Oh for a successfully negotiated must-win to write about.
The knack of finding a win when we most need it appears to have deserted us, and at the worst possible time. Perhaps expecting one at Craven Cottage was pushing the boundaries a little too, far but armed with the anticipated ‘bounce’ of a new manager and with the Cottagers in the bottom three for a reason I fooled myself into thinking victory was a possibility.
In hindsight however, if your team has an inherent inability to convert chances at one end and concede soft goals at the other even Pep Guardiola would struggle to muster up a win. And so it proved.
The same old failings that have befallen Team Hughton all season were again laid bare at the Cottage and – not for the first time – City were left cursing their luck with nothing to show for a decent performance.
The passion was there for all to see, as we expected, and there was no lack of effort and desire from those in yellow, but ultimately when the crunch came they were found wanting.
Other than the two-on-one breakaway in the final minute, with City understandably committing numbers forward, Fulham barely had a chance, but when it came it was buried. The Canaries had several of a similar ilk. None were buried.
Again we’re in the realms of ifs and buts, but if Bradley Johnson had shown just an ounce of composure when he sliced horribly wide from ten yards in the first half or if Robert Snodgrass had used his right foot instead of his left to steer that agonising second-half chance home we’d be having a different conversation today. Alas they remain ifs.
And while we’re on the subject, if Ricky had not afforded Steve Sidwell a free near-post flick on, or the aforementioned Johnson had not given Hugo Rodallega a freebie from six yards it could have all been so different. But…
Credit where it is due however and there is no doubting there was a vigour and hunger about the performance that has not been evident over recent weeks, and the team had a decent looking balance about it.
Neil Adams’ first team selection was an interesting one, with the central defensive pairing of Russell Martin and Michael Turner the most telling change. As it turned out both equipped themselves well in difficult circumstances; Turner in particular doing a sterling job at both ends in his first game back after a lengthy injury lay-off.
Tactically few could have complaints with the new manager’s approach and it was refreshing to see a more fluid look to City as they pressed forward. The narrow midfield certainly plays to the strengths of Martin Olsson and in that good spell midway through the first-half it was the Swede who looked City’s most dangerous attacking threat.
If, at any stage, Neil Adams were to opt for a Magath-type three at the back formation, no-one is better suited to the role of left wing-back than Olsson. Quite who could patrol the opposite flank is open to debate, but having watched Kieran Richardson comfortably outpace Steven Whittaker in the lead-up to the free-kick I wouldn’t expect it to be the Scot.
The lack of pace in the side remains an issue and which is clearly why Adams is keen to get Josh Murphy involved; the youngster’s extra yard obvious to all when he made his late cameo. But Murphy aside, only Olsson and Nathan Redmond in the current crop have the ability to stretch and go beyond the opposition – and that makes us that little bit easier to defend against.
But it’s too late in the day to bemoan the inadequacies of the squad. Adams has to somehow – in just four games – revive the buzz that accompanied his arrival and translate that into a vibrancy on the pitch. Starting with Liverpool next Saturday.
The social media meltdown that followed yesterday’s defeat suggests that many have conceded relegation as a mere formality. But it’s still not over.
Of course City’s run-in is the stuff of nightmares (has that been mentioned?) but now’s not the time to throw in the towel. Home games against Liverpool and Arsenal can yet yield points and I don’t imagine Messr Mourinho and Moyes will be expecting an easy ride from a team on the cusp of the abyss.
Those around us are conjuring up unexpected wins. It’s time City started doing the same. If they don’t…
Typically the support of the travelling Yellow Army was magnificent yesterday – spine tingling at times – and showed to those gifted the chance to salvage City’s Premier League status, that the fans still believe. And will continue to do so until survival is mathematically impossible.
The sight at the end of Redmond and Snodgrass both visibly upset by defeat at least proves – contrary to some of the performances we’ve witnessed of late – that most of the players do care, and the current predicament is hurting them as much as it’s hurting the fans. And if nothing else it tells me they will be straining every sinew to rectify it.
It may ultimately prove to be too little too late, but I remain convinced there is a twist or two left in this season. The final few games often throw up some odd results.
I’m not prepared to chuck in the towel… not just yet.
And so the much talked about “final four” are upon us and the league table doesn’t make pretty reading, but I’d still rather be where we are than Sunderland, Cardiff and even Fulham. We just need to muster up a win from somewhere somehow.
Watching Arsenal last night, we have every chance of turning them over at CR. They’re even softer than we are.
I have never seen as committed a performance as Snodgrass gave. He was everywhere and was unlucky with his free kick.
The problem City have is they have wasted so many chances in the course of the season that when it really counts bad luck can seem so cruel. Two glaring deficiencies showed up yesterday. Inadequate strikers and lack of pace as the article points out.
I am now resigned to relegation. On the basis of yesterday’s performance we will have little chance against Liverpool and Chelsea. Man U and Arsenal do have possibilities but unless we can put the ball in the net.
It has been glaringly obvious all season that we could not score enough goals.City have been seduced by paying big (for Norwich) fees for RvW and Hooper. Neither has done the business and it was unfortunate that that issue was not addressed in the transfer window.
If we go down to the Championship, City will need a striker of proven quality at that level to be able to compete. Hooper can score goals at that level but he has neither the pace nor skill to cut it in the Premier league in a struggling team.
There were promising signs yesterday. Russell Martin showed he is a leader when in central defence. Olsson is arguably the player of the season especially when taking account of his shoulder problem. Fer looks a class apart. Neil Adams did shuffle the pack but the squad is clearly not good enough to withstand the succession of injuries to Tettey, Howson, Fer, Yurner and the two main strikers.
While there’s life there’s hope! But even yesterday it was hard to see how City could get wins against the upcoming opposition. OTBC
Well writen Gary, and you’re right, more twists and turns to come yet. Poor Ricky looks lost, Hooper to start next week I hope. If we show the same spirit over the next 4 games that we showed yesterday we might just pull off a shock. Just a little more composure in front of goal yesterday and we would all be happy bunnies this morning. Finally, the yellow army. Great atmosphere in the pubs before the game, probably the best away support that I’ve been with this year. OTBC
Put RVW in goal. He knows how to keep the ball out.
Play Redmond up the middle because he clearly is not a winger and if he lost the ball it won’t be so painful. Keep Fer in the dressing room or tell him a different date for the games. Get Johnson a new club like Leeds. People are saying the Championship is the Abyss which is a bit OTT. Adams our new ‘hero’ will be gone soon, thank god. Get Malky in to give a chance of coming back up. Put Hoolihan on his bike, to where we don’t care. Yes and loan out Bassong to Ipwich. Job done.
As usual a good article to read . One thing and one thing only has got us where we are that is our players cannot score goals .you could probably name ten matches where we have had numerous chances ie two matches against Cardiff and failed,only ten more goals which is not much to ask over 38 matches would I think may have been enough.my only worry is it is not sorted out league one could be beckoning.
Nice at this juncture to see supportive and not critical responses. Spot on Douglas Millar, highlights of this match would not do the team including Snod’s crazy work ethic any justice. It was a pleasure to be back amongst the ‘togetherness’ yesterday and although sentiment won’t keep us up, playing two or even three holding midfielders, leaving Fer to push on, may as yet lead to a crucial goal or two.
Of course we want to survive but when you look back at all the opportunities afforded us this season to seize the day and move up the table, we haven’t capitalised, hamstrung by the previous manager’s fearfulness and weak tactics. Therefore, sadly, we do not deserve to remain in Premiership unless we really earn the right from our final four games. I, for one, am much happier having seen how far the lads have come in just a few days of Adams, whether we stay up or not. Much, much improved. If only the board had acted at the beginning of January!
A lot of people looked only at the result yesterday, but it was arguably a much more committed – and fluid, as you say Gary – away performance yesterday than we have seen for a while.
One question for you, Gary, when you say we lack players with any pace, do you see any role for Elliot Bennett in the remaining games this season, since he is one person that does – and he has even played right back before?!
Finally, in some sense, if we accept that the odds are against us now staying up, and if Neil can use it the right way psychologically, by convincing the players they have nothing to lose, there is an argument for saying that City can be encouraged to play with a much greater freedom than they have almost the entire season. And if they do, who knows what might transpire – that is, if someone, finally can manage to find the back of the net?!
Two good pieces this week Gary. I particularly enjoyed your previous retrospective.
While I have zero proof (and I type tongue in cheek), as the dust settled on the West Brom game Saturday night my wife’s waters broke and she went into labour. I can only assume the two events were related.
By Sunday evening we had a healthy baby. Little did I know that in the time it took to give birth we’d part ways with Hughton and appoint Adams.
Partly due to the joy of having a newborn, part sleep deprivation, I honestly believed we were going to win yesterday. Elizabeth B sat and watched the match on the telly from my lap.
What we saw was a vast improvement on previous away performances. An energized team. Some attacking pace. Restricted the away team to just one goal. Some real chances.
Sadly I have come to the realization that while you may give birth in a day and change a manager in that period too. The build up to both events takes a long time. Our attacking rot is too engrained to fix in five days. Ricky must have amazing training ground sessions, as I’m still flabbergasted we started him a head of Hooper. Still, we looked improved over previous away performances.
Whether you want to blame Hughton, the board, or the players, we have been walking the path to our current predicament for at least nine months. It will take some time to turn things round.
I still believe if we’d made the change last summer, or Christmas, we’d be safe now. I hope Neil can improve on the work he did last week and we can grab another win somewhere. Back at the start of Feb I predicted a route to 35pts. While my opinion was considered pessimistic at the time, I think we’d all take it now.
Michael (9) – A fit Elliott Bennett would indeed fit the bill nicely in terms of injecting pace into the side. I guess the question is will he gain sufficient match fitness in the next few games to make an impact. Let’s hope so.
Dave (10) – Congratulations! And thanks. Trying times indeed, but am still hopeful there is yet a surprise or two remaining. Liverpool will certainly be a test!
Dave B: Congratulations! Hope mother and baby (and dad) are doing well.
Everything else can be debated in May.
While I’d resigned myself to relegation yesterday, my blind optimism is finding it’s way back today. I’m not sure why, the last 3 games were perfect opportunities to put ourselves safe but we blew it. For all the talk of ‘must win games’, a point in each of them would have put us in a significantly stronger position. As it is, by losing to our rivals, even an unexpected win now may not do it. The key however now is if the players genuinely believe they can still do it. If they do, I’m there with them.
There is a big red juggernaut looming closer and we’re still trying to get out of second gear. West Brom – we were clappe(r)d..Fulham – began to splutter back into life.
We’ve been in the slow lane all season with a new man at the wheel; can he steer us away from the dark ditch that awaits? Let us pray that R Van W can put those L plates away and switch on his scoring SatNav., otherwise it’s the scrapheap for him.
Dave B – if it’s a boy, I’m guessing that Chris, Hugh or Ricky will not feature on the baby names list?
I’m amazed people are so quick to forget our competitive performances against top teams, most recently vs Man City and Spurs in February. After 80 minutes against Chelsea earlier in the season, we looked the more likely winners. And of course we beat Arsenal and Man U last season.
We no longer have the manager who masterminded those performances, of course. But the players showed it can be done, may remember some of the keys, and know the crowd will be right behind them (+ clappers?).
I think it will be a loooonnng time before those clappers reappear.
I’m certain that no towels will be thrown in but in terms of mountains to climb, we’re faced with Everest. Anything from Liverpool/Chelsea at this stage would be nothing short of miraculous – Man U/Arsenal a little more realistic if improbable.
I’m sure the Lord Nelson stuff will be coming out (again – think it did this time last year) as we have 4 ‘Battles of Trafalgar’.
1 point from Cardiff, 0 from Fulham and 0 from Villa (and that West Brom defeat)is what will condemn us if we don’t get 4(?) more points.
Let us pray for that miracle and Ipswich don’t get a sniff of play-off glory.