Leeds 4-0 Norwich City: Davitt Championship playoff pointers

1. White scarves. White flags more like

An embarrassment from Norwich City.

Elland Road was awash with a sea of white scarves to welcome the home side at kick-off. It was raucous, it was passionate, and it set the tone. But David Wagner and his so-called experienced players knew they were entering a cauldron.

By the 20 minute mark those dazed footballers in green and yellow must have felt ‘no mas’ - to borrow a line from the great boxer Roberto Duran.

Less a surrender, more a complete defensive abdication from Angus Gunn and those in front of him. Ilia Gruev’s free kick, nearer 30 yards than 25, bent around the non existent City wall and beyond the scrambling Scottish international.

Gunn had been such an assured presence for the majority of this turbulent season but was unable to react anywhere near quick enough.

Then Ben Gibson was pulled out of the centre to the left flank, only to allow Wilfried Gnonto all the time he required to pick out the unmarked Joel Piroe, who meandered between Shane Duffy and Gunn to head home inside the six yard box.

Add Duffy’s perfect square pass for Georgino Rutter to make it three prior to the interval and the nightmare was complete. Crysencio Summerville sealed the rout after the interval.

On the biggest night of the season, Wagner’s big players failed to show. The realisation what was at stake, and what they squandered in such abject fashion against Daniel Farke’s side, should linger for most of the summer.

A full 10 months of sweat and toil, and adverse currents, blown in the space of one shocking half.

2. In David we trust?

Time needed for reflection, and to process a painful end to a Championship season which arguably contained as many lows as highs - certainly if you walked in Wagner’s shoes.

The German head coach, by his own admission, had his ‘back against the wall’ during that prolonged late autumnal downturn in results and performances.

But he came out swinging in a watershed night at home to Watford in February, when he bit back at those home fans critical of his in-game changes.

Wagner’s powers of perseverance, and the way he navigated a path to the top six, should be placed in a forgiving light even after this mismatch.

That was the objective set him before a ball was kicked, and he delivered; even if he failed to emulate his achievement with Huddersfield of a Wembley play-off success.

But what next? From the outside there has appeared increasing degrees of clear water between head coach and sporting director Ben Knapper.

From his public frustration at offloading the likes of Przemyslaw Placheta and Adam Forshaw on financial grounds in January. To the curious case of the chronically underused Sydney van Hooijdonk; a player Knapper himself described as the type of Championship profile striker that fitted his Norwich model, after he arrived on loan from Serie A.

There was even some telling praise from Wagner directed at Knapper’s predecessor, following confirmation of his squad’s play-off place despite a final day defeat at Birmingham, around a recruitment drive shaped by him and his close football friend some 12 months ago.

Wagner may well have a decision to make regarding whether he has the drive and energy to do it all again at Carrow Road. But, more importantly, Knapper may also feel this summer is the time to make a big decision of his own, after inheriting this head coach.

3. Blame game

Did the players let Wagner down? Did the German get his selection calls wrong? It was certainly a bold call to harness Josh Sargent, Ashley Barnes and Jon Rowe from the start, given the varying degrees of fitness that blighted the trio’s end to the regular season.

But in a game where all the chips were on the table, Wagner simply had to go for broke. Even after the defensive carnage which unfolded at the other end in the opening quarter, Wagner and Norwich’s fan base would have not wanted anyone other than Sargent surging towards Ilian Meslier, two minutes after Piroe had doubled Leeds’ advantage.

Sargent, more than most, dragged this Canaries’ collective over the line to secure a top six finish with 18 goal contributions in 26 appearances, either side of a lengthy lay-off due to ankle injury that even back in sunny August felt like it could have far-reaching ramifications on City’s seasonal aims.

The US forward went for a chip, but Meslier thrust up a hand to parry. A massive moment in a massive game. Sargent’s failure to re-appear at the interval hinted it was a fitness gamble with a limited shelf life from Wagner.

Norwich looked toothless and lacking in any of the cut and thrust they had exhibited in the best spells of this tour. One recorded shot on target in each of the play-off legs told a sorry story.

Rowe himself has looked a pale imitation of the player who cut such a swathe through the Championship before a hamstring injury earlier this year.

Barnes is a warrior but at 34, and with barely any football over the previous month, the talismanic powers were in short supply. He got a mocking send-off from the Leeds punters when he dejectedly trooped off late on.

Maybe it was simply a game too far for all concerned. Tired in body and mind.   

4. Turnover

Irrespective of if Wagner remains Knapper’s choice of head coach, this summer offers the first real opportunity for the former Arsenal loans’ manager to refresh a squad he was candid enough to admit needed the age profile needed lowering when he initially arrived.