The anniversary of that day is just three days away (or, if you’re reading this on MFW catch-up, on Wednesday May, 25, 2016).
It doesn’t seem like a year. It is still fresh in the mind. It really does feel like yesterday.
Luckily, despite what has occurred since, the memories of that day will stay with all of us forever and nothing should detract from what was the most glorious of glory days. (And if you feel the desire to relive that feeling I’d heartily recommend revisiting Jon Rogers’ beautifully crafted and moving At The Game.)
It was the small things that made that day… like Alex changing from suit to tracksuit in the time it took Russ to toss the coin, like David McNally nudging Delia to tell her she was on the big screen and, subsequently, those classic quotes from the various match commentators.
Last season the play-off final was before the FA Cup final and I can vividly recall feeling a tinge of envy as the fans of Arsenal and Villa headed to the scene of our triumph; one of whom were to experience something akin to what we had just five days earlier.
But there was also a feeling of ‘it won’t be as good for you’. We had after all won the £950-trillion game and were returning to the Promised Land and all its riches – they were just going to win a trophy.
(As it transpired, for Villa fans it definitely wasn’t as good for them).
Yet, while the wonderful memories remain, to ponder on what was a magnificent achievement does ultimately leave a feeling of emptiness, swiftly followed by a gnawing pain – one of those niggly ones that refuses to go away – and then so many ‘if onlys’ the pain becomes almost tangible.
You’ll be delighted to hear I’m not about to unpick the ‘whys’ – the MFW team have expertly done that far better than I throughout the week – but there is no escaping that much of the hard work that began when David McNally made that first phone call to his Hamilton Academicals counterpart has now been undone.
The Championship is notoriously an absolute beast to get out of – at least via the right end – yet armed with a squad technically capable of doing just that, we had managed in the nick of time to get our house in order sufficiently to achieve it.
Based on the stats, there is more chance of being sucked into the second-tier maelstrom than being able to escape it at the first attempt but some how we managed it. By retaining the nucleus of the previous season’s PL squad, by a few astute additions and (eventually) by finding a manager with the necessary qualities we fought our way back.
And to top it off, we did it in the riskiest but the best way possible – via Wembley.
All of which makes our current predicament that little bit harder to stomach. A feeling of back to square one.
Clearly behind the scenes there were problems brewing, even as we partied at Wembley, but they were so far in the background it was impossible to even get a sniff. And besides, in moments of elation – like winning at Wembley – no-one gives a flying fig if everything is not tickety-boo.
As Delia strolled across the Wembley turf to thank the fans, flanked by an applauding Michael and a fist-pumping McNally, everything in the garden really did appear rosy.
We were reportedly debt-free (I promise never to use that term again) and were, in the 12 months to follow, to be in receipt of several obscenely large sacks of cash marked BT Sport and Sky. What was not to like.
Yet, all was not completely well. The boardroom, it appears, was not as harmonious as one would expect or hope and the behind-the-scenes structure was, as we now know, not wholly fit for purpose.
Of course, none of this would have mattered if what happened on the pitch had delivered us a Premier League place of 17th or higher – and I’m positive that fractured boardrooms and creaking structures are two a penny – but because only Villa managed a worse league record it really did matter.
I wrote a piece a few weeks ago about how, in order to avoid becoming a yo-yo club, Norwich City needs to either consider the prospect of external, maybe even oversees, investment or else do something extraordinary and/or innovative off the pitch.
As it transpires, while the former appears well and truly off the table for the foreseeable, the latter too appears a million miles away right now; hence us now preparing for a second season in three in the Championship.
So, while the search for a new CEO is clearly under way – for a ‘footballing’ person by all accounts – it really can’t happen soon enough. Equally, it’s such a crucial appointment to rush the process would be riddled with similar levels of risk.
For the club to progress it has to be the right person; one who, amongst other things, is a hard-nosed negotiator, an experienced man-manager, has a sound footballing background and is, importantly (for me anyway), an innovative thinker.
If we’re happy to bob along betwixt top and second tier, then more of the same will be sufficient.
But if we’re serious about giving the Championship a good run for its money and then proceeding to go about tackling the Premier League’s middling members on an equal footing, then we’re in need of a proper off-the-field shake-up – from the top down.
Much rests on the shoulders of Ed Balls, Delia and co. Please don’t get this one wrong.
I could say tons but I’ll play it safe and say, quite truthfully, another good read from Gary Gowers. I have little faith in Those On High and every day a chance to do something positive is slipping further away. I guess the new CEO will have to be poached from a lower league Club. These football-savvy CEOs don’t grow on trees, and I’m not aware of a finishing school for them, as somebody has said before. In certain situations, there’s nothing worse than elderly people who Think They Know Best. And that’s what we seem to be stuck with just now. I really hope Alex Neil stays but at this rate he must be wondering where any back-up, personal or financial, is coming from. It wouldn’t surprise me if he walked tbh. What a mess we’re in now compared to the leap forward we could and should have taken almost exactly a year ago…
Oh go on El Dingo… let it rip.
Thanks btw
el dingo (1) – We’re all concerned, but I don’t quite understand your cynicism.
This is the Board whose last CEO appointment was David McNally. Do you think they were disappointed in him, or are now looking to find someone who’s not ‘football-savvy’?
And how can you square your ‘it wouldn’t surprise me if Alex walked’ with his own statements?
Of course we missed a chance last season. But we are where we are, and I’ve seen nothing to justify a view that AN isn’t keen to stay or that the Board won’t back him. Indeed, one the reasons for his keenness appears to be the Board’s public and private backing.
No chance:-) I like this site cos the writing is quality and I don’t comment that often – I don’t really always feel I need to. No bickering, just intelligent NCFC fans having a good ole exchange of views. I just wish Those On High understood how some of us in the Barclay and elsewhere feel a little let down, really.
I’m probably in the minority that would rather have a CEO with a great business mind and eye for a winner, than someone who has vast football knowledge.
TBH I think the more McNally tried to play the footballing expert the more the rest of the club suffered. He performed far better when he saw good talent and let them get on with their job. Focusing on sorting out the club structure in the first few years allowed Lambert and co to get on with winning games. Once we had our footballing board in place it all went down hill.
What’s interesting this time with our relegation is how silent the club has been compared to the previous relegation. Of course the situation is different. We have a manager for starters. It would be nice if the board came out in front of a camera / press conference and publicly backed him. Unless I’ve missed this (not seen it on pinkun or heard it on the radio).
stewart lewis (3) – Fair enough. McNally was a good appointment and I for one fervently wish he was still here. Some other recent appointments ahave been maybe a little less reassuring imo.
Re Alex Neil: Fair enough again! It was a purely speculative statement really. It’s just that in a moment of misery I pictured him having another frustrating summer in the transfer market through no fault of his own, saying “oh no not again” and taking the High Road.
Losing a good CEO is bad enough but I really wouldn’t want to lose this particular manager as well!
Finally I’m with Dave B (5) – I’d love to see the Board back Alex Neil too. Maybe I’ve missed it also?
The difficulty in making any informed comment is that we’re not.
Informed.
We have no real idea about quite what the division of responsibilities is – who actual does what: how our decision making process works. Especially with regard to the acquisition of players.
For me, the whole business of footballers’ contracts, football agents, etc., is far too nuanced for us to have a football industry novice at the helm and expect him/her to hit the ground running.
We not only have no choice other than to put our trust in those who will make the appointment, but should try and support them. Because I, for one, believe that they genuinely do have the interests of the club at heart.
I like that we can have reasoned debate here – no wild accusations, few unfounded ‘ITKs’ or self-imposed moderators / amateur writing experts.
Perspective, therefore, is everything. We might not wholly trust those in charge but the point often made/not forgotten on this site is that they did drag us out of League 1 to become one of the top 20-odd teams in England. Which we have consistently been for five seasons now. Ask any club in the Champ whether they don’t see us as a threat. None of them will be happy about that. We have a good foundation and need to spring back.
Dave B (5)/el dingo (6): A bit surprised you’ve missed it, but:
“Alex is a brilliant manager. We are absolutely backing him.” Ed Balls, interview with the Pink Un 11 May.
Further similar statements since. AN has also acknowledged the Board’s strong support for him.
Thanks Stewart from a rather red-faced dingo!
I don’t think there’s anything to be gained by Board appearances in front of the camera post relegation. Ed Balls has chipped in with his twopenny worth, giving support to Alex, and now he has the task of finding a new CEO.
If there’s one change I’d like to see once the new incumbent is in place, it’s an element of delegation. It was something which I sensed did not to happen in the recent past. We don’t need a legion of administrative staff, but there has to be a move away from the almost one man show we ended up with.