NCFC, The Championship and the Apalling State of Football

It seems to me that most of us are expecting way to much from NCFC. Actually, expectations are rarely stated apart from people generally expect us to be further up the league than we are. Yes we should be challenging for the top but when you look at the top end of the league, I'm not sure I see better squads than we already have.

I think you would be hard pushed to find any fans in the Championship who are happy with their lot. I've been watching Stoke v Barnsley tonight. A bigger load of crap I've yet to see. The Stoke team were booed off at half time and at the end.

The fact is, the Championship is pants. From the top down. The current leaders, WBA have 63 points from 35 games. They've lost 8 games already. At best that's play off form. It's terrible stuff and the same goes for Birmingham, Derby, Sunderland and the rest of the top 8.

Why should we be any different to any other team which has briefly graced the top flight and gone down within a season or two? WBA, Birmingham, Sunderland, Leicester, Ipswich, Southampton, Wolves, Palace, Coventry, and of course Leeds at the bottom. With Norwich, that's half the league which has been in the Premiership over the last few years. All playing appalling inconsistent football.

We've had a bad couple of seasons. Next season, we are still capabe of winning. By the same token we could go down, given a bad run and a pile of injuries. It's the way it goes thesedays. Calling for the board to resign is not the answer. A new manager may help but don't get your hopes up. Fans want the board to spend some cash. But on what? Who are we going to get? The players I see at this level are all much of muchness. The better players all want to spend time in the Premiership and don't care whether they play or not, happy with the weekly packet and the trophy girlfriend.

Unfortunately things won't improve, people. Not unless the FA sort out the amount of cash available for the top teams to spend on their squads by imposing limits. The playing field needs to be levelled. At the moment, we along with most of the premiership, the rest of the Championship and the other division do not have a hope in hell of getting anywhere near any major trophy any time soon.

Get used to it guys. This is it. Delia or not. It won't improve. Some people are still in denial, either living in the days of the early 90s or wanting to spend as much as possible to do a Chelsea. Acceptance ... try it. Enjoy the games. Get passionate about your team. But realise that football includes the bad times as well as the good. Calling for changes in the rough times may have worked occaisionally in the past. Not now. Ask a Leeds fan.

FA Cup 4th Round

At the time of writing Norwich are a little over 9/4 (3.35) on Betfair to beat Blackpool away on Saturday.

Whilst it's true Norwich have certainly had their troubles in recent months, 9/4 is a big price to beat a lower league team. I know there are always cup upsets but that's just it. This is an upset which people want to happen. And for that reason, it won't.

If you saw the faces of the Norwich team before the Tamworth game, you would have been convinced they were going to lose. They were bricking it. And for the first 15 minutes or so they certainly looked like losing. Anyone with access to Betfair would have had some good trading opportunities. But once the first goal went in, classic Dion, that was it. The relief was there for all to see and Norwich capitalised.

They won't be so nervy today. They have something to prove. They won't want a replay at Carrow Road. Ok, Earnshaw is out, but he didn't score at Tamworth. Blackpool will start to be complacent as they think they have a good chance.

FA Cup 3rd Round ... Upset on the Cards?

Tamworth v Norwich

Is there a Cup upset on the cards? I think so.

Norwich are playing so inconsistently at present, really anything could happen. They could be three up after 15 minutes. They could be three down after 30 minutes. There is no knowing how much space the pantomime midfield will give the opposition and the defence seems loathe to challenge anyone venturing anywhere near the penalty area.

Much depends on where Dion Dublin plays. If he plays at the back, then Tamworth will definitely find it difficult to score. However, there is a chance that he either will play up front or won’t get a game if the manager wants to rest him.

So what about Earnshaw? Isn’t he nailed on to score? Very possibly if he plays. But he still needs the service and Tamworth will have done their homework on both Earnie and Huckerby.

But what if Earnie is being lined up for a Premiership team in the New Year sales? What if he doesn’t play?

The match is on live TV. The BBC have chosen wisely. Tamworth will be well up for this. And well they should be against a struggling Norwich team lacking in confidence.

Tamworth are 6-1 at Betfair or less risky is a lay on Norwich at 1.6. Norwich are certainly no value to win this. Cup upset here we come.

Celebrity Big Brother 2007

Here we go again.


Here are my predictions for the 2007 25 day whirlygig of a TV extravaganza. Whether I’ll watch any of it is a different matter. Am typing this as they go in.

1. Jermaine Jackson - one of the 5 and of course brother of Michael and Janet. C4 no doubt hoping for the lowdown on the “blacksheep“ of the family. Apparently has servants at home and clearly has no idea what he’s let himself in for. Could be interesting to see how he fares. Not well known enough over here to win. Current odds ... 40-1.
2. Danielle LLoyd - A WAG. As you all know she was Miss GB and got stripped of her title after baring all and going out with one of the judges, star Premiership footballer Teddy Sheringham. A ”munter“ according to my daughter. Receiver of the first boos and clearly no clue who Jermaine was . No chance. Perhaps first evictee? Odds ... 27-1.
3. Ken Russell. Top choice but no chance - all we need now is Michael Winner. Now 78, barking mad (I would say senile but he’s always been like that) film director from the 60s and 70s famous for his use of the naked form. Says he loves the show and he’ll be entertaining at the very least. But no one who watches this will know who he is - hence the lack of reception from the crowd and that’s why he won’t win. Was obviously enjoying a sweary entnrance hence the sound dips. Current odds ... 14-1.
4. Jo O’Meara. Ex S Club 7 girl with the best voice and big face who now breeds dogs. Not a lot more to say about her. Seems quite normal. Seems to be on here to get a bit of celeb back in her life again. Very popular with the welcoming crowd and will be popular with the viewers. Current odds ... 5-1.
5. Leo Sayer. Hitster from the 70s now living in Oz. Great ballad writer. I remember him dressed as a clown on TOTP. I always like When I Need You. Thoroughly nice bloke and very chummy. Wonder if he’s a manic depressive. Seems to know Jermaine. Has to be an early favourite. Current odds ... 6-1.
6. Shilpa Shetty . Bolloywood superstar. Slightly cynical I know but good move from C4 to get the asian viewer but wonder if they’ll have enough influence here. Takes celebrity far too seriously and will wind people up with her apparent arrogance but is probably not at all like that. Not immediately one of my favourites but could be a surprise outsider. Odds .. 20-1.
7. Carole Malone. Genuinely arrogant Sunday Mirro columnist who fanices pitting her wits against a bunch of celebs. Already appeared on Celebrity Fit Club. Journalist? Seems like she’s missed her vocation. She’ll be one of the first out. Current odds ... 50-1.
8. Donny Tourette. Singer with the Towers of London with an amusing surname - bottom of the bill at Reading according to my pop insider and clearly need the publicity. Boyfriend of little Peaches Geldof. Trying way too hard to be controversial. Quite frankly who cares, it’s all been done. Not well known enough and won’t win. One of the favourites for first eviction. Odds ... 16-1.
9. Ian Watkins. Aka H from Steps who never turned up for his performance as Joseph at the Norwich Theatre Royal when I went to see it. Not that I’m bitter or owt. Has ”come out“ today apparently, whatever that means and is really proud of who he is. Good plan H. Gets the gay vote, which he would have got anyway. Donny must be doing his nut in there with two real famous popstars. Has to be an early favourite although my gut reaction is that he won’t win unless he comes across as needing to be mothered. Odds ... 8-1
10. Cleo Rocas. 70s chesty icon. Worked with Kenny Everett as Miss Whiplash. Seems very nice. Not well known enough thesedays (no wikipedia link) but will get some of the gay vote. Odds ... 12-1.
11. Dirk Benedict. Faceman from the A Team. Hmmm. Why? Another dodgy american. Seems nice enough but won’t win. Odds 7-1.
12. Any other. Always worth a bet and given the above bunch of ”celebs“ a distinct possibility especially since there are rumours of a whole family joining the show (surely not the Goody family??). Odds ... 8-1.

So there you have it. My four for the top are:

H from Steps 8 to 1
Jo from S Club 4.9 to 1
Leo Sayer 6.2 to 1
Any Other 7 to 1

At those odds not sure I could say anything was value. I really don’t think Dirk will win and would say he is worth laying at odds of 4s or shorter. Shilpa is the interesting one. At 20-1 she could be the value bet. But like all these reality TV events, insider trading abounds and the market is manipulated like crazy by those in the know. Steer well clear.

Norwich v QPR and Palace away

Norwich are even money to beat QPR today and after the debacle on Tuesday (where I confidently predicted Norwich would not win against Southend). However, although I think Norwich will win I would want a bigger price.

On Monday, Norwich travel to Palace. Norwich never play well there and have been performing erraticly to say the least. Anything could happen. Will just listen with interest.

Norwich v Southend and a top 6 finish?

In my heart I'm still confident for a top 6 finish although now ten points behind, my hopes are on the wane.

Current betting exchange odds are 20/1 for promotion. That seemed attractive to me until I looked at the stats for the season so far.

The numbers are average to say the least and look all too familiar. The only positive is our performance against the teams in the top half of the league where we rank 5th.

However, this stat in itself is very encouraging. If we somehow get some consistency back and stop this post 90 minute madness where we have conceded 7 goals,  I really believe we can still turn it round with Croft back and Chadwick hopefully returning soon.

18 points against teams in the top half of the league (rank 5th)
13 points against teams in the bottom half (rank 21)

20% (7) goals conceded in the 90th minute or later. Only 3 for. Only conceded 2 between 80 and 90 minutes and scored 4.

Home record ranked 12th in the league (10th at this stage last year)
Away record ranked 19th (18th last year)
We were 13th at this stage last year.

So far for December we are the worst performer in the league (6th in November . We were also worst in September).

We've scored 6 more goals than last year at the same stage.

As pointed out in the thread below, Earnshaw has scored 50% of the goals.

We've lost 14 points when we lost or drawn games which we've been winning. However, we've also gained 9 points from games we've won or drawn when losing.

I still think 20/1 for promotion is a tad on the big side but only just.   A better bet might be to lay Norwich at odds of 4/6 when we play Southend on Tuesday. Local derby ... Southend just coming off a drubbing from the leaders ... Norwich poor record against bottom teams ... has draw written all over it. Let's hope not.

stats courtesy of football365.com

Norwich FC drew today and it's my fault

Imagine, if you will, that your local supermarket manager had a go at you for not being enthusiastic enough about the store's products. Imagine that he said you had let the store down badly, were a disgrace and that committment to the store and it's performance was a two way thing between the shop and the customer.

You'd think that was ridiculous and if it happened you would, more than likely, change shops.

I give you Peter Grant. Newly appointed manager of Norwich City Football Club. Apparently the fans let the club down badly at today's game against Hull. They lacked passion and committment. And for him that was a disgrace. Hmmm. Let me see. Perhaps the fans were reflecting the lack of passion and committment on the pitch and showing frustration at the poor tactics from the management team. I don't get paid upwards of £5,000 a week to attend Carrow Road. Believe it or not, I pay them for my seat. And apparently I'm expected to cheer them along at all times without fail and never tell them how bad they are.

Am kinda looking forward to Tuesday night's game against Leicester - could be a fun exchnage between fans and the manager. I wonder if Mr Grant will have apologised by then. I think the NCFC Chief Exec will have a few emails in his in box on Monday morning.