After the Boxing Day match against Watford, I remember penning my concerns that City were outdone by exactly the sort of physical, technical, and pacey side that had proven their undoing in the Premier League. Last night’s match at Carrow Road has done nothing to ease my fears.
Watford started the game impressively. They pressurized City all over the pitch and all too often Tim Krul was forced to kick long in order to clear his lines. And every time the ball came straight back.
In the early minutes, Todd Cantwell has comprehensively muscled off the ball, an all too common theme for the City midfield throughout the game. Ismaila Sarr was giving Xavi Quintilla a torrid time and Will Hughes was getting forward into the pockets of space between the left-back and Grant Hanley. Watford had five or six goal attempts, all high or wide.
After 13 minutes, Watford had had 72% of the possession.
Finally City managed a meaningful spell of possession. It started with a great interception by Cantwell. City worked the ball around to the left side, it was cut back but Cantwell’s dipping shot was over.
City had a spedd of free kicks on dangerous positions but Kieran Dowell was unable to find a way over or through the Watford defence.
On 35 minutes, Watford had their best chance. Sarr again got the ball past Quintilla and Ken Sema hit a powerful shot. Krul beat it away but Sarr was there on the follow-up. Xavi got a crucial half touch on the ball and Krul beat it out for a corner.
Watford finished the half with a flurry of corners but City were defending resolutely.
The second half began in the same manner as the first. For all their excellence this season, Oliver Skipp and Kenny McLean were simply unable to exert any control over the midfield, both giving away possession cheaply and seemingly second to every 50/50 challenge.
Watford were forcing City back. Three times Hanley blocked goal-bound shots. On 56 minutes, Watford finally got their reward. The ball came down the Norwich right. After what looked suspiciously like a foul on Emi Buendia, a great curling cross beat the City defenders and Dan Gosling bundled it home.
From then on, the game fell apart. Disruption after disruption ensured that the champions-elect were never able to establish a rhythm and never able to mount a serious goal challenge.
There was the chance for Hanley to demonstrate how superb he has been this season. Cantwell was muscled off the ball in midfield, Watford played it quickly into the box only for the Scot to make a perfectly-timed tackle; a millisecond early or late, a millimeter higher or lower and it’s a penalty and a red card, instead he won the ball and it went out for a corner.
Farke threw everything at it, switching to three at the back, Placheta, Hernandez and Hugill on. But Watford broke up the game at every opportunity and City rarely threatened.
After nine added minutes, the agony was finally over. Two losses at home in quick succession. Two doubles by the teams that came down, and are most likely going up, with City.
So back to my opening statement. Watford were stronger than Norwich. They were first to every ball. In possession they were dangerous. Norwich had no answers, other than for a period in the first half, and then Watford defended resolutely in numbers and looked so dangerous on the break.
Stuart Webber, whom Sky constantly reminded everyone is leaving at the end of next season, will have a task on his hands recruiting players who will allow Norwich to be effective against sides like this.
Fortunately, in Webber we trust!
Ideas unless some quality members of the squad are found we will face much of the same as our last journey. Take out Gibson, Dowell, Giannoulis the most regulars, then Skipp who isn’t ours it is much the same as last season. Which proved wasn’t good enough. Too good for the championship but not the prem, may be the case.
Some serious recruitment with some serious money being made available will be needed. I am not complaining just trying to say how I see it. We come up against two teams who came down with us and they knew how to play us, and win, how much more will that be the case next season ?
One or two have either not improved or not fast enough for the step up, I love Onel but has he grown ? Placheta perhaps not ready yet, Mario & Marco probably surplus now. Others away on loan so cannot comment.
Farke and players have done a fantastic job no getting away from it nor would I want to , Webber and the board have some fair amount of work ahead if we are to stay up, if the money isn,t available, this could be the last season of Farkeball, We know Webber will be off could anyone blame Farke if he had, had enough.
I think we have a core for next season, but we still need more muscle. And when Hernandez and Placheta cam on, we didn’t play to their strengths. They don’t need to be coming deep to receive the ball like Cantwell would, they should be pushed up on the last man ready to use their pace. Until we see that it doesn’t seem fair to criticise. Will we ever see them like that?
I half thought that if Cantwell wasn’t fit, Stiepermann might come in and Dowell push wide, which would have added physicality. This may not have been such a bad thing.
And yes, 70 minutes with 10 men 3 days previously, and (ahem) no training on sunday may have had its effect.
Its events elsewhere though that dictate what ‘serious’ money is spent. The Premier League Elite are in a perilous financial state it would seem. The club will not risk its financial model for short term gain. And that is not a bad thing!
Norwich want to wake up they are up but some of us backed them to win the league and i do not think they care if they win league or one any how they will be back in the championship league with this lot they are not good enough to stay up
Watford fan here. Norwich have been the best side in the Championship this season but, if we do join you in the fools’ paradise, I fear more for Norwich than I do for Watford..
I have absolutely nothing against Norwich and I really hope you survive. However, I think the writer is correct that you will struggle against strong technical sides. We are of a similar size to you, and I would expect some decent recruitment in the summer (assuming we go up).
Surely Norwich would be able to invest in some strong talent as well? For example, we got Dan Gosling from our friends at Bournemouth in January. I don’t know how much for, but since he wasn’t playing regularly I don’t think it was a massive amount. I’m sure he will be a real asset next season. Wouldn’t someone like that .be useful to you, and would not break the bank? In other words, surely you can afford to bring in some quality players?
Wishing you all the best for next season.