As I took my seat last night, the world’s only rotating scoreboard was replaying last season ’s five-goal bonanza against Forest. I thought at the time it was tempting fate.
As it transpired we’d have settled for a single goal, any goal; one that deflected in off Dennis Sbreny’a backside courtesy of a shanked Onel Hernandez cross would’ve done. One that pinged in off the face of the pitch invader. Anything.
But five-goal bonanzas are, right now, as likely as seeing Nelson Oliveira man a snow plough, with Jamal Lewis as his co-pilot.
Some will argue the project is on course – and there remain clear signs that despite the accumulation of draws, progress is still being made – but equally, it takes some high-level optimism to not be a little underwhelmed by a second consecutive goalless draw.
The first half did, however, have its moments and there’s a thrust and dynamism to the play of Onel Hernandez that promised much. More to the point, he offers something different and looks well equipped to deal with the muscle of Championship full-backs.
With a full Farke pre-season behind him, Hernandez looks a good fit and is certainly doing all the right things to be a future Carrow Road crowd-pleaser. We love a trier Nelson.
Dennis Sbreny meanwhile is clearly some way off being the lone striker Team Farke wants him to be. That’s no criticism of the young German, however. He’s game and willing, but playing at the sharp end in a team that’s frugal in its creation of goalscoring opportunities is not a happy place.
While you’re still coming to terms with the vagaries of English football’s second tier and centre-backs who are looking to launch you into row Z at the first chance, it becomes doubly difficult. That he looks like RvW with muscle shouldn’t disguise the fact he’s a very different kettle of fish; namely a cut-price striker from the German third tier who is the epitome of work-in-progress and who too needs a full pre-season before he is judged too harshly.
That said, he didn’t look like scoring a goal last night.
Grant Hanley too continues to fill the boots of Forbes and Mackay with some aplomb. With every game the Scot seems to find another level, and now with a song to his name has clearly been taken to the hearts of the faithful. He’s Dumfries granite plus some, and through sheer effort, commitment and no-nonsense has played himself into first-name-on-the-teamsheet territory. We love a trier Nelson.
Which naturally brings us on to our errant Portuguese striker, who through specific actions unknown has incurred the wrath of Farke – an uncomfortable place to be for sure. The head coach cited him operating in training at 80 percent, and so took the decision to leave him out of the squad.
Quite how Oliveira thought he could get away with acting thus under this current regime is as hard to comprehend as the lack of effort in the first place, especially off the back of one goal in 13 games.
Much has been made of the value of a harmonious dressing room – the haste in which Alex Pritchard was granted a move as soon as he expressed a desire to be somewhere other than Norfolk being a prime example – but given the dearth of striking talent in the ranks Oliveira has been indulged. This was him throwing it back in the coach’s face.
We all have no option but to indulge him until May. Then Webber and Farke have, on the face of it, an easy decision to make.
So… another disappointing one. Let’s not pretend otherwise. Calling it a project doesn’t mean we have given up the right to be entertained. But there are still some vital signs.
Apart from the tighter defence, there is nothing to be positive about. To Quote Darren Huckerby, it was a nothing game of football. We are solid, yet ineffective. So where does that leave the club going forward?
The system is flawed. The players aren’t the issue here (except Nelson)
We can all see what Farke is trying to do, but as I have consistently argued, he is too methodical. You choose systems to suit the squad you have, not trying to get them to play football that doesn’t suit them. In short, you work with what you have, not try to turn them into something they cannot be as a whole.
With Farke having to burn down the Vatican to get Delia to swing the axe, we are left with the footballing equivalent of a never ending Box Set of Terry & June.
Not much really to write home about was there, you did well to put that together, it was clear that much if not all of the talk was going to be about Mr Oliveira. I will be honest I have had enough of him, this started on the very first day of the season, and still looks to be continuing. In between that first game and now there has been odd glimpses of him trying and putting in a shift. I would not mind putting up with a little bit of bad temperament if he could deliver on the green stuff , but that has not been the case.
Is he thinking that he is better than what he actually is ? Or is it a case he isn’t being played to his strengths ?
If he is hankering after a move away in the summer, then surely he is going about things in a very ill adjudged manner, hardly looks the correct way does it ?
Time is coming to cash in
All very well that Nelson will be sold off in the summer but what about a replacement?Another bargain buy from somewhere?Can’t see us being any better next season,especially probably without Maddison, Nelson and Tettey.The home crowd is dwindling too and you cant blame them staying away.
Goals will never be plentiful given Farke’s brand of football, and I am beginning to question if ‘entertainment’ features as one of its objectives either.
I too have sympathy for Srbeny, as almost any experienced striker on the planet would struggle to impress in this team currently.
Think Carlton Morriswill need serious consideration this summer. Has recently started scoring more regularly and if that continues then he could be one of the strikers we need. Looks better than Sberny so far although too early to be sure.
Nelson has my sympathy to an extent. Both he and Jerome have shown they are good players at this level and played to their strengths could be 20+ goal a season players. I am convinced that It is the system that has frustrated them and crushed their confidence. It doesn’t excuse Nelson’s behaviour, but not many managers will name and shame their players in public and I think Farke has brought the latest tantrum on himself.
Farke has very limited resources and so cannot easily change the personnel to suit his system, Perhaps its time he changed his system. Slow and insipid build up play will alway s struggle for goals in any division in any country.
There is work, but until we start seeing some goals, I’m not so sure that we are still in progress.
Bah!
Following on from the festival of football served up with Bolton wanderers the home crowd were once again spoiled by the energetic, rip roaring fare on offer against forest.
As against Bolton, the first half was a template of how the game should be played at championship level, slick sideways passing racked up possession figures the like of which would have Barcelona fans salivating.
The ” webberlution” gathered pace as anothe home point was garnered, proof that the work in progress is coming along very nicely indeed.
The solidity of the backline matched the creativity of the midfield as the excited bumper home crowd enjoyed their first glimpse of the latest debutant, a red hot striker whose performance had many urging the club to cash in on the Portuguese international kept out of the squad by the new boy and his prolific team mate, Marley Watkins.
The only thing missing, the icing on this luxurious cake was a goal but it would be pedantic indeed to allow the lack of a goal in 180 minutes of football against lowly opposition to cloud the real issue here, that of the monumental strides made by the “webberlution” in producing such entertaining and vibrant football.
this is a work in progress, a two (or three?) year project, remember it will take at least five transfer windows to clear the decks of the oliveiras and Maddison’s and keep that entitlement to yourselves.
Jeez Chris that was probably your best post yet – and don’t forget you have promised us here at MFW a full-length article.:-)
There’s nothing wrong with irony (I personally appreciate that style immensely) and many of us can see the underlying problems at NCFC in the same light as yourself.
Reading your comment gave me a good, if quiet, laugh as a follow-up to a rather (OK, very) depressing evening
Thanks Martin, ? Thought I’d try looking at it from the other side and see if it’s more convincing, it isn’t,
Regarding the article, it might ruffle a few too many feathers for Gary’s liking I feel!
Sometimes you just have to laugh or else you’d cry!
Being serious for a moment, it surely must be dawning on all but the most wilfully myopic that this style doesn’t work for us?
Away from home, where all eyes are on our opponent the boot of frustration is on the other foot,
While stuck in the traffic maelstrom last night, I listened to the phone in amid growing frustration. One caller, in his haste to throw Nelson under the bus that Bolton parked suggested in all seriousness that srbeny and Watkins should play up front for the remainder of the season, to “bed them in for next season” a truly blood curdling thought. That’s taking downsizing to a whole new level.
In between hanleys muscular endeavours and the constant movement of Hernandez there was little to warm the heart last night. The ArchAnt report mentions srbenys “game attitude”. Stick me up front and I’ll show you a game attitude.
The turgid nature of virtually every home game this season is wearing down the morale of the support already fragile after two bad seasons. There is almost an inevitability about the lack of goals. In the last three home games, against modest opposition our only goal came from a long ball leading to a cross and header. A return to such style might alleviate our chronic problem.
With home fixtures against Leeds, Fulham and villa to come our home form is unlikely to improve and this grim season will grind to an acrimonious and merciful close.
Farke appears unable or more likely unwilling to change the style at carrow road and I doubt whether he now has the players to accomplish it anyway. Replacing Nelson with srbeny stinks of cutting ones nose off to spite ones face as in all truth the guy looks so far off the standard required.
For all Farkes urbane wit, his charm, his humour, his abilities as a coach and his honesty it seems this unwillingness to adopt a new approach will be his undoing. I feel if he was an English coach without these qualities would be getting a very hard time right now.
It’s a shame, but until the real problems are addressed the nice guys will continue to carry the can.
“,,, all but the most wilfully myopic ….”
I’ll let that one through, but please let’s respect those whose opinions differ from yours.
“Home fixtures against Leeds, Fulham and Villa to come our home form is unlikely to improve and this grim season will grind to an acrimonious and merciful close.”
So, we have written those off already? I feel the same frustration as you but cling to the fact Farke has proven adept at setting up a side to get results away from home. As Stew has pointed out, Leitner *should* have scored against Bolton and for all the paucity you describe there were enough chances last night to have won that game – at least IMHO. Or perhaps that’s my myopia.
It’s interesting Chris, the reason why I’m sticking with Farke and this style is that it is my belief that in time he will develop the teams attacking style and we will score goals. I may well be proved wrong. In terms of describing me, sadly there’s not an adequate antonym for myopic but I would be wilfully that.
The highlight for me last night was Phil Daley’s hot mic on iFollow during half time. Hearing him receive match reports over the phone, complaining that someone couldn’t hit a barn door, and talking about the council ‘buggering about’ with road closures.
I believe there was also a football game on.
I suspect the above comments mean I am no longer considered a troll again.
On Nelson, I can’t blame him. Why on earth would you want to play for this side? You still have to enjoy what you’re doing to get excited about playing for the club and if you’re the one being judged for not scoring and you are getting next to nothing to work with then you’re going to be a stroppy smeg.
I did that same for Red Rose u13s after incredibly slim pickings became the norm.
Those moaning about Nelson are actually angry with themselves for watching that drivel. Set yourselves free. Get a non Farke-life.
Hear what you’re saying Jeff, but am guessing Red Rose Under-13s were not paying you five figures a week? He’s a professional… and regardless of how far his bottom lip protrudes, the least we can expect is 100%.
Why should the long suffering supporters have to continue with the dire entertainment provided by “work in progress” so that Delia can retain her hobby.
Time for new owners with big investment after years of cut price boredom.
Yes John you get it..
It is indeed retention of a little yellow and green trainset that nobody is allowed to play with except nephew Tom, who under Trust conditions will doubtless not be allowed to offload it. I have no idea if he has issue or otherwise, but it could quite possibly be handed down to yet another generation after him.
I’ve considerable personal experience of family trusts and how they do or maybe do not work depending on circumstances, believe me..
Which basically flies in the face of what many supporters wish for but what say do us as fans truly have? None and that’s what the Smiths and their ilk at other clubs want. Complete, everlasting control. The Smiths are surely no longer the cuddly, loveable couple who pulled us out of the mire all those years ago and have not been so for many years.
As for next season’s playing budget, we’ll just have to get on with it.
At some point those of us who do not support the current owners must organise ourselves so that there are visible protests.
Am I alone in seeing that the sterility people are complaining about was there for many previous home games, but much less so in the first half against Bolton and for much of last night?
But for Leitner and Maddison missing absolute sitters – others had chances, but those two were sitters of the first order – we’d have garnered six points from the two games and the cynics would be rather quiet today.
I think you’ve answered your own question there Stuart!
Once you start going down the road of we should or could of done, it becomes increasingly desperate.
When you have a manager/coach that almost negates the use of a striker, don’t complain when goals don’t flow. The structure is flawed.
The facts are we didn’t (score) – again.