As the Canary nation drags itself unsteadily into 2022 there are a few questions that MFW regular Alex Bain feels he would like answers to and I thought I would have a go, But all our views are different, so your comments, dear readers, are most welcome – as they always are of course.
Maybe this article doesn’t make for soft, fluffy, easy reading but these are the issues that everybody and their Alsatian are currently discussing, so let us know what you think.
Okay Alex kick it off, as we tend to say around these parts on matchdays.
Are we an embarrassment to the Premier League?
Almost every season there is a Premier League whipping boy. It just happens that City have been that club more than most over the last decade but, equally, there are many who would like to be in our shoes.
Pundits and media in general harp on about our owners being true supporters and they say they are poor millionaires. To me, they are the embarrassment after 25 years of stagnation and promises that have come to nothing.
I don’t think we will ever establish ourselves in the PL under the Smith regime – Martin.
How long can these owners continue?
I don’t like to see owners hounded out of a club but I can see it happening. People have short memories and Robert Chase thought he was invincible but fan protests after relegation following such an inspiring European campaign did for him in the end.
Managers from the lower reaches of the league structure have been given unprecedented chances at bringing success to prolong the ownership they cannot afford and they seemingly turn a blind eye to investment. Will we ever know the truth surrounding rejection of potential investment?
No, we will never know the truth. It’s all conjecture but anybody who wants to establish a dynasty doesn’t care who falls by the wayside. Ask Henry VII, or indeed Richard III.
Does the PL have a plan to relegate City?
A tongue-in-cheek question of course, but with games involving the bigger clubs it does seem that with injuries and Covid-19 affecting our squad we have to fight tooth and nail to get a game postponed for anything at home, yet West Ham complained about City and the virus and the game was called off.
I kind of think the Leicester postponement gives the lie to that one. WE asked for it, although Brendan Rodgers didn’t seem too unhappy.
Would investment save our season?
This, like the ownership question, is an awkward one. If, say, the Sultan of Brunei opted to drop multiple millions into the kitty it would help enormously. Maybe somebody like James Dyson might be persuaded to hoover up the club but I doubt either offer would be acceptable to Delia.
Of course it would but like you say it will never happen while Delia is in charge. Forget it, mate.
Are we doomed to relegation already?
The doom merchants will say yes we are but even Sky Sports said after the Palace game said that City aren’t adrift and in no man’s land. A few points shortfall isn’t a mountain to climb but effort alone will not do it. The service to Pukki needs to improve massively and others need to put some in the onion bag.
You’d best consider me a merchant of doom my friend.
Can we return once more if relegation happens?
Four players will definitely be gone: Normann, Kabak, Williams and Gilmour. Then there is the possibility of others thinking loyalty has gone far enough, as in Krul, Pukki, Aarons, Cantwell, Hanley, McLean and Rupp.
Will Hugill, Sargent or Idah score enough to get us promoted?
Will the likes of of Gibson, Omobamidele and Gunn shine in an EFL Championship squad?
We will have Mumba, Byram and Giannoulis as fullbacks, PLM and Sorensen in midfield and Rashica, Hernandez and Tzolis as wingers.
Maybe there are a few like Josh Martin currently out on loan who might make the grade.
It will be a long hard winter of discontent.
Something tells me Onel will not want to come back and young Martin ain’t pulling up no trees at MK Dons. For me it’s a big old ‘no’ unless Dean Smith takes a far more active role in recruitment than Daniel Farke ever seemed to do.
***
Well, I’ve tried to answer Alex as best as I feel able to so now it’s your turn to do a better job than me. Any optimistic responses will be welcome but are by no means compulsory – tell us how you see it.
All I know is that I do not want to go back to the Robert Chase days which made this chart hit very appropriate at the time.
Be careful what you wish for. Foreign owners, human rights issues, commercial interest first.
Could be the top of a slippery slope!
I don’t believe for one second that City fans want any of the above at any cost, Tim.
I think we all accept there are some very dodgy potential owners out there who we wouldn’t want our club to touch with a barge pole.
But, what I believe Alex and Martin are saying, is that at the very least we should have an open mind to someone or something that ticks a few boxes but not specifically that of being die-hard Canary fans.
As well as there being some proper shysters out there, I refuse to believe there is *no-one* out there who could be a good, responsible owner who also has the nous and financial muscle to make this club more competitive in the Premier League.
Hi Gary.
Absolutely.
As I said to TDH above investment from a source that involves human rights abuse is not something the vast majority of us would welcome.
I don’t believe there is nobody suitable out there either.
HNY.
Hi TDH
I think one thing we can be certain about with Delia Smith is that she would never sell to anybody with an unacceptable human rights record.
Also I’d like to think that the vast majority of us NCFC supporters would certainly back that stance – I know I would for sure. Certainly I would not want us to follow in the steps of Newcastle for obvious reasons.
As for the slippery slope I feel we are already on it 🙂
Thanks for your views – HNY to you.
Thanks Gary for your comment and a HNY to you and your Family and all the people on MFW.
HI Tim I full agree with you abound being careful what you wish for but this stagnation as a club has got to change and at the moment I can only see it getting worst under the present ownership.
There us no leadership just sound bites about doing things the right way to me it’s their way or no way.
Thanks for replying
Look, if Newcastle come in with 40 million quid of Saudi money for Cantwell, you think we’re turning it down on moral grounds?
Hi Dave
Given your USA connections I would say that would be the $64,000 question. I don’t know the answer of course but I cannot imagine a raft of clubs refusing to do business with Newcastle on principle.
I’d cut down your imaginary valuation of Cantwell by around 80% 🙂
HNY
Fair questions, and for me very fair answers,
We also have several others who have been farmed out McCullum at Coventry, being the stand out one although injured at present I believe. Famewo is catching the eye at Chalton while Sinani has had a few good reviews at Huddersfield. Whether these lads will make the grade next season is anybody’s guess. As to Josh Martin, according to stats I read has made approx 5 appearances. although believe he has been injured, Russ Martin took him there and then took the Swansea job, so perhaps not fancied as much by Dons coach, Manning.
The Cook made the statement that any investor had to be a fan, well that tells its own story as to where her views on that matter lays. Looking back over 25 years, in general, the Stowmarket double act has stumbled from one comedy routine to another.
Hugill Sargant and Idah hardly hit the heights in scoring. but don’t forget the prolific Drmic, who has hit the 20 goal mark in Croatia , not one I rated at any point. Hernadez a lad I liked scares defenders but has not got a really good end product. I would have him back in a blink, at least he would run at defenders.
I like the title doomsayer. . although we are close, only 3 points Seperating. I have not seen lately where a win or even draw is coming from
I would not include Cantwell in having that much loyalty he didn’t really want to be here last season, he has shown enough to me as a guess, he cannot get away quick enough.
Sorry, I have been through some Good and bad times in my 50 odd years of following City, but it is a long time since I looked into such bleakness.
Hi Lad
Yes it is indeed the bleak midwinter although the sun is shining so brightly in the City that I’ve had to pull the blind down to see my screen!
The part you mention that *any investor has to be a fan* to me smacks of *hands off my club* as Delia knows better than most that we have nobody in that category – at least not that I’m aware of unless one of my matchday mates is a billionaire but keeping it to themselves.
I largely agree with you about the players. Sam McCallum [injured or not] remains an enigma to me as we paid well over £3 million for him while never giving him an opportunity.
HNY
Hi Canary Lad
Famewo and Sinani are both so I understand on the buy option for the loan clubs so I don’t think he will return.
Martin I had hopes that as MK Don’s took our U23 coach he would fair better than he has only time will tell.
Drmic in a conundrum can DS & CS recall him and spark him into life not so sure he would want to return also he is on a free at the end of the season.
Hugill a poor substitute for Rhodes, I think he could be on his bike in the summer.
On the loan front we have one doing ok in Scotland maybe he could offer something.
HNY to all and thanks fir the comment
Where do we go from here? Back to the Championship! Will it be a better year? Not for the next few months! There after in the Champ we should win more games which is what most of us want to see. Is there a billionaire waiting in the wings ready to bung unlimited amounts of dosh at the club? No! Will Webber go? Possibly, but I doubt it‘ll make much difference apart from cheering up those who think he‘s the villain who‘s caused our woes. Is Deano better than Danny? Hopefully, I don‘t believe the present squad was forced upon Danny, he would‘ve had a big input into the recruitment, given time Deano should do better. So it‘s a question of time and 2022 might be a tad early for any major improvements. Apart from a possible meet up in the Ribs, HNY Marty.
Hi Cutty
I’m not sure just how much input Daniel had in recruitment but I guess all the signings arrived to fit into the quickly abandoned 4-2-3-1 system.
Many of us were happy with the summer signings, until we swa them in action.
For me, I have always rated Webber very highly until very recently. Just now it looks like the idol has developed feet of clay, but that’s just my view of course.
A riverside pint at the Ribs in the summer is something to look forward to indeed.
HNY to you too mate.
Hi Cutty
All valid points
My worse nightmare is that this self financing will continue till it takes us to were Ipshite are floundering and last night Ed Sheeran said he predicts they will get a promotion at the end of this season.
Can we do better I hope so but injuries and covid-19 will continue to hurt our club but it’s the lack of conviction or confidence in the players that will determine the 9ut come.
HNY to you and thanks for the comment
We are living in strange times and football is being massively undermined by Covid.
Many were applauding the transfer business before a ball was kicked some of whom are now rubbishing the club, shame on you.
Some City ‘fans’ have let our club down badly recently and that concerns me more.
Press the reset button and Get behind our lads.
Hi Colin
First off some so-called supporters have indeed let us down very badly. See my article after the Palace match and the comments thereafter to ascertain that a lot of folks are most displeased because chanting obscenities at Billy Gilmour is bad enough but racist abuse is surely even worse. I’ve not heard racist rubbish in my section of the Barclay this century and don’t want to hear it again in the future.
Frustration gets to folks and while we were all optimistic in August that feeling dissipated on a match by match basis. I very rarely criticise individual players in print because it doesn’t really help anybody but privately there are a couple I’ve been very disappointed with.
I’ve no shame for anything I’ve said on MFW and of course we should support the Club.
But we all do or we wouldn’t be concerned about issues. hey 🙂
HNY
Hi Colin M
Thanks for the comment
I lived through the crazy times of the 70’s and was at the ManU game with people climbing on the Barclay Roof and I hope we don’t return to those times.
I had an ST from 68 to 82 till I moved to Blackpool permanently and scrabbled for tickets everything I came back from time to time and never abused a player there was no reason too.
Discussions after games with friends maybe go heated about individuals but social media make everyone a pundit and it doesn’t help that those 9n TV ridicule players 9n air so others think its OK for them on any platform they like that’s not my cup of tea.
Supporting city and being reasonable successful I will always do but like many people I do not support are current owners and this self imposed financing system all businesses need investment from either the owners or investors they expect the supporters to finance their celebrity status
I went to very few matches 1n the 197os but that one against Man U was one of them. How the guy who fell from the roof survived I will never know.
I never want to see the likes of that again and I’m sure that is one thing we will agree on.
Alex “Would investment save our season? ”
Martin “Of course it would”
… just as it clearly is going to at Newcastle, with all the big names they are about to sign. Or possibly not….
“Investment” is always the thorny topic because as you say it won’t happen whilst Delia is in charge. It can’t. Investment only ever happens by selling the club because nobody is going to part with zillions, or even millions, without acquiring control.
That almost inevitably means selling to someone whose heart is not in the club, in some cases whose heart isn’t even in the sport. The idea that genuine Norwich fans, whoever they are, can own the club AND attract the billions required to buy your way up the PL is a non-starter.
That’s not to say that it’s impossible for new owners to come in and fall in love with the club – Leicester are obviously the prime example. But before anyone says “if someone can buy Leicester they can buy us” just remember that it has two and a half times the population of Norwich, and isn’t stuck out miles from anywhere else served by inadequate roads, underfunded railways, and 75 miles from a genuine international airport.
As I said yesterday I’ll worry about the summer when we get there. The biggest threat to clubs like us is that one day someone will cut the rip cord off parachute payments, but I doubt if that could happen in the next 6 months because part of the conditions of playing in the PL this season is that they are on offer to whoever goes down.
Hi Kieth B
Leicester was deep in the brown stuff and purchased by Mandaric once of Portsmouth and HR fame till he was forced out by a Russia.
He steadied the club and sold it to the Thai family that was looking to invest in football ⚽️ but and a big one they gambled on a struggling championship club and now own 3 clubs.
In some ways you belittle the city of Norwich it has many things that make it an attractive place to invest and yes the transport situation could be improved but the city at least has an Airport, Leicester has the East Midlands in Birmingham that’s about equal to Norwich.
The stumbling block with anyone Coming in is wanting control would anyone invest and hand over money to our present owner not anyone in their right mind.
HNY and thanks for the reply
I would never belittle the city of Norwich or the county of Norfolk Alex, far from it. I’ve been an exile for over 50 years but never tempted to follow anyone else and always eager to return. Myself and Mrs B have fingers in various north west pies otherwise when I retired I’d have looked to sell up and head east.
All I’m saying is, were you a foreign investor interested in buying a club the location of the city and its relatively small population (smaller than St Albans, Preston and Lancaster, not much bigger than Cambridge, Gloucester and Exeter) makes remote Norwich less attractive than places twice the size such as the East Midlands cities. I mean seriously, why would anyone even consider buying Derby County? Apparently there are those thinking about it!
You’re quite right there Keith.
I worked in the North West, London & the Midlands for around 20 years and they are ALL massive footballing hotbeds while we in Norfolk are a one team county.
Maybe the North East in part but to a lesser extent. Elsewhere? Forget it.
The greater Norwich conurbation is home to approximately 260,000 souls. Many of whom, although outside the City boundary are within walking distance to it.
In any case, the most salient point is in fact how many spectators the likes of Preston and Cambridge can muster on a match day. That’s without any bizarre. Comparisons with St Albans or Lancaster,
Hi Keith
Don’t start me off about the airport – international my butt! I was grateful to use it for Palma but anything else was simply a hop to Schipol and on from there. Fine for those who want a Tui package holiday but useless for anything else. Short rant over.
Your point about Leicester is a very good one. They really have hit the jackpot with that big-hearted [and minted] Thai family and of course I wish them well although not without a tinge of jealousy I suppose.
Parachute payments will go ahead at the end of this season but whether that is the end of them we will only discover in the summer.
Good comment and HNY to you.
Cant see 2022 being any better if nothing changes in the boardroom.They are so far behind the times in the football world its frightening.They have been lucky in the last few years with success on the pitch,but everything comes to an end and i can see that happening unless there is major change at the very top.Thanks Smith &Jones but you know really that its time to sell up before things turn ugly.Well i can dream!
Hi TonyB
The problem is that the Alias Smith and Jones supporters are blinkered by them and can never see the wood for the tree’s.
In any business you have to realise when your tenure comes to an end and if memories serve when they took over they said the would leave the club if they couldn’t improve its fortunes and they have never achieved that.
As you and many others have said in the past they have been lucky in some appointments saving the club from disaster and still said no Investment needed.
HNY and 5hanks for the comment
Hi Tony
Suffice to say that not everybody will agree with you – but I bl00dy well do!
HNY
Too many happy clappers,thats the trouble.:(.
Discreet 🙂
Yep we gonna hire kjetil Knutsen and The board gonna announce they looking for investment . Oh and Webber will leave ,
Canaryjim
I am happy to stick with DS bringing in a complete unknown could be a step to far or a backward step some will say.
New year with investment and owners that would make an old man smile
HNY Thanks for your comments
Hi Jim
I thought my predictions on Thursday were crazy but you’ve topped me!
You made me laught though – cheers 🙂
HNY
Most likely Norwich keeps on loosing in premier league and should start winning in championship. Just few days a go I saw article about Bristol Citys financial losses. I would say that its very difficult to play so badly that in Championship Norwich would not win more games than loose. Is it enough to promotion again its another question.
I have compared Norwich to KTP Kotka, both does not want to believe that level rises after promotion so much that there must be done investments to squad. Investing does not mean selling important players and then trying to find covering players.
I kind of believe that you will forget premier league loosing and happily take next season some easy wins.
Hi 1X2
Interesting your comparison but sadly losing no matter what league it’s in is never forgotten by true life long supporters just pushed to the back of our memory banks to dicuss at later times
HNY Thanks for your comments
Hi 1×2
I am not convinced we will perform very well in the Championship next season tbh. We will need to import some real heart, drive and willingness to be at Norwich to do that.
All I will say is that Buendia refused to stay and Tottenham quite rightly did not want to let Skipp out on loan again.
When I get the chance I’ll google KTP Kotka – sounds like a good comparison.
Kiitos
Be careful what you wish for 2. Following Chase’s exit Norwich went into the footballing wilderness for years afterwards. I envisage that scenario repeating itself again. First the manager was ousted, then Gilmour became the fall guy, then it will be Webber, then the Smiths…I don’t see any of this ending well. Dreaming of new ownership is just that – a dream. And the owners have produced many (largely unsuccessful) years of Premiership football which may be looked upon as halcyon days when we are languishing in the lower reaches of the Championship with the club ownership in upheaval (eg Derby). The only answer is to get behind the team (all of them) and Hope Smith can turn it around – if not this season, then next. And I suspect the best time to judge the Smith tenureship will be around September/October this year.
Hi Tony
I certainly agree with you about reserving judgement on Dean Smith as the poor $od has [willingly] walked into a bit of a $hitshow.
October this year? Yeah that’s about right for me too, presuming you are referring to Dean and not Delia – we’ve had 25 years to judge her 🙂
Thanks and HNY
Hi Tony
Considering that the present owners were in charge during those dark days after Chase nothing has got better.
Chase has always been the nasty cartoon character that sold players and purchased land assets around Carrow Rd to which Alias Smith and Jones have sold to keep the club survive so in retrospect his investment were for cities future.
How have the Smith and Jones improved either the infrastructure of city it’s been 25years of stagnation with a few promotions and more relegations.
I was asked if I hated them in reality no to hate someone you need to know them and I don’t , I do resent them for the way they have run our club for so long with little apparent ambition.
I was once told if thing aren’t improved they die and slowly all the life blood is sucked out, City supporters pay good money every season patiently waiting for a bit of long term success but how much longer will that continue under these owners only time will tell
HNY Thanks for your comments
I won’t called call 5promotions to the premier League stagnations most clubs can’t do it once who have spent much more then us trying to do it the problem is what we” they” do or don’t do when we get there not been able to sort that conuldrum yet .
I agree, Tony. The trouble is the ‘wilderness’ we entered has been entirely overseen by Delia and Michael. Their tenure has consistently seen City garner their worst league placings, compared to any other time over the past 60 years. They were definitely a disimprovement on what went before; and what went before was Robert Chase. Say what you want about Chase but until someone betters the footballing achievements during his reign, he remains (for the want of a better word) the best.
The late 80s-early 90s under Chase were indeed our purple patch. And we played some very attractive football in those days too.
I’ mot prepared to give Chase any credit for it though 🙂
I have little confidence our ‘A’ team has the quality to get out of the Championship. And after the inevitable outgoings (including sales at a much reduced rate) I have even less confidence our ‘B’ team will be able to do so either. As I see it, it’s tightrope time. Decisions, decisions…
Hi Chris S
Many as I mentioned could leave and as some have said did we build for another crack at winning a championship title or a tilt at staying up on this showing it could be for Derby days in league 1 in 2 years
HNY
Hi Chris
Supporting City has always been like watching a Blondel performance.
Those Victorians did like a good old dubious thrill in more ways than one.
Sometimes I think a lot of that era remains engrained in the upper echelons of NCFC.
HNY
Hi Martin all I would say that nobody seems interested in taken on the club so where does that leave us ?
Hi MM
I have to disagree on that nobody is interested at the AGM it was said they get lots of investment offers but none have passed muster with the owners, I just think with them it’s no offer will ever be accepted they will hang on to their last residue of celebrity status
Hi Kev
Where does it leave us as in you and I?
Still in the Barclay mate and that’s what they trade on. They know folks like us will never evr leave because of their ineptitude.
HNY – again 🙂
First half of this new year could likely be like the second half of last year.
The second half of this year could likely be like the first half of last year.
It is after all , a game of two halves.
Hi Bernard
A game of two halves I just wish that the powers that be could realise that half the season has gone and we are still in with a shout at staying in this league if they dig deep into there pockets
HNY
Hi Bernie
My knowledge of Confuscian or indeed any other form of logic is primitive at best so I’ll just have to say that I’m sure that I agree with you.
HNY mate.
Hi Guys, Happy New Year!
It’s a mess! We’ve given it a try twice now, but we seem to fall short all over the place, it is time to change the way we go about it and accept that if we want to stay in the Premiership, it requires hard cash to do so., so new or additional investment is needed, the club’s cracks are too big to paper over.
We do have a few out on loan who could be brought home to make one last effort to stay in the Premier League;
Hugill – definitely worth a try, he had a good scoring record in the Championship before Norwich,
McCullum – a bit injury prone, but the clubs we’ve sent him to seem to value him highly,
Sinani – works quite well for Huddersfield, never really got a look-in at NCFC,
Barden – did a great job for us, could do so again but only when his health issues are beat.
Perhaps call them back unless, of course, their current clubs want to buy them for useful solid money.
We have a couple of youngsters – Rowe and Dickson-Peters – who could step up, I don’t buy Farke’s old mantra of (1) they’re too young, (2) they must be shielded, which collides with the same frail British theory that “.we must do something for young people” while simultaneously protecting them from the real world. The whole world should be their target!
There may be some team icons choosing to leave. They’ve always done their best, they are loved by us, but maybe their leaving will improve the team’s psychology?
We definitely need a large cash injection, to compliment that provided by current board members and transfers. I do not personally believe a large investment now would save us this season, the only way to stay up this season is for the squad to have a group revelation and realise Prem survival is all there to play for.
The Sultan of Brunei is wealthy and probably wants to stay that way. I wouldn’t touch James Dyson even with yours, if he caught fire in front of me, I’d gladly pee paraffin.
If we stay up we can rebuild. If we go down, it will take several years to get back up.
Again, Happy New Year all!
COYYs !!
Hi Kev
You make some very good points there.
I am still not sure if the desire to establish us in the PL is actually there. I doubt it tbh but in any case we will never have the funding to achieve that while Delia is here.
As for the youngsters I haven’t been to an under-23 game since Covid so I simply don’t know enough about them to make a judgement although I have heard good things about Dickson-Peters and also Tomlinson the US centre back.
HNY and thanks for your comments in 2021.
Hi Martin,
I could be wrong, but I’ve kind of suspected that the desire to get there is strong, but when we arrive, the theory is that one season we’ll avoid the drop, get some cash, establish ourselves. Which, if I’m right, is pretty flimsy thinking!
Off to listen to ‘No Guru, No Method, No Teacher’ here, cheers!
Get the reference but I’m not really a Van Morrison fan. The guy sure can sing though and it’s a great album title although I’ve never heard it!
Hi KevH
We could always sign the Sultanas nephew as a player according to the social Media he is the riches footballer in the world £5billion and can’t get a first team game so might donate money to get playing time.
Now that WOULD be a cunning plan Alex!
Cheers
HNY
I have no answers to your questions Alex/Martin, but I’ll let you ponder on one of mine….
Why are we the only PL team without any hint of nastiness within the first team squad?? Where is the current day equivalent of (showing my age!!) a Forbes, Stringer, Hockey or similar??Even Walker had the likes of Newman, Sutton and a few others who could look after themselves and their team mates? It strikes me that we’re far too nice, and do all these background checks on players to ensure that they fit in with the system (such as it is now Farke has departed).
Looking at last summers recruitment, if “published” transfer fees are about correct, for half, yes, HALF the amount spent on Josh Sargent (another “good boy”), we could have signed Josh King (free), Troy Deeney (free), and Emmanuel Dennis (4m)…….unfortunately I think that in their earlier days they may not have always toed the line; Deeney did a spell inside. Yes, there would have been signing on fees too, but with them and Pukki I’m convinced they would have scored rather more than 8 goals
between them at this stage.
In fact, probably enough goals to ensure another season at the top table, which in itself would have then provided sufficient funds to purchase Sargent (or a goalscorer) for a more viable fee??
Cuckoo land?? Probably, but after almost 60 years of NCFC I am seriously debating if I will renew my season tickets.
O T B C
Hi John
You’re quite right to ask the question but I must say I can’t answer it!
Bless me we’ve had some of these players over the years. Yours is a great list and I’ll add Malky, Gary Holt and Alex Tettey to it if I may.
Deeney writes a weekly newspaper column and is very open about his past in it. I doubt he has a character problem – he survived several managers at Watford and was nearly always first name on the teamsheet.
Trouble is th0ugh if there is no potential retail value we are not in the market.
I missed less than half a dozen home games in 33 years but this season I’ve missed one with another two or three to follow. The desire is still there but the fire within has a good old flicker sometimes.
HNY
Roberts wasn’t scared of mixing it either Delia has turned the club into a home for soft touches on the pitch.
Not many with a back bone to call and at her 25th anniversary all the ex players and managers fawned over her will compliments while having free drinks and food paid for by the supporters ST donations
I am like you Martin a confirmed Merchant of Doom.
After Wolves at home I had some hope and then Newcastle happened.
I have banged on about the pitfalls of unscrupulous owners on here for months if not years and I agree wholeheartedly we must not go down the Newcastle route.
I have long maintained that no one was interested in buying the club but from some comments lately that probably isn’t the case it would be interesting to know if any of them were in anyway real approaches with any merit.
I think as you say Martin we need an open mind.
I said the other day I do not think Delia’s idea of a dynasty will last.
It’s a hard situation as we have had some memorable years since Nigel Worthington’s time with no investment while Ipswich Town have had investment in that time and done absolutely nothing.
We’ll get relegated and we managed that but got straight back up.
So new owners could be a disaster, but the deciding factor for me is how bad project restart was and this awful season.
We as supporters seem to get punished for winning the championship !!!!
Things have to change.
Happy New year Martin OTBC
Hi Tim
Good comparison between the Binners and ourselves and at least we’ve never had the indignity of Delia as the shirt sponsor – unlike them with Marcus Evans!
There is no way in the world supporters would be consulted on a change of ownership but the one good thing about Delia is that she has certain standards and I feel very confident she would never sell out to anybody with even the most tenuous of human rights abuse connections.
I’m sure this *I will only sell to a fan* malarkey is pure bluff to cover the fact that she will never sell plus then there is the case of nephew Tom.
When it’s been publically stated that Delia & Michael’s shares go to him at some point, he might have to take a cash alternative instead if they sell up 🙂
HNY to you.
Hi Tim
I think that it was once said that the majority share holding is it a trust for said nephew and would need the full backing of all the trust controllers before he could sell so that might be tough and then there will be certain codicil to be met I would think.
HNY
I bought a copy of Old Smith’s Almanac for 2022. It foretells that a City will be first in the Premier League and another bottom. The January Window will probably see more sales than purchases. Who will want to come to Norwich for low wages and certain relegation. Old Smith foretells that Ncfc will not get a third promotion in a row. The prediction is an 8th place finish in 2023. There will be no Old Farm Derby in 2022.
I have grave doubts about the future as Webber cannot now raid the EU based leagues for bargains.
Hi Colin
That rang a bell with me. In the 60s when I was about 7 or 8 I always had to stay at Grandma’s for most of the school holidays and used to love looking through Old Moore’s Almanac.
Gran believed in that type of nonsense and I knew no better, believing too *Joan the Wad* or a Cornish Pisky were real, even if tacky replicas of them had to be paid for. It kept me entertained and I learned some new words as well.
I think if I found a copy today fortune teller Eva Petulengro would agree with you. She never wrote specifically about football or anything else of substance really.
It also went under the name of Foulsham’s Almanac – maybe I’ll try and pick up a copy next time I’m in the City for nostalgic reasons if it still exists.
As for your predictions I agree with all of them, especially the final one 🙂
HNY
Depressing stuff martin. The club is soft from top to bottom and yet still manages to be the most unpopular team currently plying it’s trade in England.
Reputation shot and getting worse.
Hi Chris
Reputation shot indeed.
Take a look at the quote from the Sun columnist in my piece this morning, which kind of says it all really.
Thanks for all the comments this year – HNY
I don’t think for a moment that enough fans want change at the top for it to happen. That said, the one “lever” at the fans disposal is renewal of season tickets. So – if enough (I’d guess 5,000 +) season ticket holders were get a petition together to say “I , with the season ticket 123456, won’t renew unless the club create a new department which looks for investment / philanthropists which is similar to the player recruitment department, based upon an investor specification set by the majority shareholders, and which reports progress regularly”, then maybe that thing might happen.
If supporters got behind such a petition then the club would benefit from following this, on the basis that they would be seen to be listening to fans – and might provide a useful valve to the pressure cooker of “fan pressure”, stop fan protests etc,
But would you get 5,000 season ticket holders to do this ? I very much doubt it. We were getting 20,000 attendances in league one, so I’d say most people are not at the vociferous end of the support base.
Hi Justin
I joined the Canaries Trust a few years ago and when it comes to supporter consultation I leave it entirely up to those good folks on the behalf of myself and many others.
My guess is that the Club knows there will always be a minimum of 20k of us in the ground and budgets accordingly and real supporters will always turn up come what may.
Sometimes to me it’s a bit like being an unruly kid at school who thinks they know better than the teacher. I know that isn’t right but I do feel that way sometimes 🙂
Thanks – good comment.