So… we’re officially halfway through City’s pre-season. Three down, three to go. And just 20 days before it all starts for real in the fine city of Oxford.
The 3-0 win at Northampton was little more than a gentle shakedown but was followed by two games in Belgium – a 3-0 defeat to Club Brugge on Wednesday and, yesterday, a 1-1 draw with Standard de Liege.
In terms of what we know so far, evidence suggests we’re re-entering an era where the team has an embedded style of play – one that will run like a golden thread through the club – and involves keeping the ball and having a team with good technicians capable of working the ball through the thirds. Not a hoof in sight.
For much of the time – and my heart goes out to the good people of the River End – said working of the ball will be done with care and patience, but there will be times, when the numbers fall in City’s favour, that it will be done with energy, tempo. and pace.
It will (if you can summon the mental strength to revisit the period between November 2021 and May 2024) hopefully be a significant step up in terms of clarity of purpose and aesthetics. What we’re yet to find out is if this group, with hopefully a few more additions, can properly execute the Hoff methodology as the head coach demands. And, indeed, if that methodology is a good fit for the Championship.
But, before I go into other unknowns, what we have confirmed over these first three games is that we do indeed have some good young players. It’s one thing to hear how promising they are based on academy and/or loan performances but it’s another to see them in action when faced with the type of challenge they would face every week in the first team.
And some have stood very tall.
It’s, of course, daft to get carried away based on three early-pre-season friendlies but it’s impossible not to have been impressed by the presence and poise of Brad Hills in the role of right-sided centre-back.
With Jose Cordoba surely earmarked as the left-sided centre-back – he starts work at Colney on Monday incidentally – it would be an exceptionally brave call on the part of Johannes Hoff Thorup and Glen Riddersholm to slot Hills in alongside him, but everything the 20-year-old has done so far in pre-season suggests it’s not impossible.
How refreshing and bold would that be?
While Thorup has made clear that there is room, indeed a necessity, in his team for experience (especially when young players are being introduced), if one area of the team needs a complete refresh, it’s at centre-back.
But we’ll see.
They may decide that two rookie centre-backs in the Championship is one too many and that the nous of Grant Hanley or Shane Duffy is needed, but if Hills’ season at Accrington and current pre-season is anything to go by, he’ll be knocking at the door.
For now, Norwich-born Hills looks ahead of Jonathan Tomkinson, Jayden Warner and Emmanuel Adegboyega in the pecking order although, to differing degrees, all three appear ready for some first-team football. I suspect a couple of further loan moves may be on the cards.
Another academy player to have done himself no harm in pre-season is Guilherme Montóia, which is handy given that the 20-year-old from Portugal is a left-back. The departures of Dimi Giannoulis and Sam McCallum have left a big old hole and, while Kellen Fisher did an excellent job there in yesterday’s first half, so too did the Portugal Under-20 international in the second.
Even if, as rumours suggest, City bring in Man City’s Callum Doyle on loan for the season, – who can play at left-back and left-centre-back – there is still an opportunity for Montóia to become a regular in the first-team squad. Three more good performances in the remaining three friendlies could be enough to seal that particular deal.
Of course, friendlies are friendlies and we all know how limited they are in their usefulness, aside from getting minutes in the players’ legs, but these have an added edge from a tactical perspective, given that this group is in the process of learning a new style of play within a new structure.
That’s why Thorrup spoke afterwards of the importance of getting the whole squad together, which will happen for the first time tomorrow morning – the first chance for him and Riddersholm to have all that’s currently available to them in front of them.
There are clear and obvious gaps in the squad that will only be further exacerbated by any departures, but such is life in pre-season. An ever-evolving squad is how it will be until the transfer window closes on 30th August.
One point of interest to emerge from yesterday’s post-match round of interviews was Kenny McLean appearing to quash any notion of him – as has been reported – being tempted by a move to Rangers. He spoke of his excitement at being part of a new project at Norwich City and gave not even the slightest hint of being drawn to a return to Glasgow.
It was also good to see Liam Gibbs and Onel Hernandez back on the pitch yesterday. While Hernandez is in the final year of his deal and may find game-time limited this season, Gibbs looks and feels like the type of player who could fit perfectly into the brave new world we’re about to enter.
But anyway… too many ifs and buts to talk with certainty about anything, so I’ll leave it there. One thing I am certain about though is that on Friday night, City fans will get their first opportunity to acquaint themselves with Hoff-ball when 1.FC Magdeburg visit Carrow Road (KO 6:45pm).
If, however, Friday is too long to wait, the club are holding an open Carrow Road training session this Wednesday morning – from 10:30 to around 12:15 – which, at the end, will be selfie-central for those who like that sort of thing.
Not long now. Twenty days and counting.
I constantly read where player x or player y would benefit from a loan, are we not at a stage now with this exciting coach we have that they may benefit more by staying at Colney?
Fair point that, Paul.
Once again in the midst of pre season our hopes soar. Full of what ifs and what abouts, it’s exciting and this time fresh, new, a project to get behind. It smacks of the early Webber/Farke dynasty. That’s a good thing, something to get behind. The last two seasons haven’t been fun. I really hope this one is. We the supporters must do our bit and encourage brave attractive football it worked for us under Farke it worked for Ipswich under McKenna. Our lives feel better when the club we love is doing well. Let’s have a great season everybody.
Anything could happen this season, should be interesting though.
A friend of mine quipped after JHT’s first interview that “we might as well have signed a county lines drug dealer…. all he seems to want is kids in possession!”
McLean’s comments can make us optimistic about the new season and Hills looks a special player but I thought Idah stood out yesterday. He has developed some confidence that he has never had when he was here, not surprising the way he was treated. The way he won the ball and played that brilliant pass to Sainz shows what he can do. Celtic can stick their £3.50, even £6m would be a joke when you see how much Troy Parrot went for. Idah may love Celtic but I think he can do much better, not here because unfortunately he’d have the same people on his back.
It was interesting seeing the younger guys do a pretty good job of holding their own in the second half yesterday.
I agree Hills looked very composed. I guess a lot will depend on who we are up against as to which 2 (or 3) will play. I thought Sorenson’s ability to read the game came through well too. Given the demands of a championship season Hanley and Duffy are both likely to need resting at times.
I thought Forsyth looked quite classy, a couple of nice effective touches, and decent corner delivery too. Just needs the physique to go with it – but time is on his side.
Djedje looks a potential powerhouse in midfield, but I can’t see him being unleashed until he’s improved his ball control. Play him in the Championship at the moment and he’d be giving the ball away in dangerous areas far too often, and/or be odds-on for a double-yellow dismissal trying to get it back. He might be the kind of player who would benefit from a loan.
As for style, I can’t discern that much difference between Farke, Webber and Thorup’s approach to be honest. Pass it around the back, look for someone to make a run or send it out for a wing-back to turn back inside and slow the play down again. In the end we lost out last season because we weren’t as good in tight spaces as the top teams – first touch, ultra-accurate passing, the ability to spin a defender. In the first play-off match our supposed match-winners suddenly looked quite ordinary, and although Kamara showed a few brief flashes yesterday, it’s turning possession into chances where I think we will struggle, unless we can unearth a new Buendia.
As ever the chances are there for the young guys to make their mark at the start of the season. Once we get towards the business end of the season it’s too late, bar an injury crisis, to take the risk. Last year Rowe, Springett, Gibbs, Idah and Fisher were regulars in the match-day squads early on. Only Rowe really took the opportunity.
Found a stream of the Game yesterday, must say how impressive Montóia, Hills and Fisher, were, they looked ready to me . While saying that this was a friendly, the more serious side of things will increase the sooner we get to the last games. One challenge Hills made leaving their player in a heap, Hills looked at him and then carried on back into position.
I read a lot of complaints, on Musks toy (X) about Hanley and McClean not moving the ball fast enough. I could not see the problem, given the game being played as friendly coupled with the heat. What I did notice was the lack of chances we created, that is if I was nit-picking. Also Long got some stick, but nothing about the excellent save he made. He is 2nd choice at the moment after all
A couple of the lads in the second half looked a little lost, showing that bit of rawness, expected so perhaps a loan would not harm, I would if possible make the loan until January and then look again.
I was pleased to hear Kenny say what he did, just want a couple more to repeat that same desire. Sara, Nunez Sargent.
I do wonder how JHT will play Rowe, left, right or alongside the main striker? I’m not sure I know which is Rowe’s best place, Trust someone on here can help me there.
Sara looked right off the boil, I hope that was a ploy until the window is closed lolol Seriously he wasn’t as sharp as I have seen him.
I was wondering, have club taken that many u23 etc on the preseason tour before? Just it seemed more that usual.I suppose with the competitions in Germany & USA, forced that to happen with players being given longer breaks.
May take a trip up Wednesday morning, but will be there Friday for sure
Hi Gary
Someone mentioned in midweek on another media outlet that JHT sometimes goes with a 3 CB so possibly Hanley sat between Two young guns.
Sorensen says he’s been working all summer on strengthening his body and it feels the best it has since he arrived so another multi-positional player.
While Doyle looks a good loan signing I don’t understand Man C need to take him on a pre-season tour just to loan him out on his return unless they want a buy option in the deal.
So we are close to a new Set Piece Coach arriving.
Finances still seem to be a problem especially for recruitment, I just wonder what happened to Attanasio promise that funds would be available to purchase and there was no need to sell before buying, it looks like Knapper is being held back till someone is sold
OTBC
An excellent summing up Gary and a lot of good responses as usual.
The mood of optimism.is quite fragile and could be pricked at any moment with an unpalatable sale or two. A lot will depend upon the level of destruction that Smith and Jones’ self-funding has wrought on club finances.
How much of the proceeds from a hefty sale would be made available to fill gaps in the squad? I suspect not much given the supposedly parlous state of the clubs finances.
That said, the signing of Cordoba for three million raised an eyebrow or two and reports of interest in a couple of Portuguese left backs hints at some American involvement behind the scenes.
The young players appear from the outside to have bought fully into Thorup’s and Knapper’s plans if the outstanding individual displays and youthful enthusiasm are anything to go by. Opportunity knocks and several of the youngsters appear determined to grab it.
Looking forward to the Magdeburg friendly to get a closer look at progress.
Between now and Friday evening, I wonder if anything will occur to excite or dampen enthusiasm for the changes afoot?
Excellent points – we’ve still got lots of deadwood here still, likes of Hanley, Duffy, Stacey, Fassnacht, Hernandez and McLean, they are well past their best now. Sell them – might get couple of million for the bunch.
Don’t know much about these so called promising c/halves, which needed replacing the first time we got relegated under Farke.
As I’ve said many times, they must stay another season – Sara, Rowe, Sargent, Sainz, Gunn – and then add some quality with those (but not kids, especially in Championship, where they get kicked to bits) and then we might be in business from what I’ve seen last season.
Hill’s looked the pick of the young bunch and surely is too good to be loaned out again,sometimes loans do more harm than good for a players development.