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Seven defeats out of eight and more away day misery for the Y'Army but it's as you were for Team Neil

11th December 2016 By Gary Gowers 23 Comments

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On Friday, in his pre-Barnsley presser, Alex Neil spoke of the need to go to places like Oakwell with a desire to battle, fight and compete.

And then picked a team that included both Murphys and Alex Pritchard.

He followed that up, post-match, by suggesting he’d have been slaughtered if he’d changed the side that performed so well against Brentford, alluding to the fact his team selection had been made with one eye on the fallout if it were to go belly up.

As it transpired it went belly up anyway but the fact his only forced change from last Saturday was to add Josh Murphy to the starting XI – one who for all his qualities isn’t noted for his physical strength and ability to dig in – suggests that his thinking is now anything but crystal clear.

As has been rightly pointed out by others, between 14:00 and 15:00 yesterday there appeared few complaints, many citing the attacking potential of a line-up that included “two of our own”, but against the backdrop of the ‘fight and compete’ battle-cry a closer examination revealed a midfield light in those qualities.

That Barnsley “bullied us” – another troubling admission – in that horror show of a first-half came as no surprise.

Yet it’d be unfair to lay the blame at the door of the three aforementioned young players when around them were some vastly experienced pros who should have needed no reminding that a December afternoon in South Yorkshire is the Championship equivalent to the Premier League’s ‘cold, wet, Tuesday night in Stoke’.

But still it was a first-half that, while not quite plummeting the depths of the Amex, had St Andrew’s, Loftus Road and Pride Park stamped all over it. More of the same. Same old. History repeating itself.

We naturally hoped the 5-0 against a limited Brentford was the signal for this group to unite, put a truly rotten November behind them and kick on but yesterday’s first period was a short, sharp, ugly reminder that they need no excuse whatsoever to take their foot off the pedal.

In the heat of battle many were found wanting… yet again.

The second half was obviously better; there was more desire – the result no doubt of a half-time rocket – and the shape and personnel were changed to something that actually appeared fit for purpose, but the damage was done.

And even buoyed by Nelson Oliveira’s thumping strike they collectively still didn’t possess the wherewithal to salvage something from another grim afternoon.

Two games in the space of four days this week – both at home and starting with Aston Villa on Tuesday night – offer a quick shot at redemption, and I’m convinced City will win at least one, but at what point does this troubling run of results, punctuated by the odd win, get treated with more than an ‘it’ll come good’ shrug?

Because that’s the signal I’m getting from the decision makers.

Yet everything we’ve witnessed since the draw at Craven Cottage, last Saturday aside, screams that by ploughing this same, increasingly lone, furrow it just isn’t going to come good.

The mix of a manager who has lost his way, identity, mojo [delete as appropriate], who is picking his team with one eye on the fans’ reaction to it and a bunch of players who, while not without technical gifts, only perform when the track is flat, not spinning, and has even bounce, is toxic in the extreme.

Add to that equation a board who collectively, from the outside looking in, appear unwilling to veer from the current unedifying path and we have a stalemate.

Inertia when we crave momentum.

If, as mentioned above, the players find it within themselves to conjure up a win over Villa or Huddersfield, or even maybe both, the joy will be temporarily rekindled but yesterday was a stark reminder of this group’s extreme fragility.

And so, even if they do get a win, how long before the next heart-breaking reversal on the road?

In this division heart is king, technique a distant second, but under the auspices of a manager who appears unable to consistently instil belief and who is struggling tactically to get it right often enough, it’s hard to imagine the away form improving to a level needed to go up the table.

Seven defeats in eight games and without an away win since October 1 would be P45 territory for most managers, particularly with the medium term future of the club hinging on promotion, yet as the automatic promotion places painfully disappear into the distance we appear to be ploughing on in the hope that Brentford was a sign.

And I genuinely wish it was. I wish too that I still believed in Team Neil and in their ability to turn this situation around – but the evidence suggests otherwise.

I’d be happy of course to be proved wrong and to have to admit further down the line that Delia, Michael and co were right to sit tight and wait for the storm to blow over but if right now it was a straightforward game of pros and cons there would be only one outcome.

There’s too much at stake here to rely on crossed fingers and Father Christmas.


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Filed Under: Column, Gary Gowers

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Comments

  1. Cityfan says

    11th December 2016 at 10:07 am

    Well said. Spot on.

    Reply
  2. Andy Delf says

    11th December 2016 at 10:09 am

    Too often we are told of the depth of talent in this squad, we should win games at a canter. All of the above only applies if the players are up for it. They obviously are not.
    The manager has lost his way ,he won’t resign,why would he?its a well paid job and he no doubt has a mortgage to pay.
    The answer lies with the board. Jez Moxey is the “risk manager” for NCFC. Well get on with it man, stamp your authority and recruit the right manager now before we face fifteen or sixteen years in the footballing wilderness like our near neighbors.

    Reply
  3. Suffolkcan says

    11th December 2016 at 10:39 am

    Good piece. This useless board and their inertia are ruining our best chance of promotion. NCFC will regret this season for a long time if they do not act soon and remove Alex Neil. Unfortunately we will probably scour Europe and appoint Ricky Martin or Alan Irvine.

    Reply
  4. Gary Gowers says

    11th December 2016 at 10:39 am

    Well said Delfy

    Reply
  5. Chris says

    11th December 2016 at 10:43 am

    I don’t share your confidence in a return to forgotten winning ways, Gary. I think a good number of empty seats will tell its own tale on Tuesday. The apathy that was apparent during large parts of the Brentford game will be magnified amongst a totally demoralised support. Bruce will know this and send his team out accordingly to start fast and capitalise on the angry mood.

    The ever growing charge sheet of defeat after defeat you refer to would indeed be a death rattle to any manager. Unless that manager is employed by Norwich City. I’ve seen it written that a manager is an employee, not a personal friend but as ever, there is a cosy, unprofessional matey matey relationship between leading shareholder and the manager.

    The saccharin sweet, sickly sentimentalism that pervades the club yet again prevents professional decision making such as is needed when charged with running a business as big and important as Norwich City Football Club.

    When Radio Norfolk read the team sheet out yesterday they trilled that City fans would be “delighted” that both Murphys would at last be used in harness. Cobblers. Within ten minutes I had ample evidence in my inbox that practically going 4-2-4 away at a bunch of northern cloggers was tantamount to a turkey swallowing a pint of cranberry sauce and draping itself with bacon on Christmas Eve.

    The unfortunate injury to Naismith, just as he is beginning to show some worth, necessitated a change; by common consensus Olsson to left back and Brady pushed forward. The other change centred around the midfield, where the newly combative Mulumbu would surely, and did, when called upon provide an element of graft and abrasiveness instead of the lightweight Dorrans.

    No hindsight, just common sense. Keep oliveira and Pritchard? Hell yes! Return Klose to the first eleven? That’s probably more to do with a personal issue of Neil’s than ability.

    All but the blind can see what the problems are, the debate has raged for a long while now. The only change in the landscape is the steady and horrific decline of results, which offer more proof, if proof is needed, that the large groundswell of opinion isn’t simply moaning, as some would have it, but a deep and well founded concern and distaste for the state of Norwich City, from the very top – where a filthy rot has set in – to the dugout, where ineptitude and inbility reign.

    Together, the board and manager are seen as the enemy; they stand together, presiding over a cataclysmic disaster of results, on top of an awful, self destructive relegation last year. The two are now bound together, the stubborn refusal by Smith to address the issue adding fuel to the fire, which is given added petrol by each c**p result and performance.

    If the demoralised home support are raised from their increasing apathy on Tuesday night, it will be more likely in response to a continuation of the garbage we have been served up for far too long now, given the relative cost of our tickets and the numbers that swell the ground.

    Be warned, it won’t be pretty and nobody, not Delia, not Moxey, not Neil the incompetent or the half-a**sed players will be immune.

    Reply
  6. Jeff says

    11th December 2016 at 10:45 am

    The mismatch between the pre match barnsley battle cry and the selection reflects in what’s going on upstairs. ‘Promotion, promotion, promotion’ and ‘let’s give him time to sort it out’ highlights the exact same discord. Our club, from top to bottom, is a mismanaged and confused mess. The fact remains fans are being treated disgracefully.

    Reply
  7. Gary Gowers says

    11th December 2016 at 10:52 am

    Chris (5) – I don’t have any confidence in a return to winning ways. Just, possibly misplaced, hope.

    Reply
  8. Zico1970 says

    11th December 2016 at 10:56 am

    A big part of the problem is that a lot of money was spent in the summer on supposedly skilful players when some solid grit was needed. After a couple of relegations it’s been clear we lack battlers.

    In this league you need strength both physical and mental and we are lacking on both fronts. Some say there are no leaders available to buy any more but in the past we’ve taken a gamble on people like Michael Nelson who’s skill was never above league one level, but whose desire could push those with greater ability on to win games.

    We need to pluck a similar character out from one of the leagues below and let him show the one trick ponies how to actually win a match

    Reply
  9. Cityfan says

    11th December 2016 at 12:13 pm

    Interestingly this set of results has seen us mostly through the wild conjecture – ‘the board are this, the manager does/doesn’t know xxx, the players think this, etc etc’ – and we are now weirdly united as a set of fans who have no choice but to agree on actual facts (and Gary it would be great to see someone write an article or charge sheet written for MFW based on solely on the facts of the where AN has got things indisputabley wrong during his reign) about things that he’s got wrong. Things such as keeping hold of players who aren’t good enough; signing Patrick Bamford who was desperate to leave Palace to play, then not play him (why sign him if not determined to start him?); talking all week about how Allardyce’s Sunderland are dangerous on the counter then conceding three goals on the counter; recognising the threat against Barnsley then sending out the wrong team to combat it; picking Sebastien Bassong – PICKING SEBASTIEN BASSONG! The list is endless and as much as I want it to work for him he’s been making mistakes almost every week for a year now. And we can’t ignore that, whatever side of the fence we’re on.

    Reply
  10. John says

    11th December 2016 at 12:19 pm

    So, after the hiccup that was Brentford, status quo is resumed. Whilst it appeared great to have Josh join his brother, as others (including our esteemed manager have said, Barnsley away was hardly the ideal situation. Another of Mr. Neil’s gems was that “Olsson is the best left back in the Championship”. OK, many of us agree with that – so why wasn’t he selected from the start yesterday to allow Brady to add some energy to mid-field. We desperately need a change at the top. I’ve been following City for more than 50 years, and cannot remember such a strong groundswell of opinion amongst fellow supporters – to such an extent that I’m seriously considering not renewing my tickets for next year unless the prices are adjusted to reflect the level of entertainment we currently receive (or not).

    Reply
  11. Chris says

    11th December 2016 at 12:32 pm

    As cityfan rightly says, virtually the whole support can see that the manager needs to be replaced immediately. What is interesting is when will the lack of action from the board bring people into conflict with them who have previously been Supportive?

    Reply
  12. darren says

    11th December 2016 at 12:35 pm

    NCFC is in a mess on and off the pitch from my sources at the club as McNally’s departure has left a huge hole. The club is happy and comfortable to be a Championship and AN will only be forced out if that is threatened.

    ‘Promotion, Promotion, Promotion’ our CEO said.
    ‘Contempt’, Contempt, Contempt’ I say.

    The longer this farce – and that is exactly what it is – continues the more the heat will turn on what is the most clueless and incompetent board of modern times.

    Reply
  13. Dave B says

    11th December 2016 at 1:13 pm

    Chris Hughton went through a period of one win in 18 (I believe) with “cutthroat” McNally in the building and that wasn’t enough to be sacked. Knowing our owners I suspect Neil has some lives left. Every odd win against the lower teams being a 1UP.

    Reply
  14. martin penney says

    11th December 2016 at 2:03 pm

    Spot-on article, Gary, and some excellent comments thereafter.

    #5 Chris: I find it difficult to disagree with a word you say. I wish I could, but I can’t. Sound post. I’ll be there for Villa too – the crowd reaction could be “interesting” to say the least.

    Let’s see what we’re served up. If it’s unpalatable, something will have to change, whether the Board like it or not.

    Reply
  15. Simon says

    11th December 2016 at 3:32 pm

    Surely a manager picks a team to win the match they are about to play? I don’t care if they have soundly beaten a poor Brentford team at Carrow Road the previous week. That same team was always going to struggle away from home against a physical team like Barnsley. AN don’t start blaming the press and fans that you were afraid of getting slated if you tinkered with a winning side.

    Reply
  16. Chris says

    11th December 2016 at 4:36 pm

    Thanks Martin, I shall be there too although I’m not really enthusiastic about the prospect. The fact that I take my family along for the ride is the only thing stopping me from staying away both on Tuesday and Friday. It’s becoming a chore with the added drawback that I’m lining the pockets of Delia smith and her nephew.

    Reply
  17. sixtiesbarclay boy says

    11th December 2016 at 5:46 pm

    Hughton lost a lot on the run, but the opposition was far different.

    Alex Neil is said to have the second best squad, but clearly has no clue of how to get a even a reasonable amount out of it. I hold little confidence with the next 2 games.

    8 games 24 possible points, we have gleaned just a paltry 3. terrible form for a club said to be needing promotion

    Reply
  18. Cityfan says

    11th December 2016 at 8:01 pm

    Hodgson now.

    Reply
  19. Cityfan says

    11th December 2016 at 8:28 pm

    17) Hughton also assembled our most expensive squad ever. No excuses there and we should have got rid of him earlier. But he sucked the life out of a talented squad and gave all creativity to Snodgrass, a player who should never have been given the responsibilities.

    Reply
  20. Dave H says

    11th December 2016 at 11:31 pm

    Oh to go back to the days when peoples main concern was Russell Martin playing centre back. Perhaps he should go back there as that change coincided with this bad run.

    Reply
  21. Dave B says

    12th December 2016 at 12:55 am

    Regardless of Hughton’s opponents the board should never have tolerated nearly half a season with one win. The point is our board rarely move unless absoltely forced to. Right now they must be holding out hope that Neil from ’14 is about to turn up.

    Reply
  22. OzCanary says

    12th December 2016 at 4:16 am

    Well said. In the end it is up to the manager to make the players he has tick. Oliveira looks a good find but not enough commitment from the players. At the end of the next two games promotion could be a thing of dreams rather than reality but if we are going to let AN remain for these two…and we do not give vastly improved performances…he has to step, or be stood, down.

    Reply
  23. CityBoy says

    12th December 2016 at 4:12 pm

    Seems like we have a board with mentality of ‘it’s our club and we’ll do what we want’ who are content in belligerence to retain an underperforming manager plus a CEO as protective barriers to fans’ criticism. So long as neither aforementioned breaks rank to criticise those above nothing will change. I’m sure I’m not alone in expecting absolutely f-all in coming transfer window. After all, who of merit, would want to jump aboard a sinking ship? Tuesday night could turn out to be something special one way or t’other!

    Reply

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