Norwich City face Swindon Town in the Carabao Cup on Tuesday night and I will get my first look at Daniel Farke’s Norwich City in competitive action.
I got back from holiday in Florida first thing this morning and I’m trying to push through the whole day and attempt to go to bed at a ‘normal’ UK time tonight to try to combat the jet lag – I’m back at work on Wednesday so, we’ll see how that goes!
I was unable to watch the game in Florida but found that the commentary on Canaries.co.uk worked a treat and I listened to the game by the hotel pool. I was able to then see the highlights afterwards and that celebration by Nelson Oliveira.
I wrote a quick piece about that on Sunday as I was hanging around for the coach transfer to the airport. Basically, as we all know there was a brouhaha about it with Jake Humphrey leading the ‘Nelson was in the wrong’ chant on social media.
Most City fans on Twitter seemed to not care and appreciate the passion shown but in reality, there is only one opinion that counts and that is the one belonging to the Head Coach.
Speaking at his pre-Swindon press conference on Monday afternoon, Farke said he has spoken to Oliveira about it and he wasn’t happy because he felt the assembled journos should be talking about a good team performance and comeback at Fulham, rather than Oliveira.
“I think too much attention has been on this Nelson thing. I don`t want to speak anymore about Nelson Oliveira,” he told Michael Bailey and Paddy Davitt of the EDP
“Just a general thing. Without mentioning any player. I heard a sentence, I think it might have been Tony Adams, I am not sure, who once said it is quite important that you love the name on the shirt, but on the front, not the back. I believe this. It is about the club, not one player. That is quite important. For me, it is really important to have this feeling that all the guys are concentrated on working for the club, not for themselves. That is my job to remind them on this topic.
“When I realise there is a player or a member of staff who feels like that it is not about working for yourself but for the club, and to give everything for the club. It is about your team mates and the group. That is why I am here. Let`s not talk about special players. It is my task to remind them on this topic and if I get the impression I have to remind them I will act and I will remind them.”
So, it sounds like Farke has read Nelson his fortune and that’s no bad thing, if this is his first disciplinary type situation at his new club. I say ‘if’ because of course we don’t know all this stuff because these things are rarely made public.
It’s only natural that Oliveira wants to play every game but as I wrote on Sunday, if Farke thinks a particular game suits a particular player then that is his decision to make.
The actual decision to start Jerome and then bring on Oliveira as the game opened up actually worked a treat and we came away with a decent point from an away game at a tough opponent. I bet most clubs in the Championship will be happy with a point at Craven Cottage this season.
Moving on to Swindon, Farke suggested that he won’t make too many changes for the visit of Swindon but expect to see the likes of Wes Hoolahan, Ben Godfrey and new boy Marco Stiepermann, with some probable game time for Ivo Pinto and Alex Tettey as well.
We may see Tom Trybull but he is further away than Stiepermann in terms of fitness, while there will be no Harry Toffolo or Jamal Lewis as both are still injured.
I’m really looking forward to the game and as I’ve said before, I’m as excited about a season as I’ve been since Paul Lambert’s time at the club after winning the League One title.
OTBC