As fans, we are ‘football junkies’ and our drug of choice possesses potent mood-changing qualities.
Win, and all seems well with the world. Lose, and the misery hangs over us long after the final whistle, casting a dark shadow over those unfortunate enough to be in our presence.
Positive results on the pitch convince us that everything is rosy off it and can mask all manner of underlying issues. Whereas a season of perceived failure ensures a negative filter is applied across our view of everything.
As such, a club that appeared so united on the way to claiming another Championship title, now finds itself being labelled an abject embarrassment, despite not fundamentally changing course.
The following screenshot from my mobile was taken just before last Sunday’s kick-off.
Aside from the obvious cheap shot that even the WiFi performs badly at Carrow Road, it was the words ‘No Connection’ that seems particularly apt.
Because far from being miserable or angry at our current position, I actually feel very little.
It’s worth stating now that this article isn’t an attempt to fuel further division or provoke argument across an already fractured and fractious fanbase. It’s simply the reflections of a life-long City fan, who is currently so disconnected from the club that relegation barely elicited a reaction.
Whilst Dean Smith maintains he has seen no indication of apathy, had he been in the Cook household, rather than the away dugout at Villa Park, he would have all the evidence needed.
The sad reality is that I don’t currently feel invested in this squad of players or any of the people who are running the show.
That’s not to say that I blame Dean Smith. In fact, I quite like him.
But then again, I quite liked ‘John’ – the guy who directed me to the paint aisle in B&Q the other day; my impression of both limited to little more than ‘he seems like a pleasant enough chap’.
In fairness, Dean has been facing an uphill battle for my affections since he arrived, for three main reasons.
Firstly, in most interviews, he’s had to focus on why his team was rubbish, which is hardly motivational.
Secondly, his team is rubbish. Or rather, it has been made to look so against the calibre of opposition it’s currently facing.
Finally, he’s not Daniel Farke.
Few would argue that Farke’s record this season did not warrant the sack. The lack of points and a clear gameplan was only going to end one way. And yet when the decision was made, the overwhelming sense was one of regret rather than relief.
The German had cultivated a close bond with the fans, that went beyond the results his team delivered. A connection that was formed on his post-match laps of the pitch, as he orchestrated a chorus of oles and a place in our hearts along with it.
If one player exemplified everything that was good about the Farke era, it was Emi. A cut-price diamond who combined outrageous talent with a fiercely competitive streak, and who wore his heart on his sleeve which showed that he genuinely cared.
His departure last summer left a hero-sized (five foot seven) hole in both the squad and our affections.
The heir to the throne was meant to be one of own. And yet, with a Premier League platform set, the ‘best thing’ to come out of Dereham since the A47 made a complete hash of it and was ultimately packed off to the South coast.
Todd Cantwell has struggled to win over the fans. For some it’s the languid playing style. For others it’s the way he chooses to express himself on social media. I’ve even heard people object to the Alice bands and an accent that is more ‘Brixton Mandem’ than deepest Norfolk. Personally, I always felt that despite progressing through the ranks, he considers himself too good for the club that nurtured him.
But ultimately, in the hunt for a hero, we’ve had only howlers. The players apparently taking it in turns to rule themselves out of the running for the Barry Butler.
The lockdown had an impact. It deprived the squad and the fans of the chance to connect during what was a phenomenal season. There is little doubt that all those in the title-winning side would have been given more leeway through their current problems had we been there to share in their previous triumphs.
Success breeds goodwill. Failure brings contempt and scorn.
Take Kenny McLean. A man who was embraced as a legend for stumbling drunk onto the City Hall balcony, whilst ringing the Lord mayor’s bell at a promotion party.
That legendary status becomes short-lived when the only clanger on show is a mis-hit pass that gives the ball away.
It’s not just the players but all those running the club that have fallen foul of the changing mood.
Aside from going public on his outside interests, Stuart Webber hasn’t actually changed. He’s still the bullish, outspoken figurehead and mastermind behind two promotion campaigns. But whilst we loved his forthright approach when we were successful, we now find it offensive.
So too the owners, who are treated like family members when we’re winning and the root of all evil when we’re not.
But back to the point of this article and my sense of detachment.
My wife would like to believe that I’ve finally achieved a healthy sense of perspective. An acceptance that it’s ‘only football’ and insignificant compared to everything else going on in the world.
In reality, it’s a defence mechanism. I don’t want my weekends ruined by a football result, or to find myself embroiled in angry exchanges with anyone connected to the club. And what better way to shield yourself from negativity than to create distance from it?
If I believed it was a temporary downturn in fortunes, I’d weather the storm, as I have countless times before. But deep down, I suspect that ‘this is us’ for the foreseeable future, and the empty stands that greeted Sunday’s final whistle, suggests I’m not alone.
Asking Dean Smith to face the media and repeatedly assure us that the players are working hard and that the majority of people are supportive, isn’t enough to inspire any confidence, based on what we’re seeing each week.
And the lack of inspiration, leads to disillusion and ultimately to detachment.
There may be some who think good riddance, but that relies on, and assumes that, there are queues of people ready to replace the disenchanted.
If there aren’t, then it’s a problem that the club desperately needs to address.
Because without the riches of the Premier League or a wealthy investor willing to prop up its finances, a self-funding club is hugely reliant on the income it generates from the fans.
The club has lost the Premier League money. There’s a danger that it’s losing the fans too.
Something both Hughton and Webber got wrong was the radical overhaul of squads in a single season. Perhaps this is part down to our finances, although the size of our squad (and number of people let go/put out on loan) suggests otherwise.
Replacements should be bedding in, learning the team dynamic, the league, and their trade, while the current 1st team are in place. The transition can then be smooth and from a fan’s standpoint there is a continuity.
When Alex Neil took us down, while the effort was more valiant, the result was the same. Yet my ire was not towards the squad, but the management and the owners. I liked that team. Sure they needed some help, particularly in defense. But to me they were Norwich City, full of character and known faces.
This year, I have almost no connection to the team. If the starting 11 yesterday never played for Norwich again, I’d miss perhaps 2 or 3. Which is a real shame.
That strikes a chord Dave. In fact my son and I had a conversation about which players (if any) you’d be sorry to see leave and we settled on one (Pukki).
Contrast that to the feelings a relegation used to bring about when part of the sadness was the knowledge that players may have to move on.
Hi Steve
A good read
The Delia stay group are the ones that will soon be hit hardest at present the sunshine from her but after 25years of no real progress and that will dawn on them when city struggle in the championship then all he’ll will break loss.
We are told no one is interested in city but I would say get the bank that’s selling Chelsea and let them have a run at it.
The AGM said that all possible investments are pasted to Smith and Jones for the final say so that stinks of Turkey’s and Xmas day.
Any offers should be accessed by a team that can do a complete diligence check on what is proposed not by the owners
They really are at the last chance saloon we have heard that twice in their 25yrs city have been near bankruptcy but they continue to push the self financing and no investment theory that is stubbornness that to a new level.
If there is no change and we do go bankrupt who will they blame the EPL, They will come out and say we tried it our way
Time to go back to Stowmarket and read your memories before publication
Agree with you 100% Alex. Our owners continued moans about the amount of money in football means they either don’t understand the business or they fear it robbing them of their social club.
Either way the club needs new owners desperately before we end up back in league 1.
Spot on there AlexB, what pizzes me off with the Stowmarket duo, is they constantly complain about the amount of money needed and is flying around the premiership. Yet do they think their stubborn,blind way will change anything ? It is only hurting this club and us supporters some of us have been associated a hell of a ot longer than these two (Mine is just over double their time) Who could not buy Ipswich so changed colours.
There are several clubs, Leicester, Southampton, Palace Burnley, Brighton even Brentford have made a ruddy good go at it their first time. How mant goes have we had ?. I have not heard that much moaning from any of them, they may not like it but they are all in a far far better place then our once proud footballing club.
In one breath we have been lead to believe there are none who want to invest in our club, then we hear that any are passed on to those two. Which is it. I could get a big company to hunt down investors, but the success on that depends on the brief. One being they must be supporters. That shuts the field right off. I ask were the Alas Smith & Jones real supporters when they came to the club ? or do we have forget the photos of wearing scum shirts ?
I feel absolutely nothing, at times I could not give a flying Eff, like others we have followed through the years of barreness, seen Managers come and go, I started with Swindin, Ashman and Morgan . some bad years in that, but I kept going, we had players who gave much much more than we are witnessing. I can fully understand if Krul, Hanley and Pukki said that is enough. who the hell would blame them ?
How bad I feel, I have a chance of a spurs game ticket, sod if I can be bothered. I don’t intend to set foot into Carrow Road for a first team game while they are still acting out their little fantasy and hanging on to the spotlight. I fear I won’t be going ever again
My first game Oct 9th 1959 I know the year and month is right and it was a few days after my 9th birthday on the 7th.
I gave up my season ticket 1980 due to working overseas but have followed them via papers and radio till Internet and Sky.
When ever we came down to Norfolk I would take my 2 eldest boys to see us play but they became Spurs supporters along with my 3rd son so at least they follow city as a second team while Spurs are my second team.
The happy clappers that want to keep the owners will come to regret it when they take us lower but they will blame the players not thinking lack of investment means poorer quality players.
Steve you have absolutely nailed it that’s exactly how I feel. What an absolute disaster of a season. Do I go to the Tottenham game or not I cannot make my mind up. We know it will be hopeless. This team has no bottle, no up and at em, no affinity to the supporters in short this bunch don’t deserve us. Delia and Michael I appreciate you are old and things aren’t the way you would like so step aside give Nephew Tom a go. Stuart if you really don’t want to be here then clear off let someone who does have a go. Dean and Shakey you must wonder what the he’ll you’ve walked into the fans will give you a season to change the team that’s only fair. Hope your up to it.
The problem is are Dean and Shakey up to it? When I hear him roll out the platitudes time and again after gutless performances I wonder if he is tough enough to turn the ship. We have to get behind him and give him a chance but I am not overly convinced. He will after all have one hand tied behind his back with Webber in place.
An excellent article Steve, you’ve nailed it. I share almost all the feelings you’ve expressed, as I suspect do many fans who have followed the club for a long time. Unfortunately there’s one emotion that I just can’t seem to shake in the way that you have, and that’s anger! It’s unhelpful, destructive and ultimately pointless but as good as the atmosphere was at Villa and especially at Leicester last night, I couldn’t let it go and just join in the gallows humour and fake goal celebrations, as much as I really wanted too. I really wish I was apathetic but I’m angry with Delia, Webber and even Dean Smith who has had 30 odd games to change something, anything, but has failed to do so and is still hiding behind the fact these aren’t “his players”, I’m sorry Deano but they are and so is the lack of a game plan or an identity. But most of all I’m angry that in just 10 months we’ve gone from being a successful, United club to be proud, to being an utterly embarrassing, shambles riddled with mistrust and disunity. I really hope that the next transfer window and early Championship form wipes away that anger and our collective detachment, but I’m not holding my breathe!
Spot on Chris.
We’ve seen how the fans are quick to ‘forgive and forget’ if we can mount a successful promotion push. After all, the feel good factor from a win is pretty intoxicating and has obviously been sadly lacking. So fingers crossed for next season.
In some ways, I envy your feelings of anger as it shows you still care!
The apathy I’m feeling is a slippery slope. It started with “the game’s on TV so I may as well watch from the warmth of home”, which became “it’s a long way to go to watch that useless bunch get battered again”.
How come everyone is angry at the owners and the management but the players are getting away with it?
It’s the players who have let us down as much as anyone, especially the 4 loanees, who happily take their £40-£60k a week for doing sweet fa. What we needed when Smith came in was a complete change. We needed a Nigel Pearson character; even a Sam Allardyce or, dare I say it, a Colin, to tell them to pull their digits out. What we got was a different type of laid back.
The players are responsible for this abject surrender. They may not be good enough – how would we know when they haven’t even started playing? What we have seen has certainly not been good enough. Once again last night Gilmore jogs about 5 yards away from any opposition player; Rashica fails to play a final ball, and don’t get me started on Kabak the fridge or Normann the hard man who can’t win a tackle to save his life. Pukki misses his customary two massive chances before they score and as soon as Leicester up the tempo we are completely and totally blown away because OUR PLAYERS GAVE UP COMPETING. The players. Not the coach, or Webber or the owners. The players.
I get that the buck stops at the top but I have never before seen a squad playing in yellow and green lacking in basic effort or skill like this one. If I could I’d get rid of the whole damn lot and play the 23s.
And (for me) that’s the hardest thing of all to understand……all that money for so little effort, and consequently so little reward results wise.
For what they’ve achieved this season, they could have taken any players from anywhere at a fraction of the cost…..and the overall outcome would be the same but with a lot more money saved.
However, given their end of season implosion, I’m not sure that the U’23s are the answer, but they couldn’t be any worse.