Despite my quibbles with Rob Butler, it’s probably good that I don’t host Canary Call.
For one thing, it’s not as easy as it looks. You only appreciate the skills involved if you have a go at something similar yourself.
Secondly, though, I wouldn’t show the forbearance that Rob does with his callers. Undoubtedly he’s right – if I were doing his job, I’d probably put off most would-be callers. Not quite the idea for a phone-in, I know.
For fun, though, let’s just for a moment imagine we’ve locked Rob in a cupboard (from where we’ll hear occasional muffled shouts of “great point”, “great call”) and I’ve taken over the show. It might go something like this:
Caller: “I haven’t seen them for a few years, but I’ll tell you what the problem is…”
SL: “I don’t think so. Next”
***
Caller: “It’s obvious – we have to play two up front!”
SL: “And what else?”
Caller: “Two proper wingers, for a start. Wes should play in the middle with Maddison and a ball-winner”
SL: “And a back four with Trybull and Tettey in front of them?”
Caller: “Of course!”
SL: “I think that makes 14. Next”
***
Caller: “Where’s all the money gone? Why do they never tell us?”
SL: “Have you read the Accounts?”
Caller: “No, I don’t bother with that stuff”
SL: “Apparently not. Next”
***
Caller: “Jerome’s useless. Why don’t they play those young strikers, Aybrams and Fonkoo?”
SL: “Have you seen them play?”
Caller: “No. But they’d bring confidence – that’s what we need”
SL: “What do you think of Josh Murphy?”
Caller: “He’s always making mistakes. But me and my mates put him straight last week – we gave him a right rollicking”
SL: “I see. Next”
***
Caller: “Why do we let Delia keep taking money out of the club?”
SL: “Well – if you gave a bank a lot of your money 15 years ago and they now gave you back the same amount, never having given you any interest, what would you think?”
Caller: “I’d think they’d had a lot of money from me”
SL: “I agree. Next”
***
Caller: “Kyle Lafferty scored again in Scotland today – why did we never give him a proper chance?”
SL: [sigh] “Well, folks, I think that’s all we have time for today”
***
If you think I’m making up these callers’ points, I can promise you: either on Canary Call or in the stands, I’ve heard the gist of all these and more.
I am guilty, though, of being selective. Rob gets calls from fans who follow the team faithfully, sometimes travelling further than I do, and they make points they’re perfectly entitled to.
There’s one issue in particular that, as long as the opinions aren’t blatantly daft or factually wrong, seems to me a fair one for debate: the future direction and ownership of the club we love.
In a frightening number of cases, much-vaunted foreign investment has brought little but misery to clubs and their fans. From Birmingham to Forest, Blackburn to QPR and well beyond, fans have been let down dreadfully.
But then there’s Southampton and – fresh in our minds – Wolves. City’s financial position is in stark contrast to that of Wolves. If they don’t go up this season, they’ll probably spend a bunch more; if we don’t go up, we’ll have to sell one of our key assets.
It has to be said: even in that case, Steve Stone and Stuart Webber are genuinely convinced that our ownership model is viable and will allow them to give Daniel Farke a competitive squad on which to work his skills. They are fully committed to getting Norwich into the Premier League – which would fix the finances at a stroke – and firmly believe it can happen with our present set-up.
An injection of money, though, would clearly make it easier.
For what it’s worth, I’m glad our owners are picky about who they’d sell the club to. I want to feel proud of my club, both on and off the field, and there’s much about the current Norwich City that I cherish.
The change I’d personally like to see is a tweak rather than a U-turn. The directors repeated last week that they’re open to outside investment, but aren’t actively seeking it. While I support them not sending out a message of desperation, I wonder if the message could be a little more inviting.
There may or may not be an investor out there who’d meet our owners’ criteria (which I suspect are pretty close to mine). If there isn’t, I’m comfortable with our present model. If there is, though, I’d like us to sound a touch more proactive and welcoming.
This one is a fair and proper subject for debate. For the rest – it’s all yours, Rob.
You’re a better man than I am.
A great read on a gloomy Saturday morning with no match in prospect.
I will freely admit to pretty much avoiding Canary Call for the past couple of seasons. When our very own Neil Adams hosted it his patience and knowledge were considerable and he was normally able to subtly deflate even the most determined of ranters.
However if Mark Rivers is on I cannot resist tuning in. He is a natural.
A couple of years ago I was fortunate enough to be able to discuss Canary Call with a very senior BBC exec who explained exactly why it is currently the way it is: for pure entertainment; not to be taken too seriously. It has a relatively good audience. He also explained to me that if the current host wishes to be “agent provocateur” he has free reign to do so. Ultimately it adds to the entertainment.
On digesting that, Mr Butler shot up in my estimation.
I’ve done a fair bit of radio in my time but I will cheerfully echo Stewart’s words: I couldn’t do Rob Butler’s job either. Fair play to him.
Steward as with Martin a very informative read on a dull Saturday morning can’t wait for the Rugby to start.
At city we have 3 main investers if I am correct the Smiths and Michael Folger who support the club financially not sure if Tom Smith does or is just there to take over from Aunty.
Barnsley have just or in the process of major investment from a Chinese gentleman who owns a french club and the American Mr Beanie, I have family who support Barnsley and they said the present owner wasn’t activity looking but got approached to see if he was willing to sell a major part of his shares to these investers, but I think the word must have been put out on the grapevine.
With city it is a different kettle of fish for years the Smiths have said they aren’t looking to sell or get investors in, and the so called conditions aregoing to be a stumbling block we have alarge support but do any of them have the financial clout to help the club and do they still live locally.
Micheal Folger is mostly the silent partner in this he has on a number of occasions put his money into buying players ie Grant Holt, but he backs the Smiths so what percentage are these willing to offer any potential invester and will it inhibit young Tom becoming the Smiths successor in the future.
It will be interesting to see if anyone comes out and state what there is for possible investment into the club.
Living in Blackpool over the last few years I have watched with interest the squabbles going on at this once great club how the Oystons have stripped it of cast to help their other companies out, now they have split the club into 2 businesses.
1 Blackpool Properties ( Stadium, Hotel, Training Ground)
2 Blackpool Team
Both will be sold either together or separately the sinic in me see them selling the team keeping the properties and gaining large amount of rent for the stadium and training ground to enhance there fortune are ready taken from the club as proven by the judgement.
Last bit was my way of saying lets be careful of what we wish for, better the devil you know.
If good investment can be found all the better and it would be great if it could happen before any more gems had to be sold off.
Indeed, it is a ‘stick or twist’ situation. Without looking at the stats, I would guess that for every successful takeover, there’s a matching failure/disgruntled fans. You only have to look at the cases of Portsmouth, QPR, Blackburn etc compared to Man City, Chelsea, Liverpool etc.
Unless DF and his staff have worked wonders over this International Break, then I feel we may struggle to make the play-offs and so at the very least Maddison will be sold for a handsome profit. As Webber is n record as saying, we must make more use of our Cat 1 Academy (I’ve heard murmurings that it may be downgraded!!) and from what I’ve seen when attending Under 23 games, we have some promising youngsters coming through and I’d love to see several of them at least in the 1st team squad next season.
It’s not just foreign investors we need to be wary of – a quick glance down the A140 will show you that. As for Wolves, well time will tell. If they don’t go up this season (they probably will), will the owners have faith in the manager, or will they kick that merry-go-round off again? Southampton, while mantaining their Premier League status, are still a selling club, and will continue to be so.
The Premier League money is great, but the wages inevitably go up, and so do the prices you have to pay to boost your squad, so there is little left over to help you survive in leaner years ahead.
It’s a conundrum to which there is no easy answer.
Our playing strategy is remarkably similar and similarly flawed as our ownership strategy.
Keep hold of the ball/club, don’t do anything risky with it, assume therefore nothing can go wrong.
Good article, Stewart (Or as Rob would say, “Top Man”).
I get fed up with the same callers being aired on Canary Call every week, but realise that’s the fault of all of us who cant be bothered to ring in …..
Delia has promised to hand over the Club to Tom. The current cosy Board setup is not likely to be broken up or replaced.
As Ed Balls said recently “we quite like it the way it is” – a cosy little clique …… Just like the Turners found out nobody wants to put in time and money and be inevitably outvoted by the Smiths. In reality, and as we can see, new investors are about as welcome as a pork pie at a Bar Mitzvah ….
pab: I genuinely don’t think you’re quite right. But some of Delia and Michael’s words have allowed that impression to take hold, and I wish they’d be more assertive in correcting it.