An old rivalry, under new management

Yesterday at 02:53 AM

Two important things to do today, in addition to previewing the Boxing Day visit of Millwall.

First, to wish all our readers – whatever the range of our views – a merry Christmas and a happy and healthy New Year.

Second, to take stock: to step back from the emotions of matchday and assess where we might be with the new project and direction for our club. It's an even bigger reset than under Webber and Farke in 2017, undoubtedly requiring time – but what can we say so far?

First, it's unlikely to bring success this season. Yes, we natural optimists can reflect that there's more than half of the season to go. With Josh Sargent resuming his combination with Borja Sainz, Kenny McLean and Marcelino Nunez constantly available and a couple of judicious January additions, City could put a run together.

But it's improbable. It took an impressive second half of the season for us to make the playoffs last year, we have a less experienced group this time – and we're five points worse off than at the same stage of last season.

That's one of the things our sceptics point to, with some justification. In an ordinary Championship we sit 13th, having lost more games than we've won. After the confidence boost of some sparkling home performances, our spirits have been dented by some glaringly fragile ones.

So why do I feel more positive now than for several years?

I think it's the triumvirate of Attanasio, Knapper and Thorup. Not only do they share a vision and strategy, each brings a tangible and vital contribution to it.

As we know, a cornerstone of the strategy is to bring in genuine young talent and develop it. The average age of our signings this summer was 21. Given that such talent is more affordable from overseas, most of our signings are coming in with no experience of the English game, as well as being young.

Get it right, and that strategy can be the recipe for sustainable success at a club like City. But it requires three separate ingredients to come together.

First, identifying the right players and trading smartly enough to afford them. Ben Knapper is proving rather adapt at leading that (£9.5m for Adam Idah, anyone?).

Second, breathing space. That's where Mark Attanasio and the financial acumen of his group come in. In previous seasons, failing to get promotion would be a body blow to City; the next window woud need a big surplus in transfer dealings, almost inevitably weakening the squad, to stave off financial crisis.

The Attanasio group isn't throwing vast sums on money into our transfer pot, but its investment and financial nous have changed the balance of things. It was striking and heartening to hear Mark at the AGM say that the only restriction on our spending is now PSR rules.

That takes the pressure off Knapper and JHT to rush for immediate success, compromising their medium- and long-term strategy.

Last but not least, of course, Johannes Hoff Thorup. None of the rest will work unless he can inculcate an effective and successful style, and develop players to their potential. The jury's out, of course, but there are enough signs to stir my optimism.

Players know whether a young coach is the real thing or not. The indications are that our players have decided JHT is.

That said, I'm rather less confident about Boxing Day.

I'm aware my stocktaking has eaten up the space I normally use for a potted history of fixtures between the two teams. Suffice to say, then, that in my 60-odd years of following City, I doubt there are many teams we've played more often than Millwall.

It's been a long and often intense rivalry, punctuated by games of importance and drama. Aside from the physicality of the matches – and the unique 'welcome' for away fans at The Den – crucial late winners in promotion seasons by Robert Fleck (at their place) and Teemu Pukki (at ours) spring to mind.

This time, it's a meeting of two mid-table teams. But hardly two of similar style. Norwich's games have produced the most goals in the Championship; Millwall's, together with Burnley, the least.

The change currently happening at Millwall is a new manager. And it's deeper than such changes usually are. 'Legend' is too easily used in football, but no-one could dispute its application to Neil Harris at Millwall.

The club's record goalscorer, he then became its most successful manager – including a second spell from February 2024 in which he led them from the threat of relegation to a comfortable mid-table finish.

He left the club ten days ago, apparently of his own volition – another unusual occurrence in football.

A caretaker appointment wouldn't normally attract great attention, but Millwall's was interesting in its nature and impact. David Livermore – who played even more games for the club than Neil Harris – was in charge on Saturday.

While the appointment was explicitly a temporary one until a new manager was found, Saturday's result will have raised some eyebrows. Millwall's 1-0 win over Blackburn turned the form book on its head: it was their first win in six games, while ending Blackburn's streak of six successive wins.

Nonetheless, it seems the club are still looking elsewhere. As I write, the front runner would appear to be a familiar figure to us, Alex Neil.

As for City, we'll be without Kenny again – if there's any silver lining to his absence, it's that more fans probably now appreciate his importance to the team – plus José Cordoba. At least Angus is available following the FA's 'generosity'.

It's an almost impossible game to predict (perhaps unconsciously the reason I've put it off for so long). We can only hope City recreate the first half against Burnley – or indeed Sunderland – but not the second half of those games.

If we fail to win, especially with a limp second-half performance, the patience of fans will be tested. But in this case I wouldn't join in with any expressions of negativity.

After Burnley, our editor Gary said:

"Mid-table will likely be our home for this season. Whether or not you're cool with that rather depends on your level of patience"

In the big picture of developments at our club, my level of patience is pretty high.

Best wishes to all of you – and On The Ball City.