Penalty in Japan awarded after being spotted by the 4th official Oh well, it's not likely to happen here any time soon - is it?? http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/38315568
I'm not sure anyone can catch Newcastle or Brighton and had we played with the same spirit and desire as we showed last night in ALL our games, we could be up there with them. Interesting that Martin and Jerome (I know he's injured) didn't start again and I'm sure I'm not alone in wanting that to happen for some time. Would Basil have got his chance had Jerome not suffered an injury - I'm not convinced he would have???? The key players for me were Pinto, Mulumbu, Dorrans and who can omit Basil. Mulumbu would have been my MotM. Up in the PL, it's looking quite bleak for Sunderland, Hull and Swansea - I wonder if any of them will escape??
Just watched MOTD and whilst I'm sure Shearer and Neville bored the pants off people, as always, all I focussed on was little Bradley falling asleep in dad's arms. I don't feel like moaning about football ever again right now, Total respect little dude, hope you had a great night.
It was good to see Chelsea played their part in making his dream come true, football was not in the back seat, it was a distant memory!
The problem is that few teams can manage that, JM. Witness Newcastle losing 2-0 at home to Blackburn recently and then losing the following week as well. It's harder to take chances when things are going badly but, like you, I'm pleased that Oliveira has got his chance and taken it beautifully. His understanding with the excellent Pinto is growing all the time and we should also acknowledge how much we lost when Pinto and Howson were out for 5 weeks. With Mulumbu over his niggling injuries now and playing alongside Dorrans we played with a strength that's been missing for some time. Long may it continue!
Yes Rick, I thought the team looked a lot more balanced on Tue than it has done in ages and I think Pinto was a massive miss as was Howson. I'm HOPING AN won't change the team too much (if at all) for our game against Huddersfield and as long as we play with the passion and desire we showed in the 2nd half against Villa I'll be feeling a lot more positive about things. Edit - a worthwhile contribution on MFW from Martin Penney, and he also refers to the link up play between our two Portugese players and the improving Mulumbu - http://norwichcity.myfootballwriter...uly-be-going-in-the-right-direction-for-city/
I agree and have gone with the same again in the Line-up prediction this week! I've read the MFW article and Gary Gower's before that, where he picked out the key players for praise: "Nélson Oliveria’s fine strike was reward for another industrious outing - there’s something aesthetically pleasing about the Portuguese international’s first touch, particularly when it’s such an important component in the role of a lone striker. And three in three means that for now Alex doesn’t have a selection headache, even when Cameron Jerome returns to full fitness. The shirt is Oliveira’s and while he keeps scoring it should remain that way. Martin Olsson and Ivo Pinto are our two best full-backs, period... both offering defensive surety and the crucial ability to ‘join in’. And it’s no coincidence that the return of Pinto, along with Jonny Howson, has signalled a mini-run of two wins in three. We missed them both – badly. Graham Dorrans too deserves a nod. He’s taken some brickbats of late – not least from this column – but last night he bridled a voracious work-rate to his natural ability to pass and looked a better player for it. And the tempo of his passing was a notch or two higher than of late; that too being crucial in the improved rhythm of City’s play."
Plus Dorrans and Mulumbu both have the word 'forward' in their vocabulary. Tettey is comfortable with 'backwards', but struggles at the thought of 'sideways' - unlike Señor Clingan that used to be at the club, who was so adept at it that it became the prefix for his name!
Chris Goreham @CGoreham NEIL: Confirms #ncfc are likely lose Mulumbu for a month in the new year to Africa Cup of Nations. No movement on his contract either. See, this is why I and Michael Wynn-Jones keep saying "don't fill the squad with foreigners"
That's a pity as he's playing so well at the moment, but we should have Tettey (Yes, I know ILD) and Thompson available as DMs and the Africa Cup of Nations only comes up every other year. We should never stand in the way of any player playing for his country.
Some great posts RER and Cromer and I particularly liked the comment re Tettey not understanding the meaning of the word 'forward', but all being well, Thompson should be fit by the time Mulumbu 'flies south for the winter!!!'
Whilst I know what Cromer means, I remember him having a part to play in both goals when we beat ManUre last year, including laying the ball off to Jerome and then taking the return pass to race clean through their defence to score the winner. He does have his moments!
Pete O'Rourke @SportsPeteO New Birmingham boss Gianfranco Zola feels for predecessor Gary Rowett and wants to call the sacked Blues boss to offer his sympathy. #bcfc ...while pocketing his not inconsiderable signing on cheque at the same time
Binners 1 - 0 up away at Wigan after 6 minutes. Just five points behind us as things stand - and we're 10th while Fulham are drawing with Derby. <slipperyslope>
