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With Green Street's finest about to breach the city walls it's time for the players to deliver for Hughton

7th November 2013 By Gary Gowers 9 Comments

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Almost hidden behind the hows, whys and wherefores of who manages the team going forward is a Saturday teatime date with West Ham. So far, amidst the bluster surrounding the inners, outers and shake-it-all-abouters, the game against the East Enders has registered only the faintest blip on the radar, but hopefully the focus will soon shift to the important stuff.

In fact, so far the biggest talking point ahead of the weekend surrounds the likely events in the stands rather than on the pitch; the potential similarities with Burnley, October 2006, not lost on those present on that most toxic of Carrow Road afternoons.

Also worthy of hardly a mention has been that the Hammers are just two points ahead of City; a win taking us not only clear of the relegation zone but also above Big Sam’s men.

Whether Hughton’s men currently have the wherewithal to get the victory is the million dollar question right now, but it goes without saying it’s one earmarked as ‘winnable’, unlike – judging by some of the body language on display – last weekend’s trip to the Etihad.

And while I resent the use of the phrase ‘must-win’ outside of April and May, for a whole host of reasons we’re getting perilously close to three points being the only palatable outcome on Saturday.

The importance of a City win was brought home when listening to talkSPORT’s excellent Hawksbee and Jacobs on Wednesday afternoon. While the duo remain the shining lights of an otherwise flatlining radio station (contributions by our own Mick Dennis aside…), Andy Jacobs for once made the heckles rise.

Off the back of an interview with a Sunderland writer – on there to dissect the Black Cats misfiring summer signings – the former producer of Baddiel and Skinner’s Fantasy Football declared that ‘it’s hard to see Norwich, Palace and Sunderland hauling themselves away from the relegation zone even at this early stage’.

It struck a nerve, not least because it laid bare the current perception of those outside the city walls of ‘little Norwich’.

And while it should matter not one jot how we are regarded – Paul McGrath, on the same radio station, declared Hughton up to the task but not the players – it is telling that some have already written off our survival chances with only a quarter of the season gone.

In truth, two wins, six goals and a 7-0 thumping does lend itself to questions being asked – even if it does come from the voice of one of my broadcasting heroes. We’ve hardly helped ourselves so far.

But with my pint pot still just above half-full – even if the beer is a little warm and flat – I remain hopeful that Saturday will be a turning point.

A quick look at West Ham’s form reveals a team in a not dissimilar state to ourselves; just two wins so far with only eight goals scored. Where their record differs from City’s is the ‘goals against’ column – also just eight. In other words….. no, let’s forget last Saturday.

So we have a side that’s scored just six in ten against a side that’s conceded just eight in ten? Scoreless draw anyone?

After last weekend John Ruddy and co would naturally give anything for a clean sheet … but it’s the Jääskeläinen goal that bothers me more.

Somehow, from somewhere, City need to unlock a defence that has so far been one the meanest in the Premier League; a frugalness reportedly borne of a defensive set-up bordering on 4-6-0 on occasions. That Barcelona can pull off such a formation is a given, but West Ham? Not so sure.

Clearly they’re going to be solid and hard to break down but possibly with a flip side of conceding territory and possession.

If that takes us back to a Southampton scenario then it’s time for Gary Hooper and Johan Elmander (Saturday coming too soon for Ricky van Wolfswinkel) to start repaying Hughton’s faith and McNally’s investment. If there were ever a day for them to finally come to the party, Saturday is that day.

To say they’ve misfired so far, certainly in the Premier League, is an understatement – as highlighted by the Daily Mail – but both come with goalscoring credentials. Without them they wouldn’t be here in the first place.

But now they need to start delivering.

For all the brickbats fired in Hughton’s direction over the last week, there’s also no excusing the role of the players in the double Manchester horror show. Few covered themselves in glory; not one did their manager a favour.

They owe Hughton … big time.

Whether they have the belief to do so is another matter – 7-0 hammerings have a tendency to dent the confidence – but the last thing I’m expecting is a no-show on a Worthy/Burnley scale.

The noises emanating from Colney have been typically encouraging – we’d expect nothing less – but Russell Martin’s rallying call will be quickly rendered futile if the players’ actions don’t match their words.

Much will depend on the type of start City make to the game. A tentative, nervous one will no doubt be quickly seized upon; an up-tempo, positive one will hopefully earn the approval and backing of Carrow Road.

With patience in fairly short supply in NR1 right now the best we can realistically hope for is an early goal that will galvanise – for ninety minutes at least – the Yellow Army factions. It would certainly help.

Gary… Johan… Luciano… over to you.


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Filed Under: Column, Gary Gowers

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Comments

  1. Capetel says

    7th November 2013 at 5:00 pm

    With RVW out, maybe the time has come to give Luciano a run out – at least he has had the advantage of playing in a higher league than one G Hooper……
    Who knows, he might just give us the early goal that will settle the nerves…

    Reply
  2. Dick van Dogsdick says

    7th November 2013 at 7:58 pm

    Not sure we can question the Hammers’ ability to utilise the 4-6-0 after they won 3-0 at Spurs, although it was admittedly quite a freaky game. A big reason for encouragement however is that star centre-back Winston Reid is out injured. If we can get at them early and perform like we did vs Cardiff, I’m confident of 3 points.
    After all, West Ham are so bad they lost 1-0 at Hull, and couldn’t even score at home to Villa!
    Seriously though, we’re more than capable of an early goal, and that will not only lift the crowd, but ruin Fat Sam’s game plan too.
    And I agree, the players owe us all a big performance. If they aren’t up for it this week, they never will be.

    Reply
  3. Steve says

    7th November 2013 at 9:27 pm

    If West Ham have similar form to Norwich City, then anything but a win will be disastrous. Sure City have had to play the top teams, and they will again at end of season, but they have also played Hull, Villa & Cardiff, so no excuses please! If we want to be in Premier League, then we must expect to play and take points off the best, not just attack the new boys on the block, the weakened and lame teams – we’re canaries, not jackals!

    Reply
  4. David Bowen says

    7th November 2013 at 9:51 pm

    As always Gary, a very good and entertaining read! There is no doubt we shall miss Tettey, he has been huge in our recent run of improving matches but if Johnson can recapture the form of last season, we should manage to cope. Despite the recent improvement, pre Manchester, I fear a good display but still firing blanks will set the “outers” off in full cry for a lynching!

    Reply
  5. Russell S. says

    8th November 2013 at 8:49 am

    Thanks for focusing on the game ahead Gary!
    I’m not sure the strikers can be accused of “misfiring” – more a case that they just haven’t been given the ammunition. Even against Cardiff, none of the multitude of efforts on goal were sitters.
    What’s happening with Snoddy and Redmond – surely our two most creative players. If they’re crocked for Saturday, where is the invention coming from? I think Elliot Bennett has been a big miss in that department.
    With the whiff of panic in the air and much teary-eyed recollection of the Lambert days, it’s worth bearing in mind that after Villa lost 8-0 at Chelsea, they then lost two home games (Spurs: 4-0 and Wigan: 3-0) and didn’t win for another 6-7 games after the turn of 2013. My point? (1) Lambert isn’t flipping invincible and (2) the board at Villa didn’t panic, put their faith in the incumbent manager who turned things round with the same squad of players. I suggest we do likewise.

    Reply
  6. James C says

    8th November 2013 at 1:00 pm

    Hopefully West Ham won’t be wearing their Claret and Blue – there are too many comparisons with the Burnley game as it is…

    Reply
  7. Gary Gowers says

    8th November 2013 at 2:34 pm

    Russ – fair point re the ‘mis-firing’ strikers. Perhaps I’m asking too much for one to grab the game by the scruff of the neck and make a chance for himself. Probably more the preserve of the Aqueros and Suarez of this world.
    So, lets hope for a Redmond, Pilkington or Snodgrass to find that missing spark of invention, and open up their Winston Reid-less back four!

    OTBC

    Reply
  8. Sapper says

    8th November 2013 at 4:25 pm

    its not just mis-firing strikers.Its not just about a manager under the cosh

    Its commitment; intensity, and utter resolution that we need; and bravery in selection [By which I don’t mean that Becchio is the s
    ecret weapon we have been keeping under a niquab] If the manager cannot imbue this into the team (weakened tho it may be) then there is a message.

    There are some players here , established and recently required , who owe us something; and they need to deliver tomorrow.

    Reply
  9. Stephen Moore says

    8th November 2013 at 7:37 pm

    Evening Gary, I heard Mr McGraths comments and found it a little insulting towards CH because is it not him who brought these players to the club, Iv’e felt all along that the players just struggling a little to adapt to CH’s tactics. The dusting down is over and now destiny has arrived for a few at the club, seriously need to push on now and if not then some serious questions need to be asked and answered.

    Reply

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