Norwich City are doing us proud at the moment. The team continues to defy the odds and refuses to be beaten on a weekly basis although converting some of these draws into wins is going to become increasingly important in the coming weeks and months.
I have to say that I am loving the way the club is doing things right now.
We’ve all heard about the pink away dressing room and the small difference it might make. It’s the Team Sky mantra of marginal gains adding up to a big gain and despite many clubs’ fans dismissing the idea out of hand, Chris Wilder was concerned enough to get the Sheffield United Kit men to paper over it last Saturday.
Then we’ve had former Special Forces Operative, Ant Middleton coming to Colney to give the squad a talk, presumably on the power of the positive mindset that top performers in any walk of life must have.
Top man! Bullet proof mindset 💪🏼👊🏼 #mindovermuscle https://t.co/Qj0nCzE1TV
— Ant Middleton (@antmiddleton) January 24, 2019
I’ve also spotted another interesting tweet from Jake Humphrey who has taken Ben Kensell and Stuart and Zoe Webber to visit the HQ of Red Bull Racing.
Great day yesterday. Took the @NorwichCityFC senior team of Ben, Stuart and Zoe to this place. Met Christian Horner & Jonathan Wheatley to discuss what learnings a football club can take from F1…and vice versa. ⚽️🏁👌
Fascinating. pic.twitter.com/pMg3ZOwZlt
— Jake Humphrey (@mrjakehumphrey) January 29, 2019
It is easy to just dismiss this sort of thing but if you do, you risk being left behind in the modern world. Remember at the start of last season when the Ipswich Chief Exec dismissed Norwich City’s “new way of doing things” by sticking with Mick McCarthy, saying there can only be one Captain of a ship?
The Sporting Director at Norwich has shown that he is open to the latest ideas and techniques in all aspects of life and see what they can bring to Norwich City.
Why wouldn’t an elite racing team have some practices that can be used in other areas of sport or business? Why wouldn’t an elite football team have some practices that can be used in other sports or businesses?
Sharing information is crucial and whilst the man that changes the rear right wheel for Red Bull might not have much to teach Teemu Pukki in terms of what his actual job is, he is a cog in the wheel (sorry) that makes the teamwork at its optimum levels.
The openness that Norwich City are now displaying in their quest to be the best in every field is compelling and has to be applauded. They are looking to learn from anyone who potentially has something to offer.
In other news, transfer news to be precise, City seem to be looking to sign Luton Town youngster, Akin Famewo, which you can read all about here.
The transfer window is running out very quickly now, so if Stuart Webber is going to provide Daniel Farke with the winger that he mentioned he’d like when he spoke to the media after the Sheffield United game, then he must surely already have some balls in the air.
The window closes this Thursday, January 31st at 11 pm.
Farke mentioned that if he could get a “homegrown” winger then he’d be even happier, while the name Jacob Murphy is being heavily linked with West Brom.
Would we want Jacob back at Carrow Road?
Damn right we would, well, I would anyway.
He’s a proven performer at this level who maybe, just maybe reached for the Premier League a little too soon but that’s by the by. He’s a Norwich Academy lad and it would mean that bit more to him than most other loan players.
If he’s available and crucially, affordable, then you’d imagine that City would be interested. We’re at that time when perhaps making a big signing, while not overstretching ourselves could make the difference.
Talking of making the difference though, Mo Leitner, Timm Klose and Alex Tettey are edging nearer and nearer to a squad return and boy have we missed them.
https://twitter.com/iwritethings23/status/1089872272201039872?s=21
I think we’ve badly missed Mo Leitner as the midfield “quarterback” despite Mario Vrancic coming in and playing well. The loss of Alex Tettey doesn’t help either and although Tom Trybull has come in and played well too, I think Tettey would’ve been a big asset against the physicality of Sheffield United last time out.
The good thing is that we have a fairly strong squad, especially with midfield options as we have seen of late and that’s before you consider the return of Kenny McLean as well.
Of course, it would be great to beat Leeds and that’s what we must aim for this coming weekend but “if we can’t win then don’t lose it” has to be the strapline.
Much has been made of our easier run-in after the Leeds game but we all know the Championship can bite you hard at any given moment. So far, City have been consummate professionals whenever they have played. Keep that up and this automatic promotion tilt is very much on.
Perhaps with Ant Middleton’s positive mindset not to mention Christian Horner’s professionalism, the City hierarchy is equipping their staff handsomely for the final push.
I’m keeping everything crossed.
ON THE BALL CITY!