I loved the 90s.
The music was better, City achieved their highest ever league position, they played in Europe for the first (and so far only) time, I was younger, could run all day, had more hair and could drink like a fish with minimal hangovers. And football was still about enjoyment and supporting your club through thick and thin.
There was no social media so, other than a whinge down the pub or in the playground, any moans subsided reasonably quickly – unless of course there was something really serious to complain about. Sky had yet to plunge quite the volume of money into the game that it has now and the super-rich hadn’t seen a football club as the latest must-have status symbol.
But alas time moves on and, as with everything in life, some of that change has been good; the diversity of football crowds and the change in attitudes to race are great – hopefully the same will happen for sexuality soon. Yet some is not good; the money in the game now plunged in by TV companies and billionaires has changed the landscape beyond recognition.
Take a look at this Wikipedia link – list of owners of English football clubs – and take some time for the net worth of clubs’ owners to sink in. And when you do you should come to the conclusion that we have been massively over-achieving in recent seasons; all against a backdrop of transfer fees that have been growing at an alarming rate; the Neymar transfer will increase that exponentially.
Put simply we do not have the financial clout to compete in this world. What we built with Paul Lambert and David McNally was incredible, but both knew it was unsustainable.
The board tried to invest as much as it could, the spending under Chris Hughton was at a scale I’d not witnessed at Norwich but it resulted in a familiar outcome – relegation. And worse still, it resulted in players on big contracts who the club then found difficult to move on. We still have some of those players.
Alex Neil was still also well-funded, but with parachute payments diminishing, the reality of not getting promoted at the first time of asking is now upon us.
The new model is as much about survival as a club as it is success on the pitch. We can’t compete financially with our existing owners so have to do something different; we’re attempting to invest in young players when they’re cheap and hope some of those do well and can be sold on to fund the next batch.
Southampton have proved that model works if you get it right, albeit their starting point is a much stronger financial base than ours (plus they have Liverpool as a major benefactor!).
The harsh truth is, without changing owners we don’t have much choice but to try this and it is going to be a bumpy road.
The new model relies on us being able to attract and develop players on a global scale; foreign-based players offer better value for money, that’s just a reality. But that will take time and it may even be that a relegation is involved in order to bounce back. I don’t think it will come to that, but it may and we need to be prepared for that.
Which brings me to my next point, given all of the above: why are so many fans unwilling to give the new regime the time it requires? My personal feeling is that a new head coach (or manager) needs three seasons to make a team his own. It’s really only that third season that allows for player movements and playing mentality to be installed properly.
I think it’s a combination of several factors; the money in the game, social media, a change in society for instant gratification. Sadly what it has resulted in is a lack of realism.
That’s not to say there are not legitimate concerns and complaints; there are, for sure. I do wish, however, they were channelled in a way that helped the club. After all, we all want the club to be successful, even if we differ on what success means.
Without new investment and being objective, mainly due to location, there are better options out there than us. We are currently a mid-Championship club. The tide is turning quickly too; the vast majority of clubs in the Championship and some in League One now have more investment than us. That’s a harsh reality.
So we have three choices:
- Change the model to a sustainable one and attempt to punch above our weight.
- Attract new investment – which is not easy and doesn’t come without something in return.
- Find new owners – something fraught with danger and relies on a will to sell and indeed to buy.
We’re attempting the first of these and it needs time to sink in and settle. Yes, that does mean that this season, at least, may need to be written-off – or at least the first half of it – but you simply cannot make so many changes in staff (both playing and otherwise) and ethos and still expect a team gelling together to play well every week. It’s unrealistic.
When you couple that with the fact that we’ve never been an established top flight team, ever, in our entire history as a club, why should we expect to be so now, at a time where the gulf between our funding and others is greater than ever? I guess that’s one of the things that makes football great; that it defies logic at times.
What I would say though is this: booing players has never helped the club. Neither has moaning about every decision to make yourself feel better, and nor has abusing players, staff and owners. These things only serve to make things worse.
I do understand the frustration, believe me I do, but let’s give it the time it needs and not do things that make it worse.
So what do I recommend? Well, chill out, enjoy your life, sing at games, have a laugh and accept that the Premier League is not the be all and end all.
Sure all of this is easier when we’re winning and Ipswich are not, but surely no City fan is following us for that winning feeling alone? If so it must be a torturous existence.
For what it’s worth I still think we’ll finish above our local rivals even though it may not feel like it right now.
Now what was I saying about realism and logic…..
I have been waiting for an article like this for some time. Well done my sentiments exactly all of the factors you mention mean Football fans demand instant success. I argued with my own fans during the Sunderland game as I was sick of hearing how Delia had “ruined” us!!! On returning home I too reflected on days gone by when I was just happy to be at Carrow Road and “SUPPORTED” the boys through thick and thin. SUPPORT don’t just attend 16,000 Supoorters in the 90’s made for a happier Carrow Road than 27,000 “attendees”.
Instant success? Delias had 21 years!
Fantastic article and I couldn’t agree more. The problem is most people on social media are if the younger generation they have perhaps only been following the club for say less than ten years. In that time we have been relatively successful we have spent money and been amongst the big boys. They don’t know what it’s like to go a whole season and only see us win once away. They don’t know what it’s like to l9se to Ipswich every season. So they expect instant success and although they say they are willing to be patient they really mean around five games. Of course this is by no means all of the younger generation and to be fair when we are winning we couldn’t have a better support. We have a large and mostly vocal away support but I fear unless we start picking up wins soon and challenging at the top our fans will turn ugly it’s already happened at Millwall with the fans booing our captain a player who loves the club and does lads of work in the community. I hope the board stay strong and stick with Webber and Farke and like you say say give them the time as I’m afraid to say I don’t think many fans will.
Agree. I am becoming sick and tried of the harsh criticism of Martin. He has been a loyal servant to the club and deserves better. I think we all know he is past his best but when he is picked to play l am sure he does his best.
I love the fact you’re happy to give the new regime 3 seasons. I would too.
Yet we read earlier in the week that you’re fellow colleague Martin Penney is already at breaking point. Funny world, football.
It’s not about life or death . . . . give it time. Webber needed time at Huddersfield. He’ll need it again.
I am not at breaking point by any manner of means and did not intimate that I was.
I merely said that to get hit for four in consecutive games is, erm, well, not good.
Alarm bells have been sounding – we’ve since signed Grant Hanley so Messrs Webber and Farke seem to have acknowledged there was indeed a problem that couldn’t be resolved with existing personnel..
The fact I am so far bitterly disappointed does not translate to my calling for anybody’s heads. Far from it; this structure is here for the long term.
But surely nobody likes to be d*cked 4-0 at Millwall and be occupying the final relegation slot, even if it is only August.
Common sense isn’t welcome round here, you best be careful, lad. Especially on transfer deadline day!
I agree with how you see our standing as a club – it’s a hugely valid point that we’ve never been an established top flight club – but I think we have made mistakes at crucial points in the last few years, that might – just might – have changed our fortunes if we’d have been more savvy. I won’t name them all but for me the inability to attract a properly experienced manager baffles me and I think has resulted in the downturn we are seeing, whereas we were at a point of establishing ourselves in the PL but blew it. We could have been more ruthless after Chris Hughton’s first season, by bringing in a manager who knew how to handle bigger-money names and egos, and expectations.
Gambling on managerial bright-young-things is admirable and exciting but is always just that – a gamble. And it’s short-termism because when things take a turn for the worse, that manager doesn’t have the experience to turn things around, like the criminally under-supported Alex Neil demonstrated.
I wasn’t that enamoured with Farke’s appointment. Not because I don’t buy into the philosophy or the long term plan but I just feel the club, while still full of a core of experienced well paid players who have the ability to gain promotion, need an experienced head to get them there. By taking a gamble on another inexperienced manager we are effectively saying it doesn’t matter if we don’t get there. So we are rewarding failures before they even happen – a continuation of a policy that has led us to where we are now. Previously it was the retention of all those players who should have been transferred out after our last promotion. Now it’s telling the remaining well paid players ‘it’s ok if we don’t get promoted’. That would be acceptable if we hadn’t been mid-table for years and didn’t have the likes of Wes, Naismith, Klose, Jerome, Oliviera, Tettey, Pritchard, Hanley etc. That’s eight of 11 players that most sides would consider promotion-worthy. So is it really acceptable to say it’s ok not to be pushing for promotion with those players? I don’t think so.
Delia has had 21years too get it right and failed.
New owners urgently required with the ability to fund and retain a place in the Premiership.
There has been too many missed opportunities to warrant any further patience. The more time she is given the lower the club will sink.
Today’s championship requires substantial finance.
What is “getting it right”? Champions League qualification?
Premiership status. We should at least be on a par with Bournemouth, Burnley and Stoke to name a few.
This ” little Norwich” mentality has no place in a thriving area like Norfolk.
We’re actually on a par with clubs who outsiders would probably class as ‘bigger’ clubs than ours……clubs like Villa, Derby, Leeds, Middlesbrough, Forest, Wednesday, Sunderland and Wolves plus clubs who historically have been more successful than us Birmingham, Bolton, Ipswich, Preston and Sheffield Utd.
Stoke and Bournemouth have extraordinarily wealthy owners. Burnley haven’t exactly made it. At the last look, they’ve had as many seasons in the PL as us in the last decade.
Also, Norfolk, thriving? Where we have one of the lowest average earnings and some of the lowest social mobility in the U.K.?
Given the funding difference, one could argue it’s been a roaring success. I can see both sides of the debate.
Well I’ve moved away from Norfolk 21 months ago so I’m not sure (or aware) of this thriving Norfolk.
But I do agree that there is no reason why NCFC should not aspire to and become established Premier clubs.
Indeed for Norfolk and the (wonderful and largely unrecognised – oh how I miss it!) fair city, the value of global recognition via the football club is of immense strategic importance in helping to attract investment and tourism into the economy.
I think that’s spot on Adrian. There is absolutely no reason why we shouldn’t aspire to be probably like clubs like Southampton, WBA, Stoke. Burnley and Huddersfield have shown that a well-run club supporting a manager who knows what he’s doing are capable of getting promoted without silly money being thrown at it. Personally I’d rather take a bit of time and get it right and stand some kind of a chance at more than a depressing relegation struggle which, let’s be honest, is what the last 2 seasons in the Premier League have been.
Ha. Totally with you, Craig. As an away supporter – too far away to get to home games – I have little choice but to take in the match day ‘experience’ and not to fret too much at the results. Mind you Millwall really tested me!
I agree with a lot of the sentiment of this article, football is not more important than life and found a long time ago that avoiding the likes of Canarycall and 606 was a good way of maintaining my sanity.
I live in Sussex surrounded by loads of Brighton fans rightfully excited by their promotion but I don’t feel any envy for them, I don’t see the premiership as that attractive when the prospect of winning is only likely 50% of games and the majority of away days are played in over-expensive grounds with a bland corporate atmosphere.
I understand that our transition is needed and will take time, at the start of the season I expected us to finish somewhere between 8th and 16th but that was until I saw my first game of the season at Millwall. I’ve supported Norwich long enough to see us on the end of a few thrashings, we’ve lost heavily to sides who simply have more resources than us, we’ve lost because we’ve brought badly and fielded players who were not up to standard, we’ve lost because we’ve had weak managers who confused players with incoherent plans and we’ve lost because our players are low on confidence and belief, but I’ve never seen us get hammered due to complete tactical naivety.
Yes Farke has only been in the job 3 months, but if we continue to use zonal marking at corners and free kicks so our defenders are always out jumped, and we continue to play short goal kicks to defenders who don’t have a perfect first touch (they wouldn’t be in the Championship otherwise), it will show that either Farke has learnt nothing in 3 months or he is completely dogmatic.
The expectations of Farke are probably the lowest of any Norwich manager since Roeder, but the patience around him will only be maintained if the fans feel that their is a plan that is eventually going to work. Right now I see too many basic errors to have any confidence that we are on the right path.
Wagner had exactly the same problems with Huddersfield to begin with. Last season they were the best team to visit CR, bar Fulham. He’ll come good in time. German’s are generally fast learners.
Best article I have read on here. Absolutely spot on with all your observations Craig
It’s a pity that the most active social media warriors only seem to do negativity.
Thank God for some common sense. Most of the people who comment on blogs and forums seem to think that real life football works just the same as it does on their Playstation’s FIFA game. Reality is very different. Well done Craig for recognising this and articulating it so well. I wish that Stuart Webber had started his regime by saying, in effect, ‘it’s going to be a three year programme, and at times it will be tough.’ Having supported the Canaries for decades, I remember long periods of total dross, season after season. They just made the good times all the better!!
Thank you for all your comments, appreciated as ever. I’d battened down the hatches and donned my tin hat waiting for a slating, but am pleased and surprised to see so many positive comments!
A great article as many others have said. I don’t necessarily agree with all of it, but it certainly helps to put the brakes on some over-reaction to the initial failure of the new set-up, inspired (in my case anyway) by the manner of our loss at Millwall, which I found particularly hard to take..
An excellent read indeed.
It’s a very sobering article, but a very sensible one. I’d recommend following the link to the list of owners and their personal fortunes. Eye-watering stuff.
The above column? That’s the reality folks! You may not like the ‘meal’ put in front of you, but that’s all there is to eat.
I have to be totally honest, the ‘financial obesity’ of the top table of the PL, disgusts me – it’s repugnant! It is one reason why many a once football crazed individual, no longer follows the game. It used to be an honest, working-class sport, but it has decended into a Hollywood excess. Wipe away the glitzy paint-job, and much of what you’ll find is morally unsavoury – and utterly false. For instance,I get fed up to my back teeth, hearing the mantra, repetitively chimed by players joining a new club – put on another record puleeze!!!
Thank you, I’ll leave the face lifts, and recontructed breasts to the Mancs, Chelsea et al. I have a notion the house of cards will eventually . . . . . collapse. Oh dear????
The reality is, football success is linked directly to the owners bankroll. Already mega-rich people, have been alerted to the ‘cash cow’ that the football fan is, with his deep set tribal instincts – deep pockets too, to follow their obsession. The cycle is then self perpetuating.
Little or nothing is given back to the grass roots, the attitude is, “P**s on the fire, Fred, my toast is done!”
All it takes is one little card . . . . . !!!!!!!
Thank you for writing this and for all the positive responses because it makes us feel we are not alone.
Everything you say is spot on -I have just forwarded the link to The Scrimmage and dared them to read it out – guess it will not be sensational enough for the media. Too often we hear leading questions asked of fans which perpetuate the “bad feeling” . Yes we all hurt when City lose like that – but as we have tried to remind the media before – they haven’t sat through seasons when 12th was a place you hoped for, when 0-0 draws were common and deadly boring (late 60s/early 70s). Wish all the “expert” managers on the terraces would expect the same questions /criticisms to be made to them after about 5 weeks int their new jobs.
As for new owners – be careful what you ask/wish for – the rich will lose interest, foreigners have no loyalty – all these requests for new managers/owners are NEVER backed up with realistic suggestions – eg Ryan Giggs was suggested as a manager – but he has not managed any team on his own – where is the logic ?
And if these boo boys/experts disappear then at least real fans will remain.
Good points, albeit stating the obvious. I agree that for now we need to be objective and react to the sobering finacial realities of our situation, but I cannot resign myself to accepting/aspiring to a future of Championship mediocrity. Does it really take SIX transfer windows to build a club capable of promotion? Not for me. As your article points out, Norwich City is a business; a business whose current ownership and operating modle is comming under sevre strain as the marketplace evolves around it. New investment (and if that means news ownership) is a must. Without it we face the prospect of a slow and lingering demise. I have loved sharing in the amazing experiences the Smith reigme had delivered, but I do not greatful or indebted to them. I certainly dont think that we should be prepared to accept our lot. Norwich City does not deserve success, but we do have the right to demand more. We are no different from Soton, Swansea, Watford, Bournemouth, Middlesboro et al… #otbc
What is sad about this article and some of the comments is the lack of ambition, perhaps mirrored by the current owners. Of course we are a small club but we are as big as Southampton, Stoke etc and they have the desire to try year on year to get better. That requires patience and good management. We have wasted the glorious opportunities we created by poor leadership at board level. No-one can deny the affection Delia and Michael have for the club but they didn’t have the ability or courage to make the key decisions when required. I bear them no malice because they have put what money they could into the club but the facts speak for themselves in opportunity wasted.
As for the present I for one feel that the goal has to be the premiership and a plan that will sustain the club there long enough to become established. The current reorganisation promised to begin that process and time is of the essence whilst we have the current level of resources. However, simply put, the signs so far are disappointing to say the least. I will be patient even after Millwall but the goal for me and most supporters will always be the top division. We may not get there but will never stop trying.
Nowhere did I say we shouldn’t be aiming for the top division, merely pointed out that’s also the aim of many clubs with more resources. That shouldn’t be controversial or signal a lack of ambition, it’s just true.
Point taken.
This article could of been written by a certain “D.Smith of Stowmarket”
I’m well aware that the club has limited resources, but out of the resources, they use them very badly. For example, we have Academy that generally isn’t using the players it bring through. Instead the club buys second and third rate European players, much to the chagrin of those involved in the Academy. They are very frustrated.
I’m also well aware that the majority shareholders know that cannot keep in the EPL and are very happy to stay in The Championship. That may sit well with the very easily pleased NCFC fans, but with those with a crumb of ambition, the club is going nowhere as it keeps making mistake after mistake after mistake.
The start to this season has been unacceptable. Hopefully that will change, but we have manager that wants to play a system rather than what suits the squad. If Ranieri had of had this Philosophy, Leicester City would of got relegated instead of winning the EPL at a canter,
We could be heading back to League One on current evidence and that will be the final straw.
The majority shareholders must sell, or we have no chance of any success.
You cannot have both.
Well said inside right.
a positive view of Norwich city.
I wasn’t being negative, there’s a big difference between hope and expectation, however. I want us to win every game and be in the top flight, but to ignore the reality of the market we find ourselves in would be negligent.
How do you “know” the Smiths are happy with EFL status? Have they told you?
And if someone wanted to buy or invest in the club badly enough the first people they’d get onside is us the fans. And that ain’t happened for a long time. Let’s not delude ourselves there is a queue of billionaires at our door.
Just to confirm, I don’t think I’ve ever even been to Stowmarket, other than through it on the train 🙂
You could argue the reverse given many clubs with more resources have been below us for a good while.
It’s certainly getting more difficult to maintain our position without investment, for sure.
Difficult Craig. ? It’s getting impossible. That’s the frustrating thing.
As expected, cue the snide comments regarding ” true fans” and negativity.
Just accept that there is an alternative view for once.
I don’t think there’s such a thing as “true” fans. Up to each individual and I welcome others views, it’s what makes football and other parts of life interesting, I do expect them to have a modicum of realism and fact attached though.
It as the your article that got my hackles up, it was some of the replies. The underselling of Norwich city by an element of its support is staggering.
It’s interesting though Chris, last week there were similar comments criticising fans who may call for ‘patience’ before they’d even said anything! I completely agree people do need to accept other views exist – it’s the dismissive comments from either side which frustrates me the most – we should all be on the same side! I wonder if that’s why the ‘thumbs down’ option has disappeared…!
Fair comment Dave. There’s a good cut and thrust on here and I think it helps to get it out in the open.
It’s just the dismissal of critical opinion and the belittling of the people who hold those opinions which got my dander up.
I think the pessimistic and dissatisfied mood is in the ascendancy as reality bites and people are by and large proven right again. It’s highly likely that the mood music from the mass of the clubs support and the fear of reaction is what kept Nelson oliveira a canary last night, at least for a few months. If the fawning acceptance of some was in the majority we would now be without our best fit player and facing serious struggle.
This may be a temporary reprieve as the bean counter is spinning more sales in the near future.
There is a great deal of concern for the club out there and prodding people to get a reaction isn’t going to make things better.
Completely disagree with the article. The short answer is we need new owners. Football is hugely popular particularly in China at the moment. It is disingenous to argue that there is no-one out there. We have owners who are trying to cling on to an outdated model and hoping that the horrible Premier league goes away. Yes it is terrible the cost of players and wages but are you really expecting us to stay in the 1990s forever? That box has been opened now and cannot be shut again. There is a split in the support. There are those Friends of Delia who seem to go along to Carrow Road as they would a film or theatre performance and there are those who care passionately and want the club to be the best it can be and whisper it, compete. Is it realistic to put a 19 year old goalkeeper behind some German third div players and RM and expect success? Of course not. Am I a new supporter? No. I grew up cheering for Keelan, Forbes, Kenny Foggo and the rest but even I can see the Delia model is running out of road.
“Friends of Delia” 🙂
I don’t know Delia and I don’t think anybody gets to define passion or care, I’m a block D back row lower Barclay season ticket holder who sings and tries to get the atmosphere going, also find the time to write about the club with a full time job that’s nothing to do with writing and an 8 Month old son, so feel free to disagree, but don’t pull the lack of care/passion card, you couldn’t be further from reality and it’s a lazy argument. We also only have one German player from that level and he’s been pretty decent, others from the second tier like we are!
Whilst I do agree, ultimately new owners will be needed, with the confines of what we have, we’re doing the right things and have overachieved. There are good and bad foreign owners, I’ve seen some comments on Twitter saying I’m fed up of being Delia’s play thing, well wait until you’re a businessman with no emotional attachment’s play thing, from working in the private sector all of my career at a senior management level for much of it I know how cut throat it can be. It could go both ways, but don’t kid yourself that it would automatically be plain sailing!
But back to my original advice, I’m going to chill 😉
As a season ticket holder (home and away) and in my time I’ve seen the good the bad and the ugly and last Saturday at Millwall was both bad and ugly!!
However, this article pretty much sums up where I am. I’ve never brought into the idea that the amount of money you spend on players is directly proportional to the club’s ambition. Even Newcastle (big club?) have suffered two relegations in recent times and they have a ‘megga bucks’ owner! Just shows how difficult it is to compete in the premier league even if you have money.
Some of the most enjoyable match day experiences I’ve had have been in the championship and the league below!! Do I accept our lot? yes I do, Thick and thin! An old fashioned view I know, I support our club because of; geography, community, meeting football friends on match day, not just the success (or not) that we are likely to have. If I wanted to support a club that guarantees success I would give up my season ticket buy a sky sports subscription and support Chelsea/ Man City/ Man U from the comfort of my armchair and save myself a hell of a lot of money!!
Football is unpredictable, that’s why we love isn’t it? Will the new regime succeed? I have no idea, Should they be given time build a competitive team? Absolutely. I signed up for this ‘journey’ when I renewed my season tickets and I’m happy to see where it takes us, Who knew where we would end up on that first game of the season against Paul Lambert’s Colchester back in 2009. I didn’t, but I’m glad I was there to take the journey the followed!!
Good article Craig, OTBC
Someone once told me, “Don’t get your dreams mixed up with your capabilities.”
It’s not negativity, or lack of ambition, to recognise fully the reality of NCFC, or football in general. A number of clubs Norwich are deemed on par with, have a great deal more cash than us. That’s the whole point of Craig Bailey’s column?
Leicester was a phenomenom, and, as such won’t be repeated anytime soon – oh, by the way, they also happen to be a good deal more wealthy?
New owners, is the cry – someone to inject a massive investment. A person or institution, to sling millions like confetti – yes? But what happens if their gamble fails, and they pull out, asset stripping as they go? The people who own the ‘big clubs’, don’t give a fig about the club or the community it represents, as I said in an earlier comment today, they look upon fan support like a ‘cash cow’, and when the milk stops flowing, it’s an unemotional trip to the slaughterhouse.
As has been mentioned, more than once – be careful what you wish for?
The PL has in fact three sub divisions, the lower clubs get a drubbing most weeks, even the middle division lose more than they win over a season. Since it’s nothing like a level playing field, I question its validity as entertainment – a true sport? Why bother going to the Colosseum, the Christians never beat the lions?
A European Super League is probably the only answer, as I personally, am no lover of sharp claws and big teeth!
Even if you find the league we’re in to be irrelevant, the quality of players inconsequential, and the owners’ lack of financial support to be unimportant. I’m surprised advocacy of the quality of football that’s been served up for 4-5 years, which has been almost without exception, dire.
It seems from some of the answers that as long as Delia smith and her extended family own th club, the quality of the players, the football we play, the results and the level of the club are an irrelevance. It’s becoming a cult.
You cannot say the last four to five years has been dire, did you not go to Wembley or the away games at Bournemouth, Leeds, Bolton etc under Alex Neil? Crazy statement and indicative of the modern fan the original article rails against.
You’re argument against “it’s not important be in the PL” is to cite the half season where we actually played well and achieved promotion to the PL?.
Not To mention the two desperate relegations in that time and last seasons non event.
Just seen Nelson has scored for Portugal. I hope they don’t allow phones in the Portugal dressing room!
Good article. I liked the simple mention of ‘support’. When the dust settled on the den and I made it to the sanctuary of a nice pub in South East London, one of my memories was of a decent rendition of OTBC before the game. It would of assuaged my pride if we had sung during the game (instead it was booing our own players, and less than amusing self mockery). Loyal Supporters? Probably – but lets be having you.
Good article but I do have one bugbear…..
…”we’ve never been an established top flight team, ever, in our entire history as a club…”
Craig you obviously didn’t know about the time City were not just regulars, but top-half regulars in the top flight from 86-94?
I was there! Not quite long enough to be quantified as established for me 🙂
Under these owners we can at best look forward to being a yo yo club between the championship and league 1. It amazes me that some of our fans are happy to be the next 1p5wich.
Just wanted to say a thank you to all those who have commented whether you agree or disagree, it’s appreciated.
Also, wanted to say don’t mistake an acceptance of the reality of our situation for a lack of ambition, I’d like to see us established in the top flight, the new model is the only way I see that happening under the current level of investment.
Here’s hoping for better form after the international break.
OTBC
Fair enough Craig, respect for your support and your opinions. The only line i want to highlight from your comment is this-
“With the current levels of investment”
That’s the crux of the matter.
Here’s to a win against Birmingham.
The extremes on both sides do themselves no favours by constantly putting words into the mouths of their “opponents” and then criticising those words. “It amazes me that some of our fans are happy to be the next 1p5wich” – No-one said this…… We are all frustrated at present, mistakes have been made. Having been there through thin and thinner I am guilty as charged of being a “keyboard warrior” on a Saturday night after a few beers following a defeat. However, I will also think we’re going to win the league after beating average (and above average) opposition. Maybe I’m the problem, my glass is never always half-empty or always half-full! I think we have to recognise that whatever the club does some will always criticise, and some will always praise. It’s up to those in the middle to keep going, whilst offering constructive opinions. As Dave H says “We should all be on the same side”, unfortunately there are those on both sides who cannot accept this, as is evidenced by some of the comments above.