For 15 minutes it was pretty good.
In that respect, it felt like we’d been transported back to the heady days of the nine-game unbeaten run. A win but an underwhelming win. The type to which we’ve become accustomed.
But so poor has been the run we’ve been on, it was just a relief to get three points on the board. For all the turmoil around the future of the head coach and the idiotic comments of a loose-tongued finance manager, the one thing that can’t happen is we allow clear water between us and the top six.
If nothing else, yesterday’s win arrested (for now) that particular slide.
As much as I despair at the thought of having to endure another minute, let alone another season, in the Premier League, the recent release of the audited accounts makes abundantly clear the consequences of us not bouncing back to that horrible place.
Loans worth £66 million have been leveraged again future parachute payments and transfer income, rendering those sums, when finally received, unusable as we’re already benefiting from them.
And then there are of course the obligatory player sales needed to balance the books in our curiously titled self-funding model – a prospect made doubly uncomfortable when you look around the squad and ask yourself, who in there is worth a sum big enough to fill a financial black hole?
So, please forgive me for not hopping aboard the ‘defeat is a price worth paying if it means the end of Dean Smith’ train because for the reasons above we just cannot afford to lose too many more games of football this season.
Some of those bigger-pictures fears may of course be allayed if the financial influence of Team Attanasio grows over the next nine months but while the club remains in the hands of Delia and Michael then, to use a technical term, we could be really stuffed.
But, returning to football, in terms of artistic impression, yesterday’s first half barely registered.
Rather than bursting out of the blocks and making the flying, high-tempo start I would have expected the head coach to demand, it was lethargic and disjointed – the usual.
As if weighed down by expectation and paralysed by the fear of making a mistake, it was staid yet still error-ridden. And lacking in spark and vigour.
There were one of two moments of quality – there always will be in a squad that is not without it – but when you can clearly recall those few moments, then you know it’s been a tough watch.
For the record, into that category fell a lovely, slaloming run from Sam McCallum (which was finished off with a slightly over-hit pass) – a sign of potentially good things to come from someone who shows promise while clearly not yet match fit.
The other moment of quality was of course the goal – the rarity of a nicely-weighted through-ball to Teemu Pukki from Liam Gibbs, after some good work to initially win possession, and then some nifty Pukki footwork before rifling a shot that Josef Bursik could only parry.
Aaron Ramsey did the rest. Relief … temporarily.
Unfortunately, the goal did little to reinvigorate City and made no discernable difference to the mood inside Carrow Road. Stoke continued to be the better side, albeit were badly hindered by a lack of quality in the final third.
For the opening 20 minutes of the second half it was more of the same. Carrow Road groaned, fidgeted, and sighed but while there was a lead, the uneasy peace held.
Stoke continued to toil without end product; Angus stood firm, and then Marcelino Núñez and Todd Cantwell entered the fray, joining Gabriel Sara who had been brought on to replace a very out-of-sorts Kieran Dowell.
And for those 15 minutes, the shackles were removed. Free of too many defensive responsibilities, Núñez looked happier and more dangerous, and Todd chased and harried and put in the hard yards.
The bare minimum you should expect of your players is effort and desire unconfined but that Cantwell, in simply offering both of those things, stood out like a sore thumb was a sorry indictment of all that had gone before.
Todd can – as we know – also pick a pass, as demonstrated perfectly late on with a lovely pass to Jordan Hugill that ended with Bursik making a good save. We badly need this version of Todd, week in, week out.
But before then the game had been wrapped up with goals two and three – number two a flowing team move reminiscent of 2020-21, and three another nice move that ended with a Gabriel Sara tapping in from Gabriel Sara range.
For 15 minutes it was fun. Conclusive proof that the type of football that Dean Smith purports to want from his team can be exciting to watch.
But let’s not pretend everything is suddenly rosy, and as if to remind us, Stoke’s goal was the sloppiest of the sloppy and followed not long after Angus had made a fine double save.
Every win is to be enjoyed – they’re hard-earned in the Championship – but that 75 minutes of the 90 were stodginess personified should not be glossed over.
Only if we can follow this up with another win and produce, dare to dream, a good performance against QPR can we conclude that Dean Smith’s tenure will continue beyond the World Cup break.
Yesterday at least confirmed to us all that we do still have some attacking quality in this group, but there was little to suggest this management team has finally stumbled upon the elusive formula.
But it was a win, and we’ve not had many of those lately, so I’ll shush for now.
Its strange to say that a 3-1 victory emphasises the need to change a coach but yesterday it happened at Carrow Road.
Firstly the team selection involved replacing two of our better players from the Burnley disaster, Tompkinson and Cantwell, with the woeful Dowell and Gibson.
This resulted in a shambles of a first half which demonstrated there was no plan or method and it appeared that the team were just sent out to play it by ear.
Stoke must have wondered how they managed to be a goal down at half time.
The second half started as the first ended until Cantwell and Nunez followed by Sara were introduced. For twenty minutes we were treated to the exuberance of youth who seemed to come up with their own plan and run riot for a 3-0 lead before Gibson failed to untangle his feet and cut out a cross for the consolation Stoke goal.
We have some very good young players and one can only wonder what Kompany would have produced! Certainly a deal more than the first sixty minutes we witnessed yesterday.
Well summed up James if we played most games like we did the last 20 mins ds would be a hero unlike the first 70 that was dire no idea football and Stoke had several chances . Tommikison was hard done by after Burnley performance don’t understand that one the 3 subs turned the game I wish those 3 would play like that from the start and we would be in a better place .
Stuart Webber is to blame for the financial black hole with his horrendous recruitment since Keiran Scott the man who found Teemu Pukki and Emi Buendia left . I have been saying this for two seasons now but have refrained as of late because no one listens . This is the man who quite clearly would of left for Chelsea had they seen anything in him , yes he’s undoubtedly helped us with our infrastructure but his recruitment has been diabolical since Kieran left and boy is it gonna cost us now !
Whoever you recruit has to be paid. Wages are the reason for the loans – nothing else. We are paying too much to too many. Could it be that we are doing that because of potential underwriting by the man from Milwaukee rather than a plan to sell players? Otherwise, why is he involved?
Paying higher wages virtually guarantees that you get higher quality players. There are many, many studies which have proven that beyond doubt. Unfortunately, you can’t guarantee that whatever coach you employ can get them to play well together.
We must get promoted this year or next. If we don’t then Mr Attanasio has to dip in his pocket just for the club to survive. If we are not top 6 Dean Smith and Stuart Webber will be history because that’s the treadmill we are now on.
But everyone is on the same treadmill, trying to get the right coaches, players, sporting directors etc from the merry go round; and everything in football is temporary, after all, we all start again every August.
Hi Gary
A good summing up of yesterday’s game.
What every League we are in next season there will have to be a major rebuild or a lot of talking 7 players out of contract and nothing filtering out that talks to extend any of them being underway.
Does Sinani, Cantwell to of the younger end have a future or do they want one at city, Krul, Hanley might look for one last big pay day, Pukki will be off to pastures new even if we go up.
We do have Placheta, Mumba, Tzolis, Rashica and Early all coming back from loans but how many are loans to buy plus there are a few others out in the lower leagues not getting much game time.
Many of those if sold we will find it hard to break even on.
Placheta is injured but was playing as a wing back at Birmingham and Eastoe was pleased how he was how come a rookie manager sees that yet Smith couldn’t.
Tzolis another out injured was playing well given a run of games yet Smith says he was weighted down by a transfer fee not given game time to show what he could do.
Rashica never settled not sure he ever will maybe the English game is to physical for him or he just wants out.
Since day one I was unsure of Smith but will give anyone in the seat the benefit of doubt to prove me wrong I was the same with Farke as an unknown but he proved us all wrong and good football along the way.
Deputy Dogg with his hungdown expression gives me no confidence in how the team plays or results it more by way of luck the results he’s getting so it seems.
Yesterday result covered up a multitude of errors from both sides and we hot the breaks I will hope that it continues till the WC break then see what the clubs stance is.
Another let off for Smith, God knows what motivated him to leave out his most skilful players and pick such a weak side. I thought perhaps he knew he leaving and it was his way of saying goodbye. He gave the impression that Sargent was more interested in being fit for the World Cup. The equaliser was on it’s way until a self motivated Cantwell came on and managed to get the crowd behind the team.Todd hasn’t had a bad game this season despite the fact that Smith keeps dropping him and when he does play, like Sargent, plays him out of position. 4-3-3 has never worked for us. It doesn’t make sense to me to have talented players in wide positions and having to help out defenders, meanwhile a supposedly deeper player (Ramsey) is playing more of a No.10. Credit to Ramsey though,but good play produces chances and he was there to make the most of it – just like Josh Martin was for Barnsley. We are not like Villa and we can’t afford talented and expensive players to be written off and cast aside.
Another weird one Gary. Thompson could be well miffed and whilst as you say a win is a win I didn’t see a wonderful Gibson performance and can’t put it down to him, he hasn’t been top drawer for quite some time now. Also, interesting that whilst Ramsey got a brace, for me he didn’t do much else, maybe that’s harsh on him as right time right place etc. Byram overlapping? Sam Mc quite impressive, real shame Tomkinson wasn’t trusted again.
The four biggest fibs told by a portion of our fans have been
1) we are self funded and have balanced the books
2) there are no billionaire investors interested in Norwich City
3) Delia and Micheal have them fan’s interests at heart
4) life is better in The Championship
It is clear (and always has been) none of these are the case.
Still, glad to have a win yesterday and hopefully regain some momentum.
The happy clappers handbook.
That must have even Delia’s first attempt at Psychology book 🤣🤣
Any evidence for your claim that number 2 is a fib, Dave? The people I know who are close to the Club say it’s true.
I’m sure you must have specific examples for your claim.
Thanks
Well a wins a win . But on another day Stoke could have had at least 4.. Lets hope this helps the confidence, and we defend a bit better on wednesday.
A fair and accurate summing up of the game and the overall situation, Gary.
The contempt that those in power at the club hold the fans has been laid bare in the last few weeks, culminating in the bizarre anti-fan rant by some faceless bean counter in the club’s employ. Doubtless with the full support and agreement of auntie and uncle and the Webber/Ward combo.
The 66 million pound calamity staring the club in the face and the dreadful run of results and performances combined to create an atmosphere of dejection around the club and the city.
The flat performance hardly mirrored that expected of a side fighting to save its manager’s job. As often happened during the run of victories, a brief moment of quality opened up the opposition and we took the lead. Surprisingly but most welcome anyway.
For much of the remainder of the contest we jiffled uneasily on our seats waiting for Stoke to score a seemingly inevitable equaliser. Mercifully it never came and undoubtedly the introduction of Cantwell, Sara and Nunez turned the game in our favour. Suddenly shots rained in on Bursik’s goal as the passing and movement improved 💯.
Cantwell rolled back the years and looked a quality player, Nunez revelled in a forward berth and Sara looked like a Brazilian footballer, arriving in the 6-yard box in the nick of time to score what hopefully will become a trademark goal. Tap in it may have been but the unmarked runs, timed to perfection are a sign of a good player.
The impending financial Armageddon courtesy of the Smiths and the Webbers is still on the horizon and Dean Smith proffers more questions than answers. However I say sod it, we won and that hasn’t happened for a while now.
Good comments, Chris. As you’ll probably guess, I concur with almost all of that. The financial Armageddon, as you describe it, worries me greatly. If we fail to get promoted, as seems likely, then are we as a club, from a footballing and financial perspective, going to be any better off than we were the day Stuart Webber arrived? I fear his legacy (which is an achievement in itself to be fair) will be confined to a world-class training facility.
I see yesterday differently, in that Smith was forced to bring in Dowell for Sargent by the calf injury. To compensate for that he shifted from a 4-3-3 to a 4-2-3-1 with Hayden and Gibbs as a double pivot in midfield. It took time for that to begin to work but it did enable Ramsay to come in behind Pukki and score two goals.
My guess is that Cantwell, Núñez and Sara were rested after 5 games in two weeks with QPR coming up so they could come on as impact subs in the second half, as they did. I’m not sure about Smith, but his plan did work this time and he certainly uses subs better than Farke did. Creating 16 chances and 9 shots on target was a big improvement. QPR will now provide the next test.
Fair comment, Rick.
Teemus back heel pass to the second goal was absolutely sick stuff. He had to change the direction of the ball and slow it to about 1 meter pass. He used the right side of his back heel to make it possible. It was 100% perfect. Norwichs first goal happened very much thanks to his individual win against Stoke defender. By the was that goal dont remember anymore against which team it was, where he pressed goalkeeper and goalkeepers shot bounced to Teemus leg and went in. How he accelerates his speed when he sees opportunity coming is incredible. Its in city view video and when you lower video speed to 0,25 you see the reason for that goal. Goalkeepers time becomes very limited and he gets surprised because of Teemus speed. Norwich playing is not pleasing to watch but stuff that Teemu does now is fantastic to watch for any football fan.
We know we’re very lucky to have him, 1×2.
Good sum up, listening in my workshop, I still kept hearing the same from Adrian Coote, he almost mirrored what Mark Rivers said about the two games previously, Disjointed, lacking ideas and schoolboy mistakes. Perhaps if I was a reporter I would stay at home, change a few words from the last game’s report and submit . Bet you nobody would know, that is how bad it has got.
I can say I never want my team to lose, but just sometimes it would not go a miss in this situation, as it may kick some life into the powers that be. A win like that when we were second best, only serves to wallpaper over the cracks. Those who can see no further than the next glass of cooking sherry, will be satisfied with the cosmetic cover up. Being a decorator I know bad prep leads to bad finish.
With rumour hitting the news feeds today that Nunez is being targeted by Sevilla, hardly been here a couple of months what is the betting he will be sold ? With the others needed to be off loaded , we will be watching a team of Academy lads. Some of those lads will put on a better show.
Has anyone thought we cannot afford to give Smith & his team their P45’s , same problem headhunting a coach from another club, why Cooper at Forest wasn’t continued, Smith came on a free. None more so has the old saying ring true, “you get what you pay for”
I still believe the lot running my club, could not organise a good p1zz up in a brewry
I am surprised the Finance Director made a video with loads of gobbledygook and also a dig at the local media. However it does look like they did spend a lot to try to stay in the Premier League. However, they did not spend it wisely but I think they are handicapped because Norwich is not an attractive club for established Premier League players.
The finance director is as much as a PR disaster as Webber, all signed off by Smith & Jones.
I wish Archant, Local BBC/ITV, Michael Bailey et all would stop reporting on the club; no shows, no turning up to press conferences, no nothing other than stating a result. Webber’s petulance works both ways, so why should everyone else make an effort for what is a hostile club?
Norwich City would be an attractive proposition if:
1. The club had honest ambition to stay in the EPL if promoted – it hasn’t.
2. Paid good wages. It won’t because we have we have owners that should not be near anywhere near a top two division club, yet some fans love their obtuse behaviour towards football.
I’m pleased they won yesterday and I still think they can be around the play offs despite Smith, not because of him. However, we are far from good and that needs to change, but so does much more higher up than the manager or players.
Not an attractive place for established prem players? Have you been to Wolverhampton? Leeds? Leicester? Burnley (until recently)? Players move where the money is
Aptly summed up Gary. Something I’ve wondered about for some time is about Pukki, I consider him more of a goal poacher and opportunist than a traditional striker and one of the best in the business when he has quality supply ie the sort provided by the likes of Buendia, sadly we don’t have that quality anymore so I see that maybe pukki’s role be reversed and he play’s the role of Buendia, Pukki is, in my opinion, one of Norwich’s most skillful of players, he is fleet of foot, has a quick footballers brain protects the ball well and no one knows better than him where a striker likes the ball delivered. Of course he who loves scoring goals might not agree but he is around 33 Years, I believe, and this could prolong his career and be an asset for Norwich, that’s assuming he’s still here beyond the next transfer window.
Am I the only one wondering what Mark Attanasio is thinking about all this? Clearly Webber can do no wrong in D&M’s eyes, hence his child-like petulance toward local media and fans but his behaviour and the incredibly stupid comments about the fans from the FD are not MA’s style. The defeaning silence from the majority shareholders and Webber tells us all we need to know. The club is in a mess and unless we make serious changes to the club’s hierarchy and indeed manager this could get very messy.