Well, I must say I’m happy to settle for that. Embargoed or not, Birmingham City is no easy place to go and to get a second equaliser at 90+4 says something about us. Yes, we still had those awkward, crab-like spells either side of half-time but when the chips were truly down we came up with the goods.
Like I suspect many of us, I was slightly surprised at the original selection but that mainly centres around the inclusion of James Husband at left-back. Maybe I’ve been unlucky, but I’ve never seen him have a good game for us. Marco Stiepermann was employed elsewhere, and Jamal Lewis is still currently unavailable while Maximillian Aarons (yep, it’s his real name) is untried and naturally right-sided. All I can say is get well soon, Jamal.
On the positive side, it was good to see both Jordan Rhodes and Timmu Pukki included from the start and last the full ninety. No bench spots for Emilio Buendia and Felix Passlack, I guess there isn’t room for everybody.
It was also encouraging to see Daniel Farke making good use of those who were on the bench. The introduction of Kenny McLean and Mo Leitner pepped us up a treat when they came on. Funny that – I would have had those two nailed on as starters but I can already feel squad rotation will be the name of the game this season.
I’m really pleased for Dennis Serbny; that was a wonderful little ball through for the star of the show, Onel Hernandez, who could of course of had three if one late effort hadn’t gone wide.
There were the traditional Norwich mistakes of course. Quite how that ball got over the top for Solomon-Otabor to give Brum a slightly undeserved late lead I’m still not quite sure but all was well that ended well and I don’t think supporters of either side can complain too much with a point apiece.
Well done to our mighty 2,383 who made the journey.
Expecting the highlights on Channel Five yesterday morning and being deeply disappointed by the absence of them (maybe they’ve lost the EFL franchise; if any MFW reader knows the score and would care to tell me I’d love to know) I had an opportunity to look at how a few of our loanees and “exes” got on at the weekend. And most interesting it was.
In no particular order:
Tristan Abrahams netted for Exeter in their 3-1 win over Carlisle with manager Matt Taylor saying: “I’m delighted for Tristan to get his first league goal”.
Steven Naismith apparently “bossed it” for Hearts against Hamilton in a 4-1 win, including his conversion of a cool as a cucumber penalty.
Yanic Wildschut scored a tap-in in the 89th minute to earn Bolton an unexpected 2-1 win at WBA.
Sean Raggett was spared ignominy as Rotherham crashed and burned 5-1 at Brentford. He was bench warming.
Marley Watkins didn’t even make Bristol City’s matchday squad for their 1-1 draw with Forest. Maybe injured of course.
Josh Murphy scored a belter for Cardiff in their 2-1 friendly defeat against Real Betis.
Nelson Oliveira is sitting in the shop window. He doesn’t seem to be attracting much interest from customers at the moment.
Russell Martin likewise to the above (although he was also sitting in the away end on Saturday – Ed). I’m still trying to work out why he got squad number Five over Grant Hanley.
Matt Jarvis is simply Matt Jarvis. For good or ill.
Anyway, I’d call that a satisfactory start to the season – bring on the Bolton-battered Baggies.
Fair assessment of the game.
EFL highlights are now on Quest channel, same times.
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The highlights were on Quest (Freeview Channel 37) at 9pm on Saturday and repeated at 10am on Sunday. Seems Channel 5 didn’t want them this year…
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EFL highlights are now on QUEST at 9.00pm on Saturdays
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A big thank you to Darren, Adrian and Tony. I can’t believe I didn’t pick up on the move to Quest but I’ll just blame old age:-)
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Not alone Martin, I found out yesterday, but managed to see the goals on a sky clip. I cannot understand all the moaning, yes Birmingham may be relegated as may Rotherham and anyone of a number of clubs.
But given their problems they have faced over the summer, has worked in gelling them together, knowing each probably better than some of our boys. So a point isn’t not bad at all, looking at little peice from the whole pot.
First game is alway a a reall wd40 game, players can be fit and shaken off those few pounds or ounces. but a competitive match cannot be beaten thats what takes a little time to get in the grove. Bound to be mistakes, what may be concerning is if the same one keep being repeted, means something isn’t getting through in coaching. As to James Husband, feel for him he didn’t buy himself into the club, perhaps hesimply inst good enough for this level (which does seem feasible giving Bro got rid) so a loan or give away to lower league may be best for him another replacemaent nedded.
First game over and we were not embarressed like Rotherham or WBA or QPR. but cannot read too much into . give 5 games to settle
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Hi Lad – a very reasonable assessment from your goodself.
Five games to settle is very much fair enough. Can’t disagree with that.
I can’t wait to see them “in the flesh” at the Carra on Saturday as I’ve never missed out on an entire preseason before. Can’t afford the German tour in terms of either time or money I’m afraid!
Husband will fade away when Jamal returns, I feel we need him sooner rather than later.
As to who goes down it won’t be us, for which I am truly grateful.
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Saturday was a mixed bag, with positives and negatives against a side that will be near the foot of the table come May. I didn’t rate Birmingham at all.
Farke came for a draw, though he got it in circumstances that were probably unplanned.
The new signings were a positive and shows that if the squad is played in the manner that suits them best rather than Farke’s over cautious and tactically uncreative, then we could be sniffing around the play offs which there was absolutely no chance last season. However.
In the first half – yes the first half – yet again we had the back four p****ing about in a ChuckeVision style (RIP Barry). Passing across the back four, ‘From me, to you’, which almost got in trouble a couple of times. This is absolutely infuriating to watch and would no doubt frustrated the hell out of Krul because you are essentially watching trouble unfold. It is completely unnecessary. Get the ball forward and do something with it, this is not Liverpool closing out a game in 1978 before the pass back rule was introduced.
Don’t jump in Farke’s metaphorical Ferrari, he’ll only drive it at 56 mph.
So my assessment is this. If you want to see Norwich City get a sniff of where most of us want them to be, Farke must go. He’s a theory man and we need that certain something that makes the difference that you don’t read in a Sports Manual. Until he goes, we’ll never know quite how good this squad could be.
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Thanks IR – I enjoyed reading that..
First off, RIP Barry Chuckle (Elliott) from me too. I grew up on Monty Python and Steptoe then my kids went straight to Dick and Dom but we all know how good the Chuckles were – in their way.
I agree about the negativity of Farke, It will not (can not) change. However, we have a couple of dogs of war who seem prepared to unleash themselves.
With Hernandez doing his stuff and Jordan Rhodes being where he should be (Hi Nelson) and Buendia yet to contribute I don’t feel too bad just now.
Let’s see where this journey takes us.
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The thing I find so frustrating is that we can all see that the club has assembled a squad capable of playing good attacking football and once things start going wrong Farke at least sees what the rest of us see and deals with it, as he did on Saturday. I suspect the spectre of Millwall last season still hangs over our manager. It was the game where everything really unravelled and it was embarrassing for everyone….especially him. I suspect in Birmingham he saw an experienced tough group of well-organised professionals and chose a team to ‘compete’. It was when he realised that we were getting outthought and changed the personnel and the plan that we came alive. Perhaps if he just had the courage of his convictions and went for it more often we’d get a few more ‘Millwalls’ but some stonking 4-0 victories as well. Personally I’d settle for a couple of places higher this year but with a bit more excitement. Our fightback showed we’re capable of this but let’s have that team and those tactics from the start!
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I’m scratching my head a bit here. Are we saying that Farke remains determinedly negative, but that’s being luckily offset by the positivity (which Farke didn’t intend) of the players he’s signed this summer?
We had 16 shots on Saturday, the highest number (I believe) of any away team in the division. If your theory is right, Farke must be hugely disappointed at that. But I have to say he concealed it well…..
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I’m with Stew on this one. Other than playing two defensive midfielders on Saturday – and there was clear logic behind reuniting Tettey and Trybull – I saw very little that (in my view) constituted negativity. I guess we all define negative football differently.
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There is NO negativity in scoring at 90+4
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Totally agree mate
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We still seem obsessed by possession for possession’s sake. What’s the good of having 70% possession when most of that is the back four passing it around! Until we went behind we seemed almost scared to pass through midfield for fear of losing the ball. That all went out of the window when we went behind and brought on some proper midfield players who could pass and move quickly. If we started all of our games truly on the ‘front foot’ (instead of trying and failing to pass teams to death!) we could overrun most of this league!
Finally Hernandez. What a gem we seem to have there! Who needs Murphy?! Could easily have had a hattrick and fair play to Denis S as well for making such an impact after coming on!
OTBC!
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Great comment Dronny.
I don’t see Farke dropping the possession stuff but where I really agree with you is how good we can be on the front foot. For five per cent of a match as it stands?
Maybe we’d scare the daylights out of some bus-parkers if we went for them. Over to Farke.
Thank you.
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‘…could of course of had three…’?????????????????? You WHAT???????????
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Like the two he scored and the one that slid across goal which could easily have gone in?
All from Onel Hernandez. Two strikes and a narrow miss. No caps from me.
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Hi Martin
Enjoyable read and yes a fair result on the end.
I took the game in via Pinkun and as always DF and MB gave a no punch held back report and there was the usual moans about team selection, sack the coaching staff and so on don’t people realise that now is the time for the team to settle preseason was for fitness, showing off the new recruits and getting to know each other in game mode.
There must be something sbout Husband as Farke keeps giving a starting berth in the side surely there must be a free signing out there that can do a better job
.
Khrul was a surprise signing and I hope he has a good season ans possibly get back to where he was a couple of seasons ago if he does then what a great bit of business Webber has done.
What has your friends in the Hoops said about the plsymaker that could be signed from them do they rate him????
Ipswich at the time of writting this are about to sign to of Shrewsbury’s best players one was supposed to be on city list Jon Nolan.
As for the highlight program I was looking for it on sky so I wonder if Quest is on their list will look today.
Cup game Tuesday so lets hope for a good cup run to generate some pennies.
Transfer loan window open till 31 August lets hope for another left back and that Martin finda a club and we get a good offer for Oliveria
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Hi Alex
I don’t do the Pink ‘Un live feeds because luckily I live in Norfolk and I’d find it too depressing to follow if I didn’t, if you see what I mean. Too many moaners.
The lad from Celtic is called Regan Hendry and he’s only 20. It’s alleged he’s been training with us for a week and is earmarked for the under-23s. I’m told the Celtic midfield is so strong there’s no possible room for him in the foreseeable. Who knows? Sounds like another Maddison type deal to me, or it could be another McGrandles.
Not one for the first team squad anyway by all accounts.
Thanks as ever for a great comment.
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Hi Martin
Just looked on sky and I see a city nemesis will be playing against us come Saturday in the shape of Dwight Gayle he has a good scoring record against us if memory serves me right at leadt 1 hattrick
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I just hope we get through August with a continuing feeling of well being.
I think I am the only person on the Algarve who is a bit miffed he won’t be at Carrie Road on Saturday
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Ha! It’s probably hotter here than there.
I’ll give them a shout for you.
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The sun and heat loses some of its charm when your days are spent talking to the businesses of the Black Country about waste management. People who have the wisdom to be retired and live by a beach have my full respect.
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No one anywhere has said anything about Ben Godfrey not being in Saturday’s squad,have I missed something?Bit of a surprise to me.
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Yes Tony I agree. I have no idea why he was omitted, but so were Felix Passlack and Emilio Buendia. I’ve only seen Ben play one competitive game for Norwich but I’d love to see him more involved.
His time will come. Soon, I’d guess.
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I have yet to re-subscribe to iFollow. Last season’s dross and the overall lack of ambition from the club did not have me reaching for my wallet. The first half yesterday did nothing to dissuade me of this opinion.
70% possession while being behind. Sideways passing instead of forward. Dodgy defending. Struggling to break down a team that finished lower than us and was literally unable to strengthen. Setting up for a draw. Lack of entertainment. It was all there.
Of course, then there was the last 20 mins, suggesting there may be signs of life yet. I’m a sucker, I’ll break soon enough and hand over my $140.
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Hi Dave
If there was ever an MFW cynicism competition you and I would meet in the final.
I’m actually happy with a point at a difficult place to go, whatever the circs that surrounded Brum on the day.
We will NOT be pulling up those trees this season, Just a healthy Championship mid-table finish, which is exactly what Delia wants. In perpetuity.
Don’t worry about your wallet – my ST scrapes in just under £50 a month.
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Having read posts like Dave’s and started to question what I’d actually seen at St Andrews, I’m relived to see the stats confirm what I recalled. Sixteen shots, one of the highest in the division and (I believe) the single highest for an away team. Plenty in the first half as well as the second.
Yes, we sometimes went for the slow passing of last year – but critically, we’re now mixing it up with more direct play.
Last season our main striker was often isolated. Pukki and Hernandez ensured – as instructed by Farke, no doubt – that it didn’t happen on Saturday.
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Stewart, last season we had more shots than anyone in the league, yet finished bottom half and were for large parts boring.
Was Farke not giving the correct instructions last season?
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Interesting claim, Dave. The official stats say we had over 100 fewer shots than Brentford (NCFC 650, Brentford 798). Are you saying the stats are false?
Thanks.
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Even in this game, until they scored we’d actually only had a couple of decent attempts on goal. At that point they’d had twice as many…..with less than half the possession! Loved the passion of the second half and the feeling that we’ve got a team now playing for the badge but still worried that the ‘stats’ at times seem to matter more than the result!
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Good stuff Martin. Like you, I will always take a point away from home – a defeat takes the edge of a Saturday night.
The acid test Is what happens at home. Last seasons dismal home record needs to be turned around if we are to progress.
There remains a feeling in the back of my mind that there is a good team in there somewhere, if it’s selected, motIvated and playing to its strengths. I’m certain however that there is absolutely no appetite from the home crowd for sterile sideways rubbish. Time to deliver.
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Thanks Chris.
I must admit I’m really looking forward to Saturday – the usual chance to catch up with some old faces in the Barclay, of course.
But much more than that I can’t wait to see what our approach is going to be like at home this season. Maybe we’ll be pleasantly surprised. I hope so. As you quite correctly suggest nobody wants to watch a game of keepball between Krul, Hanley and Klose.
But we might get a little better fare than that. Let’s see!
What I did particularly like was Farke’s use of subs against Brum.
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A good and fair assessment. It certainly wasn’t all doom and gloom and yes on paper that was three points. It wasn’t…it wasn’t the usual turgid response to going behind. Instead there was a new energy and belief in the system. If not for sheer luck we would have taken all three points from this game I am sure..as sure as I am that this single point was well earned and generally well received
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Thanks Dan
I really cannot understand how anybody can be unhappy with that result.
“Draw away, win at home, win the league” is one of the oldest mantras in football. In this case a well earned point as you say.
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Indeed Martin; draw away and win at home has been the mantra for years.
I too thought it a great point, since with their embargo, surely the Birmingham players have not had too many changes to either systems nor team-mates so far??
I’m pretty sure that Husband was included to cover the number of home-grown players needed in a match-day squad, although given his performances in a yellow shirt so far, I’m a bit surprised that Ben Godfrey wasn’t pressed into yet another position. It was indeed curious that Godfrey didn’t make Saturday’s bench either, whilst Cantwell did. Surely he must have picked up a knock in training at the end of last week.
I see WBA are playing tonight, so at least Herr Farke and co will have been able to see them twice before they arrive at The Carra on Saturday.
O T B C
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Hi John
This home-grown rule has kind of crept up on us by stealth.
Farke has been quoted as saying he is well aware of it and we will not be caught out.
I really hope it doesn’t come to the point whereby we only have six effective subs rather than seven just to get the quota right. I’m sure they know what they’re doing:-)
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