For most City fans the last fortnight has been miserable.
Even if you were able to see through the failure to land a marquee name on Deadline Day there was still the Birmingham defeat to cogitate over and if you still needed something to get your teeth into there was of course the ongoing investment/ambition debate.
What we really needed was some more football to talk about.
That when it arrived it brought three points may still have been insufficient for some – and it wasn’t particularly pretty – but seldom can I recall a game so early in the season being so crucial.
Imagine the alternative…
Against a backdrop of planned protests, and with some legions of the Yellow Army seemingly ready to throw their weight behind a coup, to not have emerged with a win would have turned a mood that was already negative into something far more toxic.
Naturally there were a few moans and groans about the defending from set pieces from minutes 85 to 95 – and fair enough – but generally it was the type of ground-out win that typifies a Championship season, and one that if it can be churned out regularly enough can typify a successful Championship season.
I wrote post-Birmingham of how the current crop were circumnavigating the graft element and attempting to head straight to the pretty stuff but thankfully there was little evidence of that yesterday.
For the most part the first-half was ugliness personified yet still City [just to be clear, for me there is only one ‘City’] went in 1-0 ahead. It was standard Championship fare and despite the Canaries having an unbalanced look and feel it was still comfortable, with Messrs Lambert and Pilkington both offering Shane MacGowan levels of toothlessness.
The second-half was better though. A polite half-time request for more tempo was duly delivered and as a result City looked a more potent force, particularly in the attacking third where the previously lonesome Cameron Jerome was offered more support.
Through yellow tinted spectacles a 3-0 win wouldn’t have been unreasonable and – despite an iPad-less Paul Trollope’s protestations – City’s second-half level was worthy of winning the game comfortably. Alas this is Norwich City we’re talking about and we simply don’t do things the easy way – especially in the Championship.
Russ’s header, which he bizarrely awarded to Jonny Howson, and a beautifully curled right-footer from Josh Murphy should have made it a cruise but by the 85th Pilks had stirred from his slumbers and his two eleventh hour tap-ins made it far more squeaky than should have been necessary.
Alex, Frankie and Alan will have made them aware.
But – and I’ll no doubt get hammered for this – for now I’m going to concentrate on the plusses:
Russ
While a tad unworthy of the sponsors’ Man of the Match gong, there can be no denying his commitment to the cause, typified by his 80+ minute shift at left-back.
Clearly the manager felt post-Birmingham that change was necessary in the the back-four but while Ivo Pinto for Steven Whittaker was an obvious one, few saw Russ for Ryan Bennett as another.
I certainly didn’t, especially with Bennett’s aerial prowess looking a decent antidote to Ricky Lambert’s, yet the manager still sees Russ through the eyes of Gordon Strachan. His short-lived stay at centre-back ultimately offered RyBen a chance for redemption, which he took, but it was a left-back showing of maturity and experience that caught the eye.
For those who have played the game, they’ll know only too well how tricky it is to play on the ‘wrong’ side – even for pros – but the skipper carried it off with a calmness and assuredness that spoke volumes. As an attacking force Brady’s absence was felt but defensively it was as you were.
I haven’t expended too many column inches offering praise to the skip but yesterday he was worthy.
The Murphys
Is now finally their time? Ironically if we were still a Premier League club the likelihood is neither would have a sniff of a start but we’re not and both are gradually clawing their way to the forefront of the manager’s thoughts by virtue of goals and assists.
It’s all about end product with these lads and if they can continue to deliver, most will allow them the odd journey down a blind alley and the occasional cheap concession of possession.
That both appear just ahead of Sergi Canos in the current pecking order tells a little story of its own.
It’s time for us to throw our weight behind these two and offer them a platform on which to flourish.
Pinto
As rampaging full-backs go there are few in this league to match one of our two favourite Portuguese inhabitants. And while he suffered at times in the Prem when his defensive qualities came under close scrutiny he’s having no such problems in the second tier.
There’s something endearingly thrilling about watching a full-back pin his ears back and run hell for leather down the flanks and Pinto does it with style, even finding the composure to deliver a decent final ball.
In a Kyle Walker-style, if we can keep him fit I can see Master Pinto making quite a name for himself as the season progresses even if his natural ‘wing-man’ is not, for the long-term, Jonny Howson, who immediately looked more comfortable yesterday when offered the chance to play in a more central role.
But Pinto’s natural inclination to bomb on does offer the manager the option to play a narrow midfield on the right side, hence why he felt able to give Howson the job – even if it didn’t work particularly well yesterday.
Pritch
As cameos go Alex Pritchard’s offering yesterday was right up there and in 25-ish minutes we were offered several glimpses of the mini-maestro that ran us ragged on that infamous January afternoon of 2015.
Alex’s conundrum will be around where to play him, given his natural fit for the Wes role, but it’s one he’ll need to solve simply because of the extra creativity he brings to the side.
Yesterday offered a stark, unedifying glimpse into the next eight months at Carrow Road, with Cardiff City sitting deep and trying to strangle the life out of the game, and therefore what’s going to be needed is invention and occasionally something a little bit different.
Pritchard offers just that.
…
So, while the concerns – on and off the pitch – that were present at 14:59 yesterday still linger, there was sufficient on show to lighten the mood a little. If City can follow that up with another win on Tuesday night then who knows… the furore may even even subside to a dull roar.
“Never mind the danger…”
As five goal matches go, this was far from a classic, but, three points bagged are far more important. NEXT!
Perhaps for the time being, Pritchard and Wes could alternate starts and subs and see what works best. Wes did fade significantly as the game wore on and that’s not a criticism, he just puts in so much effort, but championship opposition will just smother players like him and that takes a toll.
While we’ve all got our opinions on Russell Martin I felt he played well yesterday and while not a permanent solution his comfortable performance at left back does give Alex Neil other alternatives while Olsson is out. For example that will free Robbie Brady up to play in his more natural position and offer is a bit more balance to the side going forward which I felt we lacked at times yesterday.
Ugly game, marred by two ridiculous concessions at the death and some abysmal refereeing. The points however certainly helped Saturday night go with a swing in a household full of city fans. Fully agree with the plaudits for Martin, never ideal to lose your only left back after six minutes to an unpunished assault. Such versatility and willingness to do anything required for the cause are qualities we will need this season. Not to mention that rarity, a goal from a corner, a vital supply line for us when dominating games and trying to break down stubborn sides. Two murphys are more than equal to one Redmond in my opinion, in terms of assists and goals they both look like outstripping redmonds last season at this level. And then some.
Pinto is currently our best player. His 90 yard dash down the touch line to win a corner was thrilling. He also seems to be of good character and I can see him running away with player of the season. Rapidly. When allied to canos I feel we have a fearsome and inventive right side with a lovely continental feel and I hope that canos quickly gets back into the matchday 18. Surely room for him and the murphys.
Pritchard must become a regular with immediate effect. Our pedestrian sideways attacks, lack of movement and invention dissapeared when he came on. He is fully pumped and itching for a start and must be unleashed on Wigan on Tuesday, even at the expense of hoolahan if necessary. Let’s not waste his current mood and form on the bench, I can’t see Wigan fancying facing him.
A word for Jerome, who although not at his best put in a good shift and scored his third in five. That’s a good return. Dorrans to improves the team at this level, at least our ball retention. Hoping for a Cameo from nelson on Tuesday and three points without the slip ups. Fingers crossed.
Chris (4) good summing up, that’s basically how l saw it. Martin and Jerome were excellent and gave everything. ….Pinto better going forward than Redmond, he get you off your seat and we’ve not got many of those, defending not so good but hey we may get away with it in this league. The one problem particularly in the 1st half (it was a tad boring ) was playing sideways too much in midfield, Jerome was making runs but no one was running through from midfield to support or create, I’ve never got the Hoolahan love in and for me he slows us down twisting turning trying to get it on his one good foot and by then he’s either lost it or the defender’s are back……when Pritchard came on we looked more positive going forward, for me he has to start in place of Hoolahan in his position and not come on as yesterday on left side to accommodate others , we have got a really good squad for this league and as long as Alex Neil finds a bit better balance to the side I think we will be fine
Comprehensive account of yesterday’s action.
We’ve had shocking luck with injuries so far and the personnel/tactical changes that they’ve induced. Brady’s looked nasty – just hope fans wait for official news before speculating on seriousness.
Hopefully at some stage this season, everyone is fit and Alex can settle on a regular 11-12. Until then, it’s all about picking up points even if stuck in 2nd/3rd gear.
Ironic that after all the talk of being a striker short, we were the only team to score 3 in the league. Hopefully Oliveira will be pushing for a start soon.
Wigan is the proverbial banana skin in waiting. Last time we played them, we were confident and it was under the floodlights but it was a shocker of a performance. Mind you, Malky Mackay was in charge of them then so much water has flowed..
I can only add that RM was superb. I don’t think I’ve ever seen him at LB before? Pinto was great too. And there’s nothing wrong with your two FBs being the best players on the pitch. Which I truly think they were. And thank Lordy there was no hint of a demo – at least nothing we could pick up on from the UB.
I agree with #5 Martin: the balance isn’t right. Yet.
Yes, 2 very good performances by the full backs we finished up with! I have to agree with #5 Martin and #7 el dingo about the balance, but think that it never will be good whilst we play Howson (surely one of our most consistent players) wide-right…
Still; 11 points from 6 games, and sitting in 5th place when we’ve not played particularly well or seemed to get out of third gear, has to augur well for the rest of the season
Not sure how “legions of the Yellow Army” could contemplate a coup – I doubt if those who were trying to drum up a demonstration could pool enough of their pocket money to even buy one share, let alone buy enough to force Delia and Michael out.
Very keen to see more of Pritchard, he demonstrated not only good ball skills, but also pace and vision. He is a real star in waiting (and there’s a lot of this season to go, in which to see more). If it wasn’t for Pinto’s masterclass, I’d almost have gone Pritchard for man of the match, cameo role notwithstanding).
The goals given away were interesting – looking at the highlights (not in slow motion)
1) When the ball came across Pinto headed it but not far… some suggestion that he was fouled but the ref didn’t give it. The ball went out to the right and the shot appeared to be going wide until it “hit” Pilkington.. or if i’m charitable Pilikgton got his body out – and the ball went the other way.
2) From the Corner the big CB on the far post had a free header. Bennet was the nearest player to him but he he didn’t challenge for it. Klose was tracking in but got taken out by somebody Pilkington was unchallenged to prod it in – a bad goal all round
Mind.. our goals weren’t much better.. (hear me out)
1) Great cross from Murphy the ball hops a bit and the Goalie flaps at it Jerome should have buried it But he didn’t and to be fair he recovered quickest his shot must has been caught the goalie unsighted because there is no way he should have let that in
2) A great corner form Murphy Russ gets free and has a free header, its not Powerful and there are players on the goal line Luckily Howson is just unsighting the goalie and the defenders, it may have taken a deflection and goes in – right place right time
3) A great strike from t’other murphy but – when Howson was running out of defence the ball was being tracked by a Cardiff defender – Howson seemed to tug at him to get past and the defender falls over.. I think the ref saw this as 6 of one and half dozen of the other because he Doesn’t give a foul for me its a lucky break… Cardiff are complaining about it and still are after Pilkingtons second.
Its goals that count and points win championships – that will do… thanks