When Stuart Webber was speaking after Daniel Farke’s appointment last summer on BBC Radio Norfolk, he described the German as the ‘best coach in the league’.
In his defence, Farke was responsible for the development of Norwich’s record sale in the form of James Maddison. Admittedly, Maddison may have developed regardless of who was occupying the dugout, but Farke placed an unprecedented amount of trust in a player who was seemingly on the fringes of the team.
Equally, the emergence of Jamal Lewis is something that happened after interim boss Alan Irvine lambasted the club for the lack of talent coming through.
Farke opted to start Lewis in an away game at Birmingham after a turgid run that had pulled City closer to the relegation zone. Regardless of individual thoughts and feelings towards him, that takes bottle.
More recently, Onel Hernandez, a player who lacked end product in Germany, now looks a dynamic winger whose rawness has been exchanged for a more rounded winger under Farke’s tuition. Under six months of his coaching, Hernandez has become an integral member of Norwich’s rejuvenated offensive efforts.
Individually, Farke has improved players. Therein lays the makings of an astute coach and someone whose nature is developing players on the training pitch. He comes from a backdrop of developing Borussia Dortmund’s most prodigious talent, so there is no surprise there.
Farke’s ability to add zeros on a player’s valuations, namely Maddison’s, made him a valuable asset to resolve the ever-increasing financial uncertainty last season. A situation Webber recently described as Norwich being on the ‘brink of financial crisis.’
However, judgement is ultimately going to be passed on what is being played out on the pitch this season. He’s an astute tactician, someone who has rectified in the past, the leaky defensive issues that saw Norwich conceding regularly before recording a record number of clean sheets seen at this club.
That was a proactive coach rectifying flaws.
His decision to change proceedings against Preston ultimately won the game, but the current climate goes way beyond the improvement of individuals and tactical tweaks.
Farke’s logical pragmatism could cost him his job.
He was a sporting director and so the emphasis on numbers, percentages and statistics is perhaps unsurprising. The idea is that if City shoots X amount of times, and repeat that, then they will score eventually. Likewise, if the pass the ball X amounts of times, and repeat that action, they will work openings.
Like I said, all very pragmatic and logical.
What this approach does is places emotion and spontaneity firmly in second place. It’s football orchestrated by a mental approach. If players are so transfixed on playing football in this way, then it is no wonder why runs off the ball and tempo are so lacking.
It’s rehearsed through every phase, constructed to perfection, but it doesn’t allow for emotion.
At Sheffield United, there was a visible difference in how both sides began the game. The hosts, led by Chris Wilder, pressed high and used the emotive response to the fixture last season to take the game to Norwich.
On the contrary, City opted for deploying their own style of football and defeating United by playing the better football.
In this division, which is notoriously cut and thrust, where characters and teams wear their hearts proudly on their sleeves, it’s possible Norwich are getting undone by their inability to play off the cuff.
Emotion is such a critical part of football. The mental aspects and emotional compass of a human being shouldn’t be disregarded for a pre-determined philosophy. This explains why we struggle to cope with going a goal behind, emphasised on Saturday.
Not because they lack passion, but because the football doesn’t allow them to express it. Farke’s pragmatism is all about numbers, percentages and statistics, not about creating a highly-motivated and energetic side, but one who can achieve a higher probability than their opponent.
Even when speaking to the press, any response to Norwich’s struggles is met with hand-picked statistics, which indicate they are on the right path. If you dominate in numbers, you will win more games than you lose. That’s the underlying premise to Farke’s style of play.
To an extent, he’s right. In theory, this style of playing football should translate into results but this is a Norwich side with bigger issues. Whilst this football may suit the continental leagues or even, to a lesser extent, the tactical nature of the Premier League, the Championship is a division where teams with limited resources play ugly and dominate scorelines as opposed to possession stats.
It does feel as though City are a one-dimensional outfit. They want to hit their head against a brick wall because if they repeat it enough times, eventually they will break through. But breakthrough at what cost? A broken skull? Serious head trauma?
Why headbutt a wall when you can get a ladder and climb over?
Farke’s inability to discover equilibrium in the side has also been a constant struggle since his appointment.
When he resolves the defensive issues – see Preston – City look inept going forward. When the emphasis was on offensive behaviours and movement, they shipped goals against West Brom. That middle ground is something Farke cannot find.
But balance is key in the construction of any football team.
Right now Norwich have operators who aren’t contributing enough to warrant inclusion but also players who have displayed glimpses. The fruits of their labour have shown with Teemu Pukki, Jordan Rhodes and Onel Hernandez, but this team is carrying too many passengers.
Farke can retain his pragmatic and logical approach to football, but create a more inclusive and emotionally intelligent team. Any rejection of emotion creates a team that lacks character and the capability to respond to situations without rigorous coaching.
At the moment, it’s constant spoon-feeding, but some of the players need to be set free from the formulaic approach in order to flourish.
Spot on . well posted
Best MFW piece I’ve read in ages, Connor. I heartily agree with your reasoning.
The problem is that to play with emotion requires the same from the fans (how quickly it evaporated at Man Utd last night). At the moment we have no Grant Holt / Robert Fleck figure to whip up that emotion. It may come but it will take an extrovert to do it and the only potential one I see is Hernandez.
Excellent work! I agree with most of what you say but I do believe that Farke and his team are all still learning and evolving. Pre season showed huge promise from individuals and as you say, at times the team has done so in some of the games ( definitely not Preston). However, the players are all short on confidence which is why we were able to buy/hire them and y hope is that the collective fear does not take over and they become reliant on the pragmatic approach as a safe place to hide during games. I think the positive emotional side of play will come in time but I’m not sure the majority of fans will allow it. I look forward to seeing Norwich’s own young talent on display, I hope the likes of Godfrey and Aarons put on displays that force them to be picked for the Championship games. They were the ones playing with emotion and wearing their hearts on their sleeves and playing without fear in preseason but haven’t got a look in yet! OTBC
Usually when reading on this site I agree or not with the writer. This article is somewhat unique in that there are parts I vehemently disagree with and others that are well thought out and well put. “He is an astute tactician “ you must be joking! He is the perfect example of banging your head against a wall rather than looking for a different way.
“Farke’s inability to discover equilibrium……….. “
spot on! “Balance is the key in a team…………. “ spot on!
In his defence he has too many players who have fallen from higher expectations and we expect them to suddenly re-ignite their careers here. However, this is a squad capable of getting in the top six if well managed. Sorry I am repeating myself.
There is a scene in the Indiana Jones film, ‘Jewel of the Nile’ where a swordsman comes at Indy, whirling his sword round in bewildering intricate moves. Indy watches him for a while as the swordsman pirouettes around him, then pulls out his gun and simply shoots him!
To me that is analogous of Norwich’s play the last 2 seasons.
Anything up to 20 passes in our own 3rd, The opposition are able to set out their defensive stall whilst we enjoy our toothless 70% of the play, then just knock us over and steal the ball when we attempt to advance.
Ironically Farkes style of play would work in the Premiership, but not down here at the rough end of town.
We are up against physically big teams who win the 50/50 balls, play direct, and defend hard.
I admire much of what Farke tries to do, but reluctantly fear that he may be a luxury that will confine is to the lower half of the division.
The Championship managers know how to play Farkes Norwich. ‘Play them hard, knock em over, and hit them on the break…… then back to a 10 man defensive wall’
The Burtons of the world did it successfully last season, and sadly I see no suggestion that we have learned that lesson this season.
Cruel but fair. Certainly that assessment applies to how we play for 80 per cent of a game.
Lightweight is the word.
It’s Raiders of the Lost Ark.
“The Burtons of the world did it successfully last season, and sadly I see no suggestion that we have learned that lesson this season”
You obviously haven’t heard about the last 10 minutes against PNE then. Of the 3 visitors to CR so far this season they are the only ones to have taken the Burton approach. I doubt if Boro will be the next to do so.
Jewel of the Nice? LOL. But your analogy is 100% correct.
I can’t disagree with any of this Connor and I feel it shows perfectly that DF hasn’t learned the lessons from last season.
To play the kind of football Farke wants to you need to have players who are far better than the opposition. That’s why Man City and Wolves won their leagues convincingly. By and large, our players are mediocre (always likely when you replace players that have been sold for £50m+ with players who cost about £5m).
Whilst Wolves were dominating impressively with their expensively assembled team, Cardiff and Millwall and others with fewer resources than NCFC were having successful seasons. We know how these teams played-it involved getting the ball away from their defence to their best players (usually the ones going forward) and getting the ball into the penalty area. When they lost the ball, everyone did what it took to stop the other team playing.
Unfortunately, the present squad we have looks to me that it won’t excel at either of these models. We lack ability, physicality and (so it seems) mental strength. I am worried.
Excellent read. Well done.
Cannot help but feel that the balance came against Preston when switching to three at the back.That could be more solid defensively. I think that with Lewis and Marshall at wing back and Hernandez, Pukki and Rhodes up front we are more likely to retain a cutting edge than last year.
Whatever is tried if Krul continues to gift goals then the opposition will have the momentum.
For me Farke’s two successes were James Maddison, a player not even signed by this regime, and Lewis.
Everything else has been rather poor. I find the suggestion that he’s improved players a stretch. You have to be very selective in your viewpoint to believe this is his strength.
Franke – not developed
Husband – not developed
Watkins – not developed
Raggett – not developed
Matthews – not developed
Then there were players deemed wrong for the strategy, which to me, when you are broke, you work with what you’ve got.
Farke seems unable to use the resources he has on hand and particularly struggles with any type of personality. All these were deemed wrong for the team or Farke was unable to manage:
– Naismith
– Jerome
– Oliveira
– Martin
– Howson
– Wildschut
Notice that the older the player, the more problematic they appear to be..
For me Farke is probably a good youth team coach. But he’s not set up for managing a first team squad with players of all career stages. He doesn’t appear able to adapt to the rigorous requirements of a highly competitive league either.
David
Weren’t you one of the people saying how crap Husband was and that Franke could defend as for not developing them possibly they just weren’t up to adapting to a new style of play.
Howson wanted out
Martin past his best and every game was getting criticism
Oliveria how do you develop a sulk if it not about him he doesn’t want to know
Jerome to old to change his style of play
Naismith just wanted to move back to scotland
Wildshut possibly should have been given a chance
All these were and some still are the highest earners so need to be sold or loaned out to help finances
Raggett needs experience but was hoping he would have got it along side Hanley
I rarely comment on specific player performances, so no, I doubt that was me.
I guess I’ll summarize my post like this. If the people at the club aren’t suitable for the manager, and if the players we bought aren’t suitable for the manager is it the players or the manager?
If the players performed before joining us, if they perform when they’re on loan, and if many perform after leaving us. Is it the players that are at fault, or the manager?
Great article Connor, agree 100%. Farke is doing the job without any real investment, how much did he get of the £ 36 million we reportedly got for Maddison and Murphy ?
Not a lot ! I know we are cash strapped and have little or no choice to cut our cloth accordingly but there maybe an alternative and that is for the owners to consider outside investment. I know it comes with a lot of risks attached but so does our present strategy.
To be fair to Delia and Michael I know that a few years ago they did try hard in this area, even Sheik Mohammed was allegedly approached, and maybe that lack of interest disillusioned them. But now is the time to try again.
I do feel Farke must be given more time, it is very worrying that (very substantial rumours) Russell Martin has been asked to succeed Farke. We have been here before with Gunny!! Please do not go down this road.
Yeah I’ve heard a similar daft (but very much rumbling) rumour that Russ and Matty Gill are waiting in the wings.
I cannot give that concept my blessing I’m afraid. As you so rightly say it would take us back to Bryan. And look what happened then. At least Neil Adams had a go.
We don’t have the money to pay off Farke and his extensive team so for that reason alone I think they’ll see the season out.
What a carp time to be a NCFC supporter.
I think this would make some sense but only if Farke survives long enough for Martin to develop into the head coach we require. Sides who try to identify with a very specific way of playing really can benefit from promoting within, the new coach can then be well briefed in the expected style.
The main issues with it for me is not only about whether Martin is a suitable candidate to eventually or even soon take over, it is whether Farke is a good mentor and the style that presumably is Farke and Webbers preference is suitable to ever succeed in the championship on the sort of budget we will have to live within.
Bah!
Excellent stuff Connor! Really enjoyable read and wholeheartedly agree
Hi Connor
A god read and great analysis of team Farke.
My biggest concern is the CB there is still talk that Klose could leave then we are short and yet we loan out Raggett for the season I would have liked to see him and Hanley play both no nonsense CB’s in the old fashion english mould, I like Klose but at times he tries to play to much in and around the penalty area, I would also agree that we are more solid with a 3 CB at the heart of defence.
I would presume Webber has had a few words with his chosen man about the hurly burly of the championship last season and again at the start of this season, he has admitted they talk every day about how the club is progressing and what is needed to further that progress either he agrees with Farkes team selections and style of play or not he needed to have a coach along side him that was experienced in championship football.
We now gave unrest in the supporters group and you can’t continue to lay the blame at Farkes door he is doing the best possibly with what he has at hand and the club can afford he isn’t a Jose that will publicly criticise the board as he knew what he was getting into when he signed on but it is worse than he expected I would guest and as a pround man will give it his best.
Self financing will not work so I am told due to many factors but the main one us that city do not generate enought money via gates and merchandise but sponsorship, can city get a stadium sponsorship yes but it wouldn’t be mega money the only other choice is finding from somewhere an invester or investers but that isn’t an option for our majority owners, We now have a chairman making a laughing stock of himself in the USA I would have thought he could have spent some of his time trying to find income for city but then that is a dirty word with our owners
Moans over for another day
I do think people need to calm down a bit. This is a long old season and if we’re going to react this way to every defeat it will really be hard going this year.
As last season, we have a number of new players and it will take time to gel. DF is still finding out about them as well, some will make it and some probably won’t.
But it’s surely obvious to all that some improvement has already been made this year. We do look more potent and if we can just find a way to shut the back door, we can win games on a regular basis. I’m not denying there are issues but, surely, our part in all this as supporters is to support the team. The constant whinging and moaning doesn’t actually help anyone.
Hi Alex
One point you make I will address is the Raggett issue. He is an old-fashioned centre half in the style of Andy Linighan, if you remember him.
Not too good with the ball at his feet but, oh boy, do those crosses and corners get nutted out. He might not fit into the Farke philosophy but I’d have him back from loan like a shot. Christoph Zimmermann is the only one who comes close. But they are both too traditional for the Farke “philosophy” at least that’s how I see it.
Zonal marking should be dumped. Just my view:-)
To use Farke speak – 100%
Andy Linigan was brilliant but sold of to Arsenal and didn’t he score a winner for them at Wembley also scored a few for city just as Raggett did for Lincoln and now played 2 scored 1 for Rotherham get him back in January.
As you say he just might not be the right fit fir city if that us the case why did they buy him unless the due diligence was done.
Alex, Chris Woods fumbled it in goal for Weds when Linighan scored. And so we qualified for UEFA Cup – thanks chaps!!
All I will say is that the Webberlution is not working,will another coach coming in make a difference?Most probably as long as they have had chump experience and knows what it takes to win more games than lose and have a plan b c and d,something Farke has not got.
This is excellent, Connor. Personally, I think Farke can be overly pragmatic at times. I also think that a greater degree of emotion and passion is required, especially in the final third.
Wasn’t the comment about Pep recently made that he drills his teams in the defensive and midfield areas – in the final third he just lets them play? It obviously helps having the squad he does, but, equally, there’s a lot to be said for freedom of expression to play, especially in and around the opponents penalty area.
As already stated by others, a very astute and in-depth analysis Connor.
Stats are indeed a way of monitoring progress after an event, but invariably should not used to influence future events. This “games theory” has been proved not to work in other areas of everyday life where probability of future events is calculated by use of previous outcomes.
Anyway without delving too deeply into the cloudy soup that is human psychology I’ll leave it there and say again what a good read, cheers.