Isn’t Thursday wonderful? Debate about the last game is almost completely all talked out, and clubs get all secretive about what plans they may have for the coming game.
So, what is happening hereabouts? Well, the East Anglian Daily Times is warning that the police will come down heavy on drunken supporters when Ipswich hosts the derby next Easter. Talk about beating everyone to the scoop.
There is debate over whether or not Michael Oliver should have put in charge of the game against Reading. The statistics were available to the FA just as they were to we internet writers, but they went ahead and appointed him anyway. It is very unlikely that Oliver will referee a Premier League game again this season, but it is almost certain that he will be relegated to the National Group from the Select Group.
Unfortunately, there is yet to be a remedy created to sort out the bad decisions made by the officials. Even non-goals cannot be deducted, or disallowed wrongly-goals awarded. The powers that be won’t even consider allowing technology in to help the officials. So, sadly, the draw stands no matter how much Norwich City supporters feel that being reduced to 10 men was why we scraped through with one point.
Looking around at other teams, Leeds have transfer-listed Bradley Johnson after the midfielder turned down Leeds’ final offer. His contract runs out next summer, but he will be allowed to move in January if an offer for him is accepted. The former Arsenal trainee went on to play for Cambridge United and Northampton Town when clubs like Coventry, Queen’s Park Rangers and Leicester showed an interest. Talks with Leicester fell through and Leeds stepped in, although Johnson failed to break into the reckoning and is currently out on loan to Brighton. Hardly one that will force a scramble at this level, one would think.
Derby’s goalkeeper, the pariah of all Norwich City supporters, Stephen Bywater is back from injury, having played in a recent reserve game. His deliberate gamesmanship, or time wasting if you like, is not all that Bywater gets up to that makes him unpopular. He was recently ordered by his local council to get rid of his “erotic” artwork following complaints from his neighbours. The “art” consisted of a blow-up doll and a portable toilet daubed in graffiti. Bywater has subsequently covered up and disposed of the offending “decoration”. Now there is a vision of thousands of sex-dolls appearing when Norwich hosts the Derby match in April next year.
Back home and Darren Huckerby is reported as saying just what every supporter already knows. City must start winning home games. Writers will come up with anything to get the attention of readers, but to use a legend, such as Hucks is, to tell us what we already know is desperation stakes when it comes to staying fresh.
Not saying that this is any better, just a slight diversion on a day that is lacking in anything new.