City’s 2-1 win over Sheffield Wednesday included late goals, a comeback and victory for a possession-based side. It was everything Daniel Farke loves and everything Tony Pulis hates.
From day one Farke has dealt with criticism of his ball-playing sides, from frustration and adaptation of the fanbase in the early throws of his tenure to lazy punditry in his Premier League spell.
It’s been claimed that passing out from the back guarantees defensive errors, that possession-based football is too intricate to be reliable, and that the players in the Norwich arsenal aren’t good enough to be successful playing that way.
The style of football that Wednesday brought to Carrow Road is the one everyone presumes is the safest path to success at this level, a presumption Farke dealt a powerful blow with the victory.
Up until the 81st minute, Pulis’ plan had worked perfectly, sitting behind the ball in numbers, nicking a goal on the counterattack and preceding to drop even further behind it afterwards.
At that stage, City were sixth in the Championship table and their smooth attacking football was looking like it had failed them for the third time in a week.
Cedric Anselin claimed on BBC Radio Norfolk that the Welshman had outsmarted his German counterpart, and that, despite nearly 70 per cent of possession, the Canaries would walk away empty-handed.
Cue the introduction of Josh Martin, a 5’8”, slight, 19-year-old attacking midfielder, the type of player who would never come off a Pulis bench or even occupy a place in a Pulis squad.
Martin coolly slid home a delightful pass by Mario Vrancic (another slight, technical midfielder, by the way, the kind who spends more time doing his hair than getting his knees muddy) to equalise.
It was the first sign in the match that Farkeball could pay off, that hoofball may not be the solution after all, and it wasn’t the first time the Canaries patiently passed their way to success against a low block this season.
Aitor Karanka’s Birmingham were similarly rigid and left NR1 with a 1-0 loss, the same scoreline Neil Warnock’s Middlesbrough were dealt after the international break.
City’s charismatic manager is slowly proving that his way is the right way, but he can’t take all the credit.
His wonderfully technical squad are trusted to take the game to the opposition in every match, and without their talent and creative guile would do nowhere near as much damage.
Vrancic’s eye for a pass was crucial on Saturday, Max Aarons’ weaving started the move for the winner, even Michael McGovern is starting to look composed on the ball and Emi Buendia’s flare is irreplaceable, right down to the last wave of a frustrated arm in the air.
Aarons’ celebration following the winner highlighted just why Farke’s style is becoming so popular in the wider footballing landscape. He turned and saluted the 2000 eager fans inside Carrow Road as they allowed themselves to lose it at the sight of a winning goal in the flesh for the first time in nine months.
This trying period has reminded us all so brutally how much football really is for the fans, and no fan wants to watch their team play as Sheffield Wednesday did. We want to watch our favourite players on the ball, attacking, looking for the next goal and desperate to show the talent we all wish we had.
This City side is allowing us to actually watch our team play football, living vicariously through them, while Sheffield Wednesday’s fans book hotel rooms just to watch a group of men put a shift in on a cold Saturday afternoon.
The Canaries’ victory was a complete turnaround that showed even the harshest of critics exactly why this style will prove successful, but the task doesn’t stop here. Norwich fans know all too well the style of football they’ll go up against on Wednesday night, when Chris Hughton returns to Carrow Road with a relegation-threatened Nottingham Forest.
The former Canary will be out for revenge, and will feel the situation is ripe for his park-the-bus approach.
There’s absolutely no appetite among the City ranks for change, and they’ll go out with the intent to show Hughton just how he should’ve played if he wanted success in Norfolk.
I think you’re being harsh on the Sheffield Wednesday display. Up to the 81st minute, they were indeed compact and defensive, but when they broke, they broke fast and skilfully. Until Mario’s pass to Martin, the best ball of the day came from Adam Reach for their goal. Their closing down of Buendia was superb throughout and they didn’t allow Placheta to get away once. Pukki got through on one occasion before he was taken down; Skipp had to take a yellow to stop them getting clear again and Hanley was fortunate not to give away a penalty.
If they had a better goalkeeper they would have won and surely no one can really deny that they deserved something from the game. We only got the better of them because we committed an extra man forward which gave Mario the space to do his damage because we pulled them wide to cover that extra man and get someone round the back.
I’m no fan of classic Pulisball but I don’t think this was it – as he virtually admitted afterwards with his criticisms of his own players, they are not quite fully in tune with what he wants. They were much more open going forward than a traditional Pulis team.
Turning to the Forest game, I think they are in the same transition and have not yet fully adapted to full on boring Hughtonball. We have a chance to give them a through pasting and i sincerely hope we do!
Conveniently omitting the Arrons celebration, hugging a fan. Breaks every safety rule and protocol currently in place. But hey, as its Norwich we can justify pretty much anything.
I agree with most of the article and really enjoyed it. NCFC have an identity now, one that we can all be so proud of. We are constantly on the front foot in games, driving the action. Teams are forced into a defensive set up. When they don’t do so, you get a game like Bristol City away where we tear them to shreds.
I’ve seen some commentors say that Sheff Weds were ‘the better side’ or we were ‘lucky’ to get the win. I couldn’t disagree more with either sentiment. Weds certainly had a good tactical set up defensively and a sporadic counter-attacking threat. But ‘the better side’? Do me a favour. Technically, and in terms of dominance of the game, we were streets ahead.
All that said, Wednesday were far from the worst side I’ve seen this season. Birmingham literally parked the bus for 90 minutes without any attacking threat. Forest have been truly awful this season, and Derby, despite winning here, were the worst Derby side I think I’ve ever seen.
What you can’t deny is this. The way we play, we will consistently create more chances that the opposition at this level. Over the course of season, that will see you in and around the top.
Having in laws on both sides on the Sheffield football spectrum I have had a few comments of friendly banter over the last couple of seasons.
From the Blue side it was more last season with them staying up and that city were lucky to win the title the season before.
Sheffield Wed has been a revolving door for managers and players and no real stability at the club and the things I hear are that till they get the management right the club will continue to stagnate, they might not like the Pulis style but if he gets it right then like the Spurs supporters will accept him as a winner.
Saturday like the previous Tuesday was more about Referees errors in judgement than the football on offer and the question is or was it do to the return of a few supporters if so then these officials need to look at themselves.
Many years ago I met a Local Ref at Birds Eye in Gt Yarmouth and his said out on the pitch you have to ignore the crowd and concentrate on you job for 90mins the errors you make are your own fault not the crowds if you let them influence you then you shouldn’t be doing the job.
We all know what to expect from Forest and Houghton come tomorrow night but let’s be wary he can spring surprises and he has a reasonably good record against city.
Red Button on Sky a definite 👌 watch with no ODI.
2 – 1 to NCFC
Onwards and upwards
OTBC
Stay safe 🙏 and Stay Healthy