There’s no escaping the fact it did feel like two dropped. Equally, no-one could deny that Sheffield United were good value for their point, having had the better of the second-half after City had shaded the first.
Say what you like about Chris Wilder – and we’ve said plenty – there’s no argument to be had around the quality of the team he’s moulded and, in the same way he and his troops acknowledged that City were at times “outstanding”, we have to be big enough to concede they were more than a match.
The playing styles may have been different but in terms of effectiveness, both teams asked questions of the other and [cliché klaxon] it really was a good advert for Championship football.
For United, while they are happy to shift the ball through the midfield, it’s very much a numbers game, where they use their full-backs and centre-backs to create overloads and get crosses aplenty into the box, and with a Billy Sharp in your side, that will, at some point, pay dividends. For City, it’s more a question of… well… Farkeball.
And in the first-half, it was Farkeball that held the upper hand, even if at no point did it develop into the total domination we enjoyed for those opening 35 minutes against Birmingham City – Wilder was never going to allow that to happen. But there were several flashes of the beautiful game we’ve become accustomed to, just as we’ve become accustomed to seeing them end in a goal.
GOAL!! HERNANDEZ!! One of the most well worked goals we’ve seen all season. Truly beautiful stuff. Wow. #ncfc #otbc #sufc #hernandez pic.twitter.com/ESrOvzd3MP
— Yellows Vision (@yellowsvision) January 26, 2019
When it flows it really is a joy, and whatever happens over the next four months, some of the stuff being dished up right now really is about as good as it gets when you support Norwich City.
For years, we (or maybe just me) have admired the intent but bemoaned the lack of precision, but after over a year’s worth of rehearsals, the timing and technique that went into Onel’s opener made those long hours of watching the ball being shifted slowly and laterally with little or no end product worthwhile.
If only Dean Henderson hadn’t seen fit to save Emi Buendia’s effort late in the half, I could otherwise have been writing about a win, but instead, our little Argentinian’s major contribution came at the wrong end, as his clumsy attempt to close down Enda Stevens ended in the inevitable.
Okay, Stevens may not have needed much persuading to go down, but if it had been at the other end and not been given, the River End would have blown a collective gasket. Despite Tim Krul’s best attempts, Sharp was never going to miss.
Alas, that was almost as good as it got for City and despite edging ahead for the second time, it never felt as if City had proper control of the game after the break. Daniel Farke disagreed – citing City’s control of the game as reason for leaving the substitutions so late (and he knows infinitely more than I) – but from my River End vantage point, it was a one-goal lead that never felt comfortable.
That shouldn’t, of course, detract from the quality of Teemu Pukki’s goal, which came slightly against the run of play but which was still rooted in Farkeball. The build-up was fluid and neat but the finish from the Finn – who had an otherwise ordinary afternoon – was of someone who expects to score every single time he steps onto the pitch.
His opener against Brum last week may have gone in via his nether regions but this one was a top-notch bit of technique, as he wrapped his foot around the ball to drift it into the far corner.
GOAL! PUKKI! Another lovely move. Liquid football. Instinctive finish. #ncfc #otbc #sufc #pukki #goal pic.twitter.com/u2e1gHO1KS
— Yellows Vision (@yellowsvision) January 26, 2019
Has there ever been a better free transfer?
That City couldn’t hold onto the lead was crushing, but whether we like it or not, despite each individual defender playing really well, as a unit they do have a cock-up or a lapse in concentration in them. Harsh but true – and while this remains, along with the struggle for a clean sheet, we will find it hard to put teams away.
A defensive crisis it most certainly isn’t but if there is one area of the team that’s in need of some minor surgery it’s across the back four. As if Farke and Stuart Webber haven’t spotted this – I’ll shut up.
The move made on Christoph Zimmermann by Sharp to lead him to the near post before pulling away to the far was classic centre-forward play, and I suspect my line about Pukki looking like scoring every time he plays is one repeated by United fans in respect of their number 10. Love him or hate him, he’s a handful.
That the Blades chose to stick and not twist was their prerogative, as was their choice to see out the remaining minutes “the Norwich way” – as they kept reminding us – and again, love it or hate it, it’s something that’s all part and parcel. It does seem odd however that the #TwitterBlades had never witnessed the darker arts being employed to see out a game until September 2017. All very odd.
But a point apiece was, as most folk agreed, about right and for us to have maintained that healthy four-point gap was important, so too the fact that West Brom and Boro both have FA Cup replays to contend with followed by, possibly, another tie in the fifth round.
So, not the win we desired but at least Wilder’s post-match yomp across the Carrow Road pitch was not the two-fingered ‘up yours’ he so revelled in last season, and we remain in decent shape with Messrs Leitner, Klose and Tettey all edging closer to a return.
Who knows where this ride is going to take us, but it’s bloody good fun.
Really good read Gary.Yesterdays game was actually really good to watch as both teams played some good stuff but have to say i would have enjoyed it more as a neutral because it felt like a loss despite it being a fair point.I feel going forward we are playing some of the best football in my memory highlighted by that first goal which really was a thing of beauty.On a more negative front I feel we need to cut out the naveity at the back which is costing us at the moment(even the Birmingham game) but we are missing experienced heads in there like klose for example but that’s no slight on the youngsters who have given their absolute best.Getting mo,klose back in the mix and we are in pretty good shape,bring on the mighty Leeds.OTBC
An excellent report Gary, and it articulates some broader concerns too particular about our defence and Farke’s perceptions of it. Wilder’s lot played well, but it was definitely two points lost for us, and with now just Leeds (a) to come, we have not beaten any of the other top 4 sides so far this season – Leeds, WBA or SU.
Farke is a good manager, but it always worries me when a manager’s (stated) perceptions differ significantly from those watching. Fine if the manager is visionary in the way us less knowledgeable people are not, but when the audience collectively sees a defensive disaster waiting to happen, and the manager does not, that’s concerning. We conceded the lead twice yesterday. And again, as with the Derby game, once ahead and with not long to go, Farke failed to make sure the back door was closed. This is a fault in his tactics.
He hasn’t once in recent games made a defensive substitution to protect a lead, even when the game situation is crying out for one. And I’m sorry but his refusal to bring Hanley back into the side is now really irritating me. The last time Hanley played 30 mins or so in a league game I think was Bristol City (a), and our defence instantly looked more secure. Since then he has only had the FA Cup fiasco, but in a game like yesterday, however good Godfrey is becoming and whatever his potential, a) he is not the colossal man mountain that Hanley is, and b) he does not have the experience and cannot yet exert the leadership and marshall a defence in the way that Hanley also can. And unfortunately, by not giving him game time, Farke cannot any longer claim that he knows what Hanley could or could not contribute to such recent game situations we’ve faced such as the last 20 or so mins against Derby and now SU (where we also could not protect are initial lead going into half time), because Farke doesn’t know. To suggest that our defence does not need Hanley, when Klose is injured and we are leaking goals in crucial situations as much as we are at the moment, doesn’t fly any longer as an argument. And maybe I’m totally wrong, Godfrey was the better CB player to be on the pitch throughout yesterday’s match, but at this point until I see the evidence of this I won’t be convinced. If we fail to make the top two this season, it will be because of our defence, not our attack…. so it would be good to see some acknowledgement of this by DF, especially in game situations when it really matters.
There is indeed much to be enjoyed about this season as you conclude, but Farke’s stubbornness – and partial blindness here – is an unnecessary detractor to the enjoyment.
Regarding your first point about not beating the rest of the top 4, that reinforces my belief that these games aren’t season defining & that a point yesterday was good enough.
The Hanley situation is interesting. I agree to the extent that I would be happier with him in the team but there is a risk element with bringing in anyone who’s not up to match speed. I don’t believe he was ready to start before the Pompey game & his red card showed that risk perfectly. I’m not sure there’s been many games recently when we’ve needed to bring him on; arguably the Derby game but in that we did make a defensive sub & it didn’t work. I’d be surprised if he’s not in properly before the end of February.
So you are saying “Farke is a good manager” but “the audience collectively sees a defensive disaster waiting to happen, and the manager does not,”
That doesn’t seem to follow for me, so one of those two statements is wrong. Given our league position I think it must be the second one.
“by not giving him game time, Farke cannot any longer claim that he knows what Hanley could or could not contribute to such recent game situations”
What planet are you on? Unless Farke has a memory like a sieve I’m pretty sure he knows exactly what Hanley brings, and doesn’t bring, to the team.
He showed it very clearly when up against an opponent with speed and good movement in the FA Cup – an opponent in League One at that.
When Hanley was a first pick in the early games he played every minute in the losses to all our top 3 rivals. The upsurge in form, and improvement in playing attractive football have happened since he was injured – something that has clearly not registered with a lot of fans. It’s not the sole factor, of course it’s not, but it’s a major contributor in my view. I cannot see any need to bring him back right now.
Except you seem to have forgotten Hanley’s contributions last season and how he studied the defensive ship then, and also seem to have forgotten that he was injured in pre-season and was brought back in those early games not fully fit yet.
As an asset that can at least help ensure we close the door when in winning positions, I stand by my comments.
I haven’t forgotten his performances last season at all. Nor that we finished 14th. Nor that without him we’d have been closer to relegation than we’d have found comfortable. He was what we needed at that time, no question.
Last season. Not this.
And you don’t close a game down from centre-back, you do it by defending from the front, making the midfield more compact, and working hard to stop the crosses coming in..
I can appreciate your frustration, but I don’t really agree with it. The advantage DF has over the rest of us (apart from being good enough to manage a professional football team) is that he sees the entire squad on a daily basis. I am sure he has his reasons for not bringing in Hanley in the same way he saw a reason to bring in Cantwell. We’re second and at this point I’ll take an attitude of “If it ain’t broke don’t fix it”.
OTBC
Hi Gary
Another goid summary of yesterday’s game.
I will agree with Micheal D in that Hanley should have got game time there will come a period when he is needed and his lack of any game time will bite city were it hurts most in the points columns.
Wilder was magnanimous after the game in addmitting city are a good footballing side but he really couldn’t say anything else.
I will look at this a good point in the promotion battle yes we all prefered 3 points but we didn’t loss and are still second in the table we gave leeds up next but lets also remember that a lot if the teams around us still have each other to play so they could loss points we just need to keep the preesure on those below us.
Hope all read the interview by the Smiths in the ACN
It will be interesting to see how Farke plays it when the key players return from injury. So far this season, he has largely preferred to minimise the changes – whilst staying loyal to those who have been performing well in the team.
Trybull, Vrancic, Godfrey and Zimmermann haven’t done too much wrong individually and it would be harsh to drop any of them, however no one can deny how much better we are with Leitner, Tettey and Klose in the team.
It will be a headache for Farke but it’s a big call that he has to make.
Good report Gary. Like Michael D I’m a little annoyed that Hanley has been left out.
Whilst overjoyed at the difference Farke has made to this team I think he has a bit of a blind spot where Zimmermann is concerned. For a man of his size Zimmermann is not very good in the air and often has to make brave blocks because he doesn’t attack the ball at set pieces.
I’d like to see him given a break and Hanley brought back as he is our best central defender.
Klose and Tettey should (and, I think, will) return to the team as soon as they are fit enough. I think Farke has been brave to keep faith with Godfrey but we let too many goals in with Zimmermann and him as our center backs and no Tettey in front of the back four. I’d love to see Klose and Hanley resume their partnership at Leeds, but I don’t think Farke will change both of the centrebacks.
Leitner’s return instead of Vrancic is a little less clear cut, but starting with either and bringing some fresh legs on for the last 20 minutes or so seems a good way to go.
Sheff Utd were the first team since Leeds who tactically did a number on us. They stopped our full backs and denied us any width by pushing pockets of players around the pitch very efficiently – their team has players with less talent than ours, but they were deployed more astutely.
For once, Farke called it wrong if he seriously thought we were in control at 2-1. I think Maclean and Hanley would have done a job at that point for Emi and Zimmerman and still left us with enough forward threat. As you say, his changes to win or draw games work well, but he hasn’t yet figured out how to see out winning positions by using his bench.
“I’d love to see Klose and Hanley resume their partnership at Leeds,”
Yes. Worked brilliantly last time we played them didn’t it?
Oh, of course there’s more to it than that, I know, but Hanley and Klose are just as capable of losing a skilled operator such as Sharp as Zimmerman and Godfrey are, and as many other Championship centre backs are at losing Pukki.
What Hanley can’t do is bring it out from the back with the confidence the other have. And that is absolutely crucial to the way Farke plays.
Whilst I understand where the people who want defensive substitutions to see out games are coming from, I question if we have the personnel to do that. Might we not simply attract more pressure? I don’t know if many of your readers watched the recent Arsenal v Man. U. match. Ole Solskjaer’s response to being under pressure when 2-1 up was to send on Rashford & Martial. Man U scored a third on the counter to kill the game.
I absolutely agree with you John.
But it’s a very hard call for a manager/head coach to make.
While I am no great fan of Man U as an entity I really admire what Solskjaer has achieved there in such a short space of time.
A great player back in the day, a lovely character and I wish him all the best of luck.
I guess our equivalent of Rashford and Martial is Rhodes and Srbeny!
Proper game of football yesterday. It ebbed and flowed, it had me both jumping out of my seat and tearing my hair out. The result was probably about right over the whole piece.
Whatever the lazy national media stereotype around Sheffield United is, there is no denying that wilder has constructed a strong, resilient outfit at little cost, which plays to its strengths and has a bit of football about it. It’s also worth pointing out that they are not bog standard championship cloggers.
True, some of the challenges were over zealous and yet again, the standard of refereeing remains a sick joke but by and large, this was a game played in a competitive spirit, minus the thuggery of the likes of Blackburn, forest and Birmingham, to name but three.
Once again, in spite of some brilliant football, a few of the usual and less desirable traits of Farkes City manifested themselves.
Namely our habit of knocking off at the precise moment the clock hits 45 minutes. Sloppy concessions in the 46th minute of the first half are far too common to be a coincidence.
Farkes reticence regarding the use of substitutions to energise a flagging team is getting to be a little farcical. From the 70th minute it was obvious that at least a couple of our side were blowing and the ball simply wasn’t sticking. To wait until after the equaliser had been scored and the game had continued in the same manner for many minutes afterwards was suicidal. The eighty eighth minute is no time to introduce players in order to influence the result.
With a back like that continues to leak goals like a sieve, it will really start to boil my pi55 if Hanley and Klose aren’t reintroduced to add steel and experience to the flimsy cover we are currently witnessing at the back. Leeds will have a field day against such sloppy defensive “behaviour”.
Currently the only aspect of the team which isn’t promotion worthy is the defence. With experienced international players on the sidelines it isn’t acceptable to have to score three goals every week to win or even draw a game. Drop the dogma, get it sorted.
I think the substitutions were late – it seemed obvious that Stieperman was tiring, and that EMI was suffering from a knock and was tired around 70 minutes. I’d have liked to see McLean on rather than Cantwell, he seems more solid.
All in all, a decent point that could have been three. Oh well, just have to take all three at Leeds instead.
Amazes me that all the calls are for Hanley to replace Zimmermann. Saturday excepted the few errors have come from Godfrey. Understandable he is a youngster still learning a new position. This season our most successful partnership by far has been Zimmermann & Klose & that’s the one Ihope to see restored.. Many may consider Hanley to be our best centre back but it is the best partnership that is most valuable to the team. Unlike most on here I have seen Hanley’s appearances in the U23s & he also made mistakes in them.
We could just accept that, as Gary says, Sharp is shrewd and did a number on Zimbo. Other than that, the defence was solid all game. Why do we need to look for someone to blame? Ok, Emi messed up. Silly. And had he not, we may well have gone on to win comfortably. Who knows. But either way we still aren’t being outplayed by any side. And we ain’t losing. That is promotion form.
With regards to Buendia and his apart in the penalty,while the challenge was very poor, it was made in an attempt to rescue a situation that was allowed to develop due to his team mates, notably Aarons, knocking off. With regard to the Zimmermann/Godfrey argument, it’s clear that although both very good players, that both results and the solidity of the back four have suffered since they were first paired together. The availability of more experienced players has potential to stiffen up the back line.
What is bizarre is the new phenomenon of reinventing Hanley as a second rater in the mold of James Husband.