Jordan Hugill has justifiably grabbed most of the headlines this morning following City’s clinical 2-0 despatch of Bristol City at a rainy and windswept Carrow Road last night.
But it really was the ultimate team performance as Hugill was at pains to point out himself after the final whistle. As was Daniel Farke:
“He [Hugill] would score 25 goals in this league for a team set up to play for him. Right now he is on a mission for his team to help them achieve a big ambition.
“It is not about individual statistics. Jordan, from the first second this season, has played to bring the team over the line. He deserves the spotlight. He was fantastic.
“A man of the match performance. We have the right spirit and you can feel the lads are buzzing and want to be successful.”
I think that Farke makes a very pertinent point when he acknowledges that his philosophy is not centred around a traditional number nine but our Jordan seems to be adapting more and more with every passing game.
I don’t think it’s unfair to compare his role with that of his namesake Jordan Rhodes in our 2018-19 promotion season. An omen?
For me to single out a trio of individuals for particular praise might seem slightly off kilter, but if you’ll excuse me I’m going to anyway.
The first is obviously the man in the mismatched Puma promotional boots. Todd Cantwell is in a rich vein of form right now and he had another terrific game, hot on the heels of his performance against Cardiff. The pinpoint first-time cross for Hugill’s opener was delivered to perfection and the way he is gelling with Emi Buendia and Mario Vrancic at the moment is verging on the sublime.
A brief aside about said boots: Chris Goreham asked co-commentator Hucks if he would have worn a similar pairing back in the day and wrung a tongue-in-cheek admission from the great man that he would have probably have considered it. Only probably? 😉
My other two worthy of particular praise come as a pair as in Max Aarons and Jacob Sorensen.
It is a tribute to Farkeball that our nominal fullbacks offer such a threat going forward and both were right on song, never better illustrated than when Aarons twisted Nahki Wells inside out to send over a vicious delivery for Hugill’s second. Okay, it might have deflected off the outstretched leg of Tomas Kalas and basically hit Hugill on the chest to cross the line but that was some wing play from our right-back who was consistently good throughout.
Likewise Sorensen, who played a much more advanced role on the left than of late and showed some really classy touches. If I were Dimitris Giannoulis [or indeed Xavi Quintilla] I wouldn’t expect to walk into the left-back slot just yet, although to balance that we can see Stuart Webber’s future planning in action here as there’s no doubt Sorensen is earmarked for central midfield when Skippy goes back to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and Alex Tettey heads off into the Norwegian sunset.
That said, I bet we’d be singing Alex Tettey, one more year if we were allowed in the ground to do so.
Farke had this to say about Aarons and Sorensen:
“Max Aarons was fantastic today, Jacob Lungi Sorensen – I have to say I’ve not seen a better performance from a left-back in the whole league during this season. He was unreal today.”
I doubt Daniel has seen every single match this season but I kind of know what he means.
This might sound a little cocky but I genuinely feel I wouldn’t have chosen to swap any one of our players for any of the on-field Robins.
It’s not my job to judge the performances of other sides but after yesterday I really don’t see Bristol as play-off material although they do have a few to come back from injury [ring any bells?] and in Alfie Mawson, Kalas and the shrinking violet that is Tommy Rowe they have the basis of what should be a sound defence.
Referee watch? Mr Linington let quite a bit go from both sides that some others wouldn’t, but I guess it all evened out. It was interesting to hear Hucks’ observations on the dark arts, a couple of which such actions I had missed altogether.
We know you love the cups Daniel, but a rest for quite a few is surely in order before we entertain Colin’s Boro on Wednesday.
That way we’d have one heck of a bench, Coventry style. 🙂
Great article Mr P on this dry, but breezy afternoon
Just how competent was that display by the team in Yellow and Green last night? To see such a dominant display against a team on the fringes of the playoff places must send ‘shivers down the spine’ of the managers of the chasing pack.
We simply didn’t have a ‘weakest link’ and I read a comment by MB I think it was when he said, ‘Most managers would bemoan the fact that they didn’t have a fit Left Back’, but DF simply converts a midfielder to play in that position instead. #billiant
What was really noticeable last night is how the team is adapting to get the best out of Hugill as the striker and the finish for the first goal was simply a thing of beauty. I know there were fans who questioned TC taking the number 14 shirt, but IMO; he’s an upgrade on Hoollihan. (Dons tin hat!!)
Just as an aside, Bristol didn’t have a shot on target last night. We made a team in the top 10 look very ordinary.
Bring on Barnsley on Saturday and hope that some of the fringe/recovering players get a chance to get some minutes and then a break until we play Boro the following Saturday and hopefully see the return of Pukki and possibly Idah and Mumba on the bench.
PS – I see Lampard could be on the verge of getting his P45.
Afternoon Ed
Yes I’ve heard the comment which was probably MB as you say and is spot on.
I wouldn’t care to compare Todd with Wes as it would be unfair to both of them but if anyone is worthy of the #14 it is indeed young TC. He’s been magnificent in the last few games and also has the gift of a useful right peg [sorry Wes!]
Without any inside knowledge I would reckon Barnsley is a little bit early for Idah and Giannoulis probably won’t have his work permit through in time but sickness and injury nonwithstanding I’d quite like to see:
Barden, Mumba, Zimbo, Omobamidele, Quintilla, Tettey, Rupp, Martin, Dowell, Placheta & Hugill plus a serious bench.
I’d bet on Cardiff’s Neil Harris biting the dust before Frankie L but neither issue concerns me overmuch to be fair.
Cheers & thanks for your help the other day.
Hi Martin
Well I was off on my predicted 3 – 1 win but a clean sheet is better anyway.
As with many I wondered what SW and DF were at when they recruited Hugill but he is slowly but surely winning us doubters over and long may it continue.
Last night Spurs had their head of recruitment as Sky were keen to show everyone, was he there reporting on Skipps progress or casting a knowledgeable eye over Emi, Cantwell or Aarons for possibly targets in the summer if that is the case maybe a part of any deal could be another season loan for Skipp to gain experience.
Sorensen is turning out to be an inspirational signing and could fit into most championship team as a LB no matter holding midfielder so will as you say either of our current left backs get a look in as it would be unfair to drop him for them.
Chris Martin trying out for a new career after his band stopped touring must have wondered why he chose Bristol as his next gig and this Saturday we will have another old boy in Carlton Morris trying to upset our defence so good luck to that.
Still no news on any new keeper on the horizon can we see SW and DF taking a gamble with what we have as Mcgovern says he will return before season ends and will city offer him a new 1 year extension on his contract.
Today on Transfer News an ex Preston and Leeds striker Beckford said city will need a complete overhaul once promoted as all the top 6 clubs will come calling for al our top talent but only time will tell.
Onwards and upwards
OTBC
Stay safe and Stay Healthy
Hi Alex
You got the winning margin right anyway!
Steve Hitchen was indeed at the game but a pretty reliable Spurs fansite reckons he was there to give Ollie Skipp the onceover rather than for any nefarious purpose. He will have been impressed with what he saw.
Carlton cannot feature on Saturday as he is cup-tied having already played for MK Dons in the comp and the Barnsley manager is also talking about resting a few.
I wouldn’t mind McGovern having an extra year although if we are yet again PL the trio of him, Krul and Barden seems a little bit thin. We obviously didn’t fancy Nyland in the end.
As with your namesake……
Cheers & thanks for your help the other day.
Anytime
I’ll give you more notice next time 🙂
With McLean zinging one with his right and Buendia another with his left I was reminded of the Tommy Cooper line about finding an old painting and a violin in the attic. He’s told “They’re a Stradivarius and a Rembrandt. Unfortunately, Stradivarius was a lousy painter…. “
Oh Gawd!
I don’t recall that one but I was a teenager at the time and remember Tommy Cooper quite well as he was seemingly always on ITV.
Thanks for not working *just like that* into the comment 🙂
Couldn’t have put it better myself Martin.
There are not too many times when you support a team where so many players are at 7 or 8 out of 10 in game after game, but that’s where we find ourselves at the moment.
Another excellent all round performance, only soured when some BBC “expert” tried to point out that those teams below us were not as far adrift as they seem because they all have games in hand.
At this time, it’s only useful to those teams if they suddenly get 5 points for a win.
Farkeball 4.0?? We love it; just a shame we cannot see it live at the moment.
O T B C
Hi John
I think that us NCFC supporters have largely had our fill of *experts* and pundits over the years whether from the BBC or elsewhere.
The only place I find to be totally unbiased is EFL on Quest where Colin Murray tends to feature lesser profile pundits such as Sam Parkin, Danny Cowley [why isn’t he back in a management role?] and the Plymouth supporting guy called Ali who has never played football in his life. Our Dion’s been on a couple of times and was his usual self.
I love that show and while I’m hoping next season we’ll be analytically destroyed by Krispy Lugs, Shearer & Co. I will continue to watch it.
Points in the bag over games in hand? Every time – especially as Brentford meet Swansea next week.
Cheers
Nothing I can add that hasn’t already been said, but what a performance! Chris Martin was so anonymous that my wife didn’t realise he was playing until into the second half. A lot has been said about Jordan Hugill and his ability to fit in with Farkeball, but he does hold the ballup quite well with his back to goal and a big centre half climbing all over his back, and while he might have been a bit lucky with the second goal, he was in there to bundle it in. A great header for the first as well.
No Tommy Cooper jokes, sorry!
Hi Jim
Yeah the battle between Hugill and Mawson was a good one throughout but the latter lost our Jordan for the crucial opener.
As I mentioned earlier Mawson & Kalas looked a decent CB pairing but I certainly wouldn’t swap them for Grant and Gibbo.
The sight of Chris Martin rolling around on the floor exposing his black Calvin Kleins did nothing for me at all I’m afraid. His future looks to be that of a lower league bully as he did nothing productive for Bristol City whatsoever except make an ar$e of himself.
Glass, bottle – bottle, glass?
Cheers
Thanks for the good read Martin.
I guess like most supporters I wondered what Farkeball 4.0 had to offer after the first 4 games of the season, specially after the defeat to a woeful Derby side. 21 games and 49 points later i think they are a very efficient side that just strangles the life out of opponents. They have everything they need to win the Championship. Over the last couple of weeks their performances have gone up a level. There is nobody that is not playing really well. It must be a pleasure to play in this team. There are always options for you to pass to and you know whatever pass you deliver it will be immediately under close control and ready to be passed again.
Whatever opposition players try they are getting nowhere. High press, low block or lumping it forward they have no luck. Even roughing our players up doesn’t work, particularly as Emi has his emotions under control.
I wish we could be there to cheer them home.
OTBC
Hi Colin
Yes I think James Coleman’s boa constrictor analogy this morning in his match report was quite apposite. When it comes to football and snakes I only normally connect 90% of agents with the reptilian term so I learned something new from James – always a good thing, of course.
You can see in the celebrations just how much any individual goal means to absolutely everybody in the squad and now we’re restricted to TV/laptop/tablet screens it’s so much easier to pick up the vibes between TK, GH, Gibbo, Skippy and the Mayor towards the back so it certainly IS a pleasure for all of them to play in this team.
I’m optimistic just now as I should be but unfortunately fans in England will not be back in our respective grounds this season whoever we follow.
And yes the oppo do often try to rough us up but Hucks explained last night how on occasions we can give as good as we get – I didn’t even notice Hanley putting one in on Kasey Palmer, but he did!
Thanks as ever.
I’d say we’re in third gear now, but we still have a couple of levels to go – getting some more goals from the many chances we create would be the first step. The main challengers won’t roll over as easily as Cardiff and Bristol City.
Everyone is being very unfair to Chris Martin. He played a vital role in our “rise” from League One to the Premier League under Lambert. He was a bit crazy as a youth but I don’t understand why he gets such a bad rap from supporters when he returns.
Hi Stephen
I don’t think anyone would undermine the contributions of Chris Martin in our consecutive promotion seasons a decade or so ago and he will never be forgotten for that late header against Leeds of course.
It’s probably a case of perceived image as much as anything else. When Roedent called out him and Micky Spillane as Tweedle Dum & Tweedle Dee most of us were on the side of the youngsters as I recall.
And yes we’ll certainly face harder tests than Cardiff and Bristol.
Thanks
Yes indeed Colin B – I’m sure every fan in the ‘Canary Nation’ would have loved to have been at CR last night(even though it was cold, wet and windy) to see our boys put in such a totally dominant display against a side with hopes of making the playoffs.
HMS PTL is certainly building up a head of steam and despite encountering several quite major icebergs over the last few months, it is making good speed towards its final destination. It goes without saying that we’ll encounter some stormy waters en route, but the ‘engine room’ is currently quite well stocked and the supply level is looking healthy for the remainder of the journey.
We’ve certainly been on some *strange tides* this season.
The only issue might be complacency but Farke won’t let that happen and secondly the competition for places won’t either. We might have the odd poor result but I can’t see us doing a Leeds of 2018/19.
Hi Colin
Yes competition for places should guard against complacency as you so very rightly say. I bet DF’s not laid back all the time either 🙂
Cheers
An excellent summing up of a comfortable and polished performance Martin. Aarons, Gibson, Sorensen, McLean, skipp. Excellent performances and many others are in the groove.
Fair to say many of these boys won’t be playing in the championship next season whatever happens.
HI Chris
Absolutely agree. And if I were the Danish boss just now [can’t remember his name] I’d be well aware of Sorensen, which I’m sure he already is!
Keep good.