It's a big turnaround from 2 seasons ago, (even from last season). Probably a bit of both our improvement and the league being a bit more forgiving this time around. I think we're better prepared (and balanced) for a PL season regardless. Losing some key members though could set us back again.
Although our defence has clearly improved a lot, our defensive record this season may also have been helped by the fact that so many teams in the league this time round play a defensive style of football, plus, of course, they are much more aware of our threat than 18/19, so they are probably especially defensive against us.
I get where your coming from, but it's not as though in 18/19 the teams at the start of the season decided how they were going to play every game during the season. Certainly by the time we played a team for the 2nd time they were well aware how we played.
Richard Freezer Perhaps the awards panel are anti German or anti Norwich or just stupid? As you say incredible how the team playing the best football the champ has seen isn’t able to win a monthly award for the person instrumental in its performances
You could argue it’s testament to our consistency of form throughout the season, so we have not relied upon bursts of good results - we have just kept getting points
It's an interesting question, DH, but how do you judge that? Back in 2000, how many Championship teams had wealthy owners financing player acquisitions? We're self-financing, so our spending has been limited but we have still improved the squad and as Mike says have refined our Farkeball tactics. The key thing for me has been the settled CB partnership, though Omobamidele has fitted in relatively seamlessly in the last two games since Gibson's injury. Giannoulis has improved with every game and looks to be PL quality and Aarons has matured with experience. The other factor is the midfield partnership of McLean and Skipp which has shielded the defence and also supported the attack, as have Giannoulis and Aarons without exposing the defence. The threat of our attacking players has kept opponents pinned back. For all of those reasons I think the difference has been in our play rather than any unusual weakness in the league.
This season is on track to have the lowest goals scored tally for at least 15 odd years, so that does have some influence over any defensive record stats. I would posit that due to the compressed timetable teams have been far happier to protect lower leads and take off and protect players earlier, rather than going for the jugular and getting hatfuls. I think we are playing some fantastic football right now. For reference I went back and looked at the play off final against Boro, and whilst there were some impressive individual contributions, the movement of the ball by the team looked amateurish in comparison to what we are seeing now. The levels of passing proficiency throughout our team now are better than they've ever been, and farkes focus on making every one in the team comfortable on the ball has transformed us. (That virtual passing training machine that Webber bought us seems to be paying for itself and more!)
Edit - double post. Also - anyone feel that beundias excellent season has almost increased his odds of staying with us next year? I feel he's done so well he's no longer a viable cheeky 25m bid from a lower half prem team. However I think as he's already 30m plus, some bigger teams may wait to see if he can build on it in the top league before stumping up the moolah? Plus he looks happy. I think he appreciates the football he gets to play with us currently. I think we are more likely to see toddy off to be honest. Pukki will never leave us. It seems very much that he recognises that Farkeball has restarted his career, both club and international.
Here's an outside view of our present squad: https://www.fourfourtwo.com/features/is-this-norwich-city-side-the-best-in-championship-history Quite flattering to even engender the question. Here's DF's view at the presser today: "The league is different to two years ago. The job this year has been much harder. We are the favourite in every game this year and that makes things much harder." https://www.canaries.co.uk/News/2021/april/live-daniel-farkes-pre-derby-county-press-conference/
One reason our defensive record has improved in the Championship this season compared to two years ago is that we have been more successful at controlling games through possession, averaging 61% overall (as against 57% in 2018--2019). Possession reduces defensive load. Is this something we will be able to carry over to the higher league? Again, at Championship level, we have the weapons to mimic top level teams like Man City in utilising attack as a principal form of defence. Is there really any reason to think that we can replicate that next season in the EPL any more successfully than we did last time? Finally, SW pinpointed lack of pace, and the ease with which we were outmuscled, as factors we needed to address. Can we honestly say we've done that to any significant degree? "Plus ca change plus c'est la meme chose" would be my verdict, with one major qualification, namely being able to field a quality, specialist DM in the shape of Ollie Skipp. I really don't think very much else has changed in terms of the likelihood of survival next season.
based on the eye test of watching us play? Yes - this team is better at playing the style of football farke is trying to get from them. They are more technically capable than before. A number of young players have further matured and developed this year. Based on data, yes our defence has been more resolute this season than previous ones. The use of attack as form of defence has long been a Norwich tactic, yet this year we have sacrificed some attacking success (1.6 goals per game vs 2.02 in 18/19) for an increasing number of cleansheets. 41% vs 28% in 18/19. Weve also conceded significantly less goals - 0.7 per game vs 1.24 in 18/19. And many a time its been said that for a small team in the top division, a resolute defence is better than a free scoring approach. That said, i am concerned that (oh dear) we are not converting chances as 'clinically' this year. Our shot conversion rate has dropped from 17% in 18/19 to 10% this year. I know i know the whole clinical debate rages on, but the stats tell a clear story here. We have not made shots count this year as much as our previous stay in the champ.
https://www.canaries.co.uk/News/202...nated-for-pfa-fans-player-of-the-month-award/ Emi nominated Get voting folks
Although Skipp has contributed a lot to this season, he has been only one factor. The addition of Gibson in place of Godfrey has brought experience and poise to the defence and formed a solid partnership with a transformed Hanley. Giannoulis has also added experience and an extended skillset at LB which will make us stronger in the PL. More of our players will have PL experience this time around and the development of McLean has made a big difference this season. DF has grown as well and will be much better prepared this time. Our attacking players have also developed further and will offer a greater threat in the PL, enhanced by the addition of Dowell and the pace of Placheta. We don't know who will depart or arrive over the summer but SW should be prepared to deal with those.
Was just looking at some managerial tenure stats. Farke is the 13th longest serving manager in the Football League. 5th in the championship 5 managers have lasted 5 years+ 12 have lasted 4 years + 16 have lasted 3 years + 27 have lasted 2 years + 48 have lasted 1 year+ So 44/92 Football League clubs have changed their manager in the last 12 months. That's crazy turnover. In terms of NCFC stats, Farke currently ties Lambert for number of games managed on 142. Farke P142, W55 D37, L50 Lambert P142, W70, D35, L37. They're currently tied as 13th longest serving NCFC managers. Farke might move up to 11th were he to leave at the end of next season when his contract expires.
Yes, yes and yes to all three of your questions. You don’t even need stats for those answers, it’s blindingly obvious. But if you want them, we had possession averaging 49% last season, so no reason to believe we cannot increase it (that’s just a weird question tbh). In terms of attacking and creativity - an interesting comment on the show after the Watford match was pointing to the fact that the Norwich style of play takes years to develop. We are quite clearly a more coherent unit this time. As for pace - Giannoulis is phenomenally quick. Mumba’s fast. We are also seeing better use of wide play this season with the fast full backs. As for strength - beyond doubt we are stronger. Hanley has actually been fit, Gibson’s been strong, McClean’s become more of a regular and the proof of that is we’ve no longer got Jamal Lewis marking the opposition’s tallest player. Have you actually watched our matches? The whole point of more of the same is that, actually, the style of play last season was pretty successful. Until we got hammered by injuries. So now we have got better strength in depth, creative players a couple of years older and wiser, more height and strength, a more balanced attacking structure and a squad that has been together long enough to work seamlessly: my answer is, yes, only someone in denial would ignore both how we look when you watch us and what all commentators are saying and be convinced we are as weak as the last time we got promoted. Honestly Robbie, I get that you don’t like being proven wrong, but not only are your beloved stats against you, every other person watching the game disagrees with you. There must come a point in time where the overwhelming evidence to the contrary shakes your self-belief?
Skipp’s been excellent, but his personal contribution is overrated. Statistically McClean is superior, and he’s more important to our attack. However the most important thing is the style of two defensive midfielders who are literally defending when our fullbacks go into attack. I’m confident we will be able to replace Skipp no problem if we cannot persuade Tottenham to loan him again.