After City’s first win of the season against Huddersfield Town on Tuesday evening I am happy to reaffirm that football is indeed a funny old game.
For a considerable amount of the contest, City looked far more cohesive than of late and although it’s hard for me to pinpoint exactly why, there were certainly a few clues out there on the pitch.
It should be referenced that the selection of Danel Sinani over Milot Rashica looked a very positive move from Dean Smith and it cannot have gone unnoticed that Kieran Dowell had his best game in a yellow shirt for quite some time.
Add in the performance of young Liam Gibbs and some nice touches from everyone’s favourite Chilean, Marcelino Nunez, and possibly for the first time this season we showed some real evidence that the current crop are capable of playing together as a team.
The defence-splitting through balls were back, particularly from Sinani but, equally, we must not detract from Dowell or Todd Cantwell in this respect. Some of these precision passes were a joy to watch, as in the one from Sinani to Josh Sargent who was shoved to the ground just as he had gained control of the ball and was clean through on Lee Nicholls’ goal, culminating in a straight red for Tom Lees.
Sargent’s presence gave us an aerial outlet and he was also the focal point for a couple of decent crosses as well. He looked really happy playing through the middle as more or less an out-and-out #9, which leads me to recall Andy Head’s piece of last week in which he questioned whether Teemu Pukki was part of the problem or part of the solution.
Given that the foxy Finn is expected to be fit tomorrow evening the subsequent team selection will be very interesting indeed.
Huddersfield fans online were bemoaning that everybody knows to target their young left-back Josh Ruffels and, if so, Dean Smith bought into the idea as well – and talking of left-backs, how did the Mayor work out?
Not too badly really, but our constantly pointing Kenny McLean cannot be the answer on a regular basis and that’s for sure. A pal said after the game that a least he couldn’t keep passing backwards as there was nobody behind him!
This makes me hopeful that the loan offer we have apparently put in for Guinea-Bissau Metz defender Fali Cande is genuine. The original source doesn’t seem too reliable but our Connor is running with it too in the Pink Un so let’s hope this one works out.
Something tells me that our Onel Hernandez [as bright as always when he came on] may have faced him in the CONCACAF.
Gary made me laugh yesterday when he wrote that Grant Hanley was so twisted in and out by young Huddersfield flyer Pat Jones for what was luckily only a late consolation goal that he was last seen on the A146 late last night.
I can update that as I swear I saw him looking very disorientated on the Cromer Road at Trimingham yesterday morning.
In all seriousness though, particularly as he was facing the ball and not the last man, why on earth didn’t Hanley do a Tom Lees? It surely would have been better than letting the lad get his shot away to score.
Anyway, what’s did is did, and let’s be grateful for the three points we deserved and took us out of the relegation zone.
As for those of you who suggested our Marcelino might become a bit of a cult hero around these parts I can’t help but think you may have a point as he was pictured alone long after the final whistle parading a Yellow and Green flag near the dugouts.
We may still be in a bit of a jam, but, hopefully, Tuesday evening will provide some kind of start:
Correction Martin: Danel Sinani played that Uber through ball which led to the red card. That pass was worth the admission money on its own.
Check the highlights!
It was first time too and completely split the Huddersfield defence.
Hi Nick
Mea culpa in extremis and all that.
A quick highlight check on full screen shows you’re 100% on that one 🙂
Cheers
Should have gone to a well known high street optician/optometrist!
I only need reading glasses and the outlet you refer to tried [unsuccessfully] to bully me into getting distance ones too. Never again!
Marty, I was getting close to joining the Smudger lynch mob but I think I shall hold off awhile. He used enough options the other night which suggest to me that he wants the same squad available for Friday, so maybe Pukki will be rested again. Both Bilko and Hugill work best with cross balls, in fact the 4-3-3 suits most of the players. Anyway well done to the lads and fingers crossed they will be able to give a repeat performance against Milwall.
Bilko 😀
Very good.
One for the older generation only – no offence, Cutty 🙂
But who is Doberman???
Hi Jim
There’s a slight [wrong word, really] resemblence to Shakey I reckon.
Cheers
I’ll go with Marty’s choice of Shakie. But the best fit apart from gender is for the inept Base Commander Colonel John! But I’ll leave you to figure that one out.
Yeah and that Mrs Hall was smart enough to see through [Ernie] Bilko I sure get your point though.!
Hi Cutty
I agree with you about the 4-3-3.
The subs are a little more debatable as in *did we really need five of them* but putting it in your context it makes perfect sense of course.
As you say, let’s hope for more of the same tomorrow night.
Cheers
As your music choice says Martin; it’s a start.
Humble pie from me following Sargent’s performance….although had Lees watched his miss against Brighton from last season, surely he’d have allowed him to run on unchallenged…..
I’m a bit baffled why we took our collective feet off the gas when they were reduced to 10 – a chance to bolster the goal difference gone perhaps?
And after his less than lacklustre performances since his arrival at NR1, how telling that Sinani (and how good does he look?), started; Hernandez was first change, but Rashica didn’t arrive until rather late.
Somehow I fear that we are going to be left with an unhappy Kosovan at least until January.
O T B C
Hi John
You’re quite right about Sinani – he looked really good.
I don’t quite undesrand taking the foot off the pedal either but at this stage seeing us picking up the points is enough for me right now.
I didn’t mind Humble Pie – they did the best cover of C’Mon Everybody I’ve ever heard, for what little that’s worth!
Cheers
Great post and a cracking track to end, cheers.
Hi MP (2)
Thank you!
I loved the Jam and saw them twice, the second time when everybody knew Weller was quitting. This was Brixton Academy and they didn’t play *Start*.
Cheers
It’s good to see a side beginning to develop and that can happen by accident. Four years ago Rhodes was bought in to be the main striker, Passlack or Marshall was going to be right back,Klose and Hanley both got injured. Stieperman was left back the previous season when Vrancic was in and out of the team. Nobody would have dreamed that so many young players would establish themselves.
Sinani would never have played here under Farke and I don’t think we would have seen Hernandez again after the ice bucket incident.
Will Pukki be here next season? Promoted or not, we’ve got to think longer term, not worry about it when we get there.
Hi Gil
I’ve always been aware of what you”ve posted but probably somewhere deep in the old subconscious sector so thanks for the memory jog.
I’m pretty sure Pukki will not be here next season. although you can never be sure of course.
Thanks – good comment.
Strange to think that just over 4 games ago, we had never heard of Nunez and our hopes were pinned on an injured Brazilian
It was an enjoyable game – but Huddersfield were not really a threat for most of it. whether that is down to the fact that Norwich pinned them back or Huddersfield were just out of sorts, I do not know.
It was good to see Sargent get his chance but he and Hugill when he came on were quite often seen to be running off the last line of defence and could have been put through – but the ball was not delivered through to them to run onto but in another game, maybe this will yield a few goals.
Millwall will be a different test on Friday – we may need to be more solid in midfield than Tuesday – All of a sudden there is evidence that our attacking options have awoken but the decision may well need to be made as to whether DS continues with the team and way of playing from Tuesday or if he instructs one of those looking to attack to sit a little deeper to support Liam Gibbs and protect the middle of the park whilst we wait for Hanley to return from the A146 or Trimingham 🙂
Hi Dave
You make some interesting points there for sure.
Before the advent of Sara and Nunez our hopes were largely pinned on an injured Cockney Magpie and to a certain extent maybe they still are.
Millwall will indeed be a different challenge altogether. As our friendly Lion Nick H says in today’s preview, they’re always up for a midfield scrap!
Cheers
Sargent says his patience has finally paid off “His Patience” never mind the 12 month long patience of the long suffering supporters, I read a comment the other day of him at best being an amateur in a professional environment and I’m afraid I’ll never see him as anything else. The amateur tag for me still has to go with one D Smith and his side kick, one swallow doesn’t make a summer,( funny how a couple of goals and one win changes peoples perceptions ) they should never be in charge of any professional soccer club, maybe the likes of Dereham or lynn. Smith’s a loser doesn’t matter where he is, I made my prediction weeks ago, for what it’s worth, that the City wouldn’t make the play off’s with them at the helm, but I’d be very happy to be proved wrong, as well as see the back of Smith & his cohort.
Hi David
I think many MFW readers and writers alike are far from being convinced by Smith and Shakespeare. I know I’m not.
To be fair to Sargent he prefers the #9 role and perhaps there is a player in there after all. If nothing else he puts the effort in at least.
I hope Webber and Delia haven’t already written this season off as one of *consolidation* as the three coming down from the PL will be of awesome quality – whoever they might be.
Cheers
Hi Martin
So the club has turned down to loan moves for Aarons and DF gas been in t9uch about him for his new German club all from FLW and curtesy of the EDP/Pink-un who both announced the Metz loan which has died a news death today, but Normann move to Lecce got dumped either for a medical or the slowness of Rostov doing the paperwork and life goes on.
Is tomorrow going to be like Cardiff agame City got badly bullied or will it be worse, we know that they will keep going for the full 90mins that’s the clubs nature and Rowett never gives an inch so any lapse in concentration or endeavour could see city Canaries mauled by the East End Lions not a sight I want to imagine.
Back to 🏏 Cricket 165 all out and SA swatting our bowlers were’s the rain when you need it.
Hi Alex
Yes the lads at the back in particular do not want to swich off in this one.
To me a rumour is just that until we get the PD #No Circus.
What makes me wonder is how a freelance jouno can be regarded as a *transfer expert* but it takes all sorts I suppose.
Cheers