“Unfortunately, on this occasion your application has been unsuccessful”.
A line I’ve (unsurprisingly) been on the receiving end of on numerous occasions – usually in my professional life but occasionally when hoping to attend an ‘event’, which on this occasion was a football match.
While I missed out, one thousand of our brethren didn’t and it was they, rather than the players, who lit up Carrow Road yesterday afternoon.
The sight and sound of noise and interaction from the stands was, for us softies at least, really moving and there was definitely something in my eye as those first cheers echoed around the ol’ place when the players emerged for the pre-match warm-up.
And while the players offered up a slightly underwhelming performance – which I’ll get onto in a bit – the chosen thousand didn’t fail to deliver.
It sounded like a home game.
The squeeze was put on referee John Brooks.
The players were driven on in the tricky moments.
Goals were properly celebrated.
It felt like a Championship game.
That Teemu Pukki went within a whisker of adding a late twist to the afternoon in a 2018-19 style was, I suspect, partly due to the fans driving the team on in those dying minutes.
So, well done all, including the club. To have everything in place and tick all the right boxes at such short notice was a feat in itself. It’s a small step, it may end up being the only step this season, but it brought some much-needed joy in what continues to be a grim year.
It would have been fitting for the fans to have been treated to a swashbuckling, smooth-as-silk masterclass of Farkeball, but luckily most were just glad to be there and what in fact they were privy to was the starkest reminder yet of how the Championship differs from the Premier League.
It was also a timely reminder of just how difficult it is to win a Championship game and how there are no short-cuts to doing so.
Preston epitomise everything that’s good and bad about the second-tier. Shut your eyes, think of the Championship and you see Preston.
Organised, well-drilled, combative, hard-working, obdurate, energetic and bloody hard to play against. One of those sides, as a player, you dread facing. It’s no coincidence they were the last team to beat us in the second tier – in February 2019.
With this City team still very much in its development phase, it made for a game that scored highly in terms of endeavour but barely registered on the artistic impression scale.
Sean Dyche may have approved. Craig Revel-Horwood less so.
But that’s the Championship. There’ll hopefully be days to come when Farkeball 2.0 will swing into action and they’ll move smoothly though the gears, when the ball will be zipped from A to B, B to C and giant lumps of centre-back will be twisted and turned until their heads are spinning, but more often than not brawn will edge out brain.
The new faces are still finding their bearings and trying to figure out how and where they fit into Farke’s dream team, while the old guard are yet to hit their straps, some still inhibited by the lingering memories of their own annus horribilis.
It was disjointed, ugly at times, and minus any real sense of fluidity, which makes the point gained all the more precious. It also ended that miserable run of six consecutive home defeats.
For much of the afternoon City were second-best, with Alex Neil’s request for a cohesive high-press being well-executed by his troops.
All too often, Tim Krul was forced to go long rather than take his preferred route of a centre-back or deep lying midfielder, and even when that option was deployed, how many times did Christoph Zimmermann lump the ball aimlessly long?
The back-four, both as the (literally) last line of defence and the first line of attack, was unable to function as they or Farke intended, and while it’s early days for everyone, with a shiny new centre-back in the house who’s itching to be given an opportunity, the time must be nigh.
Both goals conceded were soft.
The penalty concession by Ollie Skipp was a tight call but, probably, just about right and was one of those “he’ll learn” moments, with Ben Davies theatrics of an ilk that would have found favour with the Strictly judges.
The second goal was… Norwich City.
While game 2 is no good barometer of what’s to come, something still needs to change around how we defend and if that means subtle personnel changes then that’s how it has to be.
The same with the Skipp/McLean combo that’s designed to be solid and offer a layer of protection to the back four. Again, early days, but a partnership whose modus operandi is to be the team’s engine room spluttered rather than purred.
While Skipp has been delegated the Tettey role, he looks infinitely happier fulfilling the McLean part of the contract; his driving runs from deep in the second-half being one of the more eye-catching aspects of yesterday’s display.
It’s clearly a question of Farke finding his best combinations from a plethora of options. and it’s also clear McLean is struggling to find the form of early last season when he was one of the team’s most potent forces.
He doesn’t have to be the first name on the team sheet.
But, through all that disjointed-ness (is that a word?), there were still moments to warm the heart, notably the sight of the old Teemu Pukki emerging from the shell of the more recent, tormented, hesitant version.
His bullet-header goalward that was given the David de Gea treatment by Declan Rudd was a beautiful thing, but even better was his razor-sharp movement to get half-a-yard on the Preston centre-back in the final minute. On that occasion, Rudd discovered his inner Kevin Keelan, but the Finn’s technique to first of all get there and then get his effort on target was, for me, the moment of the afternoon.
Worth noting too was how Przemysław Płacheta made up the ground to get the cross in; an arguably more impressive feat than his goal, which itself was well executed after his initial effort threated only those in the front row of the South Stand.
Płacheta is unpolished – no question – and we’ve yet found the best way to use his obvious asset, but if we can, there’ll be some Championship right-backs nipping up at the prospect of facing him.
Hopefully, going forward, his presence will bring out the best in Onel Hernandez (as opposed to the Onel we watched yesterday) and the team can find a rhythm and platform that will offer the wide men some better quality service.
But, these are abnormal times. In a normal pre-season, yesterday would have been the final friendly at Carrow Road against quality European opposition and Farke would still be pondering his starting XI for the big KO.
So, let’s judge gently for now… and let the buggers have it in a month’s time if passes are still being sprayed everywhere but to their intended destination 😉
I’m joking.
We’re fourth. Unbeaten. And we’ve barely started.
On the Ball City.
Beautifully put, Gary. Plenty of great phrases in there, with the possibly unconscious ‘there were still moments to warn the heart’ also sitting comfortably amongst the apt. One win and a draw from the first two games is very respectable start, albeit in unconvincing fashion. I would be happy for NCFC to work on cementing a positive and robust style of play and stay 4th to 8th in the table until about Jan/Feb until momentum needs to build towards the itchy part of the season. Plenty of positives from yesterday. Placheta’s recovery from the miss with a goal must have done ten types of good for his personal and the team’s morale.
Hi Gary
An excellent read this bright sunny morning in Blackpool.
My first question for one and all is Macullum back on loan to Lady Godiva’s Coventry
1) Is this to gain experience of championship football
2) To cut the wage bill
3) Who is our back up if Quintilla is injured.
A N had the bizarre complaints that Placheta controlled the ball with his hand and that if the Quintilla foul had come at the other side he would have seen Red.
Hand ball not one Preston player demonstrate by raising his arm to the ref and the foul tackling a player from either side if it warrants a Red then it should get one.
A N was knit picking but they were the better team.
We all moan about being the underdogs in the premiership but I for one am pleased to see Bale back but also that he will not be tearing city’s defence apart this season.
For the game against Bournemouth could we go with 3 CV’s and a defensive cover of Skipp and Tettey now that would be solid.
Onwards and upwards
OTBC
Stay safe and stay healthy
Farke at the moment has a big squad to choose from,I’d like to see him use it instead of picking the same eleven.How does McLean keep his place?Surely the defence needs sorting too.
4 points from two bang average performances at best, a decent foundation for our anticipated improvement and hopefully a few more thousand through the gate, Boris permitting. Good to have the habitual mid Sunday morning Coffee back assisted by Gowers !
With a shiny new centre back waiting to start and as we are outmuscled in midfield, is it not time to play Godfrey as the holding midfield player?
John I absolutely agree with the Ben Godfrey midfield role. I think he would be awesome in that position. There maybe a very good reason that DF doesn’t see that but I would love a tactical expert to explain why not.
As to the game 4 points Isn’t bad for a team yet to fire on all cylinders, at best 5/10 performances. Our best team hasn’t happened yet and I expect much better to come but generally there is a big question to be resolved with the midfield 5.
In my previous comment I ment to say that Quest’s feature the 1000 speckledpotatoes and it was great to see supporters back in the ground now city have to reapply for the next selection maybe an increase to 5k and possibly a few away fans come on Boris.
Who thinks getting want away to the premiership Pritchard back for up to £6m would be a good deal
Disagree with the suggestion regarding away fans. Having paid up front for my seats in the ground I wouldn’t look kindly upon an outsider rocking up and claiming a seat. Home support only until this mess is sorted.
My way would be 5k fir home fans and possibly 500 away fans just to create more atmosphere
I didn’t apply for a “golden ticket”, but was very grateful to the 1000 who did, because I got real crowd reaction, not the artificially produced stuff Sky are putting out for games. I noticed on Sky’s coverage of the the Man U v Palace game, the artificial crowd noise included a faint chorus of The Blaydon Races, which has never been sung by either set of supporters! I watched on iFollow, and it worked very well, though I see on the Pink’un forum, some people had problems.
Skipp was suckered into that penalty, though I don’t think the referee had much option. As for Alex Neil’s claim that Quintilla should have had a red card, that’s just whinging because he didn’t get the win. There was a covering player who would probably have got there in time to block a shot, so a yellow was the correct decision.
How nice it was to see a game without VAR. The Man U game included a harsh penalty, which the referee wouldn’t have seen, and a re-take because the keeper was an inch or so off his line. Shades of Pukki’s armpit last season! Ive no love for Man U, but I think they were harshly dealt with, especially as there was an identical “handball” in the Arsenal game, and VAR didn’t intercede.
Watched the highlights on Quest. A draw was a fair result both sides could have won the game. I am sure you are right that the crowd made a difference, even a thousand voices were loud enough. Proud the club were able to stage a Covid secure experience for the lucky thousand.
The team need some time to gel. I would like to see Gibson and Godfrey play together. McLean is going through a rough patch so maybe bring someone else in., Sorensen maybe. Buendia in for Dowell. Pukki seems to be finding his mojo again. Still optimistic for the rest of the season.
OTBC
Stay safe and better luck in the next ticket draw.
An excellent read Gary, which raised a chuckle too.
Mention of craig revel horwood in conjunction with our bck four and “defensive behaviours” has long rung true with me. Yet again yesterday in key moments we resembled a bunch of flower arrangers or air stewards informing the passengers about the proximity of the exits while forwards swarmed round them. Farke enters his fourth year and still has absolutely no handle on how to coach a defence.
Cue a goal from a corner, of course, although after last weeks refereeing nightmare how that was given as a penalty is a mystery to me.
You allude to the omnipotence of McLean, echoing what most observers now realise is a king sized blind spot, a farke favourite who is currently a passenger offering only ballast and not a lot of that.
Hernandez too is far from pulling up trees, along with Zimmermann should be benched for a better option. In the case of onel, placheta has outshone him from the bench, as has idah and continually ignoring the claims of those two will hurt them and us. The omnishambles at the back is screaming for the inclusion of Gibson, quite what the hold up is I’m not sure but it needs to be rectified ASAP.
I note that mccallum has been sent on loan to,Coventry today, which opens up the possibility of playing a back three, allowing the inclusion of Gibson while ameliorating the defensive frailties of quintile and Aarons.
Knowing farke, he will go with the same again until a catastrophic defeat forces his hand. With Bournemouth on the horizon the obvious upscale in class from Luton Huddersfield and Preston will provide a serious test. Should the line up include Zimmermann, McLean, Hernandez even cantwell at the expense of Gibson, placheta, idah and Buendia et al and the result goes belly up my remaining vestiges of faith in Farkes ability to get the best out of the hand he is being played will dissipate and I shall join the ranks of the farke out brigade. He is now on very thin ice.
2 games in : “ Farke is on very thin ice “ . Not so sure about that one 🤔
Looking at it another way, 14 that’s fourteen games, one win, 1 home draw with Preston and a narrow win at huddersfield, 2 cup exits, 1 relegation barrow loads conceded, the square route of bugger all scored. Knee jerk this isn’t. He’s on thin ice with me.
I think we can discount the Premier League , no manager would have done much better with such limited funds . Yes, we were knocked out by Man Utd ,and by playing with 17 first team players out .
Promotion is achieved by 2 points a game . We are on track . Several new players and several with adjustments to make . We’ve done well.
Oh, how short the memories are of 18/19 season , especially the first 6 games .
You might be right , but it’s way way to early to rush to ill considered conclusions yet 😁 .
I do agree that Farkes hands were severely tied by circumstances beyond his control, the fact is, Norwich City are handicapped in any league before a ball is kicked.
The record however, is atrocious.
“my remaining vestiges of faith in Farkes ability to get the best out of the hand he is being played will dissipate”
What a curious thing to say. Nothing in the rest of your post suggests you have any such faith now!
By the way whilst Huddersfield are certainly poor PNE are far from it, and I’m not sure that Luton are quite as shabby as you’d like to think given that they’ve won both league games and knocked Reading (who’ve also won both league games) out of the cup.
Hardly curious. As I stated above, the last fourteen games, that’s over a third of a season, have been disastrous. or are you disputing that?
If we are now measuring ourselves unfavourably against the likes of Luton and Preston you are simply proving the point.
Keep the faith my friend 👍. If you have a well thought through alternative strategy . Names , costs etc , let’s hear it 🤔
I do agree Johnny, that we are in many ways tied to the status quo. I like farke as a person and as a coach he has many merits.
I am beginning to feel however, that as he enters his fourth full season, that the championship winning year was a blip and very much the exception to the rule. I hope he pulls another miracle off.
With regard to the machinations and inside track of professional sport and finance, it’s asking a lot for a mere layman like myself to have a strategy for a better way!😉 I do believe though that one such route to success exists and should be explored.
I’ve never used iFollow before but it worked OK for me.
Didn’t see any real on-field complaints from City about for the penalty, nor from PNE about Quintilla only getting a yellow. I thought the referee did a good job, particularly the way he handled that petulant full back by involving the captain. He also added on plenty of time for time-wasting and subs. Many don’t.
That Skipp and Placheta both managed to put errors behind them and improve rapidly was encouraging. I did feel we cold have done with some Vrancic or Buendia creativity at times. There were a couple of free kicks that cried out for Mario. Didn;t see much coming off for Cantwell or Hernandez.
It’s early days. It doesn’t feel like there’s as much quality in the division as there was the last 2 or 3 years. Let’s see how many sides can take us on using the PNE high work-rate approach when they’ve been playing twice a week for a month or two.
I would like to see a Skipp / Tettey combination. I think McLean may be more useful further forward, especially if Dowell is injured and Emi comes to join me in living the Black Country dream.
I agree that we should judge gently for the time being. Besides, Colin Murray said that we’d go up automatically; that should be good enough for everyone