“Were they at the same game?”
It’s a question we might well ask of the EFL specialist paper (!) which reported City coming back “from 2-0 down” at Birmingham.
But it’s also a question that springs to mind reading social media and online forums – and indeed, reaction to Gary’s match report here.
In a nutshell, we’re all looking for a more positive and purposeful approach from City this season. How much of what we want did we see at Birmingham: a lot, a fair amount, or none at all?
Reading the postings and comments, there seems to be plenty of support for each of the three views. Where does the truth lie?
As a clue, it’s notable that some of the posts proclaiming no progress at all began “I wasn’t at the game, but…”. Nonetheless, there was clearly a genuine divide of opinion on the Saturday’s evidence.
For what it’s worth, I’m in the “fair amount” group. There were times when City reverted to the slow passing of last season, with a seeming lack of urgency. But it was far from the full story.
We mixed it up in a way we didn’t last season, and there was a good deal of more direct and purposeful play. It wasn’t a coincidence that we had more shots than any other away team in the Championship on opening weekend.
Moreover, it’s clearly a deliberate strategy. Those claiming that Daniel Farke is wedded to a negative and defensive strategy must surely have a problem with what the club is doing.
If he was wedded to such a negative approach, there are many players he could have signed during the last two windows. But they certainly wouldn’t have been Hernandez, McLean, Srbeny, Marshall, Pukki, Rhodes and Buendia. The primary aim of our recruitment in 2018 has clearly been to add pace and intent to the team’s attacking.
There’s reason for us to look forward to seeing this team at Carrow Road, starting on Saturday. However, that takes us to another issue. As I’m known for optimism about City and the glass being (at least) half full, let me highlight a major challenge for Daniel Farke and his team.
Played 23: won 8, drawn 8, lost 7. Goals for: 25. Goals against: 25.
That was our home record last season. Not only wasn’t it fun to watch, it couldn’t be called successful by any standard. Our away record wasn’t far short of the top six, but our home record ranked 17th in the table.
So, it wasn’t Fortress Carrow Road in Farke’s first season; that has to change in a major way if we’re to have a shot at the success we crave.
For all our differences of view, I reckon we’d find a consensus that the key to improvement lies in positive intent: pacy and purposeful development of attacks. Unlike last season, Farke now has players of his choice who can offer him that option.
The change may not be as immediate or radical as some would wish, but I suspect we’ll see a tangible difference from last season’s fare. We have a right to expect it – and hopefully, it will translate into results.
Having mentioned social media at the top of this piece, let me return to it/them. It’s a topic I’ve been mulling over recently.
Despite denials to my wife, I’m something of an addict these days.
A number of articles have argued that we’d be happier without Twitter, Facebook and so on. It’s probably good advice, especially for men where testosterone tends to kick in during social media exchanges.
But I’ve no intention of following it.
All the bad things attributed to social media are true, and some of us certainly carry on conversations beyond the point we should have realized they’ll lead to nothing but frustration.
Yet, there are two saving graces. Many conversations end in stalemate or worse – but some don’t. I tweet mainly on politics (which we rightly don’t discuss here) and football; in both cases you actually ‘meet’ some people with whom you can have informative and enjoyable exchanges.
The second is arguably the real saving grace: the brevity imposed by Twitter is conducive to humour.
It’s probably true, as someone said, that “For every action there’s an equal and opposite reaction – and a social media overreaction”. But that observation itself shows the potential of social media for wit.
Closer to home, one of our fans (a reader of this site, I believe) had a memorable reaction to the new third kit: “Even though it looks like a traffic warden who’s been run over multiple times by an irate motorist, I rather like it”. Nicely said, sir.
The hot weather inspired one or two rather good offerings: “Placing your genitals in the freezer for five minutes lowers your body temperature quicker than anything else. It’s also the quickest way to get a lifetime ban from Lidl.”
One or two I enjoyed, though I hope they won’t rebound on us. “It’s not Patrick Bamford who needs a medical at Leeds – it’s the guy who agreed to pay £7m for him.”
The most plaintive recent post was, perhaps, from a football fan in the North East. Reacting to news that ISIS was finding fresh recruits in various parts of the UK, he posted “FFS! Even ISIS is having a better window than Newcastle.”
Good luck to him.
Excellent article Stewart and there is NO substitute for actually being at the game and even then, opinions differ widely. One person will say that player ‘X’ was brilliant, whilst another will tell him ‘he should have gone to Specsavers!!!’ That I feel is the beauty of watching ‘Live’ football.
I’m sure SW/DF are both fully aware that our home form needs DRASTIC improvement compared to last year, but all of our first three home matches are quite tough IMO and any points we garner in those games must be considered a bonus.
I see we may well have to witness Gayle’s debut for WBA on Saturday – that will be a stern test for our hitherto porous defence.
Yes Ed
I’m “mildly concerned” about the Dwight Gayle factor too.
I also feel like a little schoolboy – unusually I haven’t seen us at all in preseason and I couldn’t get to Birmingham.
You are so correct when you say there is no substitute for being at the game. I suspect many of us will put that right on Saturday.
In most seasons city have had a reasonable home record and I hope last seasons mediocre offerings was just a plip on the landscape and better offerings will come this season.
I agree with Ed the first few games are going to be tough to get all 3 points, but for the WBA game we will face our nemisis in Dwight Gayle but with the transfer window closing and rumours that Rodigus could be off to Burnley and Livermore off to Watford they could be in a bit of a mess come saturday as so far no mention of incoming playes.
city rumours for today is that Klose could be off to Hanover and the person reporting this news suggests this could be away back in for Martin please no.
still no rumour about Olivera leaving but there is about Vrancic being a possible departure.
In all cuty have had a positive transfer window and it will help to make Carrow Rd a harder place for teams to come to like in the padt.
I’m really looking forward to Saturday. Last game I saw was at home to Fulham when I thought we played pretty well, but without the cutting edge that they had.
I don’t mind us playing a patient, possession-based game, in fact there’s nothing more frustrating than driving 200 miles only to see us repeatedly give the ball away cheaply to the team that I haven’t come to watch. But it does require those in the final third to show much more movement than was the case last year if we want to make things happen.
Relegated teams often start slowly but WBA have some class in their squad for this level and if they find the motivation and togetherness they perhaps haven’t shown so far then I suspect it could be a pretty tough afternoon. Having played the midweek game should not, at this stage of the season, put them at a physical disadvantage and if anything may have helped them get into the swing of things quicker than we have.