When I volunteered to write this piece, I didn’t realize I’d be shortly following Ed Couzens-Lake’s article on Laurie Sivell and much more. If you haven’t read that one, I beg you to stop right here and go to it. It’s wonderful (unless you harbour a rose-tinted view of Ted McDougall). Not just a hard act to follow, but an impossible one.
It gets worse for me.
If I can’t offer any inside information, then at least I should be offering a first-hand view of the pre-season preparations. I was at Hitchin, but faced a terrible dilemma on Friday: could have gone to The Open at St Andrew’s, the Test at Lord’s or Norwich’s latest run-out at Cambridge.
For several reasons I’d have loved to go to Cambridge. Out of respect for the delicate sensibilities of MFW readers, I won’t go into detail of undergraduate life in the 70s – suffice to say that, like John Ruddy, I’ll always be grateful for the fantastic start Cambridge gave me.
But in the end Lord’s was – like Mitchell Johnson, as it turned out – irresistible.
So my observations on the state of things at our club come from a mix of first-hand observation, conversations with knowledgeable friends and bits-and-pieces picked up elsewhere.
After watching half a season of Alex Neil’s regime, we shouldn’t be surprised to see some distinctive things in his approach to pre-season games. Above all, there’s an intensity of commitment and expectation. For Alex Neil these games, like everything else in his programme, have a clear purpose.
Watching him on the touchline, you wouldn’t guess this is pre-season against Hitchin and Cambridge – it might just as well be the Premier League. And forget going off for a shower and a beer when you finish your 45/60 minutes: the players sit and listen to Alex’s detailed dissection of their performance.
For that reason, we can assume that the individual performances in these games are noted and will reflect in later events.
The biggest talking point for our fans seems to be Ricky van Wolfswinkel. I’ll come back to him, but I’m not sure his performance has been the most significant.
Though it’s only pre-season and a far cry from Palace and Sunderland, four players have caught my eye and I’d guess have pushed themselves up the rankings a bit. They’re Harry Toffolo, Tony Andreu, Jacob Murphy and – as a midfielder rather than left back – Louis Thompson.
Football fans are notoriously fickle. Now and again it’s understandable; after the shenanigans of Fabian Delph I’m as close as I’ll ever get to sympathising with Villa fans. But usually it defies reason and common sense.
The one who’s currently bringing out extreme reactions in us seems to be RvW. To judge from Twitter, his two-yard tap-in on Friday sent many of our fans into a state of euphoria, if not sexual arousal. It prompted a flood of messages begging him to forgive our terrible treatment of him and give us another chance.
Give us another chance??
Yes, Ricky could have been better supported in his first season at City. Chris Hughton and Robert Snodgrass, among others, might look at themselves. But hang on – if a player wants to succeed at high level, he also needs to show a good streak of resilience and hunger to adapt to new challenges.
Ted McDougall may have been a moody so-and-so, but he never felt sorry for himself or lost his will to score goals.
I’m delighted AN has given Ricky a clean sheet (and no doubt some helpful hints) as he did with Bassong. And I’ll be even more delighted if it has the same effect – including forcing me to eat my words.
For what it’s worth, I remain a bit sceptical. I wonder whether Ricky has the strength – physical and mental – to play the role AN wants from his strikers, or the predatory instinct that’s needed in the Premier League. In other words: he’s wolf by name, but is he sufficiently wolf by nature?
But stranger things have happened.
im for one thought that ricky was played out of position with long balls into the box , after what id seen him do at sporting wolf wolf wolf.
0
A good assessment of the prospects of RvW. It is good to see the way in which some new/younger players are catching the eye. For them to have a realistic chance of featuring this season, some players may have to be shipped out.
Just as incoming players are a bit of a mystery, so are those who won’t figure. There is a group of players – e.g. Miquel, McGrandles, Turner, Loza, Jacob Murphy and Lafferty- who are likely to be bit part players at best. Some might get permanent moves while others might go out on loan.
All the speculation in the press is about arrivals. I am sure that work is also going on to reduce the size of our large squad.
0
RVW can cut it in an Alex Neil side I’m sure, as you say Bassong was gone and forgotten but be America a revelation last season, I think Ricky could be the same.
In Alex we trust OTBC
0
“after the shenanigans of Fabian Delph I’m as close as I’ll ever get to sympathising with Villa fans.”
That raised an early morning chortle! But you’d think that either he – or his agent, would have learnt from similar mistakes made by Shaun Wright-Phillips and Scott Sinclair, both of whom moved expensively to a giant of a club only to see their careers falter from that moment on. Idiocy!
0
RvW wasn’t played in a role that suited him, wasn’t given the support he needed and wasn’t provided with balls/passes/crosses that he had a hope in hell of doing anything with. A right winger who couldn’t cross with his right foot ffs!
Anyone who blames him for the lack of goals is incredibly naive. It wasn’t as though the players who replaced him suddenly started banging them in! I’ve seen enough of him in a Norwich shirt to know with decent support and playing to his strengths he’ll be a huge asset for us!
0
Stewart – fair play for showing your ‘true colours’ at Lords – pity it couldn’t inspire an unlikely recovery.
It was a tough examination at Cambridge who seemed determined after to claim a 1-1 draw and 0-2 defeat rather than a 3-1 defeat from the ‘unusual’ 4 by 30 minute format. It’s purely academic of course..
Like you, I’m baffled by all the ‘man love’ for Ricky which seems to be based on the fact that (1) he’s got ‘cool hair’ (apparently) and (2) was treated badly by Hughton (not Houghton as some seem determined to call him) and then Adams. I’m no student of the game (or hairstyles) but both points seem very dubious.
He took his goal chance on Friday night, but it was a sitter. His run and cross for the third goal were more impressive but he still seems too physically lightweight to qualify for the rigours of the PL. I’m sure AN will give him the third degree if he gets a bit sulky again.
Jerome and Grabban (and Hooper if he stays) are in front of him.
0
Yes, it was just one goal and a very nice assist but Cambridge were much tougher than Hitchin or Gorleston and Ricky had the best game of all our strikers. If he’d played in the last game he’d have no doubt bagged three or four. Also a tap in isn’t just a tap in, its the awareness to read the provider and get into the right position. If you watch RvW’s youtube highlights he scores lots of tap ins but his movement is top class and it was pretty good the other night; especially how he got in behind for the assist. Only at sporting he was doing it against Man city, lazio and anyone else he played against. It wasn’t just tap-ins though. He scored some belters, good headers and never missed a penalty. The big thing for me is this time last year he looked disgruntled in pre season and didn’t want to be here. At Cambridge however, he was cheerful and there were high fives with team mates and AN gave him a pat on the back and some praise. At the end of the day the guy got into the dutch first team, while not playing for a top club, which isn’t an easy feat. He is a top talent. I hoped AN would have ‘a chat’ with him and he has. Since then Ricky’s said its great to be back. I have never trusted a city manager more than AN. The guy can do anything. He can get the best from Ricky, no doubt. I hope the latter scores again in the next couple of games. If he can hit the scoring groove…
0
Whatever the RVW outcome, based on the fact we havn’t got a Harry Kane or Wayne Rooney in our ranks, we do have Jerome, Grabban and Hooper – proven goalscorers ( not P/L ), but maybe AN can continue his record of getting more out of them as he has done with others. There is a few million quids worth there ! If, as is expected we generally stick to playing one up front, we would do well to get another striker in of significant improvement on the POTENTIAL of the ones we already have. An old fashioned bullying Holt type player is what we are missing as an additional option.
0
Excellent article Stewart, it would be wonderful if RVW was able to be a success this season. I always thought that he was played out of position and not supported by wingers and midfield players. He was on the cusp of the Holland World Cup squad, I am sure that there is a player in there somewhere.
AN will get the best out of him, hopefully the same as a transformed Bradley Johnson, improved Steven Whittaker will testify.
0
Do you think Elliot Bennett
should be added to the list of those who have impressed? I also have an inkling that Vadis will come good.
0
He’s never gonna make it. Get rid fast and bring in better
0
Good read as ever Stewart and I agree about your four players who have really stepped-up this pre-season. Toffolo in particular offers an interesting conundrum because he could prove to be a good back-up to Olson but would that really provide the competition AN likes for each position. Jacob Murphy is another to me who looks as though he has learned from his loan spells last season.
The CB positions are also intriguing. My feeling is that Turner has looked poor in this pre-season and doubts also about Bennett and Miquel.
Up front interesting decisions about both Hooper and RvW. Hooper is just so frustrating – when he looks good he looks really good but hasn’t really demonstrated enough consistency so far. As for RvW it was great to see him get a great response on Friday night and respond equally positively – both to the fans and his performance. His body language was certainly one of somebody that wants to do well. Personally, I think he has more to his game than just being a ‘finisher’ and hopefully strong leadership from AN will bring the best out of him. As Stewart says the big question is if he has the physical and mental toughness….
0
I am pleased to see RvW back in the fold, and apparently with a clean sheet and positive attitude.
Will he make a Premiership striker? The odds seem against it. He needs to bulk up and become more aggressive. If anybody can re-invent RvW, Neil can.
I am far more worried about our defensive frailties. I thought we would head up for the Celtic centre half , but nothing on that. We have only heard about the Brady offers because of Hull playing mind games
I still feelositive about next season, but before I get too euphoric, I felt the same way 2 seasons ago, going into action with RvW, Fer and Hooper, and look what happened there courtesy of the Hughton effect
I have greater optimism over the Neil effect.
0
Thanks for everyone’s comments.
There’s clearly a divide of opinion about the Wolf, with both sides well argued. I think we’re all agreed that if anyone can get the best out of him, it’s Alex Neil.
Paul (5)/Keith (9) – I see the point about Hughton not playing to RVW’s strengths. But AN does seem to like an out-and-out striker with physical attributes and determination. I don’t know if Ricky could play in the hole behind that striker (which Patrick Bamford, for instance, could).
Cambridge Don (6) – fair comments. I’m not sure about the 4×30 minute format of the Cambridge game, but AN clearly took a collegiate approach to it.
Always happy to take compliments. However, helping England in the cricket is well beyond my powers!
0
There was an old MCCer by the name of Stew,
Faced with a sporting dilemma, he stayed true,
Wore the yellow box at Lords,
Mingled with beery old hoards,
A faithful Canary was Stew through and through.
0
Stewart – at least you can say you were there..at the most crushing defeat in English cricket history possibly? That bunch need Alex Neil to deliver some home truths in their dressing room.
Ricky – a Dutch riddle, wrapped in an orange mystery, inside an over-priced enigma..
Seems to be an age thing on the whole. He has the yoof vote, but most over 35 tend to see underneath the nice hair and name punnery. At times he looked like he had clogs on his feet not football boots – you can only blame others so far. It’s down to him to convince when it matters.
You can still get into the golf on Monday now.
0
About RvP,perhaps the signing of Brady is in AN’s game plan
To provide the ammunition for the Dutchman & the rest.Got to give him a run perhaps saving a few bob in the process
0
Sid (17) – Interesting comment, though you may have the wrong Rv.
0
Cosmo (16) – Unlike you I’m not aware of the ages of the other people who have posted. However, I’m over 35 & very much in the pro RvW camp. For me, at the time of his signing it was up there with Hucks in terms of excitement. I suspect I wasn’t the only one felt this which probably partly explains the support he still has. Apart from anything else, we’d take a big financial hit if we sell him now so I feel we don’t have much to lose if we get him another chance.
0
Dave H(19) – I did say ‘most’ over 35 – it was also based on the Twitter reaction (not this comment thread) last Friday where it was pretty easy to gauge the age.
Most importantly, AN lies just below that age mark!
0
I think it’s a brave man who would give Ricky a decent shot at playing in the Premier League now. His level of ability is one thing, but being able to stick it is another. He looked sharp in his first game for us but after a barren run his head dropped to a level I’ve not seen before. Gary has previously mentioned his ‘blind pass to no one’ in the Fulham away game. I couldn’t have had a better view of it from my seat at Craven Cottage and the worst thing about it was not the pass itself but his reaction. He stood gazing skyward in exasperation while his team mates got on with it, rather than making an effort to make amends. The sad thing for him (and us) was that he’d been denied by an absolutely top-class save before that. The point, though, is that you have to give it all for 90 minutes, in every game.
Alex Neil, though, could be that brave man. The clean slate approach to Bassong paid dividends. With Ricky it could be the same in that Neil judges him only on what he sees in front of him. If all that he sees is good it could be enough for him to get that second chance. If he gets it and takes it I won’t be complaining. If he gets it and doesn’t take it there will be other players ready to step in.
The view of most fans is most likely to be, ‘If he’s good enough for Alex Neil, he’s good enough for me.’
0