That City came within a whisker (or three whiskers) of earning three draws and three points this week, as opposed to nine, is a reminder of just how fine the margins are.
And that City are just a point from second place in the Championship while operating at only around 50 percent of their potential also demonstrates what a ridiculous division this is.
At least I hope there’s more to come from City because, as thrilling as these later winners are, particularly at the time, it’s not something we can rely on happening every week. Not really a sustainable game plan.
Let’s be honest – we got away with one yesterday. Some will argue we had heaps of possession and had three times as many shots as Wycombe but Gareth Ainsworth was right to feel a bit aggrieved, just as he was right to say if the Chairboys will soon start collecting points if they can replicate that level of performance.
Aesthetically pleasing they may not be – they don’t try to be – but they do look to extract every ounce of effort and desire out of their squad and try and turn every situation to their advantage.
Rather then get sniffy and prickly about it, we have to be better and be good enough to impose our own qualities on them, rather than fall into the trap of being dictated to.
The early goal, that very thing we’ve longed for all season, ended up being a curse rather than a blessing as it lulled players, fans and broadcasters into a false sense of comfort. Five minutes in and there was already talk of ‘rugby scores’, ‘cricket scores’ and ‘hammerings’. The same over-confidence of which the players are sometimes accused, especially when freshly relegated, appears just as prevalent off the pitch.
If Teemu Pukki’s second effort – the left-foot swoosh that fizzed past the post – had found the net to make it 2-0 then maybe we’d have had some grounds for unclenching the buttocks, but at 1-0 Wycombe were always in the game.
Along come Norwich is well-known phrase for a reason and yesterday was one of those occasions, so to assume an early goal would open the floodgates was daft.
Yet again, we showed a susceptibility against teams who don’t try and match us pass-for-pass and Wycombe’s equaliser was as much about Ben Gibson permitting a free header and Tim Krul not taking charge of a situation as it was about an error of judgement from Grant Hanley.
If any one of those three had taken ownership Wycombe wouldn’t have scored but instead, it was another of those pesky early Christmas presents in which we specialise. The only difference this season is that there’s always a chance we can be gifted one at the other end.
As a unit, the back-four had a generally uncomfortable afternoon, made doubly-tricky late on for Ben Gibson when Uche Ipeazu entered the fray, and were a little fortunate to remain a four. For all referee Gavin Ward’s inadequacies, the moment where he decided not to award a penalty against Gibson was definitely one that went in our favour.
With the ex-Boro man already on a yellow, a penalty decision would have been accompanied by a red.
But, generally, from the equaliser onward, it became anybody’s game and it wasn’t until the final ten minutes – when all the chasing had taken its toll on some tired Wycombe legs – that City ever really gained any proper control and started to threaten again in the final third.
It also coincided with Vrancic time.
I was involved in a Twitter discussion in the week around how Mario deserves a start and what does he have to do to get one etc, but came to the conclusion that in this current formation there is no natural fit for him.
He clearly operates at his best from a deep-lying midfield role where he has time to get his head up and pick his passes, but what he doesn’t possess is the physical prowess to also be part of a shield to the back four – that dual role being what Farke demands of his defensive midfielders.
Vrancic next to, for example, Lukas Rupp would work nicely when City have the ball but would be less effective on a day when City don’t have the majority of possession.
But – and it’s a big ol’ juicy but – how the heck does Farke leave him out? If you can’t force your way into the side off the back of two-match-winning cameos that almost single-handedly earned four extra points, then when can you?
Of course, it’s not just a case of chucking him in at the expense of AN Other just because he deserves it when so much of what City are trying to achieve relies on finding the right balance and partnerships that work but, regardless, it’s hard to find reasons not to include him.
With Brentford being one of those teams who’ll try and wrestle possession away from us, the team announcement at 6:45 on Tuesday evening will be very interesting.
Vrancic’s technique to get that ball up and down from close range and the subtlety required to hit the postage stamp as he did is a rare talent, even at Championship level. He’s turning free-kicks on the edge of the box almost into penalty kicks.
So, while there is clearly plenty for Farke and co to ponder, for all my whining, it’s three wins in a week and City are now up to fifth.
Just imagine what could be possible if we start playing well.
A shaky win, but I’ll take it Gary. I think Farke is still unsure about his best 11 and these first ten games will give him a chance to see who he can rely on as things get tougher. A lot of people will give Idah a bit of leeway for his red card due to his age and inexperience, but he is fast becoming a key member of the squad, and will be missed in the next three games.
If we are playing poorly and we are, and picking up points it cannot be that bad, for me the true test will be Tuesday against Brentford, no disrespects to Huddersfield,Rotherham, Birmingham & Wycombe they are not expect to be in a promotion spot, Preston are for the exception, so far and we struggled but got a point. I will form better judgement on Wednesday.
As for Mario I agree Mr G where do you fit him in, having said that I do think he deserves a lot longer on the green stuff. I must be about the only one who isn,t so sure on Iran, some of that comes from him being played as an almost outright winger. Don,t get me wrong he is learning an the best way is to play. But would prefer to see a round peg in a round hole Martin or Placheta and Hernandez when fit.
With two tough games coming up Tuesday followed by Bristol on Saturday, there needs to be some marked improvement, a better picture will be seen, I will take any points from these. A defeat some unrest may start to rise.
I think you’re right in sharing the blame for Wycombe’s goal among the three of them. Gibson should have been challenging for the header, Krul was a tad late in coming to collect the loose ball, and Hanley hesitated because Krul was closing down his option to pass it back to the keeper. Communication is the key!
I’m not sure they had a valid case for the possible penalty. The player was halfway down to the ground before Gibson’s hand on his back, and Idah was unfortunate with the red card. The Wycombe player had Idah’s foot trapped between his legs to prevent Adam getting free down the wing, and all Adam did was give him a shove in the chest to help him get free. I think it’s worth an appeal, based on the Wycombe player’s contribution.
No VAR, so no “independent” review of either incident. If there had been who knows what they’d have decided, given that McGuire got away with a headlock in the game against Chelsea, and apparently they had a quick review and decided it wasn’t worth a penalty. They never cease to amaze me with their decisions.
Hi Gary
Well we all new yesterday was going to be a tough ask and it surely proved to be that.
Garath Ainsworth missed a trick by not using his battering ram of a beast earlier when cities defence was shaken.
Now for all the comments during the week about it being a walk in the park reality came with a vengeance and Wycombe deserved a point from this game and hopefully will soon be on the score board and stay up.
Stoke turned Brentford over and Bristol had a hard fought game against Swansea, 2 teams city have yet to play so Farke knows like us supporters that it is a never ending challenge in this league and a few of the squad will be looking forward to the 10 day international break to replenish the batteries and let niggling injuries recover.
As with our defence yesterday it seemed to slip back into it’s old ways Gibson and Hanley are so vocal during the last few games but they were very quiet and Krul made the wrong decision to come for the ball and Hanley was caught out with that decision and really was in no mans land , he could have tried to put it in the upper stand but it could have been an OG as well and Kashket didn’t have a clue he had scored so just bad judgement by Krul, Hanley and Gibson.
Let’s hope for an away win on Tuesday City 2 – 1 seem to be a recurring theme this season
Onwards and upwards
OTBC
Stay safe and stay healthy
Is it just me who thinks that this season so far has more than a passing resemblance to the 2016-17 season, under Alex Neil, which started so well, in terms of points being accumulated, yet performances seemed to lag some way behind physical results – and we all know how that season ended. Fingers crossed that I’m wrong.
Gibson had a very shaky game after a couple of solid performances. Krul also had one of his unfocussed games and both Quintilla and Aarons were poor defensively. Thankfully Hanley was very good after the error. Our midfield two (Skipp and Rupp) were bypassed and ineffective. Cantwell and Buendia were closed by two or three every time they got the ball. Pukki started well but completely faded again and Hugill had nothing to work with. Our crosses and corners were dreadful, as was our set piece defending (again).
Wycombe worked very, very hard and deserved a point – I’d have given the pen and a red for Gibson; I think he knew what he was doing.
Lots to work on then – but we also showed incredible resilience and quality at times. The opening blitz really should have won it, and Idah changed the game when he came on. And what a free kick.
It shows the value of a squad. Look at the quality we still have to shoehorn into the 18 at some point, let alone in the team. It will get harder and many will falter – from here we just have to roll on at two points per game and we’ll be top two.
Of the 6 goals conceded, 3 have been given away. If we can genuinely cut that out and make sure the opposition have to do something good to score, that would help!
God knows what we do if we go up again; I think I’d just bank the money again as competing will still be impossible.
Food for thought Gary and a good read.
Quite how we can escape the flakiness which has plagued us for far too long should be top of Farkes topics. Totally in control, an early goal up against the leagues worst side, a completely farcical and stupid concession direct from our catalogue of disasters, heralded in 40 minutes of the most shaky and unedifying football.
The mental weakness inherent in the squad appears to have permeated the new intake as well.
From the ridiculous to the sublime, Mario Vrancic for the second time in a few days does what he does best and rescues us from embarrassment, a prime candidate for player of the month and even I might add, a front runner in the Barry butler stakes – and he can’t get a start.
If the current formation doesn’t suit Vrancic, change the formation.
Idah appeared hard done by. The niggle cheating theme which Wycombe embody was fully evident as idah, his leg trapped between the thighs of his opponent struggled for balance. Quite how the referee saw that as a red card, and yet fail to censure the Wycombe idiot is beyond me.
The subsequent ban is poorly timed, given the uninspiring form of hugill.
Perhaps, given the rampant ‘gamesmanship’ of Wycombe, the soft nature of the free kick award which led to our winner is the most satisfying element of the game,
A very accurate report Gary.
The way we take penalties I’m sure I’d rather have a right side edge of the penalty box free kick. Assuming Mario is on the field.
Not sure where you get the recurring theme idea from, Three of our six games have ended 1 -0, two of which we lost..
We could easily have had two draws either side of a 3-0 victory against Birmingham. Same number of goals for and against and a reasonable reflection of play but 4 fewer points.. The comparison with 2016/17 was interesting as I hadn’t picked that up as I associate it with heavy home victories mixed up defeats at Burton and Rotherham but the early days of that season certainly look similar. There are similarities with 18/19 with narrow home victories which later developed to the season we remember. I’ve been looking at 05/06 but we never ground out those home wins and Crewe and Coventry escaped with points. The other comparisons are 95/96 and 85/86. I’ll go with the latter especially as the relegation run in from the year before was similar to the end of last season. In essence we are at a crossroads and it will be Christmas before we really know which path we are on
It’s strange, but I was already thinking of 2016-17 before I saw the comments above. I remember being a little surprised at the time we were so high in the table, because we really hadn’t played that well and appeared to lack a bit of spark.. That’s how I feel at the moment. We seem to be winning matches without really doing anything exceptional (bar Super Mario) but at least we are winning matches!
That said, the early part of the season is not always a good indicator as to how things pan out, It’s difficult to tell right now if we are underachieving (grinding out results before hitting peak form) or overachieving (winning games and papering over the cracks before the wheels fall off).. I’m hoping like the comment above that it’s a 1986 or a 2019 in waiting and maybe the next two games will give us more of a clue.