When it was first announced Norwich City had secured the services of Youssouf Mulumbu on a free transfer from West Brom, many of the fans greeted the arrival with delight, with plenty of the Baggies gutted to see such a fan favourite depart for a change in scenery.
Having struggled to play a part in West Brom’s starting XI last season, with the majority of his appearances coming from off the bench, Mulumbu failed to make an impact in the team and it soon became clear to the Congolese international that he’d have to look elsewhere for regular football.
Upon joining the Canaries, Mulumbu told the Official Site:
The most important thing for a player is to be wanted by a coach, and he was the biggest reason behind me coming here. I’m really looking forward to getting back to what I do, and to be playing at Carrow Road.
As pre-season kicked off, fans were eyeing him up to be City’s most promising bargain signings of the summer. His goal against Augsburg in City’s 2-1 victory and promise when paired with Alex Tettey made the sight of the midfielder limping off in the 80th minute against Brentford harder to comprehend.
After defensive errors on a regular basis, the return of Mulumbu couldn’t have come sooner and for the 28-year-old, playing Manchester City couldn’t have been a bigger opportunity to take to the pitch and show his price tag was far from correct. For this game could have been a major help in determining how the team would fare in the top flight.
Replaced by Gary O’Neil in the 70th minute, Mulumbu formed a partnership worthy of encouragement with Tettey. With City seeing 15 of their 25 tackles successful, Mulumbu put his name to 8 of them – seeing only one tackle unsuccessful. He only saw two of his 30 passes fail to reach a yellow shirt and had six ball recoveries. He made two interceptions, whilst coming out successful after his only take-on.
In comparison to his Norwegian ally; Tettey, who’s defensive figures were much lower. One successful tackle, one clearance, two interceptions, four ball recoveries and committing four fouls. It was only after Mulumbu’s substitution where Tettey’s defensive duties were put into play with three of his fouls, his two tackles and his second interception occurring.
Though these statistics aren’t here to fault Tettey, they’re in fact here to show what Mulumbu add to City’s midfield.
He could be the protection to a somewhat exposed defence. Having conceded 23 goals in the Premier League – only two teams have conceded more – it took Norwich until their 1-0 victory against Swansea last Saturday to record their first clean sheet of the season.
Whilst comparing Mulumbu’s defensive statistics from the 2013/14 season – the last time Mulumbu gained regular football at West Brom – to Tettey and Bradley Johnson, there is a noticeable difference. Whilst Bradley Johnson’s ability was more centred around his attacking abilities shown through his 15 goals and 50 fouls suffered, the fouls he conceded (83) cannot go unnoticed. Even to compare briefly with his former-Baggies teammate, Graham Dorrans, who could also play the position, highlights Mulumbu’s potential contribution to the team.
Averaging around at least three interceptions and one clearance per 90 minutes, Mulumbu stands fairly similar to Tettey. It may not seem like a lot but with 115 interceptions overall and 44 clearances they all total up for a midfielder. It’s without forgetting, when it comes to blocks, at only 11 blocks during the season, he was the most successful of the quartet.
With Steven Whittaker and Russell Martin both faced with the red card this season for misjudgments, it may be seen as refreshing to see the 28-year-old winning two tackles per 90 minutes and although there may be two tackles lost by Mulumbu, it is rare to see the midfielder booked for a bad tackle. With the player being the most successful during take on’s with winning 78%, it’s clear an experienced Premier League midfielder has entered City’s ranks.
Whilst attacking may not be where Mulumbu’s strength is, with West Brom’s 2010/11 campaign in the Premier League seeing the most goals scored by the midfielder, there’s no reason to lie oblivious to them.
Referring back to the Mulumbu’s 2013/14 season and comparing it again to those of Tettey and Johnson from City’s one-off in the Championship, there would seem to be a little hope as although Johnson may top the majority of categories, Mulumbu is never far away. He was almost identical to Tettey when it came to forward passing, with both players getting an average 37 forward passes (two more than Johnson) per 90 minutes. And although he doesn’t match the key passes made by Tettey and Johnson last season, he was only placed second in the table behind Tettey for his pass completion of 85% showing the composure of the 28-year-old. He had a higher shot accuracy at 33% than Tettey but in touching distance of Johnson’s 35%.
He may not compete to be the most highly rated attacking midfielder in the squad when the names Nathan Redmond, Jonny Howson, Wes Hoolahan, Robbie Brady and Matt Jarvis would usually spring to mind, but there can be no harm for Mulumbu’s previous form to come into play.
He may not have the best statistics when it comes to winning aerial duels or assists, and his shots per game will unlikely remain consistent – going from 4 shots to no shots – but there are definitely positives. He and Tettey had around 50 successful passes per 90 minutes in their respective seasons and he’s yet another player fans can expect a shot from outside the box – whether they go in becomes another question, however how the bargain signing of the summer fits into the team becomes the biggest question.
Having been dropped to the bench for the game against Swansea at the weekend after possible fitness worries, Mulumbu’s 90th-minute substitution may have hinted at a potential line-up for the Canaries.
Starting the game with Howson, Hoolahan and Brady playing in front of Tettey and O’Neil in the all-too-familiar 4-5-1 formation, the obvious replacement would see one of either Tettey and O’Neil make way for Mulumbu. However, with a clean sheet and three points on the way, Alex Neil opted to take off Hoolahan as Mulumbu joined Tettey and O’Neil. Though this tactic left City weak going forward, it could be said to have been the requirement with only a few minutes to go and is something which is unlikely to be used in the future for the entire games.
From hints in recent matches, the obvious swap would see Graham Dorrans dropped to the bench, as what seems to be an enticing partnership between Tettey and Mulumbu carries on developing. The player, who had started 8 of City’s 12 Premier League fixtures, has featured predominantly in the 4-5-1 formation alongside Tettey. Despite signing permanently in the summer for £3 million, Dorrans has already been linked with a move to QPR and Burnley FC who are monitoring his progress, after falling out of favour in recent games.
The West Brom connection between Mulumbu and Dorrans could, however, pay dividends if the Scot remains at the club – two players who know how the other works and have already been trained to work under a 4-5-1 formation is barely something to go unnoticed in Alex Neil’s mind.
In Albion’s 0-0 draw against Southampton at St Mary’s last season, then-manager Alan Irvine played Mulumbu alongside Craig Gardner, whilst Dorrans took what would be seen as Wes Hoolahan’s place in the hole supporting the lone striker in Victor Anichebe. In the Baggie’s New Year’s Day fixture against West Ham, the 4-5-1 was again executed, seeing a similar formation to City’s squad against Swansea – with Mulumbu and James Morrison playing behind Dorrans, who lined up on the right-wing in a three.
Mulumbu’s comeback from injury will undoubtedly leave Alex Neil with decisions, with Mulumbu, Dorrans, Brady, Jarvis, Redmond, Hoolahan, Howson, Tettey, O’Neil and Vadis Odjidja-Ofoe all fighting for their place in City’s starting XI.
As Norwich look set for a challenging few months in the top flight with Chelsea, Arsenal, Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur around the corner as the festive season approaches, upsets can always occur, and City’s ability to withhold Manchester City – a team they know all too well – for all albeit a few minutes, will all come into play. Mulumbu’s return to the pitch against Manchester City couldn’t have come at a better time.
Some may say at 28-years-old, the Congolese international has seen better days but maybe age shouldn’t be the focus, for Alex Neil saw the midfielder’s age fitting perfectly in his mindset of where “a player comes into their peak” and there’s plenty to say the midfielder’s experience is what should take the forefront.
He may be the City’s missing piece. Alex Tettey may have found his match – despite a disagreement in the 2013/14 season suggesting otherwise – and Alex Neil may have found the experienced head to guide his team in his debut season in Premier League as City’s manager. For fans, only one can hope Mulumbu can impress to the extent he becomes a fan’s favourite in such a vital season and that he was, indeed, the missing piece.
City’s summer signing had a taste of the atmosphere generated at Carrow Road when he played for the Baggies in City’s 4-0 victory where he says:
“I remember we couldn’t talk on the pitch because there was so much noise”
He had a further insight of the atmosphere when he had swapped blue and white for green and yellow as he came on for the final minutes against Swansea and experienced his first victory at the club but when his first home start occurs – possibly against Arsenal on the 29th October – he will know for sure he came because he was “wanted”.
He hopes for a successful season, signs are pointing in the right direction and now time will tell if Youssouf Mulumbu is the missing piece in City’s midfield.
“I’m 100 percent confident it’s going to be a great season for myself and Norwich”.
