Not realistic for us to stay up – Farke
DANIEL Farke says it was “not realistic” to expect Norwich City to survive in the Premier League after their relegation was sealed by West Ham on Saturday.
Michail Antonio’s four goals secured a 4-0 win for the Hammers at Carrow Road, as the Canaries lost their top-flight status with three games still remaining.
Norwich had needed their first win in the league since February to avoid relegation and Farke apologised to the fans for not being able to create “another miracle”.
However, the German, below, who guided Norwich to the Sky Bet Championship title last term – was honest regarding his own expectations of the squad.
Norwich boss Farke said: “Yes it is of course a disappointing day with the loss and the harsh loss, a 4-0, but today is also the day where relegation is confirmed and it is of course a big disappointment without any doubt.
“We are always self-critical, so the first step that you have to take is always to ask yourself what you could have done better.
“When I look at our team sheet today it is more or less the same Championship side last season, just without some key players because they are injured. To be able to be successful in this level it is not realistic you have to say.
“I feel really sorry for our fans and everyone connected with this amazing club, that we were not able to work another miracle.”
Watford boosted their survival hopes with a 2-1 success over Newcastle, while Aston Villa took a vital 2-0 win over Crystal Palace, and Bournemouth kept their own hopes alive with a quite stunning 4-1 win over Leicester.
SUDDENLY the campaign has sprung back into life, although admittedly it remains unlikely that Bristol City can make the top six.
The Robins are just three points off the play-off places with three Sky Bet Championship matches to play, although goal difference is not in their favour as things stand.
The improved outlook comes courtesy of a great display on the road at Middlesbrough, with backto-back successes for the first time since February.
City were good on Saturday, very good. They returned to some of the
of 29 – as well as making the most successful tackles (five out of five; more than anyone) in the match too. The sprightly wing-back was the perfect complement to the three towering centre-backs.
CITY looked superly-organised on Saturday, and once again the standin head coach must take the credit.
The Robins look so well-suited to this 3-5-2 formation, and while it is only Middlesbrough seen off – and the North East side have had their own problems this campaign – Holden continues to impress.
Not only has the experience of Ashley Williams been of value to Holden, but City club stalwart Brian Tinnion has also been called up to lend his knowhow to the squad.
‘Tinns’ was there on Saturday afternoon to lend another voice to the coaching ranks and further ideas to the collective thinking. And another win is garnered. All hail the hive mind. This attention to detail and magnanimous gesture towards Tinnion, tapping into his experience, was the sort that Johnson did too. Only there seems to be some more simplified and clearer messages coming from Holden.
The performances and results do ask questions of Johnson and what was happening before, and show that a change was necessary and over-due, given that games are beginning to run out just as City find their form again.
PATERSON’S goal was celebrated by the attacking midfielder holding a shin pad to his ear, playfully mocking kitman and all-round City legend Scott Murray for forgetting the team’s shin pads.
Murray admitted after the game on social media that the error had cost him £300 as he scrambled to purchase 19 pairs of shin pads, with City only able to field eight subs with Benik Afobe falling ill before the game.
City will review their injuries with Afobe unavailable to play against parent club Stoke next, though Kasey Palmer is due to rejoin the squad.
Should anyone else drop out however, Freddie Hinds wold make the bench, but another player out after that may result in Liam Walsh, Taylor Moore or Joe Morrell rejoining the senior playing squad.