Considering not a ball has been kicked, that was one tempestuous old week in and around NR1.
Not since the opening six games of last season has the gander been up quite as much, although back then it was because of things we thought might happen over the then-upcoming 40 games. Wednesday’s ire was around something that is definitely happening.
I don’t intend to revisit the minutiae of the membership debate – Andy H put together a fine case against and some of the comments that followed argued the case for – but all I will say it seems to have undone in a single announcement so much of the goodwill that was built up over last season. And, even more important than the goodwill, it’s also eroded some of the trust.
The fact it was sneaked out at around 6 am, just a few hours before the memberships went on sale, adds to the feeling of unease – all of which is a real shame. So too the fact the Supporters Trust were not consulted and that the seven individuals who were almost had the proposal presented to them as a fait accompli.
But the club will no doubt sit tight and await the swell of unrest to subside and comfort themselves in the knowledge a lot of supporters are coughing up their £50s. They may well see it as justification of their decision, ignoring the fact that so many of those who did pay, did so with a heavy heart knowing the impact on the monthly budget.
But, I’ll leave it there. The club has barely put a foot wrong since October, so they’re allowed one I guess. Just a shame that one that hits families hard where it hurts.
I never really understood the excitement generated over the fixtures. The fact that it never deviates away from playing everyone home and away means that for those of us who rarely go away (not through choice I hasten to add) it’s interesting but nothing more.
Back in the day, when we used to play Ipswich, it was always a date worth noting but that little pleasure has left us for a season or two or more.
But Will’s piece in midweek, describing the anticipation of the announcement from the perspective of someone who went to every single away game last season, was a game-changer.
It really does matter, with the logistics of away trips being considered as soon as the announcement is made, Will and the rest of the hardcore will already be planning their Premier League season and its associated travels.
I’m now of the opinion that my theory around it being unimportant as to when we play teams is also flawed. Yes, of course, we have to play everyone home and away but over the course of a 38-game season, the fortunes and form of 14 of the 20 will fluctuate. Even the elite will have peaks and troughs that may just on an imperfect day, with the wind in the right direction, offer the mere mortals a chance to steal a point.
What we don’t know and won’t know until the time, is when these dips in form occur and if we’re going to revisit the ‘along come Norwich’ trope of yesteryear – when we’d happily permit others to end their bad runs – or continue our newfound ruthless streak and make the most of opportunities that are afforded us.
What also matters in the Premier League is the type of start you make. Compared to the slog of a Championship season, when you’re in the rarified air of the Prem time whizzes by. Eight fewer games is hugely significant and we’ve been there before when you never properly recover from a slow start.
On that score, to visit the European champions on the first evening of the new season in the full glare of the Sky cameras is hardly ideal.
But at least we know what to expect: the strains of You’ll Never Walk Alone as Jordan Henderson again presents the European Cup to the Anfield faithful, as they then break off into The Fields of Anfield Road and that bloody infuriating Allez Allez Allez song – all while Sky Sports cram as many Liverpool legends into their studio as is humanly possible.
Oh to be a party pooper. PLEASE.
I have often wondered about Joe Ferrari’s role at Carrow Road. Presumably when the club has potentially contentious news such as the membership scheme to announce he is a key figure in how it’s done. So either he is getting it wrong, or he’s giving good advice, but those above him are ignoring it – in which case he might as well not be there. There have been a number of times over the years when communication has been handled poorly yet he somehow seems to be fireproof.
As for planning travel, whether to home fixtures if you’re an exile, or to away games, it’s pretty well impossible in the PL until the TV schedules are released.
Very good comments Gary.
It’s also explains why in my opinion the away supporters are quite right in their condemnation of the new arrangements for away matches.
Many have to arrange time off work and arrange things around family commitments.
I find it amazing that casual supporters feel they should have the same chance to obtain a ticket as these hardy souls quite wrong.
If things go wrong, which I certainly hope they don’t, these supporters will still be there for away trips two unfashionable championship teams come rain or shine.
Some of us work evenings and have to take a days holiday every time a fixture is moved to a week night even at home.
I understand that Ady, but my point is so do the away season ticket holders. I know some of them find it extremely difficult, I just think the club are being greedy in taking £ 40.00 off them, to me that is scandalous.
I cannot afford to go so I am not speaking for myself. It seems to me it would have been fairer to leave things as they were.
Many years ago when I went away fairly regularly I often missed games through work and many home games for that matter, I agree work must come first.
Hi Gary
An interesting read and I full agree with your view on the new ticketing for away games it was poorly handled and I did expect someone to come out and try and justify the timing.
Liverpool as I hsve read are the most disliked club in the Premiership followed by Man U, it also said that the Liverpool supporters believed they are entitled to win the Title.
We all have expectations for our clubs but blind faith in those expectations really is over the top.
Cities first 6 games came as a shock yes it is Liverpool away then 2 homes against Newcastle and Manageless Chelsea but then Man C away and home to Burnley this would have been the start I had hoped for.
Can we be optimistic with this selection hard to say but I honestly don’t think we will be pointless after these games.
Newcastle unsettled no new signings at present will the take over happen, will the manager stay????
Chelsea who will be manager it all depends on F L will he walk if Derby don’t agree compo and can’t sign anyone due to transfer ban, will the new man blood to many U23 to make a team.
Man C just might have a slow start and they had a few bad results against unfancied sides last season.
Burnley terrible start in the last couple of years it could be there turn to be relegated (holding my breath) but no European games this year.
So I would say 3/4 points out of these games is possible.
Onwards and upwards
OTBC
I suspect Joe Ferrari has no effective say on such matters. This decision was made higher up – and nothing was going to alter it.
But now the dust has settled (slightly) I think it’s fair to say that when we get to September anyone who wants to go to Burnley can do – and that may well be the same for Crystal Palace. And if we’re struggling in October Bournemouth tickets won’t be as sought-after as some might think – in January 2016 the sale went down to 1,000 points as I recall.
But no wonder the club wanted to get the memberships out on sale before the fixtures were released. Liverpool – Friday night on TV, West Ham – school holidays, Tottenham – Wednesday night, Manchester City – Sunday afternoon… all factors which could affect the likely anticipated big demand. Plus Manchester United, Arsenal and Chelsea are all after the turn of the year, by which time interest might have eased off if we’re not doing well away from home.
The other thing about the away membership scheme is what happens in 20/21. If we’re back in the Championship the club – whatever the idiots behind the scheme might think – might as well bin it, it won’t be necessary. And if we stay up, I suspect it may have run its course – I bet a lot of people who fell they have been emotionally blackmailed into getting one this summer will decide that one year of financial exploitation is enough.
My point about Joe Ferrari isn’t to do with who made the decisions regarding the new scheme, but how they were communicated. It’s possible that he would have a voice within a senior management team, but he clearly isn’t the prime mover.
But he is Head of Communications isn’t he? So wouldn’t you expect him to say this is going to be contentious and advise the best way to explain it to supporters? As I say, perhaps he did, but they ignored him.
Fair points, Keith. But surely in this case the communication is a minor factor – the real cause of unhappiness is the substance of the scheme.
Well the latest move by the club has now ended any chance I have of getting into Carra Rd. I managed to get to 4 homes last season and that was a battle. So what chance now .. Below Nil.
£50 is over a third of my weekly pension, I did wonder asking Anglian Water, EON or BT if they would give me a £50 reduction so I can pay for membership, not much chance of that happening as actually getting a ticket. These bills have to be paid, before many of us can consider the clubs prices. what a sheer waste of money. looks like it will be one of the very,very few seasons since 1961/62 I will not be inside Carrow Rd at all
Disappointed to say the least
.
A great article and some excellent comments above.
I spent 20 years as site PR manager (to use the title loosely) for the UK and Ireland wing of the biggest chemical company in Europe and probably the world. Just a reference point.
Keith B: I’m sure Joe Ferrari’s hands are tied to an extent. So were mine, but only for about two per cent of the time if I’m honest. I was trusted, although every 24pp monthly glossy newspaper I produced (writing, designing, the whole shebang) had to be signed off by a Director. But I was utterly free to talk to the local press as I saw fit.
I had no responsibility for corporate finance or political lobbying – my boss did those jobs.
But Joe F has been at NCFC for a very long time now so he must be doing something right.
Tim Ball: I can do no more than agree with you.
Alex B: You could well be right there mate. We’ll simply have to wait and see.
FASTH: I (personally) reckon you’re on the money.
Lad: Get my private email from editor Gary and I’ll get you a couple of Cup tickets. They haven’t clamped down on those.
OTBC
We all have dreams and 4 points from those games would be mine.
I did read that some Ipshite supporter reckons we will not get a point till we play Sheff U in Dec I think it was ??? he didn’t mention that they could drop another league next season.
Two words. Self funded.
For the last two years, our club has been characterised by delivering value for money: great benefits at controlled cost. This scheme was an aberration – its financial benefit to the club isn’t essential, and certainly not at the cost of the unhappiness it’s caused. Comments from Ben Kensell and others appear to recognise the misjudgement.
My worry is that any person, fan or not, can buy Premium membership get first choice to buy a PL away ticket then sell it to the highest bidder. I have never commented on this subject before.
The fixture list matters. As you say a slow start is a killer and the season ending we had in 2014 gave a false sense of security as it did in 1995. Then again I thought we had a very difficult start last year. The timings matter as many of us know fans of other clubs so make arrangements to meet when they play us and probably 30% of fans go to a handful of away matches so we are flicking through planning 1 a month if we can make them. One thing we used to notice was how the Big 6 (or 4) always played each other after a Euro week, this seems to prevent them playing riff raff when they are weaker, the time to play Arsenal is after they fly back from Azerbaijan