On The Ball - A show about Norwich City

You will hear no presumptions made on this penultimate/not-penultimate On The Ball Norwich City Podcast for 2023/24. That's because the Canaries are nearly in the play-offs but not quite rubber stamped yet - with a 2-2 draw with Swansea at the weekend, along with Hull's draw with Ipswich, meaning that only an eight-goal swing in Hull's favour would see Norwich City drop out of the top six. Steve Sanders (aka NCFC Numbers), Dan Brigham and Ryan Livermore ensure not to break any mirrors or walk under any ladders, as the panel once again pay homage to the magnificence of Gabriel Sara, try and remember the five shots of Duffy, and at least allow Sydney van Hooijdonk more air time than he gets game time. Plus, Kenny wins player of the season and immediately slips into apology mode, finding ways to avoid next Saturday's game, and a lot of agonising noises over answers in Ryan Livermore's player-of-the-year quiz. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It's eight and out for the Canaries, as the On The Ball Norwich City Podcast assesses the game that ended the winning run at Carrow Road, the 1-1 draw with Bristol City. Steve Sanders (aka NCFC Numbers) bravely soldiers through cold with Dan Brigham and Dave Freezer, as the panel give overdue praise in the direction of Gunn Jr, question the timing of that Sainz run, get the abacuses out to work out what Norwich City need to nail down a top-six spot, and talk through the impact on fans of the new Sky Sports EFL deal. Plus, Allan Russell meets Russell Allan, dreaming of Westy on the pitch at Wembley, why warmth equals wins, and the best anecdote involving Mark Barham and a tortoise you'll hear all season... Get it while it's hot! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Well...what were we worried about? An On The Ball Norwich City Podcast to enjoy about a game worth remembering, as the Canaries got (another) one over their old rivals Ipswich Town with a 1-0 win on Saturday. A panel of Steve Sanders (aka NCFC Numbers), Dan Brigham, Zoe Morgan and Ryan Livermore relive the supercharged atmosphere on a memorable day at Carrow Road, sing the praises of free-kick hero Marcelino Nunez, laud Wagner's grown-up tactics, and mention the 15-year run quite a lot. Plus, the poor man's Paul Lambert and the Ben Pearson tribute act, crying and booing through an enjoyable game of football, and Ryan's quiz goes all Film 2009. Post-derby day joy from beginning to end! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

For the first time in quite some time, the On The Ball Norwich City Podcast does not follow a win, after the Canaries' 3-1 Easter Monday defeat at Leicester. The panel of NCFC Numbers (aka Steve Sanders), Dan Brigham and Dave Powles review that, before moving on to the positivity of the comeback win over Plymouth, Gabriel Sara's free-kick nearly moment and Norwich City's new role as the Championship's new corner routine kings. And then there is, of course, the look ahead to quite an important derby game... Plus, a look back at those Stuart Webber comments, a new horse-based celebration idea for Ashley Barnes, being sick in tube carriages, and answer to the age-long question: 'What Are Norwich City Actually Good At?'. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The On The Ball Norwich City Podcast turns 150 episodes old! And celebrated by doing what it's done for the previous 149 episodes: talking about the football. Luckily the Canaries obliged with a thumping 3-0 win at Stoke for the anniversary pod, so it was celebrations all round. NCFCNumbers (aka Steve Sanders), Zoe Morgan, and Radio Norfolk Sport Editor & Norwich City commentator Phil Daley revisit the away win that put the Yellows firmly in the top six, rejoice in the wonder of Sara, ask if Stoke is still a difficult place to go, and debate who's getting Player of the Season. Plus...playing Snog, Marry, Avoid with the Norwich City defence, a review of Onel & Jonny on the mic from one of their peers, Iwan's mystery sit-down goal, and lots of people not called Chris being called Chris. It was a chaotic way to turn 150! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Five goals, five goalscorers beginning with S - some sort of sorcery... Episode 149 of the On The Ball Norwich City Podcast deals with the alliterative, but also revels in a thumping 5-0 win for Norwich City over Rotherham on Saturday that lifted Norwich City into the top six. NCFC Numbers (aka Steve Sanders) is joined by Ryan Livermore and Radio Norfolk Norwich City commentator Chris Goreham to run the rule over the Canaries and their historically poor opponents, dish out a bit of praise to Jack Stacey and Jacob Sorensen, and discuss who did it better: Sainz or Sara. And they're still not over THAT red card either, so the Sainz-Howson brush off gets the On The Ball treatment too. Plus, life as Cinderella's understudy, some new kids on the commentary block for Chris, and stick around until the end for Quiz Boreham - quite possibly Ryan's finest quiz to date... Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

...and Sunderland's defence, for one passage of play at least, were terrified. Episode 148 of the On The Ball Norwich City Podcast focuses squarely on Norwich City's American beauty of a striker, Josh Sargent, who has turned his goalscoring fortunes around and proved to be the Canaries' matchwinner in their 1-0 victory on Saturday. NCFC Numbers (aka Steve Sanders), Dan Brigham and consummate debutant Dave Powles discuss whether he might be Norwich City's most important player for the run-in, and whether or not he'll be part of a top-six squad come May. He's not the only one experiencing an upturn in form, and the panel also take the time to praise a few Norwich City squad members and one Norwich City head coach. Plus Keir at the curry house, Kenny McLean hurrying South Stand season ticket holders through their grocery shopping, and 90s hardman Lee Howie and the greatest autobiography title of all time... Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The transfer window will dramatically slam shut on Thursday, and all the talk is suddenly about an Adam Idah move to Verona in Serie A. So naturally that's what a lot of the talk in Episode 147 of the On The Ball Norwich City Podcast was about the potential deal as well. NCFC Numbers (aka Steve Sanders), Zoe Morgan and Ryan Livermore didn't manage to totally avoid Norwich City's two games this week though, taking in the cavalier defending at Anfield, Borja's banger, Sara's miss at Elland Road, Kenny in FIFA mode and bending it like Barnes. Still, at least they didn't lose to Maidstone... Plus a stellar FA Cup quiz from Ryan, shaved circus bears, trying not to incur the threat of legal action from Webber, and the unbridled fury of seeing Laura Woods clapping opposition goals. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 146 of the On The Ball Norwich City Podcast falls on that rarest of occasions: a two-win week for Norwich City. The most recent of those came in an improved performance over West Brom on Saturday, and NCFC Numbers (aka Steve Sanders), Dan Brigham and Ryan Livermore pick the bones out of the 2-0 triumph, lay some praise at Kenny McLean's door and do their damnedest not to get talked into top-six optimism, as well as looking ahead to a couple of tricky looking away fixtures in league and cup, at Leeds and Liverpool. Elsewhere, the trio lament the shortness and not-so-sweetness of the Adam Forshaw era, Ryan brings a five-star five-second quiz, everything you never needed to know about yoyos, and a panto star is born in Buttons, who stars from beginning to end. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

So just how much do you allow a performance to gloss over a result? That's the main debate on Episode 145 of the On The Ball Norwich City Podcast, which focuses on the Canaries' eye-catching 2-1 win at Hull, which was achieved with a slightly less eye-catching display. Elsewhere NCFCNumbers, aka Steve Sanders, Zoe Morgan and ITV Anglia's Andy Ward kick off the year in OTB pods with a discussion on whether it'll be time to go for Jonny Rowe, Gunn's form, Rosenior being happy, the Aaron Connolly vendetta, and Andy relives a tense Q&A with Delia and Michael at the AGM. Plus Dimi starting a superhero cult, Tony Gary is on the move and spending all that lovely coach money on Kalvin Phillips. 2024's off to a flyer! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The return of the East Anglian derby looms large over Episode 143 of the On The Ball Norwich City Podcast, as the team pick some of their favourite games and moments from derby duels gone by. The alternative for host NCFCNumbers, aka Steve Sanders, Dan Brigham and Craig Draycott was a long debrief the weekend's 0-0 with Preston North End, but the team move swiftly over that to preview the big game against Ipswich Town this Saturday, plus ruminate on what may not have been Delia and Michael's finest hour in front of the media at the club's recent Annual General Meeting. Plus Kenny in defence, Gibbs up front, Idah coming in to form(?) and the Norwich City player you'd most like to be stuck in a cupboard with. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

After a lovely goal decided a not so lovely game, Episode 142 of the On The Ball Norwich City Podcast asks whether points trump performances, as Norwich City enter the Ben Knapper era. Host NCFCNumbers, aka Steve Sanders, Zoe Morgan and Ben Mouncer talk Hwang's goal, Barnes' hair and a delightful corner routine, and try and assess whether the Canaries' surprise goal machine can stay functional in the upcoming trips to Watford and Bristol City. Plus the dangers of salad cream, is Captain Canary older than the starting XI and is Kenny the most Norwich City player in the history of Norwich City? Nothing goes unchecked. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

If you've finished of the main course, then how about something from the dessert trolley? Episode 141 of the On The Ball Norwich City Podcast is a special bonus podcast where the OTB gang set out to find a best and worst XI of Stuart Webber's reign as sporting director during the #140 OTB and, carried along by a wave of nostalgia, ended up in a discussion so good (and long) it needed a podcast all of its own! NCFCNumbers, aka Steve Sanders, Dan Brigham, Michael Bailey and Ryan Livermore bring the names to the table and attempt to come to a consensus in the quest to create a team of the biggest Norwich City stars and a team of the biggest Norwich City flops to have have signed between the summer of 2017, when Stuart Webber was appointed as the club's Sporting Director, and the present day. Total agreement may not have been reached, but from Krul, Pukki and Buendia to Amadou, Drmic and Franke, it's an essential trip down memory lane for Canaries fans to relive the awesome and the awful players of recent years. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It was the best of times, it was the worst of times. In a special edition of the On The Ball Norwich City podcast, the crew look back at the six-and-a-half rollercoaster years under Stuart Webber, who departed last week as the club's Sporting Director. Host NCFCNumbers, aka Steve Sanders; Michael Bailey, reporter for The Athletic; former club programme editor Dan Brigham, and Ryan Livermore assess the football club that Webber took over in 2017 and the one he leaves in 2023, wade deep in nostalgia by looking back at two glorious Championship title-winning seasons, and attempt to work out how things got so fractured with supporters over the last couple of years. Featuring insider insight, the usual array of statistics and listener questions, the team podcast also takes in good windows and bad, succession planning and the Emi Buendia conundrum. Essential listening on the recent history of Norwich City Football Club. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It looked like the end, it smelt like the end, it wasn't the end. Episode 139 of the On The Ball Norwich City Podcast assesses a wretched couple of weeks for the Canaries, culminating in a 3-1 defeat to ten-man Blackburn Rovers last weekend. Host NCFCNumbers, aka Steve Sanders, Zoe Morgan and Ryan Livermore try and work out where it's all gone wrong, from boardroom to Sporting Director to manager to players, and wonder what the future could hold for David Wagner, just after the news broke that the Norwich City manager would be continuing in the job for the upcoming trip to Cardiff. Plus honks and hotdogs in a classic Ryan Livermore quiz with an Alice Deejay-themed name - whyever wouldn't you choose to tune in! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How to rile a fanbase in 45 minutes? Episode 138 of the On The Ball Norwich City Podcast takes in the best of times and the worst of times as it looks back on the capitulation at home to Leeds United. NCFCnumbers AKA Steve Sanders is joined by former Canaries head of content Dan Brigham and author Zoe Morgan to sigh wistfully about Daniel Farke, ask where David Wagner might find his Plan B and wonder how Norwich City are capable of conceding so many goals. The trio look back to the future as Norwich City reveal Ben Knapper as the club's next sporting director, react to Todd's truth coming out and look forward to a tough set of fixtures against Middlesbrough and Sunderland to come this week. Plus Nunez's big secret in his trip to Chile, Captain Canary in goal and hot dog generosity - all packaged up in one podcast! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The signs of things to come?... Episode 137 of the On The Ball Norwich City Podcast assesses the Canaries' early action and standout performances as the 2023-24 Championship season finds its rhythm. NCFCnumbers AKA Steve Sanders is in the hosting chair alongside former Canaries head of content Dan Brigham and author Zoe Morgan. They reflect on a bunch of matches, the latest being a home victory over Stoke, as well as Jon Rowe's emergence, the transfer window fallout and a busy week ahead. A visit from Leicester, a trek to Plymouth, goodbye Tim Krul and Jack Stacey's arrival. It's all here and more besides. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The train has left the station... Episode 136 of the On The Ball Norwich City Podcast assesses the opening skirmishes of the new Championship season. Michael Bailey hosts alongside NCFCnumbers AKA Steve Sanders for former Canaries head of content, Dan Brigham. They look back on the opening positivity from victory over Hull and drawing at Southampton as well as fielding your questions and comments. Goodbye to Max Aarons, Tim too? Sen-Sara-sational Gabi and some tempting carrots on the way and much more besides, completes the pod's line-up. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Let's do it all again... Episode 135 of the On The Ball Norwich City Podcast rings in the new Championship season and all the hopes and dreams you would expect from any preview. Michael Bailey hosts alongside NCFCnumbers AKA Steve Sanders. They field your questions and comments, as well as the predictions of our fellow podcast friends. A busy summer of ins and outs, pre-season promise and the Championship picture that awaits... it's all in here. Enjoy the build-up; the real fun begins now. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices