Norwich City U21 2-0 PSV Eindhoven U21 (Premier League International Cup Group Stages)
In January I watched a young (or jong) PSV thump Leeds United 7-0 and tonight I’ve got a chance to see this seasons side in action at Norwich City, the game being played at Carrow Road which is a place I’ve never previously been to.
In fact, I’ve never even been to Norwich. I’ve holidayed in Hunstanton (as recently as last month), day tripped to Cromer, Sheringham and Great Yarmouth, played football at King’s Lynn, but never been to the largest city in Norfolk that is Norwich, so I’m excited to pay the Canaries a visit for the first time.
So much so I’m setting off early. I live in the East of England, in Nottingham, Norwich is in the East of England, but I can’t believe how far it is? Three hours drive from where I live? I’m astounded, no wonder I’ve never been there.
It’s a 7pm kick off and I need to be there for 6pm so I’m out the door for 2pm allowing for a quick fuel stop at Bingham on the A52 and a bit of traffic which I hit at Grantham.
Through Maggie Thatcher’s rat run I pass the home of Harrowby United before re-connecting the A52 towards Boston, A17 for King’s Lynn, finally hitting the A47, skies black, rain coming down it’s mostly single track all the way, the traffic building as I get closer to the city, rush hour here is like rush hour anywhere, I’m finally in town passing the Carrow Bridge as I see the floodlights of the ground, pulling up first, at the Riverside Retail Park where a sign tells me maximum stay is 2 hours.
Norwich City have always had a decent academy, three of their players were involved in a recent England U20 international I went to, and former players include household legends like Dion Dublin, Craig Bellamy, Danny Mills, Rob Green, Chris Sutton, all have played international football and all bled through the system at Norwich.
From my era, a few that were part of great times for the club included wingers Dale Gordon and Ruel Fox, and of course Jeremy Goss, he who scored that goal in Munich, Norwich in the 80’s and 90’s were regular finishes in the top flight top ten, they finished three times in the top five during seven seasons (87-93) and always had a few of their own made at the clubs heartbeat.
More recently, the likes of Carlton Morris, Jacob & Josh Murphy, Angus Gunn, Todd Cantwell and Sao Paulo’s Jamal Lewis were all through the Norwich system. Many more I’ve not mentioned, you wonder why so many of a high level compared to others? Then you realise its 3 hours from civilization, they have the pick of a 100-mile radius and no ‘big clubs’ neighbouring, sniffing around their top young talent? It means not only do they have a great area of catchment, but they also have no competition when it comes to academy football, which allows the best local born players to grow through the system without getting side tracked by moving elsewhere.
The Venue
I’ve decided to park in the multi-story at the Riverside, which is a five-minute walk from the ground, only £4.50 I’ve exited below onto Wherry Road where there’s bars and restaurants galore, a huge Five Guys looks appetising, but I don’t have the time to remortgage my house to take out the appropriate finance needed for a burger.
I’m instead walking through the retail park and crossing the Koblenz Avenue on to Carrow Road, its all new around here, modern riverside apartments backing on to brick laid streets behind the ground. It’s a lovely place, Norwich City always seems to be considered a friendly club, it feels very friendly around these parts.
I’m through the turnstiles and the stewards are very friendly, before I’m greeted by a friendly member of the catering staff, I’m offered a chicken and cranberry pie which I accept, to quash down with my cup of PG tips tea, but what I’m given is a chicken, gammon and leak pie, I have no complaints, it’s one of the best I’ve had inside a stadium. I wonder, did Delia make it?
Up to my seat the rain is lashing down onto the pitch, storm Darragh is coming I’m told, the players out warming up as I take in the surroundings of Carrow Road’s internals for the first time. I love it. Boxed in, homely, not too big, quaint with yellow and green painted seats, pitch looking perfect, it feels like a proper football arena, how an English football stadium might be considered by the international stereotype, it looks a lush surface to play on, but you get why the club always seem to have a decent home record, it doesn’t feel intimidating, but the way the stadium is set out, you feel the atmosphere can get very intense, my only gripe, in fact, is that to my right there’s an ugly grey Holiday Inn that is built practically into the stadium, a room with a view.
The Game
PSV are practically a different team from the one I saw in January, they actually won this competition a couple of years ago and they start ok, they look pleasing on the eye and unlike many European teams playing against English academy outfits, they seem to match Norwich physically.
19 Diantaye Gilbert is proving a handful, he has nice touches in a number ten role and is a speedster with a bit of physique, he is the standout player of the first half until Norwich City enforcer Uriah Djedjie puts one on him with a huge sliding tackle which earns the Canaries midfielder a yellow, Gilbert limping off at the same time as team-mate Kuhl trudges off with 37 played.
Norwich are reserved with their attacking appetite, a structured 4-5-1 that sometimes looks like a 5-4-1 as Djedjie sits so deep, but when they break they do so at speed, PSV are nearer 4-3-3 or 4-4-1-1 as they look to get down the sides whilst using their full backs to help out their wide men.
The Score
At half time its honours even, not much has happened but for a couple of blocked attempts, I’m getting it in the neck though as 700 school kids are sitting all around me, shouting, screaming, one has an American football in his hand, another is playing John Madden on his mobile phone, one is walking around looking for his dropped ear pod, they’re climbing over the seats, twitching, hardly sitting still, it’s manic, as I decide to move to a quiet section which has no fans.
As I move, I’m followed by a guy sat behind me who says ‘good idea’ and one sat in front, who starts chatting, he’s a Hull fan who lives in Norwich, who comes to these games simply ‘for something to do’.
We chat all things Hull as he’s enthused by the recent news of Reading Manager Ruben Selles taking over at the Tigers as the second half now flies by amidst company, Norwich have taken off a player that impressed me in the first half and it’s PSV who look more dangerous, they have a couple of pot shots to no avail before a corner at the other end is swung in on 75, little Ken Adoh who’s been lively all night, he gets up and bicycle kicks from close range, it’s an absolute beauty of a goal from a talented striker who is highly regarded in these parts.
That gives the home side a lift, and they grab a second later on when sub Dan Ogwuru slots home from close range, the better team on the night deserving of victory, I’m disappointed by PSV who’s latest efforts aren’t a patch on last seasons.
The Stars
I really liked Norwich City midfielder Oscar Schwartau who at 6ft1 is a Danish youth international who they signed from Brondby having already played two seasons for the Superliga club. He’s powerful and runs with or without the ball between the lines, he reminds me of Bryan Robson, a midfielder who runs beyond the ball, it’s a joy to behold, modern midfielders don’t seem to do that anymore, and there’s no better site than a big lad getting on his bike and busting a gut to get forward. He only plays 45 minutes but I’ve seen enough, he’s already won me over.
Another player I love is Ken Aboh, he scores the goal of the game which is a ridiculous bicycle kick, but before that, his energy and predatory box play reminded me of a combination of Ian Wright, and a young Raheem Sterling, he’s only little but packs a punch, full of quality and is one I’ll be keeping my eye on, he looks a natural goalscorer, a busy little player who defenders I imagine would hate to come up against.
One more from Norwich, who caught the eye was Uriah Djedjie, who sat and held deep in midfield, he played things simple and his tackle on Gilbert, leading to PSV’s best player limping off, was probably the defying moment of the game.
Just a mention for Lucien Mahove who I’ve seen play at Notts County, Boston United and Long Eaton United, struggling under my eyes at all three clubs, he got a move a few months back to Norwich, somehow, but they obviously seen some quality which he does inevitably have largely through a neat left foot, he did ok and looks a better player at this level than he did playing Southern League Central, which suggests how funny football can be. Kaide Gordon however on loan from Liverpool, he huffed and fluffed, I'm not too optimistic what the future holds for him?
For PSV, they were largely disappointing, there was a moment from Tai Abed when he brought the ball down on his outstep where I remembered how good he was the last time I watched him, but he was largely insignificant out right, Dantaye Gilbert was the one who made them tick, but they didn’t tick for very long on a cold, wet and windy winters night in Norfolk.
The Verdict
Norwich will not only keep churning out good quality home grown youngsters, they’ll probably use a lot in this seasons league campaign too. One fan saying on Twitter when the side was announced ‘that team would do ok in the Championship’ and I bet it would.
Whilst the 2024/25 PSV vintage is clearly not as good as it has been in recent years, the Dutch side too have a pathway that acts as a successful conveyor belt of good quality footballer, if one or two go on to make the club millions, which I’m sure one or two will, than how can it all not be regarded as a huge success.
The Teams
Norwich City: Caleb Ansen, Jonathan Tomkinson, Brad Hills, Jaden Warner, Lucien Mahovo, Uriah Djedje, Oscar Schwartau (Aidan Bridge 46), Adian Manning, Elliot Myles (Brandon Forbes 68), Kaide Gordon (Harmony Okwumo 88), Ken Aboh (Daniel Ogwuru 82).
PSV Eindhoven: Roy Steur, Emmanuel van de Blaak, Madi Monamay, Wessel Kuhn (Muhlis Dasagan 37), Tim van den Heuvel, Tygo Land, Dantaye Gilbert (Emir Bars 37), Tai Abed, Jevon Simons (Tijn Smolendaars 81), Jesper Uneken, Ayodele Thomas (Enzo Geerts 59).
7:00pm Kick Off. Thursday 5th December 2024, Carrow Road, Norwich (att 700).
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