Derby (h); The Review

Before the match I sauntered round the back of the Barclay looking for my friends to start the flag waving related activities. Having bumped into an old acquaintance we discussed the merits of the new era at Carrow Road. What followed shocked me. Not only was he “not convinced by this Farke yet”, but he also felt “we should be beating teams like this at home 3 or 4 nil” and he “hasn’t been convinced with any of these Germans yet”.

He was also convinced the clubs ownership court controversy and they won’t be happy if we get promoted. It beggared belief, yet I caught his eye post match and he gave me a knowing and gleeful nod, as if to say “I told you so”. Every dog has his day I suppose, but then a stopped clock shows the correct time twice a day too.

Moment of the match

Not a vintage moment for referee Peter Bankes, but potentially the one which decided a fairly even Championship encounter between two sides who by the looks of it will be in and around the play off hunt come May.

Josh Murphy robs Carson, before the former England keeper decides to haul the youngster back with him bearing down on goal. Yes, Carson may have managed to subsequently get something on the ball, but the fact he had to go through his man prior to this should have left the officials with no option but to point to the spot. This was as bad as they come in the recently rank refereeing mishaps City have endured. We’re due one soon, surely?

Farke watch

Retrospectively, the decision to play Oliveira for the full 120 (or 132 if you ask Daniel) minutes on Tuesday looks to have been poorly thought out. Pull Nelson off midway through the second half at the Emirates and Jerome’s workrate potentially keeps Arsenal’s defenders busy enough to break up the constant barrage City were facing. It also keeps him relatively fresh for the weekend while supporting his ongoing recovery.

Unfortunately this didn’t happen, and the fact the Portuguese came off at Carrow Road with a calf strain is potentially down to the fatigue of his midweek exploits or his body not being in the rudest of health.

That said, nothing wrong with the attacking intent of the substitutions at one down, sacrificing Reed is quickly becoming Plan B for Farke and maybe City would have gotten away with it if it wasn’t for that pesky Sam Winnall being in the right place at the right time.

Biggest positive to take

Whoa, Super Tommy Trybull. Whatever the stage, wherever he popped up on the pitch, the German continued to live up to the ridiculously high standards he’s set himself during his fledgling Canary career.

Trybull’s class was personified in one magnificent first half moment. Richard Keogh, soon to be inducted into the ‘Shithouse Championship Centre Half’s Hall of Fame’ launched an agricultural clearance into the midfield area and Trybull managed to control the ball instantly with the deftest of first touches, before spraying another accurate pass into a colleague’s path. I watched him all game, and he really never gave the ball awaaaaaay.

Weekend whinge

Ok, so it can potentially be put down to mental fatigue, but both goals conceded were infinitely avoidable, with Zimmerman and Klose culpable. The Rams only really threatened when the game became stretched, but Farke knows had the basics been performed correctly another clean sheet was well within his team’s grasp.

Oh and Wes was crap. He’s allowed the occasional off day though, alright?

Atmosphere rating

Meh. Somewhat stilted throughout, with pockets of noise during the controversial highlights of the game. Loudest chant of the match reserved for Bankes, the Barclay declaring he wasn’t fit to referee with vitriol and venom. Just imagine if we could galvanise that kind of energy and use it to spur the team on (insert thoughtful emoji here).

Reports later emerged from the back of the Barclay, that after Klose equalised, someone had the audacity to wave a flag. Don’t worry though, the stewards clamped down on this kind of unacceptable behaviour and we’re fairly certain it won’t happen again.

Special mention also goes out to Jack and Chris Reeve, who despite being provided all the necessary equipment, somehow failed to properly display the new Alan Partridge flag which was making its full debut. Rumours are circulating they were both distracted by the nearby dismantling of a Corby Trouser Press.

Summary

Frustrating, but perhaps to be expected after our slimmed down squad’s efforts in the preceding 6 days. Derby day joy and the gallant display at the Emirates seemed to catch up with the Canaries, meaning a lack of any meaningful energy in the final throes of the match which the visitors saw out with ease.

On another day you get the penalty decision and 3 points are in the bag given Norwich look like the kind of side who are extremely tough to beat having taken the lead. Positive displays from the tireless fullbacks, who created most of City’s best openings, gives us something to take from the match. The focus now turns to Wolves, the way this side react to a first league defeat in over a month will be telling.

While you’re here…

Two things; first, did you know we have a new podcast? It’s available via iTunes and Soundcloud. Alternatively you can just listen to it in your browser via our podcast page. Colo from Archant joined us for the third episode, available now.

Secondly, to keep AlongComeNorwich advert free and to help us fund additional initiatives aimed at improving the Carrow Road atmosphere, we occasionally produce exclusive t-shirts.

To celebrate the latest Barclay classic chant, Farkelife we’ve done another one. As always, we take no profit from these and put all the revenue back into the site and things we can all enjoy.

We are down to our last XXL t-shirt so hurry because once they’re done, they’re done