It’s rare after a match such as that against West Bromwich Albion on Saturday to get so many different viewpoints from supporters floating around. My inbox was suffering from subsidence by Sunday morning and that was just from friends, let alone what was available online to be read on a less personal level.
Discounting some of the more ludicrous claims [such as “we are rubbish” and “what mountain is Webber halfway up this week”], the gelatinous nature of the wiser words boiled down to a thick stew of common sense.
I shall return to the condensed cauldron shortly but before I do that I thought I’d take a quick look at what is currently the world of Sam Byram.
Sam appears to be one who has no wish to hog the limelight but Saturday was one of those occasions where there was no escaping it, including a post-match appearance on NCFC official to offer his post-match views for the first time I can recall. A logical move from the club as he did score the point-clinching goal even if he knew very little about it at the time!
This lad has gone through the most appalling catalogue of injuries and been pressed relentlessly into service at left-back because Dimi Giannoulis, Sam McCallum, and Lungi Sorensen are all medium-term injured.
We have now gone from Dean Smith saying that Byram knows his own body and his return schedule will be guided largely by himself to him turning out for every single match since he came on as an early sub for Liam Gibbs against Sunderland on August 27.
He is one of the most right-footed players I have ever seen and therefore he can do a job at left-back but this does serve to complete a right-footed back four and destabilises the balance of the defence.
It’s hardly an ideal situation for a player returning from a succession of nasty injuries but so far he has done pretty well and must be looking forward to the international break as much as anybody.
Buried in his comments was this line, which few people seem to have picked up on but I found interesting as it could explain, at least in part, our disjointed displays against Bristol City and the Baggies.
“The Championship is a relentless schedule and there’s an illness going through the camp, which, obviously is not an excuse, but it [the break] will give players time to rest and recover and come back ready for the next game.”
That’s the first I’ve heard of an illness and probably the last I shall hear of it too, but maybe it has in part contributed to the recent picture.
Dipping into the cauldron of collective common sense, the theme of the imbalanced defence was a common one.
Our Man in the Stands, Don Harold summed it up for most of us:
“The defence looks unbalanced due to them all being right footed; I wouldn’t mind McLean replacing Byram.“
Don also added possibly the commonest theme of the lot. “We are lacking midfield presence and need someone playing the role Isaac Hayden was bought for.
“There’s a very tough October coming up. If we’re still top two by November I will start to get excited“, completes the Harold hat-trick.
The fact that West Brom are the division’s draw specialists was acknowledged by many, not as an excuse for a poor performance but more as a state of perceived fact.
McLean attracted a fair bit of criticism for his efforts and my only response to that would be that of yes, I agree, but who the bl00dy hell else have we got to play that role until Hayden or Gibbs are back, fit and raring to go?
Nobody, that’s who, I’m afraid.
The conundrum of how to get the best out of both Teemu Pukki and Josh Sargent was of course another prominent topic, with somebody saying he thought Pukki would make a natural number 10. He could well do.
As for Dara O’Shea’s free header from a John Swift free kick that gave the boys from B71 the lead, Dean Smith can claim that defensive movement was blocked all he likes, but there was no excuse for letting a seven foot something centre back getting a free run to the far post like that.
We all agreed it was dreadful defending of the first order!
As it’s Tuesday today, I don’t think it’s disrespectful to bring back some music to describe the contents of my inbox over the weekend:
Hi Martin. So glad real life can restart after the Royal lockdown…….
My take on Saturday was quite simple: WBA were better than us all over the pitch. They pressed more or less everywhere and for 90+ minutes. They were sharper to every loose ball; quicker, more skilled etc etc. I have no idea why they are so low in the embryonic table but will be surprised if that’s where they stay.
We were very lucky to get a point just as we didn’t deserve the 3 points against Brizzle City on Wednesday.
Mitigation comprises the injury list. Judgement can be made when we have had 10 games with Hayden and a proper left back in place.
Exactly what I saw from the Upper Barclay. We were ponderous in possession which encouraged them to get after us. That left side winger up against Max Aarons turned him inside out all day long. I didn’t really remember who gave away the free kick from which they had a free far post header to score, but it was in that area of the pitch. Very lucky point considering we had little sustained attacking in/around their penalty area.
Hi Roger
So you’re a fellow member of the UB clan – best perch in the ground 🙂
I don’t recall who gave away the free kick either but the lively winger is one Grady Diangana, who looks very useful. Max doesn’t often get the run-around like that!
Cheers
Hi Nick
Yes, it’s good to get back to life as we know it.
We don’t seem that quick to any loose balls at the moment but looking at the make-up of the current midfield it’s not really that surprising.
A few of us are starting to worry about Hayden at the moment and if there is a prognosis on Liam Gibbs I’ve yet to see it plus there’s at least a further six matches to play before Dimi comes back.
You can only ride your luck for so long of course and the last thing we needed was both the CBs in bother at the same time. I’m hoping it’s gamesmanship from Smith, but we won’t know for a while on that one.
Cheers
Hi Martin;
I remain totally ambivalent about the season so far.
What worries me almost as much as the left back situation is that so many people seem convinced that all our problems will be solved by the arrival into the squad of Isaac Hayden. Unless I’m totally mistaken here, he has not kicked a ball for anyone in anger for almost 12 months – and that’s a long time to be missing at any level of professional football.
As Don says; if we’re still in the top 2 come the break for the World Cup, maybe I’ll start to believe.
O T B C
Hi John
As I said to Nick [above] I think quite a few of us share your concerns about Isaac Hayden although we knew his situation when we signed him – quite typical of Webber to press ahead in hope with that one, really.
Ambivalent is a very apt word.
Cheers
That was the first Norwich game I have seen this season. To be honest, the game was not worth watching. Typical hard trying game without much sense. The Norwich goal likely was a referee mistake because of handball. It was your best attack of the game, only one which comes to my mind. Nicely done by Hernandez and a good shot by Pukki. His shot could have gone on the net so I have difficulty understanding what Byram was doing. For the referee it was difficult to see it was handball, but var would have cancelled the goal.
About Sara. Some brazilians have cheated your club, this is pure robbery. That guy didnt seem to have the ability to play at the championship level and you paid your transfer record for him? Transfer like that can be called robbery, but the more perfect word is pure stupidity.
Teemu Pukki has told to finnish media, that there were many clubs after him during the summer. Norwichs asking price just was too high and he understood reality quite early that he will not get his transfer away. He will play this season in Norwich and makes his next season decision after his contract has expired.
Hi 1×2
Byram said himself that he was trying to get out of the way of Pukki’s shot, but I’m pretty sure the keeper had it covered without the deflection.
I would need to see more of Sara to make an informed comment but if is the only time you have seen him I can undesrstand what you are thinking.
Pukki will surely leave Norwich at the end of this season, whether we are promoted or not, and he will leave with best wishes from everybody at Norwich.
Kiitos
Marty, the WBA goal was a shocking gift! No one in City’s defence seems to be marshalling our set piece defending. I would say the player in the best position to do so is Krul. The modern keeper isn’t just a shot stopper, in and around the penalty area he’s King, he commands and has the best view of what is needed and when/how. His ball distribution is also vital, but that’s another story. No one saw the obvious danger, the WBA player was unmarked and had a clear run in, he didn’t have to win the ball or outplay a defender. Without that goal we would have won, two points given away.
Hi Cutty
That didn’t say much for the new set piece coach, now did it?
Krul basically just stood there, rooted to his line, and watched. I wouldn’t mind at all if Angus was given a chance sometime soon, tbh.
Conceding that early in the game put us on the back foot straight away and we simply never really got going.
Cheers
Martin it was awful the point is the only positive must get better I hope not seen too much that is good this year but somehow we’re second.
Hi Kev
Yes, I get where you’re coming from and I think quite a few other folks feel the same way as you do.
I’m still really missing not being there though!
Cheers
In terms of balance things are perhaps not right up front with Ramsey and Sargent cutting in. Our goal resulted from Onel getting round the back. We need that as part of the attack. Onel’s Output for Birmingham last season suggests he can start games contrary to popular belief. Until Rowe returns we have little option.
Hi Richard
That’s a good point about Rowe. Whenever there’s an injury update he nearly always seems to go missing in dispatches so I’m not sure exactly what the situation is.
Smith has started Onel, but only once I think.
i wish we’d return to playing Sargent through the middle!
Cheers
Agree with you Martin that until Hayden or Gibbs are back the Mayor is our best option as holding midfield player.
Our main problem at the moment is the failure of our midfield to provide out options for the back four resulting in a great deal of panicky play around our penalty area.
Regarding Nunez and Sara I hope they are getting used to a very different style of football to what they are used to, fingers crossed.
I’d like to see Sargent brought back into the middle with Pukki playing off him as I’m sure it would pose a greater goal threat.
HI John
McLean gets a lot of stick but he’s being asked to play in a position that is not naturally his – he doesn’t have that necessary level of sheer intensity for starters. I think we have to remember sometimes that it isn’t his fault that he’s covering in a role that’s obviously a bit alien to him.
Completely with you about Sargent as I said to Richard [above].
Cheers
Hi Martin
It was a poor game and city never seem to have a plan to counter WBA.
McLean went missing and that left both our S American newbies to cope with the unknown and they looked good, it also left both Aaron and Byram without any help when overloaded and Bruce’s boys targeted Byram hoping wear him out and he did well to stay the 90mins.
Will DG be ready on the 1st Oct and can we see Hayden soon or will either Gibbs or Sorensen be back before that happens time will tell.
My query would be why hasn’t our recruitment team looked at the free agents twiddling their thumbs at home been drafted in till January, Danny Rose has gone to Turkey for 6 months he could have done a job at City.
T20 3pm today on Sky V Pakistan
Hi Alex
That’s two games in a row now that Max and Byram have been completely overloaded and it can’t be allowed to continue like that.
I don’t think there’s much chance of Dimi being fit in less than a fortnight from what I can gather – seems like a month at absolute best.
As for free agents it’s simply not something that Webber does although to be fair to him we had plenty of cover there at the start of the season.
Letting Bali Mumba out still haunts me and I hope it has the same effect on SW.
Cheers
I agree Martin, excellent summation.
The defence is too right footed, we need a left back asap. No one’s fault this one just sheer bad luck.
There is no one other than Kenny to play holding midfielder, unless Will has one from the academy to suggest. I said yesterday that Isaac Hayden on paper was a great move, but as John says above no games in 12 months 😱
Where was plan B ? Unless Liam Gibbs was a designated HM for the first team, which I doubt, then surely realizing the extent of Isaac’s problem we had to get another HM through the door, even if it was a loan.
Dean Smith cannot keep playing Josh on the right wing. He is ineffective and we have no pace there other than Max on the right who seems uncertain whether to stray too far up field.
Also for me it is coming down to a Teemu or Josh choice in a 4-2-3-1 or 4-3-3 formations, unless we play Teemu as a no 10..
We can accommodate both in a 4-4-2 or 3-5-2.
The summarization of all this is, we need Dimmi or Sam back badly, the same with the midfield Liam and Isaac will offer us real choice in there along with Kenny.
And it is time for Deano to ditch this idea that Sarge is a wide right player. He has proved he is an out and out striker, a surprise too many of us but really pleasing as he seems such a lovely lad.
Get all this sorted and we will have a much more balanced team.
Hi Tim
Yes agreed on all points and there is a LOT of sorting out to do.
I don’t think Gibbs was in the original plan either but must have forced his way in with performances in training. Any which way, we’re missing him.
Most of us agree about Sargent and some USNMT fans are aghast at one of their media people who said he sometimes plays for us as a defensive right sided midfielder!
When it comes to Hayden, maybe Webber should have learned a lesson from Mathias Normann last season.
Signing an injured player keeps the price down but is too much of a gamble for me.
Cheers
Slightly off topic, but it’s about the disconnect with the fans/supporters – you know the mugs who buy STs every year and the handful who buy a casual ticket.
I was going some tidying up at the weekend and found an Evening News dates 6th May 2019 and it was uplifting to read about our victory at Villa Park the previous day and winning me Championship title.
DF and SW were the best of mates and everyone was together – the board, the players and most of all – the fans!! 👍
I’m not convinced that we’ll ever see that togetherness again – and certainly not in the near future!! 😕 ⚽
Hi Ed
Those were halcyon days indeed – I even saw a kingfisher doing its thing on the Wensum that summer.
Try not to find any papers from the Roeder era 🙂
Cheers
I didn’t go on Saturday (Bowls club annual competitions finals, which I had to be there for, as the Competitions Secretary), so I was spared what was apparently an unpleasant experience. All I’ve seen of the game is the two goals on Sky Sports highlights. The Baggies goal I’m sure will be blamed on Kenny. Why wasn’t he pointing to the danger?
Maybe Omabamideli’s groin strain and Hanley’s shoulder injury were troubling them throughout the game, maybe they were playing with pain killing injections. At least they can rest up during the international break.
Jim, I like the Kenny comment, my kind of humour.
Unfortunately that is Cutty’s kind of humour 🙂
Hi Jim
Grant Hanley was definitely playing with injections against both Bristol and West Brom – Dean Smith said so somewhere along the line.
I’m hoping the withdrawals from the Scotland and RoI [Omobamidele] squads are either precautionary or a bit of gamesmanship from Smith – your guess is as good as mine on that one.
Cheers
Most people would say Mark Bowen was our best ever left back and he was right footed. Adam Drury was a proper left back. Smith is always making changes on the left side but he doesn’t like playing left footers there. Farke would always try to keep a winning team and you can see the sense in that.
Hi Gil
Mark Bowen is my favourite City player of all time – it’s even on my MFW biog!
The difference to me is that he could and did use his left foot and sometimes with great effect. Take away CB and there was nowhere that guy couldn’t play.
First choice LB Dimi is left footed but since his injury I can’t think of another left footer who has played on that side either so you must be right about Smith.
Cheers
Hi Mr P , sorry I.m late having to deal with my sister on her last legs I am afraid. poor old love.
Mentioning last legs they all have a left one but sadly all used to standing on. Whenever have we been able to cope with a high or slightly higher press ? I seem to remember we often struggled under Farke, often hanging on or scraping the 3 points.
Right there is an imbalance, starting to show, if we get it, sure the rest of the league do too. Hayden must be getting close, now has another two weeks to get up to speed, glad to see he is comfortable on either foot a rarity these days.
What we said in summer the need for another Centre Back was clear, now crystal clear now. As to the game, sorry fell asleep listening to the Wireless , that’s how good I found it. I always curse international breaks, but this time was quite happy to see it. Still some how we are second, with a little gap forming, we will see how we fair next month , looks a little daunting
Hi Lad
Sorry to hear about your personal circs.
We certainly don’t deal with the high press very well and other sides know that – Bristol City exploited that to the max.
Hayden will not have played a game in something like 12 months if he returns in October so I hope we’re not expecting too much from him for a while.
October looks dauntinbg indeed.
Cheers
On a slightly different tack . When was the last time any senior member of the club ( other Dean Smith ) was interviewed by external media .? Guessing it was the Webber 90% interview . When will this extended sulk end ? Sulking is contagious.
OTBC
Hi Bro Johnny
A very good question.
Zoe Ward has done her Mark Attanasio love-in bit recently which Delia & MWJ endorsed but I can’r remember anything else since Webber reacted badly to what was admittedly a very poorly written headline.
I agree with you the sulk does nobody any good but SW is clearly making a point.
The irony is that the whole slant was apparently put on the article by the EEN’s new news editor. and very much not the sports guys.
Like you I hope the stand-off can be resolved but it’s been quite a while now.
Cheers
Thanks Martin, I missed the EEN headline stuff . That helps me understand, but not fully excuse Mr Webber’s behaviour, which at present isn’t helping.
Onwards & Upwards 👍
Morning Martin. Again there’s nothing much to argue with there.
McLean is indeed the last and sole option for his current role. Its far from ideal but there are no options. It does highlight just what a fine job young Gibbs was doing before his very untimely injury. If fit, he would surely be starting on merit and in my opinion is one of the finest midfielders in the league.
If hayden cannot get fit the problem of defensive midfield should be rectified on the first day of the transfer window. It’s killing us.
As for the game itself, no further comment is necessary about the sub standard fare.
All I will add is that if you concede a comedy goal in the eighth minute to dinosaur Bruce and his cynical spoilers you create the perfect setting for what transpired.
As for our goal and its validity, I don’t give a shiny 5h1t. It was fitting that the time-wasting and grim tactics didn’t prosper and about time something went our way.
Very good final point, Chris. Not a single break went our way in the nightmare known as season 2021-22. If we get a lucky break or two in 2022-23, then bloody good job. If it pisses off Steve Bruce in the process, then we have what I believe is known as a Brucie bonus!
Hi Chris
As for your final point I’ve always said you have a way with words 🙂
Good comment.
Cheers
An interesting comment by Greg Berhalter, the US men’s manager, that JS is bigger, stronger, and faster than he was in the past. The commitment by JS and the NC trainers has paid dividends but can we just find a way to play him at the top and TP slightly behind to utilise both?