Whatever happened to the heroes?
Whatever happened to the heroes?
No more heroes any more
No more heroes any more
Now I’m not daft enough to go on about Trotsky, Lenin and ice picks and my recreational habits are much more conventional (I would imagine) than those of Hugh Cornwell of The Stranglers. But he could have written that chorus specifically for City as we stand today.
Where are our heroes? I ask you again, where are they?
We once had Flecky, Gunny, Chippy Crook, Disco Dale and Foxy. Another generation enjoyed watching Iwan, Malky, Flem (there’s only one F in Fleming), Adam Drury and the legend that is Hucks. Plus Paul McVeigh – probably blessed with the best NCFC song of all time. No need for me to reprise “We love you…” here – we all know it so well.
The Paul Lambert era sprinkled us with stardust. Holty was more celebrated than The Great American Songbook. Even the lesser lights had their own songs. Just a few that I can remember:
“Fraser Forster one more year, one more year. Fraser Forster one more year – stay at Norwich”
“The Norfolk Cafu” – from the days when he used to do his stuff bombing on down the right flank – Russell Martin.
“You’ll never beat Marc Tierney”
“Simon Lappin King of Spain”
“Willy Willy whippet on the wing” – Elliott Bennett.
Players such as Andrew Crofts, Jens Bertel-Askou and Tiny Ward were celebrated and lauded too.
Even Ollie Johnson (two goals against Southend in the last five minutes of that single match and bugger all afterwards) and Anthony MacNamee were praised to the skies.
“MacNamee, MacNamee, he looks f***ing good to me.” He scored once, against Stockport as I remember.
And the season after that Javier Garrido:
“He likes to eat paella and now he is a Yella.”
Seb Bassong and Kei Kamara doing that famous jig after one of them scored against I cannot remember who (Everton? – Ed).
Wesley, Chrissy Martin, John Ruddy, they all had their own chants.
Which current player has his own song? Tom Trybull? Don’t make me laugh. CamJam and Wes? Maybe, but we don’t hear those expressions of adulation any more.
Against the Tykes on Saturday we couldn’t even muster On the Ball City.
Our lot in the Upper Barclay tend to join in after the first line. We let “Kick it off, throw it in, have a little scrimmage”, pass and then chip in to add some extra volume at the right time. There was nothing to join in with. Nothing at all. First time in many years.
There were quite a few empty seats dotted around the ground, the atmosphere was the worst I can remember in many seasons and I’m sorry to say it’s surely only going to get worse.
Daniel Farke can say what he likes of course, but many of the 1,400+ Yellows who went to the City Ground were not exactly enraptured by all accounts.
Can you imagine what it’s going to be like when we have an £8,000 a week wage cap? Apparently it’s coming, so there will likely be no renewals for those such as Klose, Pritchard and Tettey.
Stuart Webber will be on his Raleigh Racer straight out of town at some point. He’s naturally ambitious and when he goes, fair play to him. I doubt he signed up to see the gruesome reality of this situation through. And where will that leave the rest of us?
Up that famous creek that rhymes with “hit”, I’d say.
Heroes? We’ll be lucky to have players we can tolerate at this rate.
I watched Callum Wilson score an excellent hat-trick for Bournemouth on MotD (you know, some fool chose Lewis Grabban instead), Martin Olsson playing well in admittedly a poor Swansea side and John Ruddy and Ryan Bennett both cutting it for Wolves. Jeez.
Andrew Surman was strutting his stuff for Bournemouth. Even Cody McDonald scored for somebody. Meanwhile Shrewsbury’s gain is our loss. The way Paul Hurst is going they’ll overtake us in 12 months despite their 5,000 gates at this rate. Carlton and Ben aren’t doing so badly for them, now are they? And where are they? Not here.
Somebody commented very recently about one or two of the writers on MFW being “happy clappers”. It’s not a description that applies to me so that’s probably why I’m not particularly offended by the terminology. But if those writers still have faith in what they believe in, good luck to them – it’s what it’s all about. Diversity and debate. It’s what we’re here for.
I am still prepared to give the Webber-Farke project more time, but I just wish that our majority shareholders would take a good, hard (as in granite) look at themselves, do the decent thing and proactively seek some outside investment for NCFC.
Even if the old twister control on the yellow and green trainset might have to be passed into somebody else’s hand on occasions. Anybody who has had children or even family pets would automatically understand what I’m on about: If you love somebody or something with a passion, please do not be afraid to share your love. Even if you can no longer directly control what happens after that sharing.
Despite my initial positive thoughts concerning him, Tom Smith is shaping up as a hybrid of The Invisible Man and The Ghost. He can hardly be anything else with Auntie still at the helm. He is not, and never will be, the answer. Of that I am utterly, regrettably convinced.
Why can’t one or two of those at the very top of the tree infiltrate football’s modern world before NCFC sinks without trace?
Because as of 0600 Wednesday morning, the Championship table paints a pretty grim picture.
This is the modern world that I’ve learned about
This is the modern world
We don’t need no one to tell us what’s right or wrong
This is the modern world. (Paul Weller/The Jam)
Nice piece that Martin
And some more lyrics from The Modfather
‘Struggle after struggle – year after year, The atmosphere’s a fine blend of ice –
I’m almost stone cold dead
5
Thanks Simon – I used to love The Jam.
Your Weller quote is probably more pertinent than mine.
1
Delia Mugabe loves to cling on. A supporter led coup d’etat is the only way they will get the message because people insist on renewing season tickets to watch this dross. True fans would want to see progress and act.
12
Jeff just a minor point on the season ticket issue – all those of us who pay by DD can cancel at the drop of a hat.
The only problem – and I’m sure Delia and others are well aware of this – is if we did cancel our STs and things did not get much better a la Lambert, we might not be able to get them back!
There is no appetite for direct action, just a sense of resignation from some of us and blind obedience to the hierarchy from the rest.
Even if the peasants were revolting (groan) we could not create the necessary wealth to run the club even if 22,000 regulars stuck together. Again Delia knows this and acts accordingly.
That Times article still sticks in my throat.
However none of this helps the guys on the pitch. I remain onside with Webber-Farke even if only because I have no realistic choice.
The Mugabe reference is unfair, but I will say that you are looking at one stubborn lady whose criteria for accepting investment simply cannot be met.
Unless one of my mates has £200 million quid he hasn’t told me about…
8
Martin, both in the article and this reply you’ve summed up my thoughts entirely. The trouble is no-one really cares anymore because it’s not worth it. Nothing will change whilst D&M are at the helm. I was asked at the start of the season why I was still going, my response was “What else am I going to do?” I don’t think Delia adequately understands the damage The Times article did, no owner should have in print “the fans won’t like this but”. I was at the City Ground on Tuesday and refused to applaud anyone but Maddison when he came over on his own, childish I know but how am I supposed to protest properly when the rest wouldn’t venture closer than the 18 yard box (some disappeared straight down the tunnel). In my heart of hearts I know it’s wrong to renew, and the only way we will change this s**thouse of a situation is to stop going. Any useful suggestions as how to change things gratefully welcomed………..
6
What do you mean by “Don’t make me laugh” at the Tom Trybull song Martin?
What gets you goat about that? He’s one of the newbies who’ve had less than 10 games at Carrow Road and you’re looking for “Hero’s” already? Surely you earn the right to become a “Hero”.
It sounds like you’re one of the old guard that insist on not giving this transitional period any time. That, I’m disappointed in Martin.
3
Not so Lucio. I was referencing the way it petered out before it really got going.
Trybull is the pick of the newbs, and deserves a song. Pity not enough of us wanted to sing it.
“I am still prepared to give the Webber-Farke project more time,” Those words are in this very article and, no I’m not one of the old guard by making that very statement. I’m as open to constructive change as much as I guess you are.
My bad for the Trybull comment – I can understand why you disagreed with what you thought I meant.
Thanks for your comment
1
Hear, hear.
0
That is the best summary of how I feel about my club right now. I have been Going to carrow road since the 1959/60 season. There have been great and bad times but I always wanted to go, because it was my club. I have lost enthusiasm and confidence in the way it’s being managed. This is not something which has just happened but has been creeping in for a few years now and I don’t like it! With over 1500 games watched in my lifetime, I think it may be coming to the point where I don’t care whether I go or not. To carry on with music theme……we had joy we had fun we had seasons in the sun…..it’s getting a little dark now.. OTBC!
12
Thank you Graham.
I am (just, I think) over the 1,000 game mark myself and cannot but agree with you.
Winston Churchill always described his depression as the “black dog on his shoulder”. Manic Street Preachers wrote a song on that theme and with more or less that title, for what it’s worth.
I have a real blood-pumping black dog who I obviously cannot take to Carrow Road.
But Sir Winston’s one has taken his place as I do my three-mile walk to the ground.
If people like you and I cannot be bothered then the Smiths really are in the doggy doo.
Great comment.
2
Great piece. I think MFW has decent, realistic writers crafting balanced prose which is why I turn to it aside of the EDP and terrible forum for cranks, the Pink ‘Un.
I would say, “if you love something, let it go” would be the more apt phrasing here.
4
Totally agree Hilary, the forums you refer to are synonymous for posts by either pensioners who comment on what they hear on the wireless who have never set foot in Carrow Road and just like a good old moan
or
a particular fave of mine, Trevor K who posts chapter after chapter basically writing the same dross every other day with the words jumbled around in a different order.
Thankfully the forum is gradually dwindling, unlike MFW which is thriving !
4
Thanks very much Hilary.
I’m sure our Editor Gary will take that as a compliment to all of the MFW team. We have different opinions and try to be as balanced as we can when writing, but it’s not always that easy when that ole thing called passion is a-burnin’ through.
Lucio: I’ve read some of those posts too. It’s amazing how many “ex-pros” and “ex-managers” pop up out of the woodwork:-)
1
It’s as ever a tricky situation to call. External investment with a sudden cash injection could be just what the doctor ordered or could leave us tens of millions in debt with a Marcus Evans like burnt owner who will leave the club ticking over on freebies and loanees. Or a Venkies could leave us even worse. against that we could become the next Bournmouth or Man Citeh if you’re really optimistic.
Would we care if we were qualifying for Europe if we had broken FFP? (Everyone else is doing it! Its working for Wolves) I know I wouldn’t,it would be a hell of an adventure.
Do I like having a local owner? It’s kind of nice, but is it the right local owner? Maybe, maybe not. For a club of our size, I would argue that these last few years have been pretty good. So on the one hand Delia et al can’t have done everything wrong. But those who got us there (an act that should illicit some faith) have mispent many millions to blow a quite ligitimate chance to stay in the PL.
Delia’s fault? A little yes. But is she guilty of anything more than backing her managers (Maybe not in PL case). Should a halfway competent board of a club like ours have samctioned the Naismith signing? No, not in amillion years, no matter how much Neil stamped his feet, we should not be signing 30+ players at the top of our wage structure, leave alone without huge relegation clauses.
The Webber + Head coach model needs more time. (Not saying Webber + Farke very deliberatly) Webber is the football savvy guy running the football side that we have needed for a long time. Would he have sanctioned the signing of Naismith? Not on your Nelly.
Farke may be a mistake, he is struggling of that there can be no doubt. I can’t decide if he should get more time so that Webber can actually get the players in and squad evolution that is needed for Farkedrum football. Or that Webber took a gamble on him, it hasn’tworked and that we should role the dice again.
With Hughton we sacked him too late and compounded it with a decision so stupid I’ve made my mind up, Delia out! We then did the same with Neil letting it drag on far to long.
Or did we, is the club poison and good managers are doomed to fail here? look at Neil and Hughton before and after. Could Hughton have turned us around with time? Neil too? The squad needed the clear out, (Neil knew this) I think most agree with that. But now should we give Farke and Webber time? Or just Webber? And with that Delia? For me it is painful to think that a season perhaps should be written off, but I’ll have maybe 40 more to look forward to, so maybe this is egg cracking time, omlettes for next year and beyond? Still you don’t want to make that omlette with a rotten egg, so for me, Farke has till Xmas to show us that he can actually get this squad scoring, if not we continue to build in a direction Webber will dictate and find a coach who might get more out of a still talented squad. Watford have become masters of improving despite constant managerial change, perhaps with Webber at the club we could too.
Bah!
8
Another fine despatch from the trenches by the General.
It is so true that just now very few of us know how this is going to work out.
When you say: “But those who got us there (an act that should illicit some faith) have mispent many millions to blow a quite legitimate chance to stay in the PL” you nail it big time.
Be careful or Gary might be after you for a guest blog during the March international break…
1
Ice picks and burning ears – not sure if either are really likely though!
Nice work Martin
0
Martin, go see the Dr and get some happy pills!
What’s happening at Carrow Road is taking place at many clubs. Attendances are down, the love affair with footy is changing. The financial squeeze is having an effect.
As for heroes, they will appear but it’s a talisman we need right now and they are rare but lets not be to gloomy,
Just what, as fans, are we aiming for? Premiership? really? We’ve been there plenty of times and its not much fun and we can’t survive for long even with our best players and so called heroes.I suspect an injection of millions wouldn’t really alter that outcome for long.
This season top 6 would be a fantastic achievement given all that’s changed. We are 6 points adrift at present but Leeds, Shef Wed, Forrest, all bigger clubs, are also in the chasing pack. Up until Arsenal we were happy again, the feel good factor had returned and there was a sense of togetherness once again. Lets not ruin it all and turn on those running our club, the width of a post, a couple of dodgy refereeing decisions have also played their part.
We are a great club with genuine people running it, okay we play crap sometimes but Spurs were rubbish against Arsenal last weekend. For F**k sake lets get behind the boys and make sure we send AN back to Preston wishing he was still in Norfolk.
7
I would tend to agree with your sentiment up until Arsenal (a new acronym is in there somewhere akin to the Along come Norwich moments.) however, prior to that first international break we were dreadful. Farke turned that around but we’re back there again. I hand on heart want the model to work out, I desperaly want Farke to do well but I just don’t think he’s the one. Yeah we do play badly but the caveat here is is we’ve been playing badly since Farke started. There’s fleeting moments of brillaince but the players and manager are not good enough to pull off what they want to do. We cast an eye on Wolves – the money, the man, the players to peform as a collective hence why they sit on the top of the pile. Good football at Norwich? I’m struggling to remember what that was.
We’re a great club run by genuine people yes, but it also doesnt mean those great people don’t have great egos, or a great sense of worth as they peer down from their parapet atop the coliseum of Carrow Road.
We demand more because we’ve had the taste, and why not? This sense of entitlement is bred by recent history aimed at a future generation of NCFC fans who now want a chance at the best. And why wouldn’t they? It’s their club too. It’s too easy to go, “oh well, I’ve been a fan of Norwich for 100 years and I’ve seen this before.” Why does it HAVE to be this way? We had so many opportunities to cement the club in the PL but failed at every attempt because of poor business acumen, a malaise of accepting our lot as that club from Norfolk. To bow to a ‘that’ll do attitude’ is an apathy the powers at Carrow Road have adopted for some time now, you only have to take the overhaul of staff to realise that. Oh yes things could be worse, but they could be so so much better.
7
That is a soulful comment. Love it.
0
Good comment Colin – thanks.
The only “happy pills” I take are via a bottle manufactured by one Henry Weston of Hereford.
I understand where you’re coming from – I really do – but I think a lot of us have had an overdose of the Smith dynasty.
We could be PL established if they had the drive for it, but they ostensibly don’t. The day they refused to accommodate Paul Lambert’s relatively modest recruitment demands and thus binned him off to Villa spoiled everything imo.
Lambert’s out of work and we’re struggling. So what went wrong?
3
Much needed article to balance some of the delusional ones that regularly appear on these pages.
It’s simply a case that if Delia stays Norwich will be doomed to lower league football.
The game is now global and as a consequence very expensive.
11
Thanks John.
Don’t think any of us at MFW are delusional – we just have different views on things.
You are totally objective and imo it’s impossible to disagree with you.
1
I hadn’t heard mention of a wage cap before – and am not sure whether it’s fact or just a rumour presented as fact in true modern, journalistic fashion. £8,000 a week is less than half of what some Norwich players were earning back in 2008 when a certain offer was made by a certain businessman, so I doubt it’s remotely close.
I can’t imagine what standard of team we could put out with that restriction in place, but it wouldn’t be at Championship level.
But I still think some people are delusional if they imagine that investors are queueing up to take NCFC off Delia’s hands. The simple fact is that she and her husband are the majority shareholders of the business and there’s nothing anyone can do about it if they don’t want to sell.
People need to accept that Norwich is a selling club and always will be, unless we were to attract a multi-billionaire who didn’t care about money – not too many of them about; even the owners of the big PL clubs want their pound of flesh in return for the cash. If we get good players, they have to be moved on, for as much as possible, and we hope to get decent replacements – it has always been this way. Those heroes you mention were generally part of very temporary success.
The one chance we had was Lamberts legacy – but let’s not forget that he walked out on us too. The Board destroyed that legacy by appointing the wrong man in Hughton and not responding to his very obvious shortcomings quickly enough; since when they have compounded the initial error by making it again and again.
We are now back to where we were before relegation to League One except we are not in debt. At that time, this position would have been something most of us would have gladly taken.
As for Webber/Farke it’s as good an idea as any other this Board have tried. It’s unlikely to work (if by “work” you mean promotion to the PL) but it’s too early to say. I think Farke has a classic football brain, with all the drawbacks that brings, because footballers or football coaches are not known for their intellect. Tactically, he has already shown an inability to read a situation, either before a game or during it (evidence – the team selections at Villa and Millwall; the “surprise” at the Bolton result; the “best away performance” comment at Forest). He will need to learn quickly – we said the same thing about Alex Neil but he didn’t learn anything at all.
2
Funny old world – your last sentence says it all to me and you’re quite correct with it.
I nevertheless dispute your point about intellect amongst managers because I once had the privilige to meet Wycombe’s Gareth Ainsworth (such a nice guy I would have signed up there and then). Martin O’Neill appears to be on a similar level, although I’ve never met him.
Ken Brown, Mike Walker and particularly Dave Stringer were no fools either. And they all at some stage had to put up with Mr Chase…
2
Lambert may well have walked – but I’m pretty sure that it was down to the board not backing his relatively moderate requests in the transfer market. I do wonder if (like me) they wonder where NCFC might be now if only they had believed that he knew more about football than they ever will!!!
O T B C
3
As you say Martin, Webber may easily go when he gets fed up, but I don´t agree with the faír play bit I´m afraid. He, after all, has played his part in getting us into this mess, by appointing a novice, when that was the last thing we needed after last season´s debacle. Neither does it say much for his powers of judgement, that he actually thought Farke might pull it off, in classic ´David Wagner style´, and apparently still does, with certainly no signs of pulling the plug, coming from his direction. To be honest I wouldn´t trust Webber to get it right (or even half right) if he had a second chance, so as far as this season is concerned, we may as well stick with Farke, and see where it leads us.
As for outside investment, that old chestnut, forget it, it won´t happen – Delia and Michael have made their feelings clear on numerous occasions.
0
Thanks George.
When he arrived, Webber was envisaged as the Messiah. He still might prove to be. He’s hardly Monty Python’s naughty little boy.
But he buggered off out of Huddersfield pdq and look at what’s happened to us since. A poor start, a little consolidation and then a load of poo. He’ll be off soon, Easter’s my exit guess.
But it’s better than our life under Alex Neil. I know we scored goals then and don’t now but, c’mon, what do you want?
Yeah, I know, a bit of entertainment. And then we could sing some songs with some feeling.
0
I took 5 minutes to read your piece and agree that our team is short of peaches to sing about..I generally don’t join in with the singing as I sound like a semi-articulate goat but there wasn’t much on Tuesday to make me feel I’m missing out.
I am always hesitant to jump aboard the outside investment bandwagon as I feel, without having done any real research, that more clubs of our size suffer than do well out of it. However, it does look like something better to change and Smith and Jones are not rich enough to do what they would probably like to do.
One way of ensuring that a new investor will be the right type would be to ensure that the fans have an unrepealable stake in the club. If we followed a successful model Delia could create something like the Chelsea pitch owners group which at least ensures that any decisions about the physical infrastructure of the club are done with supporters having a say. Straight forward asset stripping would be impossible.
The Farke/Webber revolution has to be given more time and there is still room for some of the optimism September brought. We need to stop hanging around and Delia needs to show that she’s not a strange little girl and bring in changes that are not just skin deep. I like DF and lots of things about the Webberlution, I just hope we don’t have to say ‘go, Buddy go’ in a few months.
1
Blimey Don I had to flog my way through the Stranglers references!
This is where you banged it on to the ceiling:
“Delia needs to show that she’s not a strange little girl and bring in changes that are not just skin deep”
A more powerful comment than most I’ve ever observed. You might get stick for it but it’s just honest and sound.
I have previously mentioned you have a way with words…
0
Thanks Martin. I had to stop the Stranglers references somewhere; I told myself ‘get a grip (of yourself)’
0
We won’t have no strangers here….this is a local club for local people!
Joking aside, even though i don’t necessarily think we will ever find a billionaire asian or arab it must not be ignored that in the last 2 occasions this club almost went under was under the ownership of ‘locals’.
0
I’ll see your no more heroes Martin and raise it with something better change.
Every time I get a few lines of prose ready for publication, you guys go and make my points and I have to rip it up and start again.
No matter, I’ll find the right time to make my case.
In fact, you’ve hit on the main points quite nicely and it’s becoming more difficult with each passing day for the obtuse to argue with the mounting evidence presented here and elsewhere.
Supporters are sick of hearing how “entitled” they are, as if hoping for the best for Norwich city is a crime. They see through the mantra of “patience” and recognise it for what it is, simply an exercise in stalling for time. They see 80 or more,clubs going one way and Norwich city swimming in the other direction. To what end? Utopia? This is the real world.
The club owners appear to be trying to carve some sort of right on niche for Norwich city, a type of forest green approach, quirky, different, at odds with the footballing firmament. Frankly a bit weird.
The “webberlution” (retch) is more and more seen as a smokescreen, with Webber a glorified time and motion man skulking around with a clipboard looking for any ounce of fat he can trim to save the owners a buck or two. Sell big, buy cheap, charge as much as you dare all while telling them how valued they are and how wonderful.
I’m not sure where the wage cap,rumour stems from Martin, but I know several players are on considerably less than that already. If the budget is trimmed as much as seems inevitable you’re not far off the mark in any case.
Never in my lifetime have I witnessed a section of a clubs fans giving support to owners/board who have banked tens of millions for selling talented players and readily state that there is much more to come. Sell Brady, olsson, canos, dorrans, Murphy, howson in just 7 months? Yay! Go Delia.
Anybody who thinks the next garage sale is going to be greeted in so quiet a manner needs their bumps felt. The likes of Madison, Pritchard, Nelson, pinto, Klose and a few others are in Webbers crosshairs as the webberlution oils up Madame guillotine for another aristocratic bloodletting. All the while we have old crones knitting while telling us what we’re entitled to and to have patience.
You’re right Martin, the nephew brings nothing to the party save the surname smith. Delia says he’s good, therefore it’s a fact, whether he gets to enjoy his inheritance is a moot point, as its value drops and the natives grow increasingly restless it’s doubtful he has the relevant wherewithal to pay for the privelige. Added to the fact that it might soon get a little tasty and the novelty of auntie-poos little bequest may ware thin.
Really all I and most others want from our club is that it strives to be the best it can be. That place in the order is some way behind Manchester United, a long way ahead of Ipswich town. The smiths are aiming at burton Albion. It won’t wash.
It’s stated above that there is little anyone can do to oust the smiths or encourage them to enable the club to grow organically. The crowd figures at carrow road are already dwindling and this will continue with the dissillusionment hanging over the city at the moment, if we won’t foot the bills, smith will have to do it, or the bailiffs will move in. Time to go dear.
16
Well Chris we almost got our MFW article from you in the end!
You’re even more sarky than me, which is something, I must say.
Look at how many upvotes you have – I don’t get them!
“Really all I and most others want from our club is that it strives to be the best it can be.” – yeah but there are people at the top that don’t agree with us because we are collectively nobody. And they know it.
Fantasic post – don’t worry about the rest of us and do your own thing.
Editor Gary would embrace it, I am sure.
5
Phew! Some wonderful comments on here today – I always try to reply individually if I can so bear with me for a while – two mucky terriers to clean up after their morning walk:-)
2
Hi Martin
A few weeks ago I mentioned that Delia and Michael had reached their joint sell-by date sometime ago and were hanging on to City as if it was there child. I also said we owe them thanks for saving the club from the South/Chase, Jones era.
I was informed by one of your fellow writers that at no time had the club either looked for or deterred outside investment if the offer was right for the club’s board and that the great deal maker in Mr Hunter never found a potential investor.
If this is the case what is putting investors off whether they be local or international:
1) Is it the Board?
2) Is it the conditions that are quoted?
3) Being in East Anglia?
4) Amount needed to buy in?
5) Size of the Ground?
Whilst the ground is in great condition, it still has a long way to go to be the best but it has potential and a so called ST waiting list.
We are told that it would cost £25m to redo the City Stand and double it’s size. The club has had full houses for over 10 years, surely in that time it would have paid for itself?
We are now told that City’s season tickets are the 8th most expensive outside London and some of *them* are cheaper than ours.
As for Delia and hubby, they must run the board on very strict lines ie their ideas and only theirs. You never hear Mr Foulger or others coming out and saying this or that needs doing – and just look at the Turners, the great hopes of a future to come less than three years and ousted.
Didn’t the Turners agree with Delia or could they see it would never change whilst the Smiths held the reins?
I would be sorry to see them go as they have be a great figureheads for the club but needs change things and City need a new figurehead with a new view on the world of football.
Blackpool are in turmoil and the Oystons are to blame – 17 years in charge, 1 season in the Premiership and now they have split the club into 2 businesses: 1 is the team the other is the Stadium, Hotel, Training Ground and other items. If someone buys the team they have to rent the Stadium and training ground from the Oystons. So far no takers.
Please oh please lets not get this far down the line – the supporters groups should try and get the board to a meeting and talk about how to take our club forward.
5
Great comment as always, Alex.
Trouble is it looks like we cannot get rid of the Smiths, so have to stick with them. It breaks my heart, but then I think of the Mrs, our kids and the dogs and feel a lot better.
They are important. Not the Smiths.
And what kind of man would accept not being allowed to share his surname when apparently married? Bloody wars. That’s a touch too much for me.
They imagine they are rich and powerful while we have comparatively very little in our locker.
But I know how to spend fifty quid at ASDA:-)
1
Forgot to say… there *are* people looking to invest. Just look at the lady doing a deal for Newcastle and her previous deal at Man City; both mentioned in excess of £300m. So surely if someone put out the feelers to her she could help.
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The house caught on fire in the winter
The bosses lay slain
And each of the workers decided to ten-fold their pay
And they saw in the mirror the sun had been shot down in flames
And nobody minded the hole in the sky or the rain
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Don.t know your original reference Dave so I could either refer you to the Ladie of Shallott or do this – my original, no fee required.
When you sit on your bot while your world gets shot never mind, never mind,
You can talk all you like, it’s all flippin’ shite, never mind, never mind.
We mean nothing to you – never mind, never mind.
It’s down to you – never mind, never mind.
We’ll be there on Saturday. Never mind.
Many of us have had enough of you. Never mind.
Oh well not very poetic – thoughts out there though.
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I am always staggered by the negativity of some of our supporters.
After AN, we craved change and it’s been given to us. I don’t recall much adverse reaction to Daniel hen he first arrived nor with the players who came in or went out.
So, it was a poor start. DF proved that he can adapt and change things and, for a while, we were all happy again. Manager of The Month contender, glorious defeat against Arsenal, a comfortable win over that lot.
OK, so it’s gone a bit pear shaped since then but what do people expect? This is a new team, it’s going to take time and there will be bumps in the road along the way. These are the times when they need our support most, not having us suddenly wanting the owners out again.
Seriously, we all need to calm down a bit. Borussia Dortmund don’t employ fools and Daniel will sort this out. If anyone thought we’d be romping away with it at this stage of the development, they need their head examined.
Wouldn’t be surprised that, when we win on Saturday, we’ll suddenly be automatic promotion contenders again. We won’t be but neither are we the relegation fodder that some to think we are at the moment.
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Martin
We all agree that the system needed changing now that it has we have many wishing it would go back to the way it was.
DF has come in and said he agrees to the signing that have been made I just wonder if that is lip service to Webber and the board being his first head coaches position for a major club not an academy.
Webber seems to be the instigator for the players but does he get feed back from DF or players recommended by him????
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I have made my feelings clear regarding our present owners upon MFW a few times, so I won’t reiterate what I’ve said, however, suffice to say I agree with everything you say Martin and also Gary’s recent article on the same subject.
The one thing I would like to add is your reference to the lambert years. If it had been up to our owners this would not have happened. It took an effective vote of no confidence letter from Progressive thinking board members when we were heading for oblivion that made them change their direction, they had no other option and self preservation kicked in along I’m sure with their worry of the significant loss they would have taken financially. Mr McNally was appointed and the rest as they say is history. My main concern now is they’ve surrounded themselves with a bunch of mates and sycophants on the board so the lack of dissenting voices and the fact the club owes them nothing now, will only entrench them further.
It’s a totalitarian utopia they desire, akin with their obvious socialist outlook on life. like any great social experiment it’s looks great on paper but when humans come into the equation, the ones at the top become more equal than others and they lose touch with the masses they are claiming to represent. A “we’re in charge, we know best” attitude kicks in soon after. Football isn’t about politics I know, but the parallels to politics and individual beliefs in this case are strikingly similar.
Its worrying….
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Wow. I don’t often read stuff at this time of night because I’m up with our dogs at 0600 every day.
However, I’m delighted I switched back on for once because I could not agree with you more and I’m pleased to acknowledge that.
I cannot and will not do religion or politics but everything you say has the ring of truth about it. I’m an apolitical socialist but unfortunately the professionals ruin it because they are SOCIALISTS. And get paid handsomely for being so in many cases.
From a personal viewpoint I love what I perceive to be your Orwellian attitude. Certain people trade on the fact that they think we as supporters are “thick”. And we are not. Not at all.
We are lucky that here on MFW we can express our opinions freely with no prejudice invading us, whatever our views might be.
I would rather support 1p5wich than be actively involved in any form of politics.
Great comment and many thanks.
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True words. The reference to Orwell pertains to the line about “some being more equal than others” which I feel fits this situation well.
Having at one stage or another voted in every shade of the political spectrum I finally realised that without exception they are all hypocritical self servers, concerned only with feathering their own nests while preaching to the rest of us lesser mortals simply trying to,do,the best for our families in an honest way.
I recall both Arthur South and Robert Chase being active in local politics. Neither man used his position with Norwich city to expound political viewpoints or their own cause Celebre.
I always felt that Norwich city was a place where for 90 minutes everyone of a home persuasion, regardless of his colour, creed, politics or social standing were all together, as one. We were.
Personally I don’t give a flying one who owns the clubs, I care less for their political views, their nature or their nationality. I judge them solely on one criterior, their running of Norwich city football club. The real interest is in the eleven men on the pitch. Some now appear star struck not at the thought of seeing professional athletes in the flesh, but with the z list celebrity circus going on in the directors box.
The infamous times article let the cat out of the bag once and for all, a real Pandora’s box moment if ever there was one. I still can’t quite believe the astounding lack of judgment it showed.
The club needs a change of culture, a new direction, purpose and identity – an escape from this snowflake w.i. Image some hold so dear. It needs its edge back. It will never get it under the current ownership and the thought of the heir apparent inheriting the lot in true champagne socialist style will be the end of the club as a football league concern in time.
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“The infamous Times article let the cat out of the bag once and for all, a real Pandora’s box moment if ever there was one. I still can’t quite believe the astounding lack of judgment it showed.”
A fine speech, sir.
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Eloquently put sir.
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Thanks Martin glad you enjoyed it. I was wary of going down the politic route as in my mind that is a personal thing between yourself and the ballot box and should be kept as far away from a Saturday at the football as possible. It was just an attempt at delving into the mindset of our majority shareholders and what might shape their thinking. Thanks again for allowing me the platform to have my say.
And yes I nearly mentioned Orwell but you’ve kindly picked up on the swerve!
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Superb comment,
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Good article Martin and although as a club we will be eternally grateful to Delia and Micheal it may be time to seek new investment. Big problem at the moment is we are an entertainment buisness and are not being entertained, to lose is one thing to lose and get no value is another thing totally. Will always follow the mighty yellows as I have since 1969 but I do not want to see a stadium full of empty seats a la Portman rd so be very careful NCFC it could happen so easily…………. OTBC
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I reckon it’s a bit like going to Alton Towers or wherever only to discover most of the big scary rides are out of action.
You pay your thirty quid or whatever and feel disappointed – or ripped off, to be harsh.
Thanks Carl.
1
I can’t be arsed any more. In my 50 years as a Norwich fan, I have seen us win the grand total of one cup (Milk) and a few promotions from the second tier. Plus one from the third. There was one, glorious, top three finish in the Premier League (the very first year of it) followed by a a tantalising glimpse of European competition. Not much is it? But at least we tried. Geoffrey Watling tried. Arthur South tried. Robert Chase tried. They all tried to improve this club, to make it grow and be able to compete against the very best in this country. Watling got us into the top division for the first time, South consolidated and kept us there (mostly) and Chase took us to the highest point we’ve ever been. None of these were perfect, none of them didn’t make mistakes. But they understood that the sole purpose of a professional football club is to win trophies and titles. Or at least die trying.
I haven’t got another fifty years, but I wish all those Norwich fans who do the very best of luck if they want anything better than I’ve had trophy wise while the club is run by people in charge now.
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“I can’t be arsed any more”.
I think too many of us are feeling the same way, “Percy”. Including one or two on the pitch.
Good comment and thank you.
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Nobody I know dreams of winning trophies, but then nobody I know dreams of being a community asset or a co-operative either.
All people of a certain generation, that is those that aren’t bothered about stadium wifi, selfies and youtube highlights want, is the assurance that we are trying to be as good as we can be and the Times interview made it perfectly xlear we aren’t. So that was that for many I know.
Quite what they think that their nephew brings to the party is beyond me and Ed Balls is a sorry replacement for Alan Bowkett. I do think Webber and Farke should be given time,, it isn’t their fault the owners have consistently made the wrong calls or avoided making them at all over the last few years, but I’m 48 and I’ve all but given up now and that’s purely and simply down to their arrogance in that interview.
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Robert I’m 60 next week and I couldn’t agree with you more.
That Times interview, however much some people play the “quotes taken out of context” card, was like being run through with a marlinspike for anybody who wants our Club to progress.
It basically said welcome to Stagnation City.
Thanks for your input.
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Sums it up perfectly!
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