Steven Whittaker: Arsenal win kicked Norwich City into life – Manchester United win ensures people take notice
All in this together - Norwich City enjoy another memorable night on what is becoming another successful season. Picture by Paul Chesterton/Focus Images
Michael Bailey
Tuesday, November 20, 2012
10:12 AM
Victory over Arsenal got Norwich City’s season up and running – and Steven Whittaker believes repeating the trick against Manchester United ensured the rest of the Premier League will take notice.
The Arsenal result being the turning point of Norwich City's season was one of many topics discussed in a recent Norwich City Debate at www.pinkun.com/debateThe Canaries have a point more than their total after 12 games last season, albeit sitting a few places lower in the table, but with two famous Carrow Road scalps after bagging win number one of the campaign against the Gunners last month.
Perhaps more pleasing will be the five-point buffer to the current relegation zone headed by Aston Villa, allowing City fans a smile to add to the buzz of beating one of world football’s biggest names at the weekend with their 1-0 win over United.
“The Arsenal game kick-started our season for us and we’ve never looked back,” admitted Whittaker.
“We’ve been on a great run since then and when we got that win it gave us that boost we maybe needed. We’ve taken that forward and taken that confidence into the other games.
“You need to believe. There’s no point in taking part unless you believe, so we believed we could get a result against United and, again, the confidence of the team was there and hopefully that will continue.
“Teams may have a look at the fixtures we’ve won and maybe get a little bit worried (about playing City), but we can’t get carried away with that. We’ve still got a tough task ahead and we’ll look forward to it.”
The next tough test is a tricky trip to high flying Everton on Saturday, before newly promoted Southampton await at St Mary’s four days later.
That promises a lot of action for Whittaker, who is finding his flow after pre-season injury delayed his Premier League debut following a summer switch from Rangers.
The man who is yet to experience conceding a top-flight goal also played the full 90 minutes for Scotland in Luxembourg last week – an amount of action City boss Chris Hughton admitted was disappointing given his injury-hit start to the season.
“It’s my fourth game now I think, so I’m getting that little run in the team and the results have been good, so it’s happy times now and hopefully we can keep it going,” said Whittaker.
“I played the friendly in midweek, another 90 minutes, and obviously I’m always chuffed to get away with my country – I just prepared from then to the game with United as best I could.
“I felt OK (on Saturday), and I’ve got another week until the next game now so I’ve got plenty of time to recover.
“I think I can still get a little bit fitter but I’m feeling OK with my game and hopefully I’ll keep improving. I’m loving every minute to be honest. It’s an all new experience for me and I’m loving playing against the quality of the players I’m coming up against and enjoying playing with the guys as well.
“I wanted to come into the team and play well and hopefully get results, and it’s going according to plan at the minute. We’re keeping clean sheets and we’re managing to score a few goals at the same time. I think that helps and it’s something we can hopefully embed in the squad – we’ve had a few clean sheets in this little run and hopefully we can keep the shut-outs coming.”
One thing that has impressed Whittaker since his Carrow Road arrival is the Canaries’ team spirit – a staple of their recent success, and something regularly in evidence given their efforts against Sir Alex Ferguson’s men at the weekend.
“The midfield – especially (Robert) Snodgrass and Pilkington – Snoddy helps me out tremendously with doubling up and making it hard for the opposition to get balls into the box,” said Whittaker.
“He tries to not leave me one-on-one too many times, and that makes my job easier that he’s working hard in front of me. And I’ll try to help him going forward as well. So we are working as a unit and it’s working out just now.
“There has always been a spirit here. The guys are all in it together. We are on a good run and we work our socks off, and we have to continue to do that.
“We cant get carried away with ourselves and we know that. If we keep working hard and putting the performances in like we did on Saturday, we will do well.”
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17 comments
Well, would 1p5wich fans transfer their allegiance to Colchester? I really don`t care what happens to either as long as NCFC stays in the Prem!!
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Mad Brewer
Wednesday, November 21, 2012
CDU mentions Colchester, they are hoping that ip6witch go down then they might get more than 3229 for a home game. So do we all hope Colchester get their wish ?
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wivenhoebudgie
Wednesday, November 21, 2012
Garth Crooks has gone up in my estimation, Singapore!
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Mad Brewer
Wednesday, November 21, 2012
Whoops!
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Mad Brewer
Wednesday, November 21, 2012
Been on Wiki! 123 goals in 2 spells, separated by a season at Spurs, totalling 312 appearances. Didn`t do too badly at Spurs either, but he missed the banter with the City fans. That Johnny Gavin no longer lives, sadly. OTBC.
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Mad Brewer
Wednesday, November 21, 2012
Been on Wiki! 123 goals in 2 spells, separated by a season at Spurs, totalling 312 appearances. Didn`t do too badly at Spurs either, but he missed the banter with the City fans. That Johnny Gavin no longer lives, sadly. OTBC.
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Mad Brewer
Wednesday, November 21, 2012
What is it, JGL, 127 goals or thereabouts? Are you REALLY Johnny Gavin??
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Mad Brewer
Wednesday, November 21, 2012
Since its quiet midweek...I see that Carlisle were at home to Doncaster and Colchester were at home to Coventry last night. Both games were 0-2 at half time, then went 1-2 before finishing 1-3 at full time, and attendance at both games was the exactly the same (3229)! What are the odds btb? What's this got to do with NCFC - absolutely nothing!
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canarydownunder
Wednesday, November 21, 2012
Looks like the Spurs old boys act is working off the pitch as Gareth Crookes had three Norwich players in his team of the week, Ruddy, Garrido and Turner OTBC
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Singapore Canary
Wednesday, November 21, 2012
Yes Brew, I think I'm pretty safe at the top of the list.
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Johnny Gavin Lives
Tuesday, November 20, 2012
Lets hope we can keep this good run of form going in our two back to back away games on 24 & 28 November. If we can get 3 or 4 points out of those two it would be very good indeed. Come on City, lets keep the momentum going and get ourselves safe in the Prem as soon as possible. OTBC IHWT
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Dubai Canary
Tuesday, November 20, 2012
Lets hope we can keep this good run of form going in our two back to back away games on 24 & 28 November. If we can get 3 or 4 points out of those two it would be very good indeed. Come on City, lets keep the momentum going and get ourselves safe in the Prem as soon as possible. OTBC IHWT
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Dubai Canary
Tuesday, November 20, 2012
I think Steven has summed it up well ....“We cant get carried away with ourselves and we know that. If we keep working hard and putting the performances in like we did on Saturday, we will do well.”....for a club like Norwich it will be hard season but the resolve, the team spirit, the fans and the quiet confidence I feel we will survive - I just ask that when we suffer, and we will, that we all get behind the team to drive them forward OTBC
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Singapore Canary
Tuesday, November 20, 2012
Sad that nobody, in this instant gratification world of ours, has shown any interest in what our U-21s did. Are `fans` plumbing the depths of shallowness ever more deeply? Top of the range replica shirt and dinner with Stephen Fry for the best answer.
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Mad Brewer
Tuesday, November 20, 2012
Poor old Holty will not reap the harvest of goals he`s accustomed to (though I hope he does). What a team player; selfless and defending like a good `un when needed. If we`d stayed in L1 he would have been City`s all-time top scorer by now (or soon). But he was too good for L1 (Bewilderwood take note). Is it Johnny Gavin that`s safe at the top of the list?
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Mad Brewer
Tuesday, November 20, 2012
The belief is back in this team, it seemed to take a few weeks off at the start of the season but it is definitely back now and that is great. Next area of attention, being more clinical in front of goal.
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Swiss Canary
Tuesday, November 20, 2012
The signs are good, and the morale boosting win over Manchester Utd was brilliant. That is now history....good history.....but history. A weaken Everton next weekend. A weakened, but resurgent Everton. The stage is set for a great match. I will watch with heightened optimism......but, because I'm a Norwich fan....some trepidation.
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Algarve Canary
Tuesday, November 20, 2012