On The Ball - A show about Norwich City

On The Ball

4.7 (60)
FOOTBALL
MONTHLY

The Athletic's Michael Bailey is joined by a host of guests to bring you all the latest insight from Norwich City every single week. Hear interviews from big names, entertaining discussion and breaking news that you won't get anywhere else.

5 DAYS AGO

#177 An Easter holiday on the beach

Zero points and eight conceded - that's probably not the Easter we all had in mind. Hot off the heels of a 1-3 defeat at Millwall, which itself came off pretty sharply after a 3-5 at home to Portsmouth, the On The Ball podcast dissects Norwich City's terrible slump in form. Host Ryan Livermore, Craig Draycott and Steve Sanders chat youth v experience, set-piece woes, bad starts, and crosses, and what this all might mean for next season's chances. Plus, rolling through who to keep and who to shift for next season, the players and managers who never represented Norwich City but should have, and adding items to the club shop. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

1h 17m
8 APR

#176 Popstars and the rivals

Is that it then? Well yeh, probably... Norwich City's play-off dream all but died on a sunny afternoon in Plymouth, as the Canaries lost 2-1 in a limp display at the Championship's bottom club on Saturday. The On The Ball podcast, featuring a panel of host Ryan Livermore, Zoe Morgan and Steve Sanders analyse the Canaries' troubling return to old away game woes, fragile confidence, Kenny the sacrificial lamb, Sargent's two-touch beauty, and Norwich City's new Mr Wright. Plus, community heroes, Onel gets nearer to needing a social media intervention, getting up close to a wedding proposal (in a Canary suit), whippets, and Ryan, Ed Sheeran and Ben Godfrey convene on the world's least enticing hill. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

1h 19m
18 MAR

#175 Barry Thronking Sausage

The last couple of weeks haven't exactly gone as planned for Norwich City. But why review just one depressing result when you can pick the bones out of three! That's what this week's On The Ball podcast - with Ryan Livermore in the host's chair alongside Dan Brigham and Steve Sanders - attempts to do and with the play-offs seemingly now a pipe dream for this season, the panel delve deep into the project: Is Hoffball better than the Wagner-vision? Is the short-term pain worth it for the long-term gain? And, of course, what do the numbers say? Plus, The Brigham Rule and the slimline penalty areas, contract conundrums, Northampton Town spin-off podcasts, and you're guaranteed a top-tier podcast when you have a man literally listing off positions on the football pitch. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

1h 44m
4 MAR

#174 An elbow to the jaw and a kick in the teeth

Is there anything worse than conceding a last-minute equaliser? Conceding a last minute equaliser when you've failed to run the clock down and you're playing ten men? Yes, probably that. The On The Ball podcast team reflect on a painful finale in the 1-1 draw for Norwich City at Blackburn Rovers at the weekend. Steve Sanders, Zoe Morgan and Ryan Livermore discuss the right time and the wrong time for Hoffball, feel sad for the short-lived joy of Crnac, and posit the theory that Angus Gunn wasn't Scottish enough to avoid punishment on Saturday. Plus, VAR in the Championship rears its head, choosing between your three favourite children (Sainz, Sargent and Nunez) and one man's struggle to name anything that you might find in a washbag Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

1h 21m
25 FEB

#173 Sargent majors again

Josh Sargent keeps scoring on Saturdays so the On The Ball podcast is forced to keep saying nice things about him. This week it was his brace that helped see off Stoke City at Carrow Road, in a 4-2 win that keeps the Canaries in the play-off chase. But is all this not getting injured and playing football going to entice other clubs? Steve Sanders, Dan Brigham and Zoe Morgan debate the Sargent ratio, pile the praise on our young full-backs (but are less complimentary about Stoke), and ask how many laws of physics Oscar Schwartau defied to put that chance over the bar. Plus, birthday cakes with faces on them, how much respect should you show Lungi, goose noises, injured pigeons, more accidental shade thrown on the farming community, and the star-studded line-up at Pete Dye's 60th bash. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

1h 6m
11 FEB

#172 Stacey's high kick and Doherty's tap dance

Oh Jack, what have you done...? The On The Ball podcast reacts to an impressive groin stretch from Norwich City's full-back but a less than impressive penalty concession, which resulted in two points dropped in a 1-1 draw with Derby County at the weekend. Once they'd got over that, the panel of Steve Sanders, Dan Brigham and Dave Powles got to task with praising Sargent (again), anticipating the return of Sainz, and grading the transfer window, and the Canaries' transparent out-with-the-old, in-with-the-young approach (including a new defensive midfielder!). Plus, Vithushan Ehantharajah lauds Darren Eadie, smelly scarves, bleeding fingers, some unrecognisable Simon and Garfunkel, and the only person in the whole of Norfolk to spot Gary Doherty's pre-corner routine... Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

1h 1m
28 JAN

#171 Say hello to my little friend

And then, from nowhere, came five goals. Well, not quite nowhere - the return of Josh Sargent certainly helped. And the On The Ball podcast give a returning salute to the returning, saluting hero, who bagged the opening two goals in the 5-1 win over Swansea on Saturday. Steve Sanders, Dan Brigham, Zoe Morgan and Ryan Livermore also take a moment to heap a bit of praise on some youngsters: Schwartau's swashbuckling display in midfield; Crnac's star role from the bench; Mahovo's assured debut; and Dobbin getting off the mark. The panel debate whether there's enough there, with all the returning players, for a play-off push after all. Plus, big wins and big defeats from the past in Ryan's quiz, talking up Onel's testimonial, Sargent's 50/50 record, mascot battles, moobing it into the net, and big Norwich City personal news from one of the panel... Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

1h 35m
21 JAN

#170 Playing the long game

No goals, no shots on target...no worries? Ok, let's not go that far but the On The Ball podcast tries to make the case that things could be a lot worse, after Norwich City's 2-0 defeat at the hands of Sheffield United on Saturday. Ryan Livermore, Connor Southwell and Steve Sanders play the 'we've got a few injured lads' card in mitigation, and talk about whether we can be too hard on the Canaries this (don't say transition) season of all (don't say transition) seasons. Plus, some love for departing captain Grant Hanley, your first Jurasek Park puns as City's new Czech signing arrives, Connor goes misty-eyed over the Spurs buffet, and victory is won by a matter of centimetres in Ryan's quiz about The Tall Boys. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

1h 28m

See All (179)

4.7

out of 5

60 Ratings

Excellent pod

20/08/2022

Georgie Wonders

Excellent pod for NCFC fans with good knowledge and insight.
Squad Refresh

26/10/2023

Bennorio

An enjoyable podcast, with knowledgeable guests talking all things NCFC. However - now that the pod is every 6 weeks or so (since Michael Bailey effectively moved onto other main responsibilities with the Athletic citadel), it’s a good opportunity to refresh the format, start again. Steve Sanders is as good as anyone to remain the host, but break from the old format & start anew.
Superb

20/01/2022

R3Y23

Awesome pod great guests and superb content
Don’t know whether to cringe or get turned on

02/02/2021

Good Day Canary

The adverts Michael reads out are indistinguishable from my private browsing search history

The Athletic's Michael Bailey is joined by a host of guests to bring you all the latest insight from Norwich City every single week. Hear interviews from big names, entertaining discussion and breaking news that you won't get anywhere else.