Norwich 0-3 Leeds; The Review

Biggest Positive

All of a Yellow and Green persuasion were left beaming to see Louis T returning to first team league action after back to back achilles injuries. He looked pacey, strong in the tackle and was confident to keep the ball. He also did well to show those attributes whilst being deployed in an odd defensive right wing position. It was clearly an attempt to match up to Leeds threat on that side. Both first half goals (though neither Louis T’s fault) suggest that didn’t work.

Moment of the match

The opening Leeds goal, which only came about thanks to Krul haplessly parrying a relatively firm shot back into the centre of the 18-yard box. Yes, it fell directly to the grateful Mateusz Klich, but his team’s hard work and willing running made a lot of the luck they enjoyed today. Plus the initial goalbound effort should have been pushed round the post or out wide or caught.

It was the turning point and effectively the end of Norwich’s relevance in this fixture. Despite a bright first 15-minute spell where the majority of attacking play, corners and endeavour came from the Canaries, if that was thanks to the confidence taken from the 10 minutes of good play that saw off PNE on Weds, it all seemed to ebb away when Krul picked up that assist for the opener. It was if all 11 players, and most of the 25,944 spectators believed it proved that no, we’d be getting nothing out of today and how foolish we were to walk down to Carrow Road hoping otherwise.

Random star performer

Very, very, tricky to pick out anyone in yellow, besides from Louis T’s shout out.

Teemu played a couple of exciting balls through and tried some pretty football in that promising opening period and I do believe that a lot of what’s been enjoyable to watch this season has included our new Fin.

Weekly whinge

Farke got praise from most quarters on Wednesday night for changing shape and bringing on EB. Likewise, the first three league games I felt positive about him changing things early in the second half even though ultimately the win eluded us.

Today it was men against boys tactically. Farke had no answer for Leeds’ megapress (could he not have studied Swansea causing them problems and bagging a couple of goals?) and once we ceased to threaten for the 20 minutes into the break, why was nothing attempted to offer Bielsa a different challenge.

I’m afraid there are too many examples like today, where once plan A is thwarted the players seem clueless and nothing comes from the bench by way of an answer. The subs were too late and stank of just conceding the game was already gone.

Farke watch

It appears that some want to write off last season when measuring his tenure. Indeed, your humble ACN correspondents are split on that logic.

4 wins out of 21 is sacking form in any league for any club.

If you say only judge him on this season its 1 in 4 and too early to pull the trigger (especially based on some promising signs going forward before this week). But some wins must arrive soon or even that argument is shaky.

One point I’d make is those who say we may only consider performance and results from August 2018 onwards are those who comforted themselves in March – May when it was dismal with the logic that he has only had 2 windows, not enough time, only starting to be his squad etc. Surely therefore their expectations of what he can achieve must be much higher now and we must act sooner this season than if it were his first?

Atmosphere rating

There seemed a good deal of positivity around the place and Nodge’s early prominence led to some lively sparring between E block and those who marched on together from West Yorkshire.

The first goal was greeted with an OTBC that sadly seemed to reflect the writing being very much on the wall (avoiding any reference to wall’s colour, bore off), and we grew quieter as a fanbase as the result gained more certainty.

There were audible groans and maybe a boo or two at half time, but certainly when Rhodes was replaced for Srbeny. A signal that Farke hoped it stayed at just 3 rather than go for a comeback. I feel that subs that dont meet general approval are a bad derby day away from being greeted with the dreaded “You dont know what youre doing”.

Leeds are always a belting away following, and both Lawny and I admit to being controversially fond of that club. When you’re top of the league and playing your best football for ages and have a manager you believe in its fairly easy to have a party. The one slight on them was the songbook hasn’t evolved much, so in that area, must try harder.

Summary

Wednesday’s ACN review was summarised “This was not great”.

Well, this was perhaps the best ammunition Farxit voters needed: look what a new manager has done with the same players that finished last season only goal difference away from City.