In his first of what will be a regular feature on MFW this season, Joe Hinchcliffe has one final look back at City’s last outing – Liverpool in this case – before all eyes turn to the Canaries’ next game.
Much has been said and written in the wake of City’s 4-1 loss at Anfield on Friday night, but one word keeps making an appearance – naïve.
Daniel Farke said it himself, ‘we’re not naïve, we know that in each and every game in this league, we are the underdog.’ But that hasn’t stopped every pundit up and down the country using the word with different connotations.
Much of the debate, mainly outside of the Norwich fan base it must be said, has been focused on a need for City to be more pragmatic. Souness, Neville, Carragher, Shearer and others have all had their say and, in fairness, all approved of the Canaries playing style, but nonetheless suggested a need for greater pragmatism, whether it be during defensive transitions, while playing out from the back, or just fielding a more experienced team.
But is it naivety? Or is the bravery and youthfulness of Norwich’s style and philosophy being mistaken for naivety just because it goes against the grain?
City named the youngest matchday squad the Premier League has witnessed in 24 years, a starting eleven that included four academy graduates – Messrs Aarons, Lewis, Godfrey and Cantwell. Yet, still they managed to create the most chances of any opposition team at Anfield for two years.
In addition, Norwich were only the fourth team to restrict Liverpool to less than 500 passes at Anfield, since the start of the 2017/18 season.
Let’s not forget, this is a Liverpool team that has not lost at Anfield since May 2017. City approached an away game with the European champions looking to implement their own style and take the game to Liverpool.
I’d say that’s incredibly bold and brave and certainly not naïve. Changing to an unfamiliar game plan for the occasional trip to Anfield and the Etihad would likely end in defeat anyway.
Post-match, Farke was quick to praise his players for their willingness to remain principled despite the scoreline. Jurgen Klopp similarly commenting that Norwich ‘stayed cheeky, they stayed lively, they changed their plans offensively’ before commenting that he had the biggest respect for what Daniel Farke is doing at Norwich.
I raise this point because over the course of this season many teams visiting Anfield will find themselves facing a precarious scoreline at half time, and many of those teams will choose to opt for damage limitation tactics and retreat into a low block on the edge of their own area.
In Saturday’s late game, Aston Villa caused Tottenham a whole host of problems on the counter, with McGinn, Wesley and Trezeguet doing most of the damage during the first half, and they deservedly lead 1-0 at half time. However, for much of the second half Villa retreated deep into their own half and eventually succumbed to three Tottenham goals.
Which begs the question, is it not naïve to change a game plan which is working so well? Had Villa stuck to the game plan that served them so well in the first half as opposed to taking a more pragmatic approach, they might have even won the game.
With one of the undoubtedly tougher fixtures out of the way, City can now look forward to a more favourable home tie with Newcastle United, a chance to further ingrain the club’s style of play and philosophy onto the Premier League.
Regardless of what happens on Saturday, I’m sure Norwich City will still be synonymous with talk of impending relegation for pundits and national journalists. I’m starting to understand why Stuart Webber has those words printed on the wall of his office – ‘Ignore the noise.’
Great sum up and points ..
I believe no matter what Farke and the team does, we will still be the relegation favourites pundits will still find something to pull us apart by. There is in my eyes there is no way we can win many over, but then it is not about winning pundits over, it is about winning enough points to stay up. When that is achieved only then will some of these experts change their tunes. We will hear a bigger turn round than Liverpool beating Barcelona, The many faces of pundits will be seen and heard, especially when the cameras are rolling., jumping ship to look good.
So far many things Farke, Webber and City in general has done regards to getting to the premier, has gone against grain. Not spending money, Hunting down players from obscure clubs, playing youngsters, etc. So why change the pattern that has been ingrained into the squad, the club and the fanbase.
My son asked me last night had I seen Cristiano Ronaldo play, I said yep, surprisingly finding the whole game on youtube , when goals from Ashton and McKenzie shocked Sir Alex. we had a very experienced squad mixed with premier league, international and seasoned championship players , Hardly anyone under 23.. Yet that experience did not keep us up (we lost by 3 that season at Anfield too) so why change because someone else says we should several of these so called pundits have not had the gonads to try and be a manager or coach. I do not bother to listen to what they say
I understood from the off what Webber meant by his sign, and knew I do not both fully He was spot on.
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A good read on a wet and dreary morning in the north waiting for the cricket to start.
No city supporter wants relegation at any time but we all know that it is a possibility but 37 games to go before that can happen so we all live in hope that we can garner enough points well before then.
Pundits are paid to say things that will upset or cause a debate and I find once of this manor Danny Mills one of the worst, he seems to praise Leeds and Man C both ex teams but slam ours for doing their own thing especially teams he has never played for his latest rant is Levy hasn’t done enought to keep Poch and he will be off if Man U or RM come calling, and that Poch should have more say in transfers, he has had his niggles with how city do things as well but after all these years who does he know at city, where does he get any info into the workings.
He us like most out side the club sees what is going on the makes his own mind up how we got to where we are, did he get his coaching badges, would he do coaching if offered not in my opinion he feels safer mouthing off on TV or in the papers no risk.
Onwards and Upwards
OTBC
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Excellent column.
Amazing that we go to Liverpool, play “our way”; lose 4 – 1 and are called naive…….
Frank Lampard’s Chelsea go to Man United and lose 4 – 0; Wet Spam host Man Citeh and lose by 5….were either of them naive??? Apparently not, according to the MSM, just beaten by a much better team on the day.
As we expected, we have to get used to the fact that there is one set of terminology applied to the “establishment”, and something totally different to us upstarts from the country.
Goodness me, whatever will they say next season when we’re still in the Prem??
O T B C
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A very good point you make , and it’s fact !
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I’m not sure I want to stay up, in fact i would really quite like relegation please so I can watch my team again.
After signing up for the away super dooper membership on the last day I think i’ve been done out of my hard earned £50.
Most away allocations will be at best 3000 tickets, If we really have sold 7000 super memberships then we should be advised, ideally before spending as most of us are going to struggle to get an away ticket..
If as reported we have sold the standard away membership for £35 as well then heads should roll as there is no chance tickets will be available for this “membership”
Tickets for West Ham were impossible on line or over the phone.
I have no issue with last season’s away season ticket holders & those who went to 10 away matches having priority, but the old points system used to work perfectly. The more matches you attend the higher your points which was incentive enough.
Well apart from making money, for a (in the scheme of it) paltry £350k ish we have upset a whole host of remote fans who now have no chance of going to a game.
Any idea when the next open forum is and if so could a local please find out how many membership packages have been sold, it will be one less as mine is in the post, return to sender
.
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I have to agree here. I am one who can get priority for away games but I also feel club have been greedy by selling ‘enhanced’ memberships knowing full well the lottery it creates. Scrapping the points system was a major mistake as buying tickets this season doesn’t translate well as no effective system is in place as loyalty is not rewarded unlike other clubs such as Wolves and Brighton who do a points system. The current away system is grossly unfair and if the club is relegated, do they seriously expect people to shell out £100 for home and away memberships which is extortionate in the Premiership? I think not. Revision of the scheme is desperately necessary and if the club do give a damn about the fans which Delia claimed so many times last season, they must act.
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