Last Sunday should have functioned as a pleasant, enjoyable and relatively harmonious day out to round off what was been an unequivocally underwhelming season.
On a personal level, it represented a day off revision, a day out in the Sheffield sun, an opportunity to meet some old schoolmates in their own university city and enjoy a football match amid the augmenting stress of final year exams. In many respects, many of these aspects were fulfilled.
What unfolded on the pitch, however, turned out to be utter, utter carnage.
As I watched yet another City capitulation pioneered by a raucous home crowd and a formidable enemy target man, I couldn’t help but ponder why this side – that, let’s not forget, possesses three, maybe even four considerably competent centre-backs – is still susceptible to these demonstrations of defensive ineptitude.
Villa and Millwall were excusable. Both came prior to the watershed signing of Grant Hanley and instead with the naïve Christoph Zimmerman and Marcel Franke at the back, while this increasingly divisive ‘long-term project’ really was in its early stages. Since then, however, what we have seen at Hull, Queens Park Rangers and now Sheffield Wednesday has been completely unacceptable.
City’s defence were bullied by Atdhe Nuhiu on Sunday lunchtime. Wednesday’s target-man ran rampant, capitalising on what were some alarming signs of juvenility from our backline and sealing yet another 5-1 crushing at Hillsborough. Jamal Lewis versus the imposing Nuhiu in the air more resembled the scenes at the O2 in the final rounds of the boxing the previous night. Like Tony Bellew, Nuhui was only ever going to come out on top.
Indeed, I hope such a display does not leave Lewis going into his inaugural summer break as a professional with a sour taste. Despite some outings – Hull and on the final day most notably – that have revealed his lingering inexperience, he has had a superb first season since coming into the team on Boxing Day.
And such a desire should also apply to the fans. To quote Canaries Trust Chairman Robin Sainty – who incidentally was sat in the row behind me at Hillsborough – we are ultimately all on the same side. It was refreshing to see such a considerable turnout in South Yorkshire on Sunday afternoon, with the yellow army bringing colour, noise and palpable passion to the terraces.
Pyrotechnics at 4-0 down, ‘Delia Out’ chants and further ripples of noise that were vehemently critical of the players, however, do little to help a team so conspicuously in need of our support.
Unity is essential over the summer months. Stuart Webber has been candid that the team him and Farke are attempting to construct will take three, maybe even four, transfer windows. Given the nature of the football that our manager wants to implement, that is entirely understandable. Indeed, we should provide them with this opportunity.
This season, City’s players have ultimately not been good enough to execute the much-debated ‘philosophy’ that Farke wants us to play. This patient, passing football can only be effective when played at pace and with a bit of zip and tempo. Look at Fulham and Wolves. Large parts of our squad, regrettably, are simply not equipped enough to do this.
Which is why this summer was always going to be critical. And which is also why at this moment in time, while we know an op is not needed, we all await a timescale on James Maddison’s injury, a notion eloquently alluded to by Gary in his post-Wednesday inquest. A long-term knee injury for Maddison – which, of course, must elicit greater sympathy for the player than it does frustration that our greatest financial asset may be rendered unsellable – would be detrimental for the club’s prospects. We can only hope such a scenario does not unfold.
Nevertheless, Webber has a busy summer ahead of him. In reality, City need a goalkeeper, a right-back and, put bluntly, a whole host of attacking players who possess more quality than the current crop. Onel Hernandez – bought on the cheap – has excelled since arriving, demonstrating far greater promise and consistency than the mercurial Josh Murphy. Both can be key assets for us next season. Many more – Hernandez’s purchase shows it can be done – must be recruited to join them.
But the attaining of a striker remains our greatest necessity. Nelson Oliviera was nothing short of appalling at Hillsborough, not only squandering a plethora of chances but also showing a visible laziness and sense of apathy that is horrid to see from any City player. One wayward shot – the total of which this season must have hit triple figures – triggered an explosion of fury from the away end. He must be sold.
While Dennis Srbeny has yet to become a real goal-scoring menace, he has shown signs of ability in the home games against Reading, Villa and Cardiff. However, the truth remains that we need to sign two genuinely prolific forwards. This must function as Webber’s principal mission.
The future remains characterised by complete uncertainty. We fundamentally will not be able to judge any of the players Webber and Farke bring in until August. Until they pull a yellow and green shirt on and we see them operating in this system we should reserve all judgement.
Indeed, unity is essential in ensuring we enter next season with an optimal chance of success. Remember – after all, we’re all on the same side.
OTBC
Wise words Will. I completely agree with the dismantling of the front end of our team. The sooner Oliviera departs Nelson fine county the better. Rarely in my years of watching Norwich have I seen such an arrogant petulant man wearing our shirt, be off with you man. As for Murphy please turn up for more than one match in five, it’s difficult enough to develop a team without carrying passengers. As for Naismith do the decent thing man you’ve got plenty of money walk away don’t hamstring our club.
That’s winge over now Mr Webber and Herr Farke nothing less than a front two of Messi and Ronald will do.
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“This season, City’s players have ultimately not been good enough to execute the much-debated ‘philosophy’ that Farke wants us to play. ”
What reason is there to believe a less-skilled (or at least cheaper) team of players will be able to play this style?
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Perhaps that Zimmermann, Lewis, Trybull and Hernandez (combined cost very low; the kind of players we’ll clearly sign more of) are quite able to play it. Also the loan signings that Webber seems capable of securing.
Our big problem this season was that the strikers he inherited (Jerome and Oliveira) are clearly not Farke’s style. As Stuart Webber has made clear, fixing that issue is the overriding priority for this summer. We’ll see.
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Farke inherited the joint-most prolific goal scoring team in the league, including 27 goals from Jerome + Oliveira.
Yet under this ‘philosophy’ goals have dried up. Before anyone suggest it’s the strikers, Jerome scored 1 goal every 539 minutes at Norwich. At Derby he’s 1 goal every 145 minutes.
I’m not sure what Farke’s style is, but can’t see how it’s an improvement, and I think making it the strikers’ fault is an oversimplification.
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Yes, but didn’t we also have one of the poorest defences in the Championship? As a wise man once said, a team starts with a solid defence. Hopefully, City can build on the defence and look to improve the strike-rate.
As for CJ – he has played just about as many games for Derby as he did for City, and only now started to score.
Read the Derby supporters view on his impact – they are not impressed at all
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A few common misconceptions.
1) Jerome played for us for years. He’s been with Derby a few months.
2) Our defense, while improved (from a very low starting point), still lags behind the Adams/Neil and Lambert seasons. Plus we could be about to lose 2-3 defenders (Reed, Pinto, and or Klose).
3) A good attack and poor defense out performed the opposite.
Just slightly improving the defense would have resulted in playoffs.
Instead we ditched what was working, for a defense that only works when The right combination of players are available, or it collapses.
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We all want the club to do well next season, but I can’t see it at all and that will cause increasing unrest between board and supporters and between supporters themselves.
The club has employed completely the wrong type of manager, employing a completely wrong type of system, that creates the completely wrong type of results and entertainment we want.
A cheap influx of players in the summer are highly unlikely to fare no better than the ones before. They won’t be good enough to play the type of football that Farke demands, so there is nothing to be optimistic about unless there is a change at the top, with the will and seriousness to do what is necessary to return to the EPL, where most Norwich City supporters want to be.
Ed Balls famously said at the AGM they ‘The jury is out’ regarding the new system. The worry for the board should be is that when the jury wakes up, they just might not care anymore.
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Good article .. and best wishes with those exams .
How can anyone not agree about the lack of a half decent striker, I remember the first day of the season, where a petulant Oliveira displayed some of what we have witnessed over season. I was a tad gobsmacked to see his actions on the very first game, not liking being a sub. I said to a mate of mine sitting next to me, I hope he can back up his actions with some goals. sadly not the case.
I have not seen Srbeny in action only on the TV, I really didn’t expect too much, after all it was a big step up for him, but I feel he will not be the striker we need to hit the double figure mark..that is needed.
Whether Webber can come up with the goods, and that our scouting team will pin point the ones, will be seen as the seasons starts. I fear a little that with the departure of one of Webber’s appointments leaving for a League 2 side didn’t do my confidence a power of good.
Of course it seems impossible to talk of any additions without the topic of sales and the most salable asset. Master Maddison. While like just about every City fan would love the club to be in a position of keeping him and adding to compliment his talent. Sadly we know we are not likely to see that happen with him or any other highly prized player in the next few years.
Steve Stone has apparently said there is another option, if he is referring to Lewis and Murphy, I cannot see anything near the amount of money to help with the shortfall, can be raised by these two lads.
As to a keeper, I have heard that Master Matthews has had a excellent time down in Plymouth, he has had some first team experience, which is more than Angus had until he joined us.
The summer months are going to be interesting, and business will have to be completed a little earlier than normal. I hope the news will enable my batteries to be recharged and my passion for my club rekindled.
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Hi Will
A very good read and all the reports I have read say City didn’t turn up, but I have also read that the Ref was on the beach as well and let Sheff Wed get away with tackles that earlier in the season would have got a red card.
Being of the older generation, and can remember some of the strong arm tactics that went on, you just wonder if some of the modern players can’t take the physical side of the game and Wednesday – and a few other clubs – have got away with it against City this season.
We had a novice coaching team and half the team had never played at Championship level before so patience was needed, and most agreed to that but on the Pinkun in-game match reports there was a continuous stream of online abuse to the set up – negative comments about how it wasn’t fit for purpose, sack Team Farke and Webber, and go back to the old way of working.
This system will need most of next season to show if it is working. Huddersfield were lucky and got the success possibly a year, maybe two, earlier than expected and their chairman held his nerve and spent big to get the players the club needed.
As you alluded to, City need possibly 2 strikers and we missed out last summer by not getting Marriott from Luton £800k – was a lot but now he is for sale and would cost £5m plus add-ons. Another at Luton is Hylton but will we take a chance? I personally doubt it and then the similarly named Maddison who has scored a few at Peterborough could also be available.
But let’s stop this ideal speculation until we know the retained list and just hope we get some of what City needs to progress. We still need to hope that Stone and Webber have an answer that will hopefully see the departure of Naismith, Martin and Jarvis.
I expect to see offers for Oliveria but not at the level of last year, also Klose and Pinto could be gone, Murphy could struggle to get an offer as good as his brother’s, Franke just might get an acceptable offer from Dresden but he says he wants to prove himself at City, we could also see unwanted offers for Hanley especially from other championship clubs that have taken notice of his City form.
Maddison just might not get any offers till near the end of the transfer window due to his injury -other teams will just wait and see if he is fit. No-one will spend mega millions on him in case there is a relapse, in my opinion.
Sky Sports News will start the transfer centre off this coming Thursday at 10-30am – 2 weeks before it opens in the UK.
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Good article Will and I chose to ignore @Inside Right.
You say that we need to sign 2 strikers, but perhaps Morris can ‘step up to the plate’ and it appears that DF doesn’t consider Abrahams ready for first team duty yet. I’ve liked what I’ve seen watching him in the Under 23s.
My main worry is how we get battered when our opponents have a striker akin to Nuhiu then we’re always going to be struggling.
It’s certainly going t be an interesting summer!!
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Interesting piece Will and many good points below.
Thankfully I didn’t witness the “carnage” you describe, but I had a fairly good grasp of proceedings from good old local radio. Truly shocking and embarrassing.
It appears that sans Tettey, the team lacks any sort of back bone, particularly when only 2 central defenders are utilised. Zimmermann sounded like he was trying out unsuccessfully for the under 13s netball team from the vantage point of my radio, but I take on board the point that he was probably rusty after a lay off and due a shocker.
Due to the financial meltdown the club elected to enter the season with 2 strikers, both of whom as David points out have previously been regular scorers. Ignoring the obvious red herring that is the hapless Marley Watkins, we were left at the mercy of form, fitness and fortune. Both strikers bombed, in my opinion because of our style of play, which is unhelpful to the role.
On the vexed question of whether Dennis can indeed become a menace, I would suggest some realism might be in order here. The guy simply isn’t good enough as befits his pedigree.
The notion that the village greens of Saxony, Bavaria and Hesse are awash with uncut diamonds is a falsehood. For every Zimmermann, there will be a plethora of Srbenys and Frankes. Tall, blonde haired, athletic and unfortunately totally devoid of the requisite amount of footballing ability.
Likewise, the high hopes for Carlton Morris appear totally unfounded. His latest offering at charlton offers no proof whatsoever that he is good enough to step up a division and score goals, he would certainly struggle in Farkes set up. Jerome certainly did, but regarding the Derby fans opinion of him on my television at least they seemed to be singing his name from the rafters.
The point people constantly make regarding replacing Maddison, oliveira ( boo hiss), pinto, Klose, Murphy, Lewis, even Pritchard et al with the likes of husband, srbeny, Franke and stiepermann and how on earth that constitutes an improvement has never been answered. This is a legitimate concern or it should be for any city fan.
A year into this “project” and the only palpable change is a drop in league position, a continuing struggle to score goals, a ruined home record, regular away day hammerings, doubts surrounding the competence of the manager and the resignation that many good players have played their last game for the club.
The clubs support is divided, polarised by a divisive issue that obstinately refuses to go away, drubbings like the one at hillsborough will always highlight that fact.
Regarding the atmosphere on Sunday I would say that any team putting on such a display, a 5-1 defeat to a poor side would be subject to vehemently critical ripples of noise – quite right too.
The unity or lack of will not be an issue until August and the next instalment.
A rerun – or worse, of what has been dished up this season will see disunity the like of which you haven’t seen for years. The whole club, from top to bottom needs to shape up and remove some fingers.
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