Fulham have cropped up just a little too often in the recent history of our football club.
The 21st century has been littered with disasters that have occurred when Canary and Cottager collide, the most obvious and painful being the 6-0 that twelve years on is still difficult to talk about.
In truth the large-scale catastrophes have been confined to that tranquil setting by the Thames but that’s not to say Carrow Road has been a bundle of laughs when Fulham have been visitors.
Only once (once!) in 21 years have we managed to beat them and that was an almost forgotten game at the very back end of the 2015 play-off surge when most were preoccupied with who our play-off semi-final opponents were going to be rather than a quietly impressive 4-2 win.
In addition to the 6-0 there was of course the 5-0 early on in the Chris Hughton era – another stellar afternoon for the travelling hoards – and who can forget the 1-0 on the first day of the Neil Adams epoch, most notable for Ricky van Wolfswinkel’s infamous ‘ghost’ pass.
They’re just the low-lights of course and in the main the clashes of yellow and white have, for us, produced the usual litany of missed chances, rotten defending, wayward passing and listlessness; things that tend to go hand in hand with games against bogey teams.
And then of course there is Craven Cottage on the evening of October 18, 2016. Two goals up at half-time courtesy of two Graham Dorrans penalties, it looked as if the Canaries had recaptured the knack of winning away from home – following on from a good away win at Wolves – and had consigned the 4-3 defeat at St James’ Park to its rightful place.
What followed has alas found its way into the Canary annals for all the wrong reasons and was the first clear signal that all was not well in the corridors of Colney. Second-half goals from Stefan Johansen and, typically, Chris Martin turned the game on its head and from a position of strength City were grateful to hang on for a point. Seldom have two thrown away points felt so crushing.
At this point the away defeats at Birmingham and Newcastle – in similarly excruciating circumstances – became more than just blips on the way to an assault on the top two. Flaws in the way the Canaries performed outside the city walls were suddenly laid bare, never to be rectified.
All of which makes the Cottagers own charge for the final play-off place, while we tread water in mid-table, sufficient to stick in the craw.
But I’m not about to go down the ‘it should have been us route’ because there’s no ‘should’ about it. We haven’t been good enough away from Carrow Road and across the whole piece, regardless of experience, CV and size of wage packet, our form has ‘mid-table’ written all over it.
Quite what tomorrow afternoon will bring is anyone’s guess but, unlike last Saturday, there is at least an element of jeopardy involved – even if it’s not ours. Fulham have Sheffield Wednesday in their sights and the whiff of play-off in their nostrils and so will be desperate to depart with something. And that in itself adds an edge that was missing against Reading.
City’s season has turned to mush. In the true tradition of sport the least they can now do is their best to scupper it for others and, given the unquestionably impressive home form, Fulham will be well aware that a yellow and green banana skin awaits.
What they have tucked up their sleeve however is some away form that puts the Canaries to shame. In 20 away games half of them have have yielded three points for the Cottagers and only five have been lost; compare this to City’s four wins and twelve defeats.
And while on the road we ship goals at rate of two per game, which bears no resemblance to Fulham’s average of only just over one a game.
Whether any of this will assist Fulham as they enter the pressure-zone of chasing sixth will only be revealed at 3pm tomorow but for us, if nothing else, it’ll be intriguing to see if the the Webber/Irvine effect (if there is such a thing) can have a significant impact for the second time in the space of six days.
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Meanwhile the Webber revolution continues apace with reports that Messrs Darnborough, Martin and Spearing are soon to be no longer of this parish.
In a move that has been met with almost universal approval – I’ve yet to stumble across anyone who can see anything but good emerging from a complete clear-out of the scouting/recruitment team – it appears a case of out with the old and, eventually, in with the new as Stuart Webber lays down an early maker.
The Friday interview round done by Webber was refreshing in its honesty and clarity, and it didn’t require any reading between the lines to see how well he understood this club’s inability to successfully recruit players of a suitable quality and mentality. Therefore it should come as no surprise that three said gents are to be shown red.
What did come as something of a shock is just how quickly the axe has fallen. Very un-Norwich City like.
But as we enter a new era perhaps this is how things are going to be. Not since the Lambert years (Quote: “The most impatient man I’ve ever met”) have we been in anything approaching a hurry but, by the sound of it, Mr Webber, from the seat of sporting director, is of a similar ilk.
That Ricky Martin’s seemingly inexorable rise to the very top looks to have been halted will be celebrated by some, not least because precisely what he has been bringing to the party has never been made clear, but equally it tells us that the talk of sweeping changes is more than just words.
Words are indeed cheap but when they’re backed up by decisive actions folk tend to sit up and take notice.
It also sends out an unequivocal signal to those swilling around the current set-up – players, coaches, support staff etc – who are considered unfit for purpose that the door is only a chat and a piece of paper away.
So the early signs are that the cuts are going to be deep, possibly brutal, and made with no regard to years served. And that’s a fine start.
Only time will tell if the new broom is able to fill the voids with individuals who are fit for purpose but one thing is for sure: the MFW editor is not going to be scratching around for content this summer.
Great start from Mr Webber ,a 7-1 win ,got rid of the playerise i.e. Martin an co the players should be nxt Russell Martin an co .
There are similarities between Stuart Webber and Paul Lambert, but perhaps an even more striking similarity with David McNally when he arrived at Carrow Road.
A huge task in front of him, but a clear plan and an appetite to get stuck into it. Change is to be embraced rather than shied away from. And woe betide anyone who doesn’t get with the programme.
So far, so good.
Good piece Gary. Can’t believe that 6-0 thumping was 12 years ago. How time flies.
Never nice to see folk lose their jobs but drastic change is needed and, if true, this first swing of the axe will send out the clear message that the much needed radical shake will take place over the coming months. We have players on our books and payroll who l’d quite forgotten about.
Cheers me up all this positive news, looks as though at last ‘Triggers Broom’ will have all new parts at the same time! EXCITING STUFF all round and has changed my apathetic mind set of just 7 days ago to one of hope and expectation, 8-1 come Saturday then if we are going to remain on an upwards trend!
At least we get to clap in the 16th minute
when we play I*****h next season.
When a new exec joins a company they are supposed to ask fellow employees: who needs sacking? And who needs promoting? I doubt SW even needed to ask! I hope those responsible for the recruitment at minimal cost of Ben Godfrey, Dialling Jaisesimi (SP?)(Dulwich Hamlet) and Ebou Adams (Dartford)get the rewards they deserve. You don’t always need to scour Europe…..
When a new exec joins a company they are supposed to ask fellow employees: who needs sacking? And who needs promoting? I doubt SW even needed to ask! I hope those responsible for the recruitment at minimal cost of Ben Godfrey, Dialling Jaisesimi (SP?)(Dulwich Hamlet) and Ebou Adams (Dartford)get the rewards they deserve. You don’t always need to scour Europe…..
And then of course there is Craven Cottage on the evening of October 18, 2017. Freudian Slip? Benefit of Hindsight or Revised Crystal Ball “Glazing” – We’ll Take That Draw!
Oops 🙂
“It also sends out an unequivocal signal to those swilling around the current set-up – players, coaches, support staff etc – who are considered unfit for purpose that the door is only a chat and a piece of paper away.”
Oh so true.
And not before time.
Webber’s mojo it seems is to get everyone pulling in one direction (i.e. his) so replacing the likes of Martin is bound to be high up on his list. I wonder if Irvine will be offered something on the Academy/Development side – he has had success in that area before.
If I have one thing I’d like to see Webber do it’s state unequivocally that our colours are Yellow shirts and Green shorts, and that’s what we will play in for every game we possibly can, home or away. That’s our identity and we should only change for the very few games we are forced to.
Loss of “away” shirt profits? 10,000 shirts maybe? £25 profit a shirt (I’ve no idea how much they cost)? A quarter of a million sounds a lot, but it’s a drop in the ocean these days
I like the start Webber’s made. I’m sure there will be more good things to follow.
But when all’s said and done, it will still only work if he finds an effective head coach. So far his track record in that respect is pretty good. But so was McNally’s until he appointed Neil Adams….
An excellent read, Gary. Too true, it would be devilishly nice to scupper fulhams promotion hopes tomorrow, schadenfreude or just plain revenge. That defeat set in motion years of decline.
Following the statement by Webber regarding the failure of our transfer dealings it was no surprise to see the cull, even if it’s speed was most un-Norwich City like. I feel Mr Webber is our equivalent of a last chance saloon so we desperately need him to succeed in his endeavours.
I think you are correct, Gary, MFW will be a busy place this summer!
Yes very encouraging to see the changes taking place so quickly. Perhaps we can begin to hope for a better future after all. The changes now need to filter down to the coaching staff and to repeat a phrase I used elsewhere let’s hope that the Deadwood Stage is full when it leaves Carrow Road at the season end.
Keith B #9 Unfortunately Keith, I believe it’s stipulated by the FA, that irrespective of colour clash, the away kit MUST be worn n at least 5 occasions.
#9 Keith B: I’m prepared to be corrected, but if we were to say that the production cost of a shirt is a fiver (and I’m being generous) and the retail is, say, £45, you’re looking at a profit of £40 per unit plus.
Some supporters even buy the completely redundant third kit.
These shirts are not made in England by Savile Row tailors. But several commercial tie-ups are involved in the need for the team to wear them, unfortunately.
And once more I’m prepared to be shot down, but I’m not totally convinced Neil Adams was indeed David McNally’s appointment.
Like you, I very much approve of Stuart Webber’s early actions.
Keith B #: I’d be more concerned about having the kind of owner who decided that playing in red would be much better than the insipid traditional colour.
That would be laughable – if it hadn’t already happened.
A great piece the only worry I’d have is i don’t want a merry-go-round of managers .
A very positive start by SW however as quickly as people leave we need them coming in. This will be the true measure of Webber. The board has put tremendous trust on a young mans shoulders but should also ensure that the changes are timed so as to not leave a vacuum. Whilst I wholeheartedly support change in the structure there must be realism about what is achievable and the timescales.
Andy #16: All very true.
Many of us would worry about managing a big influx of players in one window – but apparently not Stuart Webber. He brought in a double-figure number to Huddersfield last summer, where it hasn’t worked out too badly.