It’s not often you get the chance to watch almost four hours of City playing live, so it would have been rude not to… even if their were friendlies.
That the club was even able to field two full-strength teams without relying on some under-23s is an achievement in itself – but they did, even if some players straddled both games.
That neither match reached humdinger level was the trade-off, but that’s not to say they weren’t useful. They were. Both games served their purpose and rounded off nicely a pre-season like no other.
And with 15 players off on international duty next week, and therefore unavailable for next Saturday’s Carabao Cup season-opener at Luton, there was an extra edge for those who’ll be left behind.
As Daniel Farke was at pains to point out yesterday, a successful pre-season counts for nothing when the real action begins and a series of friendly wins have often been the precursor to an opening day humbling – ask Gunny – but this was a little different.
While ten new faces have arrived to lift the mood around Colney – and it seems they have – the majority of the squad are still tainted by that Premier League nightmare and the losing mentality that engulfed it.
A series of underwhelming performances and/or defeats at Colney and in Germany would have added further doubt, both in the minds of those in the inner circle and those of us watching from afar.
So, while I’m usually quick to dismiss the wider relevance of these games, this time around it mattered. Four wins and a draw with only two goals conceded will hopefully have laid to rest a few of the ghosts of Project Restart – a phrase that will forever be accompanied by a furrowed brow.
But while the team for Luton almost picks itself, for the reason stated above, there are plenty of difficult decisions for Farke and co ahead of the trip to Huddersfield, with, as ever, an expected name or two appearing in the frame.
One of those of course is Josh Martin, whose free-kick in game one was of a Vrancic vintage – and there is no greater compliment.
But it wasn’t just about the free-kick – as spectacular as that was. There was also an air of confidence and belief that wasn’t apparent in those brief cameos at the end of last season, maybe because they were so brief.
And while it’s too early to be hailing him as the academy breakthrough player of 2020-21, we now have another bonafide wide option on our hands, to compete with Onel Hernandez and Przemyslaw Placheta. And the way the senior players stepped aside to let him loose on that free-kick told the story of someone who does that regularly in training.
He’s likely to start at Kenilworth Road and a good performance there will put him well and truly in the mix for Huddersfield.
Oliver Skipp is another who put himself in the frame for the first league game – he’s one of the 15 missing for next Saturday – and so far looks to be everything that Tottenham fans promised us he would be. That heady mix of being combative while also being able to pick a pass is just what’s been needed at the base of that midfield, and with Jacob Sorenesen also offering something similar, the surgery undertaken by Stuart Webber in that area of the pitch looks promising at the very least.
The one area that’s as yet to be addressed, and which is the one in most dire need of improvement, is of course in central defence. And still it creaks.
As has been said many times, the defensive issues prevalent when we won the Championship and further highlighted in the PL are not solely around the personnel, but also pertain to how we defend as a unit – and the aforementioned surgery in front of the back-four will help – but if ever an upgrade were needed.
The same old failings are still there I’m afraid, and minus Grant Hanley or a refresh in the form of Akin Famewo – both of whom are injured – the need for a new face remains.
Work is clearly still ongoing to address this – with Burnley’s Ben Gibson still the number one target – and let’s not forget the transfer window remains open until October 5, but even with new reinforcements in front of them, the same mistakes are still happening and will continue to happen.
Let’s not head into this new season with the sole intention of outscoring every opponent as we did in 2018/19. A few clean sheets (when it matters) would be nice.
But, as best you can tell through the prism of YouTube, the Premier League hangover appears to have dissipated and that can only be a good thing. And in addition to those mentioned above, there were plenty of positives to emerge. Such as…
- The lightning pace of Placheta
- The energy and hunger of Jamal Lewis
- The composure and shot-stopping of Daniel Barden (who’ll be in goal at Luton)
- The poise and ability of Kieran Dowell
- Pukki scoring again
- The overall fitness and sharpness
- Winning
So, not long to wait now. Back before it’s barely finished. And we look in decent-ish shape.
I hate being optimistic, but I can’t help it.
As you say Mr G, the centre of defence still leaves a liitle to be desired, is it the players inability to defend ? or the system that some cannot grasp ?
Fair question that. As ever, probably a bit of both but the individual errors keep on coming, and Godfrey is now overcompensating getting regularly beaten at the near post by getting caught under crosses! Still young though (before anyone shouts at me!)
Hi Gary
A good read and yes it was interesting to watch city on YouTube.
In the first game I am not sure what really went wrong we were cruising it then it seemed like the defence went on holiday.
Krul is an excellent shot stopper but his kicking and passing really needs work and he should know when it is time to hoof it up field to clear his lines.
Now a question that I hope someone can clear up??
Drmic, Trybull and Leinter have all been told to find new clubs does this mean that all 3 have been given Free transfer or will the interested clubs have to negotiate a fee with city, Newsnow is reporting that clubs in the Champions and Germany are talking to Leitner agents.
Gibson is in an interesting situation Dyce has told him to stay away from Burnley so he is training at Middlesbrough, has he refused to play, fallen out with Dyce, up set the dressing room or just doesn’t fit into his style of play.
Burnley are looking for a replacement for him but unwilling to lose to much money on him but with city trying to rebuild a confident and happy squad is he really the one we want, 2 years ago Burnley out bid Spurs, Arsenal, Leicester and a few others to get him so why the fall from grace or was he untouchable at Middlesbrough only time will tell on this.
Cricket at 1330hrs
Onwards and upwards
OTBC
Stay safe and stay healthy
I’m still not convinced that Gibson is the right answer. His preference would appear to be a return to his uncle’s team on Teesside, and having been a big money move to Burnley, he’d probably be looking for a similar Premier League style wage.
Yesterday’s centre back pairings were not our best combinations, I think Godfrey works better alongside Zimmerman, and as you say, Hanley has yet to make an appearance. Famewo lacks the necessary experience at the moment, so maybe a loan from Spurs in the shape of Carter-Vickers might be an option.
Re the need to improve defensively. Yes it’s personnel but also coaching. I always remember Culverhouse screaming Instructions at our central defenders to help us see out a 2-1 away win at Spurs (Ward and Bennett if memory serves). The win was another credit to Lambert but there was no doubt who was in charge from a defensive point of view…
I’ve lost track of who is actually available against Luton – anyone able to predict the team?
Just seen that Spurs have signed the right back Doherty from Wolves for about £15m.
So that presumably means they won’t be interested in Aarons (though as a consequence Wolves might be) , and it also suggests that those who think we are going to get £20m plus for him or Lewis are in for a reality check.
You are 100% correct to call this the phoney war Gary.
Lets not forget Norwich City ( League 1) 3 Wigan Athletic ( Premier League) 2 was directly followed by the worst day in our history, that being the opening day of the 2009/10 season Norwich City 1 Colchester United 7 !!!
I have never put any faith in pre-season friendlies, I even seem to remember that in the eighties and nineties we had better starts if the pre-season friendlies results were poor.
This year however I think there is cause for genuine optimism. Many new players who will not be affected by relegation and will be so keen to impress is the perfect tonic for Daniel Farke. And hopefully this will rub off on to the other players for whom relegation may still be raw.
We do need to get players out of the door quickly, those who do not want to be here must leave or be separated from the squad Olivera style.
We must be patient though, it may well take time for all this to take shape. Daniel probably doesn’t even know his first eleven yet.
With Grant Hanley’s injuries continuing signing a centre half is imperative. I really hope Timm Klose can regain some form, but I have severe doubts on that. So unless we have a youngster ready then perhaps we need 2 centre backs.
Finally am I alone in thinking that to have an International break next weekend is absolute madness.
The world is still struggling with the pandemic, so why are we having players going off to all corners of the world to play these UEFA Nations League games ? They risk infecting themselves and bringing it back to their parent clubs.
The play- off Qualifiers for Euro 2020 should be the only international games played at present.
It is a new competition, no tradition attached to it so why on earth can it not have been postponed for a year or two ? UEFA television money ?
Beefing up the middle with more able DMs has alreday proved that all those who said that was the problem area were wrong – our problem area remains as it always was, in the centre of our “defence”. Godfrey, I’m afraid, remains the weakest link. A very fine footballer, just not really a centre back. Nor is Tettey, and though both will always give their all, any opposition team is going to target them.
Ben Godfrey has not played in his best position since that loan season at Shrewsbury in my opinion. I would like to see him as a defensive midfielder. His eye for a pass is not being utilised fully at CB. He’s a good lad though and plays where he is picked, but I can’t help not seeing a natural CB in him. The ideal for me would be Hanley back to his (briefly glimpsed) best alongside Zimbo or – if we get him – Gibbo.
Interesting comments, particularly about the need for another centre half.
If you go back to our Championship triumph we played a high press with both full backs high up the pitch so we were vulnerable to swift counter attacks. That exposed our lack of speed in our defensive midfielders and centre halves. To become better defensively we need to look at tactics as well as personnel.
If we can get Placheta and Hernandez paired together and Hugill up front we can play a counter attacking tactic, which avoids the high press so much.
My main worry at Centre Back is they are injury prone as is Byram. Zimbo, Hanley, Klose and Godfrey with Famewo ought to be enough if they are all fit. If we get someone in who goes.
Given the defensive midfield recruits then I can’t see Farke playing Godfrey in midfield.