I absolutely love a bit of magic. The illusion of creating something that is seemingly impossible.
I sit there, eyes transfixed on the performer, drooling in anticipation. I can feel the suspense of those around me as the foundations of the illusion are slowly and precisely put in place. I await the moment of wonder…
“Was your card the Seven of Clubs?”
“Yes! YES IT WAS! Huh? How did you do that?”
An extravagantly produced illusion or a basic card trick – it doesn’t matter to me – I guarantee it’ll give me goosebumps. If I ask my three-year old son to ‘say the magic word’ (i.e. please or thank you) his first thought now is “Abracadabra!”
Of course, there’s no such thing as magic. People don’t get sawn in half (or do they?) It’s all in the mind.
A magic wand is just a black and white stick. Which is a shame, as City could do with some fairy dust right now. I heard many moans and groans against Sunderland but I’m not really sure what these fans were expecting?
Were they hoping for rabbits appearing in hats? Did they think we’d be the ‘real deal’ in August?
It’s very early days and sadly, Daniel Farke has not quite managed to perfect his sleight of hand yet. He’s still working on his spells, ably assisted by the lovely Edmund Riemer.
Most of the discontent surrounded our style of play rather than the final result.
A mix of profligacy and being too pedestrian. “Stop pissing about with it and get it in the mixer” being the favourite cry of one particular fan standing in my vicinity. I’m not convinced he’s going to enjoy this season.
But does he have a point? Are we a one-trick pony? Is heavy possession an illusion that disguises problems elsewhere?
Are we going to be too predictable? Do we move the ball too slowly? Should we pull the trigger a little more often? Should we sling a few balls into the box and mix it up?
All reasonable questions to ask but as far as I can tell, barring a few tweaks here and there, what we see now is a good guide to what we’ll get under Farke. We won’t be changing the style of play – this is the blueprint now.
Patient, possession football. Just like the performance of a magic trick, the build-up can be slow and calculated but it’s all designed to move the concentration away from what the magician is actually doing. They don’t want you to see how it’s done.
When we pass the ball around the back three/four for 30 seconds without ever moving forward, it’s not done simply to boost our possession stats! It’s tactical; it makes them expend more energy while also bringing our opponent towards us, leaving more space behind for our attacking players to expose.
If the option to pass forward is deemed the wrong one, it’ll go backwards. If we’re 30 yards from goal and get stuck, we won’t just shoot for the sake of it.
We will remain calm and assured on the ball, regardless of the score and opponent. We’ll have a tactical flexibility that allows us to switch things up if required, rather than a change of style we normally associate with British teams desperate for a goal.
We won’t be using the phrase ‘gung ho’ anymore. There’ll be no launching cross after cross into the penalty area, no pumping balls ‘into the mixer’. The die is set, and if some fans don’t like what they see, they will just have to suck it up I’m afraid.
This is a footballing philosophy. You don’t throw it out of the window if you lose a couple of goals.
It’s not going to be everyone’s cup of tea and I understand that.
Despite enormous success over a decade or so, there were, and still are, plenty of naysayers who are turned-off by the Cruyff-invented, Guardiola-defined brand of possession football. But that is the tactical and technically-driven route we’ve chosen to go down as a football club. And to be fair, I can certainly think of worse ways to play the game.
One thing is sure: we’ll get better – better at everything. There’ll still be mistakes – they’re human – but the key is to choose the right option at the right time. To shoot from 30 yards, to cross, to clear your lines when appropriate.
One area we desperately need to improve is defensively, and it’s not the first time I’ve said that.
The personnel may have changed but some things never do, such as our defence disappearing quicker than the Statue of Liberty under some David Copperfield wizardry.
I’m not going to call-out individuals as it’s very early days, but no team, under any circumstances, should be losing goals like that opening Lewis Grabban strike.
Its ‘jumpers for goalposts’ stuff – the most basic style of play you’ll ever see. A huge lump forward, a flick-on and a shot. Completely unacceptable to get undone like that.
Against Fulham, Swindon, and again on Sunday, it was too easy to deliver crosses into our box. We need to work harder to close that space down. We also look liable to concede against every single set piece we face (and did against the League Two side).
But there have been positives too.
The second half against Fulham was very promising, against a side who I feel sure will compete for a top two slot. For 30 minutes on Tuesday evening, we were rampant and playing a brand of ‘sexy fuβball’ that had my appetite whetted.
And until Sunderland’s opening goal, there was a real buzz amongst fans at the way we were moving the ball around, creating spaces and angles and pinning our visitors back.
Had Cameron Jerome’s offside goal stood, the confidence would have flowed and I think we’d have won the game. Fine margins.
Wes Hoolahan has been our most spectacular magician for the best part of a decade but it seems his heir-apparent, James Maddison, knows his way around the stage too.
For me, he’s been our most pivotal player in these opening three matches and it’s great to see him playing in a slightly deeper role where he is given plenty of responsibility to dictate the play. It gives me hope that we can fit Maddison and Pritchard in the same team.
As much as people will say ‘possession stats mean nothing if you don’t win the game’, our improvement on this front has been staggering given how little time we’ve had to improve on it. And we’ll get better at keeping the ball too.
It might not always work in each individual match, but over a long, gruelling season, the teams who have more possession will be nearer the top of the division than the bottom.
We all wanted change over the summer; most of us wanted dramatic change.
Well, we got it by the bucket load. Not just new players and a new gaffer – a whole new ethos and strategy for the club to adhere to, not just under Farke’s stewardship, but under each coach that will follow him over the years to come.
Kick and rush may have won the day on Sunday but I’m confident that a beautiful, more magical style of football will take the plaudits in the long run. Keep the faith and heed our own advice.
Even before a ball was kicked this season, we said we’ll have a few tricky results as we adapt to our new, more stylish gameplay. It’s now about improving and cutting out the silly mistakes – honing our stage presence.
Be patient. It takes time to create a great trick – and it takes time to create a new team.
You pulled the rabbit from the hat with that one James – excellent article.
At the risk of going down a well-trodden road, the CBs (although different in name) still worry me and we need to move the ball more quickly in the final third, obviously.
Sunderland weren’t quite at the level of kick and rush in my opinion, but they quickly worked out we would always be susceptible to any form of long ball, set piece or open play, and had the street fighting element we don’t possess. Yet.
I agree that if CamJam had timed his run properly and the goal stood the result would probably been quite different.
I agree that we all need some patience this season. I became so depressed at the toxic atmosphere at the ground last season that I came very close to not renewing. It was frustrating at times on Sunday, but you’re right, it would’ve been very different if we’d scored first. I also think that the fitness levels have improved, and that will stand us in good stead. I’m definitely feeling glass half full!
A very eloquent well constructed and poignant article James. Totally agree that we’re on the right track but will the Canary Nation have the required patience is my biggest concern. Hopefully sawing QPR in half tomorrow and pulling 3 points out of the bag will settle the nerves and we can push on from there.
I think that the writer is putting a positive face on the performance against Sunderland. But even Daniel Farley admitted that results are the most important yardstick..
Three things occurred to me . Possession football is ineffective if the interpassing is largely across the back in our own half. Sunderland did not wear themselves out chasing the ball. They largely kept their shape and let City get on with it.
My second point was how we missed Howson. Whenever he got the ball his instinct was to move forward, often at pace. On Sunday City looked like a one trick pony and a pedestrian one at that.
Finally there appeared to be no plan for how to break down a packed defence. The way Sunderland played could not have been unexpected yet City did not seem to know how to break them down.
One welcome advance was in the quality of corners and free kicks. Good deliveries from Maddison did not bear fruit but they certainly tested the Sunderland defence.
I am prepared to wait for success of the project. But if we are seeing ” a work in progress ” , then I hope we see signs of progress soon even if results are patchy.
A quote from Dave Stringer in Tales from the City:
“When Ron Saunders came, he said it would take him three years to get promotion, and he was right. The first year was sorting out what he had, and getting players in.
The second year was drilling us into a side, and the third year was to go for promotion.
And that is what happened.”
Good job there was no social media then – the Board would have been under pressure to remove him long before we reached the Promised Land.
Excellent comment.
I always think a new regime needs 3 seasons, extreme events not withstanding!
Yes the vast majority of fans did want change. …but did we really think that would include signing 2nd rate centre backs from German reserve teams, I think not, on Sundays evidence Bassong, Turner or Bennett (yes they had to go) would have been better than our current two, don’t dismiss comments like “get it in the mixer” as in this league it works and needs to happen.last year was poor and change was needed all round but just signing anyone who will come (it seems like that) will not work against against well drilled experienced championship sides
We signed one German centre back from a reserve side (who just happened to be Dortmund’s 4th/5th choice CB by the way – if he’d come from say Liverpool, would you still slate him?) and was signed as back up, but due to injuries has had to start. It’s not really a relevant point – the defence was broken and we’ve tried to fix it – but it’ll take time. Who exactly did you expect us to bring in instead? Most of the signings will take time to bed in. Vrancic, for example, looks an excellent player but boy did he look lost when the frenetic pace of the real Championship stuff kicked in. He’ll adjust to that, but again, it’ll take time. Also, I’m not ‘dismissing’ the term ‘get it in the mixer’ – I’m saying we won’t be doing that anymore. It won’t happen. It goes against the new philosophy. It’s irrelevant whether you agree with it or not (I don’t either, personally).
Let’s put it this way then, one 4/5 choice reserve centre back and another from Greuther Fürth (no me neither ) , my point is that this is a cricial area that badly needed strengthing…Klose wasn’t great last year and Russell Martin is a better fullback, I would have thought the two we signed were not what most fans expected…..who did I think….well someone like McDonald at Barnsley , young and hardened to the Championship or a 1st choice from league 1 maybe, I’m not saying these 2 are not going to be ok but I thought in those postions they would be battle hardned championship or league one defender’s. …so I don’t get why my comments are not relevent?
I meant it was irrelevant that you mention reserve team football – had they been from a reserve side in the PL I doubt you’d have brought it up. McDonald as I understand it went for £3.5m – I think we can see why we didn’t bring in a ‘proven’, battle-hardened Championship defender.
Nope….you’ve got me there, why?
I think that MacDonald signed a new deal with Barnsley. Other than that I agree wholeheartedly with you JF.
The point about Greuther Fürth is really rather disrespectful – they are an established 2. Bundesliga side. A bit as if they had signed (say) Russell Martin form City and their fans were saying “… and another from Norwich City (no me neither) …”.
We simply can’t afford to spend big on a CB. We need to search for bargains and unfortunately there aren’t many bargains in this country anymore. So signing a German, for example, from their equivalent division, is a sensible approach when money is an issue.
Sorry, yes – it was Marc Roberts I was thinking of.
The guys who shout “get it in the mixer” are probably also the first to shout “keep the flipping ball” (or words to that effect) a few minutes later when it keeps getting swallowed up by the opposing defence.
Thoughtful and sensible stuff, James.
I’ll be very interested to see the next few games. For sure (to coin a phrase) we won’t see a change in Farke’s fundamental approach to the game; it’s what he passionately believes in. On the other hand, he seems to acknowledge the faults we all saw: the soft defending, and failure to move the ball forwards with enough speed or purpose.
Stuart Webber will tell him – if he doesn’t know already – that other teams will make themselves as hard to break down as Sunderland did, if we give them that much time to organise. Actually, I think he knows it already.
Keith B – The football world has moved on massively since the Ron Saunders days, Managers are not given time (or in our case now – the money) to build a squad, and players (or their agents) are always looking to move and maximize their earnings,
We are already a “selling club” – which doesn’t help stability, or the opportunity to build for the longer term. Unfortunately if we are still in the Championship by Year 3 then Maddison/Pritchard/Murphy will have been long gone ….
There’s nothing wrong with being a selling club. Indeed its the model we are using. The problem we have at the moment is that the potential loss of parachute payments are causing us problems and need to be dealt with – so we’ve have had to sell and not reinvest as much money as we’d like to. Southampton are a good example of how to make the model work. Its all about good recruitment and youth structure. Although Saints have a wealthy benefactor, it isn’t essential to the wellbeing of that club.
Patients doesn’t last long if there is no indication of progress lets hope we see some come the QPR game also another CB and Striker with championship experience would help
Can we afford to buy either of those you request?
I just hope so otherwise we could be in for a long hard season
Yes, it has moved on. One thing hasn’t changed though – there’s still no magic formula for creating a successful team “just like that” though, is there?
It’s no surprise to me that over the last 10 years 2/3 of the teams promoted from the Championship have done so without parachute money, in most cases having assembled a squad over a couple of seasons just as Saunders did.
We’ve only been assembling our current one for a couple of months.
I suspect there will always be some for whom the result is absolutely everything and, while it is clearly a result based business, the alternative, a more direct approach usually only takes you so far.
The results so far may be far from ideal, but this still feels like a huge positive step in the right direction.
Sorry to say this but what is needed if a couple with championship experience either to help Farke adjust and pass on some wise knowledge.
I don’t think RM has the experience to do this and SW must get players in that can help out these youngsters
An honest question that I don’t know the answer to…
Of all the teams that have been promoted in the last 3-5 years, how many used this style of play? I’m just wondering what evidence exists that this level of player can play it and does it even work.
I don’t know the answer either, but last season, 3 of the 4 play off sides played a similar style. Wolves are going down this route this year too.
I sometimes wonder if some of my fellow city fans enjoy living a life of conflict! We’ve always been a selling club, we always will be a selling club, we never have or ever will be the pinnacle of footballing achievement so any player or coach, or indeed staff member that does well, will inevitably move on, we’ve been punching above our weight for a long time now, but the opponents are getting heavier so a sustainable future is what we need and the new ethos is as much about that as anything.
New teams have always taken time to bond and gel, as this one will, being in the Premier League is not as important as Sky will have you believe, just enjoy yourselves! Personally, I love possession-based football, screaming get it forward and chuck it in the box just isn’y going to happen, so save your breath! That being said, I do understand the frustration of not changing style when 3 down with 10 minutes left.
Well, there were a few years there where the board were very proud to trot out “we’re not a selling club” or “we don’t need to sell”.
A big difference between those two, Dave. I think you’re smart enough to appreciate that City have been, for most of recent years, in a position where they did not have to sell – we weren’t a Bolton or QPR, thank goodness. If we wanted to buy, though, there had to be outgoings to fund it.
It’s the lack of ambitious runs that was the thing bane of us at Sunderland. Aside from goal ruled offside he gave no real reason why he should start. As is the case with Naismith. Oliviera is must start for QPR.