Manning on where we go from here: “We need to be a bit more streetwise. We're what, five games in, I think in terms of a new team with lots of change. We have to learn quickly because we want to win. Sometimes you have to suck up those frustrating, difficult results to actually develop that toughness, to learn how to be resilient. To learn how to win. Blackburn was what we needed, for the lads, in terms of validation for how we've performed to date. It was another experience that will allow us to develop trust, forge connections and tighten the group. If I was coming away from games we’d lost going, ‘We're a million miles behind the opposition’, I'd have been a bit more concerned, but I think the fact that, performance-wise, we dominated for large periods is actually a positive, because it is on us to change that. Not giving goals away or making sure that we're ruthless at the other end. It's great playing a certain style, but you're doing it to win a game so in those transitional moments how are we harder to beat? How do we not turn the ball over easy? How do we collectively cope with pressure? When we speak about pressure, it’s not ‘them and us’ because we're in it together. I think that's the key bit. The players are desperate to do well, and our jobs are to steer them and educate them. In terms of the direction the group is going there's loads to be excited about.” https://www.pinkun.com/sport/interviews/25443519.norwich-city-manning-championship-edge-blueprint/
One of the biggest disappointments from last season has been Jurásek, but Manning says he's now improving: “I think he's pushing now to have a real impact. He keeps improving, keeps improving and he keeps getting better and in terms of level of training these last few weeks, and conditioning, he's in a much better place. You know, mentally, he looks in a much better place.” Let's hope that continues and he can put some pressure on Crnac that ups his game as well. We paid a lot of money for both players and if we are to improve they have the potential to be a big part of that.
"Norwich City striker Josh Sargent has been named Championship player of the month after his searing start to the season. The Canaries number nine has claimed the EFL's award for August, during which he scored five goals in four league games on top of a fine finish against Watford in the Carabao Cup." https://www.pinkun.com/sport/norwic...city-star-josh-sargent-wins-efl-player-month/
As was widely expected, Sheffield Utd have sacked manager Ruben Selles after their disappointing start to the season, culminating in Friday's 5:0 defeat at Ipswich. If rumours are to believed, Chris Wilder may well be re-appointed.
But we were undeniably a million miles away from both Southampton and Coventry, and I would argue a long way behind Millwall & Boro (the closeness of the scores disguises the fact that against Cov, Mill & Boro we could easily have lost by three goals in each game and not complained.) If someone can't see how second-best we were in all four games, I think he's looking through yellow and green glasses. We had good first halves away to Pompey & Watford, but in both cases this with was a player we have since sold taking the game by the scruff of the neck, and we hung on for dear life in the second half. I'd say Blackburn was the only half-decent overall performance but even that was far from convincing and could easily have swung the other way without mad Vlad.
Injury update from the presser: "Norwich City forward Mathias Kvistgaarden will be out injured for six weeks. The Dane limped off with a knee problem at Coventry during the Canaries' most recent Championship game. Defender Ben Chrisene will miss eight weeks with a hamstring injury sustained in the same match." Schlupp is fit again but Saturday will be too soon for him. https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/c62z8x2ylxno
We really don't seem to get any luck with injuries. But is it a case that lacking fitness played a part? both have missed chunks of time before for injury but aren't exactly sick notes either. Is it the way we train? but could that extend across multiple managerial teams? Very frustrating to lose Kvistgaarden as he looks an exciting prospect. Bah!
With so many people entrenched in their views. I thought I'd take a look at the stats that actually matter. No emotion, subjectivity or confirmation bias just the data. I think anyone looking at my last post objectively, would conclude that at the worst Manning is doing just as well a Thorup was at this point of the season and if anything slightly better. Happy to update this each week and put it on the match day thread if people think it has value.
It does give an objective comparison which is very useful. Good of you to take the time to do it. Knapper set out to analyse injuries at the end of last season but I haven't seen any results. Fitness could be a factor in some injuries, hamstrings in particular, but not those to knees or ankles which are due to impact. I felt the same about Kvistgaarden who is a big loss now. Marcondes has trained for two days, so he might be an option to replace Matthias but we look thin at LB with Schlupp out as well. Mahovo is training again but there was no mention of him. Looks like Fisher will have to switch over again and Stacey come in as RB. Edit: Mahovo will not be available but Córdoba will. Manning put it like this: "It feels worse if it is something you could have controlled or managed. Mathias just landed awkwardly. We can’t control that. Ben was away for most of the previous two weeks. We don’t control that.”
Good thinking. He's well used to linking up with the CBs as well. This could be a good time for Mattsson's debut as well.
Agree with RER, it’s useful to have that analysis thanks Canario. And I am a believer in the mantra that the hard stats don’t lie. But for me football is, has always been and always will be about more than just the stats. There are other stats which show things like xG (a hugely problematic stat, but in its own context shows what it needs to) which paint a very negative picture under Manning. I also think any situation where we are getting 0 points at home is a very serious negative. Any team which wants to be in the promotion spots has to have an incredibly strong home record. Without that, it suggests there is major disconnect between fans, players, performance and strategy. That comes home to roost eventually, even with patching up holes by getting points away from home. So that’s a serious downside to Manning’s stats. The other problem with more points away from home is that it implies a certain type of football which our squad and club have not been designed for. That’s a dangerous direction for the team and while I am fine accepting that the points are there and we are in touch of the play-offs, I think that type of football when our club is not designed for it is going to break down before long. I know that sounds negative, but I sincerely believe it - Norwich City is not a club that can play hoofball effectively, it would take several years to get to that point. Finally, eyes don’t lie on quality of our performances. I don’t think there is any fan, hand on heart, who can say we have played well these first five matches. There is very little to suggest we can - with players on the pitch and structure/style of play - improve markedly. There are no glaring mistakes from players costing us points, we are not regularly missing sitters, no individual player has had a shocker which has cost us the game (not really). The positives, such as they are, are all wishful thinking - oh we have players who might improve, or might come back from injury and help. Or the style of play might gel better. I would be defending Manning just as I did Thorup and Farke and Neil and even though it was hard Hughton back in the day, if I could see visible reasons for positivity in spite of results. Instead I see only reasons why our results have exceeded performances and wishful thinking (not necessarily unjustified, but unproven) that things could change for the better if certain un-guaranteed events happen. If there is a “mean” to revert to in terms of points we deserved, it’s that we should have fewer points on the board because we look like a poor team structurally to me. And I accept that others will disagree but I think have been consistent with that - eg take Thorup, I actually agreed with the sacking because even though I liked the style and the philosophy, and think we as a club should be working on long term plans - something happened which can only be, to my mind, reasonably explained as a major negative. So unless someone can show me (and I will be open to this) positive potential in front of our eyes as to why Manning could be a success, I’m filled with doubt
I don't think any of us know where this is going to go any more than we did last season with Thorup after 5 games, but that isn't enough games to draw conclusions from. Our main weapon so far is Sargent, as was the case last year. The big worry is if he's injured, especially with Kvistgaarden injured now. The xG factor is less concerning as long as Sargent's quality is available. It would help if Crnac could up his game now that he's been with us over a year, but that doesn't seem to be happening yet. Let's hope it does soon because there is a good player in there. The other key area is midfield, which had seemed to be improving until the Coventry game. Kvistgaarden's goal and good defensive play saved us but the midfield wasn't a great contributor to either, as it was Medić who provided the excellent through ball for the assist. Wrexham will be the first bottom third team we have faced so far so there's a reasonable chance of an uplifting performance at home this time.
