Much has been said and written about the club’s current malaise and where the blame lies, and those hoping for a modicum of comfort from last night’s AGM were left underwhelmed. The unrest is no longer bubbling just beneath the surface, the issues manyfold:
– We have players who are unable to perform to their own individual potential – let alone function as a cohesive team.
– A manager whose inexperience is becoming all too exposed, whose words sound increasingly hollow and who last night appeared keen to shift the onus onto his under-performing players.
– A Chief Executive, operating in the shadow of his predecessor, who possesses a CV which only serves to polarise opinion.
– A Chairman whose influence on proceedings is unclear but which appears to be of secondary importance to his public attempts at mastering ballroom dancing.
– Majority shareholders who have stated, and last night reiterated, their intent to maintain their personal dynasty whilst acknowledging that ‘they’ (meaning us) won’t like it, but that ‘they’ (meaning them) don’t care.
– Ricky Martin
Wherever the fingers point, one thing that most people seem to agree on is that this isn’t a mere blip and that our current woes are reflective of deep-rooted issues within the club which don’t bode well for the future.
Earlier this week, I overheard a conversation between two city fans;
“At this rate, we’ll end up like Ipswich.”
“That’ll never happen – we got 26,000 in League One, mate!”
And perhaps therein lies a further part of the problem.
Amidst all the recriminations, maybe we (the supporters) are also an integral part of the current malaise.
And whilst we are quick to turn on the players, the manager (and sometimes each other), maybe we should also turn the mirror on ourselves.
I accept that what follows is a generalisation and I’m not suggesting that we all behave the same or foster the same attitudes – after all, many different views are expressed and debated very eloquently and passionately right here on MyFootballWriter – but like it or not, we are all part of the ‘collective crowd’ which openly embraced the prospect of relegation by creating a party atmosphere as our fate was sealed against Watford.
A collective crowd that dismissed the talk of protests earlier in the season as derisory.
A collective crowd that tends to limit it’s frustrations to a chorus of boos at the final whistle or through cathartic rants on Canary Call, message boards, or social media.
In short, a collective crowd that has become far too tolerant and accepting of mediocrity and failure.
Following the QPR game, I saw a tweet stating “simply not good enough”
But what does that mean in real terms? ‘Not good enough’ for what?
What exactly are the ramifications of relegation and our recent abject performances?
A ‘meltdown’ on Twitter? Pointed questions at the AGM? Clappers being hurled onto the pitch?
All of that becomes slightly meaningless because as highlighted above, “we get 26,000 in League One, mate”.
History suggests that no matter how bad it gets, we will still turn up week in and week out in our thousands and Carrow Road will remain at or near capacity for every match.
Granted, it has become a fairly soul-less place that reeks of disengagement and disenchantment, but it’s full nevertheless.
And it’s full because the majority of fans dutifully renew their season tickets each year and the few who decide that enough is enough are quickly replaced by those on the waiting list.
Following their recent interview in The Times – which they conceded came across not wholly as intended – the majority shareholders have been accused of standing in the way of progress due to prudence coupled with a lack of ambition and investment.
But to a degree we are surely complicit in that, because whilst we continue to support the club, by definition we are supporting and inadvertently validating that approach.
In essence, we’re saying it’s acceptable because we’re not prepared to turn our backs.
I’m as guilty as anyone. I am thoroughly disillusioned with the club right now and have lost all confidence in the playing staff, the management and the Board.
And yet I’ll still go to every match.
Why? Because it’s part of my routine – a chance to meet up with family and friends and enjoy (if not the match itself) the wider match day experience.
For well over 30 years I have been going down to Carrow Road with my dad, and these days we have my son with us.
And with three generations of season ticket holders, it would be hypocritical to criticise Delia and Michael for also wanting to ‘keep it in the family’. After all, how can I demand that they handover the reins to someone else and walk away when I am not prepared to walk away myself?
In recent times, we’ve seen a global rise of ‘populism’; a style of politics that seeks to position the people against the perceived establishment.
Election campaigns have found support by tapping into an underlying sense of disillusionment. Campaigns built on the recognition that many have become disenfranchised by the mainstream and are increasingly desperate for change.
Populist movements tend to find support at times when people see the prevailing norms – which are preserved and defended by the existing establishment – as being at odds with their own hopes, fears, and concerns.
And there seems to be an increasing undercurrent of this within the City support – a genuine belief that those running the club are taking it in the wrong direction; an increasing sense of frustration aimed towards Delia and ‘her cronies’ plus the ‘happy clappers’ who appear intent on defending and preserving the status quo.
The problem is that with no election, referendum or ballot boxes available, the only real option is to vote with your feet.
And that’s something that many of us just can’t bring ourselves to do.
Great article Steve – spot on. For Jez Moxey aka the invisible to may to make the statement @ the AGM about his 3,objectives being promotion, promotion, promotion was truly hypocritical. Everyone who watches NCFC and understands anything about the game of football ( and I mean anything ) knows that unless AN is sacked we have zero (or less) chance of reaching the ‘holy grail’ next season. That is just the first change that needs to happen so let’s deal with that as the most important and that will make everyone feel more positive and hopeful about the future.
Interesting.. I for one go to games because I support the team and I like to see football matches. Perhaps I should go locally (Wroxham in my case) but no I think not.
When I used to go regularly in the 70s we were mid table ALL the time in the old Division 2 and there was something comforting about that. Times change though and money has taken over plus the opportunity to see “some” of the best players in the world and usually get beaten in the process – in the circumstances would we NOT go?
Finally, its not use moaning about the board and their ambition voting them all back in and then moaning about it!
Steve…finally, an honest piece. Someone on MFW hasn’t fallen into the trap of calling people names because you don’t want to hear their opinion and has looked at themselves. I respect your honesty and also understand why you don’t want to walk. Your family tradition. Now there is a genuine reason not to want to walk away from your club, but also makes it all the important. It’s a tough one but we are indeed part of the problem and, because I don’t have a family that likes football, I will talk for you and no longer give this club my money until things change.
Nobody can criticise Delia for what she has done. However her reason for not wanting Foriegn investment or any investment come to that is bizarre. “Look what they have done to other Clubs”
If she continues with this attitude and sits on her hands whilst Norwich plummet to mid table or worse she will be guilty of ruining the Club in just the way ‘these foreigners’ are supposed to have done to others.
There are plenty of examples of good investment – Leicester Southampton Bournemouth West Ham Watford etc etc
When we went into League 1, the club moved away from the model of being run by well meaning amateurs and brought Bowkett and McNally in. Lambert arrived and both the playing side and the financial side of the club were turned round with fantastic effect. We became a club that was far less ‘nice’ to deal with as Bowkett and McNally seemed to stop the culture of ‘we’re only Norwich, what can we do?’ and drove hard bargains and upset people.
As stated in the article, Moxey’s role is unclear but we know that Bowkett has been replaced by Ed Balls who in his time at the club has been more in the news for promoting his book and dancing on a Saturday night than anything to do with football. I don’t know if there is any direct correlation between this and what happens on the field but I would like to see some people with a more hard nosed personality in the board room.
As far as support goes, I’ll never boycott a game. I live 175 miles away so I don’t get to anywhere near as many games as I’d like to but like the author, for me meeting up with people and other match weekend routines go hand in hand with the game. As Johnny Vaughan says on the radio ‘you mustn’t let the football get in the way of a good day at the football’ I’ve had to keep this as my mantra on many a long trip back to the Midlands after games.
I hope for better but I don’t know how this will be achieved. The rot needs to stop very quickly but I don’t think that a visit to in form Derby provides the best hope of the start of the new beginning.
What an excellent piece.
I wrote some time back that we are part of the problem – Rick W picked up on it – and for as much bitching & whinging that goes on on Twitter or the message boards if we continue to turn up to Carrow Rd yet complain (and there are many who simply turn up to watch a game of football and meet friends, as you say) yet keep going back, yet demand change, we aren’t forcing the board to progress.
Delia sorted it when we truly faced the abyss – league 1 – and she was open enough to ask for help. We are not facing the abyss now, however much a bad run of games makes us feel – but it’s a worry that it might take a catastrophe to shake the owners into more progressive action.
That’s where Steve is absolutely right. We can’t always have it both ways.
Based on the other reports of this meeting I don’t think the phrase “maintain their personal dynasty” fairly represents their motivation for retaining ownership at all. It makes it sound like personal greed; I don’t think that’s the case.
It is about keeping this club, unlike so many others, owned by genuine fans. The moment that’s gone it’s very probably gone for good. And yes, there are some successful examples as Charles (4) says. And I’m sure folks in Blackpool will offer you an abysmal example of local ownership.
For all that Steve and others write in opposition to the Wynne Jones “dynasty” I haven’t seen anyone nail their colours to the mast and say unequivocally “Please find some billionaires to sell the club to; it doesn’t matter who they are, just that they are billionaires”.
Just remember that you may have to suffer a Mandaric, as Leicester did before the quiet chap with a very long name took over.
And one thing’s for sure, if it ever happens you certainly won’t be invited to the AGM.
* I meant to say
And yes, there are some examples of successful outside investment as Charles (4) says.
Really appreciate the comments – especially Jeff (3)… see I always knew you weren’t ALL bad 😉
Keith (7) – a question of interpretation I think. I certainly don’t believe that they are motivated by greed. The only people who become millionaires from owning a football club started as multi-millionaires! I used the term ‘dynasty’ in reference to their stated intent to hand control to their nephew. It may prove to be an inspired decision but in my opinion illustrates that they are closed to considering other options and ‘keep it in the family’. However in the spirit of fairness I did try to acknowledge the analogies to my own family!
Excellent article, however I disagree with the confidence that we will continue to fill the stadium week in week out wherever we finish up, mid table ? relegated(and yes that is still possible) if current form continues and no management changes are made.
I suspect if the current head in the sand family club attitude continues with no real success football wise that we will indeed start to loose season ticket holders at an ever increasing rate, and could very well end up with a half empty stadium in just 2/3 seasons. I wonder if Delia and co will enjoy owning quite so much a club in free fall, together with a depreciating asset that no one will want to buy then.
The Club belongs to the supporters not the wealthy owners, they are custodians and as such have a responsibility to always be open to considering investment approaches if it would actually allow the club more success. Their closed shop no outside investment considered approach smacks of the custodians treating the club as their personnel plaything.
Hiring Ed Balls ? What possible benefit can he ever bring to a football club, clearly her allegiance to the Labour Party was a part of that decision. Hiring Mr Moxley ? Forced out at Wolves after new ownership came in, What track record has he got with Wolves, other than allowing a sleeping giant to meander along in mid table and playing in front of a half empty stadium.
Neither choice fills me with any confidence.
Loosing Mr McNally was a massive blow to the club, and although we will probably never hear the truth about why he resigned, you have to suspect he was pushing to take the club forward with perhaps outside investment and because they said no he felt he had to resign, it’s interesting that although he apparently resigned he was in-fact give a severance package, that also suggest along with the package a confidentially clause was included.
Fantastic read, spot on about how it’s hard to walk away. Becoming disillusioned with the club (and football in general) but NCFC means weekends back in Norfolk with the family
Can we stop calling NCFC a “we’ll run club”? It hasn’t been true for four years.
There is no successful model for a nice family club that sits in the Champ and pays out over a million quid to a CEO that should have been dismissed for gross misconduct. We are now set to become a selling club to make up our financial holes. The days of “we don’t need to sell” are over.
Top article and makes you think over your commitment to the club in awkward times, although ultimately the Championship is where we have been and probably will be most of lives. That’s not that we shouldn’t have more ambition and another proper shot at getting back into the prem.
The tone and style of Peter M’s response reminds me very much of a certain midfielder from the 80’s of same initials. Good pedigree to comment if that is he, if not still good comments like many others on here.
A quite brilliant piece, best I’ve seen on here. I do though wonder how long it will be till Mick Dennis castigates you on behalf of his board friends in his next article! 🙂
Joh B
No I’m not that guy, just a very disappointed supporter for more than 50 years, originally going with my Grandad , Dad and two uncles to games standing in the Barclay End from 1961 onwards until I gave up my season ticket 5 years ago because my Dad was just not fit enough to go any more, he just celebrated his 90th birthday though and I am now very much retired and spending a great deal of time in our other home in the Canaries.
I really do feel that unless radical change is implemented this season, including sadly AN leaving, and full financial backing is provided for a new manger to bring in 3/4 young hungry players to replace our aging squad. Bassong, Martin, Whittaker, Turner should all have been allowed to run their contracts down , After all these players could not keep our defence solid in two previous Premier league jaunts, so what possessed the management to think they would suddenly get better now !
Tettey is declining as is Mulumbu, both should be allowed to leave at contract end.
I fear our family club attitude is also reflected in deciding our players future, you have to be cold and calculating to manage a football club there is just no place for loyalty in football clubs, let’s face it the players will go if the grass is greener elsewhere!
As for allowing Rudd, Madison and Toffolo to go out on loan is in my opinion crazy, all should have been in and around the first team squad, and what exactly does Canos have to do to be included in first team squad even on the bench would be a positive.
Klose, Brady and Olsen will almost certainly all want to leave, I am not sure either Olsen or Brady will be big losses, but it will hurt to see Klose leave. Naismith us anothe that should be sold on for whatever fee you could get for him know? It will certainly be a big loss, but we need to get as many as the under performers out ASAP and use funds to bring in the younger more motivated players.
The rest of this season would be used to first get survival assured and then integrate as many of the younger players into the first team squad, so we gave a realistic chance of getting back up the following season.
In activity shown by the boards comments recently suggest nothing will happen, and we are about to become another mid table club going nowhere.
How I pine for the Bayern Munich nights again, even if we can’t get into Europe we should are least show enough ambition as a club to get back into the premiership.