In keeping with the UK 2019-style, yesterday lunchtime’s 1-1 draw in Greater Manchester had a polarising effect on the Canary Nation.
Those of a positive disposition perceived it as another step closer to the ultimate goal. A point, a vital point, which at least matched the result of Wilder’s wobblers and maintained the gap, with the Blades now having a game less to close it.
Meanwhile, those for whom the glass is half-empty saw it as confirmation that City are in now in the midst a bona fide dip, with Emi Buendia’s absence stripping us of the creativity and fizz that has taken us to the cusp of something great.
One thing that those on both sides of the divide should agree on, however, is that City remain in an enviable position. Even the most cynical Canary must accept that being seven points clear of third place with four to play is a more than a healthy position to be in, especially when that’s effectively eight given City’s superior goal difference.
The bookies agree. With some, City are 1/8 to win the Championship and 1/100(!) for promotion.
Yet, while Paddy Power and co may assume it’s job done, there is still some distance to cover before we hit that finishing tape. And, as we’re being reminded, it’s invariably those final few metres that are the hardest. To paraphrase an astute tweeter from yesterday, we’re 5-1 up in the final set but after sailing through the match with ease, we’re now struggling to hold our serve.
It happens. That’s sport.
All of which is no consolation to those tasked with getting us over the line, and there were signs yesterday – almost for the first time – of it all weighing a little heavy on the shoulders.
That Wigan were very good yesterday was no surprise, however, and after checking out the home and away tables last week, it became very clear why the Latics are hovering just above the relegation zone – and it was certainly nothing to do with their home form.
Paul Cook is a canny operator and deployed a game plan that simply didn’t allow City to play in that first half. To say they played ‘on the front foot’ is simplifying what was a well devised and well-executed press, which not only hindered the back-four’s ability to find forward passes but also squeezed Tom Trybull and Kenny McLean in the next phase.
The same happened in the wider areas with neither Onel Hernandez or Todd Cantwell being given time or space to square up their opponents or even get their heads up. As a consequence, the supply to Teemu Pukki was limited, so too the chance to get the ball to the feet of Marco Stiepermann on the half-turn in those areas between the lines.
For the first time in ages, it was a hard watch and despite Wigan’s goal coming from what looked a particularly harsh penalty, it was no more than they deserved. For once, City didn’t have the solution to problem, with several players dipping below the high standards they have set themselves this season.
But it’s a been a long hard slog and they’re not robots. A stumble was inevitable at some stage and against a Wigan side who are clearly better than their league position suggests, this always felt like a banana skin waiting to happen.
Stiepermann copped some flak, as did Hernandez, and both were clearly below par, but have been integral in City’s rise to the summit and don’t overnight suddenly become the bad players that some on Twitter were suggesting.
Todd Cantwell too was on the receiving end of some unjust criticism, with some nailing him for not being Buendia and not being able to do the things that Buendia does – all of which left a slightly bitter taste and belied the togetherness and trust between fans and players that has taken us this far.
There was a clear increase in intensity after half-time, helped by the inevitable decrease in Wigan’s, and there was more of the old City in evidence in the second half, although it did take a brilliant save from the imperious Tim Krul to deny Leon Clarke in a one-on-one. At 2-0, City would have been gone.
But with the ball being popped around with more precision, everything happened a little quicker, even though it did take Daniel Farke’s triple-change on 76-minutes to make the decisive difference.
Ironically, Mo Leitner, Mario Vrancic nor Jordan Rhodes played direct roles in Pukki’s equaliser – McLean getting the assist with a beautifully weighted pass – but their collective impact changed the dynamic to such an extent it felt like when and not if, and no one would have been surprised if we had gone on and sneaked a late winner.
Leitner brings composure and poise, Vrancic brings silky passing and an eye for goal, Rhodes is the original fox in the box, and it worked. The shape was compromised as a result but it mattered not one iota and hindsight, being the wonderful thing it is, suggests that had that triple change been made ten minutes earlier then the outcome could have been even more favourable.
It was clear why Farke was unwilling to change his starting XI during that run of consecutive wins – to change a winning side in any circumstances takes a leap of faith – but now does feel like the right time to freshen it up a little.
Even if it takes a couple of positional changes to accommodate him, it feels like the right time to reintroduce Leitner, and Vrancic’s comfort in possession and knack of getting himself in goalscoring positions will be invaluable over these next four games.
Farke will think long and hard about it, and as a devotee of the ‘if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it’ school of thought will be loathe to send out negative messages to those who have served him so well, but minus the unexpected that Buendia brings, there’s an argument for things to be tweaked and done a little differently.
The tweaks will be minor though, barely discernable, but minus Emi for one final time, that creative spark needs to be reignited against Sheffield Wednesday on Friday night.
Yet, for all the travails of yesterday lunchtime, it was another small step closer to the ultimate goal and it speaks volumes for the season we’ve had that two consecutive draws are perceived as a mini-crisis in some quarters. In our last ten games, we’ve won eight and drawn two – some crisis eh?
So, rather than a blip, I think the 5300 witnessed first-hand us edging that little bit closer.
In the words of the Chris Martin who can frequent pubs in Beccles, nobody said it was (going to be) easy.
I also think the criticism of Cantwell was unfair as he should never have been put in that position in the first place. Expecting a young player just making his way in the team to replace our most outstanding mid field player was an awful burden.
Vrancic or Leitner should have received a call.
It is noticeable in both our recent games that we look a far more accomplished side with them in it.
I also think this pairing should start against Sheffield Wednesday in place of Cantwell and McClean. McClean has performed well but he is not as gifted as Vrancic or Leitner.
I noticed that Lewis didn’t look happy when substituted and his place taken by McClean.
It’s hard to criticise after a wonderful season but I do believe mistakes have been made in selected following Buendia’s unfortunate red card.
Yes, I fully agree with this John, and Gary’s comments above. I can’t say I understand DF’s reasoning for playing Cantwell ahead of either Leitner or Vrancic in both our last two games. This is especially given that McLean is really playing out of position, with a more forward role suiting him better, and therefore leaving him the more obvious replacement for Buendia leaving room for Leitner (preferably) or Vrancic in the engine room. The substitutions were too late yesterday as well, although at least they were in time for us to score the equaliser. The wrong team selection has arguably cost us 4 points the last two games, so let’s hope indeed that for Friday’s home match, the better players are indeed playing.
My other related surprise with the lengthy omission of Leitner in particular, but also Vrancic, is that if we are promoted both players will be essential to our chances of survival in the PL next year, unless we recruit one or two others with similar abilities, so it’s surprising at least one has not been a regular starter when available. They are the players who get City playing and keeping the opposition guessing on where the next attack will come from. In their absence it has ended up being the long balls of players like Godfrey and ZImmerman that have created the sudden unexpected attacks.
I really do hope that Farke returns to selections that appear to play to our strengths better for our remaining fixtures now, especially as the last two draws were arguably against the weakest opposition we will face until the end of the season now. Still just a couple of wins needed now.
I think most supporters will absolutely agree with these comments. I understand that the loyalty that Daniel Farke has shown to the established starting eleven probably helps maintain the great spirit within the squad but the absence of Buendia surely required the selection of Leitner or Vrancic (and preferably both) to give us the necessary creativity to break down the resolute defences of Reading and Wigan. I relly hope there will be changes for Friday.
Hi Gary
You will always have the feeble minded that will see and think the worst and they will be the ones that will say I told you so which ever happens at the end of the season.
They will forget all the great memories if city miss out on promotion or will be the cheerleaders if and when the promotion is confirmed.
For me it is all in cities hands and the blips occurring at the same time as Emi’s 3 game band is just bad luck, he will come back refreshed and wanting to make up for lost time.
As we all expected teams now know how to set up to spoil cities game plan and yesterday’s Ref was a little on the soft side early on there were a few late or high tackles from Wigan players.
My question is if the ball hits your leg then your hand why is it hand ball it bever use to be also in a sliding tackle why do you need your hands to be above your head????
For the second game it is a point won not 2 lost we were below our best so now we have Sheff Wed another tough game and wouldn’t it be great if Wigan can reproduce the form against Dirty Leeds on Friday????
I personally agree that it was a massive point gained. These past two draws have been perceived as “nervy” but mainly because of the opposition league placings (both Reading and Wigan belied them with performances.)
The difference between 6 points and 7 is massive at this stage. Two Sheff U wins and two City defeats would have meant they could have overtaken us if we’d have lost yesterday. Yes our goal difference is superior at the moment, but it’s NOT “effectively” worth another point because if we lose two and they win two their goal difference would overtake ours.
Anyway I am confident now we will beat Sheff Wed on Friday. I’d hope they will now believe they cannot reach the playoffs and would approach the game without a desired fervour to help their Steel City neighbours.
An agonising watch, Gary, uncomfortable from start to finish.
Ignoring the usual nonsense about “haterz” that some drips spout the moment a player comes in for some criticism one has to agree with JohnF that Cantwell has been put in an invidious position by Farkes rather puzzling selection. It is not, as some maintain, that Cantwell is not Emi, it is blatantly clear to most that he is not the best option to fill the void.
Having kept Leitner and Vrancic sheathed for the duration of the eight win run, Farke has chosen to leave them in the cold when it seems clear they are most needed. Leitner, whose barely concealed displeasure at being benched has bubbled to the surface recently, seemed immediatley to slip into his well oiled groove with purpose. Mario, whenever he takes possession in or around the box has me out of my seat at carrow road or my sofa at home, he makes stuff happen.
Will Farkes materstroke be the belated reintroduction of these two maestros on Friday? Both undoubtedly piqued at being ignored and ready to make a big impact on the remainder of our season? There’s little doubt that to have such cards up ones sleeve can be considered a major plus at the sharp end of the season.
In fact, when the infuriating loss of Buendia draws to a conclusion, I wouldn’t be averse to seeing all three inject quality into a stale midfield.
Loss of form is not a precursor to terrace criticism, nor should it be. Players dip in and out of form during a season and seldom does a starting eleven in August bear any resemblance to the one in May. Where the frustration arises is the point at which players are being persisted with despite possible better options are kicking their heels, untried and in leitners case, obviously ticked off.
Regarding the game, quite why Wigan are in dire straits is not obviously apparent from their efforts yesterday. A proper handful and well managed.
The finish from Pukki was of his usual unerring standard, he’s fast becoming one of my all time favourite canaries, a list of about twenty souls,
Stiepermann and McLean were average to off colour overall, but still had moments of excellence, the formers being a sublime cross to Pukki which should have given us the lead and Mcleans being the slip in for our goal. Onel struggled to beat his man, Trybull was hooked. Not a great day for the midfield.
Whichever piece of Kruls anatomy it was that denied the centre forward matters not, it was a vital save and a very good,one to,boot. He almost got a hand on the penalty, guessing correctly and was probably our most impressive performer albeit without being overworked.
On to Friday and let’s fill the air with encouragement for whatever eleven Farke picks for the game, we simply have to get this over the line. It would certainly help however if Herr Farke would pick the best eleven available to him in terms of form and quality,
Hi Chris
I reckon the reason Farke hasn’t changed the general approach is that he feels Cantwell is only keeping the seat warm until the return of Buendia, hence no significant disruption of the gameplan..
And the triple substitution with 15 to play (okay, 23 as it turned out) didn’t turn out so badly.
Would I want to see both Pukki and Rhodes on together for the last 30 minutes of a knife-edge game? No, I wouldn’t.
Neither Mo or Mario are really cut out for wide-ish right so for me on Wednesday it would be drop Cantwell, play McLean on the right and Leitner or Vrancic alongside Trybull.
However many of us fans advocated this selection before Reading!
Although Vrancic and Leitner are not wide players like Buendia they can exert control over a game which is exactly what was required for the last two games rather than being given fifteen minutes to recover a game in which we lacked any control.
They can also produce the unexpected which is another much needed quality at the present time.
Exactly!
Hello Martin, agreed. McLean puts in a vicious delivery from wide areas in open play and is comfortable playing wide.
The discussion about replacing Buendia is missing a basic point – we play a particular system with him in the team, and Cantwell is the nearest direct replacement so that we keep to that system (interesting that we are linked to the Greek winger, who would be a more able, direct replacement in Buendia’s position).
Neither of Vrancic or Leitner can play in Buendia’s position so to get them into the team we have to change the whole system – we could do that, because we have done it before, obviously, but it leaves us more open as neither of them can cover the pitch the way Buendia/Cantwell do. Assuming that Buendia comes back in when available that would mean changing everything for one game from this point – I don’t think Farke or his coaches will want to do that, so I expect Cantwell to keep his place and for Frake to go for the system change 75 minutes in if needed, as he has in the last two games.
As for yesterday’s performance, we didn’t play well – but not just because Wigan pressed us. Our passing was poor and we gave the ball away when not under pressure. Our set piece delivery was again poor (until Leitner took over). Yet even with all that, without a diabolical penalty decision against us we would probably have won the game – it wasn’t that different to the performance at Middlesbro in all honesty, but we got the breaks there and at Wigan we generally didn’t (though the offside goal being disallowed gifted us the point – it was marginal).
But 6 points from 4 games should be doable for any team with aspirations of promotion; and I suspect we won’t actually need that many – I can’t see Sheff Utd winning all 4 without Sharp, Egan or Basham for most of them.
Everything will be fine.
From a distance, and with ageing eyes, for someone like me who doesn’t see many games I do find it useful to see the numbers on the shirts for the lads in midfield. Don’t need it for the back four, nor for Pukki or Hernandez. But it’s useful for sorting out Trybull, Stieperman, McLean, Vrancic, Leitner and Cantwell quickly. Unfortunately with that horrible kit they were wearing you can’t see the numbers very well either.
The atmosphere was superb but fair play to Wigan, they were very effective and Leon Clarke was always a threat.
What Wigan managed to do was give any of our fans who wants to have a moan “justification” for lambasting whichever player they’ve long had down as their scapegoat when things don’t quite work out as hoped.
Cantwell seems top of that list at the moment, but during the game there were a few other shouts near me including a description of Stieperman as a donkey, and suggestions that early success has gone to Aarons’s head. In truth nobody played particularly well, but by the same token nobody was awful, not as far as I could see anyway.
I was amused by the guy next to me – around 30 or so rows back – who kept shouting “Aarons wants it”, “McLean wants it” etc. etc. and then acting very frustrated when they didn’t follow his instructions.
In truth, there were just too many “nice idea” passes that didn’t quite come off, perhaps a bit of a reluctance by Lewis and Aarons to simply push the ball down the line and try to win a footrace, some loose first touches under pressure, and with a strong cross wind sending anything forward in the air – which we were forced to do more than we’d like – was something of a lottery,
The penalty seems to me a classic case of a referee applying the law as it should be rather than as it is. It clearly wasn’t intentional, Godfrey wasn’t booked for it, so strictly speaking it shouldn’t have been given. But it was a shot on target until the ball hit his hand, and in my view if the direction of the ball is changed by a hand it should always be a fee kick or penalty. I’ve written before about one that we didn’t concede when Craig Fleming stopped one on the line at the Etihad – the ball had come through a number of players, Fleming was unsighted, and the ref regarded it as unintentional so didn’t give it. Great for us, but why they ever complicated the law baffles me.
As everyone keep saying, 2 wins does it.
I’m looking forward to Friday night when I think we will be more fluent and take a big step closer to the PL.
I find this fan ‘rating’ is somewhat tedious to be honest. Whatever next, stars on shirts depending how many games you’ve been to? ?
What fan rating Gary? Can’t see anything on here doing that.
Not on here, Keith B, on other social media channels. If you’ve missed it, steer well clear.
Well said Gary F.
If that were the case I’d have so many stars on my shirt that you couldn’t see which club I support. They’d cover the front including the Canary badge, both sleeves and the entire back of it also.
But I don’t want stars – I just wish for us to gain a fully deserved promotion.
And I’m sure we will.
Well I’m glad you understood Gary’s comment Martin because I have no idea who or what he’s referring to, presumably something on social media or the awful Archant site.
well the answer to my question has come from Ref watch on Sky. Wigan’s penalty wasn’t one it has been confirmed it came of his thigh before his hand, and the disallowed goal was a correct decision he was offside.
Great as always Gary.
I’m struggling to understand why so many commenters are questioning Mr Farke at this stage of the season. I’m pretty sure that in an interview last week he said that Todd Cantwell was selected to replace Emi Buendia as he was the closest like for like replacement – otherwise the system and set-up which had got us 8 wins on the bounce would have to be changed. Cantwell had a reasonable outing against Reading, certainly no worse than a number of others, and just think what it could/would have done for his confidence to be ditched immediately. Yes, Vrancic and Leitner are probably more accomplished performers, and after their late cameos yesterday, I wouldn’t be at all surprised to see either one or both of them deployed from the start on Friday. This would of course mean a tweak, to the formation plus unfortunately Jordan Rhodes is not available. Wednesday will not be easy, even though the chances of them finishing in the play offs are remote at best.
Interesting to read on various threads that both Reading and Wigan fans are saying their performances against us have been their best this season so far.
What’s really less interesting is that I see Mr Burley has worked his “magic” once again, and despite a faultless March, once again Farke is overlooked for manager of the Month.
Oh, and was yesterday really a penalty against Ben Godfrey? I would say definitely not, but then again, I’m not totally sure that the late Wigan “goal” was actually offside. Maybe it did even itself out.
We ARE going to do this!!!
O T B C
I believe we will be promoted , yesterday we salvaged a point from a pretty poor display , it’s a pity as that was the last time I will see this team play , being a geographicaly challenged fan .
A couple of minor points : the goal difference is irrelevant . If it gets so close that it’s required ours will have worsened and Sheffield Utd will have improved theirs . My recollection is that the score was 1:1 when Krul made his outstanding save .
Buendia is missed not just for his creativity, but his ability to win the ball back high up the field . I’m afraid I’ve never been a big fan of Cantwell or McLean . Both Vrancic & Leitner have the ability to look up and see the opportunity.
I don’t blame these 2 guys , there were many others yesterday who had an off day I just think Vrancic and Leitner are better picks in the current situation.
I agree with others that Wigan are too good to go down
I love Chris’s Farke “masterstroke” point. If thats the case it will be a brilliant outcome. I dont get the late, late substitution which brought a transformatory Vrancic on v. Reading & likewise why the subs were so late v. Wigan (again, as the report mentions). We need calm & assured players on from minute 1 on Friday eve given the high stakes. And I do wonder if Leitner is getting the hump – understandably especially since the Reading game.
Perhaps Farke is getting the hump with Leitner rather than vice versa. We have no idea what goes on in training.
Sometimes you get players, especially talented creative ones, who give off an air of “entitlement” to the shirt rather than a willingness to fight for it. That won’t go down well with any manager, certainly not Farke. But as I say, that’s only a guess – could be miles wide of the mark..
What evidence is there that Leitner has such a sense of entitlement? Yes, keen to get on during recent games. The crucial point is surely that when he does get on he consistently justifies his inclusion.
True Richard. The only dissent I’ve seen from Leitner was a severe kicking of the advertising hoardings on the realisation that he wasn’t about to join the fray, about a month ago.
With regard to Keith’s point regarding fighting for his shirt, I hark back to August when Leitner went absent during the pre season game at charlton.
It appeared that despite having all the pedigree in the world, he lacked stomach for a fight. Once he regained his spot, scoring at Ipswich, he didn’t relinquish it until he was butchered by mowbrays thuggish Blackburn.
As a doubter, I was won over by his turnaround and impressed.
I certainly feel that Leitner and Vrancic with a point to prove would be bad news for any championship opponent.
Wigan were better than us in the first half-that’s the only half of football that we have been second best in for as long as I remember. At this time of the season results are often in contravention of what the table suggests they should be as teams near the bottom find a bit more effort and talent than they’ve shown in previous games-Leeds and Sheff Utd have also recently shed points against teams considerably lower in the table than themselves and Leeds play Wigan on Friday.
We now have 4 games against teams that probably have little to play for. Sheff Wed, Stoke and Blackburn look unlikely to be troubling the relegation or play off places and Villa look as though they will have booked their play off spot by the time we go there so I guess they’ll rest Grealish-and our form without Emi is superb compared to Villa without JK.
We still have to probably lose 3 more games than Sheff Utd to not go up and 2 more than Leeds not to win the league. It seems a pretty good position to me.
Football is all about opinions. Personally, I would rather put faith in the opinion of Daniel Farke and Stuart Webber than I would the fans.
So far their decision making has been spot on and lets face it, they will be the ones held accountable if things don’t work out.
None the less I really hope we get promoted irrespective of how bad next season may or may not be. Performing at the pinnacle of their profession is what the players and management of the team will ultimately aspire to.
Time for calm and time to play some exciting, attacking football….the pressure is off us and on others.
We just need to match Sheff United’s result in two of the remaining 4 games to be promoted.
It will be good to see if Wigan can put up a good fight against Leeds and then see if any of their supporters complain again that teams are not trying when they play us????
Hi John
“We just need to match Sheff United’s result in two of the remaining 4 games to be promoted”.
Your comment is centrical to my article on MFW tomorrow and you are quite bl00dy right!
(I wrote my stuff long before I read your comment but you are spot on and have put matters firmly into perspective).
OTBC
It is to be expected that the pressure of the situation will affect players who are physically tired after the Farke policy of no rotation during the season and subs only used to waste time at the end of games. We have been saying for last few games that some players are losing their sharpness so why not follow the example of those managers at the top of the premiership and introduce fresh legs after an hour. It is not unusual for Aguero, Rashford, Willian etc etc to find themselves on the bench is it. I am still confident we will do it but these last few games show how easy it would be to lose the big prize. Farke has done well but it is a learning process and hopefully the triple substitutions are a sign of learning taking place.
I think we were promoted once Milwall scored their equalizer. I suspect Sheffield won’t surpass the points we have even now. I listened to a Sheffield United podcast and their opinion was that automatic promotion had escaped them. Which is a bit pessimistic since I’d still like them to pip Leeds, only 3pts away.
Can you put a word limit on replies?
A memory came to mind of our League 1 Title winning season, I remember the tight draw at home to MK Dons when we got a late equaliser after trailing for much of the game. This was followed by a defeat at Orient who were fighting for their lives. After these matches we were on 86 points from 42 comfortably ahead of second placed Leeds and 7 ahead of third. Sound familiar? We got promoted that season. I would normally resist claiming my glass is half full and in fact I would say it is pretty much a full pint with maybe a slight slurp from the top, we have little to do and little more can be asked. I would reserve my half full criticism for those at Portman Road with the help of Lambert and the EADT who are in complete half full denial as they clinch relegation. League 1 Tour they sing as the point at a film of froth at the bottom of glass and call it half full. Long may inertia reign there while we head in the right direction