There is no questioning the quality of Manchester City. Several respected voices have described their performance at Carrow Road last night as one of the best they have ever seen from a visiting team and it’s a hard one to contest.
A brilliant team made up of brilliant individuals, playing brilliant football and all overseen by a brilliant coach.
I wasn’t able to make it to the game last night due to ill health but viewed through the prism of Sky Sports, it was, for the neutral, a footballing masterclass. But only for the neutral.
For us it was painful. Excruciating at times.
No one wants to see their own team so thoroughly outplayed and humiliated, but that was our City last night.
Yet, bizarrely and within our own limitations, we played quite well, especially in the first half when the ball was at times passed with purpose and intent. When the chance came, we played on the front foot and without fear.
In terms of performance level, it was several steps up on the Palace game and yet we were so thoroughly outplayed, outpassed and outgunned in every area and facet of the game, it was akin to watching the deliberately hapless Washington Generals suffer at the hands of the Harlem Globetrotter.
It felt uncomfortable.
It was a tough listen too as Sky’s commentator and summariser were tasked with striking that fine balance of not appearing too sympathetic while at the same time not sounding overly patronising.
In fairness, they just about managed it but to have to describe such a huge mismatch is a very different skill to that of describing a humdinger where two relatively evenly matched teams go toe-to-toe.
It’s important to say that it isn’t just our City who succumb to the might of Sheikh Mansour’s finest. In truth, there are only five or six club sides in the world who can safely go toe-to-toe with Guardiola’s men, so there was nothing to be ashamed of in being so soundly beaten last night.
But it didn’t feel right. Top-level sport is supposed to be all about competition. This wasn’t it.
The financial muscle at Man City’s disposal has skewed the playing field to such as extent, it’s become at times – for me at least – almost unwatchable.
That we somehow managed to overcome those odds two seasons ago is, I guess, why we do it, but those days appear more and more infrequent as time passes.
Perhaps the European Super League, where the footballing super powers can play each other six times a season for billion-dollar prizes at different locations across the globe, is the answer.
In terms of the game itself, for 45 minutes the Canaries did absolutely everything Dean Smith could have asked of them aside from one sliced Max Aarons clearance that fell conveniently to Raheem Sterling. But as that ball nestled inside Angus’ far post it felt like game over.
When Andre Marriner signaled that Phil Foden’s shot had crossed the line very early in the second half it was game over.
We can analyse our defensive shortcomings all day, but when under such constant and intense pressure it’s almost impossible to be foot and head perfect.
Mistakes are bound to occur and don’t even have to be obvious ones like missed tackles and mis-controls. A slightly wrong starting position can cost a goal when up against the best of the best, and Man City’s metronomic passing can mesmerize defenders into ball-watching.
It doesn’t help of course when Marinner decides to give a penalty for going shoulder to shoulder with a sky blue shirt – as if they need any more help – but we get used to being on the receiving end of those when up against the big six.
It also doesn’t help that we’re just six days away from potentially going through it all again when we go from Sheikh Mansour to Fenway Sports Group to be handed our backsides on another plate.
The name of the game has been to not suffer a humping that will halt the momentum built up over the course of January – and I’d like to think that was just about achieved last night.
Let’s hope that this time next Sunday I can still say the same.
The sooner they F off to their super league the better. I know some people think their fans deserve the success, but success built on financial doping and having to sue to be allowed to carry on is galling. Even Liverpool, with their best team in a generation can’t compete. And now we’ve got the Geordies about to attempt the same; we’ve been watching the death of football, and it stinks
First goals was another mistake by Aaron’s(time for Byram but been saying that since he was fit) even at 2 nil thought if we could have nicked one we could have got a point but we had our friend Mr Marriner he gave us nothing all evening! A master class in sucking up to the big boys. Arms round the boys in white, words in players ears when passing then that penalty!spends 90 mins looking to give them a big call delap fell over and the idiot in black pounced could wait to put his whistle in his mouth and blow. Don’t care it was 3 nil it was a unjust call hard on city for me. For all everybody banging on about how good city were 4 nil flattered them.
I said almost exactly the same to the wife when she asked how it went. “it was a total Miss-match and the sooner the big six clear off to the super-league wastelands the better” was roughly what I said!
Once they have cleared off all the league have to do is put a ceiling on the wages of players, let’s say £30k and we will have a level playing field once again.
Saying all that, me and my 2 sons are off to Liverpool for the weekend next week, 48 hours on the sauce ruined by 90 minutes in a football ground!
I’ll say that not many of us expected anything different, outclassed of cause we were/are when we have to shop in pound land and they are Harrods,it goes without much knowledge of football needed to know there is a massive difference.
What we do not need is referee’s showing favour of the top clubs but that’s an age old story of this league. A league I detest to be honest at the unevenness of just about everything to do with it. Mistakes and errors happen in all games at all levels, just that the best team in the league force teams into making them, then step in to punish. It is part of the game plan.
I am not surprised, not disappointed too much, perhaps a 2-0 would have looked at lot better, butit could have been worse. ask Leicester and Leeds, in fact Newcastle fell by the same score. So really we are not alone.
Still points to play for, get up, dust yourself down and go again with the same spirit
Agreed. A comprehensive home defeat in which no one suggested we played badly shows the EPL up for the non competition it has become. The shocking thing for me is that I am looking forward to watching us play Brentford more than I want to watch us play Liverpool or Chelsea
First half was surely best Norwich I have ever seen. Norwich actually challenged Manchester City and it was of course obvious that second half Pep will make Norwich playing impossible + your squad started to get tired. When playing against absolute top teams, you start to see who is able to play and who is not able to play with top level game. Rashica and Gilmour played their best game, Pukki played very well and basically destroyed Ake. Players which was easy to see that level was way too much were Sargent, McLean and Lees-Melou. Defence battled, Williams is all the time your best defender and only one who can play high level football. Gibson and Hanley as combination works and is important part of your relegation battle. Aarons made once again vital mistake, Manchester City targeted especially his side but you can blame him only. Sargent was absolutely awful and couldnt help him, and basically his chaos works when opponents are lower level but he looked very uncomfortable.
Portuguese commentators/sportscasters spoke a lot about Pukki during the game, I believe that reason is also that Norwich other players are very unknown outside Britain. He made theoretical question to their expert commentator, is there any Norwich player who could play in ManC? Expert answered no, commentar asked not even Pukki? He answered that Pukki is known as counter attack striker and ManC dominates and keeps ball possession but otherwise he could play in manC.
Manchester City plays on tuesday with Sporting Lissabon. Its interesting to see, I expect much tighter game. Pep has obsession to win champions league, PSG has obsession too and both of them of course can get destroyed because of too much mental pressure. Chelsea won after extra time fifa club world cup final against Palmeiras, there was incredible athmosphere. It proved also that south american top clubs are not that far from european top clubs as playing level, financial level is of course huge.
We need to remember Max A has been up against two of the best in consecutive games and in the main is trusted to by DS to handle them on his own with sporadic support from others. For me, Man C has much more success in the final quarter through our right sided channels when Max had been removed after a torrid time almost for a breather.
Not wishing to find fault with any one individual, but we look weak on the right side of defence. Sterling’s first goal was a mirror image of CP”s on Wednesday, a long cross field ball from the right to the left and a shot from the same blade of grass.
Other than that, scrappy second goal, fair third (coming from the right side again), a penalty that never was, so for all the possession and skilful highly paid players, I don’t feel that despondent this morning.
Further to the right side of defence, seem to remember the left being the problem in the past, Williams seem to have shored up that side. Said at start not finding fault with any individual and still not, Aarons works his socks off but is not the same player when operating as a defensive RB compared to an attacking wing back.
Just a thought perhaps DS should try Aarons on the right side of midfield with Byram behind him.
Had the same thought, though Sergant does give us an out ball when he gets his head on a long clearance.
Hi Gary
As I have said in other comments city like many other teams lower is this league just don’t get the 59/50calls and sadly yesterday’s game officials were very poor.
It is a physical game yet tackle one of the top 6 teams players you will get booked but they can get away with much more than any of the lesser teams.
Marrinier brushed away any questions Hanley asked about decisions yet spoke at length to any ManC players about the why or why nots.
Celebrity status or the perceived status is all wrong the officials are suppose to be neutral but as with commentators on all channels this nolonger applies and pundits refereeing games on air should stop you never heard that before the premiership if these so call pundits think that they can do a better job hang up your mike and go and do some Refereeing.
I have been a city supporter since 1959 and will continue hopefully for a long time to come whatever league they are in and for 30mins yesterday we were equal but as you say class out shone commitment
Onwards and upwards OTBC
In jan 2005 we played Liverpool at home and before the game Stevie G and other stars went up and chatted to the ref at length there were hands on shoulders, in effect it was gamesmanship of the highest order before a ball was kicked the ref was being groomed by the star power.
We are going to concede more penalties against the top teams because the ball is in our box more but what we should expect is impartiality there was no way we would have got the soft penalties that Man City and Man United were given if the boot was on the other foot.
Must’ve been a tough game to watch, boys!
I have enjoyed the way Norwich have played over the last new weeks, their ‘react-to’ brand of football has been top class, and their energy levels spot on. Great harrying against Wolves, Palace, Man City – “More, More, More”…!
It was always going to be a tough ask against Man City, it tends to be a bit of a master-class most weeks from them – just saying!
Cannot be too downcast about the result, it’s what they do to most teams they play, great goals from Sterling, Gunny was unlucky the penalty didn’t stick. That’s all the credit I can give Man City as it appears they needed the ref’s help.
We see this so often from strikers in the Premiership – go tight in the area with a defender then perform your dying swan act to get a penalty. If Rashica and Pukki only got similar protection when they were looking dangerous…
Hanley was really unlucky with his header, just a couple of inches to the left it might have bounced inwards, then it may have been a different game. Hanley was also unlucky with his attempt to clear the ball off the line, again, mere inches.
Gunny played well, his positioning and reactions were very positive – three great keepers on the books, and a couple of talented young ‘uns to come back for the future, “Reasons to be cheerful, one, two, three…” !
Maxi has had a couple of tough games but he’ll weather the storm okay, pretty sure of that.
Over the last month or so we have won grudging respect from pundits, commentators and journo’s alike – that’s what I like to see, keep hitting them with more and yet more of the same, I’m sure results will come as we ain’t so easy to play against any more!
Great team, unlucky result, keep going!
COYYs !!
“Top-level sport is supposed to be all about competition. This wasn’t it. The financial muscle at Man City’s disposal has skewed the playing field to such as extent, it’s become at times – for me at least – almost unwatchable.”
And will remain uncompetitive, unwatchable, and will eventually undermine the PL. As much as the Big 6 repulses me as an idea, after yesterday I’m beginning to wonder if it wouldn’t be better to go down that route. If I’m not mistaken, Ake as the 4th or 5th choice centre back cost 25m or nearly half of NC’s total spend last summer. It’s not even close to being competitive and it doesn’t matter how much grit, determination, and effort is put forth, it’s still a case of keeping the score down. Men vs Boys is getting old and for more than 3/4 of the teams on the PL, it’s the case, and domestic cup competitions are much the same.
Onto yesterday – I thought NC can hold their heads high. Max might need a break as he is looking a little weary over the last few matches. For the criticism of Sarge, 10 days out with illness and a full 90 mins-he looked a little off the pace but I thought did ok. Centre of the park needs to be sorted out and I can’t help but think Teemu has just about run his race -he looks a yard slow at this point (and it may be a case of too much football over the last two years with qualifying and playing in the Euros.)
Ever the optimist, but points are there to be taken after Liverpool. Brentford and Leeds are coming back to the bottom and I can still see 5-6 teams in the relegation fight at the end of the season.