Norwich City

Opinion: 'It’s nacht over until the final whistle'

Image source, Getty Images

Susannah George

The last time Norwich City played on Saturday 27 April was five years ago. For those who may not recall, this was the day when we secured automatic promotion against Blackburn Rovers. We all know how beautifully the season ended, with the Canaries being crowned champions.

Norwich City’s hallmark that season was their unwavering ability to score last minute goals, and there were plenty to be had, in fact the 31 late goals comprised 33% of our total that season. Now whilst autos is not on the table this season, and our goal tally following the 75 minute mark is only half of that of the 2018/19 season, we have still demonstrated sufficient resolve and stamina to re-create some of those magic moments. Approximately 50% of our late (post 75 min) goals this season – if my calculations are correct- went on to be determinative and translated into points.

As the pressure mounts heading into our final games and hopefully playoffs, whilst in theory we have more than sufficient talent to put games to bed early, if we find ourselves looking to grind out a win, who are we looking to?

Given the overall stats you could be forgiven for assuming Rowe, Sargent, Sainz, Sara and even Barnes are the “likely candidates”. However, upon closer inspection, it transpires that when we focus on the post-75 minute mark goals this season, those leading the charge are in fact Adam Idah and Christian Fassnacht.

With Idah on loan, perhaps Fassnacht is the secret weapon we are looking for in the final moments of the upcoming games against Swansea and Birmingham. Fassnacht is our joint 4th highest scorer alongside Sainz, Idah and Barnes. If my sources are correct, in terms of goals per 90 he actually betters Sainz, Barnes and to my surprise, Gabriel Sara.

Me along with some of my fellow lower Barclay season ticket holders have often likened Christian Fassnacht -with his style of play, execution and intelligence - to former Norwich City player (and legend) Marco Stiepermann.

Now aside from the date symmetry and the fact we were also playing at Carrow Road, it was interestingly Marco Stiepermann who teed up that win on Saturday 27th April 2019. I for one am therefore 'fassnachted' (it had to be done) to see whether Christian can achieve similar heights. If we need a hero when the clock hits 60 minutes, he is the sub I am calling for.

Time for our pre-match quiz, and we have a corker for you.

BBC Norfolk's Chris Goreham asks:

The son of which former Norwich City player could line-up against the Canaries for Swansea at Carrow Road on Saturday?

Send your answers here.

Thanks for all the Norwich City questions you sent in for BBC Norfolk's Chris Goreham and Rob Butler.

They headed to the On The Stall City shop in the city centre to answer some of them in the first ever Canary Questions.

Opinion: A lot to be positive about right now

Matthew Soakell, North East Canary

There’s a lot to be positive about right now if you’re a Norwich City fan. We’re sixth in the league, with every chance of finishing fifth, meaning our season will likely be extended by two games at least; we’re all celebrating what a wonderful season Kenny McLean has had and why he’s rightly been awarded Player of the Season; and Mark Attanasio’s Norfolk FB Holdings group has formally been announced as joint majority shareholders of the club.

Whilst some fans might wish Attanasio had even more say and influence, the club has gone about things the right way, gradually integrating the Attanasio’s into the fold and it certainly seems like the family has bought in - in every sense of the word.

Looking at matters on the pitch, we’ve got Jonathan Rowe back and getting minutes in the legs, with the 20-year-old this week being named Young Player of the Season - again, rightly so! There was a palpable buzz when he started warming up last week and he received a fantastic ovation from the Carrow Road crowd when he was brought on in the 56th minute.

Some would argue Gabriel Sara should’ve been named POTS, and I can make a case for that, but irrespective of awards and nominations, the Brazilian has been superb this season and played a key part in Borja Sainz's equalising goal against Bristol City. He’s another reason to be positive; having someone like Sara in your side going into the play-offs is huge.

Then there’s Angus Gunn, who put in a brilliant performance to keep Bristol City’s goal tally down to just one last week. Arguably the best keeper in the Championship, City fans love having one of their own and the son of a club legend between the sticks.

So with all of this factored in, and without wanting to sound like I don’t care what happens regarding the play-offs, it finally feels like most of the sentiment around Norwich City is well on it's way to being back to it's positive best - both for players, staff and fans - whether this season is deemed a success or not.

Should we fail to finish in the top six, Ben Knapper will have a decision to make regarding David Wagner’s position as head coach, but irrespective of who’s in charge and what happens between now and the end of May, it feels like we’ve overcome the winter blues and a bright summer lies ahead.

Canaries head coach David Wagner says supporters got their Player of the Season votes spot on.

Kenny McLean has won the Barry Butler Memorial Trophy for the first time, Wagner says he deserves it:

Your views on boardroom changes at Carrow Road

Norwich City announced this week that changes to the boardroom had been rubber-stamped.

American businessman Mark Attanasio and his Norfolk FB Holdings group are now joint majority shareholders alongside Delia Smith and Michael Wynn Jones.

Here are some of your thoughts on the changes:

Mike - I would like to see a tough CEO appointed and Delia/Michael moved to 'Life Presidents'.

Bloxham - The Attanasio's made the Brewers - an unfashionable baseball team, without huge access to cash - into an over-performing one. It's therefore a great fit, especially as Norwich has already significantly outperformed it's financial position over the last 20 years. Thank you Delia/Michael for keeping the club healthy, now let's see where we can get to.

Gary - Hopefully good news but time will tell. We know Attanasio and co are not coming in with a Forest-style open chequebook, but hopefully, at the very least, what they will bring will be a far more professional approach to competing in elite level sport. High level change is long overdue, along with some financial oomph and some proper strategic planning.

Phil - I think this is really positive news for my club. Delia and Michael have done an amazing job for the club, we owe them a huge debt of gratitude, but it's time for a change and fresh impetus. The club had stagnated with nobody really making the tough decisions, recruitment has been poor. We need to get to the next level. I hope we remain self funding, though.

Norwich City club captain Grant Hanley could be back for the game against Swansea City in the Championship on Saturday (15:00 GMT).

Head coach David Wagner told BBC Radio Norfolk that he's happy to have the Scottish international back in the mix, the defender has been out of action since early March 2024:

Norwich City head coach David Wagner has been speaking to the media ahead of the Canaries' match against Swansea City in the Championship on Saturday (15:00 GMT). Here are some of the key points:

• Grant Hanley could be back in the squad for the Swansea game, he's been out since early March 2024. The head coach says a decision will be made on Friday

• Jonathan Rowe had a precautionary scan following the Bristol City draw but has been given the all-clear and is available for Saturday

• Wagner says Dimitris Giannoulis should be back in full training soon, but won't be involved against the Swans

• The head coach says it's good his team has clarity about what they need to do to ensure they make it to the Championship play-offs. City have two games left

• "If a player needs extra motivation for this game on Saturday, he is not from this planet!" Wagner says his players are aware of how important the next game is

• On Kenny McLean winning the Player of the Season award, Wagner says the Scotsman would have got his vote too

Image source, Getty Images

Norwich City midfielder Kenny McLean has been named as the Player of the Season for 2023/24 season.

The Scotland international has started every Championship league game for the Canaries this campaign.

He told the club's official website: "Obviously, I'm really happy with the award and the fact that the fans have voted for me to win it is pretty nice.

"We had a few candidates, which is good and means it's been pretty good, especially recently. It's great, and I appreciate all the support we've had, for me personally, and for the team throughout the season."

Gabriel Sara was second in the voting, with Josh Sargent third.

Image source, Getty Images

Jonathan Rowe has been named as the Canaries' Etty Smith Young Player of the Season for the 2023/24 campaign.

Rowe has had a breakthrough season for the club and scored 12 goals in 30 league appearances so far.

The 20-year-old told the club's official website: "It's a good feeling. I've obviously seen that Liam Gibbs won it last season, and he had a great season. It's an honour to win it. It's named after Delia's mum, and that makes it even more honourable.

"I kind of knew what I was capable of, from previous seasons. It was just about getting that opportunity to show it, and thanks to the manager for believing in me. He's given me the opportunity to showcase myself to the world, and thankfully it's paid off!"

Well done, Jonny!

New Norwich City joint majority shareholders - we want your views

Image source, Getty Images

American businessman Mark Attanasio and his group Norfolk FB Holdings are now officially joint majority shareholders at Norwich City.

The EFL have cleared the move and for the first time in over 25 years, Delia Smith and her husband Michael Wynn Jones are not the majority shareholders in their own right.

We want your views on this news.

Are you excited for the future of the football club?

Do you think Attanasio and his group will have a positive effect on the boardroom at Carrow Road?

Are you worried that Smith and Wynn Jones won't have as much influence?

Get in touch here, all opinions welcome.

After months of waiting, Norwich City have confirmed Norfolk FB Holdings, led by American businessman Mark Attanasio, have formally become joint majority shareholders of Norwich City.

The group successfully passed a number of checks by the EFL to secure 40.4 percent of the club’s ordinary shares. That's exactly the same number as Delia Smith and Michael Wynn Jones.

It's the first time in more than 25 years Delia and Michael are not majority shareholders in their own right.

Shareholders voted in favour of the American increasing his involvement at a general meeting held at Carrow Road back in October 2023.

A memorial match for a former Norwich City academy player will take place at Wroxham football club on 6 May 2024.

18-year-old Joe Dix was murdered in January 2022, he had been a youth team player at Carrow Road.

Current player Joe Duffy was friends with Joe Dix and has helped organise the event.

The Scrimmage spoke to former City players Declan Rudd and Ryan Jarvis who will both be involved in the special game:

You can find out more about the Joe Dix Foundation by visiting the website here (external link)., external

Opinion: On the ball, Gunners

Gary Gowers, My Football Writer Norwich City, external

It may seem a tad odd to kick off a Norwich City column with a homage to Arsenal but that’s what I’m about to do. Forgive me.

It’s not a huge thank you to the Gunners for delivering us the services of one Ben Knapper, or even a belated one for granting us a brief (but not brief enough) audience with the Brazilian magic of Marquinhos.

Nor am I about to sidle up to a paid-up member of the ‘big six’ – one of that select band who deem the other 86 clubs to be unworthy and who would (I suspect), if the right circumstances prevailed, be off to the European Super League quicker than you could say ‘I’m alright, Jack’.

No, it’s unrelated to all of the above, but Arsenal have got something right, which is to unearth a heart-string-tugging and emotive anthem that, when played just before kick-off, unites The Emirates in a way that under the latter years of Arsene Wenger and, more recently, under Unai Emery, felt a million miles away.

You may have heard it. Said tune is called 'North London Forever' (or, more precisely, 'Norf Landan Forevvver') and is one that they kind of commissioned by a Norf Landan singer/songwriter called Louis Dunford. If you’ve not heard it, I recommend a trip to YouTube.

It ticks all of the boxes: gets the adrenalin flowing, the chests puffed out and brings together all the disparate factions of Islington.

But what’s that got to do with Norwich City?

I’ll go route one - I think we could do with something similar.

"But we already have On the Ball, City."

Well, yes and no.

Yes, we do have On the Ball, City, which is belted out in the same ‘slot’, but those who have read my column(s) will know my thoughts on the ‘oldest and greatest football song in the world’.

I agree it’s probably the oldest but in its current guise, I’m not sure if it’s in the conversation for the greatest – not when it’s sung at a hundred miles an hour and its last line has been virtually erased from history.

It still has its moments of course, and the recent rendition before Norwich 1 Ipswich 0 was something quite special, but I reckon to get the best out of it and for it not to rest on its ‘oldest and greatest’ laurels, it could do with some competition.

So step forward Sons Of Mark – duetting brothers from the fine city who are making their way in the music industry with an indie acoustic sound that lends itself nicely to a footie anthem. And guess what … they’ve delivered one. A corker.

Those who frequented the Lion & Castle on Saturday will have seen the lads perform a Norwich City-themed set, which included their latest offering entitled, appropriately enough, Our Fine City.

Listen to it here, external (external link), external

As mentioned above, I’m not suggesting for a moment it replaces OTBC – nothing really could – but as an accompaniment, I’d say it’s just about perfect.

And if it can work in, of all places, The Emirates, then why can’t a new anthem work in Carrow Road?

Come on Norwich City, let’s make it happen.

Former Norwich City striker Ryan Jarvis was a special guest on The Scrimmage podcast this week.

He was joined by the Canaries' goalkeeper coach Declan Rudd.

Both agreed that forward Ashley Barnes is a vital player for the team.

Listen to the full podcast on BBC Sounds here.

Rob Butler and Chris Reeve were joined by two former Norwich City players for the Scrimmage podcast this week.

Ryan Jarvis is still playing local football for non-league Leiston, Declan Rudd is now a goalkeeping coach at his former club.

Rudd thinks City's current number one Angus Gunn is the best stopper in the Championship.

You can listen to the full podcast here.

Image source, Getty Images

Opinion: Norwich City’s smoking Gunn

Steve Sanders, NCFC Numbers, external

Much of Norwich City’s revival this season has been placed at the feet of Josh Sargent. And fair enough, right? 12 goals in 20 games and a demonstrably transformative impact when he’s on the pitch are enough reason to think that City’s all-American action hero deserves his plaudits.

But, almost by stealth, the team’s improvement at the other end of the pitch has arguably been starker.

It’s easy to forget but, aided and abetted by that game at Home Park (sorry for dredging that one back up), their defensive start to the season was epically bad. Most goals conceded by a Norwich City team in the first 10 games for 17 years. Worst defensive record in the division after 15 games. By the end of November they’d already conceded more away from home than in the entirety of 2020/21. Yeh, grim.

A sports psychologist would advise us not to dwell on previous transgressions though, and these are changed times. The Canaries conceded eight in the three games at Carrow Road that nearly did for David Wagner in the autumn. They’ve recovered to concede the same number in their next 14 at home.

And you might not find a more succinct summation of this crazy season of two halves than this. First 22 games: 39 conceded. The next 22 games? 22 conceded.

Going from shipping goals twice a game to once a game takes some doing, so how did we get here?

A less cavalier approach to the full-back roles, a return to form for Ben Gibson and Jack Stacey in the back four, and the introduction of Marcelino Nunez’s tenacity in midfield have undoubtedly helped.

So too, surely, has the steadying presence of Angus Gunn, who once again showed on Saturday why his pair of hands are reliably safe for Norwich.

It’s difficult to quantify the performances of a keeper, but the excellent FBref, external website does some of the work, using my old friend xG (expected goals) to determine how a goalkeeper has performed based on the quality of the chances they’ve saved and conceded.

Excluding own goals, Angus has let in 43 from an xG of 47.1 in the Championship this season, so has effectively saved the Canaries four goals (4.1 if we’re being pedantic) this season, the third best record in the division. 3.0 of that 4.1 has been since Boxing Day, and these numbers don’t even include his game-changing contribution against Bristol City yet.

The unfortunate Mr Hyde to Gunn’s Dr Jekyll is George Long, who by contrast conceded 2.9 more than the chances he faced. So a very crude statistical conclusion would be that Angus’ involvement has been worth seven goals across the season.

All told it’s now 37 Norwich City clean sheets for Angus, just 136 to go to catch his dad. Norwich City fans of a certain age will know that, to paraphrase John Lennon: happiness is an in-form Gunn.

Image source, Getty Images

Rob Butler and Chris Reeve are back with another Scrimmage on BBC Radio Norfolk (Monday, 18:00 GMT).

Special guests are former Canaries Declan Rudd and Ryan Jarvis.

The panel look ahead to the final two games of the Championship regular season, can City secure their play-off place?

You can subscribe to the podcast version of the show here.

Scrimmage co-host Chris Reeve reflects on a draw for the Canaries against Bristol City and issues a rallying cry ahead of the vital game against Swansea City (Saturday, 15:00 GMT).

Tune into The Scrimmage on BBC Radio Norfolk at 18:00 on Monday or subscribe to the podcast here.

Norwich City goalkeeper Angus Gunn said his team were happy with a point against a tough Bristol City side at Carrow Road in the Championship last Saturday.

The Canaries still have their play-off aspirations in their own hands with two games left. This Saturday they host Swansea (15:00 GMT) before a trip to Birmingham City seven days later (12:30 GMT).

Your views on Norwich City's home draw against Bristol City

Here are some of your thoughts on the Canaries 1-1 draw with Bristol City in the Championship on Saturday:

Mally - Not quite firing on all cylinders against an impressive Bristol City outfit. No harm done…assuming they get back on the horse next week v Swansea!

Jeremy - A draw wasn't too bad but Norwich City could of made it 2-1 before full time yesterday.

Peter - The gap to the chasers is still maintained with one less game for them to catch us, so not a bad result for the Canaries. Bristol City are a good side and in form so the draw was a reasonable result.

Mick - Lucky to get a draw. Bristol City looked fitter and sharper than us. Substitutions were defensive yet again. Bring back Paul lambert’s attitude.

Victor - With everyone fit, there's no need to go buying forwards and strikers. McLean needs some more midfield support, and so does the defence. Sorry to say it, Gibson does not make the grade for me, and I don't know why it has taken so long for this to be obvious. No new contract then. The Academy has produced good defenders, but then we let them go!

Shaun - It was very evident that the build up play is far too slow, too many passes between centre backs and Nunez dropping too deep, creating a back three which then made it too easy for the opposing team to overrun the midfield. There's too much reliance on Stacey to create the width on the right, hopefully Rowe can offer a bit more width once fully fit.

Now is your chance to ask BBC Radio Norfolk's Chris Goreham and Rob Butler any questions you have about Norwich City as we move towards an exciting end to the Championship season.

Chris is BBC Radio Norfolk's Norwich City commentator, Rob presents Canary Call and they have travelled hundreds of miles over the years covering the club.

Send us your questions about potential play-off opponents.

Or maybe you'd like to know how long Chris spends preparing for a commentary.

What is Rob's most memorable Canary Call? Now is your chance to find out.

Perhaps you'd just like to know how many bags of sweets they scoff on an away trip.

They will be answering your questions on this website at a special location, so stay tuned!

Send all your queries here.

Or email: thescrimmage@bbc.co.uk