How are we all feeling after that?
Relieved? Excited? A smidgen disappointed? A little bit of all three?
Me too.
Relieved because it could have been an awful lot worse given the dominance the visitors enjoyed for large swathes of the game (67% possession if you’re content to believe the boffins of Match of the Day).
Excited because of what yesterday afternoon promised. While there is clearly still work to be done, Chris Hughton’s team showed enough to suggest good things ahead.
And disappointed because despite being second best in terms of possession, City managed to weather the proverbial and get their noses ahead. But for a wonder-strike from the Ross Barkley who knows what could have prevailed if the lead had been consolidated for a while longer.
But – as 24,000 announced in unison upon the final blast of Michael Oliver’s whistle – “we’ll take that”.
A point against a quality side with the top six in their sights is far from a disaster, even if a couple of ‘Canary Callers’ tried to convince us otherwise; likewise the bloke in the River End at half-time who announced to those willing to listen: “Even more defensive than last season… Redmond is virtually playing at left-back!”
Hhmm.
In the real world, to emerge unscathed after 94 tension-filled minutes was fair reward for Hughton’s men, who showed a renewed zip and tempo to their game – something that was often missing last term.
With MoTD kindly confirming what we already knew – that the Toffees dominated possession – City found themselves playing like the away side at times, which, given the pace now at Hughton’s disposal, was no bad thing.
With a stronger, fitter and meaner version of last season’s Elliott Bennett dovetailing nicely with the newly acquired speed merchants, City looked menacing on the break throughout; in fairness, even more so in the final twenty minutes when Jonny Howson took the ‘Hoolahan’ role – Wes not enjoying one of his best days in the yellow shirt.
Nathan Redmond is certainly going to be one to watch this season if yesterday’s taster was anything to go by. With a deadly combination of twinkling toes and lightening pace – the armoury of the old-fashioned winger – Redmond looks to have precisely what it takes to make it at the top-level, even if the defensive side of his game currently require a little more honing.
So too his knack of knowing when to dribble and when to release but, still only 19 years old, there will be plenty of time and space on the fields of Colney to gradually knock the rough edges of our ten carat diamond.
EDP columnist Robin Sainty called it right on Canary Call when describing Redmond’s ability to get City fans on the edge of their seats as ‘Huckerby like’, while acknowledging him as being far from the finished article that Hucks was when he arrived here.
Come to think of it, the Great One wasn’t – by his own admission – the world’s best defender. I wonder if Redmond can header?
But I digress. The other obvious bright spot was a Premier League debut goal for Ricky van Wolfswinkel (OK if I call him RvW?).
As pointed out by Mr Waghorn, there is a certain irony that his opening goal could have been one right out of the Holt top drawer; his instinctive header from Steven Whittaker’s horribly miscued volley one that the Big Man would have been proud of.
As RvW pointed out in interview with BBC Radio Norfolk’s Chris Goreham afterwards, to be a predatory striker means making the most out of the few chances that come your way. With a conversion rate of 50% – the other chance being the first half header from Javier Garrido’s excellent cross – City statisticians must already be purring at what may lie ahead.
He also looks like he can mix it if required. To quote part of a tweet from an Everton supporting colleague: “Ricky looked like he didn’t mind putting himself about!”
And he’s spot on.
For those of us who have seen the pre-season friendlies it now becomes clear that said Dutchman was saving his best for when it really counted, with his physical display offering an edge hitherto unseen.
Another plus… a big one.
While he’ll never usurp Holty when it comes to roughing-up central defenders, the ability to ‘let them know you’re there’ when playing as a lone striker is vital, and he succeeded with aplomb.
Finally, it would be remiss not to mention Whittaker’s contribution. In addition to the goal (when did we last see a full-back score by virtue of a run started deep in his own half?), and his dubious ‘assist’ for the second, he coped admirably with the not inconsiderable dual threat of Leighon Baines and Steven Pienaar.
Clearly the midweek tryst with Theo Walcott did rather more damage to the groin of Robert Snodgrass than it did to Whittaker’s confidence and defensive capabilities; all in all a fine afternoon’s work by Scotland’s finest (for yesterday at least).
So there we go. After what seemed like an eternity, we’re finally up and running and – for most of us at least –I’d say optimism levels at 4:55 matched those of 2:59.
And how many times have we been able to say that on opening day?
“Never mind the danger”
Ugh..Canary Call whingers. People need to curb their expectations (also, why do most people who call in fail to pronounce names correctly? Houghton? Garrandio? Come on).
Yes we’ve made a number of very exciting signings, but that doesn’t mean we’re going to start winning the league. Everton are a very good, top 6 side – a point against them is a great start to the season. We’re likely to be midtable again this year – though comfortably so – and a top half finish should be our realistic aim.
A really promising start, and the fact that Hooper, Fer, Snodgrass, Pilkington and Bassong weren’t even in the side bodes well for us. It’s also great that their “replacements” such as Bennett, Redmond and (in a roundabout way) Whittaker had such good games – competition for places is something we just didn’t have last season.
Two goals and a point, Ricky’s straight off the mark,
The Dutch Wolf’s toffee-bite matches up to his bark,
With key men still to figure,
Fans hopes will get bigger,
Heading to ‘the Deep’ of Hull where the Tigers-hark.
When I first saw Whittaker’s goal, I thought it was really good. It wasn’t until I saw it again on MoTD that I realised just HOW good. 1 – he rand from fairly deep in his own half, and rode three challenges; 2 – his first shot, with his natural left foot, was from a tight-ish angle, was really powerful and pretty accurate, just denied by the post!; 3 – the way he oh-so-accurately buried the goal itself from a really tight angle, with his ‘wrong’ right foot would have made any striker proud. A two footed back! Wow!
Yes, Gary, relieved, excited and disappointed. But this is a new team: no one should expect perfection. Excited at the talent now at our disposal. At Hughton’s disposal. Just wait till their all available. And don’t forget:
FEED THE WOLF AND HE WILL SCORE
If he starts getting decent service – he’ll get a hatfull of goals.
EXCITED!!
OTBC
After watching from the Jarrold I thought we looked as strong defensively as last year with the addition of real pace and RvW can clearly take a chance if we can actually give him support. Everton passed very neatly and looked excellent throughout, Ross Barckly was excellent for them but I thought when Tettey came on and Howson pushed forward we matched them in the middle of the park much better.
I thought we did ok and we showed some real potential as a team. For one I’ll be disappointed if we flirt so worryingly with relegation again this year- a happy mid table will do nicely and show the club improving
OTBC
Optimism levels definitely rising. I am really looking forward to this season. My thinking :
should we have a good little run in the next few games, and the team is not tinkered with too much, I can see where a nucleus of 14/15 players feature more than the others – nothing wrong with that. But then we’ll need a couple of good cup runs to ‘compensate’ the remainder of the squad. My optimism indicator shows – 9th place PL finish, semi-final of League (Milk) Cup, and final of FA Cup.
Over-optimistic ? – moi ?