Norwich have kicked off in their first friendly of the day, this one against Olympiacos. The game is being streamed in Fawanews. A young side involved, essentially second string: Moulden, Adelusi, Hills, McConville, Ozcan, Gibbs, Slimane, Mundle-Smith, Marcondes, Sealey, Schwartau Bench full of youngsters as well with Jurasek scheduled to come on at half time. McConville wearing the armband
1-0 to Olympiacos at half time. Really poor half, no presence in midfield or up top, passing was poor. Only 2 showing any composure on the ball was Hills and McConville
Half time 0:0. Misplaced passes galore. Best bit of play, a run from the right across the line of the penalty area by Crnac, ending with a fierce left foot shot, on target but parried by the Den Haag keeper.
Watched the whole game and it seemed obvious that the emphasis up to now has been on defence. We played 3 at the back (Medić, Darling and Duffy) with Stacey and Crisene as WBs. Wright shielded the defence and we maintained a good shape, denying space for them to exploit. Our attacks were less impressive considering Núñez, Wright, Forson, Crnac and Sargent were all involved in last season. Stacey and Crisene operated well as WBs without sacrificing their defensive responsibilities. AJ Bridge replaced Crisene after 63 minutes and looked good on both sides of the ball. Three other young players came onfor the last 15-20 minutes. Manning's take on the game: “We had quite a few feeling it at the end. That will be an accumulation of the physical effort we have put in. When you come away for 10 days you have to push the lads hard and you have to work. But you could see there was some fatigue, a little lack of sharpness, but we know that is the case. We got some really good minutes in the tank and we’ll give the lads some time off when we get back. I expect the freshness to return after that.”
As the Pink'Un journos keep re-iterating Manning's teams are not exactly known for their attacking flair. Anyone hoping for anything approaching our free-scoring performances last season is likely to be disappointed.
Not the sort of fact people want to hear Robbie. I just hope we are not going back to the style and tactics of Smith and Wagner.
Yeah, we were free with conceding goals as well. At Bristol City he had to depend on 35 year old Nahki Wells for goals. Let's see what he can do with Sargent, Kvistgaarden, Jurasek and Diallo this time around. Yeah, a bottom half finish in 13th was so much more exciting than finishing in the playoffs.
It is a matter of opinion but I think it was. I didn't find going for a 1-0 win at best by defensive tactics and the odd breakaway remotely entertaining or exciting nor did the supporters who streamed out at half time on occasions. I personally didn't think that scraping into the playoffs by the failings of other teams and to suffer humiliation when you got there was a successful season but then I watch a football match to be entertained not bored. As I say its a matter of opinion.
It is a matter of opinion, certainly, but to me it's more of a competitive encounter between two teams and it was that competitive edge that was missing last season. There was too much theoretical tactics which were sussed and exploited by opponents as the season went on. The dramatic lowering of average age left us vulnerable against seasoned opponents. The 'transition' ideal fell apart as the season wore on. The 8 goals conceded in consecutive home games against Millwall and Portsmouth epitomised this and Knapper made his decision. It was the right one IMO. Manning emphasises the competitive culture and bases his tactics around that and more balance between attack and defence should help achieve that. The excellent recruitment this window should also make a difference, but, as usual, time will tell.
On the 2nd of February this year, Norwich were 8th in the Championship, with 42 points from 30 games. Only 2 points separated them from WBA in 6th, with 44 points. Bristol City were in 9th place, with the same number of points as Norwich, from the same number of games. Norwich were above them on GD, +7 as against +3. How is it that a team "lacking a competitive edge" came to be 2 points off the play-offs, and neck and neck with a team who we're told had competitiveness written all over them?
That would be ok if it was a 30 game season, but it just emphasizes how badly things fell apart after that. Thorup's final 14 games yielded a mere 11 points - something had gone badly wrong. I liked Thorup but he just wasn't right for us. This comment by Connor Southwell on the preseason schedule might give an indication: "Liam Manning has made little secret that he would have devised the pre-season differently. This was one concocted by his predecessor Johannes Hoff Thorup. The Dane wanted a bigger proportion of training time over matches and a longer camp in one location rather than two or three shorter overseas trips. By the time Manning took the role, contracts were signed and plans finalised. Perhaps it is an insight into why Thorup was unable to connect with those in the dressing room. It was a schedule that perhaps didn't consider the human aspects of spending so much time away, by the end, there was some understandable cabin fever in the camp."
Nobody can dispute that the wheels came off in the final 14 matches but whether the players had lost faith in Thorup or because Thorup had lost faith in the Club following his meeting with the owner is a matter of conjecture. As for the proposed pre-season schedule - really? The top players over here had, after the normal season here, European finals, Internationals, The World Club Tournament and almost immediately a 2 week tour of either the USA or the Far East yet our little darlings couldn't cope with a 10 or 14 day pre-season camp in Europe. I don't believe it.
Don’t forget several of our players were at international tournaments as well at younger age groups. It has been mentioned on several occasions that Thorup struggled to connect with the players, which seems completely at odds with the person he was in media interviews, where he came across as extremely likeable, but I have heard that he was quite shut off to players around the club. Regarding the pre-season camp I do agree with you though, it’s only 10 days, not the biggest chore for the money they earn and it is important time to gel with new team mates
When JHT first came in there were photos of him having breakfast at Colney, sitting at a table with a group of players. The comments then were all about a welcome breath of Danish informality. So if we are to be fed tittle tattle about how it was nine or so months later, please can we be told the source of it. I'd be more inclined to believe this particular bit of gossip if, for example, it came from, say, Emi Marcondes, than, for example, a disgruntled Argos. But then I doubt if a principled and professional Danish player like Marcondes would have anything to do with **** spreading of this kind anyway.
I apologise for being dragged into another back and forth on the merits of JHT and the 'transition' season. I'll try to do better in future. OTBC! Upwards and onwards!
