It’s time to clear the throat and shout, “Go orrrrrrnn Neyul…” as he could be the man to bring the fans closer together and hold the key to The Canaries promotion tilt this season
Amongst overseeing the hard work being put in by the players, Neil Adams sat down for an interview at St Georges Park right at the very start of pre-season and something stirred in me.
Here is a man who has been in and around the Fine City for longer than some players, like the Murphys, have even been born. People may say that is not important, and it isn’t really when deciding whether to go with the diamond at Molineux, but it counts for something.
It’s something that is unmeasurable for the modern football fan who is obsessed with being an armchair manager and flicking through his or her smartphone to look up the Opta stats. You know the sort – steady streams of folk on Twitter questioning each and every decision. Good old ‘Neyull’ has even fielded a fair share of ‘canary calls’ from fans that way inclined too.
What I’m talking about is good old passion and pride in wearing that badge. I know it has become a bit of a cliché to say it these days but I firmly stand by it – at the end of the day why do we watch football or play sport?
I do it because it is my passion and I am proud to do so And I know there are many kindred spirits in these parts.
I’m throwing my weight behind Adams and supporting him, backing him to succeed, willing him to. I feel he understands what it’s like to pull on a yellow shirt and do his bit for the team.
I saw him do just that a few times when my Grandad Vic first started taking me to Carrow Road in the 90s in the Lower Barclay. Football has changed a lot since the days where 7 year-old me would get in for a quid, and relish seeing big-timers like Stockport, Bury, Port Vale and Bolton go hammer and tongs with us.
He just gets it, and I think he’s realised what we’d like to see from the squad. We don’t want to be paying £43 to watch 0-0 draws with Newcastle – I certainly don’t anyway. I want to see the free-flowing, swashbuckling displays that swept us up to second in the Championship in 2011.
What glory days they were. You can’t tell me that wasn’t fun?
You may not feel overly comfortable with him being in the managerial hot seat but he has my respect and I really hope he takes this golden chance to make things work for us.
For me, those aforementioned ingredients are important in a head coach. It didn’t help that our last manager had the charisma of that rag under the sink I polish shoes with.
As the saying goes, tough times don’t last – tough people do. I just hope Adams gets off to a good start though because that saying could get put to the test quite quickly.
You want someone suitably qualified for the job, and I feel that as a First Division winner with Everton, experience of playing in the Premier League, and more recently taking a then largely unknown quantity to Stamford Bridge and winning the FA Youth Cup, Neil Adams certainly doesn’t have a bad CV.
I believe he has his UEFA ‘A’ License too, so it’s hardly as if the janitor’s been left in charge.
Anyone who knows me, or speaks with me on Twitter, will recognise I was always firmly in the ‘Hughton Out’ camp from very early on. I felt we were fortunate not to fall out of that hefty trapdoor and get our Premier League elixir withdrawn in the 2012/13 season under such tactics. Many of us could see the grim conclusion of last campaign a mile off.
Now we’re back in that familiar old place of the second tier and, actually, I’m rather looking forward to it.
It is genuinely refreshing to see a Norwich City manager speak with so much positivity about his plans for the forthcoming season. A breath of fresh air that I hope has extended to the inner sanctums of the club and the dressing room, blowing away the bad feelings of last season.
Because if there is any lingering hangover when we kick off on Sunday, then opposition teams will give us a shock akin to Ricky van Wolfswinkel scoring a goal.
Speaking of disappointing players from last season and costly individuals left over from our failed premier league quest, it will be interesting to see just how much the squad will change from now until the point the transfer window slams shut at the end of the month.
There are still questions marks over the likes of Bassong, Bunn and Becchio. Snodgrass has already left for the bright lights of Hull and there’s West Ham et al circling over Martin Olsson like big fat greedy vultures.
As the board insisted they do not need to sell you would like to think only the deals that make sense and are in the best interests of the club will go through.
Last time we went down to the Championship we were all too quick to dismantle the standout performers who had proved so useful in the squad. Damien Francis, Dean Ashton and Marc Edworthy were all let go too early or too easily in my opinion, so let’s not make those same decisions.
If we have players still here that can help get us back up first time, then why get rid so easily?
We have done well so far, I am just hoping to see us get to September 2 with two or three wins and a squad willing and capable of doing the business for the might Yellows.
What do you reckon, can we do it? Why not tweet me your predictions for the top six and relegation spots of the Championship?
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Sam can be contacted on Twitter if you wish to share with him your hopes, fears and dreams for the new season.
Good stuff Sam. Adams must be given time to develop this project and it concerns me that to many keep referring to the need to “get off to a flyer”. I know that’s what we all crave, but the season is 46 games and he should be given at least a third of the season (15 games) before judgements are passed. I think that’s unlikely to happen and I still get the feeling some are just “itching for him to fail”.
I still think we desperately need a centre back to balance up the squad, as I remain unconvinced that Russell Martin is a long term solution in that position.
OTBC
Hear, hear Gazza (1). Let’s not forget that the ‘glory days’ of our Championship season under Lambert began with a home defeat to Watford, and included three losses in the first eight games. A bit of patience would be helpful.
Also agree that (i) good piece from Sam – welcome to the team, (ii) centre back is clearly our thinnest area. I suspect Neil and his colleagues are aware of it too.
OTBC
Yes, great article Sam, you’ve avoided the cliches, both in writing and in views! I’m very positive about Neil, I like all that he has done and said so far, including the fact that he has neither talked up nor down this start of the season. He’s also said nothing much about Wolves too, which I like, though his players will be well prepared as to what to expect.
On the CB and RB positions, yes, I suspect much now depends on whether Seb stays or goes. If Adams reckons he has eaten humble pie for long enough and he stays, he then needs to use him, otherwise he needs to leave and be replaced.
I’m happy that we seem to be underestimated by others, and I am sure Neil is too. Have seen plenty of comments about us ‘splashing the cash’ too, which is rubbish, since we are in net profit in transfers so far. But I’m most encouraged by the team spirit that seems to have re-emerged, including with the reintegration of players like Hoolahan and Surman, and with the flexibility and adaptability Adams is encouraging in his side. Look forward to the first goal scored by a substitute again. For the first matches, if we play positively and intelligently, that’s what counts. The results will then look after themselves.
Great article, Sam!
I agree that there is no need to sell unless the price is right, a key learning point from our last relegation from the PL.
I’m concerned like Gazza (1) about the ‘doubters’, as there seems to be quite a bit of negativity floating around at present from certain fans. I understand their concerns about his ‘lack of experience’, but he does have the right qualifications and credentials to be a success. I think some of the naysayers let Colchester(a) cloud their judgement.
For what it’s worth, I could see Wigan, Derby, Cardiff, Forest, Brighton and Norwich in the the top six at the end of the season. I could imagine relegation for Blackpool, Charlton and Rotherham but no doubt there will be the odd surprise at both ends – that’s why we love the Championship!
For someone not born and bred in Nelson’s County, Adams seems as much ‘one of us’ as it’s possible to be. It really disappoints me to think fans would be itching for him to fail. He’s undoubtedly qualified, tactically astute, and has passion to spare, but the one thing he’s lacking is experience, so there’ll be a certain amount of on-the-job training needed. For that reason we all need to show Adams patience as well as support. Everyone has to start somewhere.
On the other hand, it’s all about results, and if City don’t get good ones early then fans, and more importantly perhaps, players, will lose belief in their rookie manager, because of the absence of a senior level track record. A good start will mean a better quality squad when the transfer window shuts.
“Tough times don’t last. Tough people do.” Never heard that before. Like it!
Many thanks for your comments folks, appreciated.
It’s going to be a big task but once that transfer windows shut and we’ve settled I think we’ll be fine, and by the time the leaves are falling off the trees I hope we’ll be firmly rooted in the top 6.
Think Derby and Blackburn will be ones to watch this season. Looking forward to seeing how we get on now, excited.
Three centre-backs is probably too light you’re right, Bassong surely has no way back & I think he needs to move on.
can someone please tell me if McNally has taken a
substantial paycut? Good luck to the boys,need to re-discover the scoring touch as everything will flow from that. Anticipate plenty of goals,Norwich to win by the odd one out of five….