Well, that was nice!
Most of those asked to predict the outcome of Villa’s visit plumped for an away win. Why wouldn’t they? A team packed full of Premier League quality and expensively assembled Championship operators who desperately needed three points to keep alive their chances of automatic promotion against City, who appeared to be freewheeling to end-of-season nothingness.
Also, Monday’s second-half at QPR screamed ‘on the beach’, while the following night Villa were thumping Reading 3-0. None of us needed to tap into our inner Derren Brown to see what was going to unfold. At least that’s what we thought.
Instead, with only a finishing spot above our friends from Suffolk and professional pride as incentives, City produced what was simply their best home performance of the season.
The big question, of course, is whether this is a glimpse of what might have been – if the club had the clout to retain most of this crop for next season – or whether it is a genuine taster of what’s to come with another pre-season and a full Championship season under Team Farke’s belt.
I still can’t decide and none of us know, but what I do know is it was an unexpected and pleasant diversion from all the teeth-gnashing and navel-gazing of late.
For many in a relatively sparse Carrow Road, it was merely destined to be another exercise in going through the motions and another chance to gather evidence on the unsuitability of Farke’s brand of football for the English second tier.
And, to be fair, after a good opening half an hour, the half did appear to be meandering to a very familiar conclusion as the passing got a little laboured, the movement a little stifled and the invention a little… non-existent.
But then Josh happened.
With Peter Bankes thinking of calling time on another goal-less Carrow Road first half, Josh’s decision to cut inside from the right, look up, and wrap his left foot around the ball had ‘row z’ stamped all over it. We’ve all seen it, literally dozens of times before – admired his ambition, bemoaned his execution.
But to see that ball soar and then dip Fashanu-style, and nestle in that very same corner that Justin found in 1980 was a perfect retort to those who spend far too much time awaiting a Josh error. As my Carrow Road neighbour reminded me: “That’s why Farke perseveres with him”.
From being lauded and celebrated as ‘one of our own’, the needle has now swung dramatically in the opposite direction, and Josh is now afforded virtually no leeway – every heavy touch and unsuccessful run being pounced on by some who can no longer see any good in his efforts and contributions.
He more than deserved his moment in front of the Barclay to celebrate what could well be Carrow Road’s goal of the season. And from thereon in he didn’t look back.
Unsurprisingly, a strike of that ilk lifted the weight of the world off those still-young shoulders and for the first time in a while he found himself relaxed enough to do things instinctively rather than micro-deliberating every decision. And when that’s happening he is a far better player.
That he was heavily involved in the second and third goals and on both occasions made *exactly* the right decision was proof if it were needed.
It was Josh’s day but it wasn’t just about him. Mario Vrancic had undoubtedly his best outing in the yellow shirt and for spells it was he, not James Maddison, who was bossing the midfield. He now looks a far cry from the player who struggled with the hustle and bustle of Championship life in those timid opening skirmishes.
Given time and space, he can pick a pass and has a terrific range – we knew that from early pre-season – but the big question was would he ever be able to adapt his game sufficiently to allow those skills to flourish amidst the closing down, fierce tackling and uber-intensity.
Mercifully, the answer is an emphatic yes, and his excellent reading of the game often gives him the ability to get an unexpected toe in to regain possession for City – another quality that was well hidden last autumn.
There will always be those who bemoan his lack of a headless-chicken mode, but if the occasion demands a good technician and a classy passer of the ball, Mario can be that man. He’ll always shine brighter on days like yesterday when teams, like Villa, come to play rather than stifle.
His performance was a timely reminder that if we are unable to secure the services – in whatever form – of Moritz Leitner beyond May, then we still have a cultured passer in our midst.
Jamal Lewis was wonderful yesterday also (very timely Jamal, given my piece in the programme was singing your praises!), and for him to see off Robert Snodgrass in the manner he did was another big tick on a page that is now full of them.
We know he’s excellent going forward, the big question mark was over his ability to defend one-on-one in a four. Yesterday suggested he’s learning quickly.
And talking of learning quickly, Dennis Sbreny – his goal aside – will have probably learnt more from going toe-to-toe with John Terry for 85 minutes than he will have in 85 days on the fields of Colney. That he emerged from it with his first goal in English football was one massive bonus.
He’s some way behind most of his compatriots in terms of his learning curve and let’s not pretend he enjoyed too much success against Terry and James Chester, but let’s also not underestimate the fillip that goal will give him. This is merely the start of the road for him.
In truth, I could ramble on and pen 50-100 positive words about every player yesterday, such was the positive nature of the performance, but I’ll spare you.
Instead, it’s worth noting that yesterday’s productive second-half, in which we probably looked more threatening than at any time this season, was helped by Villa pushing hard to get back in the game and leaving gaps to exploit.
The big, still unsolved, riddle, remains how to carry that same level menace against teams who park the bus; a conundrum that is, naturally, being worked on at Colney on a daily basis.
But that’s for another day. The good times have been sparse this season. It’s only right we make the most of this one.
A report that does justice to a heartening day! Positive and committed performances right through the team; if Gary had room to single out a couple more individuals, they’d have perhaps been Alex Tettey and Harrison Reed.
One swallow doesn’t make a summer, and Gary’s points about the opposition’s approach are well made. But this surely is what Farke & his team are working towards. We know the challenges ahead, of course, but with the benefit of a long-planned summer window and pre-season, we’ll perhaps see considerably more of this next year.
Hello sailor Gary! Naval gazing indeed……
Good spot Nick! Noted … and amended! 🙂
Excellent article Gary and given some of the dire performances in recent months, yesterday’s 2nd half was far and away the best I’ve seen since Farke became head coach and I can now look forward to attending occasional home games next season.
I’ve been VERY impressed with Mario on my last 2 visits to CR and Tettey too seems to be passing the ball forward more – as for Josh, I (and many other fans were suggesting that he spends some time on the subs bench – how wrong we were) and he pretty much bossed the game in the 2nd half. There were some excellent tackles/blocks by our defenders to keep Villa at bay and I really expected either/both Snodgrass/Lafferty to score, but Jamal did brilliantly against the former and the latter skied a chance from about 10 yards out near the end.
All in all, a very satisfying performance (after the first 45 minutes!!) and we just have to show it wasn’t a ‘one-off’ when we face a Sunderland side staring relegation in the face – especially as they beat us at the start of the season.
Lafferty???
He played the whole game for Hearts yesterday afternoon…..
Grabban rather than Lafferty? Excellent comment, though
When we’ve endured so many non-descript performances at home this season, as you say, that was one to savour.
In the first half we still lacked the ability to counter-attack in numbers and our off the ball movement was found wanting – Timm Klose, standing with the stationary ball at his feet, looking completely bemused, being one perfect example.
Goals, of course, change games and Villa’s need for one in the second half helped City’s cause no end. It made for a much better spectacle all round and this City squad clearly relishes a bit of space to play in.
Getting to that stage more regularly is going to be vital for the ongoing progression under team Farke
Saviour? It’s catching!
Well said Gary, though as Stuart said, I think Reed is worthy of a mention. That pass for Srbeny’s goal was sheer class. More please. OTBC
Oh what a difference a goal makes! Of course the game was blocked in iFollow because of Sky.
Great summation (as always) Gary.
Whilst the first 44 minutes seemed to echo so much we’ve seen this season (and until THAT goal I didn’t think anyone had really done themselves justice), one flash of magic changed the whole atmosphere. It certainly (as it should) changed Josh, who from then on was the player we all know he can be, and Villa’s right back cannot have had many more torrid afternoons this season. Now comes the difficult bit; to show more of the same at Sunderland on Tuesday.
At last, an afternoon and performance from the whole squad which we can be proud of – I’d love to think that we can do the same next Saturday, but with Cardiff being more QPR than Villa or Wolves I think it will be difficult.
O T B C
Another Great read and summary Gary.
Watched the game live on sky up here in Blackpool and it didn’t disappoint some of pre match comments and in match as well had written city off more fool them.
It came on the day of another unclear Guardian interview by Delia stating the board wouldn’t stand in the way of outside investment, I might be nieve but haven’t got go to go looking for investment not hoping it comes knocking on your door??????.
I try to be an opptomist and after cities preformance yesterday I am looking forward to the up coming games till the end of the season and more so with a few added players for next season to push on.
The one sour note will be to see Maddison leave and this morning Leicester are wanting him and will pay £17m when they sell Mahrez for £70m (very generous of them) .
Aston Villa never my favourite team but a typical Brucey team hard working and trying to con the ref at every chance, The Ref should have sent off Grealish for continuous bad language when ever he didn’t get a decision his reaction was to tell him to F off, when are these Ref’s going to show a pair and start to punish these players as an ex pro said on the debate program a couple of weeks ago once a few players get punished the word spreads and it will stop the same as ganging up on the ref to make him give you a decision send the captain off and they will think twice.
OTBC
The one additional positive for me about yesterday too, which Gary does reference, is that the performance also showed that there might be positive life after Maddison too. Yes, Maddison’s contributions were still important, including of course his goal, but with Trybull, Vrancic, Leitner, who should be retained if Maddison goes, and Maclean to come, there should still be a central midfield pair who can play the cultured, creator role, as well as contribute to the finishing too. And just maybe, Reed might end up staying too, not in the Tettey role (that is Godfrey/ Thompson, if he ever returns), but in a combative midfield capacity, who can also deputise the right back position, if required.
Maybe just green shoots still, but it is at least spring now, and we have seen a few shoots of late, to suggest that ways of addressing the sideways of tedium of the winter are slowly being found.
Can anyone confirm if Srbrbbrbrbny got in the box more than Olvieira generally does? From the highlights I saw, it seemed so; whereas Nelson tends to go looking for the ball too often and our wingers/creative players often find him standing next to them rather than somewhere they can thread a pass to in a scoring position. If so, this is good, and may explain why our more creative players were more incisive yesterday?
Yeah I was there and I’m happy to confirm your thoughts on Srbeny.
Mind you he still managed to clip their keeper’s foot on the finish – but he’s opened his account and here’s to many more.
Harry Reed’s little dink to him was sublime – and Dennis did well to stay onside to receive it.
It must be a great feeling to be blue to write on an excellent home win.
Maybe it was the warm sunshine, the classic match up, City versus Villa, I’m not sure but what followed was eminently watchable.
Having held my head in my hands at the Fulham game as Murphy made a mess of good situations and listened in misery as we capitulated against a grim QPR outfit this was the last outcome I expected.
The aforementioned Murphy was absolutely unplayable, patrolling the wing with his feet on the chalk and using the searing pace he is blessed with.
The wise old head of Tettey patrolled the defensive area superbly and the energy of pinto and Lewis combined with the solid defending of Klose and Hanley were a joy to behold.
Vrancic and Reed competed with Villas star studded midfield unit, bit into tackles, covered acres of ground and each provided some killer passes in response to good movement in front of them. Srbeny scored his goal, Maddison scored a peach and Nelson looked sharp (one air kick apart). The scintillating move in which Nelson combined with Murphy to put one on a plate for Wes at the back stick was possibly the best passage of play from Norwich city this season.
Of course, it’s always good to beat Aston villa, particularly as they had everything to play for.
I’m still not quite sure where on earth the performance came from but suffice to say I shall be demanding nothing les against Cardiff next week!
Hopefully we can avoid an ugly defeat at Sunderland tomorrow, which would serve to deflate the buzz. Walking home in the sunshine after the game was the happiest I’ve been all season.
As many eluded to in previous threads this week, the club has many problems and an undercurrent of dissatisfaction that will not easily be assuaged but a Saturday always feels better for a good City win.