Fortress Carrow Road it is not right now. Far from it.
That’s not to say there wasn’t a buzz around the old place as 25,000 made their way home; 96th minute equalisers tend to have that effect on home stadiums. They feel like wins.
Equally, behind the adrenalin rush that accompanied Nelson Oliveira’s late late show there was a collective acknowledgement that what had preceded the goal for 95 minutes and 50 seconds wasn’t great.
Daniel Farke, behind the obvious charm, is clearly a stats man and was as ever quick to point to some impressive numbers that included 72 per cent of possession, 25 shots and a success rate of 65 per cent ‘in our duels, but, to coin a well worn phrase, ‘there is only one stat that really counts’.
That City laboured to break down Hull’s well marshalled back line and were within a whisker of firing off three consecutive Carrow Road blanks is however something to be worried about, and while the away-day conundrum of last season appears to have been addressed there is now a very different one for those in charge to mull over.
Apologies again for broken record syndrome, but the method of play Team Farke demands – which is not necessarily the way we are setting up away from home right now – is, to me, not conducive to chasing a game. It almost necessitates getting our noses in front and having a lead to protect. Then it doesn’t matter if the passing is a little slow and laborious; there’s a purpose to the possession game and while we have the ball the opposition cannot hurt us.
But when trying to break down two banks of four who are both content to shuffle back and forth in a tight, structured manner while we methodically shift the ball sideways it becomes, in my layman’s eyes, just a little too comfortable to defend against. It relies then on a flash of genius (which to be fair James Maddison is more than capable of) or someone – like a Yanic Wildschut or a fit Josh Murphy – to use power or pace to go past defenders and take them out of the equation.
To be fair, Wildschut did his best to offer that threat yesterday and, in his own inimitable and not particularly refined style, he did impact on the game and offered some rare moments of concern in the Hull City ranks. The final ball tended to let him down however, something that yesterday was far from unique to him. All too often when a good space had been created out wide, the quality of delivery gave Cameron Jerome virtually no chance.
And I guess that too was part of the problem. Cameron Jerome tends mostly to be the only target with none of the attacking midfield triumvirate regularly joining him. To pick out a single target with a pinpoint pass or cross is not easy even on a good day but when encountered with the massed ranks of a Championship defence who are protecting a one goal lead it becomes nigh on impossible.
But I’m not about to criticise all that Farke and his coaches have achieved because we are in a good place right now and they will be well aware of the work needed to turn home draws into wins. September was a revelation based on its starting point and the curve is still definitely upward
Oliveira’s exquisite back heel from Jerome’s flick on was of course enough to bring the house down but it was more than that. A defeat would have seen the good work of September hit the buffers. Boos would have emanated from the River End (some real miserablists in there yesterday). The mood as we departed would have been flat.
But there were no buffers; there were no boos; the mood was buoyant. And then to hear the Head Coach talk so excitedly and passionately post-match and explain away some of the travails of a difficult afternoon was actually quite inspiring. If there was any doubt over whether or not we are in safe hands there it was, in two minutes of interview.
To learn afterwards that Farke has sprinted Klopp-style onto the pitch to celebrate the goal, incurring the wrath of referee Stroud in the process, merely added to the Head Coach’s ever burgeoning reputation. And his line ‘Listen, if I have to do that again I will go in the stand because it would mean we had won the game’ had the makings of a stand-up routine all of its own.
It’s a charm that’s infectious and draws you in; makes you want to be a part of what’s happening. And it’s clear he’s positioned himself in ‘running through brick walls for the coach’ territory with regard to his players. That both Marco Stiepermann and Oliveira were both champing at the bit to impact on the game despite being some way off 100 per cent fit is indicative of this collective desire to do it for the coach and it was fitting those two would be involved in the goal.
Said collective will is not without irony though. Upon his arrival we all expected a Germanic theme to emerge mainly in terms of its technical proficiency, organisation and efficiency. What we hadn’t bargained for was the passion, unity and togetherness that would be engendered within just five months of his arrival. Just the sort of thing that comes in handy when next up is a trip to play your nearest and dearest.
So, it felt like a win, was only a point, there’s work still to be done but the momentum is still very much there.
Final word this week has to go to a City fan who has had a difficult week but who, through it all, has shown class and dignity (and just happens to be one of the greatest players to ever wear the yellow and green).
Draw that feels like a win ?? #Ncfc
— Darren Huckerby (@hucks6dh6) October 14, 2017
What a man.
‘On the Ball City…’
Most Saturdays I play golf, finishing around 4.45 or so, and get back to the car to check what’s been going on. I’m almost conditioned now to thinking “we’re at home, must be a draw” or “away today, that’ll be a win”.
From what I’ve read it sounds very similar to a game v Charlton I did actually get to early in Lambert’s tenure, when we never gave up and grabbed an equaliser at the death.
I agree about the apparent freshness of both Webber and Farke’s approach to the media which is being commented on here and elsewhere. But to be fair, the same was often said of McNally and Lambert, and indeed of McNally and Neil – whilst we were doing well.
If we have a prolonged bad patch, or reach the PL one day and find ourselves struggling in the bottom 6 again, even if they carry on talking to us in the same manner, whatever they say and however they say it they will still be slammed.
I love that interchange between Farke and Stroud, mutual respect and understanding between refs and managers is too rare, isn’t that right Arsene/Jose/Colin? Fair play to the ref, there are many who would have sent DF to the stands there and then. Sounds as though he used a bit of common sense and handled it very well.
Finally, a question for those of you who do go to a lot of games or perhaps have inside knowledge. Ivo Pinto became captain for the Birmingham home game and I think has held the job ever since (not sure if he played at Brentford). Is he demonstrative, does he gee the fans and team up, or is he in the Drury/Martin model pro., big influence in the dressing room type?
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To answer your question: Ivo is gobby, demonstrative, organisational, motivational, correctional and many other things that other captains aren’t. He’s been given licence to come out of his shell and it’s a good thing. I’d say he’s more Grant Holt than Adam Drury.
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Win, lose, draw, promotion, relegation the #miserablists are always there. Most of us get our kicks from watching our team but others are only happy when they’re sad….i have sat in front of 2 of them for years and last year one of them decided he’d had enough and hasn’t been heard since but I miss him in a way….some people are entertaining even if they don’t know it…
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Great article Gary and I’m sure most would agree that we do struggle to score when we go behind (and goals at CR do seem to be almost a rarity). We had lots of chances to score (Maddison clipping the post and McGregor was having a blinder from the highlights).
I was listening to Chris Goreham on the radio and he was saying that Hull were doing to us what we’d done to our opponents in our last 3 away games. He sounded almost as excited as when we beat Derby on Easter Monday 2011 and I can imagine the scenes in the terraces were reminiscent as well
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Good read Gary… and yes some worries there. The last international break has not brought the same effect as the one previous. If anything the news post the break has been negative… and who would have thought a month ago that the absence to injury for the next month to Alex Tettey would seem of such concern. But clearly his influence was missed yesterday, including perhaps in the build up to their goal. Also I was interested to see some of the stats during the break to show that he has one of the best completed pass rates in the City side, which is not normally seen as one of his strengths.
And this issue of transitions that as you’ve noted here is still the problem we face when trying to break down massed ranks of defenders, has clearly NOT been solved during the recent break. And maybe it won’t be adequately until Pritchard is finally able to return, though to have Oliveira on the pitch finally as a started again should provide some help. With the current spate of injuries it is clear Farke has a few too many missing ingredients to enable the team to shift gears enough to change the current home dynamic. Next up at home will be Derby County, then Wolves. Hope Farke might have found a way to change the dynamic by then… In the meantime a few tasty away encounters first that will have a big effect on the mood of the club…
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In case anyone’s forgotten, we hardly stormed our last game out of an international break – 1-0 v Brum. Time yet. And why would we take a draw against Boro & not Hull? Same threat, same parachute payments.
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Perhaps the biggest surprise this season, having sorted out the rear guard, is the significantly reduced “goals for” column. Maybe this will be resolved a week today, with a bag full in the opposition’s net?
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Oliveira being only a bit part player so far – but nevertheless being by far our top scorer – and Pritchard’s ongoing absence have had a huge effect in this regard.
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Outstanding analysis, Gary.
Being the glass-half-full guy that I am, I’ll observe the continuing positives including defensive solidity (with just one lapse) and obvious team spirit. But hand on heart, I was disappointed with several things yesterday. In the first half particularly, we simply didn’t show the purpose and urgency that you need to break down teams in the Championship.
I admire Vrancic as a technical player, but time and time again our attacking momentum slowed when the ball came to him.
As Dave B highlighted in his excellent analysis a few days ago, possession isn’t a very meaningful indicator for Norwich so far this season. For now at least, high possession does not translate into positive results the way Daniel Farke would like it to. A few things to work on before that pair of home games at the end of the month.
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Agree with every word of that Stew (aside from the opening three words).
Mr Vrancic’s contribution was deliberately swerved, as having mentioned the ongoing struggle to break teams down, especially those who have a lead to defend, I didn’t wish to dwell on too many negatives. But, as you say, he appears to struggle with the fire and fury that accompanies the average game of Championship football. As you rightly point out, many attacks lose momentum when Vrancic enters the equation and for all his clear technical excellence it just appears he needs too much time. Nothing happens quickly enough (for my liking).
But if you and I have spotted it ….
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Well thought out summary (as always) Gary.
I too am baffled by what exactly Vrancic brings to the Championship party…..he must be one of the few Germans in the English game who makes Ozil seem like a duracell bunny.
A major worry for me yesterday was Klose’s appalling distribution; he gave the ball away far too often which tarnished another tidy defensive display in which Zimmerman gave another assured performance
A couple of totally unrelated points which really do nag me:-
1 – can someone, somewhere please show Cameron Jerome how to tie his boot/shoe laces correctly?
In every game he seems to spend many minutes doing and re-doing his boots.
2 – On a lovely autumn afternoon, was it really necessary to have the floodlights on full blast throughout the game (or is it a requirement of the league)?
As for Huck’s comment, what can you say?? The man just oozes class.
1p5wich Town, we’re coming for you!
O T B C
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I felt that a lack of movement up front did not help us yesterday. Until about the last 10 minutes there appeared to be a lack of urgency, coupled with a failure to get enough players into the box when we had the ball wide for incoming crosses (as you mention Gary:’ Cameron Jerome tends mostly to be the only target with none of the attacking midfield triumvirate regularly joining him’). Although I am not a huge fan of Josh Murphy, I felt that we missed his pace and occasionally his unpredictability.
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While there are things to be positive about, I have to confess I do not like the style of football Norwich City are playing, but ultimately if it gets the right results, few could argue against it merits.
The Hull game offered good and bad, but my concern of playing possession – or ‘dead’ football as my old P.E teacher called it – I still have huge issues with. It relies too heavily on moments of magic (e.g Maddison) and lacks goals. It should be noted that this style is now slowly fading away in Continental Europe, as football is moving towards WINNING and not having the ball purely for the sake of it. Just ask the Dutch – ‘80% possession, played well, but we lose 1-0’ to route Feyenoord’s Van Geel.
On the plus sides are we now appear to have a committed squad who are prepared to fight. That was lacking for a long time under Farke’s predecessor, but everyone appears to be pulling in the right direction. The youth system hasn’t functioned properly and has long flattered to deceive in the post Chase era and Webber has clearly identified its failings. However, I spoke to someone earlier this year who was involved in the Youth set-up and was perplexed why the club were so reluctant play the youngsters. He was almost questioning the point of it all if we were not prepared to play the likes of Morris and Toffolo. The club must have Youth coming through on a consistent basis in my view, especially when cash is tight.
Overall, I’m here to be won over.
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