The three-month hiatus, during which time football became a virtual irrelevance, played a cruel trick with the collective mind.
It convinced us the “little miracle” of which Daniel Farke spoke at length was do-able. And no football – with far more important things going on in the world – meant the agonising and the navel-gazing stopped for a while.
For all the wrong reasons, we were spared the weekly inquest into what had gone wrong the previous weekend and why they had, again, come up just short.
For us, the break, from a pure footballing perspective, was something of a relief. A break from the stress, the frustration and said disheartening weekly debates/arguments.
And then, as Project Restart became a thing and it became apparent that they would again be kicking a ball in anger under the banner 2019/20, some unjustified belief started seeping into our thoughts.
Given the length of the layoff, maybe, just maybe, the reset would work in our favour. Refreshed limbs and minds would hopefully reinvigorate our battle against the drop, with a break longer than a normal preseason effectively giving Team Farke an opportunity to shake off some of the baggage of a tough season.
At least that was what we told ourselves.
As it’s transpired, that was no more than straw clutching of the very highest order.
Instead, surprise surprise, those players who were not good enough before the break are still not good enough. In fact, minus a buoyant home crowd to help raise an extra couple of percentage points out of the players to help bridge the quality gap, their deficiencies have been further exposed.
Against Southampton, there were some misgivings about the desire and application of some players – misgivings that were challenged by Farke – but that wasn’t the issue last night. No lack of effort or determination. Instead, it boiled down to two very common themes: the inability to defend set-pieces, and a dearth of quality in the attacking third.
The latter wasn’t helped I guess by benching the three players who have, in fleeting moments, offered some invention and inspiration in the final third over the course of the season, but I accepted Farke’s pre-match reasoning and there was enough evidence in last night’s first half to suggest it was a plan that had legs.
It also permitted him the option of bringing Pukki, Buendia and Cantwell on when Everton legs and minds were tiring, assuming City were still in the game and there was still a game there to be won. More on that in a bit.
But the plan worked to a point. Team Farke had clearly identified Everton’s fullbacks – Coleman and Digne – as key to the way they play and decided that Onel Hernandez and Lukas Rupp would do more to quell their threat than Emi Buendia and Todd Cantwell.
And in that respect, it was job done with the added bonus of Onel also being City’s most potent attacking force. Rather than sitting in front of Jamal Lewis and offering protection, Hernandez was able to curtail Coleman’s attacking instincts by forcing him to defend. It worked.
On the other side, Rupp, in his own limited way, sat in front of Aarons, and denied Digne the chance to continually bomb on in a Leighton Baines style. It was, kind of, job done in a tentative, less-than-thrilling way, which I’m not sure warranted the mockery of Lineker at halftime.
The BBC’s finest claimed to have watched a lot of football since the restart so I was therefore a tad surprised he found the entertainment level so shocking when it was on a par with most other games. But I digress…
For City, what followed was sadly reminiscent of so much that has gone before this season, with the early second-half initiative ceded to a team who’d been reminded at halftime that an increase in tempo was required.
Even before Michael Keane’s winner, Everton had shown signs of life and, let’s be honest, not a single City supporter would have been surprised to see the Everton centre-back head home, virtually unchallenged, from what was no more than an okay-ish delivery.
I’m not going to revive the zonal marking debate other than to say when it’s executed properly it’s every bit as effective as man-to-man marking. We just don’t execute it well enough. Nothing like well enough.
Even more disheartening was that the goal literally signalled the end of City’s challenge for the evening. No lack of effort, plenty of huffing and puffing, and a few nice touches from Pukki and Buendia following their introductions, but not once in that second-half did they sting the palms of Jordan Pickford.
Of all the damning statistics floating around, the one that tells the tale of City not extracting even a single point from a losing position this season is the one that hurts the most. It’s also the one that’s most damaging to the players’ own belief in their ability to scrap out a point from a losing position.
It’s no coincidence that City and those other teams around us (well, above us) at the bottom have struggled since the restart. Grounds with no fans have taken away one of the few remaining X-factors in the elite game. Apart from appearing soulless and a bit lifeless, the game’s been stripped bare, leaving quality as the key determining factor.
To use a terrible analogy, think of F1 and the drivers all being asked to drive exactly the same car with exactly the same spec on a bone dry track. Lewis Hamilton would win because he’s the best driver.
And that’s why, despite two straight defeats City are still just the equivalent of two wins away from catching the pack.
But let’s not go there again. There’s zero evidence of this being a relegation ‘battle’. This is a gentle, serene slide back to the Championship.
Sad to say, your last paragraph has the ring of truth, but your penultimate paragraph is the one that we will all cling to. We will ignore the evidence of the last two games and everything that you have highlighted and believe that the ‘little miracle’ is still possible. Not only that, but we will believe that we are only three games away from winning the FA Cup! Such is the nature of a football supporter and especially a Norwich supporter. It’s the hope that gets you in the end.
One thing I disagree with is the Hamilton analogy, he has always won when in th best car, proving he was better than his teammate. Except for the year when his teammate Rosberg beat him , and didn’t we get the toys out of the pram over that, ( claims that rosberg was getting preferential treatment). Apart from that a reasonable analysis of a team that set out the stall last august to come 20th .
Hi Gary. Well we were warned. Promotion was one or two years ahead of schedule. And it shows. In fact the non spend in preparation for EPL could be seen as ignoring the noise and continuing the slow development via the root not the fruit. ( I still contend that the upgrade in contracts plus the extras paid for EMI and the loans and actual modest purchases probably meant we spent north of £20m. Not peanuts for us.)
So we continue to build, Bali Mumba being the latest root purchase. I expect some of the young stars to be tempted away, but not all. Hopefully those left behind will still be hungry for more glory and fused with the best of Sitti, McCallum, Gilmour, Martin, Idah et al., we shall have the basis of a promotion bid. Though we may have to wait 2 seasons.
The screams for heads to roll are just birth pains from a growing baby. Let’s keep to the long term vision.
A Happy Clapper.
That’s interesting Nick and I can certainly appreciate your perspective.
To me the key is to retain Webber and Farke. I know some folks are starting to voice opinions to the contrary but I feel we would be in deep trouble without them – SW & DF that is!
A very good point,
If Farke and Webber decide to move elsewhere, you feel that Norwich City will have their trousers down for all to see. However, that could be needed for the longer term if it places pressure on the Stowmarket Two to sell the family heirloom. I’m not holding my breath on that one.
What concerns me the most is if Farke has lost his grip on the team. I hope not. I’m sure one or two players at the very least have their eyes elsewhere for next season with their respective agents doing the donkey work and earning their 20%. Norwich City needs their playing XI totally committed and not counting down the games. We have a ‘nothing to play for’ look about us, yet we are firmly in the manure.
Norwich City have sold their manager and fans short this season. Not for the first time either. That could lead to a recruitment issue going forward, whether it be players or management staff, because they have seen time and time again that the club is not committed to staying in the Premier League, on either an emotional or financial level.
How do you sell that?
Hi IR
Yes your points about the ownership remain valid. I think all of us MFW writers [including me, surprisingly] and most of our readers have laid off from that topic during the pandemic for well-understood reasons but the issue will return without doubt when this wretched season is finally dragged over the line and the megabucks are distributed once again. Not very much will come to NCFC of course and any parachute payments we get will be hoarded.
In fairness these will not be siphoned off by Delia as a few eejits continue to suggest but, erm, how can I put it: banked to keep the Smith dynasty afloat. Not on a personal level, just in the sense of familial continuity.
The song remains the same.
ps I meant to put a line in about agents on my MFW bit tomorrow but forgot – thanks for doing it for me 🙂
Still raises the issue of who would replace Delia et al. A Marcus Evans (God forbid), an Arab potentate, or a Chinese gambler? Be careful what you wish for!
There are many disappointing statistics associated with these recent two performances. Where it moves from ‘disappointing’ to ‘damning’ is when you’re playing for your life at home against a mid-table team and at the end of the game the BBC Shots On Target statistic totals only ‘1’.
One.
That makes it sound less like ‘Custer’s Last Stand’ for the Everton defence as ‘Custer Invites His Two Elderly Relatives Round For A Nice Cup Of Tea On The Lawn And A Relaxed Chat About Biscuits.’
City must be odds-on to finish more than 10 points adrift of the (frankly, not that impressive) teams above them. We’re then moving from ‘damning’ to ’embarrassing’.
Unfortunately there are plenty more games to endure yet..
This is the most disillusioned I’ve felt about the club for a long time.
Agree with your last quote Gary – effort yes, passion no! Outclassed? Yes. Like watching paint dry? Yes. Why is it when City are in a relegation scrap there is never passion and have a real go? No matter who the manager is, it’s always the same passionless shite – couldn’t fight their way out of a paper bag at the moment. So bereft of confidence it’s painful.
Conspiracy theory: Following the dreadful display against Southampton it was decided that resting Todd, Emi and Teemu would make them fresh for the upcoming cup game and might improve their profiles if they play well with regard to eventual sell on and maximisation of profit. Idiotic idea possibly, I just don’t trust my club anymore.
Hi Gary,
I’ve not agreed with everything you’ve said in recent months but I do think I agree with almost every word of this article. Except for the F1 analogy, not sure how that works!
I was excited for the restart, believed the break would help us but how wrong I was.
This team is now unrecognizable from the one who stormed the Chump and started the season so positively. So low on confidence, understandably I guess, they are just not performing at the level we know they can.
I thought it, sort of, worked last night. Trouble is once you take Emi and Todd out we have little or no attacking potency (Onel excepted) but we are tighter. You can see the problem trying to achieve the right balance.
Even Daniel (or Dominic) seems to have lost his nerve. This team shouldn’t be playing 4-4-2 or 4-3-3 for that matter. 4-2-3-1 for here on in please, with players who are going to be here next year.
Thanks Del. In my defence, I did say it was a terrible analogy 🙂 – just meant that when everything is stripped back (no crowds etc), it boils down to quality and, in the case of football, who has the best players.
Actually, I don’t the team is as unrecognisable as you may think. We were just as capable last season of coughing up possession too easily, allowing fee headers at corners, and all the rest of it.
What’s unrecognisable is the standard of opposition.
A perfect view of proceedings Gary. I wish that are young players had more experience and I wish we had more quality within the team but quite simply they haven’t and we don’t . I would watch this team in the lowest league because that’s how it is and I always approach every game with a half full glass as will be the case against United on Saturday. But the longer this season goes on I think that we needed more investment in the team should we have wanted to have a more viable stab at staying in the premier league ..I know hindsight will tell you every time but it is so obvious .i didn’t expect millions but a little bit more. In my opinion winning promotion caught all involved off guard , we had put in so many brilliant performances in claiming the championship , the young players coming through had played above and beyond what was expected ,other signings excelled Leitner ,Vrancic Steiperman but the premier league has proved a to bigger step up.. I know we won the league and deserved to take our place in the top league but a season to early for me another stint in the championship I think would have developed this team for a more sustained attack at staying in the promised land
A spot on article Gary.
Where do we begin to explain this season ?
Compare the spending power of ourselves and wealth with the other clubs in the Championship last season and it really was a miracle that we won the league. Playing wonderful football as well.
To me it was at the very start of this season where things went wrong, losing so many central defenders with long term injuries was massive as was, in hindsight, a poor summer of recruitment. Stuart Webber has already apologised to Daniel for this.
At the start of the season I remember Greg Downs on Canary Call insisting that we needed another centre half, which I disagreed with. Surely with Godfrey, Klose, Hanley and Zimbo we had enough?
How wrong can I be, Greg played for City and me for West Point. Says it all. And we have to look back and accept as good a players Klose and Hanley are, they are injury prone.
Another related situation is that my cousin David, who played at a much, much higher standard than me predicted we would get relegated from the Premier League with a low record number of points. While we avoided that I hate to say it but his judgement was 80% correct
Recruitment which had previously been exceptional was really poor, Roberts, Amadou, Drmic for whatever reasons just didn’t work. Sam Byram was the positive, but guess what ? now he is injured !!!.
I too was shocked at last nights selection but after reading Daniel’s reasoning it is easy to understand his call.
I feel it is noticeable Leicester were poor against Brighton, in my opinion clubs like us & Leicester need the crowd much more than others in the league. The true 12th man if you like. (Not like the Highbury Library)
A cautionary note for all those calling for Daniel Farke to be sacked, Just look at Huddersfield since they lost David Wagner. Didn’t they play wonderful football on their way to the Premier League.
I just hope he stays.
TIm, you say you hope DF stays.
Would you in his shoes?
Promotion achieved on a shoestring. Amazing, none of us truly expected that.
Then entered the PL arena, able to spend around £1 m in the transfer window.
This must be a record for a newly promoted club. Club showed no real commitment to staying up.
Net result, richest club in the Champs next season.
Bet they still will not spend.
Begs the question, is it really worthwhile for our club to ever be promoted again, while this lack of commitment is still there in the boardroom.
If this season came too early for our long term plan I’d be grateful if anybody could explain to me how we’re going to replace Aaron’s, Lewis, Godfrey, Pukki and Cantwell under the self funding scheme and still have money to invest if we are promoted within the next two years?
This year was calling out to bring the plan forward and invest in the team to give them a chance of survival. Instead all we have seen is our owners financial limitations and a self funding model that may work in the championship or league 1, fingers crossed!
Keep going Gary, only another 9 mor to go!
The whole ugly spectacle of the Covid cup can then be consigned to the bin where it belongs and we can pretend the whole season never happened.
Farke seems to have picked a team based more on willingness to turn out and out in a shift rather than anything else, with an element of rotation built in given the searing heat.
To that end, Hernandez gave us pace and width, combined with directness and the work ethic to get back and help out his full back. Tettey, as expected, stiffened up the jelly like midfield with his mixture of simple interceptions and the ability to get in the way of attackers and hold them up. Physicality and “devil” as I referred to it the other day.
Of the rest, Godfrey gave an improved performance, Rupp got around to mixed effect and Krul was left rueing the omnipresent concession from a corner. A mate of mine comments last night that it would be easier if we just lined up for a restart when we concede a corner, such is the nonsensical manner in which we attempt to defend against them. He’s not wrong, I believe Everton scored from their first.
I would need a professional to fully explain the vagueries of the zonal marking system to me. I wouldn’t need his help however to come to the conclusion that we are bloody bad exponents of it.
In a season where small margins could have made a difference, our inability to score from open play and defend corners has probably sealed our fate. Many an inferior side has profited from a greater reliance on set piece goals where a decent delivery and an aggressive attitude can bring cheap, even undeserved scoring opportunities. To that end. Our deliveries and strategy stink. Last night, duda plumbed the depths, sending over a pile of old pony all night, with our best set piece practitioner sitting watching on from the stand.
The BBC commentary and punditry were as poor as ever. Linekers smugness is well known but the piece de resistance was Keown referring to our manager as Dominik Farke and the commentator proclaiming the sight of Drmic limping heavily as “bad news for Norwich fans”
Saving pukki for a late charge was probably a good idea, so long as Everton hadn’t done a Southampton to is in the first few minutes of the second half and anybody wondering why Buendia didn’t feature should take a look at the several metres of KT tape plastered over his leg for the reason why.
In short, quite a few of the current squad are already safe in the knowledge that they will be plying their trade somewhere else next season and aren’t too fussed about finishing this one on a high.
I’m also not a fan of zonal marking at corners. It just gives attacking players a chance to make a running jump, over a static defender, with the inevitable result. Having said that, when Buendia is playing, he usually defends on the post furthest from the corner being taken. If someone had been doing that last night, Keane’s header would not have crept in.
Yes, yes and yes, Gary. For me it’s the relentlessness of it all. Everything communal has been stripped away. No piling on to a crammed train at Somerleyton, no noise and chips and all that, no week to go to mend before the shared disappointment and shrugging of shoulders at losing against Sheff. Utd or whoever. There’s another dire game coming up every four or so days. As fans we have built a whole mythology around our contribution to our plucky team’s success; sucking the ball into the Barclay end net. I’ve ‘seen’ it happen. I’ve also seen the whole defend a slender lead like their mothers’ lives depend on it (fantasy of mine). Man City?
And as you say, stripped of all that, we are left with the bleeding obvious. Without the Carrow Road cauldron, our team are not up to the mark. And we are pe’ed off.
I can’t tell anyone else what to do, but I’m really not going to get too stressed about these games or the final outcome. I’m shielding at home and have no idea when I will feel safe enough to go to Carrow Road again. Football as we know and love is gone for God knows how long. Despite everything I trust our current owners and directors to do their best to keep NCFC in business. The rest is noise.
I guess the BBC pundits will be happy when the inevitable happens, and it will save their commentators having to learn our manager’s name. It was an improved performance over the Southampton game, but again lacking a cutting edge. Drmic just isn’t cutting the mustard, and I’d give Idah the chance to continue his development ahead of Drmic over the remaining games. BBC gave Michael Keane the man of the match award, because “he’s won everything in the air”. Against Drmic last night, I’d have won everything in the air, and I’m five foot ten and seventy five years old!
I don’t see us getting much joy in the cup, either. Even if we fluked a win over Man Utd, there would still be a load of top teams left in it, all of them with no hope of winning the league, so very definetly something to play for in the cup.
The strategy this season was clearly not to spend the sort of money we did on the likes of Wildscutt and Naismith, players who in theory being in the £5-£10m bracket you’d think would make a difference, but in practice often fail to deliver.
And so we go back to the Championship with a squad that’s more than proved itself at that level.
How many will leave is hard to say. There may not be as much interest from PL clubs as everyone expects, but on the other hand those who came via journeys around Europe – the likes of Pukki, Buendia, Vrancic and Leitner – might well attract interest there.
In theory we should again be able to have a tilt at the Championship and hopefully bring through a couple more young players such as Idah, Martin, and the lad from Luxembourg.
The trouble is that even if it works and we are back in the PL again fairly quickly we will still face the conundrum of how to turn a young Championship team into one that can survive there, preferably without switching to the style of play tried by Chris Hughton.
By the way, although I didn’t notice the misnaming of Farke, I did think Pearce and Keown were extremely fair in making clear the extent of our injuries all season and the limitations on our budget. Keown was spot on too about the players appearing to be playing with fear. I got the impression that both of them will be sorry to see us go and glad when we return. I didn’t bother with the studio punditry so maybe that was different.
If we are honest with ourselves the improvement from the previous game was marginal in real terms. Onel infuriates me when he does the work to get by the defense and then has no idea where his players are and wastes the opportunity with a speculative attempt at goal. How many goals has he scored? Duda, Rupp and Drmic showed why they were readily available for us on loan – because they lack any semblance of ability at this level. Sell Aarons, Cantwell and Godfrey and we will resemble Sunderland rather than West Brom next season. A sad state of affairs.