Only when the dust settles on season 2016/17 will we know if a point at Wigan on a grim Tuesday night in February was a useful one or if it was two crucial points dropped.
On the face of it, to have salvaged a point from a position in which City have found themselves far too often away from home was worthy, and in terms of resolve there does appear to now be some. Add into the mix a fine John Ruddy save late on from Jake Buxton and there’s an argument right there for it being a decent point.
‘I’m disappointed we did not end up winning the game, because I felt we deserved the three points’, was Wigan boss Warren Joyce’s take on events, although in the crazy world of post-match interviews this was countered by Alex Neil claiming that City were the better side for 70 of the 90 minutes.
It was that type of night.
What Neil also did was throw a six foot plus defender or two under the bus: ‘We can’t be much bigger as a team but you have to go and head the ball away when it comes into your box, It really is as simple as that … Big Mitch loses his marker for his goal but equally he is picking up Bogle for his header.’
That City conceded from two set pieces was no surprise and that the first came from a cross that was not properly dealt with was something that clearly irked Alex, but he continues to tread a very narrow path with his insistence on naming and shaming those who err.
To have singled out the Dutchman for public admonishment seemed, to me at least, a little odd at a time when the ‘all pulling in the same direction’ card is being played. A flea in his ear in the confines of the dressing room, fine – but we didn’t need to hear it. Not least when said Dutchman has made a more than decent start to his City stopover.
In front of him, Yanic Wildschut has had a less eye-catching opening week, albeit last night was always going to be a tricky one. Unfortunately for him it was more Bamford at Palace and Pritchard at Brighton than Lambert at Colchester, but it’s far too early to draw any conclusions as to the success, or otherwise, of his move east.
There have however been odd flashes of what he can offer and I suspect in the months and years ahead he’ll make his mark in yellow and green for things other than having a name that Mark Rivers can’t pronounce.
The big plus from last night of course was that the battling qualities which have revealed themselves of late are digging us out of a hole or two.
Last night was, by all accounts, far from pretty but there was nothing to suggest it was a physical battle that was shirked and to have found themselves 2-1 down from a position of supremacy and then not meekly surrender was a step forward in itself.
The trick of course is to not be too fragile in the first place but we have to accept that if we are to continue this good run and make a real fist of getting into the play-offs it will be done in spite of a defensive set-up that has a tendency to concede soft goals. A few good, sound solid performances have the ability to unravel quickly – as we rediscovered last night.
It’s stating the obvious, but whichever division City play their football in next season, this is one area that needs serious surgery over the summer.
So, two points dropped or a decent point gained depends on how you perceive the emptiness or fullness of your glass but no-one can question that 10 points from the last 12 is more than decent.
We suffered a jolt last night, nothing more, but still have momentum and with Forest pitching up on Saturday a chance for that to build. We can still do this.
On the Ball City…
It does seem odd that AN would call out a new signing like that, especially when what he was talking about has happened so often. It’s not like it’s new to the team, even if Dijks is.
It sounds like there was a mixture of good football and battling qualities; and if we can keep that going we should just about squeeze into the play-offs.
Gary and #1 Ben K: unfortunately AN makes these comments in the heat of the aftermath when he really should keep them behind closed doors.
A point from last night is fine for me – beat Forest and we will be nicely set up for, erm, er, who are they?
If we beat Newcastle, the confidence levels should be through the roof. I know it’s an if, but as of now I am still optimistic of a play-off spot.
And if it’s sixth, five points shy of the rest, it will not bother me.
having listened to the game last night I cannot conceive how we contrived not to win. Dijks, oliveira and Pritchard sounded top draw until they inevitably tired due to a recent lack of match action.
Allowing such abject opposition to score two Quickfire goals is the type of calamity that has framed most of this season. In relation to the criticism by the manager of Dijks, I agree that it might be unhelpful in making the player feel wanted in the unlikely event that we could afford his services next season. His performance in the two games since flying in are extraordinary in the circumstances
The nature of the result is deflating indeed when one takes into account that we have yet to visit the Wakefiled Triinity before the season ends, three away games that must yield at least a couple of wins if we harbour any faint hopes pf gate crashing the playoffs. Such carelessness repeated in those tougher venues will ensure heavy defeats.
Before the Rotherham game I said this…
“Wednesday are currently in the last playoff place. They are earning 1.68 pts per match. That’s 8.4pts over a five game period. So to stay in contention, over the next five games we need to win at least three and preferably four to begin to close the 5pt gap. We’re no where near that form right now. Our next five games are all against very poor, bottom half of the table opposition. If we can’t win four of these we’re in real trouble”
We managed to get 10pts, but if Wednesday win their game in hand the gap remains at 5pts. Obviously they could lose or draw. But odds are against it.
So, while our form has improved, we have still only beaten three teams out of five in the bottom half, including the bottom two. I remain a long way from convinced.
Again, for our next five games, at the 8.4pts over 5 games rate (which is still accurate four games later for Wed.) we’ll need to win at least three to stay in contention, four to close the gap.
Our next four are against:
Forest H (15th)
Newcastle H (1st)
Burton A (21st)
Ipswich H (16th)
Wednesday A (6th)
In all honesty I think we’ll get 7pts from these. Our only saving grace is that we play Wed. and could pull some points back, but we’re on the road. So…
No one has commented on Omar Bogle a so called player we have sent scouts to all season look at the goals he has scored surely he would have been a gamble for what he cost.
Pritchard needs more game time playing behind the forwards as he did at Brentford last season my guess is not in the squad at the weekend.
#3 Chris: Not particularly deflating. It was a good point well won that I would have taken beforehand.
However, we have to visit the three Yorkshire clubs as you so rightly say. I don’t see those visits ending well either, for what it’s worth. But you never know. One loss, one draw and a win in those fixtures wouldn’t be so bad.
We must secure every point at home. I feel that is our best chance of making the play-offs.
You mention Ruddy’s late save but he should have done much better with both goals conceded. The first was a long high cross that he should have come for, and the second was a freekick towards centre of the goal.
A point is of course better than a defeat, but hardly a result (or 90 minute performance) of a team hitting its promotion stride.
One of the worst things about Alex Neil is that he always points the finger at players in public. Take a leaf out of Klopp’s book Alex. “poor performance was my fault”.
@8) Agree. It’s a weak leader that names and shames individual team members.
I’ve also never be impressed by his “I told the players what to do, I don’t know why they’re not doing it” line he often trots out. It divorces the results from any issues relating to incorrect tactics, poor substitutions, being unable to read the game etc..
To be so down cast after last night’s result, as many were, seemed odd, not least because there’s still a third of the season to go. The top six is definitely realistic, despite our poor run.
Ten wins from the last sixteen games would give us 77 points – usually sufficient for top six.
Achievable? Yes.
Likely to happen – probably 50:50 at best, given we still have all the Top six to play – the margin for error feels too small.
Interesting stats, Dave B (4). But I’m a little puzzled about your conclusions.
City’s last 7 games have covered a range of opponents; 4 of those games have been away, 3 at home. We’ve got 14 points from them (average 2 per game).
You then list our next five games, again covering a range of opponents but in this case most at home – and you think we’ll only get 7 points from them (average less than 1.5 per game).
‘Bizarre’ springs to mind.
We hate it when the manager isn’t being honest.
We hate it when the manager is honest.
The defenders messed up. We all said so. Why can’t he? It’s simple defending. He’s fed up with it. So are we. So he’s more on our wavelength than we like to admit. I bet he tells his defenders at least ten times a day to mark their men on crosses. You can’t blame him for them not doing it.
We can blame him for yet more shoddy game management. Mark Walton on BBC Norfolk kept calling it right v Cardiff. Don’t give away free kicks. Give yourself time. Squeeze their playmakers. Give your midfielders an easy pass. Etc.
That’s probably the most frustrating thing about AN’s reign: that play off final was some of the best game management I’ve ever seen from an NCFC side. Well instructed, brilliantly executed. But since then?!!
Well Stewart, I picked 5, not 7. So those were my stats. You are welcome to pick however many games you’d like. I was looking at the what appeared to be the easiest run for the remainder of the season that was coming up at the time.
Now if you take into account:
a) We’re hopeless on the road.
b) We’ve had terrible form against top half teams all season long.
The following games don’t scream ‘win win win’ to me:
Forest H (15th)- Bottom half at home, a win.
Newcastle H (1st)- Top half, lose.
Burton A (21st) – Bottom half, but away, draw.
Ipswich H (16th) – Bottom half at home, win.
Wednesday A (6th) – Top half, away, only drew at home, lose.
Looking at general patterns, 7pts. You could argue Burton is a win (and of course it might be), but we did just fail to beat the bottom two teams, so let’s be realistic here.
I think this is far from ‘Bizzare’. We just had a much much easier run and obtained 10pts.
I’d also argue with you ‘range of opponents’. Do you mean 6 teams who were in the bottom half when we played them and 1 in the top. Noting it’s 2 with Birmingham moving up to 12th. Not exactly representative of the quality of this league.
13) Dave B. It really doesn’t matter what range of games you pick – all that matters is your total points now in comparison to the Top 6 and how many more you’re likely to need between now and May to secure a Top 6 finish. Trying to predict the next six results is pointless in the scheme of things.
Dave B (13): Indeed, I WAS taking into account that we’re ‘hopeless’ on the road.
Hence part of my surprise that you think we’ll do far worse in the forthcoming run (involving more home games than away) compared with our recent run (involving more away games).
But maybe I exaggerated. Seeing your name at the top of a post, I’m never completely surprised that it’ll go through hoops and contortions to be negative.
@14) Trying to predict the next six results is pointless in the scheme of things.
Pointless? I don’t think we’re that bad.
Dave B (16): I’m disappointed. If anyone’s up to the task of making a case that we’ll get no points, it’s you!