I honestly cannot remember the last time I wrote about a 0-0 involving Norwich City and neither can I recall a match in which we had 27 shots without scoring, which must be some kind of record I suppose.
But I’m quite prepared to be pragmatic following the events at the Carra on Tuesday evening and a point is a point is a point. And a point that elevates us a place in the table to third [as I write with Watford and Stoke yet to play].
Sure we carved out chances, mainly long-range efforts from Lukas Rupp and PP – people are starting to call him that so I thought I’d join them. Emi Buendia probably had the best opportunity from closer range but hit the chance at Bartosz Bialkowski. He of 1p5wich Town infamy of course.
Teemu Pukki spurned another 10-yard opening and the Stieperdude scuffed a shot straight at the giant Polish stopper when a clean hit would have tested him much more, and Ben Gibson hit the side netting in stoppage time but we have to give the Gary Rowett-inspired Millwall a bit of credit here.
Back with his assistants after a positive test for covid, he set them up in a boring, blanketing 5-3-2 [or was it 3-5-2?] and they achieved their aims of clinging on to a point and boring half of the iFollow audience to distraction. I wouldn’t want to watch it week in, week out but it was very effective and despite the stats I’d venture they were worth their point.
It could have been worse. Virtually the last kick of the game saw Shaun Williams graze the angle of Tim Krul’s bar and post and on another night it might have gone in. No keeper saves those.
As some wise guy – me actually – said on MFW the other day, opposition managers are going to start targeting Jacob Lungi Sorensen in that left-back position.
When Millwall got forward that’s exactly what they did. Not to much effect but any thrust they had came from their right, often courtesy of Mahlon Romeo who looked pretty useful to me.
Swansea’s Steve Cooper will be equally well aware of the possibilities on Saturday unless Xavi Quintilla has recovered by then, of course.
But all in all, I’m not too down after that although it would have been the cliche of all cliches had Williams’ last-ditch effort been six inches lower: we wuz robbed.
This will have to remain apocryphal but I’m reliably informed that a few Bermondsey boys booked pitchside rooms at that lovely hotel, opened the windows and treated players, staff and officials to a thin but enthusiastic chorus of “no-one likes us and we don’t care”.
Shows how much a point at Carrow Road can mean to some folks I guess.
MFW regular Alex Bain informs me that in our last seven games the opposition clubs have either lost or drawn their previous match with no wins to be seen anywhere.
Bristol City lost to Bournemouth away 1-0; Brentford lost away to Stoke 3-2; Wycombe lost away to Reading 1-0; Birmingham lost at home to Sheff Wed 1-0; Rotherham drew at home to Huddersfield 1-1; Millwall lost 0-3 at home to Huddersfield; Swansea drew 1-1 at Brentford.
Will this phenomenon continue and because of it extend our unbeaten run even further?
Thanks to Alex for that. I’d never have realised in a million years myself!
Hi Martin
An interested take on last nights game and as you say many other managers will be following the methods used last night.
Late in the game we went to 3 CB and Aaron’s moved to the LB and Mumba came on as RB seemed a strange tactic late in the game when we could have had another midfield attacker on to bolster our chances of winning.
I just wonder if that defencive change could be in preparation for Swansea but let’s hope that Quiltinia is back in the starting line up.
2 ex city players got on the score sheet last night
Ched Evans hot 2 for Fleetwood
Ian Henderson got 1 for Salford
Blackpool beat Wigan.
Onwards and upwards
OTBC
Stay safe and stay healthy
Hi Alex
As for the defensive change Farke’s done it a couple of times lately but it really didn’t work last night. Why bring on Hugill when there’s no real width to supply him?
I thought Ollie Skipp moved to the right of the *back three* – I think Mumba only came on very late against Bristol but didn’t feature from the bench last night?
I’m surprised Henderson’s still going tbh. He seems to have been around forever!
Cheers
You’re right Martin, Ollie did appear to be taking up the right back position, and Max moved left, but played more as a wing back. When Mumba came on in the previous game, he went wide on the left, not to right back. I think Farke was hoping Max would keep Romeu more occupied. If we do eventually loose Max, I wouldn’t pass up a move for Romeo. He looked very useful, both going forward and defensively. He made three really good blocks when we were threatening.
I’m glad you noticed Romeo too Jim. He looked well handy to me.
I don’t have much to say about the game except we should have won but we didn’t lose.
Fun fact of the night, courtesy of the iFollow commentary, is that Mahlon Romeo (who I agree was quite impressive) is the son of Jazzie B of Soul II Soul fame-or infamy depending on your viewpoint. Still, back to life….
Hi Don
Back to reality… no I missed that gem – I must have been in the miniscule garden room having a smoke at the time. Sue quite correctly prohibits me from smoking indoors.
I think Gary and I have both struggled to say too much about this particular match – November 3, 2020 will not be remembered with affection by MFW writers – or indeed readers 🙂
Cheers
I can remember as if it was yesterday Martin, me and my dad leaving Carrow Road after losing 3-1 to bottom of the table Sheffield United in 1976 ( I have a great memory where City are concerned, i’m afraid faces not so !)
I was right Ars*d off as I was liable to be in those days, in a line through other results I felt we should win 2- or 3-0. My dad said, Boy you better get used to the fact Football doesn’t work like that.
How right he was, we deservedly beat Bristol 3-1, on Saturday while Huddersfield wallop Millwall 3-0 and then on Tuesday night Bristol beat Huddersfield 2-1. So what price an emphatic City victory at home to Millwall ?
As we know football doesn’t work like that, but I still think we should take positives out of last nights match.
6 unbeaten,
Hanley and Gibson getting another 90 minutes of action after so long out,
27 shots which is amazing,
Rupp and Skipp continue to impress
And unlike Derby we didn’t lose.
I think we do need to vary the play more, playing more balls out wide to try to get round the back of these 10 man defences though.
Another thing to be grateful for is that, at times I know it was awful, year in the Premier League. With all the parachute payments etc that we now get.
It has protected us massively in regards to the financial disaster that covid is having in all walks of football. It doesn’t bare thinking about where we would be without it.
Does Martin Samuel still think we should have spent £100 million plus ?
Hi Tim
Yes some very good points there [particularly your positives*]and with the gift of hindsight Martin Samuel deserves your comment – I don’t think any of the MFW regulars were advocating much of a spend at the beginning of last season, let alone £100 million.
Shame the loans were dreadful of course – could have made a difference, but…….
I feel for you over your Blades experience. Around 1988/9 I drove alone from Loughton in Essex to see us against the original Wimbledon. We outplayed them for 88 minutes until the little guy who was Terry Gibson popped up at the end for a 0-1.
I didn’t treat the car too kindly on my way home.
Thanks – good comment.
Another point is the main positive from last night. Another game when we had 20 or more shots. Unfortunately our shot conversion rate is really poor. One day we will get the accuracy needed and we will really stuff somebody. Farke’s teams have been criticised for trying to score perfect goals. We are getting in more shots so have they changed the instructions to the team. Early on when Quintilla was in the team we were getting in more crosses, another sign of a change in style of play?
The defence is looking more frugal, conceding less than a goal per game. That is no doubt due to the good form of Krul and the new centre back pairing of Hanley and Gibson.
Nice to see Buendia putting in some performances. He seems to have realised he needs to play and play well to progress his career. Aarons has been a good role model for him.
Let’s hope we can keep the unbeaten run going on Saturday.
Changing the subject our accounts were released today. We made a small profit despite Covid 19 costing the club almost £13million. I suspect we will be one of a few clubs to post those sorts of figures. The sale of Godfrey and Lewis should mean we are able to ride out this season with no fans at Carrow Road. We still have some very valuable players so we should be in a good place going forward. Let’s hope there are enough teams still in existence for the 2021/22 season to form a couple of leagues.
OTBC
Hi Colin
I agree with you – Max has been exemplary. He and indeed Emi too WILL get the moves they desire when the time is right for all concerned and to my mind at least Max will go with my blessing. Oh okay, and Emi – despite his strops I love him too 🙂
I found the accounts announcement as interesting as you did and quite satisfying in a way although I cannot bring myself to offer congratulations to the joint majority shareholders, although a few folks elsewhere are already lauding them to the skies.
I am slightly unsure of the reasoning behind the presence of Stefan Phillips at the unveiling of said accounts – I’ve always wondered what his field of expertise actually is. so maybe it’s finance and I just didn’t realise it all along.
Swansea will be a whole different ball game as they say – here’s realistically hoping.
Thanks a lot.
Hi Martin
Stephen phillips
Just looked him up and it seems to me he is a warm body on the board came on when Bowker and never left ex Archant.
Google does have a lot on him and shows no responsibility for the club but was originally involved in finding investment boy did he do well with that.
So by the look of things he is rolled out when our illustrious owners can’t be bothered or don’t want to answer questions.
Thanks Alex
I realised he was ex-Archant and maybe the *ex* part might be a good thing for him just now by the way things are looking.
Their sports guys remain very, very good though.
What I did not realise is that he helped Alan Bowkett out in the darkest of financial days and the fairest of fair play to him for that.
Cheers
Thank you Martin, and some great comments too.
We still seem to be coming up “just short” in those forward areas. After a great return on Saturday, on Tuesday I really wanted Steipermann to put his laces through the bl**dy thing twice, but he only succeededin making a tame back pass to their keeper. And if Emi had shot along the ground rather than at hand height, surely he would have had a better chance?
Yes, Sorensen will be targetted, but is his defensive work really that much less effective than Qunitilla? OK, Xavi probably offers more going forward, but we did (just!) keep a clean sheet on Tuesday.
As for Swansea, they will be more adventurous than Millwall, but that means we should be able to get in behind them. And a win takes us up to second….heady days in these rather strange times!
O T B C
Hi John
Yeah, I too am looking forward to the Swansea game. It’ll certainly be a different challenge to Millwall and that’s for sure.
I could be wrong but I can’t remember the Stiperdude ever hitting a shot with real venom. I think Bradley Johnson was the last masterblaster I can recall playing for us!
Thanks a lot