtube. The final score was 0-0, and 11-11 on the subs.

The away end was just under half full, a very good away turnout for a midweek friendly. I bumped into loads of old faces, and it was good to see City in action again.

Looking forward to going to 'Nam on Thursday.

Back with a wimper

After a period of early blogging where I wrote something every night for a week, it’s been radio silence for a few months. I thought I should start again and see how it goes. If I had an outside job I wouldn’t mind spending a few minutes in front of a screen to type some words. I do however go through a daily ten hour slog working in software delivery each day so that I can afford to feed my family so the attraction of yet more typing is not hugely appealing.

Last week I had confirmation back from NXEA that they are able to offer us another great deal for season 2010/2011 and the new Capital Canaries fare will be £13 return. The cost includes a small donation to FONCY. Last year we raised £350 for FONCY and I’m hopeful we’ll match this next season.

The minimum single fare to Norwich is now £8 so this means the minimum you could travel for is now £16, and this assumes that there are actually any of the £8 tickets available on the train you would like to travel on. I have my suspicions that the cheapest tickets may not really exist!

I have updated www.capitalcanaries.com, done a mail out and posted an update on twitter with the good news.

Tomorrow I am breaking that habit of a few years and going to a pre-season friendly. I’m also off to ‘Nam in the badlands of South Essex on Thursday, and that will be my football fix until the big early kick off on Friday 6th August.