And along came Norwich…
This feels like Groundhog Day. Another Sunday morning on which to reflect on a City performance that had the odd moment but was generally a litany of the half-hearted, the heart-breaking and the inept. A performance that was unworthy of a loyal and loud Yellow Army.
And now, instead of hovering near but not quite in the brown stuff we’re slap bang in the middle of it. Right up to our necks in fact. But that’s what tends to happen when you lose five league games on the bounce and when in that miserable run you’re shipping goals at an average of more than three per game.
And that’s also what tends to occur when you lose eight of your last nine away games.
The punters now understandably expect City to join Aston Villa and Sunderland in the Championship next season and it’s impossible, as things stand, to contest. Even Alastair Campbell of a Tony Blair vintage would struggle to put a positive spin on our predicament. And as the weeks pass there are fewer and fewer positives to cling on to.
Unfortunately, at times like this the blame game kicks in. We need someone on whom to unleash our wrath. It’s human nature. And naturally it’s those deemed to be the weakest link who are on the receiving end. For most of the season it’s been Russ, Graham Dorrans stepped up after the Liverpool game and Ivo Pinto made an early bid after Tuesday’s Tottenham shoeing.
But, tellingly, yesterday it was the manager who was in the sights of Twitter’s #ncfc and Canary Call, the vast majority questioning his insistence on playing players out of position and for continually chopping and changing his starting XI.
And it was not only the chosen XI that was in question but also the formation in which they were set up. I’ll avoid using the shape analogy but to see Jonny Howson and Wes playing right and left respectively when both are infinitely better performers when playing in the centre of the pitch immediately screamed ‘imbalance’, particularly when there were natural wide players on the bench.
But it wasn’t just those two. Questions have to be asked of the inclusion of Youssouf Mulumbu, who looks a shadow of the player who was the glue that held together the West Brom midfield and of whom we saw flashes in pre-season, and the decision to use Robbie Brady as a full-back who can attack rather than a wide midfielder who can defend.
Brady, for me, is the latter of those two options.
It was a starting XI that, in addition to the imbalance, also screamed ‘fragile’ and it was another one of those days when if Villa had been asked to chose opponents against whom they could launch one final, probably futile, assault for survival they would have picked us.
Eighteen other teams in that same position would have requested the same.
Right now we’re the whipping boys; the team everyone wants to play.
In desperate need of a win? Call for Norwich.
Your striker in the midst of a barren run? Call for Norwich.
Cynical maybe, but painfully true right now and has been the case for most of the season. It’s one thing to ship three at home to title-chasing Tottenham but to get turned over by a team who had won only twice all season and who were without their two first-choice strikers is unforgivable.
Villa were awful in yesterday’s first-half – Remi Garde admitted as much – but still, thanks to the softest of soft goals, we went in at half-time a goal behind. And we now lead the table for having conceded most goals from set pieces – the bread and butter of defending.
Gary O’Neil spoke eloquently post-match of his belief in him and his team-mates being able to turn things round in the second half. Alas I had not even the slightest notion of a comeback and suspect I was far from alone.
The BBC Sport Videprinter may as well have read: Aston Villa 1 – 0 Norwich City (Lescott 45′) GAME OVER.
If the first goal was the result of abject defending, the second verged on calamitous and, as a result, the gaze now returns to who should be City’s first-choice keeper. Yet another uncertainty in a team that is positively riddled with them.
The constant need to analyse the opponents of the day and then, from the pool of players available, select the XI best equipped to counteract their strengths has not worked, not least because what was once a team well drilled in its respective roles has now morphed into a mish-mash of individuals trying desperately, and failing, to work as a cohesive unit.
Where once City were organised and slick, now they appear haphazard and disjointed.
At this point I would usually witter on about us being the 20th best resourced side in the league and how to avoid relegation would technically be an over-achievement but after yesterday even that theory is leaking like a sieve. Villa were ordinary – worse than ordinary – and player-for-player City were more than a match for them; the complete antithesis of Tuesday night’s 11 v 11 match up.
And, after us spending around £20 million in the January window, I could have done without Messrs Lineker, Shearer and Wright reminding us on MotD that Leicester City’s starting line-up yesterday was purchased for the grand total of £22.5 million.
Hhmm.
But, perhaps we should not forget that this City squad – minus those purchased for the aforementioned £20 million – is the same one that gloriously won at Old Trafford just before Christmas, and which impressed plenty of pundits with its brand of attacking football in the first third of the season.
Hidden in there somewhere is an XI capable of far better than it’s currently delivering. It’s a rotten cliché but there’s no other way of saying it: they need to get back to basics. And that means deciding upon and sticking with a best XI. We have no cup distractions, few excuses for having to rest players and a single goal (you know what I mean).
Oh, and there was one positive: I thought Patrick Bamford looked like he wanted it.
Sorry if that came across as a rant… but it was (and quite a cathartic one too). I hope and pray that normal service can be resumed next Sunday morning and we can dissect an unlikely win over West Ham. Until then…
“City ’til I die”
Great piece Gary and summed up how we felt yesterday, Brady is badly missed on the left as a midfielder and the rest of our midfield seems to have gone AWOL, sad to say but i think its curtains for us, same old Norwich 🙁
I wonder if what happened to Mourinho at Chelsea has happened to A N? The players have lost faith and he no longer has their respect, to many scapegoats and to much tinkering. Such are the pressures!
Excellent piece sums up my feelings exactly, sadly Alex Neil has become the’Tinkerman’ Leicester prove what you can achieve with a settled team of players, ironically, most of which if we had been linked with in any transfer window, would have elicited the ‘ journeyman’ or ‘ not proven at premiership level’ response from our fans. I can only guess at the logic behind some of the selection decisions, either in relation to personnel or position, but I hope and pray a solution is found, and quickly.
Couldn’t have said it better myself. The chopping and changing is p***ing me off
In my view the current team is a complete shambles. The manager keeps picking the wrong players and playes them in the wrong positions and then perhaps wonders why they dont perform ! I feel that he needs to speak to the powers that be at carrow road and convince them that he has a strategy to improve the situation. whilst it is always going to be tough in the premier lge, the present efforts are a little short of pathetic !!!
Sadly, Alex seems out of his depth, his coaching team too. An addition of an experienced coach might help, say Ian Culverhouse or Peter Grant? However, I doubt whether Alex would accept that.
The constant tinkering is a huge problem: does anyone other than Alex think Brady is a left back?
The purchases of Pinto and Klose seem like panic buys. It’s very hard to assimilate defenders into a team in January, especially those who have never played in England!
McNally and the recruitment team must also take responsibility for not getting players in during the summer. New players surely need a full pre-season to gel with the team.
The last option open to the board is to replace Alex or maybe use the loan market.
Sadly, this is the 3rd promotion to the Premier League where the board have proved naive and amateurish in their approach. Oh well, maybe next time Delia’s nephew will sort it out!
It’s probably the easiest thing to say, “pick your best XI and stick with it.” Biggest problem at the moment is actually naming the best XI in the first place!
On the one hand lack of continuity – and the inability to put a good run of games together – has been a problem all season. On the other hand had there not been changes following the Spurs and Liverpool games, then Neil would have been slated for sticking with a losing team.
But how much of the chopping and changing caused by the players’ own inability to be consistent? For example 6 weeks ago Vadis looked as though he was ready to make a name for himself. Now he’s not even on the bench. Redmond plays in bursts. Brady may be our best player, yet his poor positioning left Liverpool onside for their first goal and his 3rd division header was as perfect an assist for their winner as thy could have asked for. It must be utterly frustrating for Neil and his staff.
But anyway, looking ahead in my view the most significant event yesterday was not at our game but at Burnley, where Sean Dyche signed a new contract.
I will bet you that a year ago, Burnley’s social media was dominated by demands that Dyche be sacked and a Pulis/Allardyce/Colin or whoever be brought in to “ensure they stayed in the Premier League”. Indeed they started a bit slowly compared to their fans’ expectations this season (as in, they weren’t in the top 6 by the end of August) so I wouldn’t be surprised if even in September there were those calling for his head.
Their Board wisely resisted making a change, and so should ours. Dyche got Burnley promoted, and he can again. Likewise Neil with us, if it comes to that.
OK, so we would miss out on the start of the new YV deal; not brilliant, but not the disaster everyone predicts. However much wealth is thrown at the PL by the TV companies, just remember that one thing doesn’t change: every season 3 clubs will be relegated, AND more importantly 3 clubs will be promoted to replace them.
But let’s face it, there’s a long way to go and there are twists and turns aplenty to come. In fact it’s been such a crazy season I might even put a fiver on us winning at Leicester….
I wonder if AN reads Twitter? Because he picks his teams as if he does. No one’s allowed to have a bad game and bed in (how must Pinto have felt being dropped?) and those who’ve made mistakes all season keep getting recalled.
On the dodgy feed I was watching yesterday, at the precise moment the commentator said “Villa are there for the taking”, Mbk makes a ridiculous, needless challenge for the free kick then defends poorly to allow the goal.
It’s those kinds of poor decisions that have got us where we are. AN talks about ‘balls’ – he should have had the balls to haul Mbk straight off for totally destroying all our good work. The players would have got the message that no one can get away with this any more.
I agree with all that’s been said about “chopping & changing”.
WES a winger!!! Howitzer Jonny stuck out on the wing!
Football “news flash”! IS A TEAM GAME.
To have any chance of winning a team game you have to play as a team.The only way you can do that is by playing consistently with the same 11 most of the game/s.
Stick to a formation regardless of who you’re playing & let the team get to know each other insideout-where they are likely to run & their strengths & weaknesses.
We need to go back to basics and do the following:
1. Stop changing it every week. That’s 11 different defensive combinations in 24 league matches. The players don’t know whether they’re coming or going.
2.Play actual wingers (i.e. Brady and Redmond) on the wing rather than central midfielders like Hoolahan and Howson.
3.Play Bamford or Jerome up top (players that offer movement, Mbokani is too static)
4. Play actual full backs at full back (i.e. Olsson)
5. Play your most complete central midfielder (Howson) in central midfield.
6. Play Bennett (a right sided centre back) at right centre back, which will allow Klose (a left sided centre back) to play in his natural position. Only then should Klose be judged.
If we go down having done all that I can accept it. Even if I don’t like it.
Finally, I entirely agree with you. Is that allowed from an anonymous position this time? Thought as much. Anyway, agreed the playing of players in their 2nd position is borderline pathetic management. Also, this obsession to wedge martin back in just sends bad messages to those who haven’t deserved to be dropped. Bennett, feel free to find a new club in the summer without any judgement from the canary faithful. Losing against villa is turgid enough, but agbonlahor scoring, getting slapped by bomo and Newcastle eating us alive is now getting too much
Can’t disagree Gary. City’s away following deserve so much better. It’s painful when an A14 Costa Coffee is the best part of your day. As you say ‘back to basics’ and for me that’s Ollson and Brady left side, probably a restrained Pinto with Jarvis on the right.
P.S. Gary – I now accept we are officially ‘in a rut’. And then some…
Gary, you managed to fit pretty much all of the issues into one flowing article! Well played sir – that’s no mean feat!
I agree with pretty much all of them and hope that the power of social media can filter those messages (positively) through to Alex Neil.
I was at the game yesterday and I think the positives are the fact that the poor performance wasn’t down to a lack of effort or desire… City just didn’t get going due to, in my opinion, the lack of width which hindered us both offensively and defensively. Alex Neil changed that with the subs and we looked better after it.
A serious lack of confidence was evident and I’m sure it’s playing a part in our leaky defence.
There is a good squad of players there, but AN needs to get back to what made us good in the first place.
The question, which will split opinion, is: If we’re going to stick with the same 11, what should that team be?
All I can say Gary is, I feel your pain, I still hope for a miracle a la Leicester last year, but I really do fear the worst! 🙁
Well what a load of whinging whining pathetic group of supporters we have. Keep the same team ! Buy new players ! Get rid of the manager ! Get rid of the board !No ambition ! Spent money on foreign players ! Should have got a new manager when we got promoted ! The list goes on everything apart from let’s get behind the squad let’s give our manager who was a hero a few months ago our support. No wonder the lads are struggling knowing that every wrong move will get them slated. You can all slagging me off if you wish after all that’s what you’re good at. I remember when I was so proud to be a City fan we had fantastic support home and away now alas i’m just ashamed of what we have become. Hope i’m proved wrong but unless we win every game from now on I doubt it. #weonlysingwhenwerewinning
Good piece Gary. I’ve read some of the replies and it seems we’re all great “sat in the Stand” managers”, non of us are Premiership managers, we’re not Championship managers, in reality, most of the moaners couldn’t even manage an under 12 girls team. Julian sums up what so many fans have become “a whinging, whining pathetic group of supporters”. I’ve supported City for nigh on 46 years, I’ve seen the ups and downs over the years, but I’ve stuck with the yellow and green, and as long as I’m breathing I always will. Lets get behind the lads and Alex, through thick and thin. OTBC – IANIT
Another very good piece Gary. I wish l knew what is at the root of our problems but unless we get back to the sort of performance we put in at Man Utd we’re doomed. But like Burnley we shld stick with AN next season.
What Edward Jacobs says. Cannot understand how AN and coaches think playing key players out of position has been in any way effective. Would also add we massively lack a leader – Bradley Johnson was certainly no worse than Mulumbu and sometimes enthusiasm and desire can compensate for a lack of ability.
There is a need for consistency in selection to get the best out of the team. Pick the best 11 on the opening day and stick with it unless injuries dictate. Constant changes destroy player confidence. 13 games to get 15 or 18 points, can’t see where they are coming from at present. Hope I am wrong!!
Time to stop this Howson playing wide nonsense. No not from Alex Neil,but from ncfc fans not quite understanding the 4231 formation. Neither wes nor Howson played left or right side. They player add two AMs. Don’t believe me, check the player position heat map. We don’t play wingers. The width comes from the fullbacks. I’m not giving up like most. The problem has sod all to do with positions and everything to do with application, effort and belief. I dunt think the players believe in Neil.
NORWICH STATS
NO CLEAN SHEETS:
No clean sheets away from home (only team in premiership)
LEAK LOADS OF GOALS
– At least 3 goals conceded in each of last 5 games – no team done that since Sunderland in 2006!
– Concede on average a goal almost every 45 minutes in premiership – terrible.
– Conceded the most goals from set pieces of any premiership team this season.
LACK QUALITY PLAYERS IN KEY POSITIONS
– Poor keeper, weak right back, suspect centre backs. Bassong and Martin sub par championship (at best) players.
– Lack of pace in team.
TACTICS FAILURE-
– Rigid formation starting games with one striker Always – makes it easier for teams to play against us as they know our attacking game plan.
– Poor movement from front players – failure to attack space behind defenders. (Bamford IS a solution to this problem if played). Absence of good runs by strikers means few one-on-ones opportunities for strikers.
– Clunky offside trap often fails at key moments, defenders not good at tracking movement and runs from deep.
– Midfielders don’t track back well enough to help out defence.
– Midfielders need to chip in with more goals (Howson has done well, however)
OUTLOOK
– Tough run in of fixtures especially the CRITICAL final 3 games.
– Handicapped by Inexperienced manager who has never been in a relegation scrap.
John Speck
Sent from my iPad
I blame Lewis Grabban
I can understand the frustrations, but we have to get behind Alex Neil. Of course he’s made mistakes but that’s inevitable due to his experience and there weren’t many complaints about that last season. He’s also been let down by some terrible individual decisions by certain players which have cost us dearly, none more so than Gary O’Neil.
If we go down, I believe Alex Neil gives us the best chance of going back up.
@ Julian (17) and Mally (18)
I agree and disagree with you both.
I have been disappointed with the fans recently, with some of the abuse on social media and after the game on Saturday, when fans a few booed and told the fans to ‘eff off’ when they came over to applaud at the end. This is very counter productive and literally the opposite of ‘supporting’ the team.
On the other hand, the fans pay good money to watch the team and have a right to voice their opinions. The fact that so many people have similar opinions, as Gary has mentioned, suggests there might be some truth in there.
We clearly have problems, otherwise we wouldn’t be where we are. We just need to pull together for the cause.
OTBC
Top stuff Gary, the time for sugar coating is over, people need to tell it as it is. We all wanted spending but even though it’s early days Klose and Pinto don’t look good value.
Quite agree that this worrying too much about the opposition denies us consistency and continuity.
I thought Rudd was good in his first few games but now has the look of someone who seems a bit out of his depth. To let milner round him so easily was very poor and villa’s second showed very poor judgement.
Rudd has been lucky that other players have drawn the anger from those watching. He has looked far from great. I don’t have a problem with him being given a run in the circumstances, but he hasn’t looked the part other than on a few isolated occasions.
All is not lost, though. 39 points still to play for.
OTBC