I can’t ever recall feeling envious of those who’ve travelled overseas to watch a City pre-season tour. In truth, I usually tend to give all pre-season games a swerve for the reasons stated so eloquently by Connor in his piece yesterday, unless it’s a game on my doorstep.
But this summer feels different, and for that, I have to thank the wonderful Bowles family – Andy, Sharon and Jacob – whose three-part travelogue of the German tour has given an insight into tour life on the continent almost like no other.
Clearly, as MFW editor I’m biased, but seldom can I recall a series of MFW blogs being so well received, especially when you consider the games they covered, certainly in terms of results, were largely meaningless friendlies. But it wasn’t really about the football at all – it was so much more.
And not only did it confirm what fine folk the Bowles family are, but other characters emerged with reputations enhanced. The club too.
I’m not sure there are many out there who make it their business to include their travelling fans in quite the same way City did on this tour. Of course, it’s easier to engage in the intimate surroundings of small stadiums with few supporters and no points or trophies up for grabs, but still, I’m unconvinced others would go to the same lengths.
Gareth Southgate’s England, in fairness, started the fan inclusivity ball rolling in Russia but City have taken it to another level. The selfies, the chats, the winks, the acknowledgements, all add up to a feeling of togetherness that’s been absent at times in the quite recent past but is now at its peak.
We had Mo Leitner sending personal video messages, Daniel Farke recognising fans from previous games, Timm being Timm, Jordan Rhodes making it his business to embrace yellow and not blue, Tom Trybull giving his shirt to a youngster and then the fans being invited to watch the team train.
All of which adds up to quite a harmonious little ship right now – all of it, let’s not forget, underpinned by directors who have travelled with the squad on this trip and who sit with, chat to and offer their time to the travelling supporters.
And that’s probably the element that sets us apart from others.
Those who read my Sunday columns regularly (cheers Mum) will know my feelings on Michael and Delia and their reticence to look no further than their nephew Tom to safeguard the future of our club, but there’s no debate to be had around the love they have for it and its people.
So, when I inevitably rant over ownership during the upcoming season’s fallow periods, I will try and picture Delia huddled alongside those City fans in a creaking German stand/shed and compare that image to owners who oversee their football investment from a 54th floor Midtown Manhattan tower block. I’ll try.
The games themselves are what they are – Connor called it right – but from what I was able to observe via two live streams and a reel of highlights…
- Daniel Farke can do ‘angry’ very well
- Felix Passlack’s arrival means their is life for ‘diminutive’ after Wes
- Marco Stiepermann is a better midfielder than he is left-back. Pretty good in fact
- Rhodes and Pukki both resemble goalscorers
- The new kit is ‘peng’ (ask your kids)
- The defence can still do ‘cock-ups’
- We have lots of good defensive midfielders (including Godfrey and Thomson)
- There is visibly more attacking tempo and oomph
- Onel Hernandez is a bloody good player
- Jacob Bowles is a top lad
I guess the only serious question mark to have arisen from the tour is around the goalkeeping position. I have no inside knowledge but following his heroics at Plymouth last season and at Hamilton the season before, I imagine Farke and Stuart Webber were hoping Remi Matthews would excel in pre-season to the extent they had no decision to make over their number one.
Unfortunately, that hasn’t happened and it may be no coincidence that it was Michael McGovern between the sticks for the most prestigious friendly of pre-season.
Equally, it may be a herring rouge and both are simply being given game time but either way, there remains apparent uncertainty over who will have the shirt at St Andrew’s – which is a shame.
Yet those who, following a couple of errors, deem Matthews ‘simply not good enough’ are jumping the gun. That Plymouth would have him back in the blink of an eyelid speaks volumes, and he wouldn’t be the first City keeper to make the odd howler before becoming a shoo-in for the no. 1 jersey.
Ultimately, my own feeling is that it won’t be his shot stopping and/or command of the penalty box that determines whether or not he starts against Birmingham. I happen to think he’s pretty adept at both given the noises from Plymouth and Hamilton. Instead, it will be how good (or otherwise) he is with the ball at his feet that will decide his fate.
Angus, on top of being a fine goalkeeper, was great in the role of fifth defender and had the first touch of a classy centre-back. He was also able to ping the ball 50 yards onto a sixpence. In the current set-up, both are equally as important as tipping shots around the post or plucking a cross out of the air.
I suspect if Remi can prove to Farke and Webber he can do all of those things the gig is still his.
Well said Gary. We have a good Season coming up, and with the addition of another. goalkeeper ( we DO need one ) we are going to be a force to be reckoned with. Freddy Woodburn from Newcastle would fit the bill nicely. if available.
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All good stuff, Gary. Not least – in fact, best of all – the brilliant reportage of the Bowles family.
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Why do we need another keeper?Because he can’t find a team mate from 50 yards?If he could do that the chances are the player receiving the ball will be unable to control it or can’t find anyone to pass to.Only top players can do that on a regular basis,we mainly have German league 2 players way off premiership class.I think Farke and some Ncfc fans need to realise we are a mid table chump side with a budget to match!
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“Only top players can do that on a regular basis”
Sorry Tony… I disagree. This is the Championship we’re talking about, not Anglia Comb Division One – we’re one step away from the Premier League.
To able to pick out a team-mate from 50 yards and then for said team-mate to be able to control the ball is very least we should expect, surely?
It’s all about opinions of course, but I’d say the way Farke wants us to play demands a keeper who has a decent touch and the ability to ping a ball to a colleague.
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Well let’s hope the keeper who plays is a good shot stopper as well because if not then however good he is with Pinging 50 yard passes we will probably end up pointless.I would rather Farke concentrate more on the attacking part of the field instead.After all goals win games not posession!
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That final line… we can definitely agree on 🙂 Cheers for commenting Tony.
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Thank you so much for your kind comments Gary! We are amazed and pretty humbled that our reports were so well received. It’s been a pleasure to write them. Jacob is especially happy to be called a top bloke, and the kind words and comments have helped his confidence no end. Thank you all!
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I think we have had a good pre-season tour which is fine. I’m not sure about the engagement with fans, The club has 20,000 season tickets give or take a few hundred, it is one thing making a fuss of the very small percentage that travel to Germany or even popping to the pub I was in at Burton, it is another thing communicating to the vast majority of fans and this is something that has slipped alarmingly over recent seasons. Marcus Evans spoke to the local media recently to communicate to the Ipswich fans, not the Times. To be beaten in the communication stakes by Evans takes some doing. It is good to see an element of connection but it can not be in isolation.
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Fair comment John.
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John, a point of order. Marcus Evans has given just one interview to the local press, during his ten year tenure, almost eight years in to his ownership, back in August 2015 – just after losing a play-off semi final. The most recent interview, to which you refer, back in April this year, was actually the club’s own iFollow Ipswich account holders, presumably by one of their in-house media team.
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I’ve thoroughly enjoyed the Bowles family reports – very refreshingly written, and of course describing something that’s actually going on rather than theorising about what might be happening soon.
I wouldn’t entirely dismiss Tony’s point about our keeper situation. Whilst “mid table chump side” is a bit strong – even if we were last season, it’s certainly not where we are aiming to be – reality is that we were very fortunate last season to acquire a keeper as capable as Angus Gunn. I will be surprised if there is an opportunity to borrow anyone of that calibre this year, although maybe after the transfer window has closed there may be a chance of another loan.
Perhaps the one thing in our favour is that the 2 PL players we borrowed last year – Gunn and Reed – both improved under Farke’s care. That will have been noted.
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I’m a Canary supporter who lives in Cornwall. Several times last season I was fortunate to seeing Remi Matthews performing heroics for Plymouth Argyle. I was extremely proud that ‘one of our own’ was such a success at Home Park. He has all the makings of an excellent Championship goalkeeper and I look forward to watching his City debut at St Andrew’s on August 4.
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Hi Chris. Hope you’re well? Good to hear a first-hand account of Remi. Out of interest, is he able with the ball at his feet?
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I’m sure this is the first time i’ve commented, but a regular reader who also really enjoyed reading the Bowles on tour.
As for the keeper, i’d go for Southampton’s 3rd or even 4th choice as he will surely want some game time. Of course we can’t afford all his wages, but then neiither could Hearts afford Naismith
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I don’t understand the doubts about Remi Matthews.
Plymouth Argyle were struggling at the bottom of league one when he joined them. At the end of the season they missed a play-off place by the narrowest of margins. Much of the credit has to be due Remi’s many clean sheets. Believe me, I saw him play several times last season.
He’s a commanding presence in the box, is a first rate shot stopper, a safe pair of hands for crosses and a fine distributor of the ball with hands or feet.
Ok, call me sentimental, but how I’d love to see a Norfolk-born player back in City colours once again.
PS: Keep up the good work, Gary. MFW is always my first read of the day here in parched Cornwall.
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I’d support Chris’s comments as I saw Plymouth several times last season whilst working down there. I get the impression that he is very much a confidence player and certainly that and his performance grew as the season went on. Needs support from DF and a run of games to get going….
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