When you haven’t won a home game for 91 days and when, in that time, all you’ve had to celebrate is a late equaliser that ‘felt like a winner’, to finally win one offered up a whole plethora of emotions.
Relief was the overriding one. To have gone seven home games with victory and seven games in total without barely a sniff of three points is about as barren as a run can get and so to experience that winning feeling having almost forgotten what it was like offered some timely respite.
Yet, relief aside, it was the joy and excitement that had been missing and which returned in several decent sized dollops in that second half; something that few of us saw coming after that turgid first.
All of ills of recent weeks were there on display in front of a frozen Carrow Road and the watching Sky audience, with the laboured passing, the indecision and, in some cases, the lack of desire evident throughout, but further magnified when Jordan Rhodes pounced to put Wednesday ahead.
Any remaining vestiges of confidence drained away as that ball hit the net and to see the players trudge off at the interval with heads bowed as a smattering of boos filling the Carrow Road air was an unwelcome but all-too familiar sight.
Yet, amidst the labouring and the largely fruitless toing and froing emerged the odd clue that this could be the night. Twice Nelson Oliveira went close; once when he should have scored and just before the interval when he was thwarted by a good save from Keiren Westwood. The goalscoring chances may not have been plentiful but they were there; something that hasn’t always been the case in this exhausting run.
Quite what was said in the inner sanctum at half-time will, as tradition dictates, stay there but whatever it was it worked and it’s a fairly safe bet to say it wasn’t accompanied by flying teacups or hairdryers.
The first positive sign of meaningful intent was the hooking of Josh Murphy, with Marley Watkins offering a safer, if less dynamic, pair of hands when it came to offering protection to Marco Stiepermann and putting in the hard yards. (I’ll not dwell on Josh’s contribution – the lad’s clearly suffering from a major lack of confidence – but suffice to say those gold football boots were an unsuitable choice for the evening). Watkins had a positive impact on the game, no question.
Buoyed by that seemingly minor tactical change and the rediscovering of an inner belief that has been missing for the best part of two months they – to use a footballing colloquialism – ‘gave it a go’. The tempo was higher, the press was higher, the tackles snapped in, crosses were sent into the Wednesday box and there was an element of urgency about everything that happened.
The tone was set early when Oliveira, from Alex Pritchard’s cross, was again denied by Westwood’s fingertips. While the scoreboard still read ‘Norwich 0’, that the Portuguese striker was offering a threat and his body language was positive (and not sulky) gave everyone around him something to feed off.
And Carrow Road responded. The ‘two-way street’ that some talk of is valid to a degree but the crowd needs something to latch onto, some reward for their own efforts, and yesterday evening was a classic case of the team igniting the fans. Besides, it was so bloody cold we needed an excuse to jump up and down.
Pritchard, on his first start of the season, was pivotal throughout and clearly offers quality that has been badly missing. It was no coincidence therefore that it was his surging run and venomous strike that led to James Maddison doing what James Maddison does in front of the Sky cameras. And the tone was set.
The belief that had drained away when the Owls nudges ahead returned in plentiful supply and the ‘extra yard’ that football folk talk of when the tails are up was tangible. Harrison Reed alongside Mario Vrancic – who it has to be said had an excellent game – wrestled control away from Barry Bannan and co and it was City asking all the questions.
When Timm Klose’s thumping header from Maddison’s corner rocketed into Westwood’s net you just knew it was going to be our night. Despite having some good technicians in the ranks who can deliver quality into the box from dead balls we rarely offer a threat, so to see Klose’s header put us 2-1 ahead was indicative of a 90+ minutes beyond the norm.
From thereon in it was Wednesday, not City, who huffed and puffed to little avail and with the shoe very much on the other foot it was an absolute joy to watch us do to the Owls what Cardiff did to us just eight days earlier.
The third, when it came, was all about Oliveira, whose strength and determination (first time I’ve written that this season) were what enabled Reed to scamper through and buy the foul off Bannan. That Nelson dispatched it with style and then zoomed off to call out someone, somewhere was, on this occasion, forgivable. And quite why he tore his shirt off upon the final whistle was another mystery – but I’m happy for now to assume it’s was just his highly strung way of celebrating.
So, a good one at the Carra, one that few of us envisaged after 45 minutes, but [*cliché klaxon*] it’s one that simply has to be built upon. As a one-off it will be nothing more than a brief 94-minute respite from more gloom but if it can re-instil some genuine belief that this team can win more games than it loses then it will be job done.
Apart from anything else it also finally gave the fans something to cheer about and – for people like me – something to write about, which in itself is no bad thing.
The problems that lurk on the horizon haven’t gone away however – and as hard as I try it’s impossible not to look at that team and envisage what it will look like minus Maddison, Pritchard, Oliveira and Klose, and with Gunn and Reed having returned to their parent clubs.
Seeing just what they are capable of when they click brought that home yesterday. I just wish Delia and Michael would envisage it too.
Better, but this was a team that had 5 shots on target in the whole of november (according to sky) and still managed to score first. Our penalty was dubious as reed just flopped into him, which glossed it a bit.
You concede first and have an entire half at that tempo and you’re in trouble so excuse me for not getting excited.
Having said that, I’m back to thinking we are going to win the league.
Dubious pen? Even Bannan didn’t bother appealing that one!
Much better performance though I’d still feel more comfortable with Tettey back in the middle.
Dubious penalty?!?!? It was one of the most obvious decisions a ref could hope to have. Another bizarre contribution from you.
A fine write-up of an encouraging day, Gary.
But a gratuitous and unnecessary dig in that last sentence, perhaps?
A gratuitous dig yes but after yesterdays result the Smiths and Co will possibly thing everything in the garden is coming up roses and the heat is off again.
Stewart: maybe a dig, but gratuitous and unnecessary? I’m not so sure about that tbh.
When Gary’s bleak vision of the future comes to pass (which it surely will) I’m not sure how many of us will be consistently reiterating our loyalty to the majority shareholders.
I’m with the Editor on this one:-)
Cheers for kind words Stew.
Gratuitous in your view – which I always respect – but on this occasion I don’t consider it ‘uncalled for ‘ or without good reason’. For me the joy was tinged with a feeling of what, if nothing changes, is around the corner.
In my opinion, a valid concern.
It is indeed a valid concern, Gary. The mitigation of it, however, could be that with four decent sized transfer fees coming from those sales the finances will be in much better shape. It would also mean that the club has made good signings and, a couple of negatives aside, has been doing good business. We’ve made decent profit from sales in recent years. We have to.
I’m surprised there were only two loanees coming in this summer. Under Webber Huddersfield had four(?) last season and it didn’t do them any harm.
I think we all hope that someone will convince our owners that it’s time to sell.
The supporters will not accept losing the better players in order to subsidise their desperate attempts to remain in charge.
There’s been to many false dawns due to poor stewardship.
Gary an excellent read this cold Sunday Morning.
Was surprised by the lack of the Refs reactions to the continuous fouling of both Pritchard and Maddison in the first half and the one foul that Vrancic did get booked for was deserved.
Wednesday had a plan and that was to stop both Pritchard and Maddison controlling the midfield and with some heavy tackles broke cities play up and it worked well for them.
City didn’t deserve to go in 1 down bur Wednesdays goalie made 3 excellent saves.
After watching city via sky yesterday my concern is Steipmann playing as a left back it isn’t his position, yes he acknowledge he is learning it as he goes but the championship is an unforgiving league, with his energy I would like to see him play along side Trybull in midfield once we can find a new left back he could prove to be the new Tettey.
As for your list of possible players not being around next season at the present it is a horrible thing thought we can put on the back burner till May and just hope Delia/Webber/Farke has plans to hold on to them.
Pritchard, Maddison, Oliveria still have a couple of years on their contracts, Klose possible has a year left , Reed may not have a future at Southampton so we may be able to sign him for a reasonable fee with a good sell on clause and Man City make like the progress Gunny has nade and let him stay another year as they have done with Roberts at Celtic.
Anyway great result yesterday so dar we have pkayed 3 Yorkshire sides and 7 points roll on Leeds
I think we could see Jamal Lewis inserted very soon at LB as an alternative to Stiepermann, allowing the latter to play more centrally again.
Good point that Michael. The sounds coming out of the club are that Jamal Lewis will soon form part of the first-team picture.
I would still like to give Toloffo ago but I think he msy be let go sooner than later for a small fee or a free transfer.
Yes, I agree with you Alex, I’d hoped Toffolo would be given a better go by Alex Neil two seasons back… Now I fear it is probably too late for him, Jamal Lewis has certainly got ahead of him in the queue as far as DF is concerned. Let’s hope we see soon why!
A very in-Farke like second half. Under normal circumstances something to be very excited about. Sadly almost everything good about it will be gone in Jan or the summer.
Dave: it wasn’t un-Farke like – the philosophy didn’t change, but it was implemented with a greater sense of purpose. The return of Pritchard (long awaited by Farke) and the replacement of Josh Murphy certainly helped.
Stewart: I noticed for the past month or two you’ve not been posting much. Is that because you haven’t been to games since Arsenal? In which case, yes I can understand your comment.
For the last three months at home we’ve seen little attacking intent. No ability to score beyond a piece of magic from Madders. Crosses coming in with no one waiting. Slow, tippy-tappy play struggling to get out of our own half. Defenders who didn’t know what they were doing. That’s borne out in the scorelines and results.
And that was remarkably like the first half, where Sheffield scored a goal while three of our defenders stood by and did nothing.
The second half our guys were queuing up for crosses in the box, driving runs forward with players following up. Actual build up play that looked threatening. They looked like a Norwich side.
If you think the second half has been Farke’s philosophy all along, then you’ll have to admit he’s done the most terrible job of translating that to his players. Because simply put, in every single way the second half didn’t resemble any part of the season I’ve seen so far in terms of play and in terms of result.
Dave: perhaps we should compare numbers of City games attended?
The Wednesday goal was the fault of Stiepermann who let Rhodes get in front of him. Left back is a problem area acknowledged by Farke, but pretty well without exception our central defence has looked solid since Hanley came into the side.
Farke has repeatedly expressed his regret at Pritchard being unavailable until now, because of the dynamism he’d inject into the midfield. We saw that on Saturday. City had tried to play with tempo before (eg the second half against Hull, first halves against Derby and at Cardiff) but it’s much easier with Pritchard and Maddison in tandem.
The second half on Saturday wasn’t fundamentally different from what had gone before: the principles of build-up from the back and passing were exactly the same. But clearly there was an injection of purpose from the half-time talk, and the replacement of the hapless Josh Murphy. If I have a criticism of Farke on Saturday, he should probably have realised Josh needed a break from the firing line.
Hi Stewart. I just went and checked Gary’s reviews.
Last time you posted on one was Ipswich.
Funny that.
This was Michael Bailey’s comment in the Pink-Un: “However, credit here to City head coach Daniel Farke. He answered my question on Friday at Colney saying he wanted a higher tempo, more direct passes and deeper runs at home. In the first half, it was horribly disjointed. In the second, City made all those things look simple.”
So whereas it might not always have been DF’s philosophy to become more direct, he had definitely realised the need for it, and as soon as players like Pritchard and Watkins are back on the pitch and can link better with Oliveira, it starts to work. And of course Alex Tettey, who was instrumental in her earlier winning streak has been out since, and when he was on the pitch Tettey definitely helped the play be more direct…
Dave: since you continue to hound me on this – yes, I’ve missed a couple of games and have posted less recently. As it happens, my 89-year-old mum has been ill.
The result changes nothing for me, as much as the three point were desperately needed.
Pressure must be placed on Delia & Michael to sell from as many parties as possible. Their ‘extended play’ serves nobody connected with the club any positive purpose whatsoever. It must be said that as they will not put the club before themselves, they come across as arrogant and selfish.
As this article correctly points out, when out best players are sold – and they will be sold – we will struggle to stay in this League and be at best, League One fodder.
What sort of Norwich City do you want?
As much as I think you’re quite correct on the majority shareholder side of things, I’m still of the mindset some of the u23’s are stars in waiting and our team for next season may hold some pleasant surprises for all of us. There’s positives to be had you just have to search for them.
Pritchard spent nearly half of this season injured, personally can’t see him going anywhere next summer unless he pulls up trees over the next few months. Still some way to go mind. If play off aren’t in touching distance come March no doubt we’ll see the likes of Cantwell introduced onto the field in view that we’ll lose Maddison etc. From what I’ve heard he’s our next play making attacking mid in waiting.
From having seen Cantwell on various occasions, he should be able to make the step up to replace Madison. I also like the industry of Phillips, Fonkeu and Abrahams; so I hope we can see some of them out on loan early next year.
An excellent summation Gary. Having sent the weekend keeping an eye on the results of Birmingham, burton, Barnsley and Bolton this was a much needed boost.
Despite assertions elsewhere that this performance, or at least the second half of it was entirely in keeping with Farkes style, the sight of crosses going into the box for Nelson to extend t he goalkeeper and players piling forward in support,of runners was a completely at odds with the dull garbage served up so far.
Pinto drove forward with purpose on numerous occasions. Klose, having talked a good game in Friday’s press conference duly delivered one on Saturday, I just love a thumping header from a pivot up,from the back at a corner. Alongside the Swiss, Hanley is no nonsense, granite hard and money well spent. Reed ran his legs off all afternoon. There’s no need surely to mention Pritchard and Maddison? In tandem, working behind Nelson they offer hope for a better future.
Or at least they would. For all the joy of watching very good players going about their business at something approaching their capacity, the mood is tempered by the awful realisation of what lies ahead.
It’s a brave man indeed who takes the Editor to task, particularly when said editor is simply saying it how it is!
A near neighbour said to me during the game that in reality Pritchard, maddison et al are as much on loan to Norwich City as young Angus or Reed. Imagine Saturday without those players,
One win in nine doesn’t alleviate the pressure and the dissatisfaction around the club. The Huge gaps in the stands lend a lie to the stupid comments about an army of happy clappers queuing up to take the place of any disgruntled season ticket holder.
The buzz around the ground during half time centred on the ownership and it’s selfish stance in downsizing the club. Popular they are not. This growing antipathy will continue to grow and could erupt when the gratuitous sale of players to fund smiths hold on the club begins again in earnest,
Some welcome goals and three points allied to that warm winning feeling served to reiterate what Norwich City means to me – the board and owners mean nothing at all.
With all these demands for the owners to sell, one question is prompted in my mind – sell to who?
Your average Far Eastern billionaire looking to invest will generally buy a club for one of two reasons: reflected glory – so you must buy a name – or great potential to grow and make money. For the first category you buy a Man Utd, for the second a slumbering big city club – Cardiff, Wolves, Brum, Leeds, Sunderland etc. You don’t buy NCFC which has a tiny catchment area (population wise).
Tiny catchment area equals fewer sales of shirts and small crowds even if you’re successful. Turn round a Birmingham or Wolves and the sky’s the limit.
Far from being the naive fools they are painted as, I think Michael and Delia have a far firmer grasp of football realities than most of their detractors. Their model needs time, but from many angles it’s the most viable alternative out there.
For a start nobody is buying any of the clubs listed as they’ve already been bought.
As for slumbering big city clubs are you placing Bournemouth in that category? Didn’t think so.
The whole little old Norwich thing is laughable and annoying and I take issue with the line that the smiths have a far greater grasp on football than any of their (many) detractors. Detractors I might add that include the likes of Iwan Roberts, whose grasp on football I would take above that of a tv cook any day,
If you can’t see the problems stockpiling on the horizon then that’s your prerogative, the rest of will,seek and demand a better future for the club than the one imposed on us by smith and her cronies.
The fact that they’ve bought those clubs and not NCFC is precisely the point I’m making. Sorry if you couldn’t understand that.
Take your point on Bournemouth, but think most would accept it’s the exception. As you say, we’re entitled to our views.