It has been a ‘funny old’ season hasn’t it?
Disappointing for sure but not the terrible disaster that some seem determined to label it.
Joint top scorers in the league with 85 (most ever scored at home with 55) and yet only finished eighth and ten points off the last play-off place. We all know why – a defence leakier than one of Delia’s monogrammed sieves.
After nearly two years of writing regularly for this site, I called it a day after the 2-2 draw at Fulham back in October. It was time to hand over to someone new but I’ve continued to read the weekly installments, opinions and debate with interest and amusement.
As I handed in my last piece, a mini-biography of the new CEO from Wolves, the boys were riding high but already showing those defensive frailties that would continue to haunt for the rest of the season.
That second half at Craven Cottage – so often the graveyard of the Canaries’ dreams – turned out to be pivotal for both clubs’ fortunes over the months to come.
I never thought a top two finish was likely but top six was minimum requirement. Outside of that by New Year and a change of manager was my pre-season advice (for all of my vast practical experience).
For reasons of loyalty/finances/stubbornness – delete as appropriate – the board (with the likely exception of Mr. Moxey) decided to stick not twist until March. Fatal? Possibly.
We’ll never know if Gary Rowett (or AN Other) would have made the difference if the plug had been pulled earlier on Alex Neil’s time. There would have been no guarantees of glory especially as the top six/seven clubs never really hit the wall, except for Leeds in the last three or four weeks.
It turned out to be even more competitive a league than two years back. Very few I suspect would have predicted that Reading, Huddersfield and Fulham would be contesting for play-off glory at the end of the season.
Fulham’s haul of 80 points is the highest ever for a sixth place finish in the second tier. Norwich finished about six points short of the average number required although 70 would have been good enough back in 2012-13.
We had a record number of red cards with those first half ones at QPR and Rotherham and versus Blackburn especially costly in terms of points and morale. Whatever, the perceived quality of the opposition, if you’re playing an hour or more with a man down, nine times out of ten it’s not going to end well.
Somehow the Galway Roast stand sponsorship affair was a telling omen for events to come with indecision and poor decisions on and off the pitch putting the kibosh on the season. Instead of a last day celebration of promotion, we were left to console ourselves with a meaty win over QPR and a tearful goodbye to those players departing for good.
We had the chairman’s televised dance-floor efforts, Jez’s media faux pas and some pretty harsh criticism of the owners’ lack of ambition to ignore/enjoy/disparage (again, delete as you wish).
Practically no aspect of the club’s running or players’ efforts have escaped the harshest of spotlights this season and all because of the unrealised expectation levels (correct or otherwise) of an immediate bounce back to the big boys’ cash-littered playground.
It has been bruising with dark days but hell, I’ve enjoyed it! And still we’ve turned up home and away – rarely did home gates dip below 98 per cent capacity – remarkable and only bettered by the manic Geordies.
No one wants the club to be marooned Ipswich-like for decades outside of the Premier League, but all season ticket holders have had full-on value for money from the Carrow Road goal barrage and the quality of some of those goals (Jonny H’s wins it for me).
I didn’t miss the struggle of a Premier League relegation scrap which Boro and Hull fans have had to endure – remember how exultant they were at being back in the big time last summer? Beware Brighton and Newcastle fans and those of whichever club emerges victorious from the Wembley Play-off final.
Of course, the club is in a tighter financial spot than it would have been if promotion had been achieved. However, out of whatever wreckage there is, has emerged the dawn of a new club structure and team for next season.
We have some young talent to be hugely proud of and excited by, and some old warriors who continue to spill their sweat and skills in the cause of the yellow and green. With a wheeler-dealing Webber, the summer will not be dull.
Imagine facing yet another season with an uncaring, absent owner and a grizzled old manager in charge of your club’s destiny…
Welcome back Russell!
It certainly wasn’t a dull season, but the lows certainly exceeded the highs over 46 games. Throw it two draws against ‘that lot’ and you soon realise how average it’s been.
Bring on the Webber revolution, although I suspect a fair degree of patience is still going to be required.
Russell, I cannot imagine who you are alluding to in your final sentence:-)
#1 Gary: average is spot on, but there were some absurd highs and even more ridiculous lows before the curtain came down. A crazy season and I have no idea what a statistician would make of it.
“Patience” is a virtue and, like you, I feel we will need large portions of it.
Viva la Revolution indeed.
Good to see you again, Russ.
It was a shocking season because we so clearly could and should have done better. Over the past eight years we’ve got used to City teams overachieving; this one underachieved, and it’s deeply frustrating.
To see the good performances and goal-fests merely underlined what might have been. Some of the away performances (like Sheffield Wednesday which I had the misfortune to witness) were absolutely shocking.
The Webber revolution won’t be all plain sailing, but it’s what we need.
Good to read your words again Russell.
Last paragraph cheered me up. Those ‘Groundhog days’ from the mid 90’s – early 2000’s are but a distant memory. That lot down the road are like our comfort blanket!
The past season in many ways defied logic, top in October, most home goals and joint top scorers…finished 8th. Newcastle, Fulham, Barnsley and Rotherham away, pivitol. When the going got tough we crumbled, Alex Neils teams don’t do that but we did.
As you say Russell, lots to get excited about and it wont be dull.
Roll on August!
I think the club did very well to have only lost Redmond out of the players we would’ve liked to see stay. But that meant we had a squad that was certainly capable of doing and should’ve done better.
Even though 10 points looks like a big gap, if we’d have beaten Fulham at home and two more results had gone our way we’d be looking forward to the play-offs right now. Fine margins. That just makes it all the more frustrating.
A good board would have sacked Neil around Christmas. With Irvine in charge we could easily have made the playoffs. Even including Blackburn, that wasn’t his team selection, he has a 50% win rate, during a tough set of fixtures.
I’m not against giving him the job. I don’t see the usual rumoured names being much more qualified.
Seems a new name has been added to the possible list of contenders for the HC position in one Paul Lambert would not be my choice but an interesting one good record at city but very hit and miss since walking out for Villa, now according to reports he is contemplating doing the same at wolves.
Blackpool Gazette is reporting today that Rosler is looking forward to his meeting with Andy Pilley to discuss moving forward for next season and planning for promotion to the championship, not another I would prefer for HC as with Lambert a bit hit and miss.
Still haven’t seen any more info on Monks had bad luck at Swansea and proved his worth at Leeds this season would be a good fit.
Irvine didn’t do very well at any of his previous clubs long term when he was manager, with no pressure on while in charge at city has proved to be capable, my worry here is would he revert back to his previous record if given the city position, we will never know unless he is appointed.
Wagner could be a good option but did he burn his bridges with SW with comments made after he had left for city.
This is were thing start to get difficult if it isn’t one of the above then who ever get the position will come from left field.
The papers are reporting that Daniel Levy has upset his players by stating they will not get a pay increase, his actual words were if players expect an increase after a successful season would they except a reduction in pay after an unsuccessful season this is from a very successful business man and football chairman no where in his comments did he say they wouldn’t negotiate new contracts just that they shouldn’t expect it.
City could do with a chairman like this our’s seem to be more interested in self projectionon TV has he yet put himself for as a labour candidate in the upcoming election or as a scinic would that mean no time for dancing or a major cut in his income.
I think that even with Alan Irvine in charge from Christmas we would have made the playoffs.
7 Alex – Paul Lambert would not join us as he wants to be a ‘proper Manager’ – not a ‘Head Coach’ taking orders from Stuart Webber.
Alex #7: Just for clarification, Ed Balls is a non-executive and unpaid chairman of NCFC. He was paid for the period last summer when he acted as Chief Exec after McNally’s departure, but that stopped as soon as we appointed Jez.
If people want to comment on the time Ed gives to NCFC, the appropriate comparison is Alan Bowkett. So they should find out how much time AB gave to the club before commenting.
Dave B #6: As you know, I share your view that AN should have been sacked before Christmas. But like the sacking of Chris Hughton, we’ll simply never know where a different path would have taken us.
Thanks for your comments.
But for the late, late loss at Newcastle and silly defeats at QPR & Rotherham, it might all have been different..
So much else I could have mentioned – disappointing season but never dull.
In terms of next coach, Rosler would be my choice. Lambert is a definite no – best days well behind him. Irvine did well to steady a rocking boat but was under no pressure and we still shipped goals away from home – his track record in the top job elsewhere says it all.
Have a good summer all.
Alex (7) Stew’s comment on Ed Balls is spot on. To compare his tenure with that of Daniel Levy is comparing apples and pears. Ed – aside from a spell where he was covering the void left by Mr McNally – is non-exec and therefore is essentially responsible for chairing board meetings.
Sorry gent misunderstanding on my part had the idea it was a paid position not a problem being put right.
I see the Mirror is reporting that Paul Lambert is interested in the city job please let this be a bad rumour and just lazy reporting on their behalf
The other observation about Alan Irvine, had Alex Neil been sacked last Autumn, he’d almost certainly have been replaced by a full time manager, AI’s tenure in charge would have far fewer games. And, more importantly, the structure wouldn’t have changed. Hindsight, and all that, but feels like a blessing in disguise
@14 Gary
At this time there is no data to say that for Norwich City a technical director is preferable. Also, fwiw, Norwich’s last two caretaker managers went on to become the manager, even in the face of relegations.
Btw would prefer Lambert than Rosler if current wild news is to be 1% believed. Uwe seemed totally vacant (not even pretty) on C5 football show a couple of weeks back. Even AI would not be end of world. Nice letter from Bassong
Dave B #15: You’re quite right. As Stuart Webber and Steve Stone are at pains to say, the proof of the pudding will be in the eating. Words are easy; it’s whether they can deliver.
Having said that, the new structure – and the people in place so far – just feel to most of us like the right thing. We don’t expect you to indulge such feelings!
Dave B #15. We’ll never know what would have happened, had a decision for change ocured last autumn. That said, football is evolving and you shouldn’t necessarily preserve with something simply because that’s what everyone else is doing. There’s certainly logic behind the now chosen route; what’s critical, as always, is getting the right appointment for Head Coach.
@17 Stewart
I’d suggest ‘feelings’ have only ever hurt our club in recent years. So please, go ahead and indulge in them. I’ll wait to see some results.