I’m not sure the ‘board’s dreaded vote of confidence’ is even a thing anymore but even if it was I don’t think Stuart Webber would do them. Not in the sense of it being indicative the manager getting the tin tack.
That’s why when Webber told the gathered media yestreday that Daniel Farke’s position is not under threat or even (at the moment) scrutiny, I’m inclined to believe him. Whether that’s the right take will continue to be a matter of debate as long as City remain uncompetitive but, for now at least, that’s how it is.
And so when he says Sunday’s game with Leeds won’t be a make-or-break for Farke, it won’t be a make-or-break for Farke. He did however demand improvement.
The relationship between the two men has clearly been crucial to the transformation that has taken place at our club since April 2017 but there’s only one boss and for all Webber’s tact and diplomacy in public, Farke will need no reminding of the high standards the sporting director demands both of himself and all those under his umbrella.
As Webber puts it, it’s unrealistic to offer win-or-you’re-out type threats because, to paraphrase, “you could play rubbish and win 1-0 or be outstanding, hit the bar three or four times and still lose”. He was therefore quick to put to bed any idea of there being a timescale upon which Farke’s immediate progress will be judged, but also made reference to the next five games being those that should yield some positive results and performances.
If they don’t, then the landscape may well shift.
But what clearly has irked Webber is that folk, both locally and nationally, have given up on Norwich City after just nine games. Some of us on this site probably fall into that category.
He also admitted, however, that what happened at Stamford Bridge was unacceptable and that any criticism that came in its aftermath was warranted.
Too right.
In response to his claim that some supporters have already thrown in the towel, I’d suggest that right now we desperately need something to cling onto. Two nil-nil draws were, I guess, a start but it was hardly the stuff of a racing pulse and an adrenalin rush.
Just as Farke did prior to the Watford and Brighton games, Webber used his media round to try and stoke up the Carrow Road faithful ahead of Sunday’s game and I get it. A raucous, noisy Carrow Road offers the best platform possible for the players to produce a win, but – as the old debate goes – it is very much a two-way street.
In the same way the players should expect to be roared on and not picked on by their home support, those same supporters need something on which to hang their fervour.
Players are not robots, as we’re often told, but neither are supporters. The pre-match atmosphere is pretty much fan-generated, with a little help from the pre-match in-house DJ, but can be very easily and quickly flattened by a lukewarm start from those in yellow.
The Brighton game was a classic example – ten minutes of watching our players chase shadows and barely touch the ball and the atmosphere was as flat as pancake. I’m no psychologist, but I know it’s easier to get the blood pumping and the adrenalin flowing when City are on the front foot, the effort is evident and there is something to get excited about.
So Stuart… we’ll be there on Sunday, all positively itching to roar this team on to its first win of the season. No one wants a negative atmosphere and we certainly don’t want the ol’ place to turn on the players and the management because we’ve been there before and it’s horrible.
No one goes to Carrow Road will the sole intention of having a moan. Even the most miserable of miserabilists, even though they may not admit it, simply want to have a team to be proud of and a win or two to celebrate.
Give us both of those things and we’ll be with you all the way. It’s been a thrilling ride so far… none of us want it to end, and certainly not amid acrimony and venom.
Never Mind the Danger.
***
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Gary
The problem Webber and Farke have is that so far in the 9 games we haven’t ever been deserving of a victory.
In the home games against Leicester and Watford we had the chance (at 1-1 in each) to press our foot on the accelerator. We didn’t do that. We did the reverse.
We scrambled a generally underserved point at Burnley. We competed (eventually) with Brighton, but didn’t really dominate, and at the end it felt like a point won rather than two dropped.
No one is yet sure if we have good enough players because they don’t seem to have really tried yet. I mean, if they say they have, then they’re clearly not good enough – at least, those who have played aren’t.
Farke doesn’t seem to know his first 11, or even his strategy yet.
I’ll be there and behind them on Sunday. But I go in hope rather than expectation because I still don’t see where a win is coming from. Bielsa is a class coach and should know how to beat us, because it’s so easy even I can see how to beat us.
I do so hope I’m wrong.
It the interview Webber stressed again the uncertainty about his position and said it wasn’t an issue but would soon be resolved and indicated after the next international break.
It must be rattling around in Farke mind that if his mentor decides to leave then his position could become harder to manage with a new man in charge wanting his own person to coming in.
Can city win against Leeds that are now taking the Injuries ruining their preparation for this and other games, 2 seasons ago city had the same problems and were told poor or lack of recruitment was the problem it looks like Leeds are under cooked this season or is it another Sheff U for South Yorkshire this season
Classic case of Webber can give it, but cannot take it. It’s alright for the club to criticise the Premier League, but not for others of how the club is performing in it.
The criticism of Norwich City this season has largely been justified in my opinion, partly because there is so little to defend. Our stock with the football world is rock bottom, so the best bit of P.R would be a result on the pitch. Remember those days?
Although the interview is largely a holding exercise, you do feel that Farke has been put on notice. If the Leeds game goes like Worthington’s last stand, then I cannot see how he can stay. A draw will give him a bit more time, but it only takes a couple of players to not put in a shift to finish him off. Whatever Leeds team is on the pitch, you know they’ll go for it and we’re not exactly a tactical masterclass right now.
Let’s see what happens, but I do fear the worst.
Classic case of there being a lot to criticise the Premiership for, Inside Wright!
The Premiership has been trying to distance itself from the EFL for several years – if there were not so many wealthy owners up there, the things you have insinuated over the last week or so would be very much a case of the Emperor’s New Clothes, and might still be so if any of the Grandees up there go bust in the current economic environment!
Four opening fixtures like the ones we had seem to be more than just chance – is the cartel that runs the league immoral, corrupt on that count in your opinion, perhaps? And what of your repeated tongue in cheek hints that NCFC just got promoted twice to pick up greasy parachute money of, frankly, increasingly dubious origins?
We’ve been promoted twice in four seasons, and played most Championship clubs off the park to do it.. Fifteen of those clubs we finished above last time were all clubs who have played in the top league over the last decade or so – they couldn’t cope, and will probably take a long time to repair their finances!
It was sixteen the previous promotion season, which indicates its hard work to stay in the Prem! NCFC would need some serious juju or voodoo to be able to arrange two promotions each at the first time of asking, wouldn’t we – meanwhile, it brings the glorious game into such serious contempt if fixtures have been tweaked, perhaps the CPS and the Fraud Squad might want to get involved?
As for the pundits/bile deliverers you seem to be repeatedly defending against the club – they will all be warming their fat asses in front of some lower league club’s radiators come the FA Cup, swilling drinks, quaffing food, pontificating that its great to see small clubs competing against the might of the Premiership – presumably as long as they don’t have the temerity to get promoted too !!
My team for Leeds;
Krul,
Kabak, Omobamidele, Hanley,
Aarons, Lees-Melou, Normann, Sorensen, Giannoulis,
Super Teemu, with Tzolis beside him 1st half, Rashica beside him 2nd half.
If Cantwell and McLean are available, 2nd half subs.
Play Leeds off the pitch boys!
COYY !!
Here’s farkes 11 for Sunday krul Arron’s Hanley kabac ginolus Norman sorresan Gillmore cantwell pukki rashicca now get on with it !
Hi Gary
I’m looking forward to Sunday, although I must admit in a slightly muted way that my expectations are on the wrong side of low with regard to this particular match.
If we get off to a good start, these preconceptions and misgivings will disappear very quickly.
But the one thing I will not do is boo, jeer or heckle the players, Farke or even the owners 😉
I’ve never done that and I’m not prepared to start now. Okay I was no saint during the *Chase Out* campaign but that was yesterday and this is now.
Let’s just hope to see something positive on the pitch so we can put the other issues from our minds, hopefully for the entire 90+5 or whatever.
Well have to admit it’s nice that he has come out and said something he had to really , and like I thought he has backed Farke how long that will last we’ll see .
Leeds is a big test for us lets hope we can win it this time I expect 4231 sunday ,
Idah
Tzolis Cantwell
Williams Norman Rupp Aarons
Andy O Hanley Kabak
Krul
Time for first name on the players team sheet to reappear because he’s no worse than PLM or McLean and he and Normann is the one pairing we’ve not seen tried.
It’s not just how the team start the game the team selection can have a big bearing on supporter mood. I was personally very deflated when I saw the team sheet against Brighton and I will be on Sunday if he does not put out a vastly different and more attacking team, preferably in a different formation.
I don’t want to see Farke sacked but the fact he is not being questioned when on pitch displays have been quite so bad worries me. For me, no win in the next two and he has to go. We can’t afford to waste 5 more games.