As halves of football go, yesterday’s first was about as abject as they come – unless of course you travelled to Watford, where there were two of them.
That City, from somewhere, found the wherewithal to salvage a point in the most unlikely of circumstances was laudable – almost unbelievable in fact – but must not be allowed to disguise the fact that for 45 minutes they looked equipped for only one thing.
It was another day when Alex Neil pulled a rabbit out of his half-time hat, amidst the shattered tea-cups, and confirmed yet again that he has more than a little something about him, even if his tools for the job look to be of an indifferent quality right now.
There is no escaping that prior to said half-time rollicking the Canaries looked every inch a side destined for the drop and, of even greater concern, appeared almost accepting of the fact.
Compared to the Arsenals, the Man Citys, and even the Evertons, we lack quality – everyone knows it – and so, at the very least, the players need to make tackles, play with energy and operate at an intensity level that rarely dips below 100 per cent.
Other teams can afford to be ‘off it’, coast a little yet, still be capable of winning a game. We can’t. No room for passengers. No way of accommodating too many 5/10 performances, which is why yesterday’s opening 45 was unacceptable.
Everton are decent – more than decent – but to stand off and permit them time and space to dominate was inviting trouble.
And the mistakes. They persist. Too many to list but the first-half was littered with them, including three in the lead-up to Lukaku’s goal.
The decision to move Russell Martin out of central defence was an easy one – the skipper unfortunately doing nothing to justify his reinstatement at centre-back – but to move him to right-back instead of hooking him also proved to be the right decision as he was at the heart of much of City’s good work after the break.
Hopefully that will put to bed once and for all the argument about his best position, although it probably won’t given his apparent desire to be a centre-back.
But he wasn’t alone in upping it a couple of gears after half-time. Ten players in yellow found another level – Declan Rudd was excellent throughout – and finally found the sort of intensity required to get something from a Premier League game.
And, irony of ironies, we should have won it; Cameron Jerome’s glaring miss after some good build-up play was no doubt replayed hundreds of times in his mind last night.
City’s cause has not been helped by the renaissance of Bournemouth of course, who have now taken down two of the big boys in consecutive games, and in order to survive we too now need to find some big wins. The days of looking to realistically take points off just those in our ‘mini-league’ are well gone and the Cherries have shown us the way ahead.
As ever, the post-match conversation naturally turned to what can be done in the January transfer window to improve things and help us match the current levels of our fellow promotees.
Alex Neil confirmed at last week’s fans forum that work is already well under way to bring at least a couple of new faces in and, preferably, at the beginning rather than the end of the window. And boy do we need it.
From somewhere we need to find a defensive permutation that will bring us some clean sheets and minus a couple of defensive additions it’s difficult to see that happening. Currently only the two sides from the north-east have conceded more goals and it’s doesn’t take one with a UEFA Pro Licence to see that basic defending is City’s Achilles heel.
Nor are we awash with goals – but where, in the January window, do you find a striker guaranteed to score goals who would be willing to accept – in PL terms – modest wages while being thrown headlong into a relegation dogfight?
Answer: You don’t.
So, in my view, it’s the back-four that will be the focus albeit the same caveats remain in place. If you’ve read this column before you’ll know my thoughts on City’s travails in the transfer market, so I’ll resist repeating myself. But it’s not going to be easy.
Yet there are still a few positives floating around, not least the fact that this time last season both Leicester and Crystal Palace were both firmly ensconced in the bottom three.
All is not lost – even thought at half-time yesterday that’s *exactly* how it felt – but changes have to be made. More of the same won’t be good enough
Other random observations from yesterday:
– Gerard Deulofeu is a very good player.
– Gerard Deulofeu is a bit theatrical.
– Everton are close to being a very good side.
– Carrow Road doesn’t suffer fools.
– Carrow Road can be noisy when it has something to cheer.
– Russell Martin’s call for “equilibrium” has gone unheeded.
So, a point which few saw coming and a second-half display that gave the faithful something to get their teeth into. Only Manchester United away next week.
Another case of Norwich City turning up at precisely the worst possible time?
Well said, sir.
When they produce all the stats at the end of a match, possession, shots on / off target, etc it’s a good job there’s not one for “times the ball was given to an opposing player in dangerous areas” – that’s the one area we’d be top of the league in!
The only thing missing in that first half was seasonal gift-wrapping on the ball before presenting it to an opponent.
“Shoddy and sloppy” was quoted on MOTD – and correctly so. Eradicate that and we give ourselves a fighting chance of survival – fail to do so, and it’s next stop Portaloo Road!!
Full credit to all for the second half, but it’s a game of 90+ minutes, not 45.
Great article as always Gary. A pretty grim first half which actually I thought started well with City looking sharp albeit with a few early warning bells. Second half was much better with the team showing the fight and desire to compete. Problem is Norwich are really only a strong Championship side with the odd PL players thrown into the mix – Olsson, Brady and Wes. As you point out to compete at this level, the whole team needs to be playing at 100% with not much margin for error.
Some thoughts on individual players. Rudd was excellent throughout and fully deserving of his MOM award. Decisive, great anticipation and speed of his line. A nice selection problem to have for AN. Martin despite his desire to play at centre half just looks so much more natural, comfortable and confident at RB and gives the team much better balance down the right – give it up Russ and stick to the RB. Redmond continues to frustrate, lots of pace and tricks but when his confidence drops so does the decision making. Personally, if Bennett (E) wasn’t out on loan, I’d be playing him at the moment – he does the simple things well.
In summary, I don’t quite see it as doom and gloom as some suggest. But strengthening in core areas of the team is key. Some white rabbits for AN and the board to pull out of the transfer magic hat!
I was disappointed both at Vicarage Road and at home yesterday with the amount of misplaced passes. It is not only the defence at fault. O’Neill was to slow at moving the ball waiting for a killer pass which didn’t appear. Tetley is best at breaking up play and passing to our more creative players. Redmond has lost confidence. His only defence splitting pass was back into City’s own half. One incident yesterday shown on MOTD pictured a high ball in midfield which he failed even to challenge for.
I don’t know what Mulumbu has done wrong not to get an opportunity. And why drop Howson who alongside Brady, is likely to score.
Jerome showed his strength in outmuscling the Everton defence and winning the corner from which City scored. If Grabban and Mbokani are not prolific scorers he is the best bet, despite his misses.
Rudd is very promising. He has not yet been tested under Allardice/Pulis type aerial bombardment. But he has been brave in coming out to block shots and has deserved his MoM awards.
Let us hope City can capitalise on United’s poor form next week. OTBC
How much we can achieve with spirit & adventure? Reckon we will get beat if we play cautiously. We must impose ourselves on the opposition be fitter and stronger. Yes we need a good centre back plus a goal scorer, (Chrissy Martin)would do fine on the end of the chances we make.
Lets win at Old Trafford, Happy Christmas!
It was a very strange game. 5-0 at half-time wouldn’t have flattered Everton. Redmond’s diagonal through-ball to a blue shirt from deep inside the opposition half was one of the most bizarre things I’ve seen this season. I just don’t understand why we weren’t even TRYING to close them down, but I was happy that most of the fans stayed behind the team. ‘On The Ball City’ rang out a few times following some of our worst play in years, that was good to hear.
Wes was very frustrating, time and again taking on too many defenders or too many touches. Even when he was quite clearly hobbling around, just before he was subbed, he had a great chance to put in an early cross but AGAIN cut onto the other foot, got tackled, end of move. Jerome must have the patience of a saint!
We MUST be adventurous at Old Trafford! They don’t have any runners in midfield so we can afford to attack – and the more we do the more the crowd will get on Man U’s backs. We chickened out v Chelsea. Let’s not do the same.
The problem is clear, even when we do play well goals are very hard to come by, in most matches we do create chances, but too rarely do were convert then into goals. Much as I am a huge fan of Cameron Jerome, his work rate and willingness for the team what we need is a goal scorer because without goals we go down.
One point I do agree with is we can’t afford no shows ever.
OTBC
7 – Paul. I would consider the problem two-fold unfortunately. Giving away stupid goals through mistakes and lack of concentration, and lack of proven premier striker up front.
The two deficiencies were pretty obvious to everyone at end of last season and were not properly addressed in transfer market during summer.
All the top teams have 2 or 3 players like Deulofeu who are a potential match-winners. Many lower sides have one too. These guys will score goals against any defence, not just ours.
We don’t have one. I don’t think anyone in the squad is capable of carrying the ball, at pace, past people. Wes has the deception, but not the pace. Redmond’s the other way round. I suppose Jarvis is the nearest, but he’s crocked.
We can learn to keep it tight as much as we like but until we find someone who can provide a bit of flair, score an individual goal, or even commit defenders and win us a penalty or two, we will always struggle in the PL.
For me the priority has to be to try to put that right asap. Is there somebody out there? Probably. Do we have the transfer budget? Probably.
Do we have the wage budget, and the willingness to offer other acceptable terms (relegation release clauses, that sort of thing)? That’s where it could get difficult.
The one thing that did come out of the second half yesterday for me was further proof that Alex Neil is the long-term man for the job. We should take the same line him in the same that the Burnley board have taken with Sean Dyche. It may take time, but it will pay off in the end.
Spot on Keith (9). We are desperate for a top quality player, a talisman. I’ve raised this many times but they are so hard to find. I’m wondering if Jacob Murphy would add that little bit of magic dust and inspire the team and fans alike? Leicester have Vardy & Marez, Everton Lukaku, Watford Deeny & Ighalo, Sunderland Defoe, Stoke Bojan, Spurs Kane & Alli. If we could find our next Huckerby, Holt, Roberts, Eadie, Sutton, Fleck,etc. A player who us fans take to our hearts. In a strange way I feel the introduction of Declan Rudd has helped may be because ‘ he’s one of our own’.
We are now Bottom 3, 9 points for Christmas please Santa!
That second half demonstrated to me that the players are willing to work and fight for each other. But I worry that the Villa game on the 28th will become a “must win” and Norwich might crumble in the face of the pressure. Hopefully over the next 2 away games we’ll see more of the fight that was in evidence against Arsenal and the 2nd half against Everton, and not so much the standard of play against Watford…
Agree with all of that, good article. This first half no show thing has history with this group of players. Remember Cardiff away under Neil Adams, Middlesbrough at home and Leeds away . Perhaps the cups need to be thrown before the match starts.