Mainstream praise comes flooding in

[The Real Buh 3,423]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/49703750

From Phil McNulty

 

”The joy was unconfined. The din ear-splitting.”

 

drink it in lads

[Thirsty Lizard 3,155]

A really good article which captures the joy and emotion of the occasion really well. 

[Daz Sparks 1,140]

A good read in the comments section also, many neutrals posting some complimentary stuff.

[Making Plans 936]

Probably the most positive article ever about the Club.

[duke63 541]

😂

 

162. Posted by Rutland23

on 4 hours ago

Classic commentary yesterday on the radio 'Jesus is just about to come on,' if was 3-1 to Norwich at this point. The other commentator then piped in with 'I think he's going to need his dad's help for this one!' 🤣🤣

[Canary Jedi 573]

Haha

at the end when Man C were making their last sub it was announced on the tannoy that Marhez was coming on. I said out loud “Jesus” to which the guy next to me calmly replied “No, Jesus is already on!” 😂

[Fuzzar 1,702]

Norwich City’s priceless win on paupers’ budget that was 2½ years in the making

James Gheerbrant on the club that has reaped rewards by sticking to principles

Team-mates envelop Pukki, second right, after he scored the winning goalMARC ATKINS/GETTY IMAGES

The morning after Norwich City beat Manchester City to send a seismic wave through English football, the mood inside Carrow Road was calm. This was a result almost without precedent — it was Pep Guardiola’s first defeat by a promoted team since Hercules beat Barcelona in 2010, and they were not missing eight first-teamers amid a ruinous injury crisis — but the sense inside the club was one of mild surprise at the framing of their victory as an incredible giant-killing.

For Norwich, this result was simply the culmination, unexpected but not entirely unbelievable, of the same systemic and sustainable approach that delivered them from the SkyBet Championship. It was, as one club insider put it, “an overnight success two-and-a-half years in the making”.

Norwich may not have a squad replete with star names, or an arriviste transfer policy, or a famous manager, but they do have a way, and they stick to it. The feeling inside the club is that they did not need yesterday’s glorious result to vindicate their philosophy — their belief in their methods is as strong today as if they had lost 5-0 on Saturday.

This was a priceless victory built on a pauper’s budget. Norwich know they cannot compete financially with other Premier League clubs, so finding value amid the hyperinflationary landscape of modern football is at the heart of what they do. They make a virtue of necessity, avoiding the expensive mistakes of other clubs and rummaging in the bargain bins of English and European football for unwanted and undervalued talents whom they can upcycle.

Teemu Pukki, the 29-year-old Finland striker who assisted the second and scored the third against City, was acquired on a free transfer from Brondby. Emiliano Buendía, who took the corner for the first goal and hunted down Nicolás Otamendi for the third, was picked up for £1.35 million from Getafe. When Norwich spent only £4 million this summer, compared with Sheffield United’s £43 million and Aston Villa’s £134 million, they were accused of showing a lack of ambition, but within the club, there was a feeling that the players they had acquired were underappreciated. Ibrahim Amadou, in particular, a loan signing who played 32 times for Seville last season, was imperious at centre back.This was also a triumph with a distinctly homegrown flavour. Jamal Lewis, who nullified Bernardo Silva at left back, and Todd Cantwell, who scored the second goal, are products of the club’s academy — Cantwell was born and raised in Dereham, 17 miles from Carrow Road. In the crowded forest of the Premier League, putting down roots is important. As the memories of Saturday’s game pass into folklore, the profits will be reinvested in the future, siphoned back into the revamped academy. Adam Idah, 18, who was on the bench on Saturday, is the latest graduate tipped for first-team stardom. “If we can’t buy them at the top end, we’ve got to try to find them or make our own,” is how one Norwich insider phrases the club’s mantra.

On those foundations, Daniel Farke and his players built the tactical framework of an extraordinary upset. They banked on sacrificing crosses to make the centre of the pitch as narrow as possible. Sure enough, City made 32 crosses from open play, their most in a Premier League game since January 2016 (their average since the start of last season is 13.9). But although they scored from one such delivery, when Sergio Agüero met Bernardo Silva’s delivery, the visitors usually found Norwich’s aerial patrol of Amadou and Ben Godfrey lying in wait.

At the other end, Farke said Norwich had noted City’s vulnerability at corners: four of City’s past nine goals conceded in the Premier League have come via that route. “It was a big topic in our preparation,” Farke said. “We are not known as a team that scores an unbelievable amount of goals with set-pieces because we have many technical players but we got the feeling we had a chance to score today.”

<img class="Media-img" src="//www.thetimes.co.uk/imageserver/image/methode%2Ftimes%2Fprod%2Fweb%2Fbin%2F2210da1e-d7f8-11e9-bf0b-71cec39bf5f6.png?crop=3000%2C2000%2C0%2C0" alt="">

Norwich’s third goal came from pressing Otamendi into an error, but this was not a short-term strategy specifically cooked up to exploit the shakiness of City’s reluctantly reunited centre-back pairing. Pressing is an integral part of the side’s identity under Farke; as one club source puts it, “We press the ball whether it’s Manchester City or Accrington Stanley.”

Indeed, the real key to Norwich’s victory was staying true to their principles — and not capitulating too much in the face of City’s imposing attacking juggernaut. Rather than recoil into an ultra-defensive system, Norwich played a fairly conventional 4-2-3-1 in this game, leaving enough men in advanced positions to retain a threat on the counter, and while their figure of 31.2 per cent possession may not sound like a huge amount, it was more than Wolverhampton Wanderers, Watford or West Ham United enjoyed in any game against Guardiola’s team last season.

“If you just try to sit deep and park the bus then you have no chance,” Farke said. “You need periods where you are in possession and you also need to be brave to create something out of it. You have to be brave.”

Match briefing
Norwich City 3 Manchester City 2
Norwich took their chances well and led through Kenny McLean’s glancing header before doubling their advantage through Todd Cantwell’s tap-in after Teemu Pukki’s unselfish work. Sergio Agüero headed in to give City hope before Pukki scored a third for Norwich. Rodri replied but Norwich held out in a frantic finish.

Key moment
Dawdling as he collected John Stones’s pass, Nicolás Otamendi was robbed on the edge of the area by Emiliano Buendía, who centred for Pukki to poke his finish high into the net.

Ratings
Norwich City (4-2-3-1): T Krul 6 — S Byram 8, I Amadou 8, B Godfrey 7, J Lewis 7 — A Tettey 8, K McLean 7 — E Buendía 8 (sub: J Drmic 83min), M Stiepermann 6 (sub: D Srbeny 89), T Cantwell 7 — T Pukki 7. Substitutes not used R Fährmann, M McGovern, G Hanley, P Heise, A Idah. Booked Byram, McLean, Cantwell.

Manchester City (4-2-3-1): Ederson 6 — K Walker 6, J Stones 5, N Otamendi 4, O Zinchenko 5 — I Gündogan 5 (sub: K De Bruyne 57, 6), Rodri 6 — B Silva 6 (sub: R Mahrez 73, 6), D Silva 5 (sub: G Jesus 57 5), R Sterling 6 — S Agüero 7. Substitutes not used C Bravo, Fernandinho, J Cancelo, P Foden. Booked B Silva.

[Fuzzar 1,702]

Daniel Farke’s Norwich City are talented and fearless

Henry Winter, Chief Football Writer

Winter’s wonders

It shows the scale of Norwich City’s achievement that their resources were so stretched, missing eight first-team players, and Manchester City had Kevin De Bruyne on the bench, but Farke had the right mood of defiance. He showed no fear, no hint of parking the bus, just as they played their game away to Liverpool last month.He believed in the midfielder Ibrahim Amadou to do a job in defence, and he delivered. Farke’s drilling was seen in the three goals, set-piece, counter-attacking and pressing. He had Emiliano Buendía and Todd Cantwell protecting their full backs. He exuded calmness when Norwich took the lead. His team will run through brick walls and champions’ defences for him. Farke showed that, with courage, one of the greatest sides the Premier League has known can be beaten. Pep Guardiola’s respect at the final whistle said it all.

Norwich’s three goals against City bore Farke’s hallmarksMARC ATKINS/GETTY IMAGES

Owners have the club in their hearts
Delia Smith and Michael Wynn-Jones: Owners who know the club inside out, who are friends with the staff, know their name, and always, always have time for the fans. Because they are fans. Smith and Wynn-Jones don’t have deep pockets, but they have a deep passion, and many other owners could learn from them.

They set the mood of calmness, backing their managers, feeling the club’s fortunes like fans, but also balancing the books, not overreaching.

They appoint well, give people a chance, love to see local talent given a platform and run Norwich with their heads as well as their hearts. Farke was quick to praise them after this win. “It is good for our owners,” Farke told Sky Sports. “You can’t ask for more kind-hearted people.”

Carrow Road is made special by the fans
Norwich City supporters: People talk of great support being the 12th man, but Carrow Road has the 13th and 14th too. This was proper support, no tourists, simply people whose lives revolve around the team. Carrow Road reverberates with belief in Farke life. The bond is intense. They created one of the great Carrow Road atmospheres and results, up with the 1-1 against Bayern Munich here in 1993. Applause by visiting fans at the final whistle spoke of class on both sides.

Webber’s work behind the scenes
Stuart Webber: A lesson to many of the importance of a good sporting director. Webber appointed Farke, revamped the squad, the training ground, tackled the wage bill (now only £65 million), promoted youth and invested shrewdly. Norwich’s starting XI against the champions cost £6.45 million, with their greatest summer outlay £750,000 to West Ham United for Sam Byram. Webber’s mantra of “we might not be able to buy superstars, but we can create them” sets the tone.

Goalkeeper leads by example
Tim Krul: Embodied Norwich’s defiance. There were doubts over Krul’s elbow but he started and was magnificent against City, especially late on, saving from Nicolás Otamendi, Sergio Agüero, Gabriel Jesus and Raheem Sterling. His frequent exhortations added to the defiance.

[Feedthewolf 4,844]

It's wonderful to read these reports as I can't access mainstream Western media in Shanghai, so thanks for posting them. Heading to Tokyo tonight so I'll be able to revisit everything in glorious Technicolor tomorrow. Also having to rein in my joy a little bit considering I'm staying with my Citeh-supporting mate!

[Nuff Said 5,088]

Some of the details on how little we spent are not entirely accurate. We now know Emi cost a lot more than £1.5 million and we spent more than the £750K on Byram on Fahrmann and Amadou’s loans. But why spoil a great story? 😃

[Mr.Carrow 376]

Just looked on YouTube and Sky's highlights are almost at a million views, the club's own highlights 800k. NCFC are going global....

[Herman 9,710]

28 minutes ago, Nuff Said said:

Some of the details on how little we spent are not entirely accurate. We now know Emi cost a lot more than £1.5 million and we spent more than the £750K on Byram on Fahrmann and Amadou’s loans. But why spoil a great story? 😃

Did Godfrey cost a million or am I just splitting hairs? And as I haven't many to split I'll shut up and paste some more complimentary reporting.😀

1) Buendía delivers for biggest upset of the season

The way in which Norwich turned a negative into a positive was quite something. With nigh-on a full team of players out injured, the odds of stopping Manchester City looked insurmountable. Instead Daniel Farke’s men gave their best performance of the season by far, not only cutting the champions open but looking solid at the back for the first time. There was kudos for the debutants in defence, Sam Byram and Ibrahim Amadou, but also for more seasoned Norwich players. Emi Buendía and Marco Stiepermann were central to a buccaneering style in the Championship yet had struggled to bring that form to the top flight. With the gauntlet down, however, they delivered. Buendía contributed two assists and regularly sprung the City press. Stiepermann sparked several counter attacks and crucially reestablished his understanding with Teemu Pukki. Paul MacInnes

https://www.theguardian.com/football/2019/sep/14/norwich-city-manchester-city-premier-league-match-report

[ron obvious 1,498]

First part of this is good:

https://www.football365.com/news/norwich-top-our-premier-league-winners-and-losers

 

[Making Plans 936]

We only had 2 players in Garth Crooks Team Of The Week.

Surely the whole team was The Team Of The Week bar none

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/49708080

 

[Wacky Waving Inflatable Arm Flailing Tube Man 3,777]

3 hours ago, Fuzzar said:

Ratings

Norwich City (4-2-3-1): T Krul 6 — S Byram 8, I Amadou 8, B Godfrey 7, J Lewis 7 — A Tettey 8, K McLean 7 — E Buendía 8 (sub: J Drmic 83min), M Stiepermann 6 (sub: D Srbeny 89), T Cantwell 7 — T Pukki 7. Substitutes not used R Fährmann, M McGovern, G Hanley, P Heise, A Idah. Booked Byram, McLean, Cantwell.

Manchester City (4-2-3-1): Ederson 6 — K Walker 6, J Stones 5, N Otamendi 4, O Zinchenko 5 — I Gündogan 5 (sub: K De Bruyne 57, 6), Rodri 6 — B Silva 6 (sub: R Mahrez 73, 6), D Silva 5 (sub: G Jesus 57 5), R Sterling 6 — S Agüero 7. Substitutes not used C Bravo, Fernandinho, J Cancelo, P Foden. Booked B Silva.

And to think some people complain that I only gave nine of our starting eleven 8.0 or more.

[GenerationA47 747]

22 minutes ago, Wacky Waving Inflatable Arm Flailing Tube Man said:

And to think some people complain that I only gave nine of our starting eleven 8.0 or more.

Quite. Presumably this guy has some rigid stats-based technical rating algorithm - which may or may not account for the broader contribution

Only a 6 for Tim seems particularly Krul

 

[Wacky Waving Inflatable Arm Flailing Tube Man 3,777]

18 minutes ago, GenerationA47 said:

Quite. Presumably this guy has some rigid stats-based technical rating algorithm - which may or may not account for the broader contribution

Only a 6 for Tim seems particularly Krul

I think it's more that he has no system whatsoever. 

"That team won, so they get 6s, 7s and 8s, and that team lost so they get 4s, 5s and 6s. The player ratings are a complete afterthought in this country so nobody will read them anyway."

[NWC 239]

I think it was 90min that had Emi down as a 6 but Teemu as 9 !!

[GenerationA47 747]

Just now, NWC said:

I think it was 90min that had Emi down as a 6 but Teemu as 9 !!

My goodness, they really do do what WWIAFTM said

[Vazzza 62]

I live near Windsor and regularly wear my NCFC shirt when out and about at a weekend. Only once before has anybody ever commented - "Ooh you must be a canary" - insightful.

On Sunday I had 5 people come up to me and congratulate me on the result as if I was playing or a coach. One person (jokingly) refuse to serve me food as he was a Citeh fan, and then a guy in a supermarket walk right up me (I mean right up to me, in my 'personal space') and literally just say 2 words - "Teemu Pukki" then walk off before I had a chance to retort... Was quite odd.

Not just the national media taking notice, also the public!

[Herman 9,710]

Not a Canary Caller.😀

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p07nfr39

[ron obvious 1,498]

https://www.planetfootball.com/trending/emi-buendia-took-on-manchester-city-at-their-own-game-and-won/

That second goal was a thing of beauty. From Buendia's flick to Marco's pass to Pukki's superb sliderule pass to Todd's tricking the ManC defence by bending his run to his ice cool finish ... I've been waiting for this moment all my life ... something in the air tonight ...

 

How does he even begin to think to do this? And then do it??

https://thumbs.gfycat.com/DeadDefiantAmericanavocet-mobile.mp4

 

[Herman 9,710]

Good article that Ron👍👍

[cornish sam 942]

2 hours ago, ron obvious said:

First part of this is good:

https://www.football365.com/news/norwich-top-our-premier-league-winners-and-losers

 

Yeah, but they return to form by forgetting about cantwell being in the u21 squad when they are listing the "young lions" who scored this weekend. 😉

[Tired 102]

another decent one

https://www.thetotallyfootballshow.com/feature/norwichs-win-over-manchester-city-was-all-part-of-the-long-term-plan/

[Yellow Fever 3,736]

We are definitely not 'under the radar' now! We might not even be seen as the underdogs!