*A week is a long time in politics* – UK Prime Minister Harold Wilson, 1964.**
Well, it’s a bloody long time in football too as we discovered last week. As I write the dust has yet to settle on what has been a very emotional week in my life, which I’ll quickly break down without going too far down the road of sentimentality via melancholy junction.
Our Jack Russell became very poorly on Wednesday and Mrs P convinced herself that little Minnie’s time had come [she’s only five] and the Friday afternoon appointment at the vet would only end one way. I kept a bit of unrealistic hope, I’m that kind of guy. I sat at home with Geezer the Patterdale with deep, dark thoughts going through my head, as they had been for the previous 48 hours.
Then back comes Sue with Minnie wrapped in a blanket so I prepared for the pre-planned interment.
But feck me the bloody thing jumped out of the blanket, ran into the house and started tearing around like a mad eejit, as per usual. Top marks to a certain Hellesdon veterinary practice who sorted the problem with a single injection – and the advice of *don’t panic, Mrs P*.
Agony to ecstasy. Well, that hackneyed phrase is a bit extreme in this case but you’ll know what I mean.
On Saturday I followed us at Brentford on the Pink Un live feed. Dave Freezer did a great job but I really don’t like following a game in this way. Sure I had Chris G on Radio Norfolk as well but I find it hard to cope with matches when I’m not at the game or watching it on TV and I suspect many MFW readers feel the same way.
Afterwards I was delighted with the result and a few email exchanges with some NCFC friends confirmed they were too. Once more, not quite ecstasy, but the best I’ve felt this season.
Sue had kept the radio on in the kitchen, and about half-past seven she burst into the living room exclaiming something like: *Fecking hell, they’ve sacked Daniel Farke. Why? And why now?*
I couldn’t get my head around it at first. Many more message exchanges later I still couldn’t and as of Sunday dinner time, I’m still a little bit numb. I certainly feel the sense of timing was unrealistically cruel on Farke.
Some people have said [I guess quite sensibly] that the decision was made after Chelsea, or if not after Leeds. Probably true and many would see the logic behind it. I can too, to an extent.
But going back over the past week something leaves me feeling like I’m being posed with a kind of kiddies’ join the dots conundrum without the crucial guiding numbers.
Only last week, Stuart Webber came out, largely, in praise of Farke in his first public interview for some time. Farke responded by saying how much he appreciated Webber and spoke to him every single day. He also made a strange remark about the coach and the coach driver, and as excellent as Daniel’s command of English is I didn’t totally get the precise point he was trying to make.
Did he know what was coming down the line, some have said. I don’t see it that way, I bet he didn’t have a clue.
There have been rumours that senior players were in a bad place with Farke, and I can think of two or three who very probably were. Maybe more. We’ll never know. But that squad fought for Daniel at the Brentford Community Stadium, and possibly even more importantly fought for themselves as we could have been turned over in what was a bit of a shambolic second half.
We got lucky, although it came a little too late for Farke.
Seeing what turned out to be a final ole with our magnificent away support was poignant. A few of these admirable London-dwelling diehards would even have got home before they discovered the news.
Webber now comes totally and solely into focus. Was it the right decision albeit with abysmal timing? Or was it the wrong one? We’ll know by the end of the season, shortly before Webber leaves us in the summer, if indeed he does. will.
Regular MFW readers will know that I have no time for politicians. Stuart Webber falls clearly into that category as he has proved this week and although he has done some terrific things for us he has certainly revealed the Machiavelli within this time around.
Only three months ago I was praying Webber would extend his contract. Right now I couldn’t care less if he left tomorrow. Harsh? Maybe, but it’s a genuine personal feeling, so be kind to me!
I doubt DF’s successor will talk of his *philosophy*, being *greedy* or using the word *topic* as often as he did. It was part of his charm.
Life at NCFC will go on. For all of us. I’m just delighted that we’ve still got four City supporters in the household [see pics]
Thanks for everything Daniel – it’s been an enthralling journey and I’m proud to have shared it with you.
**As for this particular week in UK politics I wouldn’t be sleazy enough to refer to it.
Morning Martin I’m delighted that your dog is okay I know the torture you would have been going through.
Onto football, not many people in that world are as deserving of the respect and esteem that Daniel is held in. Honest, humble, modest and loyal. A rare commodity indeed. I’m sure that the decision Stuart Webber had to make was not taken lightly however it on balance is the right one.
However the next big decision he has to make is probably his biggest to date as the clubs progress or failure in this long term project rests on the next appointment. I would like to see someone of the Lucien Favre ilk at the helm. ( time spent on YouTube research). I will definitely lose faith if it is an Allardyce/ Hodgson type appointment. What are your thoughts on the incoming candidates.
I leave you with my track of the day ( of all time really) “Shine on you crazy diamond”
Morning Andy
Thanks for the kind words about the dogs.
Lucien Favre was mentioned by Luke Scales on MFW yesterday and I commented at the time that I thought Favre was the best name on Luke’s list. Also people are talking about Kjetil Knutsen at Bodo Glimt. I have no idea who is in the frame tbh but like you I do not want an Allardyce or heaven forbid, Colin W himself.
Webber’s too shrewd to do that as he knows that would alienate 90% of the fanbase so I think we can safely rule out that type.
I did think of Shine On, but felt it was simply too long! Gary came up with *This Charming Man* this morning so we went with that 🙂
Morning Mr P, First of all I am pleased the hound is back to normal, a family member getting poorly is always a big worry. Whether the timing was right or wrong, it is done now, personally letting all involved in the Capitol on Saturday get home, whether Norfolk or closer to the big City.
Depends who you want to believe, if he knew Rio Know all Ferdinand says he knew and the the decision was made before the outcome. Some of that holds water for me, I saw highlights and admit when Farke was in shot, he look kind of dejected. Then after the game. He was his usual self leading the cheers.
Many think he had no idea, that one is difficult, he knew his position was on the cliff edge, cannot be in that environment and not know something was not going to happen. I remember Iwan saying something in his book, that he picked it up when he was released.
Numb was about right in feeling, I wanted change as I have implied many times in my comments here. It had to come at some point, I am sure as a football is round that if had been left to the Cook, it would have been left until too late. His reputation and relationship with the fans would have been ruined and tarnished for a long time. I believe that the shock of the timing is what effected us, I was pleased with the win and passion shown, thinking we’ll he has the break now to get some more work with the squad along with couple of more games.
The sudden swift action is a thing I had called many times in the past over differing failures of managers Villa have followed suit yesterday and that over just 5 games. Will it get any lower before the powers act. Like losing 2-3 games and bang gone ?
Watching AU sports streaming, a reporter said Norwegian Kjetil Knutsen (Bodo/Glimt) has been sounded out and she expected him to be in place by Tuesday. Settled before Daniel had left the buildings, Knutsen lead his side to a 6-1 defeat of the special one,s Roma plus a draw with them in 2nd leg. I posted this around the media one or two others heard as well, today the EDP have picked him up. Personally I favoured Dortmund’s old Swiss coach Lucien Favre, keeping the German connection that Webber seems to like..
Whoever gets the nod will have big shoes to fill and heck of a job on his hands, I hope they have a lot more experience than some of the names being branded about, Lamphard, Martin and Terry. But heaven forbid Big Sam or Bruce get anywhere near the road to Carrow.
Sometimes saying Thank You doesn’t seem to be enough, but that is all I can add, it has been special joining in on Farkeball , a lot more special than the special one’s time at North London. Will miss the interviews, the gentle tone mixed with a little humour, but in truth the last few had changed as he seemed to defend and deflect , which started to get tedious.
He will soon be picked up, I think in his homeland.
Hi Lad
Thank you for your kind words about Minnie. It really was a *Lazarus* moment.
Favre and Knutsen both seem to be stand-out names and certainly are gathering traction. I think personally that this is one of those times where us supporters genuinely have to ignore the noise – as much as we all enjoy a bit of speculation. It’ll shine when it shines, as they said during the gold rush!
You’re so right that Daniel’s reputation would probably have become more and more tarnished by the match and he is far too dignified and humane to deserve that.
As for Rio Ferdinand I only saw his clip after I’d written this as I don’t have BT Sport but while Farke must have known the axe has poised since Chelsea I’m not too sure that he knew before the match.
I recall Iwan’s story from *All I Want for Christmas*, but only because you mentioned it. One of the better football biogs imo.
Don’t worry too much about Allardyce and his ilk. No chance.
Cheers
We’ll put Martin.
This is obviously a watershed moment for the club.
I presume we’ll quickly appoint a new manager, Delia will provide £100 million funding and Webber will have a better January window than he did summer one.
City will avoid relegation and all will be well with the world.
However, if the above doesn’t happen maybe people will start to seek out the real culprits for the awful position the club finds itself in.
Hi John
Yes I can certainly agree with your last sentence.
I feel that whoever comes in will have a lot of work to do, and that’s for sure!
Cheers
Good morning Mr P on this lovely sunny start here in Norwich and I won’t go into too much discussion re the sacking of DF and his backroom staff, as that was covered in detail in various articles on MFW yesterday.
Obviously very sad to see him go, but I’m really pleased that he was sacked after a win. A very tough act to follow and great to see plaudits from players lauding what he has done for their careers.
We now await the announcement of the new head coach along with his backroom staff and if SW keeps to his previous statements re succession planning, then a replacement has already been identified and DDF wrote an excellent article on the list of possible candidates on the EDP website yesterday. Some very interesting names on the list and I’m sure it would surprise no one if SW chooses someone who isn’t on that list!!
We can now add Colin to the list, as Chris Wilder has been installed as the new Boro manager. Since writing your article, both he and Dean Smith have collected their P45s, but OGS is still in charge at MUFC. WHY??
PS – An excellent comment by @Canarylad and like you, I do not want to see any of the failed managers anywhere hear NR1, unless in the away dugout!! 😀
Knutsen is a name I’ve heard as well and Robins at Coventry seems popular. The last I heard, Lampard was the bookies’ favourite!! Yikes. 🙁
Morning Ed
Our Samuel Seaman has just put up a piece to say that Lampard is NOT in talks with City and I was certainly glad to read it!
I don’t think Webber would go for an Allardyce or a Colin, and hopefully we’re pretty much safe on that front.
Money’s being lumped on Knutsen and Favre just now so whether Lampard is still the favourite I dunno.
As for OGS at Man Utd I’ve not thought about it – we’ve got enough worries in NR1 🙂
Cheers
Martin, you disappoint me.
I expected you to tell us that Delia demanded Farke’s sacking because winning a game doesn’t fit in with her aim of getting us back in the Championship immediately…..
Hi Keith
I’m always sorry to disappoint our readers, but there is no way I would say that – basically because I don’t think it’s true any more than you do.
I have seen that comment floating around elsewhere, but it weren’t me, guv 🙂
Cheers
I think the words Gary used perfectly suited how deflated I feel this weekend: DF has taken us on one of life’s great (footballing) journeys. I am so sad to see him go but I am also very happy for him. I expect he’ll
Be at Wolfsburg before the end of the international break and one of our greatest ever managers, certainly the most lovable of any of them, also gets to start the next chapter of his life. Norwich is a destination and not a journey in many ways and there would always be a time for him to move on.
But I’ve no doubt at all it was the right decision, because as someone else said last week, City are a million miles from having anything cohesive to build on (with we continued down the same path).
I will always have the fondest memories of him and although it detracts from Martin’s better taste in music, this sums up the bittersweet moment:
(Italics) We’ve come a long way but we’re not too sure where we’ve been. We’ve had success, we’ve had good times, But remember this. Been on this path of life for so long, Feel I’ve walked a thousand miles
Sometimes strolled hand in hand with love
Everybody’s been there…. Safe from the arms of disappointment for so long
Feel each day we’ve come too far
Yet each day seems to make much more
Sure is good to be here.
Finding a paradise wasn’t easy but still
There’s a road going down the other side of this hill. We’ve come so far and we’ve reached so high, And we’ve looked each day and night in the eye, And we’re still so young and we hope for more. So again I tell you
Never forget where you’ve come here from
Never pretend that it’s all real, Someday soon this will all be someone else’s dream.
Hi Mike
Taste in music is probably one of the most subjective *topics* around, just as it is with all of the arts, which means that I have no more credibility than anybody else on the planet.
Maybe I should have chosen Bittersweet Symphony by The Verve!
Daniel would seemingly be a good fit at Wolfsburg but I don’t really follow the Bundesliga in any depth so can’t be sure.
Cheers
Glad the pup is healthy!
Cheers – appreciated
First and foremost Martin and Mrs P so glad your dog is ok really are one of the family .
The 2431 that Kjetil Knutsen plays sounds exciting so does winning every game at home and scoring over a hundred goals but more the bodo glimt story one of the players said they thought we were fishermen or farmers before they stormed the league under his tutelage . 😉
Hi Jim
A great line on Kjetil Knutsen and Bodo/Glimt that I hadn’t heard of before.
As for farmers, we’ve been accused of that a few times ourselves over the years, although less polite terminology has been used!
Thanks for the doggy understanding 🙂
Cheers
Really sorry to see such a decent man go, but at least he went on a high. Doing it after the Leeds game would have meant leaving with boos ringing around Carrow Road amid the cheers from Leeds fans. At least he got a celebration with the away fans. His farewell message shows real class.
I have no idea who will succeed him, I just know who I don’t want, and that’s any of the dinosaurs who are hanging around looking for a job, most of whom have been mentioned above. I guess it will probably be a foreign coach, but I’m not going to spend time trolling through YouTube to try and second guess Webber.
Hi Jim
Your word *class* sums up Daniel Farke nicely – he never lost it in public, although he was obviously stressed and just a little ratty towards the end and understandably so.
I wouldn’t try and predict what the inscrutable Webber might come up with either!
Cheers
Morning Martin good read as normal i saw yesterday that webber was about to sign contract extensión as he himself Said in his “”show of support of DF two weeks ago “” unfortnately we cant Play brentford every week who will go Down shame df didnt have one of your dogs it would have added bite to our attack 😄
Hi Kev
I wrote this before I heard the Webber contract extension rumours. I think it’s a case of realising that he had his own reasons for the timing of the dismissal but I doubt we’ll ever find out what they were.
I’ve lost a bit of respect for him over the last week, but he’s nobody’s fool, for sure.
The dogs have plenty of bite as the local rodent population will testify.
See you for Southampton.
Cheers
Interesting thoughts as always, Martin.
I’m a little puzzled, though, about what you expected from Stuart Webber. As he sat in his office last week, facing a table with City on two points from ten games and fresh images of the Chelsea and Leeds defeats, did you want him to set aside any calculation of what would give us the best chance of survival? Surely it was his job to make exactly that calculation and judgement, setting aside his well-known affection for Daniel Farke.
Having made that judgement, and decided reasonably that the best time for change was after Brentford at the start of the international break, what did want him to do – drop hints about it?
I’m as desperately sad as anyone to lose Farke. He’ll always be one of my favourite NCFC people; the football, the Championship success and the sheer class he brought us will be with us for ever.
But should we be disenchanted with Stuart Webber for his decision? It seems to me he made the best call he could for the sake of the Club, whatever the personal fallout. I can’t criticise him for that.
Hi Stew
I wrote this late on Sunday morning when emotions were still running pretty high amongst all of us, as I’m sure you will have gathered by reading it.
What did I expect from Stuart Webber?
I didn’t really like the mutual appreciation interviews between SW and DF in the week before the dismissal. Maybe SW could have remained silent for one more week? Also the majority of what I must refer to as *his* summer signings have been underwhelming with the conspicuous exception of Mathias Normann.
That notwithstanding, I’ve come around to thinking that Webber signing on for longer is probably a good thing after all. I’ve never said anything but good things about him before but this last week really jarred me off.
It’s time for me to let those feelings go and see what happens from here. As much as I didn’t like the timing of the dismissal, it may well prove to have been the right decision and let’s hope it turns out that way.
Hope you did use your match ticket 🙂
I was going to make a pretty much identical comment, many were already bemoaning how we pulled the trigger too late in pretty much every managerial sacking the club has ever made so for Webber to do it in my view in a sensible planned way with if rumor’s are to be believed his successor all but ready to take over during the international break speaks volumes for the professionalism he brings to our club.
We all seemed to revel in the McNasty moniker McNally had, bring a touch of the streetwise to City, I see this as the same from Webber. A sports director can’t say a coaches position is under threat without undermining his position, had Leeds been a win/better performance coupled with a win at Brentford and I think maybe Farke is still here. He’s paid to make the tough decisions and I think he has and done so before things got really bad for all concerned.
People also seem to be condemning Webber for a substandard recruitment window, but I think we must wait and see if it was the players or coaching or both that were short at this level? A number of the players brought in do not seem to have been given a fair chance to prove themselves as yet and Farke’s increasingly bemusing tactics seemed at odds with the recruitment direction. So whilst I’m not saying that Webber has done anything right or wrong as yet, only time will prove either case.
Of course for me, everything in getting us to this point from when he joined constitutes credit in the bank and only if we go down and stay down looking a million miles from a top championship side will I start to sharpen the knife.
The new guy has more than half a season now to do the very unlikely and pull off a miracle to save us from relegation. But even if he cannot, he will have had time with the squad to ready us for the championship push.
Hi MoO
The MFW prize for most original username goes to you 🙂
It’s interesting that you compare McNally with Webber. I’ve met the former a couple of times and a nicer guy [to me as John Doe the supporter] you would not meet. I’ve never met Stuart Webber, but I’m sure he would be the same.
These guys have to be pretty ruthless or they couldn’t do their jobs. I’ve calmed down in terms of my attitude toward Webber, who I’d always previously very much respected. Emotion is a natural form of human expression but should sometimes be kept in check.
Not so easy for us football supporters to do in practise of course.
Thanks – really good comment.
Thanks Martin
As MoO I’m fairly sure I talk a lot of Bull
🙂
Marty, glad Minnie is okay, you worrying about her and then the relief, a City win quickly followed by the Farke news, and your Saturday must have been a real roller coaster ride. As you know I threw my toys out of the Pram a couple of weeks ago and vowed to ignore City for the rest of the season, so on Saturday I learnt of the win not long before Danny’s sacking. It really threw me and then a whiskey later I got my thinking head on, yeah I had been watching Worzel Gummidge. Sorry for Danny but relief, our owners do want to stay in the Prem. There is a plan B, maybe just maybe we might have something to cheer about this season. Anyway I want my toys back and the game’s afoot, yeah been watching him too, had to do something with football being off the agenda.
Hi Cutty
Glad to hear you’re filled with the enthusiasm of youth again 🙂
Worzel loaned me a thinking head and a drinking head. Sometimes I don the wrong one at the wrong time, of course.
This gives us some hope that wasn’t really there under Daniel this season.
It’s going to be a much more intriguing international break than usual!
Cheers
Probably the right decision, but odd timing, the last international break would have been better, or after the upcoming Newcastle which would end a run of 5 winnable games. Chelsea was an embarrassment but it was always going to at least 5-0, Leeds was poor and Brentford sloppy but a wins a win and now we will never know if Webber pulled the trigger just too soon.
For what it’s worth Knudsens my left field choice.
Hi Bernie
There’s a LOT of talk surrounding Knutsen right now and that’s for sure.
We’ll have to wait for that puff of white smoke from the top of the City Stand, but there is certainly a feeling around that it might be our Kjetil.
To me, it seems like a Webber-style appointment but, as yet, who knows?
Cheers
How about a reality check? We won at Brentford but did we create much other than the two goals?
I don’t want to rename the club to “Frank Lampard’s Norwich City” but he did a good job at Derby and brought on a lot of youngsters there and at Chelsea!
Knudson has no English experience and we need someone to hit the ground running!
I am sad that Daniel didn’t learn to manage in the premier league but he didn’t!
With their close relationship I suspect Webber will have given Daniel the heads up before Saturday.
Now we need a strong manager who can deal with Todd and Tzolis and Sorenson and bring the best out of this group of players who are good enough to stay up.
Hi Cyprus
Yes that’s an interesting take on things – especially about Farke’s relationship with Todd, Tzolis and particularly Sorensen, whose fall from grace continues to astound me as I do not know the circumstances behind it.
It’s all about personal choice and I’m not personally in favour of Frank Lampard, although I agree with you about his good rapport with the youngsters.
As for close personal relationships we’ve only got to look back at Henry VIII and his pals – it didn’t always end too well for the pals. Ask Cranmer or Cromwell!
Cheers
As you say Martin a week is a long time in politics but on Saturday so was a couple of hours.
My mate Marty was on the coach home when he heard the news I asked him what the general feeling around him was, Stunned was his one word answer.
So I can only imagine Daniel Farke’s reaction at 5.30pm when he was told.
The merits of keeping or letting Daniel go are now gone. Whatever our personal thoughts it is now over. I can see both points of view, his record in the EPL is in truth shocking but his record in the Championship is spectacular.
If we had still been in lockdown could we have been able to keep Daniel with next season in mind as without fans at Carrow Road it would have been a hell of a lot easier than now. You just can’t lose week in week out and not expect the fans to show their displeasure.
But the problem is we are in the EPL but I still think heading for the Championship. Who are you gonna call ? Daniel Farke !!! So rock and a hard place spring to mind.
But yet again typical Norwich. A man who won 2 Championships treated like that was just bloody disgraceful.
And this truly is Stuart Webber, our very own Brutus if ever there was one, last spin of the dice.
He is convinced the players are good enough to stay in he EPL , I am not convinced and more to the point nor I suspect does Daniel Farke. And this is where the parting of the ways became inevitable.
Here we are Monday morning and no announcement. So why on earth couldn’t Daniel and his staff have been told today or even yesterday ?
We have history on this Ken Brown’s sacking, stupid, Mike Walker mark 2, getting there as regards his team, sacked, and poor Gunny having to make his own way home after his sacking.
I am so glad Minnie is fine Martin. Our Sheltie Oscar was treated at a Hellesdon vets brilliantly by my namesake for over a decade.
Hi Tim
Yes it does have a bit of et tu Brute? about it but as I said to Stewart [above] I’m coming around to it now, especially as Webber has apparently signed a new rolling contract.
I worked on one of these contracts for six years on a month by month basis. I had no idea when my time would be up – it could have lasted six months. But, as a contractor, I earned more than when I was staff. Not by a vast amount but the difference was significant.
These contracts are not binding as such in that either party can offer one month’s notice, which gives little security for either party and in my case no reason had to be given for termination, whichever side cancelled first.
Maybe it’s different in the football context – I dunno.
Thanks for the kind words about Minnie – our vet is Willow on Drayton High Road.
Cheers
I have no doubt Martin that Stuart did have the best interests of the club in mind, I just question the timing and still do.
Like you though I have calmed down and it does seem that Stuart with signing a new contract is fully motivated to get us going, be it this season or next.
I feel it is all a disagreement on the players brought in. And only time will tell who is correct.
Yes ours was Willow Vets when Tim was there. It is a terrible worry when a big part of the family is not well.
Knutsen, Smith or Frank ? I think it will probably be Knutsen. Shocked at how emphatic Paddy Davitt was today in not wanting Mark Robins !!!
Paddy D is a Cov supporter so probably has a far more insightful view of Mark Robins than either thee or me!
I think the rumours will naturally keep coming until a decision is announced. All I can reiterate is that I know who it won’t be but don’t have a clue who it WILL be, if you see what I mean.
I don’t think we knew Tim at Willow unless he was the lovely Welsh guy who did every dog’s dreaded op on Geezer around six years ago when he was a seven month old pup. He said he was about to retire at the time, so it could have been him.
Hello Martin, firstly I’m glad your little pal is ok. I can imagine how you were feeling.
As ever, the dulcet tones of Chris Goreham echoed around the house on Saturday afternoon, accompanied by various yelps, whoops, profanities and encouraging noises. I paced the floor at the end praying for the final whistle and the unexpected bonus of a rare win. Quite how farke managed to get any sort of performance after last weeks slow death against Leeds is beyond my Ken. Driven on by star performer Normann, the team responded by sweeping into a two goal lead. Dreamland.
Much has been made of the pundits favourite that is Brentford. In truth they are little more than a pound shop Stoke, all route one, bad tackles, set pieces with a long throw chucked in for good measure. How good it was to ruffle a few feathers and ram a few words back down some throats.
As ever when we arrive at one of these crossroads, somebody falls upon his sword. I believe the junction was reached following the Leeds capitulation when farke appeared to be lost,
The timing of the coup de grace left much to be desired. The board looked decidedly unhappy as the game unfolded. Pictured as we led two nil, their faces told a story.
As for the next incumbent, I have no idea. What I do know is that unless he is an experienced man with a suitably impressive cv and a name that the players relate to and respect we would have been better served keeping farke. This is no time to,be plucking some rookie from obscurity with a view to what happens in three years time.
Neither is it time to scour Europe for the best man only to unveil Neil adams.
Hi Chris
Yes the scouring of Europe before finding Neeyul on the doorstep wasn’t one of Delia’s finest speeches I must admit. Probably lacking in veracity as well, methinks.
I’ve yet to see an image of the Board looking long-faced during the Brentford match but that’s simply because I don’t have BT Sport, I guess.
We still can only offer conjecture about the next appointment and I am normally pretty goddam useless at predicting these things so all I’m prepared to say right now is that it won’t be Chris Hughton or Paul Lambert. Or John Terry either, heaven forbid.
Thanks as always 🙂
Hi Martin
Been doing a little thinking and someone in the mail has said that Howe is still reluctant to sign for Newcastle as Amanda and Co can’t agree on his backroom team please I would add him to the mot a city list.
My take on who will be replacing Farke revolves around a work visa and SW know that announcing someone only not to get that Visa for him and his team will add more embrassment to an already bad situation.
Who ever comes in will want to add to the squad come January so will it be one of the Jewels sold off or a loan or two going back home, money might be in short supply so a few more difficult decisions will have to be made at least SW gas shown he will make then come what may.
Hi Alex
Yes you’re right about SW of course – he cannot really be determined as indecisive.
I don’t understand the post-Brexit employment rules because all I know is that it’s done on a points-based system. I think it took Dimi a couple of weeks to get his points quota assessed before he was allowed to join us.
If you know more, please let me know.
Cheers
I’m glad the dog, like our season, is alive and kicking (missed song opportunity?) when both could have been dead and buried over the weekend.
Of course I concur with everyone who appreciates the fantastic work DF has done. I’ll never forget his victory celebrations, the wink when Lambert was losing it and the greatest football the second tier of English football has ever seen. I equally, sadly, concur that time had run out.
Of the rumoured replacements, Lampard doesn’t excite me (I doubt he’d want to come anyway), but Knutsen is interesting. My guess is we’ll end up with the highly thought of up and coming coach of Dortmund Girls Under 12s
Hi Don
Yes the dog situation turned out to be the darkest before the dawn but she’s back, making her canine colleague’s life a misery once more and also making Sue and I look like a couple of eejits in front of the kids. I’m glad she’s okay though, little $h*t that she is.
The *Lambert wink* will remain as my favourite memory of Daniel Farke.
As for the future head coach I don’t really know. I’m not diving into making a comment about the manager of BVB Ladies under-12s cos if he/she was any good I’m pretty sure Norwich City Ladies would have tapped them up by now.
But you never know…
Cheers
Hi Martin, glad your dog is okay, never nice to lose a friend!
Good timing or not, I guess Daniel Farke will have known NCFC had arrived at this point in his career, however we each feel about the Prem, it’s what we must aspire to, and where we physically are.
Over the last few weeks many Norwich fans have rushed to defend or criticise the club, the manager, and the players, its all been done because what happens to the Canaries is very special to us! Whatever happens in our lives, like all tribal football fans we have our own extra dimension – and for us its yellow and green.
There has been much frustration and harsh criticism directed at many including solid players who made our lives incredibly rich during a global plague, accomplished new players who joined to put their backs to the wheel for us and certainly will have done that before this season finishes.
Hopefully this all ends with NCFC staying in the Premiership, which this group of players are more than capable of achieving for us – and for themselves! The level of play we saw at Brentford was great for City fans, and it was great to see our team performing with higher levels of resolve and happiness.
I don’t know who we’ll get as a manager, few of us do, but that guy will have to be pretty special to upstage Daniel Farke in our eyes – we are the fanbase which makes the likes of Wessi and Tets shed a few tears, and which sees Super-Mario slowly turning around, both arms in the air, after another stupendous, imperative free kick ends up in the net. We have seen the likes of Stieperdude, Mo, and Rhodesey create thunderous moments for us. We want more.
I think the new guys will discover the same mutual feelings through this season. I hope we have many great saves from Krul, Pukki wagging his fingers at the sky having slotted another one, and lots of stunning performances from the players in between them both.
For us NCFC success is the ultimate product, and we want to see it happen more than anything else. Daniel set us on this road, someone else will be brought in to finish the journey. I hope we get a ball-playing manager to lead us, and the team.
I hope that Daniel Farke is successful on the next part of his journey, and finds the extra knowledge managers need to reach the top – who knows, several seasons from now, he might even grace our presence again.
I don’t want to see some of the names I’ve heard within 50 miles of our dugout. Knutsen sounds interesting, so does Favre, and Nuno did exactly what we’re trying to do with Wolves, one of the three is for whom I am hoping at the minute, sooner rather than later.
Sooner will mean a large chunk of the squad gets to integrate with the new manager during the international break, and sooner adds to the possibility of hitting the ground running with style against Southampton. Hope for no international injuries to our squad!
Cheers all,
COYY !!
Hi Kev
Within football tribalism is the word – and just like the real tribes of olden days, from whom we all originate, we will be fractious between ourselves at times but always come together when it counts.
As far as who the next head coach or manager might be I’ll stick my neck out and say that no MFW reader or writer knows who that might be. It won’t be long to find out though when the white smoke emerges from the extractor fan at Delia’s Canary Catering.
I really don’t think Webber would tolerate anything other than a ball-playing manager. In any case we don’t have the requisite personnel to play long ball. Don’t expect too many long throws from Normann!
I like your three suggestions, although I doubt we could afford Nuno.
We’re like kids before Christmas – who knows what might be awaiting us……
Thanks as always
“Within football tribalism is the word – and just like the real tribes of olden days, from whom we all originate, we will be fractious between ourselves at times but always come together when it counts.”
Too true Chief, I’m off to find twigs to make a bow and arrow with, looking for woad as I type! As for “…kids at Christmas…”, sadly I’ve eaten my chocolate Santa’s already.
Marlon Brando, Teahouse of the August Moon, 1956 – ‘Pain make man think. Thought make man wise. Wisdom make life endurable!
Cheers
A friend of ours actually tried to grow woad on her allotment – she got it from the lord knows where, probably from one of her friends in the Golden Triangle I suppose.
It just wouldn’t take and petered out in a couple of months, experiment never to be repeated.
Maybe our Celtic ancestors knew more then than we do now 🙂
I’m no expert on woad I just plucked the word from the ether, gather it needs alkaline soil to grow.
Shame if that’s the case regarding Nuno, under him Wolves had a very similar profile, and following the Spurs thing it would do him good to retrench, plus he’s got a high enough profile to get the players onboard for the job in hand.
Regards,
Kev.
Martin; we are so blessed to have such compassionate and knowledgable columnists on MFW.
Gary’s column yesterday and yours here speak volumes for what the vast majority on NCFC supporters are thinking and feeling right now.
Personally I think he had to go, and if the decision had not been made post Chelsea, then it definitely would have been after the Leeds game. Let’s face it, for too long we’ve been “nice, little old Norwich” who at times like this procrastinate and hope things work out for the best.
I’m pretty certain that Webber has a (very) short list of names, who’ve already been sounded out, but that may well have been muddled by Villa’s decision to sack Smith yesterday….At least, whoever comes in definitely has enough time to crack this Premier League thing for us.
I wonder if anybody is able to historically track private planes from Norwich, and see if there have been one or two passengers flying to a specific destination more than once over the past few weeks?
In closing; Daniel, you are a true gentlemen who can leave with head held high. I thank you for giving a MOG in his sixties, some of the most amazing footballing memories in more than 50 years of following NCFC.
Oh; and so glad that the pooch is OK. I know exactly what you must have been going through.
O T B C
Hi John
Knowledgeable? Compassionate? Oi you, outside – now!
Seriously thank you, that was a lovely compliment and we appreciate it.
Yes, these flight trackers do exist and maybe some folks are having the odd look at them. I don’t have the ability to do so myself, but my son certainly could – if he wasn’t too busy at work of course.
I’ve just this minute been looking at BBC Look East and their sports guy [forgotten his name] suggested ourselves and Villa might be rivals for the same guy – I hope he was just struggling to fill his 30-second slot when he said that 🙂
Thank you for your doggy remarks – appreciated.
Cheers
I’m really pleased to hear Minnie is ok!
I too, now couldn’t care if Webber went. Such a strange turnaround over the last few days.
Harold Wilson quote is spot on.
Hi Martin
I could only guess when Wilson used the phrase so googled it and simply could not believe it was as long ago as 1964!
Thanks for the doggy words 🙂