If ever there was a game that needed to be written-off and consigned to the history books as quick as possible…
A rotten defeat on a rotten night in the half-light of a rotten little ground under the auspices of a rotten referee, and all played out amid a cacophony of 1000 screeching, yowling voices.
When did Luton turn into the Wild West?
But fair play to Bedfordshire’s finest. City can have no complaints.
We didn’t lose because referee Darren England got spooked and intimidated by 1000 supporters – even though he did – or because we have an injury list that would make even Jurgen Klopp squirm, but because Luton played well, with passion and fire, and we struggled to cope with it in key moments.
The Hatters’ big night was borne of a 4-0 walloping at the weekend, one that Nathan Jones described as the worst performance in his time as Luton manager, and we have to hope that City produce a similar response to a setback on Saturday.
I’m certainly hopeful the 2000 inside Carrow Road will do their very best to create an unlevel playing field akin to the one City encountered last night.
It was one of those where, almost from the word go, it had an uncomfortable feel; one where City had never had a proper handle on the game or the events surrounding it – part of it down to the team that Daniel Farke was forced to field and in part because some of the simple things weren’t executed very well.
Michael McGovern’s role, not unsurprisingly, was part of the social media debrief but I’m not about to throw the Ulsterman under the bus. His biggest crime appears to be not being Tim Krul and not being as good as Tim Krul, and there’s not a lot we can do about that.
Daniel Barden did okay in the Carabao Cup defeat at the O.K. Corral but Farke has taken the decision that an experienced rather than inexperienced voice is needed to help guide us through this mini-crisis, and I see the logic in that.
McGovern, unfortunately, is lacking in confidence, probably due to his lack of game time, and that in turn has had an impact on those in front of him. He’s yet to make and *big* saves, the type that win games and which fill you full of belief. Goals numbers one and two last night were both ripe for big saves that didn’t happen.
But maybe the most troubling aspect since Krul’s injury at Stoke is that we’ve forgotten how to defend set-pieces and crosses – something that has to be addressed pretty sharpish.
The overall passing has also become a little laboured and directionless minus the focal point of Teemu Pukki, and while Marco Stiepermann and Przemysław Płacheta are both energetic and willing, neither are able to offer anywhere near the same level of threat.
Without that clever movement, we end up passing the ball for the sake of passing it; something that will hopefully not be an issue this Saturday with a fit and refreshed Finn leading the line.
But we still have to defend better, and even with a more fluid attacking thrust, we still need to rediscover that invaluable ability of digging out clean sheets.
That obviously relies on referees not falling foul of 1000 screaming voices and giving penalties for incidents that begin with centre-forwards giving centre-backs a blatant shove. We’ve been on the end of some good fortune and favourable decisions of late though – this was payback time.
Grant Hanley can count himself very unlucky but, as it transpired, City weren’t good enough to get a second goal anyway. Sowe came out on the wrong end of a few decisions… that’s life.
The injury bulletin on Tuesday offered hope but it will still take time before the squad takes on the look of one equipped for a serious promotion push. Right now we’re just treading water, awaiting the return of the cavalry.
The square pegs in round holes tend to work for a few games but at the elite level are unsustainable. Jacob Sorensen has done a fine job at filling in at left-back but he’s been sussed. Opposition managers are targeting him to good effect.
The decision to send Sam McCallum to Coventry seemed a little odd at the time. Right now it’s taking a chunk out of our backside.
Yet, miraculously, despite everything, we remain top of the league, albeit just four points ahead of tenth-placed Middlesbrough.
We’re constantly reminded the Championship is a marathon not a sprint, so to extend that metaphor…
We edged ahead before being hauled back by the pack at the eight-mile mark. We hit an early “wall”, missed a drinks station, suffered a stitch, and took a stray elbow that knocked us off our stride.
But, there’s another drinks station a couple of miles down the road, the stitch is starting to wear off and, for now, we just need to keep in touch with the pack.
Once the fluids are replenished, we reset and go again.
Glad you mentioned the lighting. I felt City should have attached miners lamps to their heads( note to kit men, black shirts don’t help). Certainly there was vastly more light at Carrow when Frank Lampard pursued the ref we couldn’t see.
Well said Gary.
If ever there was a referee intimidated by fans in the professional game then this was it.
Add in some very tired bodies and minds, and this is the result.
For what it’s worth, it seems the back 4 have little/no confidence in the man behind them. Personally I had him at fault for goal 2 where a big shout and punch could have helped, and goal 3 where his suicidal pass along the 6 yard box led eventually to the foul which wasn’t given and the handball which was!
At this stage, do we have anything to lose by playing Barden who, in pre-season at least, appeared to be more of a Farkeball goalkeeper.
Despite all that, we’re still top. It’s another game ticked off, and the reinforcements will be arriving soon.
O T B C
Have to give Luton credit where it’s due, their ability to press us high up the pitch was the main cause of our problems. We repeatedly lacked the ability to beat the press and coughed up possession cheaply.
We came up against a team who wanted to win and worked really hard to achieve that. The ref may have got a couple of decisions wrong it’s true but let’s be fair here Luton thoroughly deserved to win. We were lackluster at best and that is due to the mismanagement of the current situation by the manager. He has refused to use the allowed subs when clearly he needed to do so if only to give some players a break. What did we have to lose by bringing on some of the youngsters because we could have played another hour and Stiepermann, Placheta, Vrancic et al would not have scored! Placheta needs to use his brain as well as his pace and Stiepermann and Vrancic are too slow. When faced with a lack of strike force as we are surely the young players would be just as likely to get goals as the current selection. Sorry to be negative but facts are facts!
Apart from the odd international McGovern has played hardly any competitive football over the last few years. It shows. Krul found it difficult in the early days when he returned to football in the hurly-burly of the Championship after a long absence. And he is a much better keeper. Our problem is that our success this year has largely been built on Krul’s crucial saves. As you say Gary, two of last nights goals were ripe for saves and who would have bet against Krul saving the penalty? I am afraid that until Krul returns the clean sheets will not return and by then, as even ordinary teams at this level learn how to play us, we will have a lot of catching up to do.
Turning to the other end of the field Idah has only played a bit part for us plus games in a poor Ireland side who cannot score. Whilst watching him before his injury my thinking was that he needs to get away to play regularly and score some goals. This will be even more important after his injury. I think it is unrealistic for us to expect much of a contribution from him this season. That leaves us with just two strikers. Hugill has hardly set the world alight and it looks as if Farke only sees him playing a bit part. We are now under a month away from the next transfer window and in my view, if we are serious about promotion this season, we should be looking at bringing in a new striker at the beginning of January – either by bringing one back from loan or a permanent or loan acquisition.
Hi Gary
So much for Luton and there social distancing crowd behind both goals they were in clusters and I may be wrong but unless they sold tickets to groups of 12 or more then they failed to adhere to the new rules.
Farke got a talking to from the Ref not sure what that was about but the commentators suggested he could have been carded but no report of that.
Luton got thumped by Stoke but turned it round against a tired city team but they also have nearly a fully fit squad and in the previous game this season they played exactly the same was and turned us over so their manager had his plans in place sadly Farke fell into his trap.
Krul needed a back up keeper to put pressure on him to excel and city kept Mcgovern there were a few keepers available that would have filled the role better, Mcgovern was a good keeper for Hamilton and N I but without game time he has gone backwards and age isn’t on his side.
Saturday will be a big test Pulis will be looking at video replays of the last couple of games and knowing that his team has 2 targets Sorensen and Mcgovern pressure them and he has a chance of getting a point or 3.
Sorensen has played exceptionally well in a position he has never played before and I will like to see him play in his accustomed place he looks like the Tettey update we have hoped for.
City must be happy that no one took advantage of our slip up but that will not continue so we need returning fresh legs ASAP but those will take time to get up to speed after being out for so long and can we see a possible change in the keeper position come Saturday only time will tell.
Onwards and upwards
OTBC
STAY SAFE and STAY HEALTHY
To me its very strange that Norwich fans still does not understand that Norwich possible success depends if Pukki is fit or not. I can see you like to overestimate especially Buendia, I would like to see his stats how many of his assists and key passes are to Pukki? You see, very limited and average players have also made several key passes and goal assists to him. Finland national team squad player Rasmus Schuller admit that its not difficult to pass balls to Pukki, he can make passer look like world class player. Passing is most basic skill in football, great passes are different thing what for example Kevin De Bruyne sometimes makes. Pukki should not play in this level and he would not play if he would have understood earlier that you must work hard and not just rely too much of your talent. Players like Cristiano Ronaldo, Messi and Zlatan have worked very hard to get where they are. They are still world class players so Pukki 30 should also have several good playing years and Zlatan for example is 39! In todays world experience is very underestimated also in football. I really hope that Norwich does not force Pukki to play too early and that he really is fit to play. Same thing to Krul too, who surely is vital player for Norwich. He is perfect example of player who fought hard to make impossible to possible and plays now maybe his best football ever. If Norwich loose couple of games more because Pukki and Krul are not healthy enough to play, its not end of world. League is like marathon, only 1/3 so far played.
I don’t think any of us underestimate Teemu’s value to the team, 1×2. Quite the opposite, he’s our talisman, the main man. It’s on him that our promotion chances hinge. And the longer he stays fit and a City player, the better! 🙂