I’m going to need some help today.
Not because of celebratory after-effects – understandable as that might be – but because my words simply aren’t good enough to describe the achievements of this Norwich City team and the feelings they’ve inspired in us.
I’ll need to borrow some words from others.
Starting with Canaries Trust chairman, columnist for the EDP (and when he can, for us here) Robin Sainty. Explaining last week why our wait on the verge of promotion was a specially agonizing one this time:
‘What makes it so excruciating is the fact that I love this group with a passion that I never quite felt for the sides of Paul Lambert and Alex Neil’
At the time of those promotions, I couldn’t imagine feeling the way Robin describes – but it’s absolutely true. The most common thing you’ll hear from our fans is that they’ve never been prouder to support the club.
Success is always sweet, but there’s something extra about this one.
Is it the boldness of the club to take a new direction two years ago, to widespread scepticism (irony of ironies, much of it coming from our Suffolk friends)? The sheer likeability of Daniel Farke and openness of Stuart Webber?
Perhaps the fact that we’ve had to recruit through quiet hard work and creativity, while others were throwing money at the vision of promotion and being idolized by the media?
Is it the playing style? The best we’ve seen at Carrow Road for many years, possibly ever? Even the most cynical have been won over by our football, if they have any feel for the way the game’s meant to be played.
Or is it the players? Quality footballers, but also a group who come across as genuine, grounded people, far from the stereotype of the pampered professional.
Maybe that they’re people who ‘get’ important things that our club stands for – Christoph Zimmermann attending every fans’ social event, Tim Krul taking time with a boy he learned was being bullied, the squad engaging with supporters and doing charity work with obvious sincerity.
Is it the emergence of “our own” – players from our Academy who are being allowed to make their mark? Or the unmitigated support they’re receiving from the experienced pros, including the ones they’re keeping on the sidelines? (Did you see the Sky interview of Max Aarons with Tim Krul?)
Or the sheer will of this group, even when things are going against us, not to be beaten?
All of the above, I suspect.
The bottom line is there’s a palpable togetherness in our club that’s infectious for the fans and the city. A year ago, we were fretting how to make the atmosphere at Carrow Road more vibrant. No need to worry on that score now.
Togetherness is the reason we’re top of the league and Stoke 15th when pundits expected it to be the other way round. As Sky Sports’ commentator said at the final whistle on Saturday:
‘Norwich City. Unheralded, unfancied – but this season, unstoppable’
Perhaps our players have been reminded – or perhaps they’re just the kind of characters who don’t need reminding – of what makes success.
Michael Jordan, by common consent the best basketball player of all time and a man seen as having carried his team to success, was clear:
‘Talent wins games – but teamwork wins championships’
What of next season? Some of the pundits who wrote us off this time are already lining up to do it again.
It’ll be a different challenge, of course. Whatever deals Stuart Webber conjures up this summer, we’ll have spent less on our squad than anyone else in the Premier League. We’ll have to sustain our belief without the advantage of winning runs to consolidate it.
This time, though, I can’t be pessimistic. We had to be better than bigger spenders and more glamorous opponents this year, and we won’t forget or abandon how we did it. We have the talent-spotting acumen of Stuart Webber and his team, and the motivational and tactical nous of Daniel Farke.
We’ll give it a good go. I don’t expect us to win the Premier League, but I expect to be proud of our team again. We won’t lose our senses like Fulham or lose our nerve like Alex Neil.
Meanwhile, it would be nice to secure the title at Villa. In previous promotion seasons, the phrase in our minds was “we want it”. This time it’s “we deserve it”.
Now and again, sports fans around the country witness a special team: one that succeeds not through money and big names, but through togetherness, willpower and style. One that will be written about as an illustration of the power of teamwork.
And this year, it’s OUR team.
As Sir Alex might have said, “Football – well, well”. Or words to that effect.
Brilliant piece and sums up how I feel too.
Just been reading an article about Ibrahimovic and how up himself he is in complete contrast to Our Teemu Pukki. I then think of Daniel Farke compared to say Allardice or Christopher Zimmermann to a John Terry, Our Max or Jamal compared to Ashley Young,.
The point is we have special, humble guys quietly going about their business and leaving arrogance and self importance for others.
Good luck to Derby in the play-offs, Lampard handles himself well I think.
I have seen some promotions over the 55 or so year I have been a yella, this one is the one for some reason, The nearest was Ron Saunders, leading his group to the old Div One, built more on hard work and fitness, but did have a splattering of talent.
Just what it is I am really unsure , I am not trying to work it out, just except, that once again I feel part of my club, despite not having a season ticket, only getting in to watch at odd times, I feel a big a part as I ever have done. Something that was lost several years ago after words on the phone with McNally
Without using or meaning any worn out cliches, I am back in love with my club.
Simple as that I suppose
Well said Stewart and well selected soundbites from others that you credit.
My first memory is of our fabulous cup run. I idolised that team, my standout hero being Ken Nethercott playing over half an hour with a dislocated shoulder.
Then we were promoted to the old Division Two, many idols in that team. Next our first foray into top flight football, followed up with a Milk Cup Success.
Who can forget our grand night in Munich, a whole team of heroes. More recently we’ve had the back to back promotions with Paul Lambert and a fantastic trip to Wembley with Alex Neil.
The team we have now, half full of academy products, trained by a head coach who has never worked in our country before have given us memories that will never fade.
The team and staff we have now knocks all previous heroes into a cocked hat. Now let’s carry that teamwork into the Premier League and make some new memories.
OTBC
Great comment! My first game was 1963, so I missed the legendary cup run – but as you say, many outstanding memories since then.
Special as those occasions and achievements were, I honestly don’t believe any of them quite touched the feeling that’s developed this season.
I totally agree with your praise of how the club is presenting itself at the moment Stewart. It’s refreshing and in contrast what can be seen elsewhere. The All Blacks decided a few years ago that they were going to institute a “no-dickheads” policy within their team structure. This means no=one can make things about themselves and everything has to be about team success (Oliveira did not get the memo). Daniel Farke has employed something similar with City and if we can keep this togetherness we will do OK next season and might even surprise a few people.
https://www.sarugbymag.co.za/all-blacks-no-dickheads-allowed/
That’s a policy that should also apply to us supporters, too!
Excellent idea(s)!
A truly outstanding article Stewart and I agree that it must be extremely difficult for writers such as yourself to find words t describe the season we’ve just witnessed. As you rightly point out, some of the loudest derision when we appointed SW/DF came from just across the border – I wonder if there’s any ‘humble pie’ left in 1p5wich???
I know numerous fans were seething after our defeat by Leeds, but I have always remained faithful to our current set-up and then myself and a fellow fan we’re exchanging texts wondering if it would be ourselves or 1p5wich at the bottom of the league on Sunday.
I’m sure not even the most optimistic fan could have envisaged the total transformation that took place after that first International break. Some of the winning/undefeated runs that we’ve seen are unbelievable (13 undefeated on this one I think!!).
I’d love us to wrap up the title on Sunday, so that EVERY player in this amazing squad has a medal to show what can be achieved by hard work and TEAMWORK!!!!
Whilst many have been critical of Delia/Michael in the past, they have stuck to their beliefs and of course have kept the ST prices the same as the last few seasons.
I imagine that the City will be ‘packed to the rafters’ on Monday and rightly so.
All that now awaits is the fixture list and see who our first opponents are and when the first of the ‘big’ teams arrive at NR1!!!
Quite so.
Promotion always properly sinks in when the fixtures are released. There’s a big circle round June 13 in my calendar.
All points taken, chaps, but lest not be too down on the Lambert 2011 promotion team, That was largely made up of League 1` players, and was a back to back effort don’t forget. Maybe the football wasn’t as spectacular as this years, but there were some damn good blokes in that team – Holty, Russ, Ruddy, etc etc
I agree totally Dan,
Agent Lambert hasn’t exactly endeared himself to us Canary supporters this season because he is playing silly games with the Ipswich Supporters, ( like Real Madrid ! for goodness sake ) but his/Culverhouse team that gained promotion from the championship was excellent and shouldn’t be dismissed.
This team the football has been on a different level though. I feel Farke/Webber have actually educated a lot of us, I certainly don’t hear ” boot it” etc so much these days.
Good points. I didn’t mean to denigrate Lambert’s team in any way – that was a fantastic achievement. As Tim says, though, the sheer quality of football puts this season’s team in a special place.
Fully agree. Nothing against what this team has achieved or how they played, but what Lambert and co did was phenomenal. Bottom of League 1 to PL safety in three seasons.
What’s also been lost due to how many players left in their late 20’s/30’s, was that Lambert had a talent for buying young.
Ruddy – 23
Martin – 23
Martin – 23
Johnson – 24
Surman – 23
Bennett – 21
Bennett – 22
Pilkington – 23
Howson – 23
Vaughn – 22
Not all, but believe the average signing is considerably lower than Webber’s, certainly for those in the first team.
Also, what I think is perhaps under appreciated is how little Lambert had to spend. Webber spent more on players that were barely used, than Lambert did in whole windows. I’m looking at you Franke, Husband, and Marshall.
Not to detract from his achievements, but I believe Lambert had a net spend in every main transfer window.
Stuart Webber and Daniel Farke have had to make very large surpluses on transfers (ie bring in much more money than they spend) – as you yourself have highlighted when it suited your argument.
I think you’re confusing two separate issues.
1. The need to sell players to cover running costs
2. Having enough assets to cover running costs and buy new players.
Both can be true.
Lambert had a net spend because he didn’t have anyone of value to sell. Norwich had been stripped of almost every decent player over a number of seasons and had accrued large debts.
Webber had a large revenue gap to fill, but he also inherited substantial assets to do so, and buy a number of players. In essence Webber had a third parachute payment in the shape of Maddison, Murphy, and Pritchard. Webber had to play a very clever game and he did it well, but he had the pieces on the board. Lambert barely even had a board.
They were both on the same path, it’s just that Webber took over after just one season in TC, Lambert took over after 4 seasons in TC, a relegation, and a missed pre-season.
If you asked Webber which situation he would prefer to take over, you know it would be the one he had.
Sorry, that’s absurd.
Lambert inherited Wes Hoolahan, Chris Martin and several others of substantial value – but he didn’t have to sell them. After his first season we received big bids for Grant Holt – but didn’t have to sell him.
You suggest Webber inherited a valuable James Maddison. He didn’t – as we’ve discussed before, Maddison was a player who’d never started a championship game. Webber’s appointment Daniel Farke made Maddison into a £20m player, as he’s now doing with others.
Much as I admire what Lambert did at Norwich, he never showed interest in our youth scheme or players. He didn’t need to. Webber took over a very different situation, where it was essential.
Well written Stew.
I guess we’ve all struggled (whether reader or writer) for an original take on this fantastic season but you’ve managed it!
I am genuinely delighted that we are ostensibly not going to be “splashing the cash” between now and August. Lessons learned, well learned, and all that.
Previously I’ve declared on MFW that I didn’t care about the title as long as we secured promotion. My stance has moved on to “why not?”.
And if (as is widely rumoured) Villa rest quite a few on Sunday – McGinn, Grealish etc – we have even more chance of becoming well-deserved champions.
After all, we’ve no need to rest anybody.
A very good read.
Super stuff Stewart ( and not just because you quoted me!)
To pick up Dan’s point, I don’t think any of us are down on Lambert’s team; they were a great bunch, but there’s just something about the way this young team handles itself both on and off the pitch that makes them extra special.
It’s going to be strange when we have to move on from this season. It has been brilliant and beautiful.
I guess when the fixtures for next season are published we’ll start looking forward. Until then, I for one, will be milking this triumph for all it’s worth-I’m glad the players and staff are humble but I can’t wait to bump into fans of Leeds, Villa, Middlesbrough etc and be anything but humble.
Hi Stewart
An enjoyable read.
Like many others over the years I believed that the board have become stale and lacked any will to improve the club via investment either by themselves or from the outside world while lesser clubs were getting purchased and investment the mantra from city was not interested and no one wants to invest.
Something changed be it from the heir apparent or Ed Balls it shock the club by its foundations, many complained about it and there are possibly some that still dont understand why they went this way.
Under self financing city needed to sell 2 players at a high value each season to survive last season we did that by were would they come from at the end of this season if city did’ t get promoted there was no player the big boys were willing to pay a large sum for.
Well we now have a few that hopefully stay a couple more years but are worth their weight in gold and proved city can produce good players and we now have a couple more knocking on the first team door for a chance to prove themselves.
Roll on the opening day of the season my one wish is that city can get a steady start not like the top 6 within the first 12 games.
Onwards and Upwards
OTBC
Good observations.
At the start of the season, it certainly looked as if the cupboard of £10m players was rather bare. By the end of it, we have several. They’ll be playing in the Premier League next year, as they deserve – thank goodness it’ll be for Norwich City.
Excellent article, capturing much of what I feel. This team has been built on the back of opportunity and trust, from the Board downwards, trusting Stuart Webber & Daniel Farke, to Daniel Farke giving opportunities to Jamal Lewis, Max Aarons, Ben Godfrey and Todd Cantwell & trusting them when others didn’t/wouldn’t but also, giving opportunities to Marco Stiepermann when most had doubts, to Christoph Zimmermann when he had doubts himself, to Moritz Leitner & Tom Trybull when it hadn’t worked out for them as planned elsewhere, to Teemu Pukki who had been judged on a handful of games in Scotland, to Mario Vrancic who was thought to be too slow for the Championship. Daniel Farke & his team invested their coaching and trust in these players and saw it repaid tenfold.
It probably just shows my age but they remind me of Nottingham Forest in the 1970s, a club of homegrown youngsters & guys seeking another chance. I’m certainly not saying that they will win the Premiership & then the Champions League but, they will bring a freshness to the Premiership & some of them may well go on to greatness.
The fact that they have all been willing and happy to be part of the wider Canary community has been the cherry on the icing!
A privilege to watch & support them and to be able to call them our team.
Great comment – and especially the comparison with Forest of the 70s. Much in common, both in spirit and style.
….with the major difference between the managers is ours is humble whereas “ole bighead” was perhaps more ummm vocal?
Right on, Stewart.
What sums it up for me is that this is a organization with soul. Full stop.
This is the song that I’m humming
https://www.songfacts.com/lyrics/the-beach-boys/sail-on-sailor
Hi Holly
I’m back the to the Manics again – but Found That Soul sums this season up brilliantly.
Soul is the word I’ve been looking for since February – and it’s Mayday tomorrow:-)
Like Martin, I’ve been searching for the right word since February. And soul it is.
Welcome, Holly!
Brilliant stuff Stewart.
As you correctly say, this time it feels as if we supporters are really part of the success.
Next season will be tough, but I hope we give a chance to those players who got us there.
Where it’s different this time around is that we have a considerably younger average age than we have done previously.
Aarons, Lewis, Godfrey and Buendia will surely thrive at the higher level, and all of the others definitely have something to prove.
Am I silly to be feeling really confident that at this time in 2020 we’ll be safe and looking forward to another year in the Premier League – and another decent run in one of the cups??
O T B C
Many thanks for everyone’s comments!
We’re all grasping for the right ways to describe this extraordinary season. Some terrific images and comparisons in your comments.
As Ed Balls said in The Times yesterday, the overriding satisfaction is that Norwich City – from top to bottom – has EARNED this success. It’s the best feeling.