If Saturday’s performance against Manchester United offered hope that survival is not beyond us, last night’s tame offering against Villa was a salutary reminder of how and why we are rooted at the foot of the Premier League. And why survival probably is beyond us.
There is of course mitigation in the form of a squad ravaged by injury and illness, but nothing can nor should excuse the paucity of performance in last night’s first half. That chosen XI was capable of more than they delivered.
Everything we so loved about Saturday’s stirring effort – the fight, the fire, the tempo, the intent, the precision etc – was missing and Villa were allowed, at their leisure, to do to us what Southampton did during Dean Smith’s opening 45 in the City dugout.
It was a painful watch made all the more painful by us convincing ourselves beforehand that it was a game we could win. As it transpired, Villa were too fast, too strong, too sharp, too skilful, too organised and won it without even having to shift through the gears.
For Tyrone Mings, who we desperately wanted to watch flounder in a Harry Maguire style, it was instead a cigar and carpet slippers type evening. Emiliano Martinez, in Villa’s goal, will not have an easier 90 minutes all season.
It’s hard to be too critical for the reasons stated and, by the sounds of it, there are players in the squad who have tested Covid negative but are still feeling unwell, who are having to soldier on. That could explain the general lack of energy and zip in that first half but still it was a tough watch.
Whatever the reason(s), it was one of those games in which we specialise when playing in the Premier League – one completely devoid of joy. The only positives came prior to the first blast of David Coote’s whistle in the form of some impressive pyrotechnics.
Sadly, the lingering smoke that, for a few minutes, shrouded the pitch eventually dissipated.
In fairness to Dean Smith, he wasn’t about to use the fact his squad is down to its bare bones as an excuse for that first half and knew, as we all did, that his starting XI was capable of producing more than it did in that opening 45. “Passive without the ball and slow on the ball”, was his succinct summing up of what unfolded.
That we went in at the interval only 1-0 was quite the bonus but despite a second-half improvement, this never really looked like being a Southampton mark II. And, to be fair, with Sam Byram playing in the centre of midfield having not kicked a ball for nearly two years, we couldn’t really have expected it to be.
But it was better. There was more bite and purpose. Mings even had to stub his cigar out.
Indeed, if Kenny McLean had gobbled up one of those chances that would be taken by every one of our opponents but are routinely fluffed by City, then it could have been a different story. But he didn’t and it wasn’t. And that would have been harsh on Villa who were in total control.
Interestingly, Smith observed that City were the fitter of the two sides as the game entered its final stages but while that should be advantageous, it really isn’t when you’re as devoid of quality in the final third as City are right now. Even when we had decent spells and got in semi-dangerous positions, it was powderpuff stuff.
The inevitability of Villa’s second goal on the break was obvious to all and didn’t disappoint but even at 1-0, our visitors were sadly more than comfortable.
For Dean Smith’s part, there’s only a very limited amount of room to manoeuvre right now, but if it was a tactical decision to replace Dimitris Giannoulis with Brandon Williams, it was one that backfired.
The Manchester United loanee had a poor evening, with and without the ball, and it was one of those where his natural inclination to check back rather than go on the outside stood out like a sore thumb, with several promising attacking positions being squandered because of an unwillingness to use his left foot.
If part of the reason for his inclusion was for him to use his inherent tenacity to leave one on a certain volatile little Argentinian, it didn’t happen. In fact, no one did, which was disappointing.
But that was only one aspect of a night that disappointed on many fronts, and not all of them within City’s control.
I’d welcome an explanation from the Premier League as to why it was okay for City to play with at least four Covid related absentees while Manchester United – and Tottenham before them – were permitted to postpone a game for that very same reason. Anyone would think it’s one rule for the Big Six and another for the other 14.
Smith remains, publicly at least, convinced that this squad had enough within it to clamber out of the mire, but with every passing defeat that possibility becomes that little bit more remote.
We were always going to need some good fortune and a fair wind behind us to give it a real go, and right now it’s deserted us and we’re going headlong into a gale.
Lucky breaks and sympathetic decision-making are, it seems, for others.
Never Mind the Danger…
Very well put Gary. I’m afraid that in this league the top teams do as they please while the rest of us do as we’re told.
I think last night demonstrated that as long as Delia retains ownership of the club this is as good as it will get. Not because she is a bad owner, indeed she’s been a very good one. She’s risked a lot of her personal fortune to ensure City is still a functioning club.
However, it is now clear that the club needs a huge injection of cash if it’s ever going to establish itself in this league as Villa ruthlessly demonstrated. Delia has taken the club as far as she can and it’s time to hand over the responsibility to wealthier owners.
If, as championship clubs have requested, parachute payments are stopped it’s goodbye premiership for ever.
After last night I felt more dispirited than I’ve ever been as a City supporter as each attempt at premiership survival is becoming more and more futile!
Very good comment, John. Agree with all of that. The current set-up as worthy and brave as it appears, looks increasingly unlikely to deliver a team that can compete at PL level.
Thought we were poor, borderline dire, especially in the first half. Think you nailed it regarding Brandon Williams, so often he set off down the left wing, and you thought, “Go on, son!” only to sink back in your seat as he cut back every time… though I put it down to an unwillingness to use his left foot, rather than his right.
If you’re Tim Krul or Teemu Pukki, how dispiriting must it be to play in this team at the moment? Both deserve a better team around them. I felt for Pukki in particular last night, especially as some of our (admittedly few) best attacking moments came when he ran into channels and hooked the ball back into the area … except someone else should be doing that for him, surely? He should be in the area, waiting for someone to hook it back to him. Except if he was waiting for that, he’d still be there this morning, wouldn’t he?
Any positives? I thought Placheta showed a willingness to run at people a bit, even though he didn’t seem to know what to do next once he’d got past them. And Cantwell, after a first-half of headless-chicken mode, was a bit better in the second half, actually getting a couple of crosses in from the left. But both these players were subbed off, so what do I know.
When Kabak went down injured, the chat around me was of the “Oh, he just doesn’t fancy it” and “He doesn’t want to be here” variety, which might be harsh but might also be understandable.
Am wondering if teams have worked Aarons out too – for a player that was being touted with big club moves not so long ago, he was made to look quite ordinary at times. Again, maybe that’s harsh = he’s playing in a pretty ordinary team, isn’t he?
I know COVID and injuries played a part in this, but on that showing, especially the first 45, you can see exactly why we’re rooted to the foot of the table. It was tough to watch. Yes, we might be fitter than Villa, but they were sharper, more accurate in their passing, better with the ball at their feet, stronger. The number of times our players seemed to get the ball stuck under their feet as they tried to receive a pass and do something with it… are they that anxious, that lacking in confidence? Whatever the reason, it’s so frustrating because it makes any kind of incisive forward play almost impossible, as it breaks down after a couple of passes and misplaced control.
On that performance, we’d struggle in the Championship, I think.
Good summary of a poor performance. Every time Williams got possession the game stopped but rumour has it that Dimi was not well. I would also say that Aarons also fell into that category too. The positive from the game for me was that Sorenson looked the part in midfield and in defensive duties. Gillmore was poor. Easily knocked off the ball and wayward passing.
Williams was not so good going forward but his defensive work was probably what saved us from a 4 or 5-nil drubbing.
Where on the earth was the spirit that took Utd close ? There was very little we were able to recognize from a few days before. It reminded me of, project restart. No real fight, very little idea, I know we are drawing close to Christmas, to prove that, we gave Villa some early presents all nicely wrapped.. Ramsey was given the freedom of the park to waltz through untouched and slotted a corker of a goal.
Beaten mostly by full or wing-backs, no answer to their runs. If Cantwell never pulls on a City shirt again I will not be too disappointed at all, Was he really interested in playing for the club that trained him and gave him the stage to perform on? Or is he already at The Emirates Stadium?
I was impressed with Idah, the way he passed the ball to space, even chasing to catch one of his own passes, this further added to frustration of the constantly terrible lack of the basics of passing. Yep, the Chelsea wonder kid was as guilty, perhaps more than most, plus the Mayor decided the night wasn’t complete until he had fluffed his lines badly.
I had, had enough on the 75-80 minute mark, and turned BT off and found something less frustrating to watch, think if I had been at Carrow I would have been catching the 9-20 bus to Dereham instead of the 10-20 one. .
I know Smith, believes he can steer us out of the downward whirlpool, in truth he has to. But I doubt it a little more now. Either this group of players simplyre lost, or as I lean towards they are simply not up to the mark. The shout of poor recruitment is getting louder .
We have not replaced Emi, we looked to have found Skip’s replacement, but do not have a Normann replacement. That is now two coaches to have this group under the tutilage, but still, the glaring lack shines about as bright.
If you had caught the 9:20 you’d have got back to the Millwrights for a pint .
I disagree with you John I believe we are in this situation because of Stuart Webber because the players HE bought aren’t of premier League quality and that is our problem now .
And the fact Dean Smith has stabilized the squad somewhat proves it’s not the manager for me the blame is laid solely at his door .
Sorry but the recruitment is dictated by the budget which is insufficient to recruit premiership quality players, especially strikers.
Webber has to gamble on cut price players that may develop into a Buendia or Maddison. These are then quickly sold on to subsidise the owners inability to fund a premiership side.
This time around the gamble appears to have failed. The fault lies with the owners not the employees.
Last night showed the difference between adequate and inadequate owners.
Three years ago we were a better team than Villa. They spend in excess of £200 million and boss us on our own ground. In that time if you account for income from transfer sales we’ve spent very little by comparison.
Time for substantial new investment if we wish to become an established premiership club.
Not, I stress to point out, Delia’s fault merely a case of financial resources.
The problem is Webber buys quantity not quality.
Was he given the funds to buy a Watkins?
Probably not, but surely there are better strikers in the lower leagues than Sargent and Idah. Hugil was never going to be of the required quality so that was a waste of money. We might not have the money or pay the required wages but Webber came out and said the signings are good enough.
Who of even our best (whatever that is) 11 would start for another EPL side?
Probably not…..but a reported 8m for Sargent could surely have brought someone like Josh King here…free transfer, signing on fee plus wages…with the proviso he could move on (as Pukki undoubtedly will) if/when we are relegated.
O T B C
Very boring game. Norwich has played so expensive football to get points or chance to get points, that it started to show. Your core players are tired and next thing is that risk of injuries are rising. Aston Villa didnt show anything, Gerrard obviously prefers to play as pragmatic football as possible. Defensive mistake (Kabak, Gibson, Aarons) and yes Krul plays overall well but he does not make game savers. Second goal was Gilmours awful mistake. Same time Leeds lost 7-0 and surely reason was similar, weakest teams are getting tired because they have to play at their very best to get chance to get points and only way to get points is playing physically very demanding way. First comes physical tiredness and then mental.
If you really are able to get some transfer money by selling Cantwell, its amazing outcome. He honestly cant play at least now in this level, he wasnt especially good in last season either and had very little or basically nothing to do with promotion. If he would be foreigner, you would not get anything.
Billy Gilmour keeps on playing, no matter how he plays. His main quality is passing together short passes with central defenders, it of course improves his passing stats. He is basically typical physically weak small nr 10, but he cant play that role because there is not just coming any kind of defence opening passes. Because he makes vital mistakes, its perfectly understandable that Farke didnt play him. Now that he plays no matter what and british media keeps on praising his incredible passing game with central defenders it gives feeling of conspiracy theory. What if Chelsea had something to do with Farke getting sacked, even 10% or Chelsea pays his salary but demand that he gets plenty of playing time? Anyway this has been unnormal situation, situation with Williams looks to be completely different and normal player loaning. I dont know about english football if that would be possible, but in outside England it would be nothing new. There is actually players you can get without any expenses, but you have to promise that they get plenty of playing time.
A lot of truth in this. Farke was sacked in part due to his refusal to pick Gilmour. In that at least, he was correct.
If indeed we are getting the players on the cheap in exchange for guaranteed playing time then that would fit “the model” perfectly.
One goal in 5 games about sums it up. However well we compete in certain games, such as against Wolves and Man Utd we are going nowhere without a gaol threat. Am I alone in thinking that Gilmour is overrated by the London centric press? He has played approximately 35 games for club and country and has yet to find the net. It’s going to be a long winter.
Stuart Webber is not a transfer guru and should not be trusted with funds anymore that should be left to the manager !
Teemu looks to be some kind of Don Quijote. Maybe he just does not understand reality or is willing to accept it. Reason might be that his club where he started to play KTP is club where challenging top level is similarly mission impossible no matter what Don Quijote tries to do. He also tries to play when he is obviously injured. There is clear possibility that Norwich second half premier league season is becoming complete nightmare and also to Teemu. When Finland lost to France, Teemu looked like there has been happening something incredible bad. Hradecky kept his humor like always and said its part of sport and negative feeling does not make you playing better next time. After some time his idiotic humor finally made some smile in teemus face too.
As ever, a performance that lightens the mood and raises the spirits is followed by an abysmal one which embarrasses us. For Newcastle read Aston Villa.
A mitigating factor was the depleted nature of the squad and if indeed we were forced to play while,others were not then that is a disgrace.
However, the lack of tempo and effort were inexcusable. The bare minimum requirements were not met and everyone involved should be ashamed.
We always seem to be gifted at least one chance, this one was gilt-edged and squandered in the most pathetic fashion by McLean. His effort was Sunday league standard in its execution. Cantwell is heading down the leagues at a quicker rate than we are. It looks unlikely that we will even offer him a new contract and would be better served by offloading him for whatever we can get. Gilmour is hopeless. This seasons Patrick Roberts. The rest, possibly with the exception of Placheta were awful.
Amazingly, Webber aided by the tight finances has constructed a squad poorer than the one which achieved the last relegation, a squad that has people genuinely questioning whether it could survive in the championship. Capable of an anomalous surprise performance once every half dozen games but embarrassingly poor on a consistent basis.
If anyone at the club has any minerals at all perhaps it might be wise to kick up merry hell and demand that Saturday’s proposed lamb to the slaughter formality masquerading as a top-flight football fixture gets the same treatment as was afforded those nice people at Manchester and Tottenham because I’m sick to the stomach of this crap and don’t want the lead up to Christmas to be ruined by more of this rubbish.
Like you Gary, I too would love to know why it’s OK for Spurs and Manure to have games postponed when they (surely) have far deeper squads than us.
I heard a rumour that having lost the Manure game for broadcast, there could have been a penalty payment to BT had only one game been transmitted last evening…..and, let’s face it, the big wigs at the PL don’t want to be bothered with a team owned by poor millionaires, do they??
Having said all that, the first half was pi$$ poor…….as bad as I’ve seen in 60 years of watching – reminded me of some performances under the Rodent!
O T B C
We definitely need Saturdays game called off,with the team who played last night we would get hammered by the hammers!Glad I’m not the only one who thinks Gilmour is over hyped,what has he actually done in the games hes played?What Webber should have done in the summer was to replace Buendia and Skipp and brought in a striker.3 or 4 quality players was needed,not however many average players he did get in.Cant see much happening in the next window as apparently the money’s dried up already.Not even selling Aaron’s would generate enough cash for a striker as his value is shrinking with each game.Back where we belong
in the chump next season with our ambitious owners still here.
Agree with you John – worst display I can remember at carrow rd in same time scale I’ll keep saying it Cantwell McLean Idah Hanley etc are not premier quantity hence two wins in 36. Pathetic that we havent been able to change losing habit to have only one decent forward on the books after our last pathetic try in the prem is ridiculous. I was embarrassed at our lack of fight last time it reappeared last night in a game we had a chance of winning but no desire to again.
‘A painful watch’ and ‘completely devoid of joy.’ Spot on Gary. I couldn’t understand Maclean’s role. Gibson, backing off for the first goal was poor (well-taken as the goal was). Giannoulis should have kept his place and a friend suggested Idah in Sargent’s role. Kabak situation was unlucky and didn’t help. After the Man Utd game there was hope….it’s the hope that kills you.
On some other comments: recruitment seems to have been poor – partly a result of the self-funding model or perhaps Webber has lost his touch or both. Not sure where I stand on the self-funding model – great on moral grounds but is it doomed to failure and will we just return to Championship mediocrity (or worse)?
An utterly dispiriting night, injuries not withstanding. I wonder what the grounds for Covid postponement are and if they will be revealed by EPL. You can bet that we’ll be at some disadvantage there and may already have been – it’s not as though Man Utd have a weaker squad than us.