I can take James Bond films with the proverbial pinch of salt, particularly those that have been made without Sean Connery or Roger Moore.
But if the Championship’s Manager of the Year runner-up walked into a hotel lounge, announced: “the name is Farke. Daniel Farke”, and asked for his Martini cocktail “shaken, not stirred”, it would not surprise me one jot.
When faced with full-on Pulisball, we might have been shaken – certainly up until we scored – but were definitely not stirred.
We could have been two up at half-time with Teemu Pukki having two decent chances – ironically one from a long punt from Tim Krul that was messed up by the ball-drying, long throw merchant Ryan Shotton only for the excellent Darren Randolph to deny our Finnish finisher. Randolph also denied Pukki again with a close-range save.
Despite the Boro pressure, Randolph had more meaningful work to do than Krul in the first-half and that general pattern would continue in the second.
Everyone’s favourite pigeon fancier Jonny Howson tried to dribble his way out of a Boro defensive bodge-up and the man from Argos burst across the box to fire past a wrong-footed and probably unsighted Randolph.
The predictable bombardment came at the end when the Pulis boys loaded the mortars and fired them when they could.
But our guys deep in the trenches did not yield an inch.
I’m not sure exactly where six minutes of time added on came from – 30 seconds per sub and a little bit of time-wasting (I mean game-management) can add up though I guess.
Anyway, we weren’t at our flowing best – we couldn’t be in a fixture like that – but we were ready to rumble from the start and toughed it out until the finish in admirable fashion.
I’m not superstitious as such but I do believe in omens. Last week I asked Gary G to change my “favourite current player” from Ivo Pinto to Christoph Zimmermann in MFW’s columnists’ biog section. And I was well rewarded.
But my favourite Zimbo moment occurred after the final whistle. There he was, holding his Sky man-of-the-match plaque behind his back in his left hand while shaking hands with our wonderful travelling support with his right. What a geezer.
Tony Pulis said afterwards that his lads simply failed to take their chances and it cost them dearly. But we had more chances of the clear-cut variety. But no sour grapes from him so respect for that.
Now we have a full week of recovery and training before the arrivals of a down-at-heel QPR and a minorly resurgent Reading at the Carra.
I find it difficult to see anything other than those fixtures being won by the form horse (not the one Daniel Farke was pictured on at Lippstad). Then a trip to Wigan accompanied by an incredible travelling contingent of 5,000 Canaries. That could see us on 90 points but 88 would do for me from that trio of matches.
With Stoke away and the ineffective hard men of Blackburn (ask Mo and Timm) at home to follow.
I doubt the final two games against Wednesday and Villa will be of much consequence to us.
Sorry Yorkshire, but we won’t blow it from here.
I know he claims not to care about awards, but if Farke doesn’t get Manager of the Month for March It will be a travesty. What more can you do but win every match you contest within 31 days?
James Bond, of course, was known as 007. As in seven points clear and seven wins on the bounce, I’m sure.
And as for Scaramander down the road, it’s erm, now 57, which is quite a gap to mind.
OTBC
Excellent read as usual Martin and I really felt that if we could beat Boro, then we have ‘one foot on the ladder’ to be in the PL next year.
The way this team deals with whatever challenge the opposition poses is incredible and whilst several of our most recent wins have only been by the odd goal (and so nervy at times), they are still wins and 3 PRECIOUS points in our quest for glory.
I’ve come to accept that DF is going to stay with the same starting 11 provided there are no injuries and it worked wonders for Ranieri during his time at Leicester, so why change it? IF we are winning comfortably in any of our remaining 7 games, I wonder if we might see some earlier subs.
PS – I’m certain I’ve seen Pukki referred to the ‘Finnish Finisher’ somewhere previously. 😀
2
Hi Ed
A few folks have been saying that with McLean in for Leitner/Vrancic we no longer have that pivotal smoothness. Those maybe wiser reckon Kenny’s inclusion makes us harder to beat and I tend to agree with them.
In my view DF utilises subs in the last, say, ten minutes purely in order to disrupt an assault from a team that is chasing the game. So far it’s working.
PS – yeah I know. I can’t remember who came up with Finnish Finisher first but it definitely wasn’t me!
1
I’ve used Finnish Finisher before but I don’t know if it was an original thought!
0
Nice to be back to normal Mr P, thanks for another enjoyable read.
Not a bad start to the Final Countdown , This was one game I thought we might get undone in. With them still holding play off aspirations, thought it would be that bit harder. In some ways they didn’t disappoint , hard tough and sometimes dirty, while they made full use of bomber command. Typical although they did play a lot on the deck than I thought.
If they had the first half still with an outstanding save or two, we sure as hell had the second, we rightly highlight Zimmo’s block what positioning, there was another moment that typifies the spirit. Sure it was Godfrey who stuck his head down where the boots were coming up, to clear for a corner why the Bro guy seemed to be complaining beats me.
Zimmo is getting the highlights and rightly so, to think the guy was going to quit football , training to be a teacher thank goodness he didn’t. He has not made a sudden step up, he has grown into his game while he revels as being Captain.
I remember Farke saying that Emi was a little bit special, thought yea OK heard it before, but boy wasn’t he on the nail Then when he mentioned Godfrey would make a first class centre back, honestly I had misgivings, but what the hell do I know.
I posted the other week on points totals to be perfectly sure of winning the title, we could only drop 4 points, I said this was the game that most worried me, Know it was highly unlikely anyone would win all remaining games. But that one has been, answered, solved, sorted .
No game is easy we keep hearing and saying, but the next one, I woud not want to swap with Wilder, he has a trip to Deepdate , if they repeat what they did to us, I think that could be the end of their auto challenge .
I would much prefer to see Bristol City enter the Play Off places , one of the best sides I have seen. Thanks to them for saturday.
On to Q Pee Arrr . got a ticket for this one, luckily
3
Hi Lad
I think our trip to the Riverside worried us all but it’s over, done and dusted.
You’re quite right, Boro played more on the grass than most of us would have expected.
I reckon Zimbo’s aspirations towards teaching have helped Aarons, Lewis and Godfrey immensely. He should get a qualification certificate for what he’s done with them – with no fuss whatsoever!
I agree Bristol City are a decent side and maybe their win against the Wildermen will help them as much as it does us.
As for Preston they had a little knock-back at the weekend but I bet they’ll come out fighting against our rivals.
Beat QPR and Reading and I doubt we’ll care what they do!
Thank you.
2
I am not normally superstitious either, but I have been unable to attend any matches so far this season for various reasons. Consequently, I do not intend to attend any of the remaining fixtures, just in case!!! You can all thank me for my sacrifice at the end of the season.
Nevertheless, I usually manage to listen to Chris Goreham’s commentary via iFollow, except for this match against Middlesbrough! I was only able to check the score as we went into SIX minutes of stoppage time leading 1-0. Not having seen or heard anything that went before, my nerves were jangling right up to the final whistle.
Having now read various newspaper articles and the compulsory Gary and Martin descriptions of the game, I need not have been concerned at all. It sounds as though it is pretty much our two sets of Yorkshire friends that will have to fight it out for the remaining automatic slot.
Onwards and upwards. OTBC.
2
Hi Wanstead
While I never miss at home I only go away around three times a season.
As much as I love Chris Goreham’s commentaries I rarely listen to them as if I can’t see it myself I’d rather not know until afterwards. I’ve always been the same – I’m as nervous as a turkey around December 15.
I genuinely feel we will be okay.
Thank you.
2
What more does DF need to do to be MOTM for March? Be manager of Villa and get George Burley off the adjudicating panel probably!
Much as I appreciate the beauty and class of much of the football on display this season there is something fantastically heroic and satisfying about winning 1-0 away to a big, physical team who showed they really wanted and needed to win. Norwich have shown that they are capable of winning any kind of game-stand off and we’ll play through the thirds (when did that become a thing?), high press and we’ll find away through, try to dominate us physically and we’ll compete every inch of the way.
I loved the post match interview with Zimm and Onel. There’s some serious bromance in this squad.
4
Hi Don
The changes in football terminology over the last (very) few years generally leave me cold.
Philosophy, playing through the thirds, game management, duels, topics et al. But as everyone uses them now who am I to resist?
I suspect topics is a popular phrase in the German footballing fraternity and I’m hardly going to blame for DF for continuing to use the word in Norwich!
That was a massive win for us and from what I can ascertain the bromance – throughout the squad – is completely genuine.
Thanks mate.
1
“I’m not sure exactly where six minutes of time added on came from – 30 seconds per sub and a little bit of time-wasting (I mean game-management) can add up though I guess.”
I don’t know whether this has been the case in the PL, but it seems to me that referees in our league were instructed right from the start of the season to allow more added time, and personally I think it’s quite right.
Substitutions often do take more than half a minute, and in the past if a player went down injured (real or imagined) I don’t think time was added on until the point when a trainer came on to the field – which was not always immediate. I suspect now some time is added on for any injury break even if it’s not one needing treatment..
Given that we probably gained more points than we lost as a result, especially in the first half of the season, I’m not going to complain about it.
It’s high time anyway that for the higher levels of the game they moved over to a fixed playing time, probably of 30 minutes each way, with the clock stopped when the ball is out of play, and appoint official timekeepers (such as retired refs) to oversee it.
2
Hi Keith
That’s a very interesting viewpoint – I’d never really looked at it that way before.
There’s a lot of mileage in what you say and it would make for a great debate as a subject (whoops, topic) in itself.
I’d love to hear what the FA (groan) would think of the concept.
Thank you.
1
Fine stuff, Martin.
If there’s to be an individual POTS this season – everyone knows my inclination to an alternative – then Christoph Zimmermann has made a powerful case in recent weeks.
I fully expect Dean Smith to get the March Manager of the Month. And who cares?
3
Hi you old Mystic MFW runaway winner you!
I have never seen anything grow so quickly in stature like Zimbo since Mrs P mistakenly planted a cypress in the wrong place.
Good point about Dean Smith and an even better one about “who cares”.
Thanks
3
5 more wins to be guaranteed promotion (assuming Sheff Utd) win their remaining 7 games.
6 wins to be guaranteed to go up as Champions (5 wins and a draw and it comes down to GD) assuming that Leeds Utd win their remaining 7 games.
0
Hi MGW
When it’s presented in those terms…
You just have to smile.
0
Thnaks as always Martin.
I’m going to sound like the proverbial stuck record – whatever problem differing playing styles throw up against this bunch, somehow they and their coaches always find a way. Saturday was no different, although I guess we all know what Pulis-ball consists of.
We’re supposedly lacking when it comes to aerial assaults, but boy oh boy, don’t Ben and Zimbo like the challenge……and following the goal saving block by the big man, the genius that is Buendia is on hand on his own 6 yard line to help complete a pretty perfect away performance.
You got your fixtures muddled…….I reckon we’ll be promoted at Stoke (or earlier…..) and be crowned Champions at home to Blackburn – or, given the way we’re prepared and set-up even earlier.
We have breathing space now, and we’re due another comfortable win…one of QPR, Reading or Wigan should be afraid; very afraid!!!!
O T B C
3
I get most things muddled just now – Mrs P is having the back garden landscaped and a new bathroom installed at the same time. It’s like something out of Auf Wiedersehen Pet around here at the minute and I can’t wait to take the dogs out shortly. Not for their sake but for mine.
Yes Ben and Zimbo seem to absorb and enjoy the assaults – and so do Hanley and Klose when called upon!
If I had to pick a team to get a battering it would be QPR-ha-ha-ha.
Thank you.
0
High press, don’t give the keeper or back line chance to play, long ball, aerial battle, out muscle, etc, etc. Whatever the tactic used against us we have the answer, incredible! I thought every one of our players were 9/10 on Saturday.
Recently a number of sides have been at us from the start which is effective but DF and the team know full well that weather the storm and the opposition will tire and we will dominate. Saturday could easily have been 3-0. we are pretty much unplayable.
Come Saturday QPR will be thinking more about the 6 pointer with Millwall the game following (although we could have done without them sacking the Umbrellaman). Reading more about their following home game, so I reckon two wins and it’s party time with a double digit lead over 3rd as I can’t see both Yorkshire teams gaining 6 points from alternate games v PNE and The Blues.
Love and agree with your James Bond analogy Martin.
This is interesting City/ Ipswich comparison, (not checked), since Lambert took charge in Suffolk, 24 games ago.
P W D L F A PTS
CITY 24 16 6 2 58 30 54
Ipswich 24 2 9 13 19 39 15
We are all so brokenhearted!
0
Hi Colin
I cannot disagree with any of that.
Fitness and tactical adaptations (although generally minor) have served us really, really well this season.
Managerial sackings don’t always give a squad the kick up the butt they need of course so let’s hope that’s true on Saturday.
The Bond theme came about by accident – everyone has been talking about the significance of the number seven recently – and I nearly went for the Seven Samurai!
But just like Little Nellie, the autogyro in You Only Live Twice, we have something small, tough, brave and with a deadly missile both left and right.
aka Emi Buendia.
Thank you.
2
Hi Martin
A great read as usual.
The breaking news today QPR sack their manager and John Eustace replaces the wolly with the brolly.
The game management on Saturday evening was good and as been mentioned he wasn’t ungracious in defeat as with some previous managers this season.
Subs and when to use them or who to use just to give playing time will alway be a conversation piece and rarely will two people agree on the ins and outs of it all.
City had to work hard against a resolute Boro and to give them credit they played a good game bar a few rash tackles, and Pulis just might be learning to keep the ball earth bound a bit more.
Saturdays lunch time kick off will be another tough game as city are the team that everyone wants to beat at the present time and QPR with an intrim manager that will be looking to possibly be in contention for the job.
I said last week that if I was a gambler I would have gone for a city win of 2 – 1 and Spurs to also win 2 – 1 away at Loserpool well I am definitely not a gambler and kept my money in my pocket
OTBC
2
Hi Alex
Yep I agree with what you say.
The subs issue is indeed a bit contentious but when you’re winning and largely in control of a match why not use it as a ploy to break up a game at the end in order to stop the oppo building up a head of revengeful steam?
We get far too little protection from most referees. Any truly footballing side in the Championship doubtless suffers from the same, ie Derby, Forest and Bristol City. Swansea too.
Most sides at this stage of the season have many other issues to consider rather than having to worry about beating the “top of the League” which can only work in our favour.
I’ll pick Stoke and Blackburn as two who will have nothing whatsoever to play for when they meet us. I would have added QPR to that short list but now they have an incentive (maybe). Or maybe not.
I remember Peter Eustace playing for Stoke but I can honestly say I have never even heard of John Eustace!
Cheers as always.
1
Full agree with your reply and tes I also remember Peter Eustace but
Here is the facts on John
John Mark Eustace is an English former footballer who is currently caretaker manager of Championship side Queens Park Rangers. During his playing career, he played as a central midfielder for Coventry City, Stoke City, Watford and Derby County. Wikipedia
0