There was an interesting comment – among many – to the Sunderland point.
It came from a Dave B who was now willing to give Chris Hughton until the end of the season to prove his worth.
“Right now, I’m leaning towards keeping him until the end of the season, as I think he’ll keep us up, but largely due to imploding teams around us. I’ll gladly eat humble pie if he does that…” he wrote.
Ramming humble pie down each other’s throats is probably not the best way to bring the Canary Nation back together again; in my experience, those scoffed and scorned invariably come back with a greater vengeance once the tide turns.
As it invariably does – particularly given how form and fortune in this league can rest on the whim of a fixture computer.
Given Norwich’s run in, patience and opinions will be sorely tested again before the summer arrives.
The more interesting point was that about ‘imploding’ clubs running to Norwich’s rescue.
Because for me, one is indivisible from the other. It is woven into the very fabric of Premier League life, that events off the field can have just as much bearing on a team’s final position as those on it.
Spurs might be a case in point where Daniel Levy’s stewardship of the club is – almost for the first time – coming under the spotlight.
The management structure and those, in particular, charged with filling the yawning gap left by Gareth Bale’s exit clearly sat uneasily with the now departed manager; Tim Sherwood’s sudden rise to Premier League prominence looks one of those that could either be an act of executive genius on the part of Levy as he thrusts the Youth boss onto centre stage – or an act of panic as he seeks someone whose loyalty and gratitude for as long as he lasts can be more guaranteed.
Spurs, clearly, are a long way from imploding but there are still the first signs of cracks between boardroom and terrace; given the form of those above them, it is difficult to see a Champions League finish for both North London clubs this season.
But it is another example of off the field decisions dictating the health of a football club and how individuals other than a No9 can directly impact where a team finishes and the atmosphere that breeds inside and outside of a dressing room.
Humble pie here would be the way that Everton continue to hold their own in the top six minus Moyes. Part of that has to be down to the stability and sense that long-time owner Bill Kenwright brings to Goodison. The Faithful know he is blue through and through. He is not about to turn the club’s colours red.
Which is the point. A club at ease with itself invariably does better than one in the process of tearing itself apart. How long the ‘truce’ will continue at Cardiff is another matter. But compare and contrast to the boardroom sense and sensibility that underpins neighbours Swansea City.
And nor are this season’s pantomimes anything new.
Portsmouth, Birmingham City, Leeds United… Manchester City. The cast list stretches way back; in that the madness of the riches available in the top flight of English football can just as easily be the breaking of clubs as the making of them.
Heads get turned; egos get inflated. Owners rule, OK?
I haven’t been on a West Ham website. Ever, if truth be told.
But it can’t be sweetness and light there.
And they have another factor to bear in mind, albeit still some two years hence.
After a very bruising battle to lay claim to the Olympic legacy of that stadium switch – one that now forces Spurs into seeking their own pastures new – the pressure on the Golds, Sullivans and Bradys to keep the Hammers in the top flight for the next two seasons must be immense.
Is Carlton Cole the one to keep East London’s Olympic legacy alive? Leyton Orient owner Barry Hearn, for one, will make merry hell if there isn’t Premier League football to greet the stadium’s re-opening.
It will be fascinating to see what such pressure yields in terms of the forthcoming transfer window; just what appetite the usual suspects have for another big money raid on the European striker market.
But go back to the first point; who, of all the London clubs have successfully made the stadium switch – and come out of it flush with cash?
Arsenal. Whose stability at the top – certainly in terms of management – is reaping its overdue rewards in terms of a realistic title push.
Come back to closer to home and the same sense of stability may yet be seen to underpin Norwich’s gradual rise to mid-table prominence under the Smith-Bowkett-McNally-Hughton axis.
Twists and turns inevitably await; no-one is suggesting that anyone is out of the woods on the basis of three games unbeaten – games in which you wouldn’t look to be beaten. By rights it should be four unbeaten as Fulham head to the city on Boxing Day – fresh, of course, from their own recent upheavals.
For City’s success – or otherwise – will be hugely influenced by board-level behaviour.
And keeping calm in a crisis isn’t the worst trait in the world to have.
Panic and it could be all over.
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THANKS, AS ALWAYS, FOR READING AND HAVE A VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS – FROM THE THE MYFOOTBALLWRITER TEAM
Wise words Rick.
Good points, but, oh dear, here we go again: “by rights it should be be four unbeaten as Fulham head to the city on Boxing Day.”
By what right? Because they are below us and we’re a mid-table side? There’s nothing much between any team in the bottom half of the premier league, which is why the Sunderland point was a good one, and which is why Fulham will be another tough battle. The only difference is that we’re at home so need to look to dictate the game more.
Dave B and his ilk (the outers) have been banging the drum for months to get Hughton out and some unknown replacement in to take us to some utopian golden land. I’m sure they would like to see a foreign billionaire take over the club, appoint a foreign coach and have 10-11 foreign players representing the side.
I think the set up (off/on pitch) we have is doing a fine job and we are on course for a good season despite some ups and downs which you will get every season. Throwing pots of money at some foolhardy vision of glory is more likely to send us back into the dark ages (lower leagues) the way it did Leeds, Blackburn etc etc. QPR tried it, ditched the manager mid-way and still went down.
Stability and steady progress is the way forward. Once Abramovic/Tan etc get tired of their toys and pull the plug, those clubs are in for a long, cold exile.
Absolutely right Rick. The manager is clearly a key figure, but the Smith-Bowkett-McNally-Hughton axis as you call it has a great deal going for it, as I think any perceptive fan would recognise.
To regard Fulham as a ‘should-win’ is nonsense. It’s a beter opportunity to pick-up points than the next home game. No more, no less.
Watching Hoots’ interview on the signing of the Murphy twins was great. He’s a good guy, working hard for this great club. He deserves the room to do that job. OTBC.
Great article Rick..
Still sounds like it is going to be a gut wrenching 5 months of dour no risk footy. The odd smash and grab, a few thrashings and the lack of imagination to change a game with the likes of one Mr Hoolahan!
Much as we all love the prem, we would like to see a little more attacking intent and on occasions at least a Plan B
JD
Absolutely.
But few people can manage a game like Paul Lambert who always had a variety of plan B’s depending on the game unfolding. And even he was sparing of his use of Wes at times.
You can expect DM to be quietly scouting the next Brendan Rogers, Michael Laudrup or Roberto Martinez.
But right now we have Hoots. Would we be better served by a Holloway type attack or perish policy? Easy for the keyboard warriors. Much more difficult when you actually have to do it.
Grinding-out the points to safety won’t be pretty, but it will be none the less of an achievement if we can do it.
Then the investment continues and the progression of a properly run club. It’s the only way to go…
@ Oli Garch says:”I’m sure they would like to see a foreign billionaire take over the club, appoint a foreign coach and have 10-11 foreign players representing the side.”
I’d love to see your evidence behind that statement. In fact, if you’re such a fan of Hughton and so against the idea of foreigners on the pitch, then you must be a very conflicted person…
RVW – Netherlands
Bassong – Cameroon
Fer- Netherlands
Olsson – Sweden
Becchio – Argentina
Garrido – Spain
Tetty – Norway
Dave B.(7) – you forgot Elmander (Sweden), but I’m not sure Becchio counts as he’s been seen as often as Lord Lucan riding Shergar.
You’re confusing me for some kind of flag waving UKIPer..I’m very much not. I think we have a good balance of home players and foreign players – unlike others e.g. Man City – foreign owner/coach/invariably 10-11 players. That cannot be healthy for our national side if one of the major sides is not encouraging/promoting talent from these isles. In fact, they have essentially ended the careers of some such as Rodwell, Sinclair, Richards..
I’m all for an injection of talent from abroad but there has to be a limit of 4-5 per team for any game..is that unreasonable?
Who did you have in mind to usurp Hughton?