Those of us lucky enough to write about Norwich City know only too well Alex Neil’s uncanny knack of taking the sting out of any potential negativity. He did it again last night.
There I was, poised to question why after an hour City looked leggy, jaded and off-the-pace, and the manager only goes and explains succinctly and logically why precisely that was the case.
As it transpires, having Graham Dorrans, Russell Martin, Alex Pritchard, Martin Olsson and Youssouf Mulumbu on the pitch at the same time, while all were suffering varying levels of fatigue, was sufficient to hand the initiative almost entirely to the impressive travellers from Wigan.
That City were able to see it through (just…), was testament to those whose legs were slightly fresher – particularly after conceding the almost inevitable goal by virtue of the left-foot of the excellent Jordi Gomez – but it was uncomfortable and nervy and not good for those of a nervous disposition.
Neil’s hand was hindered considerably of course by the necessity to swap one Alex with another and replace Ivo Pinto with Ryan Bennett at half-time, and was therefore unable to offer fresh legs to aid his ailing troops, even though the ‘freshness’ of Mulumbu – on to replace a tired-looking Wes Hoolahan – did little to help the cause.
Dorrans, in particular, struggled to cover the ground in the second half – having made good use of the ball in the first – and but for the enforced substitutions would surely have been hooked for the last 20+ minutes
For all that was good about the first-half, the three points only arrived courtesy of a backs-to-the-wall struggle. But arrive they did.
Of some comfort was the manager’s assertion that the issue was one of match fitness rather than fitness per se – were it the latter there would be some serious questions that needed answering – and one can only hope that ‘leggy’ and ‘second-best’ will be phrases used increasingly sparingly as the season progresses and suitable numbers of minutes are tucked under the proverbial belts.
Equally it would be of some concern if last night’s second-half horrors were the result of City taking their foot of the gas having considered it job done because anyone who’s ever played the game will tell you just how difficult it is to get back on it once the foot has been taken off the pedal. It’s nigh on impossible.
But, despite that being the obvious call, now’s the time not to question the manager’s judgement and if he lays the problem at the door of fatigue I’m happy to go with it.
And there’s also the fact that Wigan were quite good, even in the first-half, despite City being bright and breezy and enjoying success in the final third.
For my piece in the match programme I spoke with Paul Kenrick, football correspondent at the Wigan Observer and Wigan Evening Post, and asked him to describe Gary Caldwell’s footballing philosophy in one sentence. He wrote, ‘A disciple of the Roberto Martinez school of thinking, while trying to inject more of a cutting edge going forward.‘
And he was bang on.
Buoyed by the return to the club of the aforementioned Gomez, the Latics still offer a very passable impersonation of a Martinez side, even down to the occasional over-playing rather than shooting, and were pleasing on the eye throughout.
To be 2-0 up in 11 minutes was grand from a City perspective but gave rise to a sense of comfort that was probably a little unwarranted given the long spell of possession the visitors were enjoying. City’s football going forward was entertaining and progressive but minus a third goal the Latics remained in the game.
The positives for City were there for all to see however and Jacob Murphy’s double was testament to his desire to grasp the nettle offered to him by Alex Neil. Pleasing too was the neat interplay, particularly around the edge of the Wigan penalty box, which was epitomised by the build-up to Jacob’s second goal.
And Carrow Road responded accordingly, the atmosphere being infinitely better than the weekend offering against Cardiff, with a floodlit stadium doing what floodlit stadiums do to the atmosphere at a football match.
The second-half performance as a spectacle is unworthy of description but what it was was gutsy, whole-hearted and brave, and for all the ifs and buts was sufficient to win the game; the agility of Michael McGovern becoming ever more apparent as the weeks pass.
The old cliché about winning without playing well was predictably doing the rounds post-match, and it’s true that to be just two points behind the leaders at this stage is fine, but the flip side is that eventually results will even out to match performance levels rather than vice-versa.
At the moment we’re on that dangerous cusp but I remain hopeful that once match fitness levels increase and a couple of the injured players return to the fold we’ll come out on the right side.
Saturday afternoon in Nottingham will be interesting.
My main comment would be that if so many players were newly returned and likely to be ‘leggy’ for the last 30 mins, why did Neil not vary his lineup more from that he started with on Sat? Surely someone like Pritchard could have started this time, Canos could have been on the bench at least etc..
Very good point Michael (1). Non-appearance of Canos something of a mystery other than perhaps it was Josh M v Canos for a place on the bench.
Well done to Jacob M for the goals, but close to horrendous how often he lost the ball or gave it away.
Some seem satisfied with ‘ never mind the quality , take the points ‘ , but not me. I was very enthusiastic when AN was appointed. He looked & acted the part with his track suited touch line demeanour. & spoke well to the press. However , since promotion in his first season I have increasingly uneasy about his ability to manage a club such as ours. Poor in the transfer market , strange team selections with too many players out of their best positions. Formations & tactics appear to be dictated by the desire to accommodate certain favourites, a reluctance to use certain players , & the almost epedemic sending out on loan our best youngsters. After relegation & the admission by AN that he had made mistakes I thought things would get better. Oh dear! NO Much of the deadwood was retained , some even given new contracts , more youngsters were sent out on loan & the transfer window was another shambles. Even the players that were brought in seem to be not ready or injured. 3 of the signing AN has brought in at a cost of TWENTY MILLION pounds did not start the game last night & as this was City’ second game in 4 days it does seem strange.as many of of the players didn’t last the distance last night Also the substitutions have been questioned by many who were at the game last night. If they can see it from the terraces , why can’t the management ? Since promotion I cannot recall one game where we have started a game with more than ‘one up fronrt’ Even after the shambles at games like Southampton away last season & Birmingham last week AN has still stubbornly persevered with the same old set up. If Lafferty &, Morris are not considered to be worth a try , why have they not been moved on & others brought in. How many minutes have they played this season , despite CJ not being fully fit .I am not happy , many supporters are not happy , & from their body language & performances I suspect some of the players are not happy either. We have been fortunate this season in that despite AN we have stumbled along gaining 2 points a game. Great ! But it should not disguise the fact that performances on the pitch have not been good enough , there has been little entertainment & the atmosphere at the ground is as bad as in the Gunn days. I think it’s only a matter of time before we start seeing empty seats in the home sections at The Carra if things don’t change. By then we will have probably played some of the stronger clubs .Performances like we have witnessed since beating Blackburn against these teams will result in Nil Points & then it will be too late
FAO Victor…..and breath….
Victor (4) – Well, that’s quite a shopping list of unhappiness! Just to offer a couple of thoughts:
I think fans would be rightly disappointed if we didn’t have a group of talented youngsters on the books at City. If they’re not ready for the first team at our level (Premier League/top of the Championship, where we’ve been since 2011), we either keep them for occasional games or send them out on loan.
The value of the loan system couldn’t be more clearly illustrated than by the Murphys. Their full league seasons on loan last year clearly aided their development, and we’re reaping the benefit.
It was AN’s plan to keep both Maddison and Morris in the squad at Carrow Road this time; the signing of Pritchard (which I’m delighted has been met with approval by most fans) changed the situation for Maddison and made a loan more sensible.
If you want to see an epidemic of loans, by the way, look at Chelsea rather than Norwich.
It’s not AN’s fault if we set up deals for surplus players to leave (notably Lafferty) but they refuse to agree personal terms. Horses and water…
I fully agree with you, though, that it would be better to have players who don’t get injured. If you know the trick to guarantee it, I’m sure the club would be pleased to hear from you.
One out-and-out striker is the system adopted by almost every successful team and manager these days. Playing two up front doesn’t make you more attacking; it simply means you’ll be overrun in midfield and your strikers will be starved (remember Everton away under Chris Hughton?).
Attendances at Carrow Road aren’t actually declining, as discussed here on other occasions. Though the final stages of the last two games have indeed been nervy, no objective commentator thinks we’ve deserved less than our 14 points from 7 games. For automatic promotion, the average you’re looking for is 2 points per game. Calculator, anyone?
Cheers
While not surprised at the line up, I did wonder whether we’d suffer due to the lack of match fitness of a number of the starting XI. As it turned out we got away with it. Slightly ironic that there are complaints of Neil not making enough changes.
Most games in the Championship are tough we’ve had a great start to the season. Wigan look a decent side.
A N will freshen things up away at Forest, I’d expect Wes to be rested and Canos to feature.
Just can’t understand Victor (4) remarks. Atmosphere is not a useful yardstick, Stoke and Newcastle always incredible atmospheres to prove a point.
We have a strong squad and good competition for places. Surely we just need to keep in touch with the top 6 for now. Reckon we’ll be challenging when it comes to the business part of the season then we’ll get the atmosphere you wish for. Saturday was quieter than usual but that’s football.
I want to point out the impressive performances of Graham Dorrans in the 2 recent home games. For the whole of the Cardiff match and for a half against Wigan we had the player that we first thought that we were getting when he signed from West Brom i.e. an intelligent, robust utility midfielder. He continually looked to plug gaps and break up opposition play yet also seemed to be always available to prompt the start of our next move with a range of reliable passes. Such was his contribution that Alex Tettey was reduced to simply being an extra aerial challenger (much needed against Cardiff). I started to think that maybe Tettey wasn’t needed in the second half against Wigan and was not concerned whether the interval changes were forced by injury or not. I was obviously then made to reconsider that view as a result of the second half disintegration of our midfield. Nevertheless, it is still good to see the resurgence of a classy player that we almost forgot that we had.
# 4 Victor: I agree with two of your points. Fitness levels are a worry but without STBO you cannot legislate for IP and AT failing to reappear at half time. One of theirs – Jacobs? – had been “putting himself about” and imo was lucky the referee didn’t issue two yellows so knocks were almost inevitable. I know Pinto’s was a groin strain but he had been battered at least twice before.
Re the atmosphere: I’m in the UB and there were a few empty seats and as soon as Wigan scored there was a collective “oh no here we go again” and it all went very flat. It’s called nerves because we all want the points.
Finally I was as amazed as anyone that Turner and Whittaker were offered extensions, but one of the writers on this site (Stewart L?) explained it was a condition in their contracts that when we were relegated the options were triggered.
Horses and water says it all about two if not three of the bit-part players. Not the Club’s fault.
Are weplaying scintillating football? No. Am I happy with the points tally? Very much so.
Victor (4) – “I don’t believe it!” No positives then? 4th place, 14 points, the Murphys etc.
Of course we have better sides to play (Sheff Wed and Bristol City – two clean sheets) but you can only beat the team in front of you – so far we’ve done it 4/7. We’ve had a catalogue of injuries to key players which means constant juggling of team before and during games. Birmingham was poor of course but we missed Olsson, Pinto & Jerome – the last 2 our best performers so far.
Pritchard was injured at Blackburn – now back. Canos injured in the U23 game, Oliveira presumably not fully up to fitness after the summer.
We’ve hardly got out of 3rd gear at times, but in some ways what’s the point of playing your best stuff this early in. It’s all about picking up the points and then peaking at the right time i.e. the last 3-4 months.
Re: 1 up front strategy. Did alright for Leicester (and most of the PL) last season.
As for the atmosphere, sure the spectacle on the pitch helps that, but a lot of fans need to look at themselves for answers to that.
Cheer up.
I sid wonder how the injuries by half time might affect the term in the second. We had worked quite hard to keep a team determined to pass the ball round and from the back with a pressing game. Tettey’s work in keeping options in midfield for Wigan down to a minimum has been overlooked.
Pritchard for Tettey and Howson dropping back with Murphy moving to the right didn’t seem right but – outside a clear cut Wigan early chance it didn’t change much and we still created and wasted some useful opportunities.
But then Wigan made a couple of changes and #31 moved out to left wing and he gave Russell Martin torrid time- working well with Warnock at LB and creating space inside. This seemed to be at the same time (circa 65 minutes) that we started to lose a bit of confidence, passes were missed and clearances always went to the opposition (sound familiar it was a trait of last season)
The replacement of Hooligan for Mulumbu didn’t really help and we were under pressure plus Wigan missed a couple of good chances thanks to McGoven’s prowess. Nonetheless when Mulumbu burst forward into the penalty area it looked like it was going to be it.. but he somehow managed to mis-communicate with Jerome and what appeared to be a great chance ended up with a rapid counter attack and good well taken goal! Not sure that mulumbu for Tettey would have worked either given the evidence.
What has also been forgotten is that in all the pressure we also created (and missed) some chances Murphy had a shot deflected over, Jerome & Pritchard Both missed good opportunities
Murphy’s move to RW from LW wasn’t much of success Warnock played him pretty well. I’m sure he would have ben substituted but all the subs had been used through injuries & Mulumbu’s defensive prowess.. or lack
I repeat my previous comment on a mother post Its goals that Count and points get championships – that’ll do – thanks
Thanks for the comments , seems like I am in a minority of rega one. Her is my case for the defence ( mine not City’s )
Yes one up front is the norm at the moment , but it’s not set in stone. Watford for one still play 2 up.My point is that we do not appear to have the players to make it work. Even the great Grant Holt struggled with this one Either change the players , the coach or the system. After some of the disasters last season surely it’s worth a try.
Regarding young players & the loan system , yes there is a case for using it , especially when we were in the PL Now we are in the Championship with 46+ games , I believe it would be better to keep the likes of Maddison & Toffolo at the club. Get them training with the first team , learning the ‘Norwich way ‘ getting some game time as subs & a few full games in the cup competitions. From what I have seen the two I mention could certainly hold a place down in the first 11. We are not blessed with a good left back except for Olson ,& Ithink Maddison is versatile & good enough to be a useful squad member. As for TA , , if he’s not good enough now he never will be. Almost 2 years on the payroll , & not one meaningful appearance Chelsea was mentioned in support of loaning out most of your promising youngsters , but that’s not a fair comparison. Chelsea with all their wealth trawl the world for young talent in the hope of catching one big fish. If they don’t become exceptional they are then sold on for a few million or discarded. How many of the present Chelsea team have graduated from their youth set up Regarding renewing contracts of some of the deadwood , it beggars belief that they were promised extensions to their contracts for failure ie , relegation ( even on reduced rates ) With the cushion of parachute payments relegation should have been the key to a good clear out. Some of these players have been relegated not once but twice.
, I will probably still get some flak , but at least it’s an interesting debate. OTBC
Nice read Gary.
For me McGovern has been the signing of the summer for us. He just looks so confident on the ball, his kicking is better than we have seen for a long time and his shot stopping, especially to tip over the bar in second half, is fantastic, he just seems more mobile.
Me, I am happy. Not looking the greatest but look how many in the league have only lost one game out of seven.
Victor (13) – Thanks. Your follow-up seems more considered than your original posting, and no-one could disagree about Tony Andreu.
Nonetheless, a couple of points. Do we really not have personnel to make one out-and-out striker work? It always looks a stretch because the striker has to put in such a shift. But our 11 goals in 7 games, 3 of them to Jerome, looks healthy (it’s the 8 goals conceded which look more of an issue). The only game where we looked toothless was Birmingham, when Jerome was out injured.
My view of Toffolo & Maddison still differs from yours. They need weekly league football to develop and toughen them, just like the Murphys last year. If they’d stayed at Norwich, there’s no way the twins would now be as effective as they are.
As you say – OTBC
Agree with you on Murphy s , but we were in PL then. With Toffolo , I think it’s a different ball game. We are not blessed with a wealth of left backs. Brady is wasted there , Whittaker seems to be a disaster waiting to happen , & Martin is more naturally suited to the right side. If Toffolo is not deemed ready for the championship I think we should have brought in someone before letting him go , as we did with Rudd. I still can’t get my head around that one either. I will agree to disagree on one up front. True we have scored 11 in 7 but 4 of those were a gimme against a poor Blackburn side who can’t win a game this season. One up front is not just about the striker. The rest of the team need to play their part , & I am suggesting that with the present personnel that is not happening. We don’t have a Townsend ,a Bowen or dare I say Johnson ! Whether that is down to tactics , team selection or coaching is up for debate. CJ does make runs. & works hard for the team but he is not a natural finisher such as Fleck or a 18 yard bully like Holt. I’m sure AN would like to have brought some one of their ilk in during the window(s) but for whatever reason it didn’t happen so why not try plan B. You don’t know if it will be an improvement till you try especially during a game when things are not going well Even against Wigan ( which I know we won ) we were tactically outmanoeuvred from the bench in the second half On a lighter note , yes my second posting was less of a moan , but the whole point of putting it on in the first place was to stimulate some debate. After all that isn’t that what MFW is all about
Victor (16) – “The whole point of putting it on in the first place was to stimulate some debate”. Fair play – 100% right, and this site can be relied on to deliver!
Best wishes
Yes it certainly does , without the boorish banter & insults I’ve encountered elsewhere . Let’s hope for good result (& performance ) tomorrow so we have something positive to discuss. OTBC