MONDAY MARDLE: A movie we’ve all seen before as the rollercoater rumbles on
It’s fitting that this is my 24th Monday Mardle and the last one of 2024.
I may as well be writing this on February 2nd, which some of you may know as ‘Groundhog Day’ – except I’m referring to the movie version starring Bill Murray in which every day he wakes up is exactly the same.
A week has passed. What has changed?
My main theme last week was that of my perceived sense of indiscipline in the Canary camp. And what is there to greet me after a long, jet-lag-induced sleep this morning?
That’s right, the same Borja Sainz who left the pitch with a bloodied nose against QPR, in an incident that apparently did not require investigation. It’s easy to find conspiracies under every stone if that’s what you decide to look for.
As for events on the pitch?
Let’s keep the movie theme going – I suspect I’ve used this metaphor before but who wouldn’t go with The Good, The Bad and The Ugly to describe the last week
The Good?
That first half against Millwall. One of the better, if not the best half of Hoff-ball that we have yet seen? City were in full flow, manipulating the Millwall press, cutting through it, around it and over it.
A goal within three minutes. A second almost carbon copy. Not pretty goals that will win goal of the month, but well-worked goals nonetheless and equally satisfying.
The Bad?
Let’s start with the second half against Millwall and perhaps much of the game against QPR.
Darel Russell was on Radio Norfolk co-commentating duty with Chris Goreham yesterday and he made an extremely astute observation.
The former Canary man observed that when QPR were pressing high and hard, City looked at their most comfortable and were able to do exactly what they did against Millwall – pass through, round and over the press.
But when QPR dropped off and sat deep, City lacked the ability to turn possession into a threat.
Bizarrely this seems to unsettle City such that they go into their shells.
Against Millwall, the visitors dropped off. When they were gifted a goal following the withdrawal of Marcelino Nunez, and then stepped their game back up, City had lost that edge, the zip and the precision. And with it the ability to play out comfortably.
QPR felt more like the away game. City did well (at times) in the first half, once they conceded and QPR dropped off, they lacked ideas and ambition, while also leaving themselves dangerously exposed at times on the counter.
It took a change of dynamic for City to look threatening again. The introduction of Ashley Barnes (after a bizarre striker-less 10 minutes with Onel up front), Marcondes and Hernandez out wide altered the attacking dynamic and gave City a genuine threat once more.
The Ugly?
Well, let’s ignore the disciplinary aspects for this. Let’s go instead with another goal conceded from a set piece. It is rapidly becoming a thing, I suspect a big thing in the minds of the City players, and as football is at least 50 per cent a mind game, it represents a problem for the City staff to address.
Despite what some may think, it isn’t about zonal marking v man-to-man. It isn’t even about ability – City should have players more than capable of defending these situations. It is about positivity, desire, and concentration as Ben Chrisene mentioned in his post-match interview.
For opposing teams, it is making life easy. Push forward. Win free kick or corner. Make a huge opportunity to score. Hence another display of Tom Daley diving antics from QPR.
So back to Groundhog Day.
The last week has shown, once again, that this is (still) a transition season. The (hopefully) imminent threat of the return of Josh Sargent, albeit tempered by a potential ban of up to six games for Sainz, may transform City’s fortunes on the pitch. But this would be perhaps a false dawn for Hoff-ball.
My personal feeling is that City are caught between the devil and the deep blue sea.
They play well, make the playoffs and get promoted – only for a repeat of 2019-20. Promoted ‘too early’ and with a squad lacking in quality and depth for the Premier League.
Or they may still flounder around mid-table as Thorup imposes his style upon the players and the squad, only to take a step back at the end of the year by losing the top talents of Sargent and Sainz….
I’m glad I’m just a fan, and I’ve seen this so many times before, and not someone at the Club with the responsibility to sort this out.
Which leaves me to wish you all a very Happy New Year, wherever you are and whatever you are doing, especially to those who for whatever reason are away from their families and loved ones.
On The Ball City to you all.
I’ll sign off the year with a tune of sorts. It’s the closing scene from the movie Groundhog Day with the great Bill Murray bashing out the notes on the piano.
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