On the face of it City appear in decent shape as they head off for their week-long training camp in Burgenland.
I say on the face of it because to make judgements based on two friendlies and a few pressers is pointless but equally for those for whom the glass is half empty there is currently not a great deal for them to get their teeth into.
From an aesthetic angle things are certainly on the up: two kits that have been met with virtually universal approval and a long awaited big screen that’s pointed directly at my River End seat. What’s not to like.
So let’s pretend for a moment that the big KO is today and that Robbie Brady has put pen to paper at Leicester.
Certainly across the back four we’d look in very decent fettle, at least by Championship standards (which is all that matters right now).
A combo of Martin Olsson at left-back, Ivo Pinto at right-back and Timm Klose at centre-back alongside anyone with a modicum of knowledge of playing that position looks pretty solid to me.
And with Russell Martin, Steven Whittaker, Michael Turner et al champing at the bit to get a look in there are options available to the manager; all of whom are proficient Championship performers.
In midfield Alex Neil has to date effectively swapped one youngster with loads of potential for another, except the new one is also known as a ‘worker’.
Whether Sergi Canós has the pizzazz of a fully switched on, in full-flight Nathan Redmond will only be revealed in the coming months but in the playing field of the Championship I expect it to be a reasonable trade.
Then throw into that midfield mix two fired-up Murphys and the exciting potential of James Maddison alongside the midfield experience and nous that saw us through to promotion last time round, then Alex has the tools at his disposal to return to his preferred attacking, possession-based style of football.
[News of a lengthy lay-off for Matt Jarvis was undoubtedly a blow but may serve to advance the progress of one of the Murphy twins.]
So far so good: a solid looking defence with two attacking full-backs and a midfield that blends experience with youthful dynamism and pace.
But then it gets tricky.
Cameron Jerome was brilliant in our last Championship season and for all his failings in the rarefied air of the Premier League there is little doubt he will score goals in the second tier. For one of two chances per game in the Prem read four or five in the Champ. It makes a difference.
But in 2014/15 he was joined on double figures by Lewis Grabban and Gary Hooper along with a 15-goal Bradley Johnson. Between them they supplied 39 goals in support of Jerome’s 21.
Yes we still have Ricky (and I’ll tread very carefully on that subject this week 😉 ) and technically Kyle Lafferty is still on board but with the best will in the world it’s hard to envisage how Alex’s current striking options will offer the same support to Jerome that he enjoyed last time in the Championship.
And, back in the real world, that has to be (and I’m sure is) where the off-field focus lies.
It’s not unreasonable to assume that Steven Naismith, Jonny Howson and Wes will contribute; Master Maddison too if indeed he is to be part of the first-team squad and Canós’ seven goals for Brentford suggests him capable of chipping in, but it still needs a calculator of Hogwarts proportions to get us near the 88 goals we scored in 2014/15.
Whether part of the solution is Britt Assombalonga from Nottingham Forest remains to be seen – although for now that one has gone very quiet – but someone. somewhere with a knack for scoring goals needs to be sought in order to elevate the class of 2016/17 to a level that will get us in or around the top two.
Newcastle, whose spending power is clearly on a completely different level to anything the Championship has ever seen before, should stroll it and that certainly appears to be where the smart money is going with the Toon already odds-on for a top two place in 24-horse race.
But I’m not so sure. If Rafa is expecting his highly-prized and precious possessions to be given the freedom of the Championship he’s in for a rude awakening.
Fragility, be it mental or physical, has no place at Oakwell or the New York Stadium in the same way that Big Time Charlies are notoriously poorly received at the Cardiff City Stadium. And don’t even think about giving it the big ‘I am’ at the John Smith’s Stadium or the Pirelli.
It’s a battle, a grind, which more often than not is ugliness personified, and will be unlike anything Rafa and his boys have experienced before. If they are able to rise above it and make their quality shine then good luck to them; they’ll win it at a canter.
If not it could be interesting viewing.
But, as Alex always reminds us, what happens elsewhere is of little consequence. We have what it takes to the be there or thereabouts, particularly if said goalscoring issues can be addressed prior to the big KO, and will be at the very least well prepared for the challenges of mind and body that await.
Noises emanating from Carrow Road suggest that the sale of Brady is neither imminent nor a certainty but if selling him would release much needed cash for striking reinforcements then, in my view, it’s probably a sacrifice worth making.
But what do I know.
“On the Ball City…”
Goals win games, as the old saying goes, and we do look a little light up front at the moment.
The youngsters on show is certainly encouraging, although how many will get a look in when the Euro 2016 trio – plus Lafferty – return remains to be seen.
Enjoyed the article in most areas and agree we do need a goalscorer or two, It seems when the defence is mentioned all writers seem to forget Ryan Bennett the few games he played with Klose he showed what he could do along side a good defender, he seems to have too much to do when with Martins or Bassong as he looks to cover for possible mistakes from them lets give him and Klose a run together and see how it comes of even if Hanley or another CM is acquired
Once again Gary a Great article from you.
Personally iam not that hell bent on getting promotion this season as its getting a little frustrating going through the yo yo of promotion followed by relegation each time, knowing full well that our club is not at this moment in time geared to consolidate in the Premier both on and off the field.
I would much prefer 2/3 youngsters breaking through into the first team this season so when we do go up there is a solid foundation to work with, and not too many over age players to have to carry.
I know that this view will probably not be shared by a lot of Canary supporters wearing Rose tinted glasses but one has to look to the future sometimes and be a little bit more patient for hopefully better things to come.
One thing that everyone is aware of is the utmost importance of getting in a recognised Striker, if we have to pay 10/12 million to do it then so be it , otherwise we will still have all the same problems as last season and that would be inexcusable.
As far as the back four goes, did you just forget Ryan Bennett, or do you something the rest of us don’t?
Rossy mac at Fulham is the answer, but a very short term one at 30. It’s essentially throwing money at promotion, not the future…something our board do need to flirt with once in a while. It is imperative to do this with the exciting academy era it looks as though we are entering. It will also teach a few of our youngsters a lesson in goal scoring, serving us well for the future.
Thanks, as ever, for your comments folks.
I hadn’t deliberately ignored Ryan Bennett – who may well be the answer – but had him in mind in the ‘someone to be bolted in alongside Klose’ category.
If we are able to retain his services then, if last season is a guide, then he appears to inspire his central defensive partner. Both Bassong and Bennett both looked accomplished when partnering Klose, and so if he stays I expect either to slot successfully in alongside him.
Famous last words!
I would expect Martin to remain first choice to partner Klose, especially if Pinto is at RB. I think I can understand why too. He may not have the athleticism and physicality of Bassong or Bennett, but unlike them he does have something between the ears.
Those two remind me of Leon Barnett, another who had the skills but not the brain to put them to good use. You can tell to some extent by the way they conduct themselves off the field – you won’t catch Martin wielding fake guns or posting ill-thought comments on twitter.
I can only assume that from a professional’s point of view Martin reads the game well, understands what’s going on. Every City and Scotland manager from Lambert onwards has consistently picked him at centre back and his own peers picked him in the Championship team of the year in 14/15 in that position. However hard it seems for those of us outside the game to understand they can’t all be wrong, can they?
Keith B (7): Exactly!
Like a number of our players, Russ was sometimes exposed in the Premier League. But it’s no coincidence that he’s been at the heart of three promotion campaigns in his time at Carrow Road.
I don’t know whether stats are available for such things, but I’d guess he has far more interceptions than our other centre backs.
Having said that, I’ve always felt Ryan Bennett had some special potential. He just hasn’t performed consistently enough to win the confidence of his managers. I’d love to see him find the extra ingredient.