And so it begins.
It didn’t take long to be reminded just how stressful this Championship lark can be and how you can be transported from agony to ecstasy and back again in minutes. And my god this lot put us through the ringer.
But, once the St Andrew’s dust had settled, City had earned a decent point and it had been a solid start to the season, although I’m pretty sure that wouldn’t have been the consensus view if Onel Hernandez hadn’t squeezed in that late equaliser.
Those fine margins are not going to go away anytime soon.
Thankfully, Onel did precisely what Daniel Farke asked of him and, after a more than promising pre-season, responded in style to his head coach’s request for more end product in terms of both goals and assists.
His all-action, high-tempo style means there will always be fallow periods in games where he simply has to catch his breath, but judging by yesterday there will be an awful lot of havoc wreaked in between if City can get him on the ball and running at full-backs in advanced areas.
It’s been some time since we’ve had a player of Onel’s ilk – one with that low centre of gravity that makes him almost impossible to knock off the ball. It’s not something that can be taught – it’s inbuilt – but for a winger, it’s an absolute godsend and when allied to an eye for goal, like yesterday, it makes for a lethal attacking weapon.
He’s set the bar now. It’s up to him and Team Farke to ensure the potential is fully realised.
Overall, it was a mixed afternoon with, despite the 71 per cent of possession that Farke holds so dear, there being still plenty of room for improvement – just as you would expect after the first competitive 90 minutes of the season.
It was a cobweb blower – it always is – and to read too much into opening day is a mistake all of us have made at some stage, but there’s no escaping the fact that most of City’s good moments came in the final quarter when Mo Leitner and Kenny McLean were thrown on to make things happen.
On that score, both delivered and it was admittedly an odd sight to see Marco Stiepermann’s name on the team-sheet ahead of Leitner and McLean, especially as the Tetbull duo had been reunited to offer the ballast at the base of that midfield.
I seem to be in the minority in that I quite like Stiepermann, and can see a lot of good in his versatility, but would I pick him ahead of the other two in a midfield that’s crying out for some creativity?
(I do fear however that, along with James Husband, he’s in line to take over the Marley Watkins scapegoat baton).
That Husband had to start at left-back was met with the usual derision, but in fairness to Farke he clearly wanted to play four at the back and had few other options. Jamal Lewis is still not fit, Max Aarons was probably considered a little too green (and is a natural right-back) and so, therefore, what were the alternatives other than to give Husband the chance to do what he was brought in to do?
The decision to revert to a 4-2-3-1 was also a curious one, given that much of pre-season had been spent trying to bed in a 4-1-4-1, but one wonders if the scars of having just Harrison Read as the lone defensive midfielder in the second city almost a year ago still remain.
The Tettey/Trybull combo did us proud last season, so I suspect it was the desire to pair those two together, coupled with the ghosts of Villa Park, that led him to the 4-2-3-1. Ultimately, if offered a point before the game, Daniel would probably have taken it, so while he expressed disappointment at not taking all three, he’ll know a point represented a steady start.
In addition to Leitner and McLean lighting up St Andrew’s when they came on, Dennis Sbreny – him of the ‘never be good enough’ label – showed more than a few signs that actually he might well be; his run and nicely weighted pass to Hernandez for the equaliser being beautifully executed.
He and Onel will both have benefitted massively from having had a taste of Championship football in the second half of last season and then a full pre-season to get in the right physical shape to tackle it. That Farke has enough faith in Sbreny to include him in his plans speaks volumes for the potential he, and Webber, see in the young German.
At the opposite end of the Championship experience spectrum, Jordan Rhodes, despite not getting on the scoresheet, did more than enough to demonstrate precisely why he was so desired in these parts.
He’ll be gutted he didn’t bury that second-half header from point-blank range – nothing beats getting off the mark on your competitive debut – but content he’s not lost that happy knack of popping up in the right place at the right time. And that’s something we’ve not had since a certain Grant Holt regularly banged in 20 goals a season.
So, a decent start but equally nothing to get too excited or too alarmed about. Perspective is everything after opening day. Whichever side of the divide you’re on, I reckon you should keep your powder dry.
Yes Gary, good analysis of the game. Birmingham were very organised and we did well to create the chances we did, Do you think it was a kick up the backside for Leitner, not starting him? He had not had the best preseason. Also DF needs to work out how to get Buendia on the bench.
Thanks Gary for another balanced veiw. I am still a believer in a point away and 3 at home isn’t a bad ratio. Birmingham had a lot to prove, the tranfer restrictions not allowing Monk to add to his squad, in my view would have made them more determined to dig in, as to gelling together they were possibly ahead of City in the dept.
Play all the friendlies you like, there isn’t nothing that matches a full blooded league encounter, I cannot read too much into the first game, one point I did notice that there wasn’t a player who was receiving a baptism into league football in these Isles. As to the conundrum that is Husband, there is a reason why a full back worth anything would have been released or allowed to leave a club, That to me is probably one of the two misjudgements Mr Webber has made, the other being Watkins, but he was on the back of a outstanding season at Barnsley.
Still I would not be on the back of Husband moaning at all, some transfers work some don’t, always a gamble It is not the players fault if they are not quite up to the mark; perhaps a loan out to lower league would do his confidence the kick start it seems to need, but a replacement is needed first..
To me what he started yesterday, will be more or less our away start, taking in injuries and suspensions, at home I feel it will be different, he seems to like playing his team as horses for courses, personally I am perhaps more old school, get a team playing to together unbroken for tinkering, they become a more solid unit knowing everything there is to know about each other.
But yesterday wasn’t a bad start no diferent to last season, only minus the petulant, dummy dropping antics of a professional football. and that was great to see.
I do admit to be on Nelson’s back, I see inside there is talent of which thousands of kids would love to have along with his position in a pro team, and he really displays, what a role model should not be. The quicker gone the better. He needs a reminder how to behave like Jordan Rhodes and many others who have worn the shirt, Drury, Holt (both) etc
I was also surprised not to see Leitner and McLean in the starting line up.
The biggest lesson to be learnt from last year is that we need to up the tempo and move the ball quicker, going forward rather than backwards.
Yesterday was a perfect example of what happens when we stop becoming obsessed with possession for possessions sake!
I pretty much agree with all of your analysis. We were so much better after the substitutions and looked much more willing to get the ball into the box throughout the game.
I can’t see us being world beaters or whipping boys.
I think that is a fair assessment. I only saw the second half and had just made a comment that I had not seen Hernandez touch the ball when up he pops with a goal. Stiepermann seems like a jack of all trades master of none to me. Funny team selection for me because Leitner and McLean showed how to get things moving when they came on. I stand by my statement that this is a squad of players capable of top six – if properly managed.
Good stuff, Gary.
Yesterday showed us the beginnings of answers to some of last year’s questions; others still remain. Particularly striking was the team’s willingness to ‘mix it up’: sometimes reverting to the patient/sterile passing that prevailed last season, sometimes playing long balls or diagonals to the flanks. And Rhodes – who led the line outstandingly – wasn’t left isolated as our striker too often was last year.
It’s easy to see why Farke signed Marshall, Pukki and McLean (as well as Rhodes) to give more impetus to our attacking.
Spot on about not reading too much into the first game, though. I’m a natural optimist about City; my wife a natural sceptic. We both agreed it was a decent start with encouraging signs, but plenty still to work on.
Interesting Gary that we had a winger prepared to take on his man, well done Onel. And also a striker that gets into the box,well done Jordan. Goals will come. Something young Murphy and Oliveira failed to do last season through a lack of either understanding or the willingness to carry out their roles. I liked the look of McLean when he came on, really giving the midfield some fizz. As you say a job to judge much from first game of the season especially away from home. With a couple of linchpins to come back in the available squad( Vrancic and young Lewis) then we may just have the makings of a team.
Good write-up Gary. Overall, we should be pleased with an away point on opening day against a hard-working and well-organised team. Yes, maybe we could have had the full three points but a draw on reflection was probably the fair result. A couple of good performances – obviously Onel, but also Marshall who looked lively at right-back. I also thought that Srbeny looked good when he came on providing a great assist for Onel – seems to have bulked up a bit since the end of last season. We also saw a good shift put in by McLean who really seems to have a good engine and likes to move forward ahead of the ball – not really seen that since Howson. Stieperman didn’t have the best of games (not through lack of effort) but someone I’d like to see get some game time playing in a more natural attacking position.
Gary a very good summary of yesterdays game very even keeled.
As usual and not for much longer I took the game in via the Pinkun and DF and MB were their usual reporting short and to the point but the usual trolling of people reading between the lines and calling before half time for a change in the coaching staff beggars belief for the first game.
Watch sky in game reporting it was the retired goalie from Wolves and st times I wondered if he was a Birmingham supporter or just a coty hater because when ever he was on screen it was Birmingham that were in control of the game had more chances, possession and the only team looking to win it till the dying minutes when he agreed city could have won it.
Now upwards and onwards for the next installment against WBA who got beaten by a Wildshut goal so not playing for city he might have done us a favor but Moore will have them up for their first away game.
Stevenage up on Tuesday night it a cup game a good win in this could set city up for the weekend or will Farke give some other fringe players a got and prove that others are fit to start.
The Husband / Buendia conundrums are probably explained by the ‘home grown’ requirements – one of the seven, starting from this season, now also has to be ‘club produced’, hence Todd Cantwell on the bench.
Krul (which, in my opinion, makes a mockery of the rule) Marshall, Hanley, Husband, Rhodes and Thompson being the other domestic players.
For all the fretting about yesterday’s selection, Farke was running a tightrope in terms of choice to be compliant with the rules.
Not really sure how Krul being a domestic player makes a mockery of the system given that he was 17 or 18 when he joined Newcastle and developed as a young player in the north-east even playing for the Netherlands U17 team that same summer that he moved to England..
We obviously have differences in opinion as to what ‘domestic’ should actually mean. Personally I feel the current interpretation is too soft.
Good comments to back up a good article.
One point worth making, perhaps, is that players were naturally tiring in the second half of a season-opener on a hot day. That made it easier for McLean, Leitner and Srbeny to have an impact.
(That said, McLean does look sharp, Leitner is class and Srbeny deserves full credit for his cameo.)
But we were the team that finished stronger, not something we’ve always been used to post- Lambert. Srbeny made a real impact, but I would also have liked to see McLean much earlier.
Fair enough. I was surprised McLean didn’t start
Onels’ low centre of gravity “is not something that can be taught “. Thanks for that insight Gary.
Fair comment Roger…. more than fair ?
In mitigation, it was early
Ruel Fox and Darren Eadie enjoyed similar natural gifts. And employed them extremely well. Let’s hope Onel follows in their footsteps.
So what perceptive insight would you like to share with us Roger?
It’s easy to forget that only about 10% of the population are left-handed/footed,
so it shouldn’t really be such a surprise that left-back is a weak position for many clubs. There just aren’t that many to choose from. A right-footed player of Husband’s standard probably wouldn’t get anywhere near the Championship – the completion is that much stiffer.
Even though there had been hopes that Lewis could make it I get the impression his rapid progress in the 2017 pre-season took everyone by surprise, and certainly hadn’t been expected when Husband was signed.
Hi Keith – I understand where you’re coming from.
Back in the day I played for a rather good Sunday morning amateur side. The only way I could get a gig was as a right-footed LB. If they’d had anybody with a natural left foot I’m sure I would have been binned off. In those days of 4-4-2 the only person in our team with a left foot was Johnny Mills up the wing in front of me.
We didn’t always combine that well, due to my limitations, not his. I always had to turn in before I could let him go if you see what I mean. My left peg is purely for standing on.
I think I saw a different game!
As I am in Spain I watched the lot on ifollow and quite frankly the majority of the performance until we went behind was diabolical. Hanley will have earned a falsely high rating more due to the 327 sideways passes (324 completed, others nearly cost us) than his actual performance. The 79% mearly indicates that we lacked any sort of bravery or invention to our play until we went behind and had to do more. I noticed a number of things that can only be down to Farke in my opinion.
The backwards pass seemed encouraged, if there was any risk to possession moving it forward.
Trybull and the CB’s frequently had few or no options infront of them.
Tettey was not to receive the ball, perhaps this is understandable with his limitations, but several times he looked in better position to receive the ball and move it forwards but invariably this wasn’t taken and it was moved back or sideways again. He was also filling in at RB a lot when we had the ball, but then not being used to link play to Marshall moving forward. When our changes were made, this seemed to change and he was suddenly receiving the ball and played a good part in how we improved.
Farke got this horribly wrong. The saving grace is that he changed things early enough to give us a chance of saving the game. The changes however highlighted our on going problem, Farke still hasn’t managed to pick a balanced side that look threatening in more than one off moves very occasionally ammoungst the sideways dross or that can defend half competently whilst looking decent going forward.
First game of the season against limited opposition who we should have beaten. For those saying how well organised they were, they lost that shape really bloomin quickly when we introduced the craft, guile and directness from the bench, but we’re also cut open by some very simple long balls first half when they foolishly pressed us hard enough to stop us benignly passing sideways again.
There were positives of course; those that came on from the bench, the character to come back twice, the attack looked good when not redundant. But this has to be filed under Farke ballsed up again when he should now know better.
Bah!
I didn’t see the first half General but saw some reasonable work (and poor defence) in the second. The positives did indeed come from the bench so what possible reason could there be for starting Stiepermann ahead of McLean? Mr Farke has some way to go to convince me but hey it was the first game of the season so I think you are a little harsh.
Harsh it may be viewed but, you can say it’s a one off judgement if a performance that we should be well prepared for or a continuation of the poor coaching of last season? I hope and think it is not impossible that we now have a balanced squad and that it might be not only suited for but able to do better under Farke. Of course Farke didn’t confirm that yesterday, but has some time to do so. we play well and Farke gets things right, I will say so, but he didn’t yesterday, can you honestly say he got it right?
Bah!
Watch the first half too, if that doesn’t give you painful flashbacks of the worst of last season then nothing will. Tactically dire, or applications speaking dire from Trybull backwards because we just had no go forwards.
Bah!
Although I agree that there were many positives to our play, I back the General by repeating what I often said while at the match: our ‘back 6’ we’re doing a great job in keeping possession while the others too often stood up front and watched – resulting in too many hopeful long balls and/or poor old JH being isolated with the ball and no one to lay it off to. Leitner and McLean linked defence to attack and Srbeny offered a robust outlet so things came together in the end.
If we continue as we did for the last 30 minutes, it could be a great season ?
I’m going to play devils advocate here, Gen, simply because the one thing I feared before the teams were announced (I was pleasantly surprised to see Tettey) was a 4-1-4-1 formation, with Trybull or Leitner holding. This would have had all the potential of another Harrison Reed type performance from early last season.
So, while I may not have necessarily chosen the same starting XI, I personally don’t think this was a Farke “balls up” as suggested.
A mixed bag, some good things, some not so good.
The initial selection was not as bad as I he initially feared, it still featured a flat back four, but was mitigated slightly by the inclusion of tettey, a midfielder who tackles.
With regard to husband, the trend on Twitter and other fan forums to refer to criticised players as “scapegoats” is both erroneous and false. In biblical terms a scapegoat was blameless. In the case of husband and other criticised individuals there is usually plenty of cause.
Let’s not go down the route of other sites that seek to stifle conversation and debate by getting precious when an opinion is raised.
Stiepermann would have been my choice at full back, preferring McLean in tHe middle, but it sort of worked out in the end.
Farke, as we should all know by now, is a cautious, defensive coach. The plan here was to hold on to the point we started with and get something on the board on yet another tricky away day opener. No problems with that, I would have picked a pragmatic side myself.
Marshall appears to have fitted in very well possesses possibly the best delivery into the box from open play we have seen in seasons.
His pal Rhodes, seemed to get on the end of most of the service, twice being denied by the keeper. It would appear that these two should be encouraged to continue with this approach.
McLean must have played his way into the starting eleven for Saturday possibly with Leitner, who responded to the boot up the Khyber after his no show last week by playing as we know he can.
Credit where it’s due to srbeny, the surge that set up the equaliser was the best piece of play I have witnessed from him. Excellent work,
Hernandez showed flashes of what might be last season but until the arrival of an end product doubts would remain. Consider the end product well and truly arrived and the bar set for future performances.
The sense of dread which accompanied kick off time yesterday has given way to a degree of anticipation for next weeks games.
West brom will undoubtedly offer a stiff challenge but hopefully another Norwich city player will ruin their weekend for a second successive Saturday.
My problem is not with your observation, Farke picked a side to try not to lose, my problem is that if we genuinely are aiming for promotion, then we can’t be content with a best effort at 0-0 with a slender hope of 1-0, especially against a probable relegation candidate. This is the championship. no game is easy. but wins are harder to come by if you aren’t set up to go after them in the first place.
Bah!
Norwich had 16 shots on Saturday, one of the highest in the division and a contrast to last season. A significant proportion came in the first half.
After a self imposed detox from footie of the Norfolk type, it’s lovely to be back and your Sunday read of course Gary.
Wonderful write up mate and yours is always my go to of sense. Keep it up and looking forward to several weeks of smiles.