After the very important points gained against a Wigan side sitting in the relegation zone, three points against Grant Holt and Huddersfield was as important as ever on Saturday. Following a first half that will mostly be remembered for the sending off of Huddersfield’s Murray Wallace after just seventeen minutes, Norwich were booed off the pitch by some of the home supporters. We all know what happened in the second half. Norwich did not stop, did not relent. A big win with five goals, another clean sheet, the return of Wes Hoolahan and a much needed goal for Lewis Grabban. Include all this with a warm and deserved tribute of the legend that is Grant Holt on his return to Carrow Road and I think it is fair to say that Saturday was a good day for Norwich City.
It is impossible to guess how the match would’ve ended if Wallace had not been sent off in the first half, but I don’t really care either. Playing against ten men is a part of the game, and Norwich appeared to manage it just fine. Against both Watford and Huddersfield, Neil Adams and the players played the majority of the match against ten men. This resulted in 3-0 against Watford and 5-0 against Huddersfield respectively. On Saturday, Neil Adams did things right. To bring on Nathan Redmond immediately in the second half worked out exactly how Adams wanted it to.
As we all know, this season has so far been filled with ups and downs. From some of the most promising attacking football our supporters have seen since the Lambert era, to the most bizarre and dreadful defending like we experienced last season under Chris Hughton; from the sparkling turnaround that led to a victory away at Cardiff to the 0-4 hiding against Middlesbrough. The contrast could not have been bigger. After the loss against Reading, many of our great supporters asked for Adams to go. After a great run of games, the home match against Charlton turned things around. Suddenly the Canaries stopped scoring goals. And the defensive errors continued.
The injury of Wes Hoolahan and our bad run of games happened quite at the same time. I, for one, am in no doubt as to whether this two issues are connected. The Irish magician has been at the club a long time but still I don’t think he is getting enough credit. Against clubs in the Championship who come to Carrow Road to set up and defend, a creative player like Hoolahan is often what is needed. In my opinion, a striker like Lewis Grabban needs a player like Wes Hoolahan. It did not take more than minutes before the two of them found each other on Saturday.
Gary Hooper also seems to be back in fine shape. Against Huddersfield he assisted two beautiful goals, one of them with a backheel. Neil Adams had not really given the opportunity to play players like Hooper, Hoolahan, Howson and Redmond together. These are players that are bound to create and score goals in the Championship. I can only speak for myself, but I’m willing to give Neil Adams time to turn this around. The last two games we have seen a different Norwich City; a Norwich side playing with a more compressed defence and solid midfield. This suggests that Adams is not afraid to get dirty to win football matches which – in this league – is absolutely necessary. The team that Adams has at his disposal should be competing in the top of the league; a place in the play-offs is the minimum. This weekend’s match is against a Derby side who have been near the top all season long, and will be a tough test.
As I live in Norway, a return to the Premier League would mean more live TV-matches. Life in the Championship is – by all means – not bad. English football is really big in Norway, so Norwegian television sends at least one match from the Championship every weekend. For example, this season the East Anglian derby was sent live. As you could guess, Norwich City is not the most popular club in Norway. The majority support clubs like Manchester United and Liverpool. Norwich still get some coverage in the media though, thanks to Alex Tettey. I would say that returning to Premier League is not more important for those of us who live in Norway than those of you that are in Norwich or another place in England. We listen to the match on radio or, if lucky, find an approved stream. After all, we are not glory hunters.
