If you hadn’t seen or listened to the game and looked online yesterday morning to see Brentford 1 [Toney 28], Norwich City 1 [McLean 87] I’m pretty sure you’d have been happy with that.
A point away against what appears to be a genuine candidate for the promotion mix ain’t half bad.
And I was happy with the result too. Very much so in fact. We seem to be floating in and around the top six. A few more good results before Christmas could see us cement ourselves there.
But there were several *buts* you would have picked up on if you did watch the match itself. In the exact opposite of traditional court procedure I’ll start with the mitigation.
Xavi Quintilla didn’t fancy it following the warm-up and Daniel Farke quite rightly didn’t risk him. Whether hip or hamstring issues depends on which reports you might have read.
So in comes Jacob Lungi Sorensen, who is naturally right-footed, for his Norwich debut at left back with all of five minutes notice. And we were reduced to six substitutes. Well, them’s the rules. And I’d guess that’s the first time the Championship has featured a Sorensen on either team. Our Lungi acquitted himself very well as it happens – eventually ending up on the right flank of a back three towards the end.
Todd Cantwell was rated a doubt before kick off which has to be a mitigating circumstance for a very nondescript first half performance which meant he was hooked for Przemyslaw Placheta at half time. Not before he’d given the ball away to set up a Brentford counter from our own throw-in that led to Ivan Toney’s opener of course.
Circumstantial excuses made, let’s take a look at the negatives, beginning with a trivial one. I’m starting to dislike our second kit very much indeed. Under the lights it looked to blend in with the Brentford Community Stadium grass.
I’m sure it was fine for the players but watching on a 15″ screen it was quite difficult to pick up the numbers. Of course, we know our players well enough but a Brentford supporter might have found it a tad confusing.
Tim Krul’s distribution was poor whenever he took a place kick, Emi Buendia was, erm Emi Buendia. One brilliant turn on a defender to fashion a shot on David Raya’s goal apart, this was not one of his most effective games.
At risk of an accusation of scapegoating, Grant Hanley was culpable for completely losing Ivan Toney at the cross for Brentford’s goal and nutted over a fine opportunity from eight yards after an excellent Buendia free kick. Not all Emi’s free kicks were excellent of course.
Yet again the opposition scored first and we were a bit dodgy for a long while afterwards. There’s no hiding that. It’s yet to flow.
At risk of stating the bleedin’ obvious, our defensive resources are looking a bit thin. Yes I know Max Aarons, the Stieperdude and obviously, now Sorensen too can cover at left-back and Lukas Rupp or maybe Bali Mumba can fill in at right-back but surely we need a fit Zimbo asap.
Okay, let’s have some positives.
Disjointed and maybe even fragmented at times we never gave up and although some folks would think we were lucky to get a result a friendly neutral would have thought the draw was bordering on a fair result.
I can’t remember the last time I felt sorry for an oppo keeper but Raya was so unfortunate with Mayor MacLean’s late strike which was going wide until it took a wicked deflection and rolled into the net in slow-mo despite a despairing dive. But if you don’t shoot you don’t score of course.
Despite my earlier criticism Krul made a blinding save from a Toney header, dropping low to his right like a circus acrobat. Equally his block from Henrik Dalsgaad in the second half was a brilliant reaction save. Sure it was close to him but it might have got through a lesser keeper.
Our last four vital goals have arrive at minutes 90+1, 87, 90+5 and 87 again – or something like that – in a four-match unbeaten streak.
And I ain’t moaning about 14 points from eight games no matter how we’ve accumulated them.
I’ll leave you beloved readers with a couple of questions.
Does anybody else think Brentford keeper David Raya looks a bit like Grant Hanley?
And can any of the MFW clan tell me exactly why the Millwall kick-off has been brought forward to 7pm on Tuesday?
Good morning Mr P and IMO, we ‘got out of jail’ at the Brentford Community Ground and thanks goodness we have Tim Krul in goal. As you rightly point out, 14 points from 8 games is ‘not to be sneezed at’ – though I’m sure there is still a handful of fans who are in the ‘Farke out’ camp. I’d love to know who they have in mind as a replacement!!
As you rightly point out – an excellent debut from Sorenson after being hurriedly being drafted into the starting 11
As Gary said yesterday, it was painfully obvious on Saturday that we became jittery after Brentford scored – as we did when we allowed Wycombe to score on Saturday. Thank goodness we have Krul in goal and he certainly atoned for his part in the ‘Keystones Cops’ moment against Wycombe with his superb performance on Tuesday night.
I’m struggling to remember when a team scored against this season due to their skill, rather than us conceding a ‘soft goal.’ I guess Rooney’s goal might fit that category, but that was a needless FK to concede.
I’m sure I’m not alone in wanting to see our players taking more shots from outside the box, as there’s always a chance of a deflection and it’s about time we had a little bit of luck. Yes, we may have the highest percentage possession/goal attempts in the league, but our number of shots on target is one of the lowest.
At least one of the positives we can take from recent games is that we are playing until the final whistle.
Canaries V Robins and an early kick off on Saturday, which should be an excellent test for the team and give a realistic barometer of our aspirations of doing well in this league. This is then followed by 2 home games against teams above us in the league and if we can plunder 4 or more points from these 3 games it may just silence the doubters.
Morning Ed
I can’t argue with any of that.
I think we can all see that it really throws us off kilter when we concede first [eg most matches]. Trouble is that we get some form of the shakes whenever we concede – your mention of the Wycombe game being the perfect example.
We passed the Brentford test [kind of] but I agree with you that the next three fixtures will be as tough as they will be important.
I’ve got this image of everybody under 60 scratching their heads and thinking: *what’s he on about? Keystone Cops? Who the ******* hell are they?* 🙂
Cheers
When you mention the goals scored against us don’t forget our goals. Pukki got a good one and Mario a good free kick but then we had a suicidal back pass, an own goal, a penalty and a wicked deflection. We have played some good football in patches but in most games the opposition have looked more likely to score than we have. Something needs to change particularly in the opposition box because these fortunate goals have a tendency to dry up pretty quickly. We are in a good position having not played well but that will soon disappear unless we pick up a bit. Long way to go.
Hi Cyprus
Sure there’s a long way to go – nearly 40 games of course. We have had the rub of the green on several occasions and there’s no denying that.
Commentators views vary from we can only get better [I’m in that category] to a bit of good fortune is papering over some cracks.
I think there’s validity in both arguments and as you say, only time will tell.
Thanks
I thought we were poor for most of the first half, and could have been out of contention by the time it ended. However, I thought we were good for most of the second half and impressive when we went to 3 at the back-I have yet to read any reports or posts that are as enthused by the performance as I am, perhaps I shouldn’t have swigged the Punk IPA with such gusto!
In reply to your questions, Raya and Hanley have similarities but it’s easy to see which one is the pasty faced Scot and which one is the swarthy Spaniard. I have no idea why the Millwall game is kicking off early-perhaps it’s to allow the fans watching the game in the Gunn Club some drinking up time before the 10.00pm curfew? Strange times…
Hi Don
Yeah I was mildly impressed with the second-half 3-5-2 too. If Xavi’s out on Saturday it gives us a genuine alternative that I’d be happy with. Maybe even if Quintilla is fit too – eft wing back would suit him I reckon.
Pasty faced as against swarthy – yes you have a point 🙂
But what would you make of Simon Lappin King of Spain who is also a true Scot?
I’m doing the Lions preview on Friday with Achtung Millwall’s Nick Hart and if anyone knows he will, but at this stage I strongly suspect you are right. It’ll surely be the same for their supporters in the hospitality facilities at the New Den.
Cheers
I think Simon Lappin and David de Gea are the exceptions that prove the rule.
🙂
Good read Martin yes its good gettin resulta when were not playing Great but the omens are good with pens and freak goals and coming from behind unlike last season .but them we started worse two years ago didnt we until portaloo road 11 keep well 😊
Hi Kev
Very good point about Portaloo Road two seasons ago – I doubt any one of us will forget that one in a hurry!
I’ve kind of got a gut feeling we’ll be okay but just HOW okay I can’t predict.
Dunno if you’re keeping your ticket but if you are I’ll [hopefully] see you next season.
Cheers
Good un Mr P. I would like to know why the Lions KO is earlier, had a good hunt around and didn’t find anything, 45 mins earlier isn’t a big amount and considering no crowds to block the area, Puzzling. then life gets like that this year.
Yep there is a likeness between Raya & Hanley -good spot.
I didn’t watch the game I listened for around 80 mins and turned off, like leaving Carra early. watching a couple of minutes sky afforded us, what a large piece of luck with the goal and scrapping a point. It is one of those games, result where it is hard to have a downer on. A point won or 2 points denied a rival. the unbeaten run continued, from a team that is well below par. Tim’s world-class save had no luck about it at all, absolutely a game-changer.
The defence again looks to be a problem. is it players, system, lack of a defender coaching? I feel Farke is as stubborn as a mule when it comes to this area, over 3 years and still the defence has problems, from Zonal and MM mixed up (that is my views of games) I would say that Hanley & Gibson come from the man-marking school, while Zimmo may be Zonal, coach for one or the other, with a good coach who specialises in the area. It has gone on long enough.
We will come unstuck even with the attitude of not over until whistle, we have been a tad lucky, you sometimes make your own luck, you have to try and take, and being honest we didn’t have a lot last season.
Cantwell in my eyes should not have played as 1st choice , but hard after his last showing I know but was he fit ? Players honesty comes into that.
Both Todd and Emi may wonder why they are not in a premiership squad today, but their decision making & passing is not always what it should be are the perhaps two of the reasons.
A brentford supporting friend, said, that we are seeing why Pukki has been a bit of a flop at other clubs, he has had a good season. He thinks that’s his lot he did going on about how they can find a decent striker and we struggle. . I agreed, on the last bit.
I am not going to moan too much, sure Farke can see we are not firing on all cylinders yet, well I hope he can. There is a long way to go, but there are several areas that need sorting out. Luck is a funny old thing, she soon can depart as quick as she came
Hi Lad
Don’t start me on zonal marking. I hate it. It didn’t even exist when I played but as we only trained on the Tuesday before the Sunday there would have been no time for Cooky the manager to drill it into us anyway. We weren’t the kind of lads to want to take instructions on board easily tbh.
But even at my level it was LB or RB up in support but never both at the same time.
Yes the Krul save from Toney was crucial and you make a good point about Cantwell and Buendia. Who knows where their heads are really at but to my mind they’re contributing to dropping their own January values. It’s so easy to criticise the skillful when it doesn’t work out for them of course so perhaps I’m being a bit harsh.
I cannot believe Farke is satisfied with the defence as it is tbh.
And there will indeed come a time when we lose that four-leaf clover.
Good thoughts – thanks.
They have a great manager at King’s Lynn who knows a bit about defending
Worth a go?
Hi Ray
One of the finest players ever to pull on the yellow shirt. Also part of Lambert’s team together with Gary Karsa of course and I for one don’t know how or why they fell out. Not even a rumour got near my ears.
But I think Ian C’s better off on a personal level at KLFC. Kind of a big fish, small pond type of thing. He must get satisfaction from his role.
Worth a go? Yes!!!
Thanks
Hi Martin
A good read on a very wet day up north in Blackpool.
Now let’s hit the controversy button why oh why does our Major share holder think she is funny with her latest attempt of a barroom jingle surely her other half should have a word in her shell like or is he in the same condition another offering for other club supporters to throw back at us.
Many on this and other sites have asked for 3 at the back and yeah it looked good but come Saturday will we persist or will it be back too having 2 CB.
You mention the thin Yellow and Green line is getting thinner due to some strange loans none other than SM back to Coventry and possibly Famewo to Charlton who is getting rave reviews from Bowyer.
Come Saturday will we see a Right back in Mumba and Aaron’s on the left or will there possibly be a new name from the U23 squad but the Robin’s with Chris Martin are doing quite well this season let’s hope Chrus doesn’t score against his old club not sure on his record against us.
Last thought on the Millwall early kickoff maybe there is an excess amount of red wine that the shareholders need to drink prior to making another video or the 10pm cut off.
Onwards and upwards
OTBC
Stay safe and stay healthy
Hi Alex
I think we could rival the North West for rain today – the dogs came home at 0900 just as the thin, miserable drizzle began. It’s in for the day.
As for Delia’s *message* I’m surprised you’re the first to mention it actually.
I found it utterly cringeworthy. I drink like a fish myself but I’m not in the public eye so it doesn’t really matter but I consider myself a bit of an expert on the topic as in: I can always tell if somebody’s had a glass too many, in person or on camera. Many years of helping a mate out in his varying pubs gave me that skill from a young age.
No I don’t get the Sam McCallum loan. Cov are in the same division as us and Sam is no more guaranteed a start with them than he would be with us. Just one start for the Sky Blues this season I believe.
Maybe Bowyer is making the right noises about Akin Famewo to avoid us activating a January recall clause. It wouldn’t surprise me, but I’m glad for the lad that he’s doing well.
As for the Millwall timing [as I said to Don H above] I’ll wait until I hear from Achtung Millwall’s Nick Hart for the MFW preview on Monday. If anybody knows, Nick will.
Cheers
Excellent summary of the Brentford game and this season as a whole Martin.
Will the real Norwich City stand up, as it were.
Really we missed two massive chances at 0-0 against Brentford, through Emi and Grant. But equally we could have easily lost the game if it wasn’t for Tim Krul’s heroics.
Grant’s looked easier to score, had we taken one of them it may have been a different story. But as you say any team in that league would have taken a point away to Brentford.
Fine Margins.
I was reading an article on the Pink’un website today and a mention of pre-season caught my eye.
Well the lack of it really, it must have hindered Daniel Farke with so many new players coming in, so in a way we have been playing something of a pre-season up to now. And that could mean results and performances have suffered.
I bet Daniel is still experimenting for his best team and shape etc. Hopefully this is not just wishful thinking. Time will tell.
And YET again Martin I have to mention it I would love an explanation from the club on the decision to let Sam McCallum to go out on loan to Coventry, we bought 2 left backs in for this season but now the Pink’un is doing a poll to see who should play left back on Saturday if Xavi doesn’t make it.
That sounds daft.
Hi Tim
Re Sam McCallum I can only repeat what I said to Alex B above as in: *No I don’t get the Sam McCallum loan. Cov are in the same division as us and Sam is no more guaranteed a start with them than he would be with us. Just one start for the Sky Blues this season I believe*.
Fine margins is one of my favourite cliches as in it has merit.
Yes we are still bedding in, of course we are. But at least we’ve already contradicted the eejits who thought we might *do a Sunderland* and drop through the divisions, which I actually find quite satisfying even at this early stage.
We’ve a few particularly tough games on the horizon [none are ever easy] so our mettle will be tested twice a week until the international break.
And after that, until the end of the season of course!
Thanks as always.
For me, the McCallum situation is potentially one of two things.
1) Something hasn’t worked out either for the player or the club (such as Sergi Canos in 2016) and it’s a chance to give some breathing space until he either comes back here ready to play or departs for good.
2) The club doesn’t have as much money left in the pot that we think.
I (perhaps naively) wouldn’t like to believe we’d put ourselves in a such a difficult position unless our hand was forced, and I’m assuming the club believe the back-up cover we have (Sorensen at the moment) is strong enough. For all that, the Dane did a good job at short notice the other night.
Whilst it is frustrating that we have left ourselves so short in that area, it is not inconceivable that we can muddle through it. I can remember in the past Gary Holt doing a steady job of covering right back when (I think) Marc Edworthy was injured (I’m sure there are other examples too). Hopefully it might work out if Xavi is only out in the short term.
Hi Jason
That’s a very interesting take on Sam McCallum that I’ve never had a reason to consider before. Maybe it hasn’t worked out a la Canos. That’s something I’ve never factored in as the folks at Cov continue to speak very highly of him.
We don’t really have LB cover until Sam Byram is back next year – I realise Byram is right sided but he looked pretty good at LB.
You’re spot on about Gary Holt covering for Marc Edworthy which I remember – another player we released at least a season too early.
And the Stieperdude filled in at LB for a while too.
A really good thought-provoking comment.
Thank you.
Yes Martin will renew ticket not sure when it will be lot worse to go through i fear 😊
Someone I know very well indeed is an NHS manager.
She reckons we won’t be back as a collective for the start of next season as supporters, although trying to cheer me up she said everything might be back to *normal* in 2022.
Guidance fluctuates so much even she is not sure.
Excellent summation Martin and an excellent away point. At the point of typing this I would happily accept a point at Bristol.
The performance of course was less than satisfactory. As mentioned above, the two first half sitters squandered by Hanley and Buendia would have probably sealed three points and an easier passage.
Krul once again demonstrated his international class reflexes and also his propensity to chip floaty out balls to Max Aarons which frequently land us in the shite.
Buendias metrics are starting to get him noticed nationally but cantwell? Ugh.
Agree with the Sorensen acclaim, he made an almost impossible situation work and held his end up admirably. Potentially a third centre half in there judging by his efforts late in the game?
Placheta and hugill offered little but comedy value when they came on, the former taking a wild swing at a low ball across the edge of the box and connecting with London air and the latter trapping the ball further than I could kick it.
To summarise, after a hundred straight defeats and the home loss to derby if I’d been offered 10 from 12 I would have torn your arm off at the shoulder,
Hi Chris
Not even a hint of sarcasm anywhere in there 🙂
I’d cheerfully accept a point against the Robins too – although they’ll have had a day less recovery than us and a late reverse against Bournemouth will not have helped their morale.
As for Cantwell I think he must have been carrying the oft-mentioned hip problem but if so what was Farke doing by starting him? Rest is curative.
When it comes to the Ugh! it’s that bl00dy Alice band that does it for me. Together with many of my mates I had Ozzy Osbourne hair in the mid 1970s. We tied it up with an elastic band and got on with it. And so did many folks we played against too. No showing off, just being practical.
Sorensen looked good – high hopes.
Cheers
Hi Martin,
Good article as usual.
I’m think I’m somewhere between one of the moaners and a Mr Positive.
To my mind what was required against Brentford, was to play into the space behind their back line given they play pretty high up the pitch and go a bit Drinkwater and Vardy because there was at times the space to exploit?? My frustration was that I lost count of the times we played from the back tried to play through the thirds only to lose the ball in midfield through a poor pass or being dispossessed.
Also, when we had the chance to cross the ball into the box from open play it takes too flippin’ long to deliver it and it tends to be woefully inaccurate. A good example of what teams do so much better than us at the moment is Brentfords first goal – 1 and 2 touch in midfield, ball worked wide and a good accurate cross for a tap in on the back stick as it turned out. Just as we did against Rotherham with the help of their defender!
Although he didn’t feature on Tuesday night, going forward, I think that’s the service that Hugill is going to need ‘cos I’ve seen no evidence thus far that he can play with his back to the goal??
In 2018 we had our patterns of play and they worked brilliantly but I fear teams have now watched the ‘video’ and have the knowhow to stop Norwich City. It just seems we have a group of players who are more wedded to the old way and don’t fully understand the new way.
Anyway, I’ll finish on a positive note by agreeing with you – “Four games unbeaten and 14 points from eight. Not bad for a team running on three” 😉
Onward and upwards?!!
Cheers
John
Hi John
Plenty of good points in there – I’ll pick up on a couple of them if I may.
Yes if it goes astray in midfield we make a rod for our collective back. We are missing a Damien Francis type character or, albeit in a different way, Gary Holt. What I loved about Holt was that when the oppo tried to break he’d anticipate how they would attempt it and be in there like an exocet to snuff out the threat. We have no-one like that currently.
In fact we have very little steel at all. Lukas Rupp and Ollie Skipp seem adequate, but that’s hardly a praiseworthy term. Also Kenny McLean falls into that category.
We were worked out a long time ago – at the beginning of last season I would suggest when PL coaches sank their teeth into us with monotonous regularity. These EFL Championship coaching teams are only too happy to learn from their *superiors* of course. There are very few surprises in our box of tricks I’m afraid.
Despite all that it’s still so far, so reasonably good. My personal cliche emerges yet again: Let’s wait and see. After all it’s all we can do.
Thanks as ever
Re the early kick off, I’m surprised there aren’t more of them to be honest. The ground staff, away team, match officials, press etc. would surely all prefer to be getting ready to go home soon after 9.00pm rather than an hour later, especially at this time of year. I guess they’s probably be happy to get the game on even earlier.
With fans only having to get to their own homes and not the stadium 7.00pm seems a reasonable compromise to me.
Hi Keith
I think we’re all basically agreed on the reasoning behind this [although we haven’t been officially told which frustrates me a little] and personally I’m all for it too – but I cannot imagine watching a screened match at the Carra with the game going on 50 yards or whatever away from me. I’d probably try to do a Steve McQueen from the Gunn Club.
After all I would be almost alone in the Barclay if I succeeded 🙂
Cheers
Thanks Mr P; an excellent summation of both Tuesday, and the season so far.
I have to echo one or two others in that I’m not sure if we’re just a smidge away from 2018/19, or a whole lot fortunate to be where we are.
I remain convinced that if Emi had not slipped at the crucial moment on Tuesday then (like the Pukki penalty versus Derby), we would have gone on to win both games (and look where an extra 5 points takes us!!). In mitigation, once we went behind on Tuesday, had it not been for Krul then Brentford could have been well clear by half time.
Hugill gives us a different option, but given that they supposedly cost the same, would we be better off with Brentford’s Toney?
As for the Millwall k/o time, it must be something especially for Millwall as their game at Preston last night was also a 7.00pm kick off. There’s no curfew around Cold Blow lane is there??
O T B C
Hi John
At the moment I’m just the same as yourself and everybody else in that we don’t yet truly know if our NCFC ar$e is bored, punched or countersunk.
So far, and I stress so far, I’m not over impressed with Jordan Hugill. I get fed up with repeating the phrase but that’s yet another case of wait and see. I wasn’t impressed with Holty against Colchester either, so who knows how this one will work out!
Right now I’d swap Hugill for Ivan Toney in a flash but I might not be saying that in January. Why we went for a PL non-achiever over a genuine League One prospect I will never know. Only Webber and to a lesser extent Farke will comprehend why they made their choice but from what I’ve picked up Toney was a fair bit more expensive, especially in terms of add-ons.
We always cheapskate. It’s at the core of our MO.
Cheers
Hope you don’t mind me butting in here, but don’t you guys think there are quite a few new faces still bedding in to this season’s NCFC squad ethos, plus one or two unsettled regulars getting up-to-speed due to the transfer window, and at least one – Super-Pukki – playing with an ongoing injury? Not to mention Covid 19 and Brexit weirdness, no fans etcetera!
I’d have thought the above would explain the stuttering performances?
I can’t see that DF is doing that much wrong really, and just to prove my point, here’s a comparison between results so far and the promotion season…
2020-21. 2018-19
AFCB 1 – 0 NCFC BCFC 2 – 2 NCFC
NCFC 2 – 2 PNE NCFC 3 – 4 WBA
HTFC 0 – 1 NCFC SUFC 2 – 1 NCFC
NCFC 0 – 1 DCFC NCFC 2 – 0 PNE
RUFC 1 – 2 NCFC NCFC 0 – 3 LUFC
NCFC 1 – 0 BCFC ITFC 1 – 1 NCFC
NCFC 2 – 1 WWFC NCFC 1 – 0 MFC
BFC 1 – 1 NCFC RFC 1 – 2 NCFC
14 points 11 points
… I actually think when this team gets it all humming and buzzing, NCFC will be pretty hot-hot-hot!
Great words from all btw, I am a regular viewer here!
Regards
K
OTBC !!
Hi Kevster
I think most of us would acknowledge the reasons for early season stutters as your present them. One thing I do not like is using an injured player as it does nobody any good. Fans in the ground are particularly valuable to a team such as Norwich
Your results comparison shows us in a very favourable light for sure and I think everybody is hoping the performance levels will increase sometime soon-ish.
You’re not butting in – give us a comment any time!
Good stuff, Martin. As frustrating as Buendia is, I still feel he holds the key to what can be achieved this season. Yes, his delivery at Brentford was often poor but there were two brilliant balls into the area that should have been converted – Hanley in the first half and any one of three players who should have got a touch in the second. He should have scored with that first-half chance but the way he turned the defender before shooting shows him to be a` player every club in this division would want. .Hopefully, by staying around the top six we’ll keep him interested in playing for us. We’re ticking along ok, I think.
Hi Malcolm
Yes that’s how I see it too.
I had a chance to watch a clip of our 3-2 win against Bristol City two seasons ago this morning and it certainly showed just how good Emi can be.
The turn on the defender against Brentford was as instinctive as it was magical. He’s so wonderful to watch when he’s on song.
As for will he stay? I don’t know. He cannot be on a massive wage here [I know, it’s a comparative] so maybe if a concrete offer comes in during January he’ll be off. The links to Marcelo Bielsa and Leeds stack up but equally a return to Spain might tempt him.
Yet again I can only say: we’ll have to wait and see.
Thanks for a good comment.