There’s no sugar-coating it. That was a tough watch.
So too the fact that right now City look a little sad, bedraggled and disjointed. Bournemouth, clean sheet et al, was it seems just a brief spell of respite from a period of Premier League grind.
Those who argue there is more fun to be had in a spirited Championship campaign than in a Premier League relegation battle will point to yesterday afternoon.
As ever, I’d counter that with games like Manchester United (H) being the very epitome of why it’s the only place to be and why we do it, but I’m not about to argue there was any pleasure to be derived from watching City suffer and get beat so comprehensively.
They’re our heroes. They gave us the best season of our City-supporting lives. To watch arguably the most likeable Canary squad ever suffer in this way is unedifying. Painful even.
But this is where we are. There’s no escape. We can’t decide this isn’t for us and scuttle back to the Championship, tail between our legs, asking to be allowed back in. And Stuart Webber and Daniel Farke have both made abundantly clear we’re not here just for the lovely view.
We are in a battle, the toughest of all footballing battles, and we’ve had just about everything thrown at us that could be thrown at us.
With a squad assembled on the lowest Premier League budget in history, we have had to contend with an injury crisis the like of which few of us have seen before. That’s no excuse – that’s a fact.
And we also have to face the fact that those same players who took us on that never-to-be-forgotten journey are finding the step up to be bigger than they had anticipated.
It’s always a tricky call for the management and coaching staff to gauge from a squad with virtually no Premier League experience, who will and who won’t be able to transcend from Champ to Prem but they ended up taking the laudable view that all of them would at least be given that opportunity.
The downside of that approach, which almost all of us applauded, is that the only way to find out who can cut it is to do so in real-time, with points at stake. And some are struggling.
Even putting aside the obvious centre-back crisis, which has necessitated our key summer signing slotting into central defence, the easy-on-the-eye passing style that ran like a golden thread throughout last season has become stilted and sporadic. The cohesion and fluidity has all but evaporated with the opposition offering a physical and technical challenge far removed from those faced 12 months ago.
That doesn’t mean we change philosophy or swap the green and yellow flags of the Barclay for white ones, but it does mean we need to be better and be better at what we’re trying to do. More of the same will only end one way – Webber and Farke know that – but with the season just ten games old, some of the gloom and doom that followed yesterday’s humbling was way over the top.
Of course we need players fit… of course we need to be better… and of course what we’re seeing right now isn’t going to be good enough but the hand Farke has been dealt has been, let’s face it, absolutely cr@p.
Even in the space of 96 minutes yesterday, there were injuries and illnesses to key players to contend with, none of which directly affected the outcome but all of which added to the mounting list of obstacles the Class of 2020 are being asked to negotiate.
No-one was happy with that first-half performance. The players wouldn’t have been. Farke and Webber certainly wouldn’t have been. But against opponents of such quality, the only way to compete is to be operating at 100%, physically and technically – as we did against Man City.
If it dips below 100 and a couple are having really bad days it becomes an almost impossible task. We had more than a couple.
So, obviously there is work to do at Colney and some serious thinking about how we go forward but never has Webber’s ‘not too high and not too low’ mantra been more appropriate. We can sulk and feel sorry for ourselves, take lumps out of each other on social media and ready ourselves for a return to the Championship, or we join Farke and co and dig deeper.
No brainer.
And besides, after yesterday’s heroics from Tim Krul, we owe him. What a man. Let’s hope that ACL is undamaged.
Aside from the two outstanding penalty saves, there was the save from Martial’s point-blank header and a couple more in the second half. Without him, we’d have been looking as Aston Villa plus, edging towards Southampton territory even, so let’s get real. It could have been so much more damaging.
As for VAR, well, I’m not sure there’s anything left to say. In a way, I’m grateful our fate wasn’t decided by that first appalling decision from Stockley Park, but any error that’s ‘clear and obvious’ doesn’t take multiple replays from multiple angles to ascertain. If they can’t conclude the referee has made an error inside 30 seconds it’s clearly not obvious, but to then arrive at the wrong decision anyway…
I naively thought VAR would iron out the perceived big club bias but it appears not. And it certainly doesn’t help when the game is officiated by a referee, his two assistants, a fourth official and Ashley Young.
But we didn’t lose yesterday because of poor officiating, VAR or Ashley Young’s big gob. We lost because Manchester United, as expected, were better than us.
On to Brighton.
I’m reading this as a Man Utd fan and all I can say is 3 weeks ago it might have been a different story. We have had loads of injuries and are again rebuilding, so don’t be too concerned when your squad is back you will do ok any team that can beat City should be fine and thanks for that by the way.
Beating the top 6 or 7 teams constantly is not realistic for you or us at the moment focus on the others you’ll be sound. I did like the game yesterday,
Have always hated var because it stops the mistakes which gives us an excuse to moan and blame refs but I was wrong its even worse so more moaning and blaming officials great stuff.
First penalty never was, shambolic.
If center backs are an issue ask us Phil Jones isn’t too busy at the moment, and he isn’t that bad.
Best of luck for the rest of the season.
Fair play Darren.
I live in the north west and pre-match when I suggested to a few United fans of my acquaintance that this could be a relegation 6-pointer they almost agreed with me.
I’m not going to wish you too much luck though as I have to go to Stretford every Tuesday evening for much of the year, which can be hellish when there’s a game on, so I much prefer it when your not in the Champions League!
A very astute summation Gary. Excellent read. I find the last sentence particularly pertinent. All of those irritants combined to make our job so much harder, but in the end the quality at manchesters disposal was the deciding factor.
With regard to VAR, as far as I’m concerned it’s a gimmick, a useless “innovation” which has already been discredited in the eyes of many football supporters. Yesterday’s interventions were ridiculous and the idiot manning the television in the control room should be brought to carrow road next time out to explain to us what the hell he was playing at.
Which brings us to Krul. What a shame his magnificent performance didn’t count for anything. He was absolutely brilliant, world class
when the time arrives for the next flog off of the family silver, I suspect Krul will be near the top of the at risk list. His mojo has returned – and then some.
it would appear that the Manchester city performance was a perfect storm, a day when all the stars aligned and we profited fully. Since that day with one minor exception our performance levels have been dreadful. Results have mirrored this.
Yesterday four of the midfield unit were frankly abysmal. The fact that the normally reticent user of substitutions Farke saw fit to drag two of them off at halt time speaks volumes. Cantwells performances have been deteriorating for weeks now and Leitner simply appears to be a passenger. McLean and Buendia were hardly better and fortunate to stay on the pitch.
Lack of care in possession, allied to the same stupid errors week after week with no hint that a body is in fact “learning” as we are frequently told.
With the returns to fitness of Vrancic, Trybull. Hernandez, farke simply must ring the changes as the current personnel are just not cutting it.
The depth of the squad and the lack of quality around its edges are a major concern. We are a bad week in training from leading the line with an unready Idah or a frankly not good enough Srbeny.
The low budget topic is one for another day, but after 25 years of premier league history to enter this season boasting about having spent the least amount ever since the leagues inception is going to have some repercussions.
Farke doesn’t so much have both hands tied behind his back – he’s been hog tied, unless he can perform another loaves and fishes act this has the hallmark of yet another pointless relegation season.
Can’t disagree with any of this to be honest.
The task was always going to be huge and the injuries certainly aren’t helping, but we’ve got to find a way to be fair more resilient in the defensive third and, more importantly, pose some meaningful threat going forward.
Yesterday was painful because of our failure to take more than a single point from the previous twelve on offer against the clubs we need to be competing with. It left us really needing something against all the odds rather than, as someone on the Pink ‘Un rightly put it, being a free hit.
We were never realistically going to beat United, and we got away with not conceding spot kicks against West Ham and Palace when we should have done (I think it was those two) so to get a rough one now – and for Krul not to be forced to face a retake after he blatantly left his line – I can live with that.
The poor VAR decision that riles me more from the weekend (yes, even more than the second TMO disallowed try on Saturday morning… ) is the one that gave Brighton a way back against Everton. That has given them the impetus and ultimately 3 very useful points.
So far none of our good or bad luck has gained or lost us points, at least as far as I can recall.
One big positive yesterday must be Hernandez. I do hope he’s moved into a bungalow.
Hi Keith
Love your point about Onel and the bungalow.
It made me laugh on a morning when I could do with a chuckle.
Mind you bungalows aren’t too cheap in comparison with houses around these here parts – and Mrs P and I aren’t getting any younger.
Yesterday was a tough watch indeed Gary. The river end was not a happy place to be (no change there you might say) and my head spent a lot of time in hands.
I keep clinging to the facts that we’re not cut adrift and have players to come back who could make a difference, but right now we look lightweight and short of nous at this level.
It is noticeable that teams are pressing our midfield high up the pitch, safe in the knowledge we’ll cough up possession in dangerous areas – United’s first two goals are cases in point, while the third, I’m happy to accept is a lovely move and finish, something you only see at top end Prem level.
The last two games have also left me in a quandary about young Mr Cantwell. Fine technical player who can link the play and get into goalscoring positions. However, he struggles to cover ground and huge gaps are appearing in front of the full back, which United and Villa exploited with relish.
So maybe time for a rest for TC and or even a change of shape?
I love what Farke has done and the identity he had built for us, but sometimes I would like to see a little more nous / aggression in our game, just to break the play up especially when under the cosh.
I do pine a little for the days of Grant Holt fouling and being fouled, or Bradley Johnson letting Prem midfielders know he’s there – recall Nani’s fate for showboating?
Anyway, I digress, only thing else to add is the next two games are big’uns!
Always a silver lining, brilliant Goal by Hernandez, he certainly looks the part.
Brighton, Watford and Everton on the horizon now, season will be third of the way through after those games, a point per game is generally enough to stay up so 12/13 points the short term target by end of the month.
Keep the faith, a loss against Man Utd was to be expected, We can have a great November we are being written off so nothing to lose provided we play without fear of losing.
Very good read Gary and I think you have highlighted well our shortcomings after a very depressing watch yesterday.
I*m beginning to think VAR was invented by Manchester United because all Young did was follow the ref around shouting VAR, as you pointed out so much for a level playing field. Much more VAR and I think attendances will drop as it kills the live atmosphere, id rather put up with refereeing mistakes.
Regarding injuries this is, I think, down to the fact we lack quality and depth in our squad so those good enough are run into the ground. You also pick up more injuries when going backwards and making desperate tackles.
At the risk of receiving the wrath of everyone on here the point you didn’t raise was attracting new finance as once again we are attempting to buy premier league status on the cheap and despite an excellent coach we are failing, probably worse than under Neil as the costs have gone up and our expenditure has decreased.
Surely it is time for Delia and Michael to take a long hard look in the mirror.
They should bear in mind more people are buying into the championship which means costs increasing. Under the present regime I fear we will be priced out of the championship and end up in the lower leagues.
Time, with due diligence, for them to look at the Leicester model.
People have such short memories.
It’s not that long ago we were ripping up the Champs and I don’t recall many people bemoaning the fact that we were going to give The Prem a go with these players.
Now, because we can’t beat Man Utd, one of the richest, albeit under performing, teams on the planet, Delia needs to sell up! It’s all so tired and predictable.
If, and it’s still a big if, we are relegated, we would be in an infinitely better position than we were at the start of the last Championship campaign. How that equates to us slipping into the lower leagues is beyond me.
Yes, the step up may prove to be too much for some but I am still proud we have given them a chance rather that discard them, which has happened previously.
I’m still of the opinion that if we can get our 1st choice back 4 together and find a way to keep it tight, we have enough in us to score the goals necessary.
We could easily slip into the lower leagues because a lot of very wealthy people are buying into the championship with a view to achieving premiership status. Our parachute payments will be small beer by comparison.
As for short memories this is the fourth time I can remember Delia trying to buy into the premier league on the cheap. I can also remember the previous outcomes and this time appears to be the worst due to ever increasing premier league costs.
A tough watch indeed in common with most of what we’ve seen so far this season, especially in the last few games.
However, I cast my mind back to pre season and almost every Norwich fan said they were prepared for the inevitable bad runs and heavy defeats the season would bring.
As fans we can either support and encourage the players on the pitch or give them a hard time and shatter their confidence and enthusiasm.
At the risk of being labelled a happy clapper (again) I know which option I am choosing.
We’ve got a chance in the next 2 games to do ourselves a power of good.
While neither VAR decision actually worsened the situation for us, they did highlight the major issue with VAR, in that the the practitioners of it don’t really understand their roles, and that decisions are not adequately explained to spectators. In Rugby, the referee is miked up and can explain his decisions to the crowd. In football, all we get is the decision, not the reasons why it was made. The additional referees in the control room are apparently supposed to only over-rule the match official in cases of “clear and obvious” mistakes. The first one on Sunday was only clear and obvious on seeing the replays, and then clear and obvious that the foul was committed by James, not Godfrey. Even Ole Gunnar Solschar(?) said on MOTD that neither were penalties.
I think that following recent media criticism that VAR was only giving of-side decisions, they have now gone to the totally opposite extreme – just check out the ridiculous decision to rule out the third “goal” for Arsenal yesterday. Also, why was Bertram sent off for Southampton on Friday following a VAR ruling, while a very similar tackle by Young on Aarons only resulted in a yellow card and no VAR check?
This game offered me three good loud cheers, for which my children were most displeased (“you shouted in my ear, dad)”. That is enough for any match against Man U and it seems I enjoyed it more than most.
I can safely say I’ve seen nothing to change my opinion of VAR, since the start of the year – https://norwichcity.myfootballwriter.com/2019/01/23/special-city-teams-the-changing-premier-league-and-why-we-need-technology/
I have to agree with your synopsis of VAR in the link. However, VAR I think it’s here to stay.
My question would be is why does Rugby, for example, seem to be able to use the technology so much more effectively than football and why was this not studied before being implemented into football including how it is communicated to the stadium?
Surely its has to come down to the competence of the people operating it!!?
It is a good comparison to make, I’m not sure whether it is competence or lack of respect for the paying customer shown by the FA and refs
It’s a good point. To be fair to the match referee he did not dismiss Godfrey when it would have been the logical outcome, perhaps recognising that his original decision of no penalty was correct and not wanting to send off an innocent player thereby exacerbating a stupid situation.
In addition, despite solskjaers whine that the penalty, which he had admitted should not have been given should have been retaken.
Was he deliberately being lenient to prevent what he knew was an injustice?
So which players coming back from injury are going to make a difference?Vrancic?Zimmermann?Can’t see it will change things that much.Wonder what Roberts has done not to get a game ,what a waste of a loan space that is !I believe we still have a loan spot still up for grabs,though it has to be a homegrown player.Perhaps Webber can get a midfielder in who can actually tackle and commit the odd foul here and there.Take off your yellow and green specs for a minute and you will realise most of our squad are not premiership standard,sad but true.
Should we all just give up then Tony?
I’ll let you borrow my green and yellow tinted specs if you wish. 😉
Here here!!
OTBC
I do agree with Tony’s point to a degree. We are again experiencing the magical effect of the value of a player goes up with their absence. Aka the Lafferty Effect.
It would be great to have Hanley, Zimmerman, and Klose back. But also remember that Hanley and Klose weren’t making the team for the last third of The Championship season. Really we’re only one defender short of the team Farke likes to consistently play.
Even then we weren’t defensively sound. We just outscored folk.
My larger worry is our lost ability to create decent chances for Pukki.
I agree with the last point – with Stiepi unable to find the same level of effectiveness as last season, Pukki’s supply has all but dried up.
Who said give up?just stating an opinion,can I not have one?Yet again we get to the prem and the board have no ambition to keep us there,now that is the truth!!!
You may be right Tony, but if you are and we go down I’ll bet that every time we turn up somewhere with many of these players still in the team the opposing manager will be saying how hard it is facing “Premiership players”….
I can think of one way where a fully fit squad would improve things and that is seeing a central defender playing and allowing Amadou to play in his best position. On top of that having a decent level bench will enable us to mix things up when we are under the cosh. It wouldn’t mean we become world beaters just that we would be competitive when it matters
I went back and checked how City performed in 2019 in The Championship, a period where they kept a hugely consistent “first choice” defensive lineup. In those 22 games we kept a clean sheet 23% of the time. In the games we conceded, we allowed 1.4 goals per game.
So on the massive assumption that we played to the same level (despite a higher caliber of competition), we’d have to score in 77% of games at least once to obtain a point, or twice/three times to win. That’s a tall order for any side in the Prem.
I’m honestly not sure how Webber (known for his “moneyball approach”) could have looked at those numbers and said “we don’t need to strengthen the defense”.
Yes, having Hanley or Zimmerman returning would help, but I’m dubious to how much. We had Godfrey and Hanley for the first four matches and we looked less-than-solid.
I remember people being pretty down on Hanley’s ability to play at this level. Zimmerman hasn’t kicked a ball at this level. Klose wasn’t being picked in The Championship. So…