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On The Ball - A show about Norwich City
#144 'Tis the season to be Jonny
Episode 144 of the On The Ball Norwich City Podcast has more than one reason to be festive, after Jonathan Rowe's finest hour to date kept their unbeaten run in the East Anglian derby going.
Naturally the 2-2 draw against Ipswich, and all the surrounding shenanigans, was the main topic of conversation for NCFCNumbers, aka Steve Sanders, Dan Brigham and Zoe Morgan. But, in the final podcast of the year, the panel also found time to hand out their 2023 End of Year Awards (in which Todd Cantwell bags a few), look ahead to a set of Christmas fixtures and even take in a surprise cameo from a very special guest in a cupboard!
Plus Shane Duffy as Dorothy, the impending return of Sarge, and chatting about mustard just to fit in with everyone else. A real end of year treat!
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#207 Tattoo sleeves and water bottle hands
01:03:02|After a midweek blip, normal service under Philippe Clement was resumed for Norwich City as they took to The Valley to grind out a 1-0 win at the weekend.However, in every great heroic quest there's a chippy little Welsh fella … the panel of Ryan Livermore, Dan Brigham and Steve Sanders examines the tape of the Nathan Jones vs Philippe Clement and the handshake that wasn't, as well as talking up Norwich City's new-found solidity, the rise and rise of Pelle Mattsson and the versatility of Liam 'Ryan' Gibbs.Plus, there's the ultimate verdict on two left-footed lads of yore, Mattsson's hair-and-tat combo and that whole thing about paying people a wage they can live off.
#206 Bend it like Kenny
01:02:08|As if 10 minutes of eulogising about him last week wasn't enough, On The Ball has more Kenny McLean saluting to do with his free-kick setting up a 2-0 win over Preston on Saturday and helping earn Norwich City six more beautiful Championship points this week.But the Saints are coming. Ryan Livermore, Dan Brigham, Zoe Morgan and Steve Sanders look back on a glorious week, and ahead to a make-or-break one for the Canaries' play-off chances with more knocks and more rotation to navigate. A team with Kenny and Mattsson in midfield is all set for another six points though, right?Plus, double clotheslines, how many 26+ aged Norwich City players can you name, the world's worst dive, some nice Neil Adams words, and the embarrassment of kicking a football into your own face.
#205 Who needs cups when we’ve got Kenny?
01:11:49|And so the Norwich City FA Cup dream dies for another season — at Leeds United and at the hands of the man who last got the Canaries into a quarter-final, Daniel Farke.Steve Sanders, Dan Brigham and Zoe Morgan lament a performance that didn't quite do Big Phil's yellows justice and ask what might have been if not for all the inexperience, those cursed injuries and just generally not being quite as good.But with his 300 appearances and a new contract, the real hero of this podcast is Kenny McLean. Zoe reads a poem, the panel pays tribute and Dan does a mini quiz. Plus looking up the table, looking down the table, and looking at a familiar journo from the land down under in ChatGPT Get Banged.
#204 Keeping it cool
01:08:27|Norwich City are marching into March with two 2-0 wins this week — the latest being a win at relegation (whatever that is) rivals Leicester on Saturday.Ryan Livermore is joined by Chris Goreham, Zoe Morgan and Steve Sanders for the latest eulogies on the Clement revolution, some love for Paris and of course, the fun of having a centre-half playing as your number nine.Plus, Daniel Farke standing in the way of a cup run, Gunny popping up where you least expect him, our line-ups for a Norwich welcome video, Chris Goreham atop Black Beauty and trying to settle the ultimate debate: who is the coolest Norwich City player of all time?
#203 Slow starts and Josh departs
01:30:06|Some defeats are better than others and getting warmly clapped by all four sides of Carrow Road doesn't feel like the worst response to a defeat — which was the reception for Norwich City as they went down 2-1 to Birmingham on Saturday.The On The Ball Podcast team of Ryan Livermore, Dan Brigham, Zoe Morgan and Steve Sanders reflects on yer classic game of two halves, and works out how and where the winning run ended. And the Sarg-a is finally over, as Josh Sargent looks set to put pen to paper on his protracted move to Toronto FC ... and gets the heartfelt farewell you would expect.Plus, two clubs in an even worse crisis than having Liam Manning in charge, the prawn sandwich brigade gains another member, children with banners get short shrift, and everyone loves Refcam.
#202 Skin in the FA Cup game
01:09:50|They're at it again. Two more wins for Norwich City in two different competitions this week, the latest for Philippe Clement's juggernaut yellows coming with a 3-1 victory over West Brom in the FA Cup on Saturday.In round five it's Leeds and Steve Sanders, Zoe Morgan and Maddie McKenzie react hot off the press to the news of a Farke v Clement showdown at Elland Road, find time to heap more praise on the new signings, and stand aghast at the incredible start made by the Canaries' new Aussie sensation Mo Toure.Plus, picking out the lads who need fist-pump training, Kieran Dowell posters, Alex Pritchard's imaginary wound, and a renewed request for a managerial hair swap.
#201 Will the real Slimane please stand up?
01:15:27|Winning: it's just what we do now. The On The Ball Podcast celebrates a sixth victory in eight to open up 2026, with a no-frills 2-0 success over Blackburn at Carrow Road.Ryan Livermore, Dan Brigham and Steve Sanders zero in on some new heroes in Jose Cordoba and Anis Ben Slimane, revel in Oscar's winning role, and celebrate the potential for a new terrace hero in Mo Toure. Heck, Josh Sargent hardly even gets a mention.Plus, a funky new pronunciation of Todd Cantwell, Bono taking corners, the cup run we all want (and now inevitably won't get), Onel's rocked up in Stoke, and never challenge Steve to anything in case he makes a quiz out of it.
#200 Field (and podcast) of dreams
01:33:48|The double hundred is up for the On The Ball podcast and, in a serendipitous moment, it's a live deadline day special to mark the occasion!Ryan Livermore, Dan Brigham, Zoe Morgan and Steve Sanders give Sky Sports News LIVE reaction to Sam Field being (basically) announced as the window is set to close, round-up Norwich City's many incomings and not-as-many outgoings, and reflect on the progress — if not points — at Middlesbrough.Plus, a Usual Suspects style twist at the end of ChatGPT Get Banged, 21(ish) midfielders and counting, Todd's back but will he celebrate? A series of seriously self-indulgent anniversary stats, and it's Earnie's world and we're just living in it... as Ryan resurrects one of his original quizzes: 'Earnshaw or Unsure'.
#199 In the zone and out of the zone
01:15:39|A podcast that's a day later than usual due to the thoughtlessness of the EFL schedule, but this was not a week to be missed. Norwich City are on fire, having sprung out of the relegation zone for the first time in three long months, with a 5-0 win against West Brom last week followed by upsetting Championship leaders Coventry on Monday.Steve Sanders, Dan Brigham, Zoe Morgan and Connor Southwell embrace the revival, celebrate a true pragmatist in Big Phil, get all excited about the emergence of a potential new star in Ali Ahmed, and then all sad about the continued Josh Sargent saga.Plus all you ever needed to know about Kei Kamara, blatant elbows, Shakespeare characters at Norwich City and the greatest assessment of Rob Earnshaw's career since about six podcasts ago.