Gary Lineker’s smirk when he described yesterday’s events at the Madjeski as ‘gritty’ probably summed it up.
Certainly not one for the purist, but try telling that to City boss Chris Hughton. Three clean sheets from the last four games represents a seismic shift in defensive capabilities when comparing his team to the class of 2011/12 – only Stoke have more so far this season.
In fairness to the MotD crew, they did scratch around for a few positives, and Alan Shearer did point out that Norwich were currently on a ‘good little run’. Unbeaten in four; two home wins and two away draws – if we’d been offered a mini-run like that after the Liverpool defeat we’d most certainly have taken it.
The few defensive problems that did occur yesterday were mainly of City’s own making. Hughton made reference in his post-match interviews to the needless free-kicks given away in dangerous areas. He refrained from making direct reference to Sebastien Bassong’s first half aberration, when dwelling on the ball rather too long, but would no doubt have issued a half-time ‘reminder’.
Other than those self-inflicted dangers, the back-four looked solid and well organised – a million miles away from that opening day of the season by the Thames. A lot has changed since that day – not only are some of the personnel different, but the team has a different shape.
Hughton’s desire to now play with two holding midfield players – in the shape of Alexander Tettey and Bradley Johnson – has proved a success and is the base upon which the recent upturn has been built.
Whilst Reading are in the bottom three for a reason, there’s no doubt they do contain an attacking threat. In his pre-match comments, Radio Norfolk’s Chris Goreham reminded his listeners that the Royals had scored eight times in their previous two homes games, against Arsenal and Fulham no less. On that basis a goalless draw seemed unlikely – and which is why, when it arrived it was a point well-earned.
It goes without saying that the defensive solidity we’ve enjoyed of late comes at a small price. Gone for now are the days of gung-ho football, with both full-backs charging on and us throwing numbers forward at every given opportunity. Instead the approach is a more measured one – yes, the full-backs do still get forward, but only when the time is right. We’re still playing the game on the front foot – Hughton demands it – but in a more calculated way.
The price being paid is that chances created for Grant Holt and co are currently less plentiful. It’s no coincidence that the last two homes games have been 1-0 wins – but while the points are being accumulated I don’t think there’ll be too many complaints. Hughton’s risk and reward strategy is currently producing a profit.
Such an approach allows little room for profligacy in front of goal and while neither Holt nor Robert Snodgrass could be blamed for missing those late-on opportunities – neither were ‘sitters’ – those narrow margins are the ones which will eventually define our season.
As it turned out, the results at the bottom of the Premiership could hardly have gone better – Stoke being the only victors from the bottom half of the table. The five point cushion we currently enjoy from the bottom three may appear slender but, given the momentum that accompanies it, is still significant.
Next up at Carrow Road are Manchester United, in one of those adorable tea-time kick-offs, followed a week later by a tricky looking trip to Everton. In reality, both can be regarded as ‘bonus games’ – those from which anything other than a defeat is indeed a bonus – and which will temporarily reduce the pressure on Chris Hughton’s men.
The real crunch comes in the games that follow; Southampton (a); Sunderland (h); Swansea (a); Wigan (h) and West Brom (a). A decent return from these eminently winnable games would see us enter the critical Christmas period in good shape, or – as Mr Waghorn would say – in rude health.
Sandwiched in between Swansea and Wigan is a certain League Cup quarter-final, but one suspects that will take of itself, and will be one on which form will have little or no bearing. If yesterday’s events at Villa Park are anything to go by, cavalier football is still the order of the day.
So a hard earned point – one that in many ways typifies the spirit of Hughton’s current crop. As the old boss used to say, ‘… if you can’t win it, make sure you don’t lose it’.
And he knew what he was talking about…
I am sure that supporters should be positive about the current position of NCFC. But having been to Chelsea and Villa, I was disappointed how cautious were on Saturday, City were on the front foot especially at Villa dominating for the first period until Villa scored with their first real attack. At Reading we played too slowly in midfield so that by the time that the ball got to Wes and Holty, they were crowded out.
Eliot Bennett or Jonny Howson might allow City to move forward with greater speed.
I was also disappointed with Snodgrass and Pilkington. They are both highly talented footballers but neither imposed themeslves on the game until Pilkington showed what he could do in the last ten minutes.
The game was there for the taking – Reading were an enthusiastic but limited team. They had two big centre backs who made it difficult for Holt to reach crosses when we got so few players into the area.
I am certain that points haul from the winnable games mentioned will be greater if City go out to win rather than stay solid and get a series of draws.
I don’t buy this optimism. The approach is far too cautious – we’re just holding on against very poor teams like Villa and Reading, so how you can speculate about a decent return from the games following Man U and Everton makes little sense.
Why can’t we be more “gung-ho” and score some goals? Last year we finished 12th but shipped far too many goals. This year we have a much better defence so why do we need two holding players as well? We need some more penetration going forward and better supply than some of the present selection are offering.
And we need a second striker – and forgive me for boring the sceptics again, until we get another in January we probably will have to soldier on as now, but we ought to have sorted out and be using Chris Martin by now, a talent being wasted as much by the club as by his alleged issues and attitude. He can play and score goals, but sadly it may be just too late now.
We will continue to struggle with only Lord Holt up front and two holding players. It’ll come down to set plays – real entertainment that, and not any basis for achieving survival. I’m not convinced by the earnest Mr Hughton’s approach at all.