I have to take my hat off to Daniel Farke for turning this around, although his job isn’t done yet.
In the run up to Christmas, through that desperate winless run of the autumn and up to that horrible defeat at Carrow Road to Brentford, Norwich City were in all sorts of trouble.
We weren’t scoring goals (we still aren’t in any great numbers) and we were conceding. Not a recipe for success in this game.
Starting with the away win at Birmingham, it slowly started to turn. Unbelievably, the two games against Chelsea seemed to galvanise the squad and we’ve gone on from there. Only the 1-2 loss against Sheffield United has blotted the copy book in the last 12 fixtures.
I must admit that I was worried after that Brentford defeat. The run of fixtures we had coming up was concerning. Bristol City, Brentford (again), Middlesbrough, Derby and Wolves, not to mention Ipswich, Sheffield United and of course, Chelsea.
Our season was precariously balanced at the turn of the year. It could so easily have gone wrong and we could’ve been in a relegation battle. The fact that we are still (just) in touch with the top six is testament to the job that Farke and his coaches have done.
It’s far from the finished article because our expectations were to be challenging for the top six this season. However, the way that high earners have been shipped out and young hungry guys brought in has been well worth it. Many fans still moan but the fact is this has been a season of transition and that next season will be the one to put your hopes on.
I don’t want to get too carried away because there is still the matter of scoring goals to be addressed. We don’t score anywhere like enough to be making that top six and that’s what I think will ultimately cost us this season.
However, if that can be improved in the summer transfer window, then I just feel like we’re on the verge of something good. There are of course many things that will happen between now and the start of the season and several players will come and go.
The biggest task will be holding onto James Maddison and I accept that is unlikely. There has been talk of a £30m asking price for the midfield maestro and if that sort of money is offered then we’ll take it.
That amount of cash would keep the club ticking over for another season or so in terms of a promotion challenge and might offer the funds to sign a reliable goal scorer and a Maddison replacement.
Right now, I’d be looking to persuade Moritz Leitner to give it a go in Norfolk as our new number 10. His impact has been immediate and that’s partially why we are doing so well in midfield in terms of controlling the game. We saw it at Derby and we saw it again in the second half at Wolves last night.
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Last night’s last gasp draw with the Champions elect was creditable to say the least. Wolves had flown into a 2-0 lead after just 25 minutes and had it not been for an immediate response from Christoph Zimmermann then the game could’ve been done right there and then.
The second half was another example of Norwich controlling an away game before eventually getting their reward. It was of course, a tad fortunate.
John Ruddy is not routinely beaten from 35 yards and Nelson Oliveira certainly doesn’t routinely score from that distance either. If truth be known, his shots from distance are usually a lot more wayward.
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But hey, he had a go and he scored a wonderful goal. It was no more than City deserved for that second half performance and it keeps the unbeaten run going.
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Scoring late goals was a hallmark of Paul Lambert’s Norwich City and it’s a sign of togetherness in the squad, something Lambert’s squad was famous for.
That’s what I mean about feeling that there’s something good around the corner. I can’t explain it because it’s just a feeling inside me.
That goal will do Nelson Oliveira the world of good. Strikers feed on scoring goals and the more they score they better they are, generally. It’s the same if they’re not scoring but in reverse and Nelson has had a barren run.
Hopefully though, that can be well and truly put behind him and he can start to regularly hit the back of the net. I feel a little sorry for Dennis Srbeny, having to make his full debut at Molineux though.
Against Wolves’ well drilled, giant back three, he had little opportunity to shine and it will have been a tough introduction to the Championship. He worked hard but it was always going to be a tough introduction for the German.
I imagine that the changes that Farke made were with Bolton in mind, this coming Saturday. Alex Tettey’s creaking knees were rested and Oliveira got to save 60 minutes from his own legs.
The only real surprise to me was that Onel Hernandez didn’t start and that Marley Watkins got the nod instead. Watkins has yet to impress in a City shirt (and it’s now February) but did okay last night. Perhaps Onel is taking some time to adjust to English football?
There is still a chance of making the top six and negotiating the last three games without defeat has helped City stay in touch. We will really need to push on now though because time is running out and there are plenty of teams still above us that will be eyeing Bristol City’s current position.
Before I go, one last thing about Christoph Zimmermann. He has done so well to step up from Germany’s fourth division this season and despite a few reckless moments last night, he got his goal and made an incredible tackle in the City area with his head(!) while lying on the floor!
If you haven’t seen it yet, check it out on the Sky Sports highlights because it’s quite extraordinary. He literally put everything on the line to stop a shot. He was on the floor and threw his head in front of the ball.
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Incredible and bravo, Christoph.
OTBC
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