In Michael Crichton’s novel Sphere, scientists discover a spacecraft on the seabed. It’s made of unknown materials and clearly has technology well beyond our capabilities.
As they open it, will they find any kind of language inside that might help us understand its origin? Yes, predicts one of the scientists: they’ll find a lot of English.
And he’s right. The craft isn’t from an alien present, but from our own future.
Which brings me straight to conspiracy theories, and eventually to Norwich City.
A word of preface, probably unnecessary to regular readers: for the most part I’m a paid-up, infuriating, rationalist. Rationalism is defined as “the practice of basing opinions and actions on reason and knowledge rather than religious belief or emotional response”.
As such, maybe I‘ve no place on a football forum at all. One of the commenters on a recent article here suggested that my “optimism and blind faith” had become a medical condition.
To be fair, he was arguing that my hold-off-for-a-few-games view of the Norwich manager situation was irrational. He may be right – as I’ll return to – though I’m not sure I need to bother our hard-pressed doctor.
If you anticipate me being sceptical about conspiracy theories, you’re right. Most of them fall apart at the least application of science or logic. The moon landings weren’t faked, and (sadly) Elvis really died.
On the other hand, a proper rationalist should keep an open mind in some cases. I don’t know who or what was behind the assassination of JFK; all we can say is that most of the theories have gaping holes.
Whatever crashed at Roswell, it seems highly unlikely to have been a weather balloon, but just as unlikely to be an alien spacecraft. My money would be on advanced technology – not in this case arriving from the future, but from a contemporary experiment.
Don’t get me started on alien abduction (though some of our political leaders do give me pause for thought…)
So we come back to Norwich. Frustrating times give rise to wild thinking – perhaps illustrated in some of this year’s electoral behaviour, and surely by some of the things fans are asserting about our club, even on this usually relatively considered site.
We’ve heard, for instance, that:
– Delia & Michael have syphoned money from the club and don’t want it promoted back to the Premier League
– The Board “takes delight” in going against supporters’ wishes
– Alex Neil “got lucky” with our promotion in 2014-15
– Louis Thompson was dropped for Saturday, with the account of his injury being faked
– Martin Olsson deliberately got sent off on Saturday to boost his chances of leaving in January
And many more.
Some of these have been rebutted with fact; all of them are piffle. They may get called “great points” on Canarycall, but they shouldn’t get the same indulgence here.
If I left it there, though, the accusation of being a blind optimist would be a fair cop.
There is a genuine case for the Board now letting go of Alex Neil. It’s just been made by Gary Gowers, a true fan who thinks things through with as little prejudice as anyone I’ve seen.
Since I’ve criticized one or two commenters to the site, let me redress the balance. Among the mixed bag of responses to Gary’s piece, the case against Alex Neil is made clearly and powerfully by Cyprus Canary (comment number 35!).
Like Craig Revel Horwood vis-à-vis the possibility of Ed Balls winning Strictly, it wouldn’t be my choice quite yet to part ways with AN, but I’d have no complaints if it happened. For whatever reason, the manager isn’t able to inspire belief and cohesion in the players as he once did.
For most of the last eight years, we’ve seen City teams achieve more than could reasonably be expected of them. It’s a nasty shock to see a Norwich team out there under-delivering its potential.
Personally I’d still wait through at least the Derby game, to see if the spirited last 20 minutes at QPR can be carried into a full match. Another insipid performance, though, and it would be tough to argue against change.
Change may, of course, happen before then. I believe those who think the Board doesn’t care as we do, and is mainly concerned with fobbing off supporters at the AGM, are wrong. For better or worse they’re under pressure – some of it from their own passion about Norwich City.
One regret I’d have about Alex Neil being replaced is that the problems don’t start and finish with him. It’s clear that January needs to see a significant turnover of players, whoever’s in the manager’s seat.
We’ve been a little spoilt recently with two Championship seasons leading straight to promotion, and the instant impact that Alex Neil had when he joined us. I hope we haven’t forgotten that it’s not guaranteed.
Just to complicate things further, I’m only ‘for the most part’ a rationalist. The biggest and best decisions in my life were made from the heart rather than the brain.
Make of that what you will.
having read the times interview with smith, I took exception to her reportedly laughing as she defiantly stated ” they” meaning us, “won’t like it, but I don’t care”. This I took to be “taking delight” you may choose to,call it something else, but don’t calli it “piffle”.
Good piece, Stewart. Nice summary of the ridiculous thoughts some fans have had regarding our club. I for one think Alex should go if we lose v Derby. Unfortunately, I think we will lose. Their turnaround in fortunes is unbelievable considering how badly the ‘wolly with a brolly’ performed with the geordies last season. I know a Derby supporter and watched their recent win over Wolves, they’re a good side you know. Just a thought, who the hell is going to play at left back??
Chris (1): Fair point.
Those words of Delia – like some others in the interview – weren’t well chosen. I know Delia a little, and I guess I was taking that into account. I don’t believe she’d ever feel or express contempt for City fans.
In this case, I think she was trying to say: “I know fans will disagree, but I’m convinced this is the right way forward”.
Cheers
Also, would take issue with the line that we have been spoiled recently. I make it two woeful relegations in the last three seasons.
Stewart, would you agree that the interview was a mistake, and do you believe that he McNally still been in situ it would never have taken place?
Chris (4): Thanks for the chance to clarify. I meant the specific context of our recent Championship experience.
Few come into the Championship, from either direction, and get promoted out of it first time. We’ve done it twice in five years. Those of us with long memories will recall other seasons when we expected to, and had a sobering experience.
Yes, we have one of the strongest squads in the division. But it also has problems; if we change manager, it’s a big ask for the new man to create a cohesive group straight away.
The so called Stowmarket two are always an easy target when things are not going well. I would argue against their proposed long term strategy but responsibility for our more immediate problems lies further down the chain. Those problems have been well expressed on this board, and l will not go over old ground except to say that the lack of squad progression has been hugely depressing. We’ve stayed still while our competitors have moved on.
If we fail at Derby then l think that must be it for AN. But also for a number of the players who just haven’t shown enough to justify playing for our club.
I too think that AN’s time will be up if we don’t win at Derby, but
we need to remember that things can go ‘ from bad to worse’.
I’m also remembering Worthy’s departure and the continued slide down the table and a slow fall into League 1.
Your first point is actually two separate points. No they haven’t taken any money that wasn’t already theirs. But in regards to wanting to be in the Prem, there’s not a lot of evidence for it other than they like the bank balance it brings. They have never shown any desire to stay in the Prem. And I don’t mean lip service. I mean true grit, determination, stay up at all costs desire.
Also, just because Gary now agrees with a viewpoint doesn’t mean it wasn’t a valid one months or years ago.
Chris (5): Some of the interview seemed fine to me, some of it a bit strange – especially the apparently closed door to outside investment.
Delia and Michael gave McNally a free rein, including to make decisions which hurt them emotionally or financially. Obviously you can say their judgement over the years has been a mixed bag – it was in recognition of that fact that they handed over so much executive power to David.
Whatever we feel about them, I don’t think their commitment to the club should ever be doubted.
Having said that, I think McNally would have regarded the Times interview as Delia’s own business and not wanted to interfere.
Dave B (9): If you think Delia and Michael aren’t passionate about Norwich being in the top division, you clearly haven’t read Tales from the City and you clearly weren’t at Portsmouth or Wembley.
They’ve now finally received their money back from the club. But previously (for instance after the last promotion in 2015) they were happy for McNally to try to spend extra money on the squad, even if it meant fresh borrowing from the bank, rather than repay them.
As we know, the failure of McNally’s big bids for players in that summer hurt us (and perhaps unfairly, Alex Neil’s reputation) badly.
Rogers point is valid. The long overdue sacking of worthington was followed by an appalling string of managerial appointments, culminating in gunn getting the job for no logical or rational reason. The key to this is how Neil is replaced.
This is not the time for experiments involvinging ex city players, obscure number twos from another club or emotional claptrap involving bleeding yellow and green. The situation is crying out for experience, money spent in this area would be a wise investment.
The only trouble is, I have no confidence that the people tasked with making the appointment will arrive at the correct decision without David mcnallys input.
The board are inept. There is no other way of looking at this club. Some articles about the situations at other sides is a mere deflection, it’s about the decisions this club makes and that alone.
Nobody is questioning Smith and Jones’ loyalty or passion – far from it – but those attributes count for nothing.
We all want to see a board that acts in the best interest of the club and its supporters, with an tactful eye on how to make the most of the revenue and how that is spent. That is not the case at NCFC.
A direct quote Stewart, I’m privileged!
I actually agree with everything you say here, however that’s because they don’t address the real issues. On the playing front, I agree, Cyprus is spot on.
On the board side, I’ve never had a problem with Delia et al, and never questioned her commitment. However, with such a statement, what player is going to look at us as an attractive option… No investment and a tight wage structure.
It’s not looking good.
11) I wasn’t at Wembley. I live in the US. But it’s very easy to say someone is excited about being in the Prem while their team lifts a trophy. I don’t look at that, I look at the following three months which were a complete and utter shambles.
The fact is that you can look at our managers, our transfer windows, our recent CEO appointment, our backroom changes, and not a single time have they gone for the option that has seen success in the Premiership. The one exception was Phelan, that promptly left.
Dave B (15): I agree the window following our promotion was a disaster.
If that was because Delia & Michael had said: “We want our money back, and we don’t want to spend much on players”, I’d support your views.
But I believe the truth is a far cry from that. The reality of the bids we submitted, and D&M turning down their repayment to boost the transfer kitty, demand a different interpretation.
That’s the way it seems to me, anyway.