A while ago, when the government was under pressure to clarify Brexit, a cartoon appeared. A spokesman is announcing:
“The Cabinet has agreed what Brexit is. It’s raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens, bright copper kettles and warm woollen mittens…”
I’m not quoting that for a political point, but for its observation about human nature. It touches on something that affects all aspects of our lives, but is never more obvious than in discussion of politics and football.
The point is that none of us is really objective, however much we’d like to think we are. For a mix of reasons, we’re all predisposed to certain ideas and ways of thinking.
The only difference is how far we go to indulge those predispositions. That can range from being selective about the facts and evidence we highlight, through mildly wishful thinking all the way to completely ignoring evidence and making up our preferred reality.
Subjectivity colours everything we do, even apparently mechanical activities. Take chess: you’d think it’s a matter of processing the options and coming up with the best. The top players and analysts would come to the same decisions, surely?
Far from it. Show an expert the way a particular game unfolded, and he/she can tell from the style whether the player was Bobby Fischer, Garry Kasparov or (perhaps one of my favourite sporting names) Jose Capablanca.
(Incidentally, the history of chess is a fascinating study if you’re interested in personalities. Fischer was famously eccentric, but he was far from the strangest. The nineteenth-century American prodigy Paul Morphy for instance, widely considered the best player of all time, beat all comers then quit at the age of 22 and never touched another chess piece.)
Where is this going?
We often agree that most of our football discussion comes down to opinion. Should City start with Jerome or Oliveira? How many games should Wes be asked to play? Who is our worst central defender?
We can debate all those and more. Some people may make their arguments better than others, but it boils down to opinion and legitimate alternative views.
However, it’s not always so. Let me go cite two recent examples of something that sticks in my craw.
A number of fans, including a commenter on this site, have told us it’s “obvious” that Jez Moxey left because Delia wouldn’t let him do his job properly.
Actually, it’s obvious only in their imaginations. More importantly, it’s simply not true.
Even more recently, a national newspaper linked Alan Pardew with the manager’s job at Norwich – except that there wasn’t a vacancy at the time, and I’m told there was never any truth to the rumour.
In this case it would have been forgivable (though foolish) to repeat the rumour. But some of our fans went further; not only did they take the rumour as gospel, they decided to embellish it and declared that “Pardew turned us down”.
Given similarly ‘creative’ pronouncements in politics, notably during the EU referendum and from the new American President, the phenomenon has a name: we’re now in the ‘post-truth’ age.
I don’t like the term, giving as it does some weight or legitimacy to what’s happening. I’d prefer to call it something more straightforward.
Invention. Dishonesty. Lying.
I’m not a fan.
This isn’t to censor discussion or demand obeisance to experts or conventional wisdom. Experts can be wrong, and conventional wisdom wide of the mark (eg “Wes and Pritch can’t play together”).
Everyone is entitled to their opinion. What we’re perhaps less entitled to is this: to state as fact things which have no more basis than that we’d like them to be true.
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A number of things have already changed at our club since the departure of Jez Moxey, and we’ll no doubt see more as things unfold.
On Saturday I was one of the Canaries Trust representatives at a Supporter Group consultation event at Carrow Road. Hosted by Managing Director Steve Stone, Board director Tom Smith and other senior figures, the session gave an insight into the club’s planning – as well as open answers to open questions.
Perhaps the most striking difference from Jez’s time is the tone. Gone is his high-handed dismissal of queries, replaced by something much more serious and engaging. Steve’s short presentation acknowledged faults and shortfalls – including poor recruitment, underperformance on the pitch and lack of fan engagement – and recognised how they had dented faith in the Board.
More importantly, he took us through how the club is addressing and rectifying those issues. Central to the change is the creation of the Sporting Director role and the appointment of Stuart Webber to fill it, but there’s also for instance a clear commitment to better communication with fans.
The proof of the pudding will be in the eating, of course. Events on Saturday afternoon shouldn’t – and won’t – obscure the size of the challenge to get us ready for a promotion charge next season.
It was hard to go away, though, without a sense that our club is now going in a better direction.
My main complaint this season has been the lack of communication with the fans added to the dire performances on the pitch in the wake of our last minute defeat away at Newcastle and made me decide to give up my season ticket which I’d had for over 10 years.
Saturday’s result was incredible and if we can even take a modicum of that commitment and desire to Preston, then I’ll start to feel that we have indeed turned a corner and the fact that Steve/Tom actually met with you in person can only confirm the Board’s commitment to communicate more with the fans, as oopposed to releasing a ‘scripted video!!
Ed #1: That ‘scripted video’ by Jez was clearly an embarrassment to everyone – not just fans, but those within the club too.
When I was sitting in a theatre listening to a lecture on thermodynamics, an important subject but difficult to make interesting, a student made an assertion. The professor asked for the evidence and said that being told something(he said ‘by a man at King’s Cross station’) does not make it true.
However, we are constantly being told stuff without the evidence all the time and the sad thing is people take it on board and promulgate it as though it were undeniable.
Interesting though this article is, Mr Lewis has made assertions about the truth or otherwise of views also without providing the evidence.
Really good article Stewart and helps put events into some perspective.
I’ve always felt happier with most aspects of life when my expectations are met or exceeded. In footy terms our successes since 2010 have raised expectations for us all. After years of languishing in Div 1 the joy felt at reaching the play-offs in 2002 I’ll never forget.The fact that it then took two more seasons to win promotion was fine, all about meeting expectations.
The biggest difficulty this season has turned out to be the first 12 games or so when we were top and meeting / exceeding expectations. Now in 10th we are well below expectations.If our seasons fortunes were reversed and we had climbed from bottom in October to 10th now we would all be so more buoyant and positive.
May be it’s time some of us re-assessed our expectations? The club is going through change at all levels so let’s embrace this change,after all it’s what many have been asking for,and expect progress to be made gradually and solidly expecting the odd set back of course along the way. Let’s not set our sights to high to quickly lest we forget there are 23 other clubs all trying to follow suit.
At least I’ve a good feeling about all this. OTBC
Stuart Webber has made a good start with communication, immediately setting a clear timetable for the managerial situation to be resolved, which was a welcome change of pace and clarity. The proof of the pudding will be if the plan is kept to. If a manager isn’t appointed “very soon” after the end of the season as promised the pitchforks may be up. I have faith that SW understands the need to deliver as much clarity to fans as possible though.
There are two absolute truths even in this post-truth age; chess is not a sport and Ruddy is considerably more able than McGovern. Oliveira is probably better than Jerome, but it’s not their department which is the problem and I’ll be happy to see them both at Carra next season.
It’s good to see the Board engaging with the fans and I support this. However, it’s almost meaningless if the results on the pitch are poor-I don’t know how much Chelsea’s board engage with their fans.
Things are beginning to look better with the appointment of Webber (and a 7-1 win!), I hope the head coach appointment provides a further surge of optimism. Roll on next season.
Is there any one writing for this site who hasn’t got there head up Delia back passage and who can give an objective point of view.
Thanks for the comments (all of them!).
Rex #3: Point taken about my assertions. To an extent I’ll have to ask readers to trust me: I’m not an insider, but I do have certain things on multiple and very good authority. I know the allegations about Jez and Pardew are made-up, because I happen to know the truth.
‘Thermodynamics’ is always a useful answer for Pointless, by the way.
Andy #5: Perfectly put.
Roey #7: I’ve never known our editor Gary to turn down anyone who wants to write articles for the site. Go for it!
Roey (7) Couple of things…
Can only assume you’re not a regular reader as several of us have been openly critical of the current owners, particularly over their reticence to call tone on Alex Neil’s tenure and their lack of openness to alternative funding.
… and secondly, as Stewart points out, you’re more than welcome to pen a guest blog for the site.
#7 Roey: Yes, me and quite a few others too.
I began writing for MFW several months ago through a guest blog, and it was hardly complimentary about the board I can assure you. Far from it.
However, they have belatedly started to address issues in a positive manner and I believe in credit where credit is due. We surely cannot criticise the new set-up before it is even fully in place, can we?
Check out some of our articles before the restructuring was announced and you’ll see what I mean.
#3 Rex: I rarely get totally reliable “inside information” and like all of us at MFW rarely, extremely rarely, indulge in “quoting rumour”, if such a thing is indeed possible.
I know nothing about any Alan Pardew situation, but I believe Stewart is quite correct in his assertions surrounding the departure of Jez Moxey.
#6 Don: Good post and I agree with you. I would argue that good communication has a stand-alone virtue as it were, whatever the results.
And the advent of Stuart Webber looks to bode well on that front, as you quite rightly say.
Roll on next season indeed.
Webber does indeed appear to be making the right noises. Everything he has done so far points to a professional approach, businesslike and able, I believe he has to make the impact made by David McNally in respect of results on the pitch and performances or the club will indeed be up a famous creek sans paddle.
I’m with Don in that I don’t really give a monkeys about how the board “engage” with me or anyone else for that matter. Give me more afternoons like Saturday and whoever holds the reins can melt into the background where they belong with my blessing. Neil Dpncaster was the master of engagement. The team, results, performances were all garbage,
There is a broad spectrum amongst the contributors Roey, but at least we are all given a right of reply if we disagree with the tone of the article. Unlike on any of the other boards, there is usually good debate to be had. When posting critical comment mostly about the board only a select few choose to play the man rather than the ball in reply, which is welcome.
I’m a committed Deliaphobe and won’t apologise for my opinion nor xo I ask anybody’s permission to be entitled to it,
I believe the post truth age started with “we scoured Europe for the best manager”.
Dave B #14: That certainly wasn’t their finest moment!
It’s obvious that Moxey left because he wasn’t allowed to do his job properly. Just because someone told you that wasn’t the case, it doesn’t make it true. It’s all in their imagination after all.
#7 – The guys are right, I’ve swayed a few (mwa-haha), but there’s no point using rational thought, blindingly obvious facts or proverbial puddings with Mr Lewis. He is what a storm trooper is to Darth Sidius.
#11 – I agree the board are acting with genuine proactivity by removing themselves from any decisions whatsoever, but it makes it equally foolish to praise it based on the same rationale. It’s achieved nothing as of yet so let’s not get ahead of ourselves by offering credit, as there’s been far too many debits. I will reserve praise for when genuine progress is made, even if that’s simply a new backline, goalkeeper and a shiny new captain in the form of someone who leads by example on the pitch.
#13 Chris: Thank you for your third paragraph. And the first two and the final one also, natch:-)
As you probably know by now, I very often agree with an awful lot of what you say.
I’m a bit of a Deliaphobe – cheers, I’ve learned a new word today – too but I really feel we must wait and see how it pans out this time.
I cannot and will not hammer anyone who is trying to do things the right way, and after one of the longer blips in British football history I truly feel the Board are at last trying to address a long-standing deficiency.
Never apologise for your opinions – they add to the debate, not detract from it.
Getting a head coach in won’t be the problem – getting players in will. Too far from a decent metropolis; not a fashionable club; whiny, expectant fans who boo their own players at the first mistake (especially young players); a wage budget that won’t match most of the rivals for those players; and a situation where Webber has one chance and one chance only to get this right – the summer transfer window. He can forget all thoughts of this being long term because if we aren’t comfortably top four by xmas (or even October) you can bet your house that all those saying ‘looks like a good guy with a good plan’ will be foaming at the mouth.
Good luck to him!
Well, I did say that subjectivity could range from being mildly selective about evidence to completely rejecting it and making up a preferred reality.
Thanks Chris (#13) and Jeff (#16) for illustrating the range!
@15 Stewart – No, not one of the finer moments and it’s certainly not their only fib.
My larger point is this. Because information comes from the club, or a source close to the club, it doesn’t make it the truth either.
I don’t know if Pardew was approached about the job. Maybe he was, maybe he wasn’t. Just because the club say he wasn’t, I don’t take that as gospel. They certainly have reason to deny it if he turned the club down, or they didn’t want the appearance of looking while AN was in the job. Or maybe, as ‘they’ say, he was never even considered.
Another example where I don’t accept the ‘company line’ is about takeovers. Last year Mick, with all his inside knowledge, said Norwich aren’t, or are rarely ever approached for takeover. “Harris was unable to find anyone, anywhere, who wanted to buy Norwich City.” said Mick.
Now, my second club is Oxford United. In a recent interview the owner said he receives a new takeover inquiry every couple of weeks. From a footballing standpoint Oxford have a small catchment area (Swindon-boo!!, MK, Reading, Birmingham all nearby), don’t own their ground, were not too long ago in the conference etc… they’re just not as appealing as Norwich. So while the line is ‘we’re not approached’, I just don’t believe that. Common sense says you look around similar clubs, around the leagues, and teams are changing hands all the time. Yet we’re un-attractive?
So, in short, it’s best not to believe too many rumours, but don’t believe much of what comes from the club either.
A belated reply to Don Harold (#6).
I won’t argue the toss over whether chess is a sport or not; actually, a lot of sympathy with your view. I did enjoy captaining the College second team, though – as long as everyone followed instructions and played quickly to maximise our time in the bar.
Thanks again for a fine selection of comments. Subjective of course – but we wouldn’t have it any other way. Cheers!
Dave B #20: A number of sources I’d trust, both around the club and way outside it, have told me the Pardew story is complete nonsense.
With all due respect, Oxford United is both literally and figuratively in a different league from Norwich City. We’re competing for interest with clubs who have more glamour – and perhaps more no-questions-asked receptivity to a bag of money – than ourselves. In terms of serious, credible and attractive interest, my understanding s there’s been very little. Our owners wish there’d been more.
Dave B, I’ve no idea if the Oxford owner is telling the truth about the regularity of approaches to buy his club, but perhaps he’s selling it cheap.
I had lunch with Keith Harris. This was soon after the banking crisis. He told me he hadn’t been able to find anyone interested in buying Norwich. It was clear to me that he meant anyone with the requisite funds, because this was when we still had substantial debts that would have become repayable on the day of a change in ownership.
You and I might think Norwich are a desirable club for would-be purchasers, but in practice there are many factors which make us less desirable. When I tried to interest David Sullivan a few years ago, he was put off by the debt, but also the geography.
On Pardew, it is an easily checkable fact that the reports of him being ‘in the frame’ began before there was a vacancy — i.e. before Friday 10 March, the day on which the board voted to sack him and proceeded to do so.
It’s also a fact — although I concede you can’t check it — that Delia and Michael are friendly with Peter Varney, the former Charlton chief executive, who has strident anti-Pardew views because of things that happened when they worked together.
As for Moxey, enough people have learned what really happened that I am surprised even Jeff still clings to the myth about Delia not sharing his ambition.
“I don’t know if Pardew was approached about the job. Maybe he was, maybe he wasn’t. Just because the club say he wasn’t, I don’t take that as gospel.”
I get that last bit, but the chances of the club actually lying about that seem pretty slim. Why would they want or need to?
Before Neil was sacked the Board were accused of failing to communicate (although that was largely because “We’ve sacked Neil” was the only message most fans actually wanted communicating). I think some people may confuse perceived “Failure to communicate” with actually putting out false statements – whatever else, I don’t think they have done that.
But if it’s facts you want here’s one:
In 1971 I beat a lad called Sidorowicz in an inter-schools chess match. Later that year 20 of us played the former British Champion Hugh Alexander in a simultaneous display. “Sid”, as he was known, was one of us, and beat him. Alexander himself had beaten the long-standing world champion Mikhail Botvinnik.
So I beat Sid, who beat Alexander who beat Botvinnik, which therefore at least briefly made me unofficial World Champion. FACT!
Mick, firstly the Oxford owner isn’t selling. He was disassociating himself with a takeover rumour, saying yes he’d been approached but he wasn’t selling and it happened all the time.
He wouldn’t be selling it cheap, they’ve gone up two leagues in the last few years and been to wembly twice. It’s a club moving in the right direction.
Secondly, using 8 year old data in your article, data from the middle of a financial crisis as to why we haven’t sold the club today is a little dishonest, don’t you think? Not one single approach last year when we were debt free in the PL?
@22 Stewart. Worth noting that in my lifetime Oxford have finished above us. Have won exactly the same cups as us. We have both witnessed financial difficulties. Have both slid down the league and risen up it again. They are currently 7 points away from a play-off to be in the same league. Unlikely, but not impossible. It’s worth noting that Oxford were purchased when they literally had nothing going for them. Not league position, not attendance, a hostile owner, debts. Yet they were bought.
I also think you’re using one datapoint to make an argument. You could just as easily state that rumours said Webber was going to be appointed. Which was true. That doesn’t make all rumours true, of course.
You know, we can talk about ’embellishments’, as you put it, all day long, but the truth is you, Mick, and others, have apparently been telling us ‘the truth’ for years, saying the club is going in the right direction, that it’s well run, that we’re financially sound, that each change of MD and manager is right for the club. All these articles are out there on record.
Yet all this ‘truth’ has clearly been fiction. We are far, far, far worse off then where we were four years ago and we are now as close to Oxford as we are to Paul Lambert PL Norwich. Figuratively and literally.
Do you really believe that no one in recent memory wanted to buy us? Yet Leicester were bought. Oxford were bought. Aston Villa. Newcastle. Liverpool. Man U. Man City. Fulham. Torquay. Swansea. Reading, who we just spanked are being sold right now. Ipswich, who had bigger debts than us. I could go on. Teams of all sizes and situations are bought and sold all the time. In nice cities. In crappy cities. Big clubs. Small clubs. North, south, east, west. I just googled 10+ random clubs and almost all had changed hands since 2000. Try it yourself.
Not Norwich. We never receive any offers. Right? That wouldn’t be a tall tale, would it, from a ‘trusted source close to the club’?
So, forgive me for not putting much weight into the ‘facts’ of the so called ‘truth tellers’.
Mick (23) stay with me here.
About a year ago the lottery here (US) hit a billion dollars. I actually wondered what I’d do with that kind of cash. I’d start with a debauched weekend in Vegas, but after that?
I decided that I’d buy NCFC. I love them, I grew up in the Barclay, saw Fashanu’s goal, saw the travesty of Roeder et al..
Then it dawned on me. Money isn’t the driving force behind a football club – it’s passion. Delia and Michael have it and I am more than happy to have them running my club
The unknown in the Keith Harris situation is whether, or not, he actually had a blank page; free to seek unconditional offers, or if there were conditions likely to be attached – not least clearing the debt. Therefore it’s impossible to determine whether he was actually stymied by the financial crisis, or a combination of factors.
There’s one other thing which bugs me slightly when reference is made to other Clubs being for sale. All are different and most are usually available in distressed seller situations. Therefore the price reflects this.
Would the price for Norwich be the same if we were back in League One, with debt, compared to now – of course not.
Any deal requires a willing buyer and a willing seller in order to complete and therein is the biggest conundrum in this situation.
Dave B #26: We can put some of your claims to immediate test.
I indeed wrote two articles on this site about Jez Moxey. And another last November on the Board and their handling of the managerial situation. Unfortunately for your claim, all three were critical.
It’s true that while many fans dismissed the appointment of Alex Neil in January 2015 (“the cheap option”, “someone we’ve never heard of”), I looked at his record with Hamilton and said “let’s wait and see”. If that fits your claim that I praise every appointment as going in the right direction, so be it.