This season is over, bar the shouting. Or perhaps more accurately, the whimpering.
The “little miracle” Farke was seeking at the restart has grown to loaves-and-fishes proportions, and beyond.
The really disappointing thing – the main reason for sour feelings among fans, and some unprecedented questioning of Farke’s position – is the appearance of our players accepting relegation meekly instead of with resistance.
There are grounds for criticism, of course. Some of it also seems to me wide of the mark.
The point is that lack of confidence can look deceptively like lack of commitment. And, as Gary highlighted here on Sunday, no-one can fail to see or understand our lack of confidence.
It’s no coincidence that our best spell since the resumption was the first 20 minutes against Southampton. As time wore on without us scoring, though – and especially once Southampton went ahead – the fragile confidence drained visibly from our players.
Another thing that’s no coincidence, it seems to me: our best players since the restart have been Tim Krul and Alex Tettey. Had he been available, I suspect Grant Hanley would’ve been in the same bracket.
These are our most experienced players, and have a resilience that goes with it. The bulk of the team (or rather, because of the spate of injuries, teams) that we’ve put out this season have been young and/or inexperienced. The Premier League is unforgiving, and it’s worn them down.
If there’s cause for criticism, then, it should perhaps be more about the shortage of experience in the squad than about player motivation.
Others will have their twopenneth of reflection on this year. Meanwhile, my thoughts are now turning to next season.
Three months ago, I don’t think many City fans would have seriously contemplated that we might be better next season without Daniel Farke. The question has now been raised, and is the first that needs to be addressed.
Let me offer my bit.
Thinking about prospects for next season if we keep Stuart Webber and Daniel Farke at the helm, I see four positives and one big question mark.
The positives:
- 2018-19 was no fluke. Like this season in the Prem, Farke’s first season in the Championship was a learning experience – sometimes a very painful one. But boy, did he absorb the lessons. The next season, despite financial constraints (see point 2 below), he forged a team to win the division. We won the Champ for a simple reason: we were the best team. Farke and his coaching staff know what it takes, and have proved they can deliver.
- We’re stronger than two years ago, not weaker. Two summers ago, we had to sell our best player (James Maddison), and funnel the money into staving off financial collapse. Our highest earners were still Jarvis and Naismith, neither of whom were contributing to the team. Our finances are now far stronger, despite Covid and relegation. Yes, there’ll be sales this summer; we shouldn’t stand in the way of players who want to take the opportunity of a big career step-up. But it will be on our terms, and Stuart Webber will have more scope to bring in the players he and Daniel want. Don’t forget we’ve already secured the services of a couple of highly-rated additions.
- Webber and Farke are an exceptional combination. I’m not aware of anyone calling for Stuart Webber to go, despite the limited success of his signings in the last two windows for our Premier League campaign. We trust him to find gems for the Championship and for the long term – with good reason. But he’s not finding them for any manager; he and Daniel Farke share a vision and work together to achieve it. Only if Webber wanted to part company with Farke should we remotely consider it; there’s no indication that he does.
- The age of the squad. I don’t know which of our young talents will leave this summer; it’ll be some, but certainly not all. Those who stay are committed to the Canary cause and to Farke’s way; their growing experience will be invaluable to us. That, together with the influence of the Kruls and Tetteys still around, looks a much more solid foundation than we had two years ago.
The question mark, as always, is how Daniel Farke can deal with an unfamiliar challenge. The squad he assembled for the campaign of 2018-19 had relatively little experience of the Championship – but neither did they have the experience of consistent defeat.
However strong your squad looks, it’s fatal to go into a Championship season with a losing mentality. As Martin Penney said on here, hungry teams like Rotherham will eat you up.
Above all – as we’ve witnessed painfully since the restart – you need belief to score goals. It’s true that the promotion season wasn’t based on a tight defence. Our goal difference was outstanding, but because we scored 93.
Shaking off a losing, low-confidence mentality is City’s key challenge. In truth, we don’t know whether Daniel Farke can do it.
We do know he’s surrounded himself with some personalities who’ll help: the influence of not just Tim Krul and Alex Tettey, but also Grant Hanley and Timm Klose will be vital. Hopefully the latter two will be able to spend far more time on the pitch next season than they’ve been able to this time.
All in all, then: there are question marks, of course, and we’re all down (literally and figuratively) at the moment. But I’m still with Daniel Farke. I’ve no doubt he’s privately agonising about this season and questioning his part in it. I hope, though, that he’s fired up for a fresh push from August.
If so, I believe we can look forward to an exciting year.
Great article, Stewart and I’m firmly behind your sentiments. This season has been tough and I do wonder where we might have been were it not for wretched injuries and VAR. I guess we’ll never know.
But I stand resolutely behind Farke and Webber. I’d even give them two seasons before thinking about any change. As you say, relegation can be a brutal hangover and if you aren’t out of the traps quickly, the season can run away from you. So two seasons, if needed, safe in the knowledge we won’t squander any parachute money.
It’s vital we bring in some experience – I’m going to bang the Jordan Rhodes drum again, he would be perfect as a 3rd striker with Idah and hopefully Pukki. Drmic was a mistake and Webber should’ve tried harder to get a deal for Rhodes. Sinani may scupper that deal though… but I’d still take Rhodes for the dressing room if nothing else.
Why do I have a nagging thought that Tettey is off? When is latest contract extension up? I know we have signed Sitti in that position.
Krul and Hanley must stay. I’m undecided about Klose, but if his wages aren’t crippling us and he can remain fit, then I’d keep.
I’m disappointed we are going down as I’ve got used to dining at the top table, but I’m already starting to get excited about the new squad we are going to assemble.
Hi Martin
As I understand it Alex Tettey is contracted to us until June 2021, by when he will be well into his 36th year and quite keen to return to Norway from what I can gather.
He’s been superb for us, he really has, and I wouldn’t rule out him coming back here in a coaching capacity one day.
Testimonial?
Re: Tettey. I thought he would mentor the DMs this coming season. Sitti, Gilmour, and now it seems Sorensen. All these young DMs probably mean Louis Thompson is going on loan to try and get one full season under his belt before the final year of his contract.
If all the rumours and hints are true we are going to see a big change in the squad and experienced players like AT will be vital.
Re: Rhodes. Think that opportunity has been and gone. Webber will be looking to younger strikers eg Kelman at Southend plus Sebastian Soto (when a work permit has been arranged).
Without VAR we’d be exactly where we are: bottom. We had two tight calls go against us, Spurs and Palace, which might have given us 3 points. I think that’s just about it.
Thanks – good thoughts.
When looking at Timm Klose now, we really have to remember that he’s barely kicked a ball this season. Were Hanley and/or Zimmermann available, I’m pretty sure he’d have been kept out of the firing line.
I’m a fan of Rhodes. Both as a striker and, as you rightly say, a positive influence in the dressing room. He loved being here, working with Farke and the young players.
A really sensible reasoned piece unlike some of the hysterical nonsense that gets written on this site.
Thanks – I love to hear that!
May put it on my epitaph.
Good read sir. I am disappointed as the next man, but hat is done is done, I have said my piece and see no point going over and over it again., What has happened this season was a similar to Worthington taste of the Prem, I do not see the same happening in the championship this time as what happened to him. I for one will not forming a Worthy Out group again, once was more than enough for me.
We have a different set up this time no Doncaster spouting his slogan of Prudence with Ambition. This restructuring of the back room, is the best we have had, and I do not see Webber jumping ship because of failure. He has time left and will want to leave with success and more foundations to build on.
Farke, I do not believe for one second he is the type of guy to say one thing and do another, he still seem very content in his surroundings and at one with the people of Norfolk. . I do not get the feeling he will jump off from a bigger better boat, but being honest who would blame him ? You are in football both as player and management to get success,
The challenge is for me for the Board to show a lot more trust and show a little more courage by funding the transfer kitty a lot better. I would never suggest we go down the route Fulham and Villa have , but we need a lot more than £750K and free transfers. We will only get a players with a little more experience to play along side the younger players, with money being spent. As Martin says above, I would have Rhodes in the blink of an eye over Drmic who I doubt greatly will be any better in the championship.
But we will see, it appears to be that the plans, and the player target list is already being worked through, notice all the signings have been young players up to the age of around 22. With that in view I would have a guess that some of out-r experienced men will be saying. I hope Krull will, but nearly every Player of the Season has departed soon after holding the Barry Butler Cup. I certainly would not dam the man if he got the chance to be a No1 in a premiership team, for me he has shown what a awesome keeper he is.
We will see what unfolds, there is not anything we can do anyways, except trust those in charge and get behind tham
Great comments.
I believe Tim Krul (as well as Daniel Farke) will still be here next season – and will be a vital part of the project.
Clubs in League 1 – and even in the Championship – find themselves in dire financial straits at the end of this season. I suspect we’ll pick up some bargains there, if they’re of the standard we’re looking for.
Hi Stew
As those above have said, a really good and well balanced read.
I do not get the mindset of those who wish to see the departure of Farke. One average season, one colossal one and an unfortunate one in the PL with his hands tied in so many ways. That’s good enough for me and I hope he [and indeed Stuart] stays on.
I cannot fathom how he could have done any better in the PL with the limited resources he has had at his disposal.
We’re surely all looking forward to seeing how next season’s squad will shape up!
Thanks, Martin. Agreed!
Very good, Stewart. Negative momentum and lack of confidence is my main worry for nest season. Especially with a truncated close season.
Agreed. Hence the expected churn in the group. The remaining players will need the lift from fresh faces.
Totally agree Stewart, well said. The importance of experience has been overlooked and Krul and Tettey are probably the only players since the restart to play to anywhere near their capability. Hanley has been a bigger miss than anticipated.
I seem to recall that Webber, when he signed his last contract said after that he may try something abroad. Correct me if I’m wrong, memory is not what it was.
DF well I think the majority would prefer him to stay, that’s if he wants to. Frankly I can quite see him heading back to Germany. Why won’t he? After the complete lack of financial help in the past two season, why on earth would he stay? Would you?
If he does stay that bloody awful defence needs his full attention. Personally I fail to see what all the hype is about our young defenders and transfers. They were awful in the promotion year, nothing spent to rectify it for this season, so another awful year.
Trying to keep passing out from the back is great, that is if you have got the quality to do so. We have not! Sadly Lewis is always looking behind him rather than in front, and mainly passes backwards. Yet he can be so good going forward on the odd occasion he goes on a run. Why can’t he coaches see that.
Things at our club never change on the money front. Hell I am older enough to remember MIke Walker being the lowest paid manager in the league, £50,000pa. No wonder he decided to leave after what he had achieved. Everton offered him£150,000pa.
When I read of the (limited) negativity shown towards DF, I wonder how short some fans’ memories are.
I wonder if they are able to remember the football we played last season; football that I honestly think is the best I have seen Norwich play and the best that has ever been seen in the second level of English football. I wonder if they remember how players who had been ordinary the season before became superb players and I wonder if they remember what a gamble it was to sign and play Krul, Puuki and others.
When I consider the above, I think it’s essential to keep DF & SW. They will have learned lots from this season and I hope and believe they will oversee us having another exciting season in a few weeks.
Hi Stewart
In Martin P’s last article, I mentioned statements made by the club for this season and in those statements, possibly from the owners, it showed they really weren’t bothered about staying up and that can and will filter down the more times it is said. Never in one statement was it said the club would fight tooth and nail to keep in the Premier League.
In the last on line EDP in-game, there were many moaning about Farke not having a plan B or any other letter in the alphabet – I think injuries and inexperience ruled them out.
Would Webber cut Farke lose only time will tell and I suppose that could only happen if he sees the players losing their trust in him.
A player hopefully back to his best for the start of next season is Zimmerman.
My player out as with a few others would be Drmic not sure he would stay fit in the hurly burly anything goes in the championship so yes bring back Rhodes.
Thanks, Alex.
I almost mentioned Christoph Zimmermann in my piece. While still young, he has the kind of leadership qualities we’ll very much need now. Truly an old head on young shoulders.
Did you go to GYGS by any chance
I did! 1965-72. Why do you ask?
Just had two very good friends who are sadly no longer with who went there – Trevor Thirwall, Brian Cumby. Possible left in 66/67.
Excellent, rational and reasoned thinking.
Thank you Stewart.
Agree with you and agree wholeheartedly that the greatest barrier to a successful season will be regaining a winning habit and mentality. Effective leadership both on and off the pitch will be vital.
Excellent column Stewart.
Experience will play a major part next season which is why Krul and Tettey will be vital.
That, and hopefully a more normal run of injuries so we’re not playing the square pegs/round holes game once more (surely that cannot happen to us again???).
O T B C
The team needs leadership on and off the field and that has been sadly lacking in both counts this year! Here we are almost in touching distance of safety (at least we were) despite the lack of investment but with no one driving them on the field and a manager who has consistently undermined confidence the whole season with his “favorites for position 20” and constant references to how powerful the opposition are where do you expect us to finish? Farkeball is one dimensional and once you work out how to defend it we are easy pickings. In a funny way I hope he stays and learns the lessons but I fear the consequences if he stays and does not.
Hi Stewart,
Excellent article as always. It would seem obvious given our position that players would be touted to leave – Godfrey, Aarons, Lewis… – but I do not think they will leave as it has been proven that they are not the finished article, and would fare no better at another team. I believe they will be loyal and realise that they owe NCFC one.
One question I would ask you Stewart is why should Farke stay when he is not financially supported? Very few managers would have tolerated the hand he has been given this season, but because its Delia and Michael that’s alright. No it is not.
If we were to be promoted – and I would think that is extremely unlikely in 20/21 – the same thing would happen again. Lack of funds, support and ambition.
This season has been an absolute waste of time, money and resources. We’ve all been cheated.