The King is dead – long live the King!
Well, that’s how it feels to me just now as one of the best World Cups I can recall comes to an end – and I’ve lived through 15 of them, even though I remain totally oblivious to events in Chile in 1962. I was only four after all.
Andy, Gary and Will have all accurately expressed the nation’s feelings on Gareth Southgate and his young, well-disciplined and essentially grounded squad who “left their egos at the coat-check”. Thumbs up from just about all of us I think.
I still don’t believe I will see England in two World Cup Finals in my lifetime but these boys gave it everything they could, restored some national pride and took me back to that wonderful day in 1966 when half a dozen of us were sitting around Eddie Scott’s supersonic TV in Chadwell Heath, all cross-legged on the floor while our parents and their friends were mashing it up behind us with Watneys Red Barrel and Snowballs a-flowing.
Whether we like it or not, the carnival is over.
So, on to long live the King. This World Cup will certainly linger on in our collective memory but the real stuff began about two hours after I finish writing this. The first friendly of the German tour and Daniel Farke has said the serious stuff starts now. No time to dwell any further on England, our collective attention must (and doubtless will) turn to our beloved Canaries. [For the record, City came back from two goals down to beat SC Paderborn 3-2 – Ed].
The big talking point at the end of last season was the striker issue, as in when will we sign one. Well, we’ve acquired two and to my mind, that means El Sulkio, aka Nelson Oliveira, is on his velocipede out of Carrow Road. I don’t buy into all this late return from standby duty, I really don’t.
The fact he hasn’t joined Brendan Sheeran on Coach Trip logically confirms this. If someone comes in with anything over £2million Stuart Webber should take it for a player once quoted as saying he was so grateful to be here on a permanent deal and then, erm, we all know what happened next.
Just like most supporters, I approach the coming season with a sense of optimism. On paper at least our signings look astute. We have managed to unload the unwanted Steven Naismith to the Jambos, although financially we are still paying through our snout because he remains on our books, not those of the Edinburgh club, which contributes only a small percentage of his wages.
Russell Martin remains because I can’t imagine there being much demand for him from elsewhere. However, we can all associate him with some truly great times and I can’t get the old Calvins in a twist over the situation. He was rehired on a Webber contract so he won’t be costing the earth.
Matt Jarvis? I don’t know what to say because I have no idea of the poor devil’s actual medical status. Instinct tells me there should be a way of cancelling his contract but if it were that easy they would have done it by now, I guess.
So we’ve only got three overpaid unwanteds left and some very interesting people already recruited.
If we have to begin the season with Remi Matthews, Michael McGovern and young Aston Oxborough as the goalkeepers we’ll have to live with it. Theoklitos anyone?
Plus Webber has surely got one final loan iron in the fire. We’ll have to wait and see on that one.
This Maddison-less, Murphy-devoided squad doesn’t look too bad to me: at least on paper. I am genuinely looking forward to seeing how they gel on the pitch and from what I’m told from Celtic mates, Kenny McLean could prove to be an inspired signing.
Plus as a Brucie bonus, the new kit looks great. I buy a new shirt every other season but this time I’m going to break my own rule and get them both. The training tops look well cool too.
So, we’re all mentally back from Moscow with plenty to focus on. I’ve said in MFW articles before that I’m not expecting top six this season – and I’m still not – but just now it’s well done Webber from me. Of course, that’s before I’ve seen the rejuvenated squad in action.
Just in passing: if any of our players or fans on tour go to a local restaurant and order a salad it’s likely to be mainly radichio heaped with super-strong mayo. Not to my taste but it may be to yours.
Vive la Revolution!
Bit worrying that we let in two soft goals yesterday,however a good comeback and let’s hope Pukki stays on his goal scoring form for several months longer.As for Nelson I can’t see him playing for city again,you would not leave a player behind if he was going to be part of the squad.
Hi Tony
Yes I’ve had the benefit of seeing a few clips now from the Paderborn game and I would completely agree with you. One of Pukki’s was a belter.
I too believe Nelson will soon hit the high road, as I said in the original article.
Thanks for the comment.
Fine stuff, Martin. And very fair for someone who has underlying misgivings, as I know you do, about the Club and how it’s run.
The squad does look refreshed and strengthened in all the key areas, with the possible exception of goalkeeper. Will Farke now be able to find the right blend? Everyone knows how important it’ll be to start the league campaign well, and our early fixtures are challenging ones.
Thanks Stew.
If we have to go with the GKs that are in place then we must get on with it. Early rumblings suggest we will start with McGovern as Remi Matthews hasn’t yet asserted himself for the role of Number One.
I fear we will miss Angus in a big way even if only for his ability to correctly judge when to come for a cross or corner and when to stay on his line. McGovern’s option is always to stay and his distribution is suspect as we all know. I haven’t seen enough of Matthews to form an opinion but “noises off” surrounding him don’t sound that promising just now.
The rumours about Danny Ward from Liverpool haven’t really faded.
Stewart
All clubs start even and all clubs have to play one another yes it is a bit harder than we would have wanted but hopefully get past these and we are ready for some easier periods later in the season that is were we usually slip up when expected to win Barnsley, Burton come to mind last season
That’s all true, of course. My point is that this coming season is especially “up for grabs”, in that fans are expecting to see positives and see them quickly. Rightly or wrongly, many judgements will be made after the first few games.
That we have a tough start could turn out to be a positive – but Farke will be well aware of the pressure it puts him under.
Hi Stewart
I agree with want you say and Farke will know that he is in is final year of a two year contract so will want to prove his ideas are working.
City has a record of difficult starts and season endings it the middle that worries me and as you say Farke is well aware of what is coming more so that a few other new managers to this league
All very interesting. If we are not perceived to be top six and I tend to agree with that then what are the weaknesses? Gk and perhaps still a lack of firepower up top maybe. Perhaps others just seem stronger.
Hopefully another loan coming in is on the cards.
Thanks Richard.
I’m sure we have another incoming loan up Mr Webber’s sleeve. My guess would be an out and out winger, but equally we might ditch that and go for a GK (Danny Ward?) on a perm. I doubt we’ll splash the cash to do both.
As for others seeming stronger, only the developing season will tell.
I’m pretty much happy with the recruitment so far.
Hi Martin, I would suspect the decision on this will be made after this tour. If Remi doesn’t provide enough confidence to be are #1 keeper, expect there will be a GK loan. I doubt that Webber/ Farke will go into the season without bringing someone in if it looks like McGovern is still ahead of Matthews.
Thank you Michael.
I totally agree with you!
I would argue that defensively we still look shambolic at the back. No keeper, no Hanley and no Lewis, we looked like relegation fodder in Germany. We need a defensive coach. What we have is a man obsessed with possession and stats. Football by numbers. No thank you, give me instinctive, reactionary football any day over methodical, calculated tactics. He behaves as if he’s analysing engine data.
Phew – that’s a little harsh.
Although I think you make a great observation with your “football by numbers” point.
It’s not my approach either, believe me. My mate runs a successful garage and freely admits that diagnostics can stuff up at exactly the worst time. Like when a client wants their car back and running perfectly with that horrible orange engine management light extinguished. He’d remove the diode if he was a cheat:-)
Cheers for the response.
It has to be a good thing that the strikers scored the goals yesterday and I agree that those signings may prove to be successful. I am a bit more hopeful for the season coming but a lot depends on moving the ball quickly and player movement to create chances for them. No more turgid tip tap please.
Hi Cyprus and a fair point about tiki-taka. Maybe it has a place in the Championship but I am seriously beginning to doubt it. Even with a freshly laid pitch.
It’s very much early days but from what little I’ve seen it seems like Teemu Pukki possesses the ability to create the much-needed movement we all covet.
Maybe not for the players but you can’t beat a good Schweinshaxe.
I agree with most, the business Webber has done this summer looks astute and has the optimist in me stirring. But then that happens most every summer, good pre-season results and several foreign players in last summer had given me and many others what now seems misplaced optimism.
That’s why it remains only hope, expectation is still floundering in Midtable. Much of our starting XI will be similar I would imagine, maybe the newbies will fit the system better than those who have left but it is difficult to make a case that like for like; Gunn, Maddison and Murphy’s replacements are better. Of course the stats tell us we created lots of chances (Was it second highest in the league?) but didn’t finish them, it says nothing of the quality of those chances and whilst I hope that Webber’s Wabbits spring free from the hat and bang in a hatful, they were cheap and available to us for a reason. I hope that we only floundered last season due to the square pegs in round holes and that the new pegs are round, but a couple of pre-season fixtures against questionable quality opposition has told us nothing. Roll on the season proper we’re going to win this thing!
Bah!
Thanks General.
Being an old git I feel we might miss Wesley (even if only in a spiritual sense) as much as those individuals you mention.
And, of course, all of our signings were open to us for a selection of reasons. Point taken.
Good post as usual.
The keeper situation is tricky. We were rather spoiled last season. We managed to borrow someone who ticked several boxes e.g. son of club legend, and “one of our own”, even if it was a few years ago. And better still he turned out to be a damn good keeper,
We might get another PL loanee, but who I’ve no idea. It’s unlikely he’ll be as good as Angus. I think it’s more probable Matthews will be given every chance to prove himself.
OK, there may be the odd mistake. We’re in the Championship after all, and at our level even the best keeper and defence will give away soft goals occasionally.
Don’t forget some clown yesterday managed to give away one of the softest goals in history – and then collected the World Cup within the hour.
Hi Keith
Yes I have to laugh along with you. Only the angels and the fairies know what Hugo Lloris was doing in that situation.
As it stands there appear to be a couple of warning flags over Remi Matthews which I frankly didn’t expect as I had presumed he was sound. Question mark time.
As I’ve said ad nauseum, maybe we need Danny Ward.
Hi Martin
Yes its good that the new season isn’t to far off and my last words on the WC, I have enjoyed the England games and as usual with England lots of surprises and disappointments lucky at times and some terrible ref decisions for and against us but overall exceeded expectations.
As you mentioned Jarvis is a strange situation he has got the club by the short and curlies either that or the medical staff are trying to rebuild him but do they hsve the parts ($6m man) give him a game like a testamonial and let him kerp the proceeds as long as he waves along good bye.
We have loaned out a couple of players to Hamilton and I see Shrewsbury are looking at a possible 1 or 2 again so lets hope they get game time to prove what they can achieve at that level abd above.
IMHO both Oliveria and Pinto could both be sold late in the window and even Klose if the right offer comes in with 2 out of the 3 out of contract this summer the self financing will not want them to leave for nought. Mcgovern I expected to leave but his lack of ganes last season must have put a few clubs that might have been interested off, but I read over the weekend city still interested in Ward at Liverpool possibly on a permanent move??????
The Championship this season will be vastly different from last season
Biggest spenders so far
Birmingham
Notts Forest
Stoke
New Manager
Stoke WBA
Leeds Swansea
Ipswich Derby County
QPR
Some have not experienced this league others have a lot of experience in management and 1 his first job in management it all depends on how these start and will the clubs pull the trigger to soon?????
Promoted clubs
Wigan
Rotherham
Blackburn
This is a mixed bunch
Cooke has experience at both League 1 and 2 so can he cut it at this level and will he return for Wildshut?
Ward both relegated and promoted with Rotherham still unknown at this level
Mowbray has done it all as a player and manager can he do it again
I see city in the top 6 with Stoke and WBA promoted,
OTBC
Sorry to correct you Alex, but the word in the Birmingham media is that Blues are in breach of FFP rules and have been placed under a transfer embargo, so don;t think they’ll be big spenders.
https://www.expressandstar.com/sport/football/2018/07/09/reports-birmingham-city-placed-under-transfer-embargo/
Thanks Robin
Just that Birmingham seem to be enquiring for lots of players and that Monks was promised a hefty transfer budget to have a real go at promotion.
I would have thought Monks would have only gone there if there was a more than fighting chance of promotion.
But we can all be wrong
I suspect that Monk was never told that this was on the cards! Don’t be surprised if he walks soon.
Ah, the joys of foreign ownership.