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On Sunday my father died aged 90. Throughout his life he supported Norwich and introduced me to the highs and lows of being a supporter. I have subsequently introduced my son. He was born into a farming family and was one of nine in the Waveney valley where you either go north or south. He would bike eight miles to Diss train station to attend games as a boy because his father would not take him in the car as he was an 1p5wich fan. His fondest memories of following the team were undoubtedly the 59' cup run. I am unsure how many years Dad was a season ticket holder for, being a season ticket holder was more rare in his early life and not necessarily needed to attend, but he regularly followed Norwich for over 80 years. After the South Stand was built my father, son and me were able to sit together for almost twenty years which was very special. That to me was so nostalgic as I first stood on the terraces in the South Stand with Dad in the 60s and early 70s. Most seasons we would go to a few away games as well and we have witnessed some incredible games through the years. The day at Wembley in 2015 was incredible and I have a fabulous photo of us all on the platform at Wembley Park. The night at Portaloo Road was also very special when we beat them 5-1! The club has lost a loyal supporter but he has passed the baton onto me and my son.

Lovely post and I'm very sorry for your loss. I similarly got to go to Carrow Road with my father for many seasons before he passed, those memories are incredibly special to me as I'm sure yours are to you and your son.

And some people said 'what's the point' when the players did the 'how to pronounce my name' bit earlier in the season!

I think there is some real nitpicking going on here to be honest. In another game the penalty never happens as Long doesn't have a rush of blood to the head and challenge for a ball he had no right to go for, and the second goal is saved easily (I think Long deserves much more criticism for letting that one in vs the penalty which 'can happen'). For the majority of the game we were in complete control, and it wasn't just possession for possessions sake either, we were constantly probing and asking questions of Preston. 9/10 those two moments don't go in Preston's favour and we win that game comfortably. I'm going to stick my head above the parapet and state that I enjoy watching Hoff's team more than Farke's, there is a clear plan with a much more vertical progression than we saw under Farke, plus he isn't afraid to switch systems to either close a game down or try to win it. We never really saw that under Farke, and I'd love to see Hoff earn some of the success we saw a few years ago.

You saved the club from administration and devoted years of your life running the club according to the highest sporting and ethical values. You resisted the easy option to sell out to the kind of fly-by-night asset stripper that has ruined many other clubs. I will not be alone in being eternally grateful that you had the resolve to cope with cheap criticism for your determination that the club should be run according to sound financial principles, and a proper local club mentality. Your dedication and generosity will ensure your legacy will be appreciated for decades to come. As owners of NCFC go you will be legendary as true fans who put their love of the club before all considerations of personal financial gain. Thank you!

Fully agree. Funny moment of the night was when Johannes joked that he said to Glenn after 15 mins of the Preston game “What say we F off home?” 😂

As someone who also has had the pain of losing a father I feel for you. Sorry for your loss. Sounds like you have a lot of good memories to look upon

I quite liked the article until the writer mentioned, it starts with stickers and ends with burning down mosques. How absolutely ridiculous and completely wet. ACN, you may not like the politics of some of our fans, but don’t automatically associate those with right leaning politics to be confirmed hate crime initiators.

It's also interesting to note the complete lack of gratitude from some fans for effectively donating millions of pounds to the club that they could have kept for themselves. I get that some fans feel they held onto their ownership for too long, and that's fine, but on this of all days can we not focus on the positives? They've had 25 years of being lambasted from pillar to post by some ungrateful fans, and now they've passed the torch on in the most selfless way possible and they're still copping for a load of flak from some quarters. There have been good times, there have been bad times. There have been good decisions, there have been bad decisions. But in this era of hyper-inflation of transfer fees and television rights, the total monetisation of the beautiful game, how many professional clubs can say they've been owned by local people who are genuine, passionate fans, for more than a quarter of a century? They still come and chat to the supporters in the bar after the match, even though they're in their 80s. If you only want to focus on the negatives of those 25+ years, this probably isn't the thread for you.

And as of today, we're just like everybody else. As foreign billionaires go, I think we could have done worse. I hope the move brings us success. But I liked that we were trying to do diff'rent and, though sad we couldn't quite ever compete at the top in the batshıt world of 21st century football, I will cherish the successes on D&M's watch. While in the future we may well do better than we did under Worthington, Lambert and Farke, I'm not sure it will mean as much. Still, On the Ball City.

Thought I'd bump everyone's favourite thread as I updated the 10 game rolling xG/xGA graph, made it on Monday so doesn't have last night's on but as we were 10 games in it seemed the right time to finally update. Generally good signs I feel, numbers do include penalties so perhaps a little inflated over the past few games. Big question for me revolves around our shot totals, we've been running quite a high xG per shot (unsustainably so maybe). We're not shooting at volume like other sides do, if those numbers come up I'd been even more confident long term. It's been a theme a lot of the year that the final third hasn't quite clicked fully, lots of good work up to that point but not necessarily sharp enough in carving out chances consistently.

Correct, I think, from both of you. Particularly away at home, which coincides with our poorer passing performances. Essentially, it's not a personnel problem but a system 'problem'. In that Doyle tucks inside to overload the midfield area and as Jim says, doesn't have the pace to get back but, even with pace, would still be an issue. The problem comes when we then lose the ball cheaply in our central build-up-phase. In games where we've been on it and not had those cheap turnovers, the system is excellent. As with any manager's system it's likely a risk / reward scenario and ultimately if we can be better on the ball away from home I don't think we see the same defensive issues.

That second goal didn't look good - you'll not find a better example of a goalie's reach exceeding his grasp than that. Played all round it. First goal - anyone blaming him for not saving the penalty hasn't got a clue. The problem was a very ill-advised rush out to a striker going away from goal. That looked like the classic "too pumped up" sort of move from a nervous stopper coming in.

I would say that sticking up political stickers at any football game is f*cking stupid but so is the article which essentially declares anyone who doesn't agree with their political view is a coke-head racist nazi

He could do worse though, and then we'd end up with both backup keepers confidence being shot which isn't good for the backline. If we have to endure Long for one more match, then so be it. If Gunn was out longer, then I think giving Mair a try would make more sense. But for a one off match I think there's more risk than benefits personally. I don't think Gunn is all that great to be honest, he's allowed shots to go through him as Long has and he's also not the most dominant keeper. I think that just makes it even more disappointing that Long isn't able to push him for number one spot when coming in.

At a guess probably roughly when he started singing Hitler Jugend songs at school.🤔

I was lucky to have a few words with Thorup at the end and said , like you do, how brilliantly well I thought he’s doing. He gripped my shoulder and said NO!! it’s how well we’re all doing - players , fans , back room staff etc. Christ - got to love that !! 💛💚

Yes . Superb . Thanks NCFSC. Johannes and Glen were seriously impressive , very open and honest. I was a believer anyway, now I’m totally all in. We’re in excellent hands. OTBC .

Very sorry for your loss. You will have lovely memories being with him that will stay forever. One of my favourite memories was the night we got promoted under Worthington, as a very young man still living at home, I was with my Mother at home and on Anglia news it mentioned a reserve game that was happening but also playing was the team in 3rd (I think Sunderland but cannot really remember) and we would be promoted if they didn't win, my mother said "shall we go?" (she had a passing interest, but nothing major, my father and I had a season ticket). We went, and Sunderland(?) didn't win and we had a lovely time and celebrated with Delia coming on the pitch at the end. My mother died not too long after in her early 50's. I am so glad we did that and I often think about it. Edit - to add, I have no idea what happened in the reserve game, we didn't really pay much attention but generally just had a fun time following the team in 3rd and the atmosphere created.

Rather proves how little the PinkUn boys really understand about football rather than a reflection on how he played. 91% pass completion, 102 accurate, 17 into the final third, 2 Interception, 10 recoveries, 3 blocks.........more a 7 or 8 than a 5.

Lovely post. I have not been to Carrow Road since my father passed as it was something we did together. All away games now. However, my sons want to visit Norwich to see a game and it will be a pleasure to take them.

Good cover for Nunez, I'd start him on Sunday.

We have to trust their judgement - we’ve specialist coaches who clearly think Long is ok and the best bet. I seem to have been labelled an apologist for him - it seems mainly because I don’t slate him, but I just don’t tend to do that to players. I don’t think he’s great, but nor as bad as most; my main point has always been that I’ve seen Gunn play badly and cost multiple goals in games with barely a mention, and it feels extremely unfair on Long to criticise any and every match he plays. But I guess it’s also the way of things.

So, a bit of a 'stating my own biases' here. I saw these stickers at Derby and when I had a chance ripped a couple down. I don't like them. I don't like the club badge next to pictures of Farage specifically. I don't like the idea it suggests Norwich City FC as a whole are 'on the charge' with that ****. I've also got no doubt the people sticking these up have probably at some point complained about 'too much politics in football.' On the flip side, outside of doing what I did, I'm not really sure what can be done about it. I don't like reform but I don't think people should be reported to authorities or banned from going to games for supporting a political party I don't like or agree with.

They've owned the club since I was in Primary school... I'm 37 now. Sure they have flaws, their biggest one being they are loyal to a fault, and we saw that time and again. They are fundamentally just decent human beings and that didnt always work in their favour in the cut-throat world of football. They've copped a lot of **** over the time they've owned the club..... deserved some of it, been very hard done by on other occassions, but through it all, they've acted with nothing but dignity,class and the best interests of the club at heart (except maybe the dignity/class for a fleeting moment live on sky 20 years ago). They might have got it wrong at times, but I fully believe that they did what they thought was right for the club at every turn. And now today, they have effectively given the club to people they believe will continue to act in the best interests of the club. They could have just sold the club and banked whatever they could get from some Saudi consortium. They've chosen to give the club away in order to allow us to wipe the debts; instead of pocketing tens of millions for themselves. Anybody complaining about them today, is a total ****. They've not got everything right, but **** me they have tried and been incredibly generous securing the future of our football club. Say what you like, but without their involvement, we may not have a football club to support today. Might not have always been brilliant, but **** me, what a wild ride it has been supporting the club during their tenure as owners. Nothing but gratitude for everything they've done for the club and the way they are leaving. They've been amazing.

Interesting interview today on SSN 11.00 pm. Working for multi national companies e.g. Microsoft in providing his expertise concerning advising on psychology for workers and management. And working with a Championship side not revealed. Passed degree whilst at City, has a masters in psychology. One of the most succesful people to have played for City.

Beautiful post Mutley in such sad circumstances. Must’ve been very emotional for you . My sincere condolences. Pretty sure your father would mightily approve of your post. And you have such great memories ! Shared memories through the generations are such wonderful poignant things. Binds us together so strongly , pretty much what’s it’s all about really I reckon. I’m 60 now but every single time I cross Carrow bridge on the way to a game, I think of myself as a 7 year old desperately clinging on to my father’s hand on the way to my first game. So excited and scared but just so pleased to be with my Dad. And my own sons clinging on to mine when they went with me to their first games. Hairs on the back of your neck stuff. Football in life at it’s finest .

Win on Sunday & we should be in the top 6.

Goalkeepers make mistakes. I refer you all to Daniel Bachmann for Watford at Leeds, and Meslier himself at Leeds. These are not bad goalkeepers. We should actually all be much more concerned with the ease at which both Stoke and Preston took advantage of our weakness in closing down the ball into the channels and the lack of pace we have in our defence, whoever is playing there. I'm sure Long is well aware that he could have played better but changing the goalkeeper isn't necessarily the solution; we have only two clean sheets this season from 11 games - no team which concedes this many goals gets promotion. Gunn was in goal for 8 and a half of those games. This isn't a moan - Thorup is doing a fantastic job and I'm very excited by the Wilshere appointment - I just think everyone needs to lay off our players, at least whilst this system beds in. We have some great young players and they may take some time to get consistency into their game but Fisher, Cordoba, Chrisene, Doyle etc have already shown they can play and we should all be a bit more patient. We've already seen much better football in 11 games than we saw in the previous 100 or so. NB The Preston forum is full of praise for "that no 23, what a player he is". I believe he is another message board scapegoat....

Yeah, he made a pretty good block on a shot in the six yard box in the second half, you could hear it clearly-saved a certain goal as it was headed straight for Long 🤣

Sorry for your loss. But those memories ❤️

Anyone who frequented Delaney's bar in the early/mid 00s would struggle to believe that Macca is now a psychologist and Phil Mulryne a priest. But fair to play to the both of them, through hard work and dedication they appear to have found happiness and purpose in their lives/professions.

A wonderful tribute to your Dad. Sunday will be emotional for you I am sure.

I feel for you but you have alot to thank him for . Imagine if he had gone the other way !! Smile at that thought. My boat is very very similar , could have gone either way but i was taken north and not south. On a slightly different note isnt this what football should be about and not the financial race that it now is . The terraces filled with dads and their offspring , collecting those programs and the hope of an autograph or two ? Look back at those great games and like me give an extra secret smile to those that are not with us when we pop another one in our favorite goal.

Sorry for your loss mate.

To be decent shot stoppers as a minimum. People keep saying 'yeah but he's a backup' but he's a poor even for a back up. I can forgive rustiness and I agree the Stoke goal was a tough one for him but rustiness doesn't excuse the second goal last night- you expect keepers to make that save 99 times out of 100. Essentially he lets in far too many goals for the shots he faces, even in comparison to other backups in the division.

Was going to add this to last nights game thread but think worth a separate conversation. Some have said we are still conceding too many goals (let’s not go into Long’s ability/liability again) or are at least too vulnerable out wide. I think part of the issue is the desire to play Doyle, Cordoba and Duffy at same time. Doyle has been generally excellent but his main weakness is pace and that is a bigger issue as a fullback. I’d guess that when we bought him we expected that either Cordoba could take longer to settle or Duffy wouldn’t be good enough so Doyle would be a first choice CB. But actually all 3 have been very good. Normally I expect the answer would be to play 3 CBs with wing backs but ironically this doesn’t work at moment because of Fishers emergence. He is the opposite of a wing back as he seems more adapt at stepping inside. When all selected are playing well we can get away with it, but basically shown in last 2 games if Fisher or Doyle are struggling a bit then it becomes an issue. In some ways it’s a nice conundrum to have and FAR better than mulling over which two to play out of Hanley, Gibson and Duffy!

It's largely the bit in bold. In theory, an inverting full-back should be screening the centre-halves somewhat and moreover, defence and deeper-lying midfielders should be beating the press and turning them around. Preston pressed excellently in that first twenty but it took a fair bit out of them, and it was telling that they started both halves well and couldn't keep it up. But it was harder as we didn't have a defensive midfielder who could break up the play and pass through the lines. That said, if both full-backs are inverting it can get a bit crowded in that space in front of the centre-halves and that can make it easier for attackers to press unless the passing is absolutely on point and players are that yard ahead of their men.

It's ball retention that's the issue, but we're improving so much on that level. I think the problem last night is that instead of having Nunez who is now confident in his ability and so much more measured in the balls he plays, we had players like Marcondes, Gordon & Forsyth trying to show their worth by trying too much and giving away possession. You can't aways regulate for the odd mistakes as per Cordoba and Duffy made, but they sit on top of the others and it soon weighs up to a lot of unwanted turnover of possession. Just needs time for everyone to be comfortable and realise that in this system less is more, and it's as a unit that our strength lies. I think Nunez is a perfect example of that, he's constantly moving around without actually feeling the need to extend or do too much on the ball. I think Kenny has always been brilliant at it too, both players do their best to ensure that whoever is on the ball has an easier option to pass to.

Can he play in goal?

Oh, ok - well, supoorters are never wrong. Are they.

I don’t think Long is a good championship keeper, but then he’s our backup so…yea. He’s made a big error today but then so do a lot of keepers, especially when getting up to speed. Krul always looked like he had one in him and he was a far superior keeper. I feel like there’s a lot of confirmation bias going on. He was doing a lot right against Swansea. He’s exactly what he is IMO. The sort of quality we can afford to sit on the bench and usually never play. We should know what we get for that, the days of having a really good number 2 are long gone, at least till we make a Premier League return. I think we’ve been spoilt with backups for a long while. The fact McGovern was prepared to basically never play always made me wonder why, he was a quality keeper and he ended up our 3rd choice.

Yes he gave the penalty away, a rash decision, but it feels a strange notion that he should therefore save it any more than if it were Cordoba or Duffy who had fouled. Imo it was a well taken spot kick, not a shot that ‘should have been saved’ because it was straight at him. It is slightly bizarre that part of the criticism of him tonight is that he didn’t save a (well taken) penalty. There’s plenty else to go after, after all.

Steady on, I don't think the Archant budget stretches that far. He throws the same one twice. 😉

This! Posters saying we should have played a youngster instead of Long need to think about the likely result. If the coaching team think Long is a better bet, then any young keeper would be more likely to make mistakes than him, have their confidence badly dented and not get picked again for a long time. I can’t see how that encourages their development.

Yeah I did kind of thing the bit about 'they can't be ignored' was...wrong to an extent? Cutting off the oxygen of attention is what works in my view. Quietly take down the stickers if you see them and want to but don't make a song and dance about it, don't call attention to it, and probably don't write blog posts about it. Reporting people to the club for sticking up political slogans on the pie stand at Pride Park doesn't make sense to me. I might not like or agree with the slogans but they aren't actively racist and if the club starts banning people for expressing opinions like this in sticker form then that is both going to create martyrs and be something of a slippery slope.

Ergo, you believe she has made a profit from running the club? That she has taken out of the club more than she put in? Perhaps you could show us all your workings so we can see it for ourselves.