The ACN Match Review – Southampton (h)

The line-up

It was unclear what the formation would be when the line-up was announced; as the opening minutes passed you could sense the disappointment at having five at the back. It has been said by many since, but Norwich shouldn’t ever be reduced to such a defensive setup at home in the Championship. It was embarrassingly cowardly and extremely boring for everyone present, including my Chilean wife and son who kept asking me why Norwich were just defending. It was also another game where an underperforming experienced forward was preferred up top over Idah. I don’t get it.

The atmosphere

Really bad. Having been away from Carrow Road for almost four years it was easily the quietest I’ve ever seen the home fans (I was right next to the Saints fans, whom I also thought a bit disappointing). I used to be a season ticket holder in the Barclay End, much of it when 14-16k was the norm. Without wanting to go “it was better in my day,” it was y’know – despite 10,000 fewer bums on seats. The current lack of atmosphere is something I was warned about, but I don’t think I’d realised quite how bad it had got. The matter was also a major talking point on BBC Radio 5 Live after the game and was also commented on by Russell Martin. More and more Norwich fans are saying they are giving up their season ticket after this season.

Hurrah moment

Grant Hanley doing his classic flop to the ground trick to win a free kick is strong competition to the beautifully worked goal involving Núñez, Sara, Rowe and Sargent. 

Boooo moment

The Southampton goal was an example of how harmful the defensive setup was, and how a defensive, cowardly mindset can lead to mistakes slightly less obvious but just as costly as ones made by sides who are brave and bold with the ball. Stacey, then Hanley, then Gunn all made negative decisions that led to Gunn launching it straight to a Southampton player – leading to their goal. It always felt as if a Southampton goal was due in that first 70 minutes, not because of their quality but due to Wagner’s tactics.

Hero of the match

Two candidates here. First, Josh Sargent – not just for scoring after battling back from a bad injury, but also for showing the kind of desire lacking when Hwang was up top in the first hour. My other candidate is Marcelino Nûñez, ostensibly for another disciplined display that paid off when he started his move for the equaliser, but actually for running over to give his training top to my son before the game. A positive memory that the on-pitch action couldn’t provide.

Our post-match takeaway

Generally speaking, I’m quite a purist when it comes to football. Ever since I was a kid, the football I’ve enjoyed watching is attacking, proactive football where teams try and control the game with the ball. They’ll be the protagonist in the game, and want to go to win the ball back high and be aggressive and try to entertain and score goals. That’s what excites me as a fan, that’s what I think is the best way to approach the game.

They are not my words, but they could be. They are, however, the words of our current sporting director. It’s now one win in five, the second poor run of form since Knapper came in. Throughout, the football has been as far from Ben Knapper’s beautiful vision as it could be. The transfer window is open, but who at the club is really in charge of the incomings and outgoings right now? Surely not the Head Coach with a first-year record that signals a mid-table finish, and a playing style that doesn’t match the sporting director’s.