As the River End emptied last night, while King Klose was doing his well-deserved lap of appreciation, I bumped into a pal who, for me, nailed it.
‘I feel so much pride watching these boys … even if we lose, when they play like this you know another win is not far away’.
It was the word pride that resonated most. He was spot on.
There’s so much to be proud of right now it’s difficult to know where to start, but the obvious one is watching the three teenagers from the Academy mature into accomplished Championship players before our very eyes.
In fairness, Jamal Lewis is already there and consistently churns out performances you’d expect of a 300-game veteran – and thoughtfully saves any ricks for when he’s wearing the green of Northern Ireland – but in Max Aarons and Todd Cantwell we have a pair of young bucks who still collectively have played less than 20 Championship games.
But who could tell?
While they are still joyously gripped with the fearlessness of youth, Messrs Aarons and Cantwell have far more to offer than energy and bravery alone. Both are master technicians and have progressed so quickly through the hand-holding phase that Daniel Farke can trust them to deliver in the same way he relies on the more grizzled, Championship-hardened members of the group.
All three are an absolute credit to the Academy and to every coach who, along the way, has played a part in their development.
Max, last night, had probably his best game since his arrival on the first-team scene – and there have been some good ones – and that he’s now offering some serious attacking intent to his game had added another dimension not only to his own output, but to the whole dynamic of the side.
Old fool that I am, I was drooling last night at the mature way he’s able to charge down the line or cut inside, and still resist slinging in a hopeful cross or going for a 30-yard worldie; instead invariably going for the right option of a simple pass to keep the move flowing. A sign of proper maturity.
A relatively minor observation, but so vital and largely attributable to the excellence of the coaching he’s received. For those who’ve been involved, he must, or at least should be, a huge source of pride.
Yet it’s not just the youngsters who invoked the pride that Nigel spoke of.
Allayed to a method of play that has taken Team Farke 18 months to hone, there is now a hunger and appetite in this group that, in turn, produces an intensity that makes us really difficult to play against.
The high press is working well and does so because it’s done as a unit, starting last night with Jordan Rhodes and Marco Stiepermann, whose job was to deny James Chester and Axel Tuanzebe time to bring Jack Grealish and co into play. Both did it brilliantly. And from there the rest followed, with the high-energy approach leaving no room for a let-up. To a man they delivered.
That’s no say last night’s first-half display was perfect. Minus new-dad Alex Tettey, there were times when the tracking was reactive rather than pro-active and the different skillset that Tom Trybull brings to the minder role took a while to bed in. Grealish had a little too much room for comfort at times and in the final third we looked, it has to be said, a little toothless.
But, for the second time in four days, they found a way.
The second-half benefited from a few half-time tweaks and, despite Dean Smith doing his best to write it off as a “scrappy game”, City played some good stuff after the break. With Trybull looking increasingly comfortable, Mo Leitner was able to be even more influential and as ‘quarter-backs’ go there can be no better in the Championship.
His range of passing and ability to keep things ticking over is a joy to behold, and now we’re seeing a bite and tenacity to his game that makes for a formidable package. If Mo ticks the team ticks, and for minutes 46 to 95 last night he was absolutely on it – with Rhodes the main beneficiary.
It was impossible not to feel ecstatic for the ex-Ipswich man, who has had to play second-fiddle to Teemu Pukki during his purple patch, but a couple of predatory strikes later and the stripes are now Rhodes’ to lose.
Both goals bore the hallmarks of a goal poacher extraordinaire, and when we signed him on loan over the summer these are just the type of goals we’d envisaged. That the second one rounded off a fine 18-pass move was a huge juicy, delectable bonus – one that clearly narked Mr Smith, who thought his side were deserving of at least a point.
In fairness, Villa were pretty good and under their new stewardship look well placed for a promotion charge. In Grealish, they have an outstanding individual who, for all his irritating traits, can win a game on his own, and loads of other players of Premier League quality. They’ll be there or thereabouts – make no mistake.
But last night was all about City and how Farke has turned us around from a side that looked ill-equipped to cope with the brutalities of the Championship, to one that now positively thrives in that same environment.
As a couple of the Archant boys have said… something is stirring in NR1. Who am I to argue.
Be proud people.
Good article Gary, and yes, things do look to be stirring. Let’s hope they continue to do so.
Tough for Louis Thompson though, dislocating his shoulder in his first tackle. The guy really deserves a break, and in honesty we could do with him too, as he is still the most natural successor to Alex Tettey.
Cheers Michael and spot on. Was a heart-breaking sight and one that’s so unfair on the lad – heart-wrenching. As one who had a shoulder that had a nasty habit of dislocating I know only too well the pain he was in. Trouble is, once dislocated once the tendons get stretched and there’s a tendency for it to happen again… and again. Fingers crossed his is a straightforward dislocation with no other complications, and he can get back into training in a short space of time. He has our best wishes.
Spot on Gary. It’s been said by others but I love to watch this team learning on the job. Emi Buendia’s first minutes were frantic, full of one touch play that gave up possession, lots of exasperated, arms out, palms up complaining when he was at fault. But as the game wore on, and he went back to basics, and he worked, and boy did he work his socks of with the high press, the more he disrupted Villa. In attack he then rarely gave the ball away and his corner delivery for the goal was perfect. That’s 2 in 2 games and how many assists has he for the season now? Lots has been said about Max Aarons and I concur with it all, just excited about seeing the next instalment of his and Jamal Lewis’ development. I heard someone commenting that “they must be playing with wing-backs but couldn’t work out who the 3rd centre back was” – I guess they are proper full backs then. Finally of the young blood, Todd “glorious in possession and fierce in defence” Cantwell. I think someone very special is emerging there. There was a lovely tweet that Jack Grealish has posters of Todd up in his room!
Everyone was awesome last night, and as Tim Klose explained in his post match interview “I’m Farkeing loving it right now”!
The crowd were massive last night, well done to all who attended. OTBC
Cheers ‘Spud’ – good shout re Buendia, really should have mentioned him. Gave the ball away with his first four touches but from there just grew and grew. Ended up with a great performance. Typical South American, stocky, low centre of gravity, good technician etc
After the WBA game I asked had Krul become a dodgy keeper.I have my answer now and it is categorically no.He communicates security and that is great for the defensive line in front of him.Whilst the attention is rightly on Rhodes,Krul getting back to his best could have been the signing of the summer.
Farke seems just as good at rehab for the older players as he is at developing the younger ones.
Very good shout Pete – he’s now the keeper we’d all hoped for.
Great stuff Gary – good read. It is taking a little while for the old feelings and expectations to die off, as yet again last night when we went one down that horrible feeling rises to nag, are we going to fold inwards, roll over and die Or is the end to the great run like last season ?
But there is something about this squad, as it goes right through the squad a belief in themselves and in the way they play, that they aren’t beaten until the final whistle, despite playing nearly 10 minutes extra.
That is something I have to have a piece of that thinking, to stop the nagging. doubts and almost fear that grabs.
You mention Buendia, he is a talent just waiting to really explode, but what really impresses me is his willingness to get and help his full back out along with other defensive work.
Thoughts must go to Thommo, what a lad- shows his determination and charactor , I saw the fall on his out stretched arm, it didn’t surprise me he did some damage, but what did suprise, stood out was his willingness to try and get back in position holding his arm clearly in bloody agony. Just like he displayed at Porterloo Rd.
Along with Jarvis he deserves a rub of the green, thankfully this isn’t a injury related to the normal pulls, tears etc or it may start to look like he is injury prone, a bit of a freak accident.
Bubbling nicely
An enjoyable read Gary. When Villa went ahead I thought two things, firstly we can pull this back and secondly win, lose or draw I don’t care because the football City are playing is wonderful to watch.
Whoever is responsible and I hope its a collective responsibility for coaching the young players have done a brilliant job.
I just hope we can hold onto them for a couple of years at least as they are an exceptional crop of players.
My main concern with regard to the future after reading about the accounts in the EDP this morning is the need for substantial outside investment if the club is to continue to flourish.
I disagree about the need for big investment in the club. I love the fact we are doing things differently and are showing that throwing millions on players and wages is not sustainable. If we get promoted and gain those financial benefits then, unlike last time!!!!, it’s essential that money goes into developing the club, ground, training facilities etc. Some will have to go on bonuses and player wages but creating a self-funding club that produces great, well rounded, techincal and coachble players is the way forward. They become the commodity by which the club can stay financially sound. Also look at the work that has been done on Zimmerman, Krul, Leitner, Trybull and co. Those guys have been picked up for a snip and their values are soaring. Come to Norwich, get your game time, get your mojo back and make the club a tidy profit in the process. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t want any of them to leave or the academy players, I hope they stay, we get promoted and then win the Champions League. This May of course not happen but our club will not be owned by some dodgy investors who try and buy their way to the top and cripple the club. Well done Delia, Stuart and Daniel – what you are building is really, really special and quite unlike the norm!
I don’t disagree ‘Spud’ – there’s something very laudable about the self-financing model but (perhaps like John) I’d love to think it’s achievable *without* the sale of at least one saleable asset every summer, else every close season will be an exercise in rebuilding. Noises emanating from the club seem to suggest this is how it has to be — hope I’ve misunderstood the message. I’d like to think that player sales are done on our terms rather than as a way of keeping the club afloat.
Fair point and I guess that’s the harsh reality of Championship vs Premiership income.
Guess we need to make sure there is always someone hungry to fill the next sale’s boots.
Last year we were the madders and extras show. This year we are more rounded and cohesive unit. Without 3 starters and still beating the big boys (and spenders) in the league. Selling one on might not be too bad and not require a total overhaul.
That’s my concern too, Gary. In a way, success with this model might actually necessitate piecing together a new team every summer. It might also be that the only way we keep a stable team is if it’s not a very good one, which would then mean financial trouble.
It’s definitely a massive positive that we have these academy graduates doing so well in the side now, one that I’m enjoying. We cannot, however, bank on this happening every year. I hope I’m wrong.
I would like to see us become a self financing club but it’s obvious from the latest figures that it is not achievable in the current league structure.
We will need to find a Maddison standard player every season just to break even. I’d like to know what the odds on achieving that are.
18 passes and finished with a proper strikers goal, the Dutch used to call that ‘Total Football’. To us it’s just ‘Farke Life’ and I’m loving it.
No prima donnas it seems, just a very talented group made up of good characters who totally get it in respect of where Daniel is looking to take them.
Cracking game of football!
Not a tackle or a fall for poor Louis Thompson, A Villa player just pushed him in the back with both hands (view from UB and directly in line.
To be fair, he charged into Hutton charging down the ball and bounced off him. I sit front row of the City stand. It was right in front of me. Didn’t look bad on first showing. However, once he got up, you could see he was struggling.
Great read as always Gary; what a couple of games and results.
It really does seem as if we are once again one club, with everyone pulling in the same direction.
For me, I’ve not felt this sort of pride in our club since the Lambert days and long may it continue.
Villa looked like we did last season with all of their players looking to Grealish to do something in the way we did to Maddison. Keep him quiet (easier said than done I suspect) and you’re halfway there.
Great performances throughout the team last night, but how unlucky can Thommo be? He surely has to be due a slice of luck soon.
Can’t wait for Saturday, and for an oldie like me I have to say I’ve not felt like this for years.
O T B C
Hi Gary
A good read and analysis of last night’s game.
Was a little disappointed with the first half as it looked at times as if City were trying to pass the ball into the net and didn’t really trouble the Villa goalie. But all the celebrations when they went 1 up to an OG was over the top as they hadn’t really worked Krul at all.
In commentary last night it was said Trybull “took one for the team” – such a bad phrase. It means he gets another booking and could get suspended sooner, also it gives a free-kick to the opposition and a chance of an equaliser – maybe it was his way of making up for the OG.
I liked Farke’s comment in the EDP where he said that the team needs to have a large win to help his nerves, but they are proving they can defend a narrow lead. Like him, I would enjoy seeing City score a few more and have a comfortable win at some stage.
It was good to see Thommo come on last night but it was an unhappy ending for him – let’s hope he is fully fit and able to take part sooner rather than later.
Roll on Saturday and bring on Brentford with another new manager, win, loss or draw. OTBC
After read the annual financial report in the EDP are they preparing the supporters for a few more sales in January or the summer.
Surely it is time the Smiths either openly admitted that the club needs outside investment to continue the upward trend or state that their vision for the club is to be a member of the full time championship with no ambitions to ever set foot in the Premiership again.
Absolutely. This nonsense that’s been pedaled about us having balanced the books has been exposed in black and white.
What surprised me from the reports is that our expenses went up! Add to that we now have a 10M tax bill to throw in the mix.
As Webber now says
“Since the end of the financial year in June, a combination of factors including the end of parachute payments, a large tax bill, the signing of six players and on-going operating costs means we are projecting a cash-negative position by the end of 2018.”
Just a quick word of explanation re the reference to the £10m tax bill. This came from a report of a section of the presentation that the EDP reporter clearly didn’t understand. The section was discussing cash flow and that £10m had been paid since the end of the financial year. For the uninitiated a large part of this £10m was the payment of VAT which had been received on transfer fees received for Maddison and Josh Murphy. Simply put, it was additional monies received before the end of the financial year paid over to HMRC in the new financial year.
Accepting your explanation we are still well short of being a self funding club.
If we were ever to get back to the premier league how would we fund the £100 million required to give us a chance of survival.
I thought it was clear everywhere I’ve read it.
We ended the year with 16M cash. 10M has already gone to pay taxes and this will appear in the 2019 reports.
This sceptic is starting to believe, like others I really would love to see us actually have a nice comfortable win by more than 1 goal but that’s just nit picking, these last two games, ticked so many boxes:
Back to back games with 2 goals.
A win without Tettey in the side.
Continued good form and wins against tough oposition.
Coming from behind twice to win.
The crowd once again being bang up for it and right behind the team even in losing positions.
A lot has been made of our second goal and the 18 passes. I think it is the strongest indication yet that what Farke has been trying for all along can work and perhaps some of us were too quick to write the tactics off as incompatible with our quality of player and the championship. But in those 18 passes we went back to the defense from the final 3rd, back at least one more time but moved the ball quickly and as a consequence found space and created a great team goal. What too often before appeared passing for passings sake, now looks like probing and manuovering the oppo about. I take my hat off to the players and the coaches, when played with pace the football is startig to become a thing of beauty.
One box that remains unticked though is the 11 man defense to be broken down. stoke managed to keep a clean sheet, but have some very good players, can we now breakdown, score and win against the unambitious coming for a point? Much like Burton last year. Could we if we score early, first half even, against such a team, then finally see our confortable win?
I’m startig to believe that it really won’t all go wrong, we won withot Tettey! Webber sort out that contract!
Bah!
I’ve said that I’ll wait till 20 games to get excited but it’s getting to be like when you’re 10 years old and you know where your Christmas presents are hidden-almost impossible wait for the date.
I love the way everyone (ok, not JR) are comfortable with the ball and trust each other enough to pass in tight situations. It also seems that a lot of naivety has disappeared and that the forward and midfield players are prepared to ‘take one for the team’. A free kick conceded on the half way line is generally less harmful than allowing a quick break to continue.
I feel so sorry for Louis Thompson, he must have been Ghengis Khan in a previous life.
Leitner impresses me more with every game. He finds space to operate, is aware of our players’ positions, and also of incoming challenges. In the way he moves across the pitch, head up all the while, and refusing to be hurried, he reminds me somewhat of Bobby Moore. I can’t give him any greater compliment than that.
Some of the first-time short passing last night was a joy to behold, and we must be a nightmare to play against with the high pressing and sustained energy levels. A lot of credit to the coaching methods and Farke’s insistence on fitness.
As has been said above, it’s a pleasure to go to games now, and even if we don’t win, the performances are great.
Best wishes for a speedy recovery to Louis T. He surely deserves some good luck soon.
I also meant to say that I thought Tuenzebe had an excellent game for Villa. He’s a big strong centre back, with a lot of skill. Having said that, Rhodes did well against him, closing him down and forcing him to either go long, or back to his goalkeeper.