The importance of pre-season games varies depending on which blog you read, a couple of weeks ago @LeeCoolahan reported from Gorleston on what was essentially a light fitness exercise with seven City goals thrown in.
As I pointed out last week though the games get more important the closer you get to opening day so for me the Coventry fixture was interesting as I thought it would be a genuine indication of how far we’ve come. I sat in the home fans as ever, firmly in compliance with the rules when you are with a Coventry fan, whose whole family are also Coventry fans. I was a lone yellow in a sea of grumbling sky blues, one of only three yellow shirts I saw in the home stand. (There may have been more I just didn’t see them).
The game was a good opportunity to try and replicate the conditions we may find ourselves competing in during the early weeks of the season. It was hot, which tested our fitness and ability to maintain the tempo of the game. Coventry’s pitch was also in incredible condition, which did us more favours than them it seemed. You would imagine that the majority of Premier League surfaces will be similar to our own pristine turf so this was another plus as we knocked the ball around effortlessly all afternoon.
I’d barely taken my seat and worked out the most probable angle of lynching before we were a goal to the good. The tempo I mentioned earlier had been enforced from the off as City caught Coventry napping, some neat interplay put Holt through and he tumbled under the faintest of touches. At this point I was a little bit embarrassed, I thought he’d dived, I expected the referee to give a free kick to Coventry and not the penalty Holt was after. He gave neither though and Aaron Wilbraham-ovic was on hand to rifle the ball past the keeper to make it 1-0. The old adages ‘play to the whistle’ will undoubtedly have been part of Andy Thorn’s half time team talk but it was one situation where the Coventry defence would be forgiven for stopping completely. On first viewing they should’ve had a free kick and in the Premier League most refs would’ve booked Holt. Still 1-0 and the feeling in the pit of my stomach that I may end up being mercilessly mocked by the in-laws had subsided. Holt didn’t cover himself in glory but was even awarded the goal by the sub par stadium announcer, the man simply can do no wrong.
Soon after this Holt tangled with Clingan, and again tumbled at a very strange angle. This time the referee bought it much to the displeasure of the home fans. “Biggest diver in the Premier League” rang out from one voice in the home stand. Grant Holt was labelled the biggest diver in the Premier League before he had even kicked a ball at the top-level #grantholtfacts.
Later on in the first half Korey Smith volleyed over, he didn’t really get hold of it but it was enough to remind me that so far in the game he had been everywhere. He was tireless. Smith was unlucky last season in that the team he was trying to break into rarely made an error. Like his loan buddy Lansbury he was used from the bench through no fault of his own. Lambert was just very loyal to the eleven on the park. Korey must see pre-season as a fresh chance to put himself back in Lambert’s plans. He did himself no harm on Saturday; however I still don’t think he will start at Wigan.
For the following half an hour or so either side of half time Norwich kept the ball very well. If Lambert was looking for a demonstration of City’s ability to retain possession he will have been delighted.Coventrywere restricted to opportunities, not much that constituted a chance. The one exception being Clingan’s long shot which was spilt by Ruddy into the path of an offside Coventry forward who finished only to see his goal disallowed.
The remaining highlights were down to one man, Elliot Bennett. His cross for Morison’s header around 72 minutes and his long-range effort late on were both worth the admission fee that I conveniently won in the Ricoh arena’s adjoining casino at approximately 2.45pm. What impressed me the most about the second and third goals was that in recent times when we have been part of a pre-season friendly or even cup tie against a higher division side. We have been outdone by magic moments and sat back exclaiming how “there’s no accounting for that kind of ability”. Or “you cant defend against something like that”. (For those looking for an example I give you Andy Reid for Sunderland lobbing Ben Alnwick in Lambert’s first cup tie). To see us delivering moments of magic that had the home fans uttering the same kind of expressions was entirely refreshing. I really did feel like I was supporting a different club.
Before I give you my Norwich conclusions a word about Coventry. They have arguably taken a step backwards. Three of their most influential players King, Westwood & Gunnarson have all departed leaving the team lacking in direction and ability. As a team they are worse than they were when Norwich played them last Christmas and we are a lot better. Coventry lost Eastwood to a hamstring injury early in the second half which is a major blow for them; their squad is threadbare and lacking in key areas. As my second team I fear for them, one positive though was Gael Bijirimana who I thought did well in the middle of the park. He boasted a decent range of passing and the occasional trick, one to nurture and protect for the Sky Blues. I hope holding company SISU invest in the squad as the fans deserve a team on the pitch with the same passion that still remains in some corners of the Ricoh. Here’s to both City’s staying up this season.
Progress has been made by this Norwich squad, mainly I believe due to our strength in-depth. The Coventry fans sat behind me complained about our numerous substitutions but I sat and smiled, I can’t remember the last time we had so many options at the manager’s disposal. Two full line-up’s of either established first team players or new signings.
Ruddy – Dealt with what he had to, received a rocket of abuse from Lambert for wasting possession.
Tierney – Made a great interception at half pace which summed up his day. Didn’t find his range with crossing.
R.Martin – Comfortable, thought didn’t seem keen to test his crossing out when isolated on the right.
Whitbread – Powerful, hard to judge really, made no errors, quietly went about business.
de Laet – A very classy footballer, tackles like a premier league player with maintaining possession in mind.
Crofts – Improving all the times it seems, created space for passes with simply moves. Will rightly start.
Lappin – Just great to see him still involved, Unlikely to start many games but will be valuable squad member.
Smith – See above, never stops running knows it may the time to grab a shirt and keep it.
C.Martin – Plays the tip of the diamond role differently to Wes, too many misplaced passes, pressure is on.
Wilbraham – Did all he was asked to do, took his goal well. Looked static as second striker to Holt in diamond.
Holt – Looked a premier league player, will feed off the atmosphere of the top-level. Needs a couple of early goals.
Bennett – very, very exciting. Great cross for Morison and a superb strike for his own goal. Likely to start.
Drury – Took slightly too long to get up to game speed, concerned as to how much football he will see
Barnett – Competing with Whitbread to partner de Laet. Covered ground well.
Francomb – Was on the other side of the pitch and not on for long enough, unfair to judge.
Naughton – Looks every inch the premier league full back, superb cross field passing.
Johnson – Moves quite well for someone the size of three normal footballers. A different option to Fox in holding mid.
Morison – Took his header well, in with a good shout of a start at Wigan. Formation depending.
Jackson – Similar to Morison without the goal. Although I feel more likely to be used from bench.
Surman – Takes seconds to recognise his class, but not guaranteed a start. This is a testament to the strength of Lambert’s squad.
Hoolahan – Moved well, always wanted the ball. It will be interesting to see how Lambert uses him, I think he should start at Wigan, either as tip of diamond or just off Holt.
Lambert – doesn’t look right in a suit.
12 days and counting…
Little Norwich 
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