Four points from four games for City looks, on the face of it, a poor return but there are some caveats.
While Daniel Farke is fully aware of his brief, the frustration reverberating around Colney is understandable due to the unyielding transfer rumours.
This evidently has had an impact on his approach to games.
In addition to the rumours, Kieran Dowell’s long-term injury has also exacerbated issues around the team’s base formation. With Todd Cantwell and Emi Buendia both recently omitted from selection and subject to media criticism from Farke, Norwich’s lack of a natural Number 10 has impacted his decision making.
City appear to be deviating away from their accustomed 4-2-3-1 into more of a 4-1-4-1, with Oliver Skipp noticeably dropping in between the centre-backs during build-up play.
Such movement allows for City’s midfielders to drop deeper into pockets of space they can receive possession in. A process which is made all the smoother with the introduction of Ben Gibson – Farke’s first left-footed centre-back during his time at the club.
This brings me on to my first section…
The Good
What I found most pleasing about City’s performance against Derby was their play through the thirds, most pertinently Gibson’s introduction into the team.
I’ve spoken a lot about my wish for a left-footed centre-back in the side, and while at risk of sounding like a broken record, in laymen terms the benefits it provides are two-fold – body positioning and pass trajectory.
Essentially, it’s harder for opposition players to intercept a pass when the trajectory of the ball is away from them, as opposed to towards them.
Evidence of this was seen early on in the game when Gibson played a pass into Marco Stiepermann’s feet. Its trajectory meant the path of the ball is curving away from the Derby midfielder.
If Ben Godfrey was in the same position, the pass would have probably been played out wide, not allowing the quick interchange of passing triangles through the midfield third.
On a side note, notice how much space all three of City’s midfield have, but that’s something I’ll discuss in more detail at a later date.
Gibson’s influence is felt during the phase of play which culminates in them winning a penalty (more on that, later).
This time, the pass is fizzed into Emi Buendia, who takes up the place in-between the two Derby midfielders (again, note the space City’s midfielders have).
Norwich’s combination play within the midfield third results in them winning a penalty. None of this would have happened without Gibson as, again, the ball would have gone out wide.
But Gibson isn’t going to get in the side solely by being left-footed. He positively impacted the defensive structure too, winning 100% of his aerial duels and making four clearances.
Ultimately there isn’t another player who provides Farke with this attribute and I fully expect the ex-Middlesbrough defender to be an important facet this season.
The Bad
From one left-footed defender to another. Loan signing Xavi Quintilla has been a standout performer thus far but, despite some pleasing performances, the attention surrounding the Spaniard is largely around the novelty factor of having a wide player capable of excellent delivery.
This is an aspect seldom seen is City sides of recent years. City’s wingbacks have predominantly been placed out wide to create more space for the central midfield to operate in, whether this is by overlapping runs or pulling defenders out of position, the main requirement has not been to deliver teasing crosses onto the head of a target man.
The decision to recruit Przemyslaw Placheta and Jordan Hugill, as well as the further integration of Adam Idah suggests City will be tempted to incorporate differing patterns of play to utilise the strengths of the aforementioned players.
My criticism of this particular aspect of play comes with the personnel, as opposed to the additional strand City are attempting to incorporate.
We’re all aware of Teemu Pukki’s strengths – heading is not one.
The Finn’s goal against Preston shouldn’t affect this. He was massively helped by Norfolkonian Declan Rudd’s calamitous goalkeeping.
By all means, utilise Quintilla’s strengths by a proliferation of crosses, but Hugill and Idah simply need more minutes to take advantage of those deliveries. Pukki quite simply isn’t that player.
Quintilla attempted 13 crosses, with only two being successful.
For me, it highlights wider issues of Norwich’s current plan. They’re stuck between reverting back to what worked in 2018/19 and their new, revised philosophy.
Incorporating fresh patterns of play will make City more versatile in attack, but relying on a player who has scored two headed goals in 85 City appearances is wishful thinking.
The Ugly
While we’re on the topic of the Finnish forward, I want to talk about the lack of success from the penalty spot.
This part of the article isn’t supposed to be about what went well or wrong. Sometimes in football, things just happen but Pukki’s slip, unfortunately, personifies the last 12 months for City.
Does it raise a bigger point about Pukki’s confidence? Potentially. But unfortunately for City, it was just one of those days.
I was angered by the post-match analysis from Sky’s media team on Saturday.
Ultimately if Pukki doesn’t slip, the whole game is flipped on his head. You’re no longer talking about the defensive nous of Derby, but how Teemu Pukki is back after two goals in three games.
And that my friends, is football.
*******
Billy is ½ of NCFC podcast The Revere End. You can follow them on Twitter, Instagram & Facebook @therevereend and listen to their podcast on Spotify, Apple and Google podcasts.
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Good sum up. Why not just buy Gibson ? If he has good season price will rise and other teams alerted. We have him here use the advantage.
There seems no point in banging in good crosses and corners with little hope of a yellow head getting on the end of them.
I am wondering if Farke, is plainly stubborn, scared to change or limited in tactics ? The options are there and deserve longer than a few minutes.
Hi mate,
I think the deal for Gibson makes sense. Norwich now have the funds to activate the buy out clause if they wish. You’d presume they have first dibs.
I agree in regards to crosses. I’m not sure Hugill was a deal Farke initiated.
And in regards to flexibility, I think he’s apprehensive too. He’s walking a tightrope at the moment and is understandably cautious with every move.
Spot on with your comment about flexibility, Billy. Spot on.
Hi Billy
An excellent article to read on an extremely wet day here in Blackpool.
I enjoyed the way city played and as other people have mentioned why Rupp didn’t foul on the half way line I will never know, taking one for the team is something I dislike but at times it is a necessary evil and Rooney would have been subbed as was Cocu plans.
If Hugill or Udah play as a target man how about using Pukki just behind as a false No10 he would then be available to pick off any balls headed down to him.
Defence I mentioned before at time I think Farke could go with 3 CB if and when they are all fit.
Klose seems to be out of the door so we have gone from 5 CB to 3 in a matter of days unless we use our new Dane as a makeshift but that never seems to work out for us.
With only the domestic transfers still to close in 10 days we could be bereft of EMI, Todd and Aaron’s, we have 2 long term injuries and 10 players out on loan so we are really short on numbers.
I have heard that all out loans are subject to no recall so are we going to bolster with loans or possibly a surprise or 2 if late arrivals and the answer to that is only time will tell but we can assume that we will have to pay top dollar as other clubs will want some of Delia’s pocket money.
Onwards and upwards
OTBC
Stay safe and stay healthy
Couple of questions.
1. What happen if that Quintilla crossing to Hugill does not give any results? How that completely different playing style fits to other players in Norwich? Are they all just trying to kick crosses to Hugill or is plan that all pass ball to Quintilla? Norwich attacking has been very much dependent of Pukkis movement and technical skills, do you believe that Hugill is same level with that?
2. If Norwich is not going to play Pukki anymore then should Norwich let him leave even free or still keep him until his contract ends?
it isn’t all about him or Idah heading for goal, play Pukki No10 he is more than capable of that. have others pushing in and round the box for flick-on’s etc. I watched Everton play that way with their guy who is scoring for fun. many teams employ crossing, with a decent header of a ball. The way it has been has been our downfall in the Prem, 2018-19 has gone, been worked out and employed to stop us.
That is nowhere near Pukki’s locker. We have two wingers with speed and a wing back who has a decent cross. why have them in the squad. There has to be room in any squad for options, we have not had that much, now teams have worked us out, the coaching staff has to work pout a way to change things and not at 85 minutes.
Pukki is striker and have always been. Finland in a way similar problem, even there is no problem with results. Joel Pohjanpalo is finally fit to play and combination with Pukki didnt looked to be working. It has worked better when other striker/forward has been hard working runner like greyhound dog. Pukki would have never wrote contract with Norwich if playing style would not been like he prefers to play.
1 other thing is that Pukki is Norwich main figure, they sell by using his face. He is surely most known Norwich player outside England. Just today there seems to be again new partnership with Norwich based on Pukki. In Finland there is strong english club football fanbase which has started already in 1960s. Norwich surely had finnish fans before Pukki, basically every team has fans even in lowest divisions but surely norwich fanbase is now larger.
Norwich fans surely wants best for their supported team, same time Finland national team fans want best for players who represent finland. So, if for Pukki is best that he just gets paid but does not play its absolutely fine. If he has to play role which does not fit to him or Norwich plays was it does not fit him its absolutely not fine. Even if Farke would do just like Norwich fans prefer meaning that Pukki is not playing at all still problem comes because of co-operation agreements. If Pukki plays and everything goes badly when he plays for Norwich it will likely affect to his playing in national team too. Its difficult to play player who has too much emotional package and/or who has played football which does not suit to him at all. In my eyes Norwich is nightmare and im not only one at all who thinks same way. Its possible that its not turning any better.
An interesting piece, thanks Billy. I’m one of those fans who struggles sometimes to take the positives out of a defeat, after all a loss is a loss and all that, but I agree that the two big pluses were Gibson and the movement through the thirds, particularly in the first 20 minutes when we could and should have taken the lead. Small margins, as always, would have won us the game; the Pukki penalty and an average display from Marshall would have given us a well deserved 2-0 victory. But, as you suggest, these two goal opportunities point to my biggest concern at the moment – well meaning, but misplaced reliance on Pukki, when our best chance of scoring goals is sat on the bench. I would wager that had we started the Bournemouth and Derby games with Hugil instead of Pukki then we would be at least 4 and probably 6 points better off. What is the point in having a credible alternative striker in the house, one who matches our new playing style, if he is only given 6-8 minutes to save a game. Pukki needs a rest and to know that he has genuine competition for his place. We need to let 2018-19 go and that includes the belief that Pukki is a 20 goal a season striker, every season!
Some good points here Billy but you miss the main one Farke has shown no ability to change the team setup in all the time he has bee here. He only knows one way and that is why we were relegated and sadly, I fear , why we will not be making any swift return. We have to give him some time we are told but as he seems to have learned nothing so far is that just denying his successor time?? You and many other fans can see the need for change why can’t DF.
Farke has ran out of ideas, alienated players and brings on subs when the game has gone.
He should go through the window too and bring in Ian Culverhouse.
Everyone said the same about Graham Potter but Farke hasn’t learnt anything new or demonstrated anything to convince us.
The club are living on past glory by keeping him.
It is a business and should be treated as such.
Be ruthless and send him on his way before he does even more damage.
His comments about Emi and Todd were the last straw for me.
He should be inspiring the players not moaning about them. We shouldn’t see this side of the team, it should be behind closed doors.
After Saturday I find it difficult to see where we are going.
Last year the fault wasn’t Farkeball as much as the fact that we didn’t possess the athletes to compete in the premiership. The only player who could deal with the power of premier players was Tettey but unfortunately he’s coming to the end of his career.
Gibson was a much needed signing even if Godfrey hadn’t left us.
I’m perplexed at this moment as to where we are going as the signing of Hugill indicated a different style but instead we seem to have fallen between Farkeball and a direct approach without Hugill.
I think we need to buy at least one more defender and a physically dominant midfielder with some of the Godfrey money just to stay in the championship.
At the moment I hope Farke has the answer but I’m starting to think we’re in a big mess.