The ACN Match Review – Aston Villa (h)

Biggest positive

Three elements to this, none of which involve how Norwich City played football:

Firstly, thank you to the Lower Barclay concourse staff who recovered my spectacles that I had, somehow, jettisoned from my person while getting a half-time pint.

Secondly, I couldn’t help but smile at the superbly deep Norfolk accents lamenting the performance on my train home. Whenever I hear this sort of chat, I think of those 30, 60 and 80 years ago who were no doubt saying the same things. Wondering “whas goin’ on in trainin’?” is as part of our collective sociological history as mustard, wherry boats and strange looking lions. We Norwich fans often moan about moaning (and moan about moaning about moaning) but, as long as you’re not daft, abusive and/or let it consume your life, moaning about the football is fine as it’s just a part of what being a football fan is.

Finally in the first half I had the pleasure of observing, just in front of me and to my right, a very young boy who was attending what appeared to be his first ever football match with his father. He sat, on dad’s shoulders, looking around wide-eyed with a sheer delight at the sensory overload he was experiencing. The adults around him singing and shouting and behaving like children. Clapping, in that awkward way that children do, when everyone else was clapping. Trying to mouth the words to On The Ball City even though he didn’t know what they were. Wouldn’t it be great if those in charge of the game actually understood that this is what it is about rather than dismissing any fanciful notions such as, for example, a small transfer tax to slightly rebalance the wholly unlevel playing field – that has caused the likes of Bury FC to never again have children go to their first ever matches – as “maoism”?

Biggest negative

The worst aspect of hearing that (despite a decimation of the squad due to Covid) our game was never even considered for postponement by the Premier League, was that I was not at all surprised. Earlier in the day, Manchester United had closed their training ground and, subsequently, their game against Brentford was called off. While some have turned to looking at straight numbers as to what caused Manchester United to get their game off and not us (numbers that, by the way, are hazy depending on the sources you look at), this is entirely beside the point. Both games should have been off.

As I write this, even more confusingly, the Burnley – Watford game has just been postponed before kick off even though Norwich City yesterday were down to such barebones that we had to play a left back who hadn’t played in two years in central midfield. With reports now coming out that our players had symptoms (including temperatures) but still played due to negative tests, the Premier League urgently needs to clarify their regulations, and quickly. Considering the importance of the next few weeks of fixtures in terms of the “make or break” stakes, the lack of fit centre backs, a central midfield in chaos – we are fucked if we need to continue playing. This would essentially, barring a miracle, seal our relegation.

Funniest moment 

I regret putting this in the new look match review format, because funny moments are hard to come by at the moment. Us retorting to Villa’s chant about Emi leaving us because we’re shit by saying Grealish left them because they are shit was an amusing example of terrace banter, but is also quite a hollow one when, well, we all know as to the real reason they left their respective clubs.

Norwich’s best player

Krul? I don’t know. Who knows. Why even bother.

Well, it was good news about Sam Byram I suppose.

Did an along come Norwich happen?

I haven’t dived into Villa’s form to check the raw data, but Emi Buendia didn’t score so that’s something. Speaking of which, many of us felt a right old gut punch when the Villa fans started singing our song for him – myself included. Some cheered him for being such an incredible player for us, some booed him for leaving for the money. Both points are legitimate and valid. Frankly, however, I think the best way, which I reminded myself hearing that song and something I have learnt after such a long time knowing our best players will be constantly clawed away from us, is to just (with rare exceptions) become indifferent if they leave at their own volition. It’s certainly easier.

What was the atmosphere like?

This was a game where even the most “just get behind the players” die-hard would struggle to make an argument against the periods of silence in the second half. In fact, now that I reflect on it, I am surprised there wasn’t more frustration shown from the stands.

Summary

Oh yeah, there was a football match played.

This was a horror performance. We were shit. Worst I have seen this season (I haven’t watched us away).

I left the game in an extremely bitter mood. Baffled and confused by our new signings. Sad about the old guard. And, yes, angry at two players in particular of whom I shall not mention (you can easily guess). Having slept on it however, considering we have no idea about the way Covid has affected the players who were playing let alone the players who were not, I have mellowed a little. Unfortunately, in the brutal world of Premier League football, there’s no such thing as mitigating circumstances and you still end up with 0 points if you lose – no matter how many of your team is out through extenuating circumstances.

Right?