The recent ankle injury suffered by Josh Sargent, which will see him sidelined until the New Year, hasn’t exactly helped City’s situation, but the fact that we have moved on from being ultra reliant on one man [Teemu Pukki, of course] to produce goals is a significant mitigating factor.
“It is, however, an unpleasant reminder of how quickly things can change, and therefore the current euphoria must be tempered with a fair degree of caution because we all know just how capricious the Championship can be.”
The above is a line from MFW’s very own Robin Sainty, in this case writing for the Pink Un on Saturday morning.
These words snapped me firmly into focus ahead of what turned out to be a pretty lame 2-1 defeat to Rotherham at the ASSEAL New York Stadium on Saturday: it has to go Pete Tong at some point and being City, it came in a fixture the vast majority of us supporters will have expected to gain points from.
Was it an ACN moment to be compliant in handing the hard-working Millers their first points of the season? Yes, with Jordan Hugill getting on the scoresheet with a trademark header and run across his man I suppose it has to be.
After what was, let’s admit it, a pretty-much lucklustre display where we didn’t seem to turn up until half time, head coach David Wagner was quick to echo Robin’s thoughts, and indeed my own too as I firmly remain happy with League Position 5th, Played five, Won three, Drawn two, GD the best in the EFL Championship with six and with 14 scored, far and away the top scorers in the EFL Championship ahead of the Binners on 11.
And that is nigh on an average of three a game, spread nicely across the team instead of solely one man, which has long been a personal preference of mine.
Head Coaches who tell it like it is are worthy of respect for doing just that and Wagner is worth listening to.
David Wagner and Daniel Farke have several things in common and one of these is that, for me anyway, their post-match media comments are far more worthy of a respectful listen or read than a few other head coaches or managers I could mention, particularly the type who prefer to stand there and blithely blame those around them at the earliest opportunity.
You don’t get that with Farke, and certainly not with Wagner. Here’s just some of what he had to say immediately after the final whistle on Saturday:
“It was not the performance we wanted, especially in the first half. We were miles off; we were not switched on, not focused, not as energetic or as sharp as we have been in the past.
“Everything was there in the second half, so it couldn’t be a fitness problem. We deserve the defeat because of the first half.”I am angry and disappointed because of the first half; this should not happen.”
Pleasing to know that during the international break, there is a plan in place that includes everybody.
With the two-week international break already counting down, City will lose a number of first-team and Academy players for most or all of it.
Wagner proceeded to focus on the most affected squad members and it was refreshing to hear that the boss has a plan which is inclusive for everyone:
“I would love to have the whole team all together but at the end of the day, we have to take it. We had a good start this season although after today it doesn’t feel that way, but this is a reality check and this is where we will learn.
“There are a lot of games to come, including our next two which are interesting fixtures in Leicester and Stoke at home.”
Speaking on the new summer signings and players out with injuries, Wagner said:
“Adam Forshaw played 45 minutes for the Under-21s yesterday, which was what we wanted. He also got 20 minutes in the cup this week and he will have a further two weeks of training and maybe another Under-21 game before his pre-season is done.
“It looks like Borja Sainz is back in training as well.
“Lungi Sørensen will take maybe another week or two before he is back in training and Onel Hernández is back in training next week.
“Although, if they are back in training, it doesn’t mean they are back in the squad.
“Like Borja, for example, will need four or five weeks more of training before he can be in contention.”
That’s the stuff we supporters want to hear, David. It stops me wandering along Bank Plain scratching my skull while wondering when, say, Lungi might be available for a start or a place on the bench. 
There has been no cagey reluctance from Wagner to discuss our new signings and that is refreshing too.
Wagner was equally forthcoming about our trio of deadline-day deals, something else I very much enjoyed reading about straight from the horse’s gob as well. In case anybody has forgotten, City signed Ui-jo Hwang on loan from Nottingham Forest and Danny Batth on a permanent deal from Sunderland, while Andrew Omibamedele joined Steve Cooper’s top-heavy squad of Merrie Men to trigger the last-gasp arrival of Batth.
“We had to react to Josh’s injury, which is a serious one. He needs surgery, which is due to be done today [Monday]. He will be out [until the New Year].
“Hwang is exactly the striker that fits our idea; he can run in behind and has good link-up play, is quite tall and he works his socks off.”
“Late on Friday we got a great offer which we accepted for Andy [Omobamidele]. We had to react quickly and we filled this gap with Danny [Batth].
“We are very happy with these two transfers and we are looking forward to seeing them [the players].”
Nice one David. Clear, concise, comprehensive, and well worth concentrating on for a while.
Angus Gunn [what chance did he have with either Rotherham goal?] drew the short straw in the changing room and faced the media too, saying:
“Not good enough, we’re really disappointed in the dressing room after that one.
“Especially after the first half, we didn’t show enough, we got bullied and they scored two sloppy goals, preventable from us.
“I’m really disappointed and annoyed but there’s nothing we can do now until Stoke at home.”
Break could prove a special one for our Angus as he and Kenny McLean prepare to face the Auld Enemy.
The City stopper’s start on Saturday means he has now reached 100 appearances in a Norwich shirt across his two spells with the club.
“I didn’t know I had reached 100 appearances, so that’s a nice thing to have but I wish we could have finished it off with a win.
“I’m really proud to represent the club and hopefully there’ll be more positive games to come than this one.”
Gunn will be part of Steve Clarke’s Scotland national team in the upcoming round of international fixtures, where the Tartan Army will face Cyprus and the little matter of a match against England thrown in for good measure.
“Now it’s a chance for some of the lads to go away and some to stay at the training ground working hard, getting fitter.
“I went up to Glasgow yesterday and I’m looking forward to meeting up with the squad and getting some more minutes with the national team.
“It’ll be two important games and hopefully we can get two more wins.”
I’m not the most fanatical follower of the England national side Angus, but not to the point where I can wish you well against us.
***
Well done to Abu Kamara, who scored the first goal of his loan spell at Portsmouth and also took home the Man of the Match award in their 3-1 win over Peterborough in League Two.
I wonder what inspired him to score on Saturday? Probably not the arrival of Ui-jo Hwang in the window the night before, but you can’t entirely rule it out!
***
Even as I fast approach my 66th birthday [tough shit to the Right Hon. Mel Stride MP, I’ve already successfully claimed my State Pension and as much as you might like to there ain’t nothing you can do stop it now] I still like to learn a few bits and pieces when and where I can.
Ever since we fleetingly had Joseph Yobo on our books I’ve checked out All Nigeria Soccer now and again to see what Ifeanyi Emmanuel and his mates have to say about our players of either full-on or Anglo-Nigerian heritage, from Efan Ekoku to Adam Idah.
When having a gander the other day to see what their take was on Daniel Ogwuru‘s arrival from Man City, I discovered we currently had an Academy lad that I didn’t realise possessed a Nigerian background.
Step forward midfielder Dubem Eze of Norwich City Under-21s.
***
Talking of the background of City players, we’ll have no industrial language on my column please [unless it’s my f*cking own] so just a note about our new recruit Danny Batth.
He is said by Wiki to be of mixed English and Punjabi descent and his middle name is Tanveer.
To me that makes Danny Batth of South Asian heritage. As irrelevant as it is in the context of football – or anything else come to that – that’s yer definitive answer, folks!
I sometimes sign off with some pure pop music, not that it’s fronted by a slide guitar very often, of course.
Here’s Teesside’s finest, Mr Chris Rea:
All true words spoken by Wagner but is he good enough to change it, Martin?
Eh? I would’ve thought the end of last season to the start of this would’ve saved you the embarrassment of applying that question to print form?
Hi Jinxy
Sure, but as the Chris Rea song says, there’s still a lot of wok to be done isn’t there?
Cheers
Hi Kev
You’d like to think so wouldn’t you?
Webber hasn’t let Wagner down on recruitment this time, even if some of the weaponry is in the armoury for recommissioning after enjoying a tough campaign in the Boer War.
The way we adapt to the loss of Sarge will be the key.
Cheers
Morning Mr P – good Monday morning read, as per usual. Not good enough, that’s was for sure. Perhaps the 1000 miles journeying had taken a toll, as some suggested, but not for me. They didn,t turn up 10 mins before kick and get changed in the car. I seem to recall seeing this before, playing good football for a few matches then fading away to nothingness.
But I prefer to put it down to a bad day at the office. Full credit to The Millers, who sussed out how to combat us. Hope too many don’t pick up on that. Hopefully when injuries subside, the bench in particular, we can have players who can change a game on there instead of two keepers to help make the numbers up.
I must admit to never hearing of Hwang before, then yesterday, having a few minutes of watching Grandad Wroy,s Palace take on Wolves, during second half O,Neiil put on a striker called, yep another Hwang, in a few minutes, he rose to head the ball, mis-timed it by a second or two, ball hit top of his shoulder and looped in.
If our Hwang can get a couple like that I won,t mind at all (almost resisted the urge to say “Hwang on a minute” but could not fit it in).
An international break to get through now – I have little to no interest in England, while Southgate is in charge but with Gunny and the Mayor in the squad, I have more interest in Scotland games.
I wish big Andy all the best, but fear he will get lost in the amount of players Cooper had amassed at Forest. He could find himself out of the picture like Jamal Lewis found out.
Congrats on getting the SP you like all of us on it – have paid into it for years only to have indictated what we can have and when.
Enjoy what little there is lolol
Morning Martin
One to forget (after learning the necessary lessons), but it’s a long season, and there will be ups and downs. Nobody ever called us “the Invincibles”!
Interested to see how the new arrivals fit in, and I think Canarylad is right in his concerns for Andy O, but maybe the undoubted salary increase will make up for the splinters in his rear end after sitting on the bench (which after all, is mostly what he was doing for us, anyway).
Remember the last time we sold a Nigerian to Forest didn’t go very well for the player, Cloughie never got the best out of the Fash.
That unfortunate pairing quickly became the mother of all personality clashes!
Hi Jim
*One to forget* is a great phrase as coveralls go but I haven’t exorcised this one yet, as hard as I’ve tried – time the healer has plenty to do yet and I only got to see the highlights!
Yes Lad is quite right about Andy Omibamidele and as I said to aforementioned Canary Lad [below] hes only really fighting for one spot as Joe Worrellkind of picks himself so there’s only one CB slot left unless they move to a 3-5-2 or something.
While I’m not sorry I won’t have to type his surname once a week any more I wish him all the very best for the future and you can bet he’ll be pleased with his last-gasp call up from Ireland.
Cheers
Aha more like the invisibles in that first half.
Invisible? What?
In Thommo’s favourite third kit Gary’s article yesterday if you’ve forgotten it 🙂
Some things you never get used to , like expecting the happening and having to settle for 3:00 to 3:45 at the New York stadium.
It was the perfect ACN moment encapsulated in 45 minutes. All credit to Wagner for telling it like it was , we could have ended up with Nathan Jones.
Hi Bernie
Okay then, the perfect ACN moment it was!
While I can understand the real Nathan Jones walking out on Luton Town, his fictional namesake did something quite incredibly dumb.
He walked out on Diana Ross 🙂
Cheers
Morning Lad
Hackney Marshes was so disgusting my mate Chris & me would get changed in my Austin Healey Sprite – 2 changing rooms for nearly 100 pitches!
More importantly you’re right about that bench as there was not much to be scared of sitting on it. That will come.
The lesson of Jamal remains a salutary one and Andy is shooting at one place as Worrel is a nailed-on selection.
It’s not just Southgate with me but also the attitudes of some of the players.
Marcus Rashford does loads for charity and the media pounce on him for buying a couple of decent cars with his hard earned.
Comes to something when a lad with a big heart gets picked on like that.
As for the pension my only regret is that I didn’t become an MP when I was younger!***
***Not true – for a start it must be incredibly boring sitting there telling lies all day!
Martin, Wanstead Flats were just as bad as Hackney Marshes! Played on both, so I speak from experience! Always got changed at home, and just put my boots on when I got there, but sometimes ended up with somewhat muddy seats in the car on the way home!
Ha!
We drank at the Bald Faced Stag in Buckhurst Hill [hence Stag FC] after every game. I also worked there on and off for years.
I went out for a short while with a girl who worked in the Nightingale so I used to pop in there quite a bit too over the course of a few months.
Locally I was just known as *another Spurs supporter*, not because I kept my Canary credentials quiet but because in that neck of the woods it was Spurs, West Ham with a smattering of Gooners too. and absolutely nothing else.
There was no love in London for the Manchester clubs around in 1979!
Saturday’s result and performance were both disappointing, but I still have an overwhelming feeling of goodwill towards the team and manager. I can’t even complain about the transfer window-getting enough money from Max and Andy to justify the huge investment in the academy is excellent and I can’t criticise any of the incomings or outgoings.
I definitely do wish Kenny and Angus good luck in their forthcoming international matches!
Hi Don
Yes goodwill intact here at my end too.
I too am pleased with the recruitment and feel Webber has paid us back [in part, anyway] for Rashica and Tzolis.
I’m not sure about this *huge investment in the academy* bit though.
Sure we’ve gambled on four or five recruits, notably Ogwuru from Man City, but most of the money from the sales of Max and Andy will go to prop up self-funding I would imagine so the phrase rings a bit empty to me I’m afraid.
And I fully expected you to be backing Scotland!
I look forward to seeing what our Man in the Stands will impart over the weekend after next 🙂
Cheers
While Saturday was poor in the first half, you have to give Rotherham credit. They got the game plan right and were much better than I thought they would be.
I agree too that our recruitment this time round has been good. There’s a clearly visible plan both off and on the pitch. Despite Sargeant’s injury, which came at a really bad time for us, I think we will do well this year. There’s a nice mix of experience and youth with some strong characters in the team, and I can’t see us capitulating or running out of steam in any games. It was actually a pretty good match on Saturday, despite our sluggish first half. Enjoyable to watch.
One downside was the behaviour of some City fans, who were clearly drunk and really abusive to the linesman and stewards, who seemed to deal with it pretty well. I would have turfed them out of the ground! It’s the worst I’ve seen in many years: generally CIty fans are well behaved away from home. And yes, the lino got it right. The ball did come off Giannoulis for a corner!
Hi Dave
I certainly do agree that Rotherham should be given great credit as they did a job on us with what seemed like a very effective gameplan from manager Matty Taylor.
Sara and McLean were sat on and never got going – all part of the plan of course.
It seems like you went to the match, so I’m sorry to hear at first hand about our fans letting the side down because like you say it really doesn’t happen very often, no matter how annoyed or frustrated supporters might be.
I too have faith in this mix of youth and experience. May it prosper.
Cheers
Hi Martin
Having Spurs as a second team it seems City mirror them in many ways very unpredictable but the big one was reliant on one player to score the goals.
Every doom and gloom merchant said Spurs would struggle without Kane and similar comments about Pukki going but both teams have come out fighting and sharing the goals around and on Saturday put Burnley to the sword with a hat-trick from a Korean team mate of Hwang so can he mirror his compatriot and score a few f9r City.
I just hate comments from managers and the media when stating City beaten both Leicester and Stoke to the signing of Batth after weeks of negotiations, these clubs have bidder budgets that city and that includes wage bill and Stoke had the advantage of Alex Neil who signed him for Sunderland in the mix so was it a 1+1 contract or a promise of getting first team games, he’s said it was only getting those game that would entice him away from the Mackems, who knows.
From a 6-1 drubbing to a 2-1 win that’s some turn around I haven’t compared the 2 Rotherham teams but are they prioritising staying up over a cup run as the team showed no midweek exhaustion unlike City.
Did City travel by luxury coach to Bristol or a short flight which I think would have been the order of the day and a lunchtime trip up the A1 to a top class hotel near Sheffield on Friday the players should have been refreshed after a good night’s sleep.
Let’s hope we have no more international injuries during this break
Hi Alex
Rotherham made as many changes as they could for Stoke – nobody noticed but they only had eight subs on Saturday – no third keeper!
As Warney would tell us with a completely straight face the objective at Rotherham is always to stay up.
When boasting of how many season tickets we shift our top people should consider the plight of the Rotherham’s of this world.
They have to fight against direct competition from local rivals such as both Sheffield sides and Huddersfield Town.
It ain’t easy.
Cheers
One problem also clubs like Leeds many years ago under Revie set up supporters clubs around Yorkshire and some still are going strong and Rotherham had a big one back in the 80’s Doncaster are in the same situation in getting supporters
We’re 40 miles from that lot, and even that’s too close 🙂
Good morning Martin.
Saturday was a typical Championship for us game if you don’t turn up at 100%.
Rotherham’s record this season, Stoke apart, isn’t as abysmal as some of our players thought.
It is early days and the team have surprised us so far, so points in the bank. But one look at our subs bench on Saturday and we need these injured players back asap.
Funnily enough could we have done with Hugill on Saturday?
After the last few weeks and the delights of Papworth, Great hospital, fantastic staff, it is lovely to just worry about City’s results again💛💚😂😂😂
Arternoon Tim – good to hear from you!
I know what you mean about Hugill – that run across Duffy had him in no man’s land and everybody including Angus knew where the ball was going the second it left his head.
Glad to hear all seems to have gone well for you and… welcome back 🙂
Cheers
Dont think Rashford helped himself when he highlighted that some kids were going hungry.Instead of him going round each premier league dressing room for donations from the rich footbalkers he expected joe public to dip there hand in there pockets again.He and his teamates earn more a week than most do a year,so it makes you wonder if he did it just for the publicity!
Hi Tony
Yes I can see the logic behind that view but tend to [or do I just WANT to?] believe Rashford is genuine because of his own background.
I know he’s more than just a name on a piece of paper for a couple of Manchester-based charitable concerns but beyond that I admit it, I’m not 100% certain what he gets up to in terms of offering practical help and as you say he’s not been above seeking out publicity in the past.
So many players these days have their own charities or are solely dedicated to helping selected local ones that it’s hard to tell who’s up to what and even more difficult to differentiate between the charlatans and the others.
Thanks – interesting post.
The cake is only so big and while those at the top take more than their share those at the bottom will go hungry!!
I’m kind of sure I agree with that – I’ve not heard it before 🙂
Martin.
Whilst I agree with his charitable concerns I feel his PR Team have been working very hard on his behalf.
Hi Dorset
You phrased that really well – I think I might store it up for future plagiaristic use. Nice one.
Cheers
Sorry to be a bit of a downer in all this excitement but I fear Saturday’s performance shows the flaws in this bunch. I like Wagner and his straight talking manner but do we really believe that this bunch of geriatric free transfers are the answer? Barnes has brought some much needed nastiness but will not reach double figures in the scoring department. The new right back is going to get done by anyone with pace and if we are relying on Onel to get back to improve things then that shows the real state of affairs.
Then we expect to slot in Idah to play the Sargent role when that is not his game at all. Fit the tactics to the skills of those available.
Having said all that I have enjoyed the fight and fitness of the early games but I just don’t see promotion as a real prospect. C’mon lads prove this old moaner wrong.
Hi Cyprus
That’s not an old moaner, that’s a realist speaking and there is nothing in the world wrong with that.
I’m not going to say you are wrong because experience tells me that’s just how it might fall out at the end of the day.
You and I had a bet last season [can’t remember what] so this year I’ll take you up on Ashley Barnes by saying that he will reach double figures in terms of goals scored.
Mainly because he seems to be the designated penalty taker, for now anyway 🙂
Cheers
Martin, you seriously think we’ll get 10 penalties this season? We’ve already had half our usual ration!
Now that, Mr Davies, is another consideration altogether 🙂 🙂 🙂
We don’t get many of those. Ha Ha.
One smiley here – but only cos, by just a few minutes, Jim posted first 🙂
Idah looked liked , I don’t want to be cruel, so I’ll say Hwang looks like a starter against Stoke.
Yes, if Hwang’s acclimatised in EVERY way, he’ll start, no doubt.