If anybody needed an immediate verdict on how City fans felt towards Friday’s performance at Anfield, then watching the reaction of those who made the journey up to the North West painted a picture more meaningful than any words spoken by former players or written in columns.
Compared to the rapturous applause and vivid colour displayed in that act of celebration of the Canaries performance at Anfield, the rest is merely meaningless noise.
The columns and punditry that followed were predictable.
Given the global exposure Norwich are subject to, the volume and variety of opinions were always going to increase; the noise that Stuart Webber rejects was about to increase to almost unbearable levels.
Buzzwords like ‘naïve’, ‘careless’ and ‘moronic’ have been uttered in the wake of the Canaries’ defeat, even some resorting to declaring relegation was nothing more than a formality given the way Daniel Farke’s men went about the game on Friday evening.
Those who have followed City since the beginning of the Webber and Farke revolution will know every brick has been placed with purpose, research and precision. To quote Frank Sinatra, they did it their way and one that will be visible across their performances this season.
And context is everything.
Writing columns and bemoaning tactical approaches is simple without having consumed much of the Canaries’ rebuild over the last two seasons; every pass has been rehearsed, every passage of play devised from scratch.
Once again, all that is being applied to their opening fixture is conventions.
There’s a romanticism around defending and the need to be resilient to compete. Noise. You need to spend money to ensure you don’t get relegated. Noise. You can’t play expansive football against Europe’s elite and expect to succeed. It’s all noise.
The quantity may have upped, but City have overcome the same criticisms before. Critics will always impose themselves onto what they don’t contextualise, and the real achievement for Norwich is that they have a team that is lining up in the Premier League at all.
Anyone who witnessed the way Villa approached playing Tottenham or the way West Ham tackled Manchester City would have been more impressed by a City side who were more courageous, with a genuine belief in their philosophy. Teams can lose their identity by conforming to that ideology of not getting beat.
Norwich supporters will recall the Chris Hughton era, where consolidation and defending were the sole objectives. Defeatism is accepting your place; Norwich, as Daniel Farke often comments, aspire to be more rebellious.
Yet, because of their perceived lack of ambition in the transfer market or self-belief in their principles, criticism lands at their doorstep. The facts don’t lie, City prevented a Liverpool side from completing 500 passes at Anfield and they broke through the defensive lines with purpose and confidence.
That’s why the scenes at the end were positive.
Simply put, Farke could have placed eleven men behind the ball, deployed a low block and allowed Liverpool the possession to control proceedings. But he didn’t, despite describing them as the best team currently operating in world football.
Naturally, there’s frustration about the manner of some of the goals conceded, but the overriding emotion as supporters departed the away terrace was one of pride and optimism.
Had Norwich have shown more composure in front of goal prior to the carnage unfolding, then this game could have panned out differently. Had ricochets not of fell to Mo Salah or had Grant Hanley had not sliced it beyond Tim Krul, then who knows how the game would have unfolded.
But dropping tools and merely making up the numbers isn’t Norwich’s way.
There will be no sleepwalking their way to the drop. It’ll be attacking, implementing a philosophy and young players experiencing a steep learning curve, everything that should be championed by clubs across the country. The romanticism of deep defending and direct football as the only way of overcoming elite teams is out-dated.
Optimism and positivity stem for that second half offering.
Admittedly, Liverpool’s intensity may have decreased, but City played their way back into proceedings. It wasn’t just them absorbing pressure but implementing a style of play that , beyond Manchester City, you wonder whether anyone else will replicate at Anfield during this campaign.
Other teams will undoubtedly park the bus and replicate the scoreline, if not concede more.
City’s critics need to get used to the fact those from Norfolk have accepted losing games, they’ve accepted getting the odd battering but still believe in the approach Norwich are deploying.
That we now have a voice in a Premier League is an annoyance to many, as will watching Norwich will play their way to safety not looking back but opting to play forwards with exciting, engaging football that scores goals.
Respect doesn’t win points, but Norwich’s stylistic approach will allow them to compete more than those who have an emphasis on defence. Not because attacking football is the best way but because it’s their way, and no matter who criticises it or sneers at it is ignoring the context of which they got here in the first place. That won’t alter.
And given the away contingent’s response to the Anfield performance, nor do they want it too.
City have their limitations, as does every side, yet, instead of attempting to nullify opponents or travel down the easy route to survival – which doesn’t provide that safety blanket than many discuss – they opt for bravery and retention of the football.
Conforming to rules isn’t Norwich City. Neither is it Daniel Farke.
They won’t accept their position in the league or respect anyone else’s. For them, this is about education and courage. Iimproving defensively will be a topic on the agenda of Farke and Webber, but so it is for every team.
The actual test is how City balance that risk and reward – after all, they won’t be facing a team assembled for £1 billion or meet the offensive talent they did on Friday evening.
Cut, slice, dissect….Liverpool are a better team. Farke made his judgement and the best possible Norwich was his choice. Most, maybe all, will fall short at Anfield. Much was learnt. Farke will strive to adapt and improve his side. If we are brushed aside by Newcastle the reaction will not be so very different with a mocking confirmation from the media. But the work will go on. Fans and club side by side. Our first home match of the season feels to be as intriguing and defining as it has ever been. Who would want it any other way?
Chris Sutton on 5Live has just shattered all this “won the second half” narrative. Liverpool had won it and eased off. He is sending out a clear warning about misinterpretation and false dawns. Thinks Norwich will survive though….
I do agree with pretty much all you say but we do have to be slightly careful here. To dismiss anyone who disagrees with our approach as “ignorant” is a bit disrespectful. Equally, to launch into anyone who dares to question our philosophy while lauding all those who “get it” is also a bit off.
Whilst I agree 100% with what we are doing and love the fact that we are going to try and do it our way and ignore the noise, it doesn’t mean we are completely right and everyone is else is completely wrong. That would be to assume the arrogance that we perceive in others.
We are new here, we don’t know everything. It would be the most awesome feat to succeed doing it “our way” but let’s show a little bit of humility along the way.
Well said Connor.
Apparently we were naive to play that way at Anfield (3 goal deficit), but Villa get applauded for trying to park the bus at Spurs (2 goal deficit)……Just compare the money spent by them and us, and also the relative oppositions – I reckon that at the moment Liverpool are just a tad better than Spurs!
Then consider that West Ham got beaten by 5 – on their own (well, OUR own) pitch by Citeh – and hardly a word is said about that.
We know that these big boys are not keen to travel to little Norwich, but, with the advent of VAR we will no longer have to suffer the indignity of some very dodgy decisions at our place going in favour of the bigger clubs…
I’m confident with the building blocks now in place thanks to the current regime that we will be in the top flight for some time to come.
O T B C
Noise what Noise. I do not listen nor read any of the media hype and crap. I only post and read on here and only read the local newspaper omline offerings.
I was told Carragher had nothing but bad words to say, during his stint with Sky. That is balanced coverage, use someone who has a high number of appearences for the home team. Friends say I am short sighted. in my choice of input reports etc. But why would I want to listen or read anything from those who probably have not graced Carrow Rd for ages or in some cases never.
We gave it a good go, had a little more luck gone our way, it could have been a different story, what many of these brainwashed experts miss, is the sbigger picture…, Barcelona went there with a very healthy 3-0 lead and looked what happened to them, Messi and all. So why would they expect Norwich to do any better. The end result was not as bad as Messi & Co and we musted a few more shots than they did. plus we hit the net.
A few teams will be on the reciving end of the same or worse, Villa spent £130 million and really b=did no better at Spurs. but let’s all take the piss out of Norwich for wanting to do things their way by not conforming to what is expected.
I will stand with my club, Sporting Director, Coach and team
I don’t think you’re short sighted and I like to try and avoid the noise as well. But I did see quite a long piece after the game on Sky where Gary Neville seemed to really get what we are trying to achieve. He was worried for us at half time and the impact that a good drubbing would have on the 9 young players who were making their first PL start. But at full time he was full of praise and optimism for the way we played and the quick learning from mistakes. There was good balance in the in depth analysis…..and then of course Klopp stood firmly in our corner as well. Onwards and upwards.
Decent perspective. The Guardian today mentions how we have plenty to offer.
Let’s not forget we lost by more goals to Liverpool in our two seasons after promotion and still finished mid table. Lots to look forward to.
Is this not the same side that put 4 past Barcelona a couple of months ago.
No shame in losing to the best club team in Europe.
We also created more chances than any team did at Anfield all last season.
Plenty of positives
Connor , had we parked the bus and tried that approach it would have failed miserably. 6 maybe 7 against us.
The second 45 gave so much to build upon .
Wonderful analysis as usual Connor.
Each team has an ethos and a way of playing, they all differ. Players have different strengths and a good manager brings in players who suit that set up. Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn’t.
Our club has an identity which all those who really care have bought in to. If DF set us up and ‘parked the bus’ I believe there would now be huge derision from the terraces just as there would if we signed some fancy dan or spent £10m+on one player.
Most of our games this season will be David v Goliath affairs and we love being the underdog. I cant wait to hear the national media comments when we get a result against the odds, (it will happen) but until then I’m with you Connor.