A lack of quality in the final third is clearly not just a Norwich City thing.
England’s inability to create clear-cut chances and make decisive inroads in to the Italian rear-guard in the heat and humidity of Manaus was rather too familiar.
All too often last season, the Yellow Army were left bemoaning a ‘poor final ball’ or a ‘lack of creativity’; precisely the same issue that will be occupying Roy Hodgson’s thoughts between now and Thursday.
It’s a conundrum that, regardless of level, boils down to one common denominator – quality.
England lacked it on Saturday night – especially in those energy-sapping last 30 minutes – and City lacked it for the whole of last season. As ever, there is no easy or obvious solution.
For England, Hodgson has been dealt his hand; no Redknapp-style wheeling and dealing for him. Instead he has four days’ worth of training to organise, cajole and inspire his Class of 2014 ahead of the clash with Uruguay.
While Saturday night’s attacking intent was a refreshing change from much of what has gone before, it relied heavily on the pace of a Sterling, a Sturridge or indeed even a Welbeck to stretch those Italian defensive limbs. And it almost worked.
Alas, while the young bucks did their best to pull an England win out of the fire, it was the older heads who were found wanting. The killer pass that Steven Gerrard seems to deliver on an almost weekly basis while wearing the red of Liverpool went missing from his armoury; so to Wayne Rooney’s ability to hit the target from 10 yards.
Both were ordinary on a night when the stage was set perfectly. Unfortunately it’s to those two we look when the aforementioned invention is required.
Andrea Pirlo, as ever, afforded us all a first-hand view of a passing master-class. It’s just a shame that Gerrard also choose to stand and admire rather than replicate. I was hopeful, given all that has gone before, that last night was the time to exorcise the ghosts of Kiev. It didn’t happen – at least not to the degree I had hoped.
The quandary of quality in the final third is a different kettle of fish for Neil Adams in terms of the talent at his disposal, but the conundrum remains – even when adding relegation into the equation.
Much has been made – quite rightly – of City’s poor goalscoring return last season and whether the fault lies with the strikers, the supply or simply Chris Hughton. In reality, all three contributed – perhaps equally. But regardless of blame apportionment, it has to be addressed.
The first obvious attempt to rectify this deficiency in the squad was the signing of Lewis Grabban but, if the tabloids are to be believed Leeds United’s and the Championship’s leading scorer, Ross McCormack is a wanted man in these parts.
While reports that the Yorkshire club have received a £5 million bid from an ‘un-named Championship club’ may not necessarily lead back to Norfolk, the suggestion is the list of names over which Messrs Adams, Royle and McNally famously cogitated includes more than one striker. [Note: The Yorkshire Evening Post is reporting that Fulham are the club to have bid £5 million].
Assuming they succeed in adding goals to the squad, the next trick – the one that alluded England so painfully in Saturday night’s second-half – will be to ensure the forward line is afforded a steady supply of ammunition.
England’s inability to carve out a decent chance in Saturday’s second-half struck raw nerves aplenty I’m sure.
Closer to home, a midfield trio permed from Bradley Johnson, Alex Tettey, Leroy Fer and Jonny Howson can run and chase all day, and makes tackles by the dozen, but is found horribly lacking in the guile department.
I don’t see that changing in the Championship. While strong running and physicality may be king in the second tier, there remains a need for Team Adams to improve the quality of supply from the midfield. Without it Master Grabban and A N Other will likely find themselves in a van Wolfswinkel/Hooper type scenario – and no-one wants that.
While I’m not expecting one A Pirlo to be on ‘the list’ I’d love it if at least one name on there was of a playmaker ilk.
I’m thoroughly fed up with typing that bloody ‘no quality in the final third’ line. Let’s hope between now and next May I don’t have to.
The final third is, of course, the hardest place to play. That’s why fans of most clubs bemoan their lack of quality there (just as they complain about their team’s inconsistency – time we recognised it’s a fact of football).
If Neil can’t persuade Wes to knuckle down and help, perhaps Surman is part of the answer. Sadly, we know Fox isn’t. But two factors perhaps make it a less difficult issue. First, Jonny Howson: he could really blossom next season, and he can certainly pick a pass. Second, Grabban is a different player from Hooper or RvW, less dependent on others laying the ball on a plate. Perhaps AN Other striker will be the same.
And of course we ARE playing in the Championship…
I think you’re being a little harsh on the England team Gary. When Steven Gerard and co are producing killer passes in the Premier League it is rarely against a defence that’s both top quality technically and packed across the park the way the Italians were.
Struggling clubs like ours might pack the defence, but not with International quality. The top teams have the quality, but most don’t pack the defence the way Italy did.
In any case reading our media reports the impression you’re given is that it’s all about our deficiencies. But there are two teams in a game, not just the one we support. Personally I don’t think enough credit has been given to the Italians for the way that, unlike us, they made it very difficult to get crosses or through balls in, certainly in the second half after they had taken the lead.
I did think that for the last 15 minutes Lambert might have been introduced just to give a bit of an aerial threat – something we don’t really have in open play. When Sterling, Johnson or Baines had the ball wide there were a lot of bodies protecting their penalty area; being able to float a cross for Lambert would have been one option. Whether it would have been any more successful, who knows?
I really can’t see us spending 5m on one player right now. We barely spent that with vastly increased income. Perhaps they’d do a deal for RVW and minimal cash, worked out well for Leeds last time.
Fair point Keith (2) – Probably a tad harsh and yes, it’s not every week you’re faced with a side so well-versed in defending narrow leads.
Fingers crossed for more of the same plus some clinical finishing on Thursday.
I can’t believe England AGAIN failed to get anywhere near close enough to Pirlo, despite all the pre-match talk. Every time he got the ball he was allowed to get his head up and pass wherever he wanted. Yes, our front 4 had attacking intent, but Gerrard and Henderson were unnecessarily too deep to support them. Rooney put a good shift in, apparently running seven miles, but l’d rather see a workhorse like Milner doing that job, so Rooney can concentrate on converting the precious few chances we create.
Last season I couldn’t understand why Howson was so often positioned deeper than the likes of Tettey and Johnson, when he should obviously be in front of them. Tettey and Johnson are workhorses, but they don’t have the quality on the ball to open up defences. I’d like to see those two in front of the defence, possibly even a back 3, with a proper winger on each side, and forwards who can get on the end of early crosses. I hope we’ll have the personnel to do something like that. Attack with pace.
Maybe I’m naive, but I’m actually optimistic for both England and Norwich. We have some talent there. Just need some fine tuning.