P.J. Davitt's Blog, page 11

VERDICT: Take a long, hard look boys. Norwich City 1-3 Manchester United

Norwich City’s brush with the Premier League is turning into a chaotic ride.

If anyone had told you after they shocked the football world in beating Manchester City they expected Daniel Farke’s squad to muster only one point from the next five league games then they were lying.

That epic jolt to the football ecosystem appears to have had a corrosive effect.

Now City are seemingly unable to score in the same quantity, bar Bournemouth keep them out at the other end, and look destined to gravitate around the lowest recesses for the rest of the season.

Which might be realistic given the disparity in resources but certainly should not be the extent of anyone’s ambition for a club heading firmly in the right direction at all levels.

Tim Krul’s heroics by themselves will not be enough.

They were not enough in a game where he saved two penalties and pulled off a breathtaking point blank stop from Anthony Martial. But he was let down again by those in front of him. The error count rises at an alarming rate.

Farke did not put names to the labels afterwards but it was abundantly clear who he felt was at fault for the first two goals, leaked in charitable fashion to Scott McTominay and Marcus Rashford.

City’s young talent has rightly been lauded. But the tone of Farke’s post-match comments was less paternal and more the rebuke of a disappointed parent. The Premier League is an unforgiving environment to learn your trade, but those are the cards that have been dealt.

With the praise and the England Under-21 calls come increased scrutiny and an expectancy poor displays are the exception. The chronic injuries, particularly defensively, and the lack of genuine top flight outfield experience are doing nothing to smooth the transition from the Football League.

But Christoph Zimmermann, Grant Hanley or Timm Klose are not returning anytime soon. These coming days will again be dominated by an anxious wait for positive fitness news on the likes of Krul and Ibrahim Amadou or Jamal Lewis.

City seem fated to endure debilitating injuries to a squad that was not designed or equipped to handle such adversity. That is essentially out of Norwich’s control. In the interim the answers lie within Farke’s current ranks.

United, like Aston Villa before them at Carrow Road, exposed a brittleness and a naivety which is thwarting any sustained shot at Premier League progress. Just as worryingly it looks like Farke’s players, collectively, have no answer to the intensity and the power surges top flight rivals can muster.

The blurring cut and thrust of Martial or Rashford, and the inability of Norwich’s midfield to stem the flow, is troubling. Todd Cantwell and Moritz Leitner did not reappear after the interval. Onel Hernandez certainly injected drive and thrust, and merited the scant consolation of a first Premier League goal of his career, but the game was already up.

City’s opponents are routinely pressing ferociously from the front safe in the knowledge Norwich will either cough up cheap possession or run out of ideas, or display a lack of conviction at the crucial moment.

Even Teemu Pukki skied his best chance at the near post early in the second half when 12 months ago the ball would have nestled in the roof of the net.

That is the growing concern, even with far more games ahead of them than behind on this voyage of discovery.

If the confidence starts to leak and the self doubt flow in its place Norwich will continue to lack what it takes to really push teams into a higher gear. United coasted to the finish line despite spurning two penalties awarded by the video assistant referee system.

Farke wisely sought not to use contentious decisions to mask the real issues.

The head coach, his backroom staff and players, fit or otherwise at present, need no further introduction to the vagaries of the highest profile club league in the world.

The allure and the glamour, the stardust and the exposure have receded to reveal a cold, hard reality underneath. The degree of difficulty will not change. It is City’s ability to adapt that holds the key.

In that glorious march to promotion Norwich as a club and the players who so brilliantly represented it were in perfect sync.

What unfolded against the Red Devils offered fresh evidence too many in this squad are falling behind the club’s newly acquired loftier status.

The pendulum needs to swing the other way. Sooner rather than later.

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LISTEN: A Royal Mess – Norwich City 1-5 Aston Villa

Paddy and the Pinkun podcast crew sit down after injury-hit Norwich City were smashed by fellow Premier League new boys Aston Villa at Carrow Road.

 

CLICK HERE TO LISTEN

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VIDEO: Farke and Guardiola react to Norwich City 3-2 Manchester City

Watch the post-match reaction from Norwich City head coach Daniel Farke and Manchester City counterpart Pep Guardiola following the Canaries’ 3-2 Premier League win at Carrow Road.

 

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Paddy’s Pointers: Five observations from Norwich City’s epic 3-2 Premier League win against Manchester City

1. Phenomenal

If Carrow Road has witnessed a better game than this, then I would like to have been there. In the context of an injury list that sent shivers down most Norwich fans when Daniel Farke delivered the news, given Pep Guardiola’s champions rode into town with a squad assembled for stratospheric sums, given the bookmakers were offering odds of 25/1 on a home win, this defied all footballing logic.

Norwich’s shadow men ran themselves to a standstill under captain Alex Tettey. In all the Norwegian’s distinguished service in these parts, not even the experienced midfielder can have been part of such a giant-killing. For that is what it felt like.

From first minute to the final whistle, that was greeted with delirium. Home fans roared every challenge, every block, every surging run in a final quarter that felt like an eternity. They may struggle to sleep on Saturday evening. In front of a global audience the secret is out. Norwich City is on the rise.

2. Sensei Farke

Teemu Pukki of Norwich celebrates scoring his sides third goal in a 3-2 Premier League win over Manchester City Picture Paul Chesterton/Focus Images Ltd

City’s head coach played a masterful hand again. It is not just his tactical nous and the stylish manner of his side’s football. Witness Todd Cantwell’s finish to a sweeping move for the home team’s second, that started at the feet of Tim Krul.

But Farke showed his astuteness before a ball was kicked on Friday at Colney when he revealed the extent of a graphic injury list. There was no willingness to accept excuses or look for a free ride against in his view one of the best two teams in Europe.

Rather he saw his job as giving those in possession of the 11 shirts the confidence to perform, enjoy not endure, and return to the home dressing room with his full support after the game; irrespective of the result.

There was also an appeal to the fans which underlined the mutual trust now built up between the two. He knew that they knew this was an epic assignment and would play their part. Look at those celebrations led by the coach to all four sides of Carrow Road at the end.

Given the manner he guided Norwich to a surprise Championship title win it should hardly come as any shock the German is a seriously good operator. But this was another reminder.

3. Amadou. Legend

Farke suggested he was not sure if Amadou was a better centre half than a defensive midfielder. He might just have got his answer. Alongside Ben Godfrey, the Sevilla loan signing formed an impenetrable barrier for the most part.

There was one vital interception that belonged at the ballet after Godfrey had made a rare slip in possession. Amadou tackled, headed and blocked everything in his path.

There was even the odd burst with the ball out of defence that ensured he has the potential to assume cult status if he can perform on that level from here.

If you want to be churlish, Sergio Aguero escaped both Norwich centre backs in the first half to slot Bernardo’s cross. But if the benchmark is one of the best strikers in the world, then you would take Amadou and Godfrey to prevail most weeks in the Premier League against mere mortals.

4. Big up Sam Byram

Max Aarons may still be in the first flush of youth but they were big boots to fill for his understudy.

Facing the formidable Raheem Sterling and alternatively Bernardo as Manchester City sought a way back into a game that contained a blistering start from the Canaries, Byram stood firm.

He needed more help from Emi Buendia when Bernardo crossed for Aguero’s riposte before the break, but the manner he engaged two world class operators on his first Premier League for the Canaries suggested Farke has a viable alternative to the polished Aarons for the duration of his injury absence.

Byram must take huge confidence from this shift. It looked an astute piece of business by the club when he arrived in the summer after a career that had appeared to stall at West Ham.

This was a high bar to maintain but he will now get plenty more opportunities to impress in the battles ahead.

5. Is it a plane?

Kenny McLean was another who must surely have been keen to make a good impression with Moritz Leitner and Tom Trybull’s injury absences opening the door.

We know the Scot has plenty of the ‘Showman’ about him in the manner of this epic civic celebrations that greeted the club’s Championship title win.

But even he could not have envisaged moving centre stage in quite such thrilling fashion when he made a superbly timed near post run and perfectly cushioned glancing header to divert Buendia’s corner past Ederson.

There was a bite and a snarl to his defensive work as well paired alongside Tettey that bodes well for the games ahead.

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Farke incensed by refereeing calls in Hammers’ defeat

Daniel Farke was seething at the crucial calls that went against Norwich City in a 2-0 Premier League defeat to West Ham.

Christoph Zimmermann left the stadium on crutches with his right foot in a protective boot as he headed to hospital for scans on the ankle injury suffered in a lunging first half challenge from West Ham striker Sebastien Haller, that went unpunished by the officials.

Haller opened the scoring three minutes later, guiding home Arthur Masuaku’s cross after the hobbling Zimmermann was unable to cut out the delivery.

Farke was also unhappy an alleged elbow from Andriy Yarmolenko on Tom Trybull only earned a lecture from the referee prior to the interval. Yarmolenko lashed home a second half volley to seal the Hammers’ win.

“I am not sitting here crying for red cards, we will be self-critical and look at what we could do better, but in crucial moments no fouls are given,” said Farke. “My feeling is we dominated possession in the first 20 minutes. Only one team playing in the other side’s half, one team creating chances. Then the other team need to do something. Now I am not sitting here demanding red cards but one thing is for sure, there was a tackle against my centre back and the ball was three yards away. There was no red card, no yellow card, not even a free kick. The outcome is my centre back is injured in this scene.

“Then two minutes later we were not able to substitute him. They counter, my centre back is not able to sprint back and he is one yard too late to block the cross and the player who made the tackle when the ball was three yards away rewards himself. It changes the whole game.

“I am not saying the intention was to injure my player but if we play by the rules, we must judge by the rules. It is not up to me, the opponent or the supporters to judge. We just played on.

“My player is on the way to hospital, their player is on the shoulder of his team mates. I already had two centre backs injured before the game, so I have to bring a holding midfielder into this position and he adapted well. When my leader, my captain has to go out it influences the game.

“You can speak about the 2-0, but there was a first half incident with the player who scored when my player was elbowed. The referee even spoke to him and his captain and warned him but he did not react again in this manner. This player scores the second goal. So VAR is probably not allowed to over-rule the referee but this demonstrates VAR is not always able to bring the perfect outcome. And I like VAR.”

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VIDEO: Lampard and Farke on Chelsea’s 3-2 City win

Watch the post-match reaction from Norwich City head coach Daniel Farke and Chelsea counterpart Frank Lampard following the Canaries’ 3-2 Premier League defeat at Carrow Road.

 

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Paddy’s Pointers: City up and running in 3-1 Newcastle triumph

Paddy Davitt delivers his Newcastle United verdict after the Canaries’ superb 3-1 Premier League victory

1. Back with a bang

Not a bad way for Norwich City to announce their return to the Premier League. Liverpool was a faltering first step in many respects but the manner they demolished Newcastle at Carrow Road will have not only demonstrated they are quick learners but Daniel Farke’s squad feel they already belong.

Teemu Pukki’s mantelpiece may need an extension at this rate if he continues to grab the headlines in the manner he routinely did in the Championship.

A first Premier League match ball, the first top flight hat-trick by a Norwich City player since Efan Ekoku back in September 1993.

Fresh adoration from the green and yellow hordes.

But the self-effacing would be the first to share the collective praise. From front to back, bar a late stoppage time lapse that afforded Jonjo Shelvey a goal the Magpies did not deserve, this was a reaffirming display from the hosts.

Farke may have to re-think his ‘underdog’ mantra if they look as comfortable as this over the piece.

2. Pure and simple, Pukki

What more is left to be said about Norwich City’s fearsome frontman?

All the plaudits and the awards that accompanied his starring role in the club’s Championship title winning success could have dulled the appetite to go again and prove yourself all over in the big time.

On the early evidence, the Premier League looks the perfect fit for the striker.

A cool slot in a losing effort at Liverpool was matched and bettered by a stupendous volley sweetly struck at the far post that Martin Dubravka bravely, or maybe foolishly, attempted to keep out. By that stage in the opening period, Pukki must have already had three or four very good sighters.

The movement and the cunning to find pockets of space was too much for the disorientated Newcastle backline.

His second and third were clinical strikes after the break. It bodes well for the rest of this season.

But with Josip Drmic absent through injury it once again underlined just how precious and how pivotal Pukki is to Norwich’s survival chances.

3. Cool-hand Cantwell

Pukki will rightly grab all the headlines but what a display from the boy from Dereham. Cantwell made the pressure-releasing second goal with a turn and surge that left his Newcastle opponent in his vapour trail before sliding in the frontman to do the rest.

It was actually reminiscent of a goal at Reading last season when Cantwell first announced his arrival on the first team stage.

But this version is a far better operator. The manner he cut inside looking for work at will underlined his growing maturity. Typified by the burst that led to Pukki’s hat-trick clincher.

Probably better to defer to the senior man on this occasion, but on this evidence his time will come to notch in the Premier League.

4. Three card trick

Moritz Leitner got the nod with Kenny McLean starting on the bench after missing two days of training with a back issue. It was a huge audition for the German midfielder who himself lost his place at the top table last season through injury and never quite was able to work his way back in as the Canaries’ promotion bandwagon picked up speed.

Farke admitted in the build up his omission at Liverpool was more a reflection of the physical threats posed by the Reds.

This was a far better environment for Leitner to get on the ball and dictate the tempo as Newcastle retreated – or perhaps were pushed back from the kick-off – and looked to raid on the counter.

The link up and the telepathy with both Tom Trybull and the superb Cantwell was a joy to behold in that first half especially. It might not be the right cocktail every week in the Premier League, but it reaffirmed Leitner looks at home in such company.

5. Bring on the Chelsea

The atmosphere was electric by the final whistle as Farke took his first Carrow Road ovation in the Premier League. A wave was demanded and duly delivered as the clock ticked down. The German is master of all his surveys at present.

Imagine the scenes if Norwich can build on this when Europa League winners Chelsea come to town. Frank Lampard enjoyed his last visit in that painful Derby County comeback.

But the Blues will need to be very good to subdue a Norwich who must take immense confidence from how they surgically dismantled the Magpies. There will be tougher tests ahead but this City squad has so much more to give you sense.

There is certainly no trace of any inferiority complex.

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VIDEO: Klopp and Farke on Reds 4-1 City

Watch the post-match reaction from Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp and Norwich City head coach Daniel Farke following the Reds’ 4-1 Premier League opening night win at Anfield.

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City paying for ‘sins of the past’

Daniel Farke admits Norwich City is still ‘paying for the sins of the past’ with promoted rivals spending lavish sums in the transfer market ahead of the Premier League kick-off.

Sheffield United confirmed a club record deal for striker Oli McBurnie on Friday while Aston Villa have splurged in excess of £100m already this summer.

City in contrast made four senior signings, including two loan deals, but Farke knows the long term health of the club is far more important.

“The board and Stuart (Webber) have made it clear. We still have to pay for some sins of the past,” he said. “There was no other option, we had to invest in the training ground and the academy in order to make sure that this club is run in a positive way in a few years and not just one season in the Premier League.

“We are perhaps ahead of our schedule, in terms of this promotion, and in a few years we won’t have to pay for the sins of the past. That might be a problem now but we won’t raise the white flag.

“Last season we broke so many rules and we will aim to do the same.

“We know how tough the task is, we have to be at our best and we need some luck in terms of injuries. But we work hard each and every day to be competitive, even if we are not financially.

“We have to be realistic. The teams already in the Premier League have better opportunities in financial terms than us. They are prepared because they are used to play on this level. Not just the top six but more or less the other clubs.

“Now when you see the money the clubs who were promoted with us can spend to bring in individual quality, look at Villa, they have spent nearly £140m and Sheffield have made some decent transfers.

“You have to say, with our opportunities financially, if you are realistic then we are the favourite to finish in position 20 in the Premier League. We are not naïve. When you are able to spend money to bring in quality you have a bigger guarantee to be successful. But we know our situation and we handle this.”

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THE BIG INTERVIEW: Daniel Farke on Premier League bow

Daniel Farke is convinced Norwich City’s transfer business will give him a fighting chance to compete in the Premier League.

Sam Byram became the fourth senior addition in recent days following the arrivals of Josip Drmic and loan duo Patrick Roberts and Ralf Fährmann.

City have rewarded a host of last season’s Championship title winners with upgraded deals, and Farke fully endorses Stuart Webber’s transfer strategy.

“You have to judge in a realistic way,” he said. “Of course as a head coach you will cry for more quality and more options. We are not naïve, the more you spend the more quality you can bring in and it makes the task of staying in the league easier.

“This is our way. We had to pay for some dues in the past for players, to also pay for facilities at the training ground and the academy. We have so many amazing and exciting young players who have committed to the longer term.

“We didn’t want to risk all that for one or two big transfers. We could have said we put the investment into the players not the facilities but one or two more players more would not guarantee our targets.

“I am pretty pleased with the work of Stuart and the board and we will now try to get the very best from these lads in the season ahead.”

Farke has brought his players to Germany for a third pre-season in a row to prepare for the daunting top flight challenge.

“It is not one topic we have to work on. We have to be better in all areas,” he said. “Our pressing was outstanding last season, one of our big strengths and threats but in order to press a team like Manchester City with their individual quality you have to be even more precise and more detailed in how you press.

“Particularly your structure with and without the ball and how we use counter attacks.

“At the higher level, teams retain possession better and they are better set up to deal with counter attacks. We have to think how we can be successful in that area. You really can go through every topic, not just one special one, and we have to step up.

“We want to bring our Norwich City football on the pitch.”

Farke is refreshed and raring to go as the countdown continues to an opening night trip to Liverpool for last season’s Championship top dogs.

“There was plenty of time to reflect on what we had done over the summer and that is important as well,” he said. “During this long and exciting journey there really is no time to reflect or even analyse.

“You have to function and work every day.

“I wanted to analyse what went right, what went wrong and to be honest most things went right for us. It is always important you ask yourself, ‘What is the next step?’ and can you develop this squad and this club, and also to handle the emotional side. You need to find that energy and that motivation again to climb the next big mountain.

“I valued what we achieved and it can never be taken away during the lives of any of the players involved. We did something historic. It doesn’t make sense right now to sit in the chair and enjoy it too much. We can do that when we retire.

“I tell the lads that at 17 or 18 years old you think you can play for your whole life but really it is just a few seasons when you fight for something really special. Then after your career you have 50 or 60 years on the sofa.

“So no regrets, invest everything and the same for me. I am not overwhelmed by the emotion at what we did. We want to create the next thing.”

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