Ouch… that one hurt. Big time.
We knew there would be days like that. We just expected them to be against Man City and Liverpool. Not against those teams we deem rivals. Not against teams who were promoted alongside us. Not against Aston bloody Villa.
But, such was their dominance in crucial areas of the pitch, 5-1 was, I’m loathed to say, a fair reflection of those 94 agonising, excruciating minutes.
It’s been a while since we’ve had one of those death by a thousand cuts afternoons at Carrow Road. I’d even forgotten how painful they can be and now we actually have a group who are eminently likeable they become even harder to watch.
No-one shirked, no-one hid up, but the XI at Daniel Farke’s disposal were not good enough on the day.
Not because individually they’re lacking the wherewithal to operate at this level – I believe they do – but because the permutations available to Farke don’t permit him the opportunity to play two, bona fide Premier League-quality centre-backs, or a defensive midfield combo that marries some muscle with a quarter-back.
Farke isn’t able to do that. The injury crisis is forcing him to squeeze square pegs into round holes and after a couple of lukewarm performances, following the heroics of Man City, reality is starting to bite.
To put it into context…
The world we inhabit now is brutal, unforgiving and when, for whatever reason, the level dips below 100 per cent, you get found out.
Since Man City, the water has been lapping near the edge. Yesterday it burst its banks.
We mocked when Nigel Worthington played Simon Charlton at centre-back but while Ibrahim Amadou may look more the part than the five-foot-nothing Charlton, he’s equally makeshift. He was signed as an Alex Tettey and just because he’d played a few games there in his formative years doesn’t make him a Premier League quality centre-back.
That, of course, is no slight on the player himself who has done plenty of good things beyond the aforementioned heroics but to go ticking along at conceding a goal-a-game from individual errors is not going to work. No-one knows that more than the player himself and his head coach.
Even starker is the need for Amadou to be playing in his desired position, where the Mo Leitner/Kenny McLean combination is proving itself too fragile for anyone’s liking. Both are fine in possession, as is the whole team, but without the ball they get over-run and run-through too easily. Again, no slight intended on the individuals, but as a combination – one that’s forced upon us – it doesn’t work.
There was a reason why Farke played either/or at the back end of last season when he was afforded the choice.
Canary Call again honed in on the summer window and how a centre-back should have been a priority but ignored the fact that Ben Godfrey has been playing with an injury and is therefore restricted in his movement. It may be minor, but a 4-5 per cent restriction at the top level makes a massive difference.
Also, Godfrey, while being unable to operate at full throttle, is having to cajole and hand-hold a rookie centre-back alongside him – a massive ask for anyone, let alone one who one season ago was himself a rookie.
And if all of the above sounds like a list of excuses… it kind of is, although I prefer ‘mitigating circumstances’.
That doesn’t obviously excuse the mistakes that occurred, and which keep occurring, and there really does need to be an awareness that giving the ball away in daft areas and not marking tightly enough will likely end badly in this division. The latitude afforded in the Championship has gone. The room for error is now virtually zero.
And there are players who are currently simply struggling to bridge the gap betwixt Championship and Premier League – Marco Stiepermann being one, Emi Buendia being another. Both hugely influential in last season’s title win but both struggling, not unsurprisingly, to have the same impact at the sharp end of the pitch in the early exchanges of this season.
Both are still good players, both have time to come good this season, but right now they cut frustrated figures as we toil as an attacking force, with Teemu Pukki’s supply line currently as ineffective as it’s been in all his time here.
Alas, the Stiepi ‘get him off!’ brigade around me in the River End have ammunition for almost the first time, and it irks.
So, where from here?
Well, as Farke said post-match, there are now 13 days to get some of the wounded fit, and that includes Godfrey who, while maybe not going under the knife, will be the subject of some keyhole surgery. To a layman, 13 days doesn’t sound enough – but I dare not even contemplate a trip to the Vitality Stadium without him.
And we have to keep believing. The battle to get here was joyful but it was a slog and so hard-earned. To watch it go up in smoke so early on through a combination of things, some of which are beyond our control, would be both a huge shame and a waste.
We’re playing in the Premier League because we earned the right, and just because Danny Murphy, Mark Lawrenson and Charlie Nicholas can barely contain their contempt for little old Norwich, that doesn’t mean we don’t belong. This is when we roll the sleeves and dig in that bit deeper. All of us.
Some more fit bodies and lots of work on defensive shapes on the fields of Colney, and this is still within our grasp. Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.
Just looked at the lineup against Man City, forget a change in goal ( although Tim is a master at managing the defence) McGoven didn’t stand much chance with the goals. Only Byram & Tettey / Aarons & Leitner the difference. Ok yesterday we didn’t have a real defensive midfielder (Tettey), but against Man City we played a tighter/narrower defence, which worked. On MOD last night they pointed out how AV pushed up on us and we tried to work the ball out in our normal way, which we did against MC, are they saying MC didn’t press and AV are better at it than MC, I don’t think so.
The only difference’s I could see was the massive gap in front of the 2 central defenders and us loosing/giving the ball away.
So it might have been a awful 5-1 defeat, but it can’t be that difficult the solve the problem, can it DF?
5
The problem is a lack of adaptability and this does start with the manager Maybe Daniel is being stubborn/naive saying we will play on our terms but we know the current approach cannot continue. The defence was simply awful Sat allowing Villa the space and not closing them down. The weakness of last season was counterbalanced by plentiful scoring last season but has now been exposed for the glaring weakness it is.
0
Probably the most chilling aspect of yesterday was how clinical Villa were, The injuries left a massive gap in our defensive game but the final 3 goals from Villa were fine finishes that I’m not sure we can match even when fully fit. This looked like those cup matches between a lower PL team and a Championship where quality of finishing is the difference between 2 roughly even teams. We need to find 3 teams weaker than us, I think Newcastle fit the bill and maybe Watford (yet to see them so only judging on results) but who would be the third team? My optimism has been hit more by the quality of Villa than our own performance
3
Well done for maintaining balance and realistic optimism. The spine of the team, which is so important, has been decimated. We need round pegs in round holes and I hope that after the break Hanley can come in at the back. I’m aware of Hanley’s faults but Godfrey (assuming he’s available) really needs a wise old head beside him now.
Hanley’s return would allow Amadou to provide some physical presence which has recently been devoid from our defensive midfield.
Perhaps Roberts is worth a look as Emi and Steiperdude haven’t been at the top of their game.
From what I have seen, everyone is capable of contributing to the team, but we need the right players in the right positions.
I can’t believe that Mings got away with that handball when we were 1-0; if we had equalised then who knows what demons would have filled the heads of the Villa team so used to losing points from winning positions (I know I am clutching at straws).
Finally, I hope DF finds a way of withdrawing all our players from this week’s international matches.
5
That was a handball all day long. Not sure why anyone would support VAR when it can not catch such an obvious and straightforward infringement.
2
Daniel Farke has done wonders at Norwich and last season was certainly something special. However, even though last season was nothing short of a miracle, I thought there were times when he was a little bit slow to make changes and freshen things up a bit, in both team selection and the use of substitutes. If Roberts can’t get in a losing team, then I am not really sure what he is doing here. Similarly even if Hanley was fit yesterday, I doubt he would have played as Farke appears reluctant to use him. Zimmermann’s injury is probably the one which will hurt us most in the long run. Still, plenty of games to go and no need to hit the panic button at this stage.
1
Can we please have some sort of realism???
Yes; Villa had a game plan which worked a treat, and it was pretty awful to watch.
It was pretty bloomin’ awful, but how much did Villa spend in the close season; compared to that which Webber and Farke had at their disposal??
Already that puts us at a HUGE disadvantage in this (or any other) league, notwithstanding the injury crisis which means we’re trying to operate with the equivalent of boot laces tied together!!
Everyone specifies the drought of centre backs, but surely the main problem yesterday was the total lack of any sort of challenge and protection for them from our “defensive midfielders” – who currently don’t exist outside of the treatment room – other than as an emergency centre back (see above).
Dean Smith highlighted during the week the current injury crisis at Villa – 4 players receiving treatment – of whom 2 actually played yesterday…..he obviously doesn’t know the meaning of the word crisis in this context!
Having said all that, would people be making the same comments had we lost 5 – 1 to Man Citeh, but beaten Villa 3 – 2???
If someone had told me NCFC would now be 18th in the Premier League a year ago I would have never have dreamed it possible……..it’s proving difficult, but we CAN get through this!
O T B C
13
It was bad wasn’t it,really bad, even allowing for the injuries apart from McGovern the other 10 would all be considered good 1st team choices, granted not all at the same time maybe but nevertheless this was a shambles of an effort.
Why are you “irked” at the get Steipi off calls Gary? he looks one of the most out of his depth and there are other options in his position, another who I would drop for a few games is Bundiea not because he is not good enough but his petulant attitude is not great,constantly throwing his arms up in the air when HE loses the ball and makes no effort to get on with it and win it back….they could learn a lit from Godfrey who is struggling with injury and playing alongside a poor centre back but gives his all.
As you said obviously there will be a number of days like this but I don’t think they many people thought they would be at home to Villa.
2
Hi Gary
A great summary on yesterday’s game.
We can all bemoan the injuries that have beset city so far this season or as some will the real lack of spending.
It also seems some will moan at the lack of a back up plan once the amount of injuries took hold.
As I have and other square pegs and round holes or even make do and mend all fit, City are having an injury run unheard of in my time following them since the late 50’s.
Not bringing in a couple of free signing once the defence started to crack under the pressure of injuries is a joke, there has been and still are a few capable CB without clubs that would have jumped at a short term contract just to prove they could do a job for some club.
Zimmermann is a big miss but with Farke saying he will be out till Jan that means Feb before he is fit to play, Klose out till next season and now Hanley a groin strain so is it going to be a break through season for an under U23 to help Godfrey or persist with Amadou who must wonder what’s hit him playing out of position, he did well when Tettey was in front now with no protection he is out of his depth.
Yesterday was a very big shock to the system we knew it would happen but not by Villa and is there any prices that can be taken, I am not so sure but will leave that to more astute commenters than myself.
Let’s hope that the break gives city time to regroup and a few players recover from injury, or city bring in a short term free signing like the exspurs and Watford CB Kaboul, or James Collins, Loovens, Marc Wilson all have previous Premiership experience.
Let’s look forward to a fresh start after the break.
Onwards and Upwards
OTBC
1
Again you’ve made the best of a hopeless situation Gary but yesterday must surely be a watershed moment.
Several times now we have tried to establish ourselves in the premier league with no proper funding to such a degree that we must now meet Einstein’s definition of insanity.
Now is the time for Delia to seek new owners who can provide the £100 million required to give us a fighting chance.
It is no good Delia quoting Fulham as they are the exception. she should instead look at Leicester, Bournemouth or yesterdays opponents to see the necessity of substantial financial backing.
Our injury crisis is the direct result of underfunding. We cannot rest and rotate squad members because finances limits its size and quality. Look at Villas bench yesterday and you will see what I mean.
I hoped the community model world work as in an ideal would it is the best fit but cruel reality has already made this dream redundant.
7
“Our injury crisis is the direct result of underfunding.”
Are you suggesting more expensive players don’t get injured?
What’s happened to Klose, Farmann and Krul could happen to anyone. Should we have paid a lot of money for a different left back on the basis that he’s learnt not to fall on his elbow? As for Zimmerman, had we signed A N Other for £30m to play in that position Haller would have left one on him instead.
Ok, I can accept that failing to install lifts in all the players’ houses so that they can’t fall down stairs is obviously typically cheapskate….
Underfunding affects the quality of the squad, of course it does, and as you say it means the bench is not as strong as most of our rivals’ at the best of times. But it doesn’t directly injure anyone.
6
Lack of funding means we don’t have the quality to rotate players.
Tired players are more prone to injury which is exactly what we are witnessing.
You accept a lack of funding means the quality of our midfield falls well short of premiership standards and this in turn means players in other areas are overloaded making them more susceptible to injury.
3
I did wonder how long it would be before the “Delia Out” brigade piped up again but I didn’t think it would be this early.
Anyone with any sense of realism knew this would be a tough season even with everyone fit but this run of injuries is, quite frankly, ridiculous. As is the notion that spending a shed load in the Summer would have prevented it.
These players earnt a chance to play in The EPL, if they can’t cut it, then I am in no doubt that DF will not hesitate to make changes come January. But they and the management have worked hard to get us here and they deserve our support.
2
You are with respect missing the point, Delia, unlike Villa can not afford to replace players who are not up to premiership standard which defeats the point of your argument.
Secondly this is the fourth time we have tried this approach in recent times and have failed which is insane in anybody’s language.
3
Good point John, well made. The constant assertion that we can’t spend a “shed load” is infuriating. Quite what a shed load consists of is anybody guess but suffice to say in premier league terms that figure isn’t £750,000.
The decision to go into the season with two fit centre halves was not universally well received as some would have it. It appeared a major risk at the time and consequently has cost us our only fit holding midfielder.
The Delia lovers can argue til they are blue in the face. The fact is we chronically underspent in the summer and its come back to bite us on the backside.
4
3 of the 4 defenders yesterday played in most of the games last season which conceded 57 goals,how on earth did Webber and Farke expect an improvement in the defence playing in the best league In the world without adding quality to it is beyond me!Don’t blame everything on injuries,
7
yes; but at least they generally had a reasonable DM in front of them……that is a luxury we currently do not have!!
0
Well, if you are going to have a bad run – and most teams get one at some time in the season – September/October is a better time than March/April.
I think the biggest concern is that there are at least 13 league fixtures to play before we can strengthen the squad, 8 of which fall in the 33 days from 30th November to January 1st. It’s been difficult enough playing 8 games in as many weeks of late; having them on average every 4 days is going to be impossible if they can’t get more bodies fit.
Villa’s win yesterday doesn’t surprise me, although the margin of it does. It’s easy to put it down to the money they spent – and they have certainly spent some of that very well. But they also have a very good manager. He only joined them 12 months ago, and apparently they were 14th at the time.
1
We all knew it was going to be a tough season but didn’t expect to get beaten up by Villa, especially by that margin. Know we have plenty of injuries and some playing through with pain killers but it is concerning that Wesley didn’t have to make any kind of special movement for the first two goals, we just lost him, EB tries a blind flick pass to nobody causing the third and for the fourth KM passes the ball into a dangerous area to EB. Let’s hope for much better decision making and marking in the next few games whoever might be on the pitch. Credit to Lewis for constantly being the left back and left winger all in one, he must be knackered. OTBC
1
We leaked goals last season, at a lower level. Only then we went and outscored some teams. This is not happening at the higher level as expected in some ways. So in truth why should it be any different, even is Zimmo and Klose were in the line up, that didn’t stop the goals last season.
That is one part the other is clearly injuries, Farke had the chance to bring Hanley in for two games but chose not to, Now he is crocked again so perhaps he was not fit enough to even be on the bench.
The other part is I am afraid to say Zonal. all well and good playing it, but that is last season and now this season so far .. nothing has changed, the players cannot play that system. Point to other teams who play that, they have the players who can.
Another point, it does not take the brightest spark, to work out how to stop us and make us ineffective, , while commendable to try and play the same way, it is perhaps naive as was suggested in the opening game. There must be another formation that can be worked on. With Trybul and Tettey out and the guy brought in a replacement or cover playing out of position, he might as well put Heise as defensive midfielder
I am not really having a go, but until something is worked out and players come back, I fear we will be talking like this again.
3
Hi Lad
You make a very valid point about zonal marking, which is a drum I often beat myself. It doesn’t work for us. I dread an oppo corner.
However every Villa goal yesterday was scored from open play. Our midfield was simply steamrollered which I will pontificate about tomorrow.
1
We have one style of play. Our ability to perform it has diminished and our opponents’ ability to counter it has improved.
Time to adapt.
4
What works in the Championship may not work in the Prem. Sounds like we are giving goals away by playing out from the back and, when confidence is low, that leads to mistakes. A rethink is needed. Young, out-of-position full backs, 80 yards up the park is an open invitation to better quality teams. When we were forced back in our own half by Man City then we looked better and more compact. Otherwise the better teams are just going to pick us off. Try Byram and Hanley, and a more conservative approach. Defending is an art.
2
Is it mere coincidence that as soon as webber declared hes leaving after 3yrs our form has nosedived dramatically he filled them with confidence signing a new contract then ripped it away a few days later ….
1