A cynic could argue that City got lucky yesterday; that on another day, faced by opponents with a ruthless not toothless edge in front of goal, they could have come unstuck.
And I’d have to agree. Perhaps that makes me one.
But they didn’t come unstuck. They dug in, rode their moments of luck, carried a constant threat going forward and ran out deserved winners. ‘Standard Championship fare’ was the conclusion reached by me and a couple of pals on the walk back to the car.
I won’t however be going down the ‘turned a corner’ route because in truth there was never really a corner to turn with regard to the home form. Ten wins in fourteen home league games is not what landed Alex Neil and the board in this fine mess (although that’s a description I’m sure they’d refute).
Eight defeats on the road on the other hand, with a sprinkling of bona fide horror shows among them, is precisely what has afforded Delia, Michael, Jez and co a rough ride. And until that part of the equation is solved I suspect Carrow Road will continue to carry the air of a brooding, petulant teenager who’s awaiting the chance to kick off.
But yesterday it didn’t get that chance and the uneasy peace at times broke out into singing and cheering and support for those in yellow and green. A fine concept.
And there is now a feeling of confidence among the faithful that when on our own patch this group of players have sussed out what it takes to win games of Championship football – a feeling that’s not always been there.
If we look back to those early season wins against Cardiff and Wigan, it was genuine seat of the pants, squeaky bum type stuff where the bare minimum amount of effort was delivered in order to get over the line. It felt at the time like an accident waiting to happen and so it transpired.
It doesn’t feel like that any more. It feels like the penny has finally dropped and there is a proper understanding of the battle that needs to be won before the points can be earned. No longer are we enduring the closing stages of homes games on the edge of our seats while watching it all unfold through our fingers.
(If the current upturn continues there’ll be plenty of time for that as we approach the run-in).
I’d even go as far as to say said faithful too, for the most part, now understands the inherent ugliness of the average game of Championship football. The beautiful game it most certainly isn’t and while we see flashes of flowing, eye-catching football for the most part it’s a battle of attrition.
To compare it with what we were party to last season is a futile exercise; it’s almost a different sport.
But, at home at least, players and crowd now appear to be on similar wavelengths and for the first time since October we give off the air of contenders.
Crunch time of course arrives next Saturday when Neil Warnock’s troops await our arrival at the Cardiff City stadium, and where if Alex Neil’s men get too precious over their ‘Premier League quality’ (a phrase the manager uses a little unwisely) then they’re going to be in for another rough ride.
It’ll be no place for those who don’t like it up ’em.
*******
Off the field there’s no escaping the struggle that this club has in both shifting players out and getting players in.
The board’s decision to throw their full weight behind the manager came with an acknowledgement that the squad needed a refresh, with some ins and outs that would reinvigorate a jaded looking bunch. So far only Martin Olsson has left the building.
Given that, to date, precisely zilch has parted the Carrow Road coffers one can only assume the Olsson money to have been used to prop up an ailing cashflow. Therefore to free up some money to bring players in someone else had to depart – Robbie Brady being the obvious one.
Of course, that hasn’t happened either and with just two days left in the window we have a squad that is weaker than it was on 31st December and in the intervening days, Harry Toffolo – an accomplished left-back – has been farmed out on loan. Therefore the aforementioned Brady, him of the many suitors, is the only natural fit for that particular berth.
Naturally work aplenty is going on behind the scenes to rectify this but, as ever, we’re leaving it late and there can be no positive spin to being turned down by two targets inn two days last week. From the outside looking in it looks a bit of a muddle.
It’s only fair of course to keep the powder dry until the window closes – and who knows, it could be a busy two days – but whether it’s the personnel involved in the process or the process itself, changes need to be made in the way this club goes about its transfer business.
Are they targeting unrealistic options? Are they struggling to ‘sell’ the club? If so, why are they struggling? Why are are (some) clubs simply better at doing business than we are?
And the flip side: are we setting realistic fees for our own players given our need to sell? Do we need to reassess our pay structure? Why can we not refresh our squad in the way we want?
All questions that still need asking and then addressing, but which have needed addressing for the past two and a half seasons.
There’s still much to be improved upon, both on and off the field.
Agree, a better team would have hurt us but it’s progress. Earlier this season, we’d have conceded at least 2. City would have even preferred the option of giving up and losing. Those questions also need to be asked as you say…but jez doesn’t seem to have the answers. He would of sorted that instantly otherwise. It’s not like it would take particularly historic research. No one’s surprised either.
“Given that, to date, precisely zilch has parted the Carrow Road coffers one can only assume the Olsson money to have been used to prop up an ailing cashflow.”
Gary, there’s been (as usual) relatively little happening in the transfer window – mainly loan moves – and we all know it’s going to go to the last couple of days. The whole thing’s about brinkmanship and if anyone else had actually come in to compete for Olsson we’d probably still be haggling about it now.
The fact that Olsson’s been gone a week and we haven’t yet spent the dough doesn’t necessarily mean it isn’t there to be spent. We could probably have spent £2m on a half-decent – not decent, just half-decent – 3rd division full back if we really wanted. But unless they are Adam Drury mark II I can’t see that happening, can you?
I’m pretty sure that the “out before in” issues will be more about the wage bill anyway – not just basic wage, but appearance money, bonuses for goals, clean sheets, unused sub, all set at levels way above the Championship norm.
What concerns me more is that apparently we are closing Colney down for a couple of days to eradicate the bug that’s been going round (annoying, but it has to be done). How that impacts on showing potential players our facilities, who knows. And then on Tuesday nearly 30 clubs in the top two divisions have games – ridiculous planning by the leagues, and totally unhelpful for people trying to get deals done.
Keith (3) – Could well be right in that we’re simply unable to spend the Olsson money but there were some books to be balanced. And, of course, ‘out before in’ pertains to the cost of the whole package; not just wages and not just fees. An interesting few hours and days ahead, even if – as you say – many clubs will be playing in the final hours of the window.
As you describe Gary at home it was one up, two up, they pull one back and squeaky until the final whistle, no real battle or grit. That seems to have changed massively in 2017. Derby, Wolves and Birmingham were all billed as real tests, proper opposition and all have been dispatched with ease. Yesterday there was a real sense of belief and battle that is just growing week on week. Jerome did not stop yesterday and the chase late in the second half down our right to beat the defender to the ball summed up the spirit in the team. Long may it continue to turn this season around……..fingers crossed.
Can’t understand why the club buys players with potential and then tries to wear them down with their constant negative actions. Canos and Pritchard for example who earn more in a month that most season ticket holders do in a year. Both are desperate to play but receive little or no encouragment from A Neil and are not given enough game time to show what they are capable of. Canon has played for his country unlike the Murphy twins so he must be talented.
I feel we’re back at the start of the season. Winning against poor opposition but not overly convincingly.
Hopefully we don’t become unstuck when we hit the big teams again.
Still, a win’s a win.
Three good wins at home against teams which have done well at times this season are a positive sign. And the hatful of chances missed show even greater potential.
As to transfers out, it is remarkable that players like Turner and Lafferty have not been shipped out. The number of players on the wage bill who do not play regularly does not represent good business.
I do not regard Toffolo as a proper replacement for Olsson and clearly neither does the management team. But if we cannot get in a new left back he must be a better option than Whitaker at left back.
7) Douglas Millar – The issue relating to the players of the like you mentioned is that the Club isn’t in a position to simply pay up their unexpired contracts in order to move them on.
If they’re still here therefore, it’s either because no one wants them, or, if wanted, the acquiring team can’t afford to match their existing wages, or, alternatively, the player himself may not want to move.
The squad management has been one of the most disappointing aspects of this season. The likes of Prichard, Canos, Josh Murphy have all excelled at this level in the past yet struggle to consistently make the squad. Indecision regarding selection at the back – Klose being out of the side during a dreadful run. Unwanted players such as Whitaker, Bassong & Lafferty being in the squad ahead of Toffolo, Godfrey & Morris makes little sense, particularly in light of our performances. I know illness was the reason in the end, but part of me wasn’t surprised to see 4 defenders (including Godfrey) on the bench yesterday. I for one would be more enthusiastic about things if I thought we were at least trying to build for the future.
Don’t feel this article is particularly well balanced. Considering the illness and injuries a 2-0 victory is not to be smeared at. City made twice the number of chances and deserved to win.
It also seems that a Dutch left back albeit on loan is back on. This is Moxley’s first transfer window so why not keep the negative comments until after 11pm Tuesday. Give the guy a. chance.
Richard (10) – Fair comment, and agree the success or otherwise of a transfer window can only be judged once it closes (“It’s only fair of course to keep the powder dry until the window closes – and who knows, it could be a busy two days…”), but was just a comment on the club’s general struggle with the ins and out of a transfer window.
“City would have even preferred the option of giving up and losing”
How do you know, Jeff? You “no longer follow football”(MFW below-the-line whinging passim ad nauseum).
A 2-0 win, with the backdrop of illness and injury, and you STILL cannot post a single positive comment. And why have you not taken up MFW’s offer to contribute properly? Give people the opportunity to slag you off on a regular basis – god knows you deserve it.
But, on topic, “It’s not like it would take particularly historic research” to also highlight that Norwich are traditionally poor away from home. It’s certainly not a new phenomenon. Perhaps for Johnny-come-Lamberts…