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After battling my way round Marks & Spencers this morning I was dubious as to whether I had enough puff left to bike down to the ground this afternoon. However the habits of a lifetime are hard to break and although it was a little bit windy, conditions were otherwise fairly mild and dry so I gave it a go. The omens were good and having just watched our southern neighbours get a tonking at Elland Road I had a strong feeling that this was going to be a good Xmas. A small cheer went up from me when we lost the toss and kicked off towards the Barclay for a change. In the old days this was always the favoured choice and stood us in good stead for many years. In the early stages City dominated possession without really getting in any goal scoring positons and despite some nice accurate passing most of the play was across and in front of the Huddersfield defence and when the ball eventually came into the box the danger was easily snuffed out. The visitors were mostly set up behind the ball but did come forward in the sixth minute to win a corner and a free kick but they could do no better than find a header that went well over. City did eventually work a bit of space when Rowe burst clear but the move ended when Sara could only find the side netting when forced wide. It was obviously going to be a game of patience as City continued to look neat and tidy with the ball but couldn't find an opening in the visitors packed defence. Midway through the half Huddersfield did manage to exert a short period of dominance but the early pattern of the game reasserted itself and the home side almost snatched the lead when a Stacey cross from the right found Barnes unmarked and his firm header looked goal bound from my end, only for Maxwell to produce a fine save to his left. It was about as close as we had got to a goal first half and apart from a low shot from Nunez that went wide, there was little sign of a breakthrough. Just before the half ended, Gianoullis got a bang in the face it I wasn't surprised when he didn't appear second half. It looked better almost immediately when McCallum came on and linked up with Sainz down the City left and won a corner which Duffy couldn't get enough contact on. The ball ran out to the far side where Nunez retrieved and swung in a ball that McCallum headed into the net from a narrowish angle to give City the lead. Confidence now seemed to flow through the team and with Sara spraying passes right and left the crowd finally got behind the team and we had a few choruses of OTBC. Stacey then put in a lovely cross after a low ball had whistled across the face of goal without anyone getting a touch. Sainz glanced a header just wide then Rowe tested the visitors keeper with another low shot on target. There was little coming back the other way and I can't recall anything that troubled Gunn all afternoon. The introduction of McCallum seemed to have set Sainz alight and the visitors had to resort to a bit of rough house to keep him out more than once. We had Fassnacht and Idah on for Rowe and Hernandez just after the hour but it made little difference to the rythm of the game which was now mostly one way and just after seventy minutes Idah sprung away down the right and had time to look up and see Barnes haring down the middle. His quick low cross was a tad too strong but Barnes touch only set Sainz up and a touch and a shuffle inside was all that was required for the little winger to find space and curl a low shot beyond Maxwell for number two. After this it could easily have been three or four and one glorious move involving Sara and an Idah backheel almost ended with Hwang, who had just replaced Barnes, netting in the far top corner. Unfortunately it was a couple of feet wide. From here on the game was done and dusted and coupled with the 1p5wich result it meant a nice little Xmas present for those of us of the Yellow persuasion. I don't know if you can give a man who only had forty five minutes, MOM but I thought he really was surperb second half and was instrumental in getting the result. Sara and Nunez were again almost faultless and also a special mention for Onell who left it all out there on the pitch today. Hopefully this sets us up nicely for an improved second half of the season because we did look good today once the confidence returned and the crowd found their mojo. Happy Xmas and a prosperous New Year to all from Ricardo.

I genuinely think the hatred for Cantwell on here is simply akin to playground bullying. People don't like him because he's a bit different, has long hair and posts on social media. Honestly, the nonsense about his attitude is just people looking for sticks to beat him with. The fact is that he's better than most of the attacking midfielders we currently have and it's a shame for us that (for whatever reason) his time here faded out rather than getting the most out of him. It's incredibly childish to follow his career hoping for him to be anything other than successful.

The same ones that desperately wanted Farke out and then complained when his replacement didn't outperform our best performing manager for 30+ years, that they demanded was replaced? Stupid is, as stupid does.

6. Not being fit enough to keep up with play. Simon Hooper 7. Disallowing perfectly good goals. Simon Hooper 8. Not having the self-realisation that you are cr@p see above

A proper team

Anyone else at the game today notice the reaction of the crowd when Gibson came on? Doesn’t seem like many posted about it on the match thread but it was an absolutely dreadful reaction around me. Where I was sitting it sounded like a few boos but the most audible noise was a very loud collective groan / sigh. Like as if he’d already booted the ball out of play stupidly or something, but he was just… running on to the pitch? To be completely honest it sounded like it was coming from the whole stadium not just around me but I could be wrong. If any of this breed of idiot are posting on here then please just why? Our best home performance since the start of the season, the first time the fans and players have been pulling together in a long while and then that? What on Earth must Gibson feel like coming on to that?? And what about the rest of the players? I can’t fathom how they didn’t hear it. Just really poor from some of our fans, shame on you if this was you, do better!!

2-0 (Cantwell) Done and dusted! great stuff @GMF I’ll update everything when I get home

I like the fact that he takes responsibility. A bit like Emi he makes the rest of the team play quicker. He rarely plays a pointless sideways or backward pass and he unsettles the opposition with his movement. And he made w*nker signs at the Ipswich fans. A very good player indeed.

I’d have been delighted if we’d signed Ross Barkley.

And a DFS sale

Why wasn't Jesus born in Ipswich ? they couldn't find three wise men and a virgin

Feliz Natal from 🇧🇷 Merry 🎄 Christmas from Brazil for all the pinkun posters. Have a good one. I would love some snow ❄️ just now . On a beach ⛱️ just now in Bahia. Honestly it's far to hot 🔥 for Xmas.

Brilliant Christmas effort by our wonderful team of PUPs... 23/29 (1 void) winning PUPs 82% 17/23 (1 void) winning picks 77% Most profitable pick was @TheBaldOne66's Anderlecht at 1.64 @First Wazzock really is our 'Christmas Number One' as he leads all three leagues... PUP Wins Picks Win% Profit First Wazzock 19 21 90% 9.96 PurpleCanary 19 21 90% 1.51 Til1010 19 21 90% 1.38 Parma 19 21 90% 0.07 Feedthewolf 18 21 86% 7.12 WWIAFTM 18 21 86% 2.55 Jellytot 10 12 83% 1.12 Diane 17 21 81% 2.66 Kathy 17 21 81% 1.06 DJ11 17 21 81% 0.26 Hammond1612 17 21 81% -0.08 Cosmic Twin 17 21 81% -0.41 Indy 16 20 80% 2.88 Mandie Moo 15 19 79% 2.18 Hissing Sid 16 21 76% 1.42 Leedscanary 16 21 76% 0.51 NWC 15 20 75% 5.15 GMF 15 21 71% 1.34 Mr Angry 14 21 67% -0.74 Gregt 14 21 67% -2.68 TheBaldOne66 13 21 62% 1.67 nutty nigel 13 21 62% -1.29 Splutcho 11 18 61% 2.7 Twidio 11 18 61% -0.72 NFN FC 9 15 60% 1.91 MMMK 11 19 58% -0.93 Diesel Doris 12 21 57% -4.07 ------------------------------------------------------------------ PUP Wins Picks Win% Profit First Wazzock 19 21 90% 9.96 Feedthewolf 18 21 86% 7.12 NWC 15 20 75% 5.15 Indy 16 20 80% 2.88 Splutcho 11 18 61% 2.70 Diane 17 21 81% 2.66 WWIAFTM 18 21 86% 2.55 Mandie Moo 15 19 79% 2.18 Littleyellowbirdie 7 16 44% 1.95 NFN FC 9 15 60% 1.91 TheBaldOne66 13 21 62% 1.67 PurpleCanary 19 21 90% 1.51 Hissing Sid 16 21 76% 1.42 Til1010 19 21 90% 1.38 GMF 15 21 71% 1.34 Duncan Edwards 6 14 43% 1.16 Jellytot 10 12 83% 1.12 Kathy 17 21 81% 1.06 Leedscanary 16 21 76% 0.51 DJ11 17 21 81% 0.26 Parma 19 21 90% 0.07 ----------------------------------------------------------- December's PUP of the month going into the last weekend... PUP Wins Picks Win% Profit First Wazzock 4 4 100% 2.35 Indy 4 4 100% 1.1 Diesel Doris 4 4 100% 0.89 DJ11 4 4 100% 0.81 Diane 4 4 100% 0.66 Cosmic Twin 4 4 100% 0.57 Til1010 4 4 100% 0.55 PurpleCanary 4 4 100% 0.44 Parma 4 4 100% 0.29 Merry Christmas Everyone!

Merry Xmas. Kenny says hi too. He's round for pre-xmas dinner..

Binner

Todd at it again, lovely goal and the fans singing his name

To me its simple. Kenny in defence hqs sured up our defence, and also allowed improved performances from Duffy. That partnership is actually working, so.dont change it. I dont care if Gibson and Hanley are back, they'll have to wait for their chance. Prior to that Gibson and Duffy wasnt working, and we were leaking goals.for.fun, so that also dispells the myth a left footed CB should.come back in Moving Kenny from midfield has also allowed Nunez & Sara to create a more effective midfield, again which is working so dont change it. The only conundrum for.me is up.front with Sarg coming back. Id continue with Barnes at no.10 and Sarg up.front, else try Hwang at 10 as he was in form when he got injured. Both Hwang and Sarg give us better and stronger options up front than we currently have. Rowe and Sainz should start as our wingers. That, to me is our most balanced side

Another factor may be Webber going. If he treated staff like he treated the fans, maybe there is simply a happier atmosphere around the club.

They're the fans I really hope don't renew. Moreover I hope they're locked away somewhere as they're too thick to be allowed out in society. Having Gibson back, a ball playing defender, is good. He may not be starting immediately but I'd expect he will be used throughout this busy period. Before he was injured he was also performing considerable better than Duffy - who has since improved in this run. Why isn't Ben allowed the opportunity. And even then, how does it help booing the bloke? I cant help but feel there's still a good % of fans who wanted their blood so badly they just cant let it go.They wanted Wagner sacked and they half don't want him to succeed because then they'd look as stupid as...they actually are.

Easy answer, just ignore/unfollow/mute his social media if it annoys you There were obviously some issues while he was here but why on earth would anyone wish him anything other than well? The same folk who booed Gibson no doubt.

Merry Xgmas Hogesar😄 And also to all the lovely Pinkun posters here.

I don't understand the obsession, its bordering on very odd. However the reason I'm largely disinterested in Cantwell is because he was clearly completely disinterested in doing a decent job for us for his last 18 months here, which may also be the reason that some others have for wishing him ill will or not liking him.

Here's the thing you miss every time you quote me on Kenny. I watch him. I've watched him. I'm at every home game and some away. It just so happens that my opinion from watching him aligns with a long list of professional, experienced and proven managers, coaches, current players and ex players, as well as the stats you keep mentioning. Your opinion aligns with a couple of other PinkUn posters, who twist every subject about Kenny into some ego-protecting method. So Kenny outperforms all our CBs and all the Kenny haters can say is its because he's not in midfield. It's really funny if you take a step back and read it through. That is the difference. Merry Christmas though 🙃🙃 P.S having spoken to very recent ex players in person, I can guarantee they aren't fed up of Kenny. For them he's one of the first on the teamsheet.

Are you not able to watch and form your own opinion? When questioned about Kenny, managers have often responded by extolling his attitude or what he's like in the dressing room. I just look at him playing and know that if I was in that team I'd be pretty fed up with his wandering round out of position, giving the ball away in dangerous areas and general mediocrity. I don't think he, you or the managers are bad people, I just watch him playing as the years go by and form an opinion.

Merry Christmas to all. I hope some of this cheer rubs off on the misers and we all see a new year, new us for 2024. Could happen!

Merry Christmas Everyone. Not my words, the words of Shakin' Stevens.

We probably already have better on our books in mccracken barden and reyes

Leicester next, but that's probably not a big game, well depending on the result of course!

For those wishing to hear a charming Christmas song, then enter "the rudest Xmas song ever" into YouTube search - it should feature three ladies and a piano 😏 otherwise

I blame Webber. Look how long he has kept Hanley and Sargeant out of the team. As to us keep taking these breaks, missing game no wonder we are where we are. Why don't we play more games on a Friday, before the opposition get here. I mean come on

On the other side we're currently enjoying watching a talented winger in Sainz who Webber had identified and signed for us. We're suddenly excited about Hwang being back, a signing which was ridiculed (and let's be honest he did look poor to begin with). As with everything, it's not so black and white as some posters would love to make it.

Why does every manager, every ex-player and every current player want him starting then? That's the biggest question. That some of you think you know better than Farke, Smith, Wagner, their coaching staff, Lappin, Eddie, Holt, Gibson, Gunn, Sargent, I could go on...

If this is correct, I guess that will finish any lingering doubts about wether the Tories can stay in power Reform UK to challenge Tories in every seat at general election Nigel Farage’s fringe party pledges threatens to split the vote in election

Not a binner was stiring for they had been trouced! And at Carrow Road the balls had been put into the net with care for thankfuly McCallum and Sainz were there.

I enjoy watching other teams, who play attractive football, both domestically and internationally. But supporting them, no thanks, especially at international level. That's just wrong.

Not sure what that's got to do with supporting a different international side than your nationality. I'm mean you do you but an Englishman (again assuming) supporting Argentina is, well weird 🤷‍♂️

At championship levels, Dimi has been very consistent. He’s the one I’d rather keep tbh.

100% this, it’s a proper Jekyll and Hyde situation. I honestly would look into a bit of sports psychology for the guy. The way he played from the bench yesterday was how we want him all the time.

I must say, a superb save by their keeper https://www.skysports.com/football/norwich-city-vs-huddersfield-town/report/484971

I don't think anyone can dispute Webber got it absolutely, and possibly miraculously, spot on during his first couple of seasons with us. At the same time, I think him taking personal credit for our improvement in facilities (which IMO any vaguely competent business leader would have put in place), despite our shockingly poor recruitment and delivery at Prem level is a bit hard to digest. I am glad he's gone because we now have someone wholly committed to the role again. Is it really a coincidence that things have improved so much since Knapper has entered the building?

Daniel at Leeds and Webber climbing more hills. Let’s see who’s most in demand in the coming years.

I can't understand the stick. He's really not that bad.

You were bang on! Well done!

Ah, we make it just one loss in 8 and one of the first threads is a winge and a moan moan moan Classic. Love this place

Warning! - Incoming Management Consultancy Bafflegab.... First, my usual disclaimers: - 1. I know little or nothing about football 2. I am not and never have been a supporter of NCFC. 3. I very rarely visit Norwich (except for N&N U H, like everybody else). If that doesn’t get me banned already maybe I can hastily add that I would hate to see your football club fail and I will help if I can. As Parma has observed, things have moved on with the NCFC Governance issue, which I don’t mean to take up again except to note that there are things that in my view that remain sub-optimal, both in the matter of Boardroom decision making and maybe also in the setting and measuring of corporate goals. One worrisome thing I have not really thought about before was prompted by Parma writing that football is an emotional affair. Of course it is and on the pitch and in the stands emotion and drama are obviously very evident and arguably useful. However, I have seen more than one Boardroom where the result of an emotionally biased decision has been catastrophic. To be kind, it seems quite possible that prior to the arrival of MA the unusual social dynamics of the NCFC Boadroom were liable to influence some decisions, possibly even key ones. If so, this needed to be eliminated and with the arrival of both MA and BK this is likely to have happened. Serious decisions need clear and dispassionate heads using reality-based information. Onwards and upwards! Next, I want to look back at the confusion in the various stated purposes of the organisation as revealed by Sheff. After some thought, I would submit now that none of these is a purpose, each one is a desired outcome. This is fine, but It is up to the Board to decide what this is to be and to put in place the means by which it is to be achieved. As a young Engineer I was always advised that when in a complex and confusing situation one should always look to add more simplicity. When faced with a seemingly baffling question one of the ways to do this is to stop looking for the elusive answer and start looking at the question itself. Often that is where the Gordian Knot is to be found. Maybe we can do that. Is not he existential question facing the organisation “How do we achieve our desired outcome?” Here are some simplifying thoughts: - · If the desired outcome is to avoid relegation there is only one determinant. The acquisition of sufficient points. If the desired outcome is to be safe in the present league there is only one determinant. The acquisition of sufficient points. If the desired outcome is to be in the playoff group there is only one determinant. The acquisition of sufficient points. If the desired outcome is to become an established member of EPL there is only one determinant. The acquisition of sufficient points. If this bit of analytical simplicity is valid then it seems very clear that the acquisition of sufficient points is the permanent vital existential question for the Board and for every agenda item in every Board meeting the (unfortunately non-existent) Chairman should ask “How does this decision influence our ability to empower our people to accrue the points total we must attain?” It goes without saying that the best way to secure points should at all times be at the forefront of the thinking of the D of F and the HC (and it probably is already, one would hope). The most effective way for a football club to maximise its points is another controversial issue of corporate ethical behaviour, of course. See this Forum for details. In the above ramblings I have deliberately used the vague “Sufficient” in referring to the points needed. This will not do for a real-time manager. In the jargon “You get what you measure”. How to do this? You need to know: - 1. Where you hoped to finish up at the end of the season (aka desired outcome) 2. What does that mean historically in terms of points? 3. Where you hoped you would be now 4. Where you are now Of these, the desired outcome is an essential Board level decision. At the very simplest level the rest is down to the D of F and the HC to plot a straight line(?) graph, monitor the points accrual, compare it with the needful and take whatever actions are required. It is also possible, though more troublesome and maybe not necessary, to do a more complex analysis involving an educated judgement of best and worst likely outcome of each upcoming group of matches and to plot an envelope of expected likely outcomes with which to compare your actuals (an arithmetic development of Parma’s percentages). More on this and the use of RMS calculation to predict the values of the most likely outcomes within the best-estimated envelope if anybody is interested. This is straight out of the playbook of predicting the most likely outcome of the Critical Path Programme of a major project. OTT for this situation? Probably. Since finding this Forum two years ago I have much enjoyed reading about matters of your consuming interest, especially in this always thought-provoking thread. Some fascinating and perceptive contributions from so many of you. My thanks go especially to Il Professore di Parma himself. I intend to print all his essays and store them in my bookcase between “Finnegans Wake” and the Book of Revelation in the hope that one day I might pretend to understand at least a part of one of the three! Meanwhile the Seasons Greetings and good wishes to you all – I wish I could tag and thank everybody personally but I don’t know how to do those blue @ rectangle identification things. You know who you are anyway, but if I find out how to use them I’ll do an edit. Yours ever, Microdon... (The very smallest ever Horrible Lizard, now almost completely fossilised)

I do like a bit of this.

Exactly that's why Managers like Players like Mclean / Sarge so much , Sarge stuck on wing after a good start gave 100 % even though he wanted to be playing in middle and pukki was out of form you can ask Kenny to play LB he will give 100 % play CDM gives 100 % not his positions but will do it for the team might not be good enough might have a bad game etc but will give 100 % Professional football is not park football if you are picked out of position you should not throw toys out of pram and not want to play etc or not do what manager wants Todd was kissing the badge of Rangers fans loved him but they will not put up with lack of being a professional