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Why the return of the fair-weather fan means that the sun is shining again on City

14th February 2008 By chrisgoreham Leave a Comment

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They're threatening to come back out of the woodwork. Who? Those Norwich City fans who only seem to be really interested when things are going well – they have started to bring their heads out of the sand.

After Ched Evans wonder goal against Cardiff moved the Canaries to within four points of the play-off places, a few people who've not said much about Norwich City since Craven Cottage in May 2005 were asking about the possibility of getting tickets for the match against Hull at Carrow Road…

This isn't going to become a rant against so-called 'fair-weather' supporters. When you're as engrossed in Norwich City as most of the readers and contributors to this website, it's easy to look down your nose and become a football snob in a 'Where were you when we were bottom?' sort of a way.

These people might not know what it feels like to watch their team go 2-0 down inside the first five minutes on a Tuesday night at Turf Moor, but they're fully entitled to spend their money and go to matches whenever they like.

These good time Norwich fans are actually very useful. They provide a gauge for those of us who'd be there whether City were in the Premier League or the Blue Square Premier. When they become interested enough to start asking questions like 'What is Ched short for?' or 'Why isn't Huckerby in the team?' it's a sure sign that things are going well.

The fact that those people might start going through their wardrobes and drawers to try and find that yellow and green scarf they discarded around the time that Peter Thorne and Matthieu Louis-Jean signed for City is praise indeed for Glenn Roeder.

The Canaries incredible record since the start of December has shaken the feeling of indifference away from Carrow Road. In Roeder Norwich have found exactly the kind of character the club needed.

He's shaken up the squad enough to provoke an almost laughable outburst from Ian Murray after he'd scuttled back to Hibernian. Seeing Murray quoted in 'The Scotsman' describing the City boss as 'an angry man' recently shows how ruthless the Roeder revolution has been.

Murray might like to consider his record in a Norwich shirt. Played 11, won 0.

Enough to provoke a red rag to even the mildest-mannered bull.

The more I see and hear of Glenn Roeder, the clearer it becomes that he's got a point and he can't wait to prove it. Years of hearing and reading criticism from supporters of West Ham and Newcastle had probably given many Norwich fans the wrong idea about their new boss when he took the job.

Roeder may have Premiership management experience, but he's taken more than his fair share of knocks along the way, even without the health problems. Getting Newcastle into Europe then keeping them in mid-table during the mother of all injury crisis wasn't considered good enough by the 'Geordie Nation' we've heard so much from recently.

This is the same Toon Army that bang on about open, entertaining, attacking football. Be careful what you wish for – the return of Kevin Keegan has so far brought plenty of goals. They lost 3-0 to Arsenal (twice) and 4-1 at Aston Villa. Isn't that what they wanted?

Give me a 13-match unbeaten run any day. OK, so it's not always been one for fans of total football, but how often is it in the Championship?

Rule one of being successful in the second tier of English football is that you have to be ready to battle. This incarnation of Norwich City is taking on all-comers.

They've become so difficult to beat even when they're not playing well. This squad of players is well aware that if they don't fight, Roeder would have no qualms about sending them out of the door just as quickly as Julien Brellier, David Strihavka or poor old Ian Murray.

That's not to say that Glenn Roeder's success is built entirely on fear. It certainly isn't – respect is a better way of putting it.

Mark Fotheringham celebrated his goal at Barnsley back in January by running over to the dug-out to share the moment with his manager. If you're prepared to sing from Roeder's hymn sheet and pull in his direction, then he'll back you. In four months now of interviewing him before or after a game, I don't think I've ever heard him publicly, openly criticise one of the players that he wants in his squad.

Spirit, determination and the desire to prove a few doubters wrong – it's proved a heady cocktail to lift Norwich City out of the gloom in which they were once marooned.

Talk of a top six finish is wonderful to hear, but let's just remember where Norwich were. Mid-table in mid-February is a mammoth achievement from the ashes of the Home Park debacle that still makes Norwich fans break out into a cold sweat.

The next few months will bring a right old scramble for the play-offs. Even if Norwich City aren't in the mix at the end of the season, it shouldn't be considered a failure.

The fact that those fair-weather fans have become interested again can only make you optimistic about what the future might hold.

So next time someone that you didn't even know was bothered asks you whether you can get them a ticket for a match at Carrow Road, think before you ask them why they didn't go to Deepdale on the opening day of the season.

Try to remember instead that the sheer fact they want to be part of it means it's a good time to be a Norwich fan…


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Filed Under: Chris Goreham, Column

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footiespr5687 S.P.R sports stats (Simon) @footiespr5687 ·
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@NorwichCityFC @BurnleyOfficial #NCFC #burnleyfc

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jgraver7 James @jgraver7 ·
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stonesey88 Chris Stones @stonesey88 ·
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Even though all we do is take the piss out of each other on a daily basis I just wanna take the chance to wish @JStewart_15 the best tommorow on the tampa bay challenge! If your there support him! The lad deserves the holiday! #ncfc

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huckerbysbarber Huckerbysbarber @huckerbysbarber ·
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Love this!! -28 with the windchill this end so you ain’t missing anything. #ncfc enjoy the game @TorontoCanaries

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gldavey73 gary davey @gldavey73 ·
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