Roll the clock back just 18 days and City appeared to be in a bit of a pickle.
A thumping defeat at St Andrews closely followed by a transfer window that didn’t deliver as hoped and ‘crisis’ was being uttered as message boards and social media fanned the flames.
Rebellion was in the air; plans for the Carrow march were afoot.
But three wins in the space of eight days – the most recent achieved with an element of swagger – and we suddenly find ourselves in a better place. In second place in fact.
As Fergie so eloquently put it; “Football. Bloody hell!”
With only eight games gone it’s obviously too early to be planning the open-top bus parade, and let’s remember Neil Adams’ side made a not dissimilar start to Championship life, but at the very least let’s all agree that talk of the club’s imminent demise was a tad premature.
Equally, the concerns that were there on September 1 haven’t disappeared.
Until we see Nelson Oliveira in action there’s no way of knowing if we’ve edged any closer to offering Cameron Jerome some genuine competition and it is a squad with a slight look of imbalance but if after three wins on the spin you’re expecting anything remotely negative please look away now.
Two home wins, both of the lacklustre variety, had offered a timely boost to the points tally but neither had done too much to reaffirm City’s credentials as one of the favourites for promotion.
Yesterday, especially in the second-half, they did look the part. And they did it the hard way.
A Forest side that is clearly full of goals was always going to be a test for a back-four that has creaked a little and after falling behind in such disappointing fashion I’m not sure too many would have been betting on City conceding just the one goal.
But just the one it was to be and despite Wes having his first-half penalty well saved by Stojkovic, City delivered a second-half performance that even had the City ground faithful purring – albeit begrudgingly.
And it’s interesting that names we hadn’t necessarily planned on lauding this season are ones currently getting that plaudits.
Graham Dorrrans was very much at the sharp end of last season’s wrath and was right up there with fellow Scottish internationals, Russell Martin and Steven Whittaker, in the battle for scapegoat 2015/16. ‘Graham Dorrans – why?‘ became a thing on Twitter, as the Scot clearly struggled to make an impact in the Premier League.
But in the less refined arena of the Championship, and with his fitness levels increasing game by game, his quality is starting to shine through again – just as it did last time round in the second tier.
While he may have the demeanour of someone who’s permanently exhausted, Dorrans’ ability to cover the ground in the midfield is only usurped by his ability to find a yellow shirt with a pass; his range of passing being the best on offer in the current squad.
That he rounded off a good afternoon yesterday with a stunning finish to win the game was a just reward for him and one in the eye for the ‘why?’ brigade.
As Alex Neil pointed out post-match, Dorrans’ quality is such that if he delivers he can look a class apart from most Championship midfielders. He now needs to deliver on a regular basis and make that central midfield berth his own.
Jacob Murphy is another who I wasn’t expecting to be eulogising over this season – until now Josh appeared to have the edge – but he’s another who is improving game on game.
A winger in the typical mould, Jacob is going to run into the occasional cul-de-sac and sometimes he’ll give possession away cheaply but it’s a trade-off with the times he’ll skip past a defender with ease and make something happen out of nothing; his thumping drive that was tipped over by Stojkovic being a classic example.
But yesterday’s win wasn’t borne of individual brilliance. It arrived courtesy of hard-work, a team ethic and a desire to impose themselves on opposition who were brimming full of confidence courtesy of having won every home game they have played this season.
We have good players – better players than most – and if through commitment, desire and discipline they can afford themselves a platform on which to perform then they should, more often than not, come out the right side.
Yesterday said three qualities were in evidence and it showed, assisted by Forest’s attacking, gung-ho intentions.
For good measure, the squads’ togetherness – something else that came under scrutiny over the summer – was reaffirmed thanks to Timm Klose’s post-match Twitter six-pack-fest and for now we actually appear, at least from the outside looking in, to be a content little ship.
It’s funny what three wins can do.
“Never mind the danger…”
Great assessment by Gary Gowers – let’s avoid the Burton banana skin and get another three points chalked up on Saturday.
And yes, the penalty was as much to with the keeper as with Wes. Can’t comment beyond that as I’ve only seen the all-too-brief highlights but things are indeed looking good. We’ve got genuine competition for starting places and I can’t wait for Saturday. There’ll be a better atmosphere now, although it’s never that bad in the Barclay anyway tbh:-)
Oh I had the misfortune to listen to Canary Call yesterday; Mark Robins did his best, but what’s all this “let’s make up words” malarkey all about?
Last year we looked like a very good championship side. This year we still do. No one can say we are without flaws but at this level mostly our defence won’t be exposed so much, our creative players should get more space and our strikers more chances. We have a chance in this division and we are one of several that can realistically be promoted. The key is to keep up the grind and keep winning- it doesn’t matter how, just keep the scoreboard ticking over. OTBC
What a refreshing game, for me driven by all players in their regular positions. I would like to the same again next Sat.
Alex T and Nelson O if fit, can warm the bench. Two observations for comment. Wes cannot strike a dead ball with power like others. If the keeper guesses right he saves. Is McGovern lacking on taking charge of crosses ? From memory just one good punch yesterday.
Good words from Gary – but this time, not just Gary.
“Last year we looked like a very good championship side. This year we still do” – as accurate and elegant a summary of Norwich as I’ve seen. Cheers, ncfcpaul.
Yesterday’s set-up will work for many games this season, especially if we apply ourselves in the same way. But in other cases – Newcastle away springs to mind – Tettey will surely be a crucial player for us.
That’s the virtue of having a strong squad.
I have been critical of AN , but credit where credit due. This was a much better team performance I don’t think it’s a coincidence that the improvement coincides with the team selection looking much more balanced. , particularly the midfield. Tetty’ forced exclusion & Olsons return seemed to be the catalyst for this. A few more options up front & fortune with injuries & I will feel we are getting somewhere. Need to concentrate the mind for Burton as 2 tough ones after that. OTBC
Whilst I acknowledge that Wes is a superb player for us ,I feel that we need a different first choice penalty taker.
I would expect a penalty taker to score 80% of the time and Wes’ success rate,I suspect, is nowhere near this.
His shot power is not strong enough as well.
I wouldn’t let him near the ball on any dead-ball situations-he does too many short corners and he plays too many free-kicks short as well.
Victor (6) – fair play to you.
Actually, I doubt focus will be a problem for Newcastle & Wolves. A bigger danger may be complacency about Burton (who are no pushovers). Challenge for AN this week
Stewart- thank you for your kind words
Victor – I agree totally, I think Howson and Tettey sat deeper with Wes or Alex Pritchard middle flanked by Brady and A N Other looks well balanced and we are all the better for it. Having said that I’m pleased to see players being given a chance, if Dorrans played well he deserves his place.
I’m really happy to see this but it must be recognised there are a lot of good teams, if we are not right ‘ on it’ every game we will not be automatically promoted. I think AN is well aware of this so fingers crossed he drills it into the team.
OTBC
A very enjoyable article. I agree that Josh looked to be the Murphy we would all rhapsodising about rather than Jacob but I think they will both make a massive contribution to our promotion campaign. They look to be stars in the making and, the best thing about it, they’re our stars! I’m really pleased that Dorrans scored yesterday as well as I think he’s been badly underrated by some fans. Yesterday proved we have the ability and character to get back into a game and win. Nine points in the bag in the course of a week will do wonders for everyone’s confidence and belief in our ability to succeed this season – players and fans alike.
Oh and thanks to el dingo for pointing the way to this site. It is so refreshing to visit a website where people can have a civilised debate and accept the opinions of others without it degenerating into name-calling and unpleasantness like it does on some other boards. (I visited one yesterday and was shocked at how nasty and personal some of the comments were and yet the moderators didn’t seem to be doing anything about it – not a place I want to be).
Yes, it seems a much more balanced team selection yesterday and we got our just rewards.
Definitely agree er changing the penalty taker, though it was a good save.
Let’s chalk up another 3 points on Saturday and hopefully we’ll get something from our next 2 away games as well to see us well placed for the next international break!!!!
I don’t have many gripes with NCFC but one is allowing Wes to take penalties. I admit this is mainly down to his miss against PNE 5 years ago when he attempted to chip the keeper, who simply caught it. It was extremely embarrassing as I was at the game with two PNE fans who, from the moment we met up after the match, reminded me every few minutes over the rest of the weekend…. Thanks Wes.
Josh v Jake: one thing to remember is that like most of our squad, Josh was relegated last season. There’s no doubt in my mind that the fighting relegation all season is mentally draining, even if in the end you survive. Like it or not it takes time to get back on track. He will, I’m sure.
Interesting observation from Victor (6). I am absolutely sure that the second half dip in performance against Wigan – which I was able to watch in the flesh for once – arose directly from the need to replace Tettey. He had won back a lot of possession in first half. But what’s clear is that we haven’t anyone to replace him like-for-like, and Pritchard and later Mulumbu were powder-puff in comparison. So I presume Neil had to set up slightly differently yesterday, and as it clearly worked, at least in the second half, that’s fine. But when we go to St James’s Park for example I very much hope Tettey is available again.
Finally MC (11), yes this is a much better forum than any other I’ve seen in several ways. Far fewer posters whose dodgy version of English includes “we should of won”, for a start. But we have just won 3 in a row. When we next lose a few names will re-appear telling us how poor Neil is, how the players won’t play for him or are only interested in leaving the club in January, that Delia and Michael need to sell to someone much richer, and all the other “problems” we apparently have that you will read elsewhere. And if you disagree you will be (politely) labelled as an apologist for the club.
Much credit where it’s due to dorrans, good performances, improving game by game and the first name on the sheet currently. Likewise Murphy. Nathan who? I suspect like most young players and all wingers he will suffer a dip at some stage so it’s vital he sees as much action as he can at the moment to take advantage of his rich seam of form. Over the years I seem to have gained an impression of hoolahans penalties as being poor. Please if we do manage another one this season can Brady take it? Second half sounded fantastic yesterday, Neil appears to have got into the players heads for the first time this season as they took on board what he asked and duly delivered, seeing out the game professionally and raising performance levels to hitherto unseen heights. Massive game next week and we mustn’t get complacent. I’m with you on the post match phone in. A whole bucket full of crap about stupid made up words took up half the show when we could have had more insight and knowledge from the excellent mark robins,
MC (11) and KeithB (13) this site was pretty realistic (positive but with constructive fair criticism) last season so I think it is the visitors to the site not just the relative safety of Championship promotion places which does it. I only really see the PinkUn and the comments on there just make me scream. Too many people who think they are funny and aren’t, vitriolic criticism of the management and board, and not enough comment on football. I’m sure some like me post on both (El Dingo being one I suspect) but generally the ‘house style’ seems respected. OTBC NMTD.
This is by far the most civilised site. The pink un is a running battle between on one hand, critics of the board and on the other, defenders of the board. It resembles a childish version of the Houses of Parliament. Venturing any opinion results in immediate vitriol being dispensed. There’s always the other site, but that’s even nastier and appears to be run for the benefit of a small clique of keyboard samurai who use the most foul language and behaviour to anybody they disagree with. Sometimes entertaining to read but pointless posting on either,