I’m not particularly superstitious – at least not to the extent of a River End neighbour who insists he has a lucky River End season ticket ‘reader’ – but when it comes to football I do love a good omen.
And so, as I headed to Carrow Road through the throngs of traffic and turned right into Martineau Lane, the dulcet tones of Radiohead’s Thom Yorke filled my car and offered some quiet reassurance.
No alarms and no surprises
No alarms and no surprises
No alarms and no surprises, please.
And there it was. Thom in full cry. He said it three times. And I know he wouldn’t lie to me.
What Thom didn’t tell me was that, while there was ultimately no surprise to the final outcome, our heroes would do their best to run us through the full gamut of footballing emotions – even on an evening that had all the ingredients for a comfortable win.
City’s penchant for not doing things the easy way prevails though, and a game that could, and probably should have been a rare four or five-goal win ended up being won by the narrowest of margins. Those last five minutes, not helped by the River End being at its twitchy, moany, tetchy worst, were excruciating.
But, as I have been able to write after nine of the last ten games, they ‘got the job done’. It may not always have the flow of much of what has gone before – although even amidst the nerves and angst of a promotion run-in they still produce some lovely stuff – but from hereon in it really is all about results.
Nine wins out of the last ten, just as the pressure gauge is nudging eleven, is a mightily impressive run in anyone’s book; even more so when you have the might of Yorkshire breathing down your neck.
Talking of which, I swear I heard a loud, collective groan heading in on the winds from up north as Emi Buendia swept home his second and City’s third goal of the night. Both clubs did all that was asked of them on Tuesday night – the Blades in, particularly difficult circumstances – and so for City to deliver again must have felt like a blow to the solar plexus. Shame.
City’s reward for holding their nerve is the guarantee of either, or both, dropping points on Saturday lunchtime as the Yorkshire galacticos go toe-to-toe at Elland Road. And who would have guessed that as the North’s finest go on winning runs befitting Premier League hopefuls, that little ol’ annoying Norwich would be the ones with a full set of Ws in their form guide?
But, with nine to go there is still plenty of scope for twists & turns and highs & lows, and even if Saturday goes as planned, the finishing line remains some way in the distance, with a fair sprinkling of hurdles and water jumps still left to negotiate.
What we do have in our favour, in addition to being top of the league and those green Ws, is a squad that, bar a couple of long-term injuries, is fit, healthy and absolutely bursting at the seams with confidence. We also have a quality bench, each one of whom believes they should be in the XI and who are itching to show precisely why.
Even more importantly though, we have a little Argentinian who seems determined to drag this club with him to the Premier League, and is doing so with a run of quite brilliant performances. While some are understandably showing the odd sign of feeling the pressure, Emi has gone in the opposite direction. He’s embraced it. Has responded to it.
It wasn’t just about his goals either. It’s his voracious work rate, his energy, his eye for a pass and his desire to make things happen. We had better go up because if we don’t, then his stay here is going to be all too brief.
And while he may be creator-in-chief, he’s not alone in producing the goods when we most need it. I’ve flown the Marco Stiepermann flag all season, even when some around me have deemed his unorthodox style unfit for purpose, but his excellent solo effort after ten minutes was the perfect nerve-settler, for him, the team, and all of us.
He may lose possession occasionally, he may look a little awkward at times, but there is no-one in this squad who gets even close to fulfilling that Pukki-supporting role like he does.
The issue of conceding daft and sloppy goals will, of course, be discussed in the de-brief and game analysis – and no-one wants to make things any more difficult than they already are – but now’s not the time for finger-pointing.
Tim Krul will know better than anyone how costly his error could have been, in the same way Christoph Zimmermann and Ben Godfrey will know they can ill afford to offer freebies inside the six-yard box, but ultimately they were errors that proved academic. There were still more than enough positives to smother the few negatives, and the important thing was to win those three points.
The news that Team Farke have committed themselves to this club until 2022 was a bonus, and fair play to the club for the stage-managed announcement which probably did increase the decibel level early on, but now that minor distraction is out of the way, the countdown to what may ultimately become the P word is well and truly on.
Last night was a test, a bigger test than it should have been, but it was passed successfully. Pass the next one on Saturday in South Yorkshire and maybe, just maybe, we can start dreaming.
Just don’t expect there to be no surprises along the way.
Well, it’s fantastic that team Farke have had their contracts renewed… but I’d really like him now to start making some real selection decisions. My feeling for this game was that with Leitner in the engine room we’d control the play and win it easily, without him it would be squeaky bum time. Apparently DF bristled in the post-match interview when asked about City’s lack of game management at times in the match, he just pointed to the win. Well, the point is we are experiencing a lack of game management skill at the moment, and he’s not playing either of the two who are best at it. It must be extremely frustrating for Leitner/ Vrancic to feel they have to wait for an injury to be able to get back onto the pitch. What kind of message is that to players to feel they have to wish for injuries to get game time again? Farke is really not being smart on this one, and for me his selection policy or lack of is the single biggest threat to our ability to gain automatic promotion this season, especially if he keeps leaving our best midfield players off the pitch. He’s a good manager otherwise but I don’t get this at all, it’s a big mistake never to freshen up his side when he has so many good players on the bench. Pukki looked out on his feet at times yesterday too.
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Whilst I totally understand where you’re coming from, and undoubtedly I feel Leitner in particular would be beneficial in setting the tempo and composure in the side, I can’t fault Farke in his stance. His man management since he arrived has been impeccable, and in my view the reason for our success this season.
He’s persisted with a youthful exuberance at the back where arguably our best two centre halves (certainly most experienced) are on the bench, where the vast majority of managers believe in “resting” young players after a brief stint to “aid their development”. Farke’s success has been based on team spirit, getting the most out of every single player. He eased out any egos (Oliveira, and to a lesser extent Murphy) and replaced it with an ethos of hard work and self belief. If a player knows they will keep their place if the team wins it is surely a motivating factor? Kenny McLean is benefitting at the moment, as have others earlier. It also fosters an attitude of fairness in the squad. Jordan Rhodes wouldn’t be blamed for feeling miffed at his lack of game time, but his attitude is exemplary and contributes to the incredible spirit we have now. Krul is also a massive part of that. Yes he makes errors but the presence he has in the squad is invaluable. The character of certain individuals is often more vital than their playing talent (look how we have historically faltered when losing Iwan, Malky and Dion when deemed past their best).
This team is even better than the considerable sum of its parts, and keeping faith with a winning team and a winning style, whilst occasionally a bit edgy is paramount now. It is the possession based, passing-out-from-back that’s wearing out and demoralising opponents. We must just hold our collective nerve and trust the man in charge
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Never has the old adage ‘never change a winning team’ been more relevant. Players always look better when they are on the bench to fans, and I have no doubt that Leitner or Vrancic or both would have made an earlier appearance had we been losing, or even drawing. We weren’t, so they weren’t needed. I was more irritated by the hat nonsense in the snakepit, but I guess we shouldn’t expect any better really.
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Tend to agree mate – impossible to change a winning starting XI in my eyes although personally, I’d have freshened it up a little earlier. There were some tired minds that looked like they needed freshening up. You were irritated by the Pit, I was by swathes of the River End whose tetchiness and nerviness permeated onto the pitch. And don’t even get me started on their pathetic, sarky cheering of Krul when he did something right.
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After Hull’s second activated the collective butt muscles of the Barclay became clenched and we collectively went a tad quiet. No sarcasm towards Krul from us lot though.
Couldn’t really hear too much from the River End – didn’t realise it had degenerated to that point.
We had a few moments of speaking amongst ourselves in sotto voce but didn’t let it spill onto the pitch – what’s the point?
I’m so lucky regarding the folks I sit with in the Barclay. Seven to seventy basically and I know everyone who sits around me pretty well. But to a man and woman we do not boo or shout out against our own players.
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Yes, we have very different views on this subject. I’m afraid I believe in pre-empting unnecessary losses due to tired legs and our better players not being on the pitch. However we will see, we have 9 games still to go. Let’s hope they do continue to find ways of winning regardless of whether DF makes actual team selections or not.
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Hi Gary
Yes squeaky bum time is here and there vould have been a really soft penalty fir Hull.
some teams will have notice if they press city Krul isn’t happy having the ball at his feet, Campbell last night did the same as james in the last game harried him all the time and he was very uncomfortable.
Wether it is the CB’s that are at fault by passing it bsck short or his own lack of confidence it is something that needs addressing, Krul has been a major asset to the team this season but if City gets promoted he will be found out nect season.
Another couple of tough game coming up away from home so possibly 4 points but 6 would be great.
Onwards and upwards OTBC
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I think one tweak Farke has to make when we are two goals to the good is to bring Klose on and put Godfrey into the holding midfield along side Trybull.
We wouldn’t then allow teams to run at us and cause space and time in our defensive half.
We seem to get overrun in midfield when teams mount desperate attacks at the end of a game we are leading.
Klose has better defensive awareness than the two youngsters and Godfrey has the pace and control to protect the back four in these situations.
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Why are some trying to find fault? Only eleven can play and we have now won 5 on the trot with the same x1. I thought DF would give one or two a rest but he knows better than we do. Last night’s scoreline did not do us justice, Hull were taken to the cleaners and very lucky to get beat 3-2.
Pritchard, J & J Murphy, Wes, Madders would all struggle to even make our bench if they returned let alone get in the starting X1. Keeping the players happy is down to DF and his coaches but also the fans supporting every player. Our 2nd X1 would probably be second, they’re good enough!
The only player we’ve lost recently who I think would improve this team is Angus but Tim K is doing great and deserves our full support, we just need to fix a shorter lace between his boot and the ball. DF is aware, don’t worry.
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I agree with everything you’ve said.
Winning 5 on the trot with the same line up and pretty much the same substitutions at the same time justifies itself. I’ve never been keen on squad rotation-I’ve always thought it takes away a huge motivating tool-if the players are winning and playing well they deserve to be in the next team selection.
Whilst DF has been keeping the same team I have noticed how few players are missing games with ‘slight’ injuries and through suspension-coincidence?
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Well said Don.
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I can’t see that Krul’s error was any worse than Godfrey’s failure to get the right side of Chris Martin. And Hull still had some work to do to get that ball back in the danger area.
But everybody judges goalkeepers based on what we see in the Premier league, even though we’re not (yet), and their errors inevitably stand out more than anyone else’s.
I don’t thing anyone – including Farke – is in any doubt that if we are promoted we will need to tighten up, or else become Fulham Mk II. But that’s for next season, not now.
I see Ayala got a red card last night – hopefully at least a 2-game ban, the second being against us.
By my reckoning 11 more points guarantees a play-off place – never expected to be writing that in mid-March! In fact it might be less depending on how many of the top 7 have yet to play each other.
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Hi Keith
I get your point about Dani Ayala but I’ve got a fair bit of time for him.
The first thing he did when he came to us was to go to a local school and give a few free Spanish lessons to the students. Unpublicised until by a miracle Archant caught onto it.
I knew but certainly didn’t tell them!
We’ve already got enough points on the board for the play-offs imo. We’ll see at season’s end.
But do we want that? No we don’t!
Let one of the Yorkshire clubs enjoy that experience.
Come on ye football gods – I pray to you every day after all.
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Great performance last night, especially from the Little Magician (Emi).
Moving on, Saturday lunchtime will be the first (and probably/hopefully the last) time that I will be supporting Leeds United. A win for them followed by one for us would leave us seven points clear, and with a better GD, of Chris Wilder’s Sheffield United with just eight games to go. While the gap wold be by no means impossible to close it would present an almighty challenge for Sheffield United and leave them relying very much on either of us or Leeds making a mess of things.
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IMHO a draw would be a great result for cities promotion
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I too would take a draw, but a win for Leeds could leave us 7 (SEVEN) points clear of 3rd placed Sheff Utd after Saturday with only 8 games to play, a really mammoth task for Sheff Utd to overhaul us then. (And we would still be two points above Leeds with a better GD.)
P.S. While I would love us to go up as champions – but 1st or 2nd matters little in the end.
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I think I remember that story about Ayala.
It was a shame things didn’t quite work out for him with us, but he was barely 21 when he joined and trying to blood someone of that age at Centre Half in the Premier League – and not even into an established PL squad – is a tad optimistic, unless they are supremely talented. And if they are supremely talented they don’t sign for us for under a million. He had a lot of injuries too didn’t he?
He’s a decent Championship player now for sure.
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Fine work as always, Gary.
Re team selection. Last night’s unchanged team could and should have won by five. The misses and lapses of defensive concentration can’t be attributed to tiredness. Though it’s frustrating for those on the bench, for me Farke’s choice was amply justified.
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Agree 100% Stewart.
Some profligate finishing and a decent display from our old boy Marshall in their goal put an unrealistic slant on the final score. 5 – 0 or 6 – 1 would have been a more realistic half-time showing……..
And having seen the Quest highlights of West Brom/Swansea one has to ask how on earth Swansea have neither points nor goals from their last two matches .
Anybody like to hazard a guess as to Buendia’s value now? What a performance from him last night – and just imagine if our third goal had been scored in the Prem……..it would be permanently on the opening/closing credits!
O T B C
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Buendia’s flick!
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Great article Gary. I too was dismayed and then increasingly annoyed by the whinging of some in the River End about Krul. Are they supporters? I sit in the South Stand and heard one ‘supporter’ regularly scream ‘Get rid of it long! every time Krul had it at his feet and then sarcastically jeer him when he did. People like this create a nervy atmosphere for every player at a time when we should be getting behind them and supporting them. We’re top of the League for heaven’s sake and playing some beautiful stuff. Depressing! I wish they’d stay at home and shout at the TV…
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