Norwich City

Opinion: 'On the Bawl, City'

It’s been a weird old season down Norwich way. Netflix must be kicking themselves for not basing themselves in NR1 for this campaign.

Just imagine it. Netflix presents… “On the Bawl, City”. (They can have that one for nothing).

So, to summarise… first, we were okay, then we were rubbish, then we were kind-of-OK but (it felt like) everyone hated each other, then Delia told us we’re ‘whiners and moaners’, then we swapped sporting directors and improved, then David Wagner told some supporters to stay home, and now, despite it all, we find ourselves just a point shy of the playoff places with 11 games to go.

Make of that what you will.

While we have the same number of points we had after 35 games last season and are one place worse off, it feels different this time around in a good way. (Famous last words?)

For a start, we have a striker who is ticking along at a goal-per-game and, whether folk in the River End like it or not, from the ashes of our bleak autumn and mid-winter, a style of play has finally emerged that appears to be striking that tricky balance between attacking football and defensive solidity. (More famous last words?)

Amid it all, and triggered by the aforementioned outburst by Wagner when he blew his lid as a result of some booing, a call for calm betwixt club and supporter (or some supporters) was proposed by the Canaries Trust and largely heeded. Since said intervention, the Carrow Road atmosphere has markedly improved and there’s even a sense of bonhomie in the Norfolk air.

Except, for a few, this is not enough.

The call for calm appears only to have been heeded by those of us deemed ‘whingers and moaners’. Those who were spared Delia’s ire and who remain staunchly loyal to her and the club, still appear determined to maintain an ‘us and them’ divide.

At the weekend, a minor incident involving Kenny McLean, who had a pop at some Carrow Road fans who were having a pop at him – the type you see in most grounds at some point during every season – was discussed by many and is still being mentioned four days later.

After the same game, Wagner did an impersonation of a stereotypical Norwich fan urging his players to “get it forward” but, again, it did little to smooth the same fractious relationship we’re all trying to mend.

The funny thing is, as mentioned earlier, the Carrow Road crowd has heeded the call for calm and more fervent support. The response has been nothing but positive. Noise levels are better and moans generally few and far between.

But if Team Delia are awaiting a home crowd that shows not the slightest hint of discontent at any point in any game, regardless of what they are watching, then they could be in for a very long wait.

The passion that comes with being a football supporter renders that impossible. Sorry.

Maybe season 2023-24 NCFC-style is destined to be fractious to the bitter end after all.

Norwich City striker Josh Sargent has made an explosive return to action since recovering from a long-term injury in December 2023.

The USA international has scored eight goals in 12 games.

Canaries' head coach David Wagner says 'Sarge' is one of the best forwards he has ever worked with:

Professional singer and Norwich City fan Leon Mallett was the special guest on this week's Scrimmage.

This led to a sing-off with Chris Reeve. Ear-plugs at the ready for when he sings!

You can listen to the full podcast here.

More of your views on Norwich City

Here's some more of your recent thoughts on the Canaries.

David Wagner has amused some supporters with his impression of an "English football fan":

Leigh - As usual, his comments are correct. I just wish he’d done a Norfolk accent when he said it. “Naark ut laarng!”

Simon - My thoughts, like many Norwich supporters who pay each season: Wagner, we cannot play from the back, the players do not have the skill-set to do it. Check your record and you will see we have conceded too many goals from poor defence mistakes.

Lisa - Norwich certainly have a patience-and-pounce style of play - they have their own way of moving up the pitch and ultimately getting the ball over the line. It might not be fast and forthright, but they nearly always find a way to score.

Mike - When we did put the ball in the box we scored - enough said!

Shirley - I think he is wrong. What we want to see is players going forward and scoring goals , that’s entertainment which is what we go for!

Frosty - It was not about playing the ball forward quicker but having the vision to see a player in space. A little later after the incident it was played into the space and a cross led to the goal. This is what is frustrating - the lack of vision. It happened a lot on the first half as well when Stacey had lots of space but was not given the ball.

Justin - With respect to the McLean incident, the issue was not about getting the ball into the box, it was about moving the ball quicker and looking for players in space. I have been to nearly every home game and it is always the same. They never see the players on the touch line on the opposite side of the dugout.

The Scrimmage co-host Chris Reeve has been singing the praises of Norwich City defender Ben Gibson.

The centre-back will line up against his old club Middlesbrough when the Canaries head to the North-East on Wednesday in The Championship (19.45 GMT).

You can listen to the full Scrimmage podcast here.

Your views on Norwich City 1-0 Sunderland

We asked for your views on Norwich City's vital win over Sunderland at Carrow Road on Saturday.

Also, we asked for your thoughts on midfielder Kenny McLean appearing to gesture towards a small group of supporters in the South Stand. They were seemingly telling him to play the ball quicker.

Here's what some of you had to say:

Josh - We just need to keep winning games and hopefully we can secure play-offs. Good job Kenny.

Steve - There were many times Norwich stopped the ball and looked around rather than play the ball quickly, so I expect that was a managerial instruction. As for Kenny, he got the ball back about 30 seconds later and did make that pass, getting a cheer from the crowd. All mended now.

Freddie - Delighted we were able to grind that result out in a game that certainly wasn’t pretty. 12 wins out of 18 now at home and that could be what gets us over the line. Really favourable run of matches now for the rest of the month. It’s our spot to lose, and now given the fact we’re unbeaten in six, why don’t we belong in that top six? Dare to dream.

Nick - We were right to shout at the team, he was right to gesture. He was also man of the match in my opinion (goodness knows how they chose Sainz).

Barry - As a lifetime supporter I can see why the frequent passing back when there are clearly options of more attacking passes gets negative reactions. If supporters are so engrossed in the game, such thoughts can quickly turn into words. I could never accept unkind words being uttered, but supporters have a right to voice some thoughts such as that.

Chris - Grinding out results. Our fans seem to easily forget we won so many games under previous managers with late goals. We are in great form heading for the play-offs and our fans are not happy - just seems really strange. Keep doing what they’re doing, if you ask me!

David - Even though I have a better view of the the pitch than Kenny McLean, the evidence shows that he can spot the pass better than I can. He also has a better football brain than me. I am sure that Kenny won't let it bother him too much; we all want to see the ball in the net. But as Wagner said, we are not all players or managers.

Tulsa - You learn far more from a gritty, resilient 1-0 win than you do from comprehensive victories. The result against Sunderland has made me more confident about reaching the play-offs than the wins against Watford & Cardiff. I firmly believe we can win all our remaining home games. Win a couple of the away games as well and that might just be enough.

John - Re fans booing and being abusive towards players - this “I’ve paid my money, so I’m entitled to say what I want” argument is childish rubbish. There are loads of places you pay to get into, but that doesn’t entitle you to go around shouting at the staff.

Martin - People should get off David’s Wagner’s back. He is a good manager and seems like a really nice guy. So give him a chance. We should also give Sydney van Hooijdonk more game time. Get him up to speed. Not sure we are ready for the play-offs. But I will be behind the team no matter what.

Norwich City head coach David Wagner has been speaking to the media ahead of the Middlesbrough game on Wednesday (19.45 GMT).

Here are some of the key points:

• Midfielder Kenny McLean is "nearly back to normal" following back problems

• Chilean international Marcelino Nunez could make the squad for Boro but is more likely to be back for Rotherham game on Saturday

• Winger Onel Hernandez does not require any further surgery on his broken foot but will still be out until the end of the season

• "We really liked how we defended and how high up the pitch we kept our line." Wagner said he was happy with the performance against Sunderland

• Wagner said despite recent results for Boro, his side won't underestimate them

• Norwich were thrashed at Middlesbrough last season,Wagner says that was a different time and both clubs are in different situations now

• On Ben Gibson: "He has shown a different style in his game recently." Gibson began his career at Middlesbrough and was born in the town

• On Josh Sargent: "He ranks as maybe the best (I have worked with). I still think he is not on his top level fitness-wise but he is on the way. He is the complete striker with all the attributes he has"

Opinion: Plotting a route to the top six

Steve Sanders, NCFC Numbers, external

And so, with 11 games of the regular season to go, Norwich City find themselves on 55 points after a tight but important win against a play-off rival.

A statement that’s true today, but one that would have been 12 months ago too. Following their win at Millwall, the Canaries were on exactly the same points tally at exactly the same stage.

City fans will hardly need reminding, but what followed in 2023 was faintly catastrophic, with the seven points they mustered from that point their worst tally in the final 11 games of a season outside the top flight for 59 years.

That nightmare run started with a chastening 1-0 defeat at home to Sunderland, and the Canaries reversal of that result on Saturday – thanks to Josh Sargent’s four-touch foxtrot and improvement of his mad minutes-per-goal record this season , external– at least helped put the Black Cats in the rearview mirror. Last season’s win at Carrow Road put them within three points of Norwich City, a deficit they’d overhaul on their way to sixth place. After yesterday, they are a distant eight points behind Norwich City, who sit in seventh.

There’s one difference from this stage last year at least. That aforementioned win at the New Den in 2023 lifted the Canaries into the play-offs after 35 games, whereas this year they are still a point behind Hull in 6th.

What might we realistically need then? Well, in the last 30 years, the points total for the team finishing in sixth has averaged out at 73.5 (that Sunderland team last season were only the second in those 30 seasons to get there with fewer than 70). However, this is looking like it could be a lower than average year – thanks in part to the relentless work of the top four, and a more keenly fought relegation battle.

So much of this is dependent on what Norwich City’s play-off rivals – West Brom, Preston, and Hull in particular – do from hereon in of course, but if it goes the way of history, then 74 points might well be enough. That’s 19 more from the final 11 games, or a record of 5-4-2.

As fate would have it, their two upcoming fixtures this week are repeats of two of their most ruinous in the eleven game denouement in 2022/23: Middlesbrough away and Rotherham at home. To finish by stating the obvious; copy the 5-1 defeat and 0-0 draw from those games last year, and that 19-point goal is going to look significantly trickier.

Reevo Reacts - reflecting on a huge win for Norwich City

Here's the first of a brand new feature on the BBC Sport Canaries page - Reevo Reacts.

BBC Radio Norfolk's Chris Reeve gives his first thoughts on City's important 1-0 win over Sunderland on Saturday.

You can hear more from Chris when he joins Rob Butler and special guests for The Scrimmage at 18.00 GMT on Monday, the podcast available here.

Norwich City striker Josh Sargent a target for Brentford?

Brentford are considering a move for Norwich City's 24-year-old United States striker Josh Sargent as they prepare for the potential departure of England forward Ivan Toney, 27, who is interesting Chelsea and Arsenal. (Football.London), external

Is it a sign?

The Canaries are one point off the Championship play-off places with 11 games to play.

During Norwich City's 1-0 win over Sunderland on Saturday, midfielder Kenny McLean reacted to some fans in the South Stand who were urging him to get the ball forward quicker.

David Wagner had this to say about the incident:

What do you make of Wagner's comments?

Let us know by clicking here.

You can listen to a full interview with the City boss here.

Image source, Getty Images

Norwich City are just one point off the Championship play-off places following a 1-0 win over Sunderland at Carrow Road on Saturday.

Josh Sargent scored the only goal, he's now scored in the last seven league games at Carrow Road that he's played in.

We'd love to hear your thoughts on City's improving chances of promotion.

Plus, what did you make of Kenny McLean gesturing at fans who were urging him to play the ball quicker?

Get in touch with your comments here.

Darren Kenton's views on Norwich 1-0 Sunderland

Norwich City beat Sunderland on Saturday and are now one point off the Championship play-off places.

Darren Kenton was BBC Radio Norfolk's summariser, here are some of his full-time thoughts:

"It's all about the three points.

"No one is really going to say that the performances weren't good if Norwich make it into the play-offs and get promoted - they will always take the three points over the performance."

He continued, "They know they (Norwich) can do a lot better than they did today"

You can listen to more from Darren Kenton on BBC Radio Norfolk's Canary Call post-match phone-in with Rob Butler here.

Image source, Getty Images

Here's the answer to our regular pre-match quiz.

The question was set by BBC Radio Norfolk's Chris Goreham:

Gabriel Sara has nine assists in the league for Norwich City this season, then four players are tied on four each. Can you guess which ones?

The answers are:

Jack Stacey

Dimitris Giannoulis

Kenny McLean

Ashley Barnes

Well done if you got it right!

Norwich City host Sunderland in The Championship on Saturday (15.00 GMT).

The Canaries have 12 games left and will be looking to sustain their play-off push with a win.

You can listen to live commentary with BBC Radio Norfolk on FM, DAB and Freeview.

OPTA have provided some statistics ahead of the Canaries hosting the Black Cats on Saturday (15.00 GMT):

• Norwich have lost their last three home league games against Sunderland – they had been unbeaten in their previous 10 at Carrow Road against the Black Cats (Won 7, Drawn 3)

• Sunderland are looking to complete their first league double over Norwich City since the 1984-85 top-flight campaign

• Norwich City have won seven of their last nine home league games, including the last four in a row. The Canaries last won five in a row at Carrow Road in April 2019

• Sunderland have lost seven of their last 12 away league matches (W1, D4), including each of the last two. They haven’t lost more in a row since December 2019 (four)

• Norwich have scored a direct free kick in each of their last two league games against Cardiff (Gabriel Sara) and Blackburn (Marcelino Núñez) – the last side to do so in three successive Championship games was Sheffield United in April 2008

Norwich City head coach David Wagner has rallied the fans ahead of Saturday's crucial Championship clash with Sunderland at Carrow Road (15.00 GMT).

The Canaries are currently seventh in the table and three points off the play-off places with 12 games to go.

Here's part two of former Norwich City manager Alex Neil being interviewed by BBC Canary Call host Rob Butler.

Neil also managed Sunderland and the two teams meet in the Championship on Saturday (15.00 GMT).

He had play-off glory with both clubs:

You can watch part one of the interview with Alex Neil here.