“We can still catch Norwich”. Ivan Toney. Sky Sports. March 12, 2021.
Dream on, Ivan.
In fairness to Brentford’s finest, he was only saying what every pro is conditioned to say and, besides, said gent has a certain swagger that probably has him believing that anything is possible.
But he’s wrong, just as his manager was wrong when, a couple of weeks prior to City hammering the Bees 1-0, he came out with the ill-fated, “there is no outstanding team in this Championship”.
I beg to differ, lads.
What we witnessed last night was a Championship team at the peak of its powers. One that knows how capable it is. One that can out-pass, out-manoeuvre, out-run and out-play every other team in the division if it clicks.
And last night it clicked.
The opening 45 at the City Ground was football in an art form. Every bit as beautiful as that first half at Wembley in May 2015. The accuracy, the precision, the timing, the energy.
It felt like four years of training in the ways of Farkeball culminating in 46 minutes of football in its purest form. And being performed by a team in yellow and green.
If all of that sounds a tad overly-euphoric, you’re probably right. But I make no apologies.
Quite how it looked through the prism of iFollow, I can’t say. I’ve missed Carrow Road very much and have longed for a single-angle view of the action, the prospect of missing the action if distracted for a split-second and the jabbering of someone who’s watched City once or twice all season but thinks they know it all, so it was to the red button I headed last night.
And I’m pretty sure it was no less brilliant for the lack of multi-replays and lingering shots of Chris Hughton ruminating over his next tactical change. The power, precision and ruthlessness of Teemu Pukki’s and Kieran Dowell’s finishes could have been in grainy black and white, and been described by the old school tones of Kenneth Wolstenholme and would have been no less beautiful.
13 minutes. Game over.
The avalanche of goals that many predicted failed to materialisd but it mattered not. The damage had been done and although Forest occasionally flickered into life – most notably early in the second half when they had a couple of chances – the gulf in quality meant City had another two gears left if they needed another goal.
And none of this is intended as a slight on Forest, who are a solid, mid-table Championship side. They just met a City side in its pomp.
Notable too was that two of last night’s main protagonists were not around in 2018-19 to savour that particular joyful run-in. This is all new to Lukas Rupp and Kieran Dowell, at least while wearing yellow and green, and it’s a shame we’re not there to express our gratitude and to celebrate in the usual form.
Flags, songs and fervour are just what we all need right now.
That Rupp and Dowell are so deserving of our exaltations, speaks volumes of how this has been a squad effort and how those on the fringes are able to step up and make a difference when their time comes.
For Dowell, this is hopefully him finally arriving. The player we have all been waiting for.
So, nine in a row, just as the chasing pack started to fancy their chances of hauling us in. The stats, pundits and opposition managers all tell us it’s now a matter of when not if, and after last night who are we to argue. Even Ivan may privately concede.
Breathe it in folks. It doesn’t get much better than this.
On the Ball City…
An absolute master class from Lucas Rupp in the No 10 role, filling the pockets of space between the Forest lines, playing on the half turn and moving possession on with speed and precision.
Of course, it wasn’t all about Lucas, but this was probably his best performance in Yellow and Green and his two assists will give Daniel and interesting selection dilemma on Saturday, when a certain Emi Buendia is back in the mix.
Yeah Gary it’s an interesting conundrum for DF to have. Rupp would consider himself very unlucky to be benched on Saturday given last night’s performance. Highlights the strength in depth we have though in our squad, which is always refreshing.
Both Rupp and Dowell were excellent last night, but then so were the other nine! With a bit more luck and composure it could easily have been six., but I’ll take a two nil anytime. It speaks volumes to say that we didn’t really miss Emi, although who knows what it could have been had he played. Congratulations to him and his wife on the arrival of their second son. Two for the future, if they take after their dad!
I see we’re being linked with an American striker from the Bundesliga, but maybe said Mr Toney might be worth a shout if Brentford miss out. Grabben blew his opportunity for a bit of revenge on us, but it’s a good job he took the extra touch which enabled Tim Krul to come out and smother his effort.
I’m getting a stiff neck, twisting round to see how far behind us the rest are!
Morning everyone, hope we’re all safe and well. Great read as always Gary. Regarding Toney’s post match comment last week, I nearly spat my drink out of my mouth when he said it ! His retort to the Sky reporter last FrIday was almost as good as Trump saying he was going to win the US Election back in November ! 🤣
All looking good down in NR1….And huge congrats to Emi and his family on the safe arrival of his second son. Will be quite a year for the Buendia household eh ? A newborn AND a second Championship winner medal…..💪👨🏻🍼🍾🥇
I don’t think anyone could have put it better Gary.
I watched via iFollow (maybe I’ve been lucky this season with no gremlins at all), and have to commend the excellent BBC Radio Nottingham commentators. They were truly “Gorehamesque” in their knowledge of the opposition; totally unbiased, and fulsome in their praise for what was surely one of the best first halves of football we’ve played for many a season.
And it was all done without Emi……how my heart sank when I heard the team news, but to say that he was hardly missed is the biggest compliment we can pay to this extraordinary group who are giving us such a wonderful though distanced season.
Only one gripe; how did Olly Skipp end up with the games’ only yellow card?? One or two very strange (non) decisions from the referee.
This was football; but not as most of the Championship are capable!!
O T B C
Totally agree about the commentary John. To be fair the only “away” commentary we’ve had that was really naff was the Coventry one when the guy had Teeny Pukki in goal much of the time and had to avoid saying Giannoulis as he had no idea how to pronounce it.
It must have been pretty soul-destroying listening at home for any Forest fans in the first half, hearing a continuous string of City players’ names coming across the airwaves.
Skipp was unlucky with that yellow; but the ref had had a word in his ear in the first half, and the second guy he tackled threw himself forward a yard as well and made it look worse than it was. I don’t think there should have been a yellow at all, there wasn’t a nasty tackle to be seen.
Good stuff Gary. For all the talent in the squad, all the clever recruitment, the magic ingredient is that recent experience to know what it takes to win this league. So many confident young heads. It’s a joy to watch the whole plan work.
One of the most pleasing aspects of our performance last night was that we actually ‘came out of the blocks’ from the first whistle and as you say, the game was pretty much wrapped up by the time the clock had reached 15 minutes.
Several of the fans I know were in a state of panic at the news that the new dad – aka Emi Buendia opted to stay behind be with his partner and their newly- born son.
DF chose to give a start to Kieran Dowell,(aka KD) a decision that was repaid by the bucket load with the strike that brought the 2nd goal.
The overall display was very pleasing and I think it would be difficult to find a ‘weakest link’.
When you consider that KD only arrived in the summer, had almost no pre-season and missed many months through injury and was able to slot into ‘Farkeball’, as though he had been playing it for years, is testament to the efforts of DF and his coaches. 😄
Hi Gary
As you and others gave said the first 46mins were as good as any I have seen in 60years of following city.
The second half was game management and the one question is if Forest had scored how would the game played out possibly a draw.
It us difficult to understand why city went into game management mode so early putting Forest out of the game so early it shows lack of respect and luckily didn’t come back and nite our rear end.
Dowell and Rupp lost some momentum in the second half and the amount of back passing spoilt the game a tad and if Farke was managing the gateway not sub Pukki, Skipp earlier to give others fame time.
Onwards and upwards
OTBC
Stay Safe and Stay Healthy
Oh Fleetwood beat a team in Blue calked Ipshite
As John says, the Radio Nottingham commentator was excellent and Steve Hodges was gushing in his praise of our performance-I don’t think I will ever again watch the red button coverage if iFollow is available.
What a first half performance, absolute football gold. At half time I thought that Forest were the worst team we had played this season, but I now think that they just couldn’t live with us. The second half performance suggested that they were not as bad as I thought, but nowhere near our quality.
One more win almost certainly provides enough points for automatic promotion, but the record points total in the Championship era is 106, and it’s possible for us to get 109. Just saying….
Let’s not forget to give Chris Hughton some credit, he changed things at H-T so 2nd half was bound to be more difficult. 1st half was indeed outstanding.
The system we are playing requires the right personnel so let’s not be too negative about losing players when we’ve others who are also talented as replacements.
Dowell really looks the part but so do Rupp, Sorensen, Mumba.
I watched on Sky Red Button, no replays and one camera but really enjoyed it. I just wish we could let the guys know how much it means to the fans, can you imagine the noise of a packed Carrow Road just now?
that half of football, along with the second half at Hillsborough, just like to see what would happen if the 90 mins were like those 2 halves. Roll on 10
Well put Gary i do now think we Will stay up everybody up for it last nite a joy to watch now for a 41 thumping of pork pies Team saturday Will be The iceing on The cake for a,good Week 😊,
Good for Norwich to prove that very limited data nonsense that Norwich cant win without Buendia has become end.
In highlights Nottingham had 2 very good scoring chances, same story as always in Championship their efforts were poor. Norwich both goals were not really scoring chances, still Norwich scored those. That has been obvious difference all the time, but in Premier league opponents will not waste very good scoring chances at all so often.
I saw article where was claimed that Finland will rest Pukki against Switzerland. I have seen press conference and Mr Kanerva has not said anything like that. He said that club managers have not been in contact with him and same way he could ask club managers to rest some players before world cup qualification games. If I have to guess, I would guess that Pukki plays both qualification games and some part of game against Switzźerland. Overall I would call sport journalists some questions to Kanerva kind of provocative. He was asked what does he think now about Norwich and is it still not good for Teemu? Player selection questions included forever and every time issue about Roman Eremenko ( told has tried to contact him, but Roma has not answered), Berat Sadik (something between them) and even to Carl Jenkinson. Answer to question about Norwich was that he wants his players to target higher overall. In many ways that is true, finnish players select their clubs too much based on other things. Too comfortable.
Looked great on iFollow- excellent commentary from the Radio Nottingham guys as well . Sublime first half, never seen City dominate so effortlessly like that before against what was a competent opponent. Could’ve been 5-0 and it wouldn’t have flattered us.
Hope Pep enjoyed watching Norwich last night in preparation for next season’s matches with Man City. The first half was a delight to watch. We were so comfortable we were on our armchairs after 13 minutes. We are head and shoulders above the rest of the division. Those just below us are starting to fell the pressure and are dropping points although Watford are now looking more consistent.
Even if the teams below us win their games in hand no one can be better than 10 points behind or put another way 3 wins and a draw. So anyone below us must win 4 games more than us in the next 9 games to overtake us. To drop out of the automatic places two teams must do that. What a position to be in. Well done all at NCFC.
Let’s hope the academy bosses have places reserved for both Emi’s sons. Good luck Emi and family. Hope your kids enjoy growing up in Norwich over the next 10 years… we’ll you have to hope.