If anyone genuinely thought that Alex Neil’s abrupt departure would start to heal the wounds of the last eighteen months then yesterday’s game against Blackburn put paid to that misconception in a hurry.
I saw more angry confrontations between fans yesterday than I have since the dark days of Colchester, 2009.
The day started with an apparent indifference to events on the field. Those off the pitch appeared far more interested in discussing yesterday’s sudden toppling of the man whom for so long had been the lightning rod for our major frustrations than anything happening in front of them.
The speed of the unexpected announcement so close to the game added to the need to communally digest and discuss. It was an atmosphere more akin to a friendly than to a Championship match that for, at least one of the participants, held at stake three priceless points.
The players, for their part, having been set-up by Neil, played in a typical Neil home fashion against a team that had no answer defensively for the attacking firepower of Cameron Jerome, Wes Hoolahan, Alex Pritchard et al, and when Cameron stabbed home from a yard out it was of no surprise to the majority who had by then finished their mothers meetings and returned to the actual football.
But then, one rash tackle and red card later, the atmosphere changed again. Alan Irvine made the understandable switch to bring Steven Whittaker on at left-back with Pritchard the unlucky recipient of the big hook. 50 per cent of the crowd appeared to acknowledge the change with a “it had to be done, it was him or Wes” shrug, whilst the other 50 per cent took it as a personal slight against Pritchard and booed like Irvine was playing Captain Hook in pantomime at the Theatre Royal.
Recriminations abounded in my little patch of the Barclay with those booing being challenged.
“What would you have done then?”
“Gone three at the back”.
Okay, I don’t have a FIFA Pro Licence and nobody remembers my tenure as England manager because there hasn’t been one but given that this “three at the back” would have featured Ivo Pinto as a CB – the same Ivo Pinto who was barely able to run for most of the first half following an early knock – I have to question the effectiveness.
And it would have left us with nobody defending on the flanks, all so that we could continue to enjoy was the luxury of having two of the smallest men in the league playing short passes at the other end of the pitch. I’m with Alan Irvine on this one.
City duly made it to the 73rd minute with few problems before a typically statuesque bit of communal defending saw us concede twice in five minutes. The result was carnage.
“Sack the Board”
“You’re not fit to wear the shirt”
Again though, there was dissent on the other side. Some of the more logically minded pointed out that sacking the board is not actually possible, and following Friday’s decisive, if belated, action they had at least taken a step in the right direction.
Equally you could see the point that was being made, however simplistically, that the board was to blame for this. More than Alex Neil. More than the defence. More than even Mitchell Dijks.
The crowd had pent up anger and it needed to vent. Unfortunately not the entire crowd agreed this was justly apportioned.
Ten men running themselves ragged were being pummelled for doing what we all knew they would do. We know this group of defenders can’t defend. It’s blatantly obvious. We know it, they know it, Alex Neil knew it.
The defence was obviously going to be the epicentre of his summer’s clear-out plans and please let it be the same for the new incumbent.
Parts of the crowd turning on them again seemed akin to a teacher calling the kids in the bottom maths group stupid when giving them an arithmetic problem we knew they could never solve. You might feel better for releasing frustration but you’re not really helping them.
These are never going to be straight A students no matter how much you shout at them. And there had been no lack of effort by the ten men.
Fans began turning on each other, calling each other “pathetic”; actually baring teeth. It all got a little bit silly.
Thankfully, Jerome, the Duracell bunny of recent weeks (partly because he’s a good egg and partly because he has to as we have no other viable options) drew us level. And the comeback dispelled the argument that the players weren’t trying rather neatly.
And thus it petered out to a 2-2 draw that for me, in the context of 70 minutes with ten men, was acceptable. But not for all.
Arguments carried on as the fans trundled out of Carrow Road.
It’s not just glass half-full and glass half-empty. It’s not pro-Board or anti-Board, pro-players or anti-players. It’s everything. Whatever problem is being discussed, be it CEO position, recruitment, potential new manager, squad changes in the summer, nobody seems to agree on anything.
I have no idea what the Board is planning to unveil as its new operating model in the next week, but I know for certain that it won’t meet with everyone’s approval.
The challenge for us as fans would seem to be giving it a chance before we decry it.
Whatever your opinions of the Board’s abilities or their technical nous, they do care about this club, and they will have been painstakingly looking at ways to make this club run correctly again.
They’re essentially just fans, trying to do what they think is best. They may not get it right but our best chance as a club is to back them and try and work with them at this point. The alternative is to bitch and moan the second we don’t like everything we hear, and for this car crash to continue.
Next week can be the start of the upturn, but only if we all buy into it. It’s up to the board to create that possibility by making some robust and realistic changes that we can genuinely back.
But it’s also up to us as fans to accept that new start. We as a club need to heal before the new manager gets here so we can unite behind them. Yesterday suggests that may not be easily achieved.
Well said. Rough with the smooth cliches here! Give the board a chance to redeem and get behind them . Too many people throwing toys too quickly .
That’s a good description of what it was like in the upper Barclay yesterday. Irvine had no option but to sub someone for a defender. Poor old Whittaker was on a hiding to nothing from the moment he came on. Despite limited ability he never fails to give anything other than 100%. A draw was a good result given the circumstances. As you say a variety of views were being expressed about the clubs future direction some of which were plausible others however verged on insane expectations. It has been a blast the last 7 or 8 years supporting Ncfc however the reality at this club is that the previous 40 years I have been attending have not always been as exciting. However you stick with it through thick and thin, that’s the essence of a true supporter and I think some of the supporters will need to get realistic in their expectations.
I agree, but this is a vast over simplification of the issues faced. I can’t grasp why people were booing after Neil had gone (those fans were even later than the board to act), but this is what happens when human emotions fracture. Silly statements, ludicrous claims and a desire to disagree with the plain agreeable. The board must prove to the fans they have what it takes, not the other way around. That can’t be expected to simply be accepted based on recent history.
The game is all about opinions but personally I would have taken Josh Murphy off as Wes & Pritchard look after the ball better than he does. But there was no right or wrong answer there. Although the boos were because of that substitution, I think they were more of a release of frustration at a failing season following yet more mistakes made after relegation. Less than a year ago all we had to do was beat Sunderland and we’d have stayed up. Now we have nothing to play for in March, in the Championship.
Excellent assessment of yesterday.
Blackburn were really poor in my opinion.
Your point about hooking Alex Pritchard or Wes versus going three at the back is spot on. Everybody around my bit of D Block in the Barclay was strongly and loudly arguing about it – and most of us are friends!
We couldn’t even blame “referee” Hooper – Dijks had to go, although from what I could see the linesman called it anyway.
I agree Pritchard was the right call.
If we hadn’t levelled as quickly as we did, I think Delia & Co. might have had an uncomfortable last 10 minutes or so.
As it stands, let’s see what they come up with in the week. Some crucial decisions need to be made.
Well said Andy, it really isn’t right for anyone to keep going over and over the same old grumbles. What done is done. I was calling for Neil to be sacked at the beginning of the season, as I had the fear it would all go wrong. Now however late the board have seen what many saw and did the job needed. In some ways I can see why they hung on, they are privy to seeing and hearing things we are not. All we can do is guess, suggest and get angry because they are not moving the way we want.
Yesterday for me was not a bad point at all, Mowbray has got them organised as a unit they have been on a little up turn. They are after all a team in the same division as us, been in worse straights a lot longer than we have. But for City not that long ago going down to ten men and surrendering a lead would have been a signal call to open the flood gates.
These players are not stupid they know what has happened in part is down to them, they also realise that the summer clear out could mean them going away with a P45, the effort went up a few notches, they are not going to become Newcastle over night because a manager has been sacked.
Changes have been shouted for for a long while now, finally they have started, now that doesn’t seem the right thing. they know much more is needed, But I hope that the powers realise just how much, a change of manager, a director of football are nowhere near enough they are surface changes. The board room it’s self is where changes are needed to. The board are as you say fans, but they need a person that has the extra experience in football of running a club
I can remember standing in the Barclay End throwing money into blankets or popping it inside a bucket all to help keep the club afloat. Geoffrey Watling made mistakes I can recall hear and singing “Watling Out” Sir Arthur South exactly the same. the only chairman/owner I can ever remember getting perhaps some of what he deserved was Robert Chase. Watling ended that nightmare. We called for change and got it and the better years did come, certain things are not as bad as they were back then.
We have what we have I would not want the job of sitting on the Board. so when these changes are made public knowledge try to look at the bigger picture and see what is trying to be achieved before blowing the steam .
Ian S (4): I think Irvine was on a looser, whoever he took off, but it had to be done. Josh went on to have a really good game, and Whitaker did well on his less favoured side. It also made sense to bring him on, as he’s obviously going to be our left back for the next three games, baring any appeal (which would stand a snowball’s chance in hell of succeeding).
I think we need to take the positives from this game, and see what the restructuring brings about. This has to be a period of re-building, both on and off the pitch.
Excellent summary, especially the brilliant observation that nothing is black and white. I was shouting loud and angry when Pritch was subbed and yet I can now see why. And the headline fact? We all care. That’s why we have 2000 at Hillsborough and 26,000+ at CR yesterday whilst Swansea have only 900 at Hull in a crowd of 19,000. A united support is what we are and why we are #NCFC.
The fans realise that Neil was only a symptom and the problem is the owners, who after twenty years have taken the club backwards with their little Norwich outlook.
The fans rightly expect us to be a Southampton not a struggling championship side.
Time for new owners who can provide the necessary investment to match the fans ambition before we end up back in division 1.
As for the game, I felt it was ruined by the sending off. Hooper really has an axe to grind and his decisions over the whole 100 minutes hindered us at every turn. Surely we can evoke the request that he doesn’t officiate at our fixtures?
The substitution was inevitable, I called it while Menes was still writhing in his death throes. The frustration was that Pritchard seemed really up for it and ready to prove a point. We were to robbed of that.
Justice was done with jeromes leveller and we at least had the satisfaction of denying the cynical and niggle Blackburn three precious points while Bristol city were winning.
As for the loud and concerted expressions of frustration and dissatisfaction about the governance of the club get used to it. From now on stupid and crass decision making will be met with the derision it deserves.
Excellent summary and antidote to witnessing that at CR yesterday.
I was struck by a lack of spark in the side during the game. Not for the first time, granted. I tried to pin it to individuals but I couldn’t single any of them out for not trying. But the team as a collective only seem to be playing at about 65%. And that for me comes back to leaders. We’re missing them. AN wasn’t experienced enough to instill belief or find good leaders. Or be the leader he might well be in ten years time. Where are our Bradley Johnsons, our Grant and Gary Holts, our Malky Mackays?
Fans ambition? Emerging out of touch sense of entitlement. Ambition is just a hollow word if its not backed up by real lived experience and understanding. Sitting on a seat or at a keyboard we can all be brave, ambitious, tough and insightful. I’m still awaiting a cogent case of what the majority owners have done wrong.
Re the sending off consequences…
It’s quite simple. Everyone around me, and including me, wanted Hoolahan or Murphy ‘sacrificed’, not Pritchard.
One hasn’t got the legs for 90 mins any more (and is increasingly ineffective anyway) so another enforced substitution later in the game was inevitable if he stayed on.
The other, just like his twin brother, is an absolute lightweight. Drifts around the pitch aimlessly and without ever breaking sweat. Doesn’t (won’t) tackle; can’t (won’t) head the ball; always chooses to go it alone rather than look for the killer pass – and loses the ball far too often as a consequence. Hellishly frustrating, the pair of them. But hey! They’re from our Academy so that’s makes it all OK………!!??!!
By contrary, Pritchard has got energy, 2 good feet (cf Hoolahan’s one), tackles and passes well.
A no brainer really…..hence the reaction when Pritchard (who must wish every day he’d gone to Brighton) was taken off.
The thing is i don’t think the fans are terribly divided. When everything is boiled down there are a couple of key issues that have been at the crux of everything bad. They are –
1) the players have been mentally scarred. I think they never recovered from the 2-6 against Newcastle, Alex Neil lost his way then
2) the defence was very obviously weak before the start of that premier league campaign. Nothing was done to address it. Still hasn’t really.
3) the attack was clearly lightweight, nothing was done to address it.
4) whether it’s actually a mental thing but the players (other then Jerome and Pinto) don’t look fit enough.
In my opinion the problems at the club revolve around poor recruitment and not addressing very obvious problems. A clear out is needed, too many of this squad don’t look like the players they were and a new manger will need to address the physical training and the mental attitude.
If those aspects can be resolved, most Norwich fans don’t expect to win every time, but a balanced team who give their all, even in defeat is something we can expect. OTBC
It’s a good piece, but it’s asking fans to unite behind a board in which they have no faith is a tall ask. Similarly, it’s rare for all fans to agree on anything as people have vastly different views and perspectives – I was surprised to have someone arguing with me saying the timing of Neil’s sacking wasn’t odd!
I’m someone who would like to see the young players in the team from now on but as we saw yesterday, it won’t take much for people to turn & its therefore arguable whether the experience will help or hinder them.
Let’s be fair ‘ we dug in ugly ‘ for a point with a decent amount of collectiveness and we haven’t seen that for a while, although I thought Wildschut, other than a couple of sprints forward, never looked interested in breaking sweat for his defensive duties. Maybe he was just holding his position.
Re: the Boy Billy – would those Murphys be the ones who created our 2 goals?
Re. Nick (17)
That’s the trouble. People remember the 2 moments of contribution and forget the 89 minutes of non-contributory ‘participation’. We need all-rounders, not bit part players who won’t do the hard yards (earning a MINIMUM of half a million pounds a year incidentally).
Great article..
I’m not sure what some fans saw of this game there was too much balling/shouting and general discontent for much of it
For the first 19 minutes or so it was a pretty poor game with neither side willing to take any risks then Murphy broke thro on the left his cross was badly dealt with by the goalie (it squirmed under him) and there was Cameron Jerome to tap home despite some pressure.. queue some almost half hearted cheering.
This game was always going to be a tricky proposition given the sacking of the manager in somewhat bizarre circumstances given the bullish press conference some 4 hours earlier. In retrospect it now seems almost a two finger gesture by Alex Neil (a parting shot.. your’e out boys with me ) but i’m sure it isn’t.
The red card was just that… a bad tackle I wonder if Dijks was reacting to a wild but unsuccessful slash by Emnes at Wes but what ever it was the right decision (just about the only one the ref and his assistants did get right all afternoon) We all knew – or should have been able to see – a replacement LB would be needed we didn’t have anyone else on the pitch who could fill in and if nothing else Rovers had a couple of quick right sided players (incl Elliot Bennet) 3 at the back – suicide! wing backs? that would need 2 substitutes! as it would happen Irvine rolled the dice and chose poorPpritchard… right decision? possibly
As it happens Wes had an average/poor game I thought. Josh Murphy however was a decent outlet for Jerome who ran his socks off and I was disappointed when Josh was taken off for his brother but as it happens they interlocked very well with Jacob making the same sort of runs and sure enough he set up Cameron for the equaliser
Poor Whittaker he was on the wrong end of a very determined to attack him at all costs team. He had wandered into the middle when the cross from the left came to Mahoney whose shot when unmarked was poor (or WAS it a cross?) whatever Juao stuck his foot out and it went in. Up to that point (other than when they hit the post) Blackburn did NOT look like scoring – and had no other shots on target. Ok Feeney (over the bar) and Bennet wide of the post had decent efforts
Therefore my conclusion is the team defended solidly up to the point of that goal which actually came from a Whittaker mistake when he headed the poor poorly when under no pressure allowing Rovers to dominate possession around the penalty box
The second goal came about because Bennet wasn’t in position to attack the ball but in any event Juao was head and shoulders taller than him.. another good substitution by Mowbray who now had 3 strikers on the pitch
The game finished with booing I’m not sure why; anyone can see that the team had run their socks off and defended a 1 goal lead for 50 minutes very effectively.. tiredness became a factor and the defending a bit more desperate but I’ll forgive them that. Blackburn up to that point had secured 7pts out of 9 so clearly weren’t going to break a pushover. I’ve heard and read about the performance being poor but blimey we only had 10 men for 70 minutes what do you expect… the guys can also walk on water?
I am concerned that the “new manager” will face an issue if he’s not “who the fans want” and it remains to be seen what the promised changes promised by Ed Balls are… OTBC
The Boy Billy (13 & 18) illustrates my points regarding differing views & issues of putting in youngsters very well. I actually think the development of the Murphy’s to be one of the few causes for optimism. I want to see what the young players can do & yes there will be frustrations & disappointments along the way. If the fans aren’t prepared to buy into that, then it could well be a mistake to out them in. I think it is important to back the Academy as otherwise it is a waste of time & money.
I would also imagine we also have differing visions of how we want to see us play as just having ‘all rounders’ does not particularly excite me.
Re 20 Dave H.
We’ve seen what they can do – over 2/3rds of a season; and it’s very limited, as my earlier lists identified.
What’s even more frustrating is that Pritchard and Maddison get little or no chance to show off their skills. When Pritchard’s been given the chance (and not just for 10 minutes at the end of a game) we’ve seen clearly what he can do. Remember the Notts Forest game? Or before he joined us and ran rings around our defence, playing for Brentford?
Maddison was superb (while still in his late teens) for Coventry and Aberdeen were very keen to keep him for the second half of this season; but he bravely (rashly?) chose to stay here and fight for a place. But, despite his superior all-round skills, he’s up against the Murphy love-in. That’s what frustrates us Jarrolders so much. There’s no logic to the selection of the ‘youth’ members of the squad. It seems to some of us that the Academy rules OK – whether it does or not…….