That City now find themselves just a point shy of the Championship’s play-off places after such a wretched autumn speaks volumes for the topsy-turvy nature of this division.
Promotion, or at the very least a crack at the play-offs, remains there for the taking if this club can re-manoeuvre itself to a place where everyone, from top to bottom and including the fans, is singing off the same hymn sheet.
In the crazy, dog eat dog world of the Championship, where ‘champions elect’ Newcastle have lost back-to-back league games, anything seems possible – even for a club that appeared on the cusp of civil war.
Perspective is important of course, and it was one solitary win against a Brentford side on the wrong side of ordinary, but having endured several weeks of almost constant torment yesterday afternoon provided two hours of much needed escapism; a parallel universe jam-packed full of sugar and spice and all things nice, not to mention five goals and a clean sheet.
Whether Alex Neil’s decision to play Jonny Howson and Ivo Pinto – despite neither possessing anything like the required levels of match fitness – was a final throw of the dice to save his Norwich City career or simply a calculated gamble will only be known by his inner sanctum. But it worked.
The pair added a double-dose of energy and desire to a group that has been plagued by lethargy. Add to that mix Howson’s nous and ability to cajole and inspire those around him and we were offered up a performance unlike anything witnessed since the opening day at Ewood Park.
But it wasn’t just the Howson and Pinto show; Alex Pritchard, revelling in the free role that starts out as ‘number 10’ but effectively offers him freedom to just go out and hurt teams, was unrecognisable from the sulky, surly figure who flopped at the Amex.
Nelson Oliveira too offered up his best performance in a yellow shirt and his thumping second-half finish was a timely reward for a decent shift. The confidence afforded by the goal was clearly evident, as is the wont of centre-forwards, and will hopefully propel him on to better things after a lukewarm start to his City career.
But in the same way it has been futile of late to highlight individual errors because there have simply been so many, to single out individually all that was good about yesterday is equally nonsensical, suffice to say it was the antithesis of Brighton – literally.
And at its core was sharp, incisive passing with, crucially, the ball being moved at pace through the thirds; the slow, ponderous build up of late hopefully having been consigned to its rightful place in the tactical rubbish bin. But we’ll see.
I’ll avoid the analogy that starts ‘one swallow…’ but those who used it were quite right.
Many of the gripes and moans that prevailed at 14:59 were still relevant at 17:00, and there is a long way to go before we’re set fair for an assault on the top two but it was a start and, above all, it was a joy to watch 95 minutes of quality, free-flowing football when the recent fare has been quite the opposite.
And it was important that the quality was sustained rather than it being a half-decent first-half followed by a turgid second; hunger and determination prevailing over half-heartedness and apathy.
No-one, Alex Neil most of all, will be getting too carried away by yesterday’s win and set against a backdrop of six consecutive defeats it remains small pickings, yet partly forced and partly by design there appears, for the first time in a while, the makings of an XI that has balance.
The back-four, while including two centre-backs with huge question marks still hanging over them, somehow managed it’s first clean sheet since the 1-0 win over Bristol City on August 16 and for all said question marks it’d be difficult not to offer them a chance to replicate that performance at Oakwell next Saturday.
And then it’s crunch time. Brentford offered little, other than a couple of opportunist efforts from reported City target Scott Hogan, but Barnsley, off the back of an impressive 3-0 win at St Andrew’s, will be a very different proposition. Ryan Bennett and Seb Bassong will again go under the microscope.
If City can emerge from next Saturday with the spirit intact and momentum they then face two home games in the space of four days, against Aston Villa and early pace-setters Huddersfield. Emerge from those unscathed and then maybe, just maybe, we could contemplate a new year with Alex at the helm and renewed hope.
But, for now, let’s just enjoy yesterday for what it was – a quality and much needed win against mediocre opposition – and squeeze every last drop out of six days of calm.
“Never mind the danger…”
We’ll, that was a pleasant surprise – a clean sheet and five goals at the right end for a change.
Playing Pritchard centrally offered both pace and vision; something which has been lacking from City’s play recently. I think Wes may struggle to get the No 10 role back if AP continues like that.
A strangely subdued atmosphere at Carrow Road yesterday – a feeling of many waiting for the wheels to come off and reluctantly having to accept that this wasn’t going to be the day.
Think you have précis the game exactly yesterday.
What a difference that was! As I have suspected on many occasions? When we moved the ball with pace & accuracy-
diagonally–with movement off the ball! We (the fans) are treated to a delicious feast of football which we know this squad is capable of.As was the case yesterday-)
The refound confidence was callable whilst watching this
hand picked team! WELL DONE Alex –some through injury but most through belief that they could “do the job required”
I was very nervous at the team sent out! But what do I know !!!
Only a fan–not the Manager.My only wish is for Alex to stick with this team! I’m sure they can repeat that performance against more capable teams too.#OTBC
A very good ‘start’ and it was good to see fellow fans smiling again, but our defence still looked shaky at best. Better teams will pull us to pieces in this lulls so there’s still a long way to go convince the majority. The reaction from the players from here on in will tell us everything we need to know.
Great assessment of the game. My biggest concern is the changes were forced on Alex Neil not ones he decided to make. Fresh legs from players with a desire to play. It is hard to say if this will continue when we come up against a team on good form wanting to win. Would like to see Canos given a chance especially after his season in the championship last year. Should we go back up I still dont think Alex Neil is the right manager as we came straight back down with him last time as he has limited game plans
Good summing up of yesterday’s performance. We should not get carried away as Brentford were very poor, but, you can only play against what is put in front of you. Pritchard carried out the “Wes” role with aplomb, and showed Wes how it should be done. Energy, vigour, excellent awareness for when to pass and where to run. The return of Howson was a big plus – amazing how many critics this quality player has. But, and it’s a big but, against better opposition I’m not sure our defence of yesterday could cope. Still, 3 more points…all we now need are another 10 before next year and maybe we can start to believe again!!
I’m mostly interested to find out how we respond to conceding and will only feel we’ve turned a corner once we can come back from going behind. However, it’s good to feel ‘footy contentment’ for a few days. Brady also seemed motivated which made a difference too.
But what’s happened to the atmosphere at home? It’s been lacking for a while now. My, how we need a talisman not only for the team but someone who us fans can buy in to also.
I’d imagine both Pritchard and Oliveira feel as if they had (have) a point to prove having been mainly overlooked in favour of Wes and Jerome.
(Get well soon, Louis Thompson, you must feel the same, having watched Tettey play the ball sideways and backwards – or give it away, for most of the season).
Yesterday’s line up gave us swift forward movement and penetration, sadly missing in previous recent weeks. Keep it going, boys 🙂
Obviously we won’t know how big a this win was for a few weeks. Steam on into the promotion places and it was the start of a rally. Fall back to old ways and it was us being true to form, beating poor teams in the league.
The obvious positives are the number of goals scored, the clean sheet, and the performance from newer and returning players.
The negatives being we’ll never know if some of these changes were strategic or forced.
It will be interesting to see the next starting 11.
“Mediocre opposition” – that is being very generous. They were absolutely hopeless.
Dave B (8): Good comment.
The selection issue looks like a mix of enforced and chosen. Jerome would surely have played if available; presumably Olsson too.
AN deserves full credit for replacing Wes with Pritchard. Plus some for choosing Oliveira rather than Lafferty, and Dorrans rather than Mulumbu; Oliveira’s movement and Dorrans’ passing were big factors in dismantling Brentford’s set-up.
On the other hand, Brentford’s limitations make our centre-back selections hard to judge. As you say, next week’s selection will be interesting.
Can’t help feeling this is a little bit like when Gunny took over and won 4-0 in his first game. We were all relieved but somehow knew it was never going to be simple.
Also, I really can’t take Alex Neil seriously anymore until Bassong is dropped and shipped out. Quite how he feels he can rehabilitate a player prone to mistakes and poor positioning, who’s proved time and again he can’t learn, yet not help a player of the calibre of Tim Klose rediscover his form is beyond me.