And so the prologue ends with 46 crucial chapters to follow. The friendlies are completed and the serious stuff begins at Cardiff City’s Millennium Stadium at 3pm precisely on Saturday.
City followed up a 2-0 defeat at Celtic Park with a completely lacklustre 1-0 reverse at Easter Road against Hibernian yesterday which saw youngsters Jonathan Rowe, Jonathan Tomkinson, Liam Gibbs, Lewis Shipley and Brad Hills included in the starting line-up.
I had to remind myself who Shipley and Hills are because although the names rang the very faintest of bells I had to check their forenames on NCFC Official. I couldn’t find either until I delved into the depths of the under-18s.
I suppose this is what happens when the Head Coach decides he wants to play SPL Champions Celtic and a decent outfit such as the Hibees on consecutive days in order to prepare his first team for a gruelling campaign. Dean Smith must see some kind of logic in this as he’s done it before during his time at Villa but yours truly remains utterly unconvinced.
Isaac Hayden and Gaby Sara [pre-ordained], Kieran Dowell, Ben Gibson, Sam Byram [unexpected “strains”] and Tony Springett [rolled ankle] all missed our mini-tour of Scotland so it must have been a case of “when push comes to shove, sling in the kids”.
I know it’s Monday morning but I’m going to proffer a sobering thought nonetheless.
Dean Smith and Craig Shakespeare have a maximum of four days at Colney to get things sorted before we face Steve Morison & Co.
I do not know what Smith and Shakey have learned from pre-season. I’ve yet to see a discernible style and cannot even say for sure if we will be setting up 4-3-3 or 4-2-3-1. It looks like Max Aarons will be staying for now as only an eejit would have sanctioned the loan of Bali Mumba to Plymouth Argyle otherwise. I hope I’m right on that score anyway.
We are told that Gaby Sara will begin training for the first time tomorrow and the chances are that Byram, Dowell and Gibson will be joining him as well.
But the problem for Deano is that he needs to hit the ground running, something which Daniel Farke failed to do during each of his three Championship seasons. And there lies the rub. At the time Farke had the love and trust from supporters that Smith is yet to acquire and I am not so sure that he will be cut the same slack if it all goes pear-shaped early on.
Stuart Webber’s stock with the supporters was high at that point whereas now he seems as popular as a wasp in your summer pint.
Throw in the signings of yet another relatively expensive two players with known injuries and any feelgood factor dissipates even further.
Let’s hope this only a temporary feeling as I’m sure all wish Isaac and Gaby the rudest of heath for the season.
As for the Hibs match itself, it’s over to MFW’s man in the stands, Don Harold:
“I left Glasgow, arrived in Edinburgh, realised I had left my ticket in Glasgow, drove back to Glasgow and arrived in the ground about two minutes after the kick-off of the Joma shirts derby.
“I was surprised at our line-up. I didn’t recognise Hills or Shipley and the same applied to Kamara and Riley.
“It’s hard to see what kind of team we’re trying to be. We didn’t play a press in either of the weekend’s games and seem slow to play out of defence. I know the tempo should improve when the competitive season starts but I do have worries.
“It was good to see the youngsters. Tomkinson and Gibbs looked comfortably good enough to be important parts of the squad. Idah looked out of touch as should be expected of someone coming back from a long lay-off. The trouble is that he often looked just as out of touch before the injury!
“I chatted to a Hibs fan on the way back to the car. We had both been to the 1973 Dryborough Cup Final [a Scottish pre-season tournament of the 70s sponsored by a company that brewed terrible beer]. The final was at Hampden in front of about 50,000 and Hibs won 2-1. He was cautiously optimistic about Hibs’ forthcoming season and the management of Little Lee Johnson. He said nice things about us, but I got the feeling he was being polite.
“I’ve had a superb weekend but my losing goalless NCFC streak continues. Perhaps I have become a Jonah!”
***
I know that if I chose anything other than this to end with Gary would be having stern words with me (correct – Ed} and quite justifiably so.
It follows the Hibees 2016 Scottish Cup win over, erm, Kenny McLean’s lot. And Billy Gilmour’s club of choice too. You might just pick up on the sheer emotional power of this one:
Here we go again Moan-tin Penney at his best!!! Pre-season means nothing old bean!
Hi Jinxy
While I agree with you that pre-season RESULTS mean nothing I do think the process itself means quite a bit tbh and the injuries have not helped this time around any more than they have in the recent past.
It’s Moanin’ Martin, btw 🙂
The only reason we keep going to football, The joy in that crowd. Think Wembley against Middlesbrough. Wembley against Sunderland, I sobbed like a child that day.Norwich v Man City what a game. Now we feel a bit low about our club but it’s all cyclical. As supporters let’s get behind the team, all the negative diatribes on social media don’t matter they don’t solve anything.
I for one cannot wait to walk back into Carrow road and belt out OTBC
Hi Andy
Nail on head there mate.
There’s always something special about the first game of the season, especially seeing your matchday mates again after a few months.
Funny how none of us struggle to remember the words to OTBC 🙂
Well said.
Marty, I suppose in a perfect world we would have seen a definite tactical style and the probable starting eleven for the coming season. But it looks like a work in progress, injuries, fitness and what ever, but no goals scored in either game is less than encouraging. Like you I’m a tad apprehensive, I’m not going to start criticising Smith, I wish him well, and a draw in Wales will be as much as I expect. A new era is about to begin and I doubt we’ll see a brass band and fireworks start or a crash and burn disaster.
Hi Cutty
The lack of apparent tactical style concers me the most tbh.
I wish Smith well too of course, but there’s a definite charisma gap there between him and Daniel Farke.
There would be nothing wrong with a draw in Cardiff, nothing at all.
Cheers
“But the problem for Deano is that he needs to hit the ground running, something which Daniel Farke failed to do during each of his three Championship seasons. And there lies the rub. At the time Farke had the love and trust from supporters that Smith is yet to acquire.”
Two years ago City won one of their first four games, then although they recorded three successive victories, two were against soon-to-be-relegated sides with goals after 95 and 91 minutes. There is no way Daniel Farke would have survived such a spluttering start had fans been in grounds. And this is the big difference now: if we struggle with a relatively kind early fixture list we all know how things are going to pan out. The muted response to being taken apart by Tottenham will not be repeated if Huddersfield come here in three weeks’ time and get something 14 months after being humiliated 7-0. (Albeit with a different line-up and manager.)
I think Smith and Shakespeare have got until the international break begins after September 17 to show there’s some sort of game plan in place. By then we’ll have played 11 games, including two against newly-promoted teams, the transfer deadline will have passed and – you’d hope – summer signings might be rather closer to full fitness.
Have to admit I am not optimistic for the season ahead, especially with the memories of how quickly things unravelled in 2005-6 and 2016-7.
Hi O-t a s-t h
Yes I concur with all of that and suspect many others will too.
Your last sentence is a bit of a chiller – I hadn’t actually thought about that aspect of it until I read your comment.
I’m not sure being bookies’ favourites does us any favours either.
Cheers
I played Sunshine on Leith before the game. Probably the high spot haha. Chin up. We played a lot better at Celtic with our current first team.
Hi Robin
I’m no fan of the Proclaimers but there’s just something about that video clip that makes your spine tingle 🙂
Cheers
I haven’t seen anything of the Celtic game – hard to judge how good they (Celtic) are. I suspect with their present squad and resources somewhere in the lower half of the PL. As for yesterday a useful exercise in seeing how developing players can cope when asked to step up a level. Not much of an indication for Saturday.
I thought Shipley looked promising, read the game well, and a leftie which is always useful. The big questions for me are whether Gibbs and Rowe can actually create anything? The former is good at picking the ball deep and moving it around sideways, and the latter has the energy of an angry wasp. Well in this house angry wasps rarely get very far (he says, tempting fate…) and I suspect that may be the same in the Championship.
One point from pre-season as a whole. We have had a number of young keepers on our books recently – Barden, McCracken, Mair for instance. Not one of them has become obvious “top dog” at development level, let alone put themselves in the position to challenge McGovern for the privilege of backing up Krul and Gunn. Credit to the veteran Irishman – he clearly trains hard, keeps himself in shape, looked very sharp against Cambridge, despite knowing he won’t play many games. In fact I wonder how many other clubs have a longest-serving player who barely averages 5 games per season?
Hi Keith
What a great point about the oft-neglected Michael McGovern.
I believe he has started his coaching coarses while with us and he seems like a very relaxed and contented individual.
And as you say, he wouldn’t let us down even in his dotage!
Cheers
MM on preseason form would be a shoo-in for Cardiff, but of course he won’t be. DS let the cat out of the bag in answering Paddy Davitt (?) after the Hibs game: he knew his Cardiff 11 before the Scotia trip!
Reckon it will be : Krul; Aarons Omobamidele Hanley Giannoullis or McCallum; Lungi McLean; Sinani TC Rashica; TP. Later Hayden to replace Lungi and Sara to replace either Sinani or Rashica.
Hi Nick
I was pretty tempted to make public my prediction for the Cardiff XI as well, but I thought better of it and bottled out.
The only difference we have is that I would put Dimi in as deffo.
It still leaves us with a pretty decent bench and with five subs this season that might well prove crucial.
Cheers
Hi Keith
Barden is still in the later stages of his recovery program from the big C but being kept involved with both club and country training hopefully he will soon be back fighting for a place in the squad.
As for the others I am surprised that at least one hasn’t taken the bull by the horns and made a greater push for third spot
Yes, Barden was obviously ahead of the pack a while back. I had the same big C as him about 30 years ago but luckily after the op only needed radiotherapy rather than chemo. Had he been as lucky he’d probably have been back much sooner.
Being a keeper though at least means even at 21 time is still very much on his side.
Alex & Keith
I think that since the arrival of Angus they are happy with Michael McGovern as #3 which kind of blocks off the youngsters.
Dan Barden still has a future here though as MM cannot go on forever, although he looked pretty good against Cambridge!
Watched most of the celtic game and second half yesterday.Not good viewing but the happy clappers will state ‘they’re only friendlies’.Why cant we tackle hard?Why cant we get the ball upfield quicker?Just hope come saturday those 2 questions are answered and hope our 2 new signings can keep relatively injury free,because we’re going to need them badly!
Hi Tony
Yes indeed, Sara and Hayden’s fitness will be vital and it is a pity neither has been part of pre-season, and Webber must have known this when he bought them.
The fact remains that we will begin the season without them.
Cheers
I think your last point is key – I don’t think we will see a Dean Smith game plan develop properly until the 2 new signings are fit and integrated into the side – then we will know whether we can expect a high league finish or not … but having a game plan will also rely on these two being fit and relatively in form for the majority of matches or having a suitable understudy who can learn from them and pick up the mantle if they are sidelined for a game or two
Hi Dave
Smith’s problem here is that if he bases everything around the input of two players who have yet to even train this one could be a slow burner.
It’s a wretched situation for a manager and that’s for sure.
Cheers
Hi Martin
Having watched most of the Celtic game I thought City coped well and gave as good as they got in most areas, their Ex England keeper made more good saves than either Gunn or Krul had to do in the game, poor decision making by the forwards.
Cantwell tired but showboated at times trying to impress against a well drilled SPL Champions team last season who never shirked a tackle or workload so men V boys.
Hibs was possible a game to many in the space of time and really to many players that will not take part next weekend and Smith said getting them fit but really the ones needing that weren’t playing so it was more an exercise to see what or who he might utilise from U18/23 I think.
Placheta scores for Birmingham a good start to his loan long may it continue.
Mumba Redcarded for Plymouth not a good start maybe targeted as he is ex-premiership needs to learn fast.
Maybe both could have helped city out in the last 2 games for numbers.
We have now been informed that our American Cousin’s are still in talks to invest but is it investing when Michael Foulger is selling his stake as unless CHICKEN’s can lay a golden egg then those funds will be in his pocket not cities.
Maybe it’s as suggested a foot in the door to see how things work before getting a larger stake but I would ask two Questions
1 Will our present Majority owners allow outsiders to take a stake that will threaten their hold on the club.
2 Would you trust investing your money to our present set up
OTBC and Stay Safe
With the number of subs we can have on the bench – I think the development of some of the younger players will be to fill a few of these slots and yesterdays game would have helped game time fitness for a few of them … pointless putting them on the bench and then having to rely on them early in a League game due to an injury and then find they run out of gas after 30 mins 🙂
Hi Dave
I take your point but Byram, Gibson contact injuries in training so not fit to travel at this stage of the pre-season I thought it was fitness and ball control much less contact to avoid this sort of injuries.
I remember Ron Saunders leading the team over Hemsby Sand Dunes to get miles and strength in the legs friendlies were local games.
Do’t forget Mousehold AlexB, I sat and watched them come up the sandy hill St James I think, Cross went into a Bush and threw up, he came out and carried on. Saunders invited me to join them. I declined and said I’ll pay at the turnstile and watch thanks. he muttered something with a grin and ran on. still will never know what he said. Never saw him not do anything he asked his players to do
He was an ex Guardsman PTI prior to getting into football similar to Bill Nicholson at Spurs did his war as a PTI instructor for the Yorkshire Reg both good man manager
Hi Alex
If you deliberately want to take a look at half a dozen youngsters surely you don’t pitch them all in together for the last friendly of the season.
Probably the best news is that we came out of it all with only a minor knock to Grant Hanley, who looks increasingly key for us this season.
As for your questions, #1 – No and #2 No No No.
Cheers
Most of what’s been said points to why I don,t bother too much with friendlies, living in Dereham I had to go this year more for looking at new shirts, plus helping Dereham with much need money After being shat on on by football bodies, forcing them into another league.
Other seasons when there is a home friendly against top foreign side, which I stand a lot less likely to see again. Other than that, it is a not bothered.
They are more important to get minutes into legs, and work on shape and tactics, which after seeing some of the Celtic game, was difficult to pick out. I only gleaned the two ways. I’ll call them. The Pukki Way & The Hugill Way. Through the lines or crosses into the box. Either way it will not take 5 minutes to counteract. Other than that basic view, I am struggling.
We seem to be pinning a lot of hope on our Brazilian (player) perhaps overlooking, he is still some way away from being fit, ( that’s 2 this season) He has little idea what about championship football, will take weeks to get use to after what some have called a stroll, in football in Brazil, when compared to more physical aspect of the Championship. Clearly he will be a target of the less than legal challenges.
I was surprised at the lack of speed in acquiring new signings , given Webber has implied he liked to act early, which was the way in most cases over his seasons here.
I really don,t expect us to be hitting the ground running, we will be a scalp that will want to be taken and displayed by opposition , perhaps little more than most by Morrison this Saturday.
I maybe wrong here but still going to say it, I am unsure if Smith & Sharkey are that into City, I sense a lightheartedness to them, I spoke with Sharkey on way into a U23 game, nothing struck me at all. I spoke with Farke a different game all together I sensed he would have talked about City and football all day long. Clearly different people, different cultures, but the feeling I get is if they get fired they won,t be too bothered, being sacked at his boyhood club, didn,t seem to show. Perhaps that is the nature of the beast of football. Sure I am wrong . Smith is no Farke when it comes to standing in front of a camera, is he lolol.
That enough of this and onto the real bread and butter of staying in the championship first, as I think he will need this season to lay his groundwork for an assault next.
I heard that Smith has rented a property in or near Wroxham on a short term renewable lease and Shakespeare not to far away on a similar deal but thats par for the coarse these days.
Just like getting the sack most managers and his team want to win at what ever club they are at but don’t get emotionally attached to any even their boyhood clubs, sadly they are subcontractors always looking for the next big payday and Webber is the same.
Hi Lad
I used to enjoy the final home friendly in those days, my favourite being real Mallorca as I lived on the island on and off for quite a while and saw RCD many times. There’s a club with a seriously questionable business method 🙂
Their coach got caught in traffic and the kick off was put back but they still managed to beat us 1-0!
As for Smith’s motivation, I don’t feel it either. It’s only my perception, but instinct leads me to agree with you here. And his record isn’t that good at all if you give it some scrutiny.
This smacks of a Hughton style appointment to me but I would be so very, very happy to be proved wrong.
Cheers
Afternoon Martin.
I’m with you as I approach the season in more hope than confidence.
But I don’t think Dean Smith is Chris Hughton mark two.
Can you imagine Chris playing at Celtic, even in a friendly, with NO recognised holding midfielder ? me either😂 I think and again hope ( I am using that word a lot today ) that a proper Smith team will be on the offensive far more than a Hughton team.
On Michael Mcgovern, I think he has been in great form in the friendlies and it reminded me of his brilliant displays when called upon in our last Championship win.
It really is an unknown situation we are heading into on Saturday, one in which I would have been a lot more confident if our two new recruits were fit and ready to play.
I suppose that leaves me with… hope.
Evening Tim
Hopefully the only thing Chris Hughton and Dean Smith have in common is that they were both seen as *safe appointments*.
Smith is nowhere near as negative as Hughton but it will take me at least 10 games to make any kind of prediction as to how the season might pan out.
Yes it is a bit *into the unknown* isn’t it?
I suppose that’s part of what makes football so fascinating.
Cheers
I’m afraid I’m with the majority and having little optimism for the coming season, with DS not seeming to have a preferred formation and some players struggling to make much of an impact.
One of my mates who watches a lot of football thought that Celtic would be capable of being in the too half of the PL, so a good test. My main concern is that we are STILL giving away sloppy goals – we really must make every effort to stop them.
Highlights from the game V Celtic was the form of TC, Omobamidele and Sorensen, the worrying thing is how poor McLean, Rashica and Sargent were. 😕
So, it’s off to Wales for Saturday’s kick off and then to CR the following week. Let’s hope we get several (one would be a start) to cheer. Like others, I’m looking forward to seeing the usual crowd around where I sit and I’m sure that most renewed their Season Tickets.
Yes, the fans will be quick to voice their displeasure unless we start winning games and we are all concerned that our only signing so far is Sara and the injured Hayden. SW has negative credit after last season’s multiple signings and none were close to the standard required in the PL!!
Hi Ed
I follow Celtic and they are indeed a good side who I watch whenever I can – although as soon as it gets to Champions League group stages they really seem to struggle.
It will be interesting for both of us to see if anyone around us has quit but we’ll only find that out when we turn up for Wigan I suppose.
Tbh I too doubt many will have failed to renew but I’m maliciously hoping that one particular gent who sits near me has bitten the bullet and I know I’m not alone in that respect 🙂
Cheers
Radish was ok McClean dire , Sargent not much better.