I blame my dad.
Sorry mate, but you have to take responsibility for this one.
He and I met for breakfast on Friday during which he confessed to having a “bad feeling” about City’s trip to Rotherham. At 88 years old, he’s seen this film plenty of times – the one where the scene is set so perfectly for a comfortable win it seems almost too good to be true.
Well, it was… and it was.
With the cards seemingly stacked so heavily in City’s favour, perhaps those same thoughts had subconsciously permeated the minds of the players. There certainly didn’t appear to be the same level of intensity to which we have been accustomed – at least not until they were 2-0 down.
But we all know, or at least should know, there are no certainties in the Championship, and anyone who’s ever been to Millmoor or the New York Stadium will know just how feisty and passionate the good folk of Rotherham can be if they are given something to throw their weight behind.
It was never destined to be the stroll some were forecasting, and certainly not when so many of your players are having one – and by one I mean a bit of a nightmare.
I’m guessing those who are not departing for international duty will be subject to the usual post-match debrief, including either going through video clips of what went right and what went wrong, which will hopefully be preceded by a ‘some scenes you may find distressing‘ warning.
In the 1980s it would have been called a video nasty.
I’d imagine the players will be unable to explain how and why yesterday’s first half was quite so diabolical. In a season-opening notable for its excellence, rhythm, and tenacity, all of the mis-hit passes, poor first touches, mis-controls, overruns, and Washington General moments were concertinaed into just 50 minutes.
At least that’s how it felt.
But those who have played the game will understand how lethargy and sloppiness can, for reasons unknown, be infectious. And a slow, mistake-ridden start to a game can often be a difficult place from which to lift yourself.
All of the above conspired to make it a horror show which, combined with a fiery, high-tempo start from the Millers, led to a 2-0 deficit from which City never recovered.
It’s also important to say that Rotherham were very good. The well-executed press by Matt Taylor’s men was suffocating and allowed City not even a hint of an easy route out, and was the platform for a model lesson in how to respond to a midweek 6-1 mauling. And fair play to them.
Narrow 2-1 defeats by Sunderland and Leicester prior to the Carabao Cup defeat were clues as to what this Millers’ team is capable of. We just happened to be the ones to take the hit. And in the Championship, you get nothing by playing at 95 percent and/or if a tiny bit of complacency has crept in.
City were guilty of being both.
Too many shades of 2022-23 were present throughout yesterday’s first half. Even the new players jumped aboard.
Nothing worked. Nothing came off.
That the second half was better was a source of comfort but the cutting edge in front of goal so prevalent throughout August was missing. Even the fillip of a goal back just five minutes into the second half wasn’t sufficient to kick-start the Alamo.
Instead – hopefully for one day only – we huffed and puffed without joy.
It wasn’t good enough and the players will certainly know that. Even if they didn’t, the post-match thoughts of David Wagner and his coaches will have made it unequivocally clear.
But this is football. Bad days happen, especially when confronted with an opponent that is hurting. And the ‘but it was only Rotherham’ argument holds no water at all. They are clearly a decent side that will take plenty of points off the promotion contenders this season.
Yesterday they won the game because they were better than us.
The key, of course, is for it to be a one-off and not a sign of things to come. We didn’t start the season with such a bang for no reason and there is clearly a little something about this re-formed group.
It just wasn’t evident in the New York Stadium.
We would have all taken five wins, a draw, and a defeat from our opening seven games before a ball was kicked, so let’s not assume this is the start of a slide back into the depths of 2022-23.
The final day of the transfer window may have been ultra-modest in terms of financial outlay, but it did result in the arrival of a Josh Sargent replacement who offers an intriguing element of the unknown, and in Danny Batth it delivered us another Championship centre-back laden with experience.
Overall, it’s been a good August and we have some new faces to welcome, including the as-yet-unseen Borja Sainz, so those forecasting the beginning of the end may be a tad premature.
Yesterday shouldn’t cloud the fact we’re in an infinitely better place than we expected to be as we head into the first international break.
For the record… Dad reckons we’ll bounce back against Stoke with a win. And even I’m not daft enough to argue. 🙂
OTBC.
The wheels fallen off already? Just a blip?Who knows.What made it worse was the binners came back from being 2 down to win against Cardiff lol.Lets hope the newest signings make a difference,then Webber can say he’s had a good summer,what i couldn’t understand yesterday is why we had two goalkeepers on the bench!Surely having an attacking youngster on there would have been better.
Haha… good point, Tony. As much as we like to pretend otherwise, what happens down the other end of the A140 *really* does impact the mood! 🙂
No time to get players up as Omobamidele went to Forest @ 11pm (glad he’s gone – another overated player we stole money for) and the U21s had played Friday pm.
Who cares about the other lot – my Facebook was full of them giving it large. Five games don’t make a season, 46 do!!
Hi Gary
Yesterday was depressing – on one side City, according to the stats, had more shots, possession, and corners but stats don’t win games.
Someone said Sargent was being missed and Idah isn’t as good, but for me it was Rotherham’s closing down, not giving City time to make a telling pass and using tactics to break up the team’s rhythm.
City’s last three visits have all, so I’m told, been 2-1 wins and we didn’t lose out to any of the favourites for promotion. Leicester and Southampton also lost and there were a few strange results with PNE on top of the table. I wonder when that last happened.
A short international break and a time to reflect – let’s just hope that after such a good start we don’t revert to how last season played out after Wagner’s early promising results.
Onwards and upwards
OTBC
I did say in last few days it was going to be an ‘along come Norwich’ moment and it was.
Tbf thought Rotherham in the first half were very good – two well worked goals. No complaints about how we defended them – just both well executed.
Second half was just one of those days – half chances, balls dropping inches the wrong side of players. They say you make your own luck but tbh we have not had that much this season in my opinion.
On a final note – dump that horrible kit. I personally think that’s to blame. it was not a colour clash – SHOULD HAVE PLAYED IN YELLOW N GREEN. Sod the stupid contracts!!
Hi Thommo
I don’t do curses, I don’t blame clothing made from polyester and I don’t believe in voodoo very much either but do know one thing.
You’re right, that kit is rancid and belongs in the bin.
Was just about to post exactly the same about the shirts. We play in yellow and green, unique in the EFL. Stick it whenever we can. There are one or two away games when maybe we need to change, but not many. I wonder how many buy the second and third kit anyway and how much profit the club actually makes on them.
Hi Keith
Plymouth Argyle also play in Yellow and Green plus it was the original colours of Man U.
That might have been useful to know about MUFC in the second tier back in 1974-5.
Sorry. Argyle play in Green and White. I lived across the Tamar in Cornwall for 40+ years and watched them when they played us.
At OT a few years ago and expecting to get hammered did we not sing something like “We’ve only come for our scarves”?
Fair sum up Gary, it sounded more like I had travelled back to last season, listening to the wireless. Just waiting for City to really hit back. Like waiting for the truth to come from Boris Johnson, never happened.
Full credit to The Millers, there coach got it right, and I do get concerned a little that others will soon cotton on to the way to play us. seem to remember writing something very close to this =during Farke’s reign. Not wanting to cast any doubts or criticism, when Wagner first joined us we had a little spell of very good results and players full of confidence. Then faded away badly, we don’t need reminding of anymore of that. I just hope that we are not seeing history repeat itself, injuries didn’t help us at all so far. Yesterday a quick look at the bench yesterday seeing 2 keepers which clearly speaks of shortages in outfield, I looked at the rest and could not see a game changer there, perhaps Nunez was the closest but he was not used.
Taking Idah off followed by Fassnacht , left me scratching where I didn’t itch, as Idah had come out looking a different kettle of fish. It was pointed out that Fassnacht was tiring, but putting Gibbs for Idah was a strange one, when Nunez was left sitting there.
When all fit and ready Hernandez, Sainz and Sorenson could be waiting to come on, plus Hwang will be ready for the next outing any hiccups permitting. Perhaps one or more of the summer u23’s may be promoted at some point, by all accounts they could be ready for the step up.
Hopefully a 2 week break will allow some of the walking wounded to be ready for selection and Wagner & co come up with another plan B. Many fans are suggesting the travelling during the week was also a factor over a 1000 miles and 3 games , I can understand some of that. Yorkshire, Bristol and Yorkshire again must have an effect, as travelling can be tiring. But these guys are Pros and should be use to that side of the game.
Was good to read Angus saying that there were many words spoken to each other at half time, sure Wagner had his say, but according to Angus, he calmed them down .
Just a bad day at work, all the players should be well aware that is part of the game, those with the experience of this league hopefully helping the younger ones and those new to English 2nd tier
It’s an interesting one, Rotherham have conceded a lot of goals, but I believe the big numbers came away from home. Also 3 away games I. A row maybe had something to do with it?
For me the second half was diff because we got a more players closer to Idah and he was also trying to play a lot more quickly to others whereas in the first half he was a bit more isolated and trying to make things happen on his own.
Curiously I feel we might almost have too many wide players when Sainz and Hernandez get back from injury. I’m scratching my head to see where Gibbs, Springett and even Sorensen are going to get enough minutes with Forshaw, Hwang, and Nunez available
Plymouth Argyle play in green and gold with a strong emphasis on the green, not green and yellow nor even yellow or green.
Like your dad and Thommo, I had the feeling this was set up for another ACN moment especially with an International break coming up and a certain Mr J Hugill lining up for the opposition to make his point. I take some solace from the fact the second half performance was so much better though and am hoping normal service will be resumed on the 16th.