As the saying goes, as a football fan you have to endure the bad times in order to fully embrace and celebrate the good times.
All true I guess unless you’ve opted to be a fan of a random ‘big club’, in which case you’ve given yourself some control over the good/bad ratio. But the point still stands.
There’s also the classic ‘what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger’ line to lean on, when the brown stuff and the fan come into full-on contact.
Again, true to a degree, and we all know what Friedrich Nietzsche was trying to say, even if we didn’t know who Friedrich Nietzsche was until we just Googled him.
But all of that nonsense becomes one big, steaming, pile of bulls**t when you’ve just watched the football club you love succumb, with no resistance whatsoever, to the most feeble, the most gut-less, the most passion-less, the most ineptly handled relegation campaign ever.
Quite how inept it’s been is tricky to convey in 1000 words but I’ll start with reeling off the scores of our last three home games: 0-3, 0-4 and 0-5.
At a time when other relegation-threatened teams are scrapping for their lives, we do the opposite. Instead of scrapping, we fade and fizzle. Even with our fate already sealed, we could have at least expected professional pride to kick in and produce some fire and brimstone.
That 20,000+ fans have been there for every home game, all itching to have something to cheer and roar on, yet have been given absolutely *nothing* to get behind has been nothing short of a disgrace.
Goals for: Zero. Goals against 12.
How utterly pathetic is that.
And imagine also just shrugging, and thinking, ‘oh well, we go again in July’.
Now I have to be a little careful as my own season fizzled out quicker than City’s.
Although I didn’t realise it at the time, my Carrow Road season ended on 23 April, when we were spanked 3-0 by Newcastle. Since then, ill health has prevented me from making the trek, so it’s all been viewed through the prism of a PC screen and I’ve been unable to tap into the general feeling around the place.
But I gather that apathy rather than anger prevails, and this appears to be backed up by only the smattering of boos that have been audible at every half-time and full-time whistle.
I honestly cannot think of a single club in the other 91 where this level of inadequacy and hopelessness would be tolerated. Not one. And, yes, I do believe that emanates from the very top.
Name me another club that would end the season with a -61 goal difference – the second-worst in Premier League history – and whose fans still be willing to applaud their efforts?
Name me another club whose owners are so accepting of failure that those within the club who have been tasked with delivering are not under even the slightest hint of internal pressure?
In fact, on that subject, name me another club who while undergoing the season from hell, would still be happy to run without a chief operating officer (or CEO) or chairman?
And yet we question why there appears a lack of leadership and why everything has gone belly up off the pitch as well as on it.
As it transpires, the behind-the-scenes clinical efficiency that we were told made us smarter and more innovative than the rest has fizzled out quicker than Dean Smith’s honeymoon period.
Speak to anyone who either works for the club or who knows someone who works in the non-football part of the operation and you hear the same word over and over. Shambles.
All of that could be overlooked if, in spite of the off-field chaos, good things were still happening on the pitch. But, of course, they weren’t.
The sheer ineptitude of the footballing side of our football club is somehow trumping the chaos off it.
A club with (at the moment) no redeeming features.
While Burnley and Watford were quick to tweet out apologetic messages to their fans at the end of proceedings yesterday, our club said ‘here’s what Dean Smith had to say about today’s defeat’.
A minor thing maybe, and I can’t believe there won’t be a statement, or at least something, over the next couple of days, but it just felt another opportunity missed to convey how the club does at least understand how the fans are feeling.
But I’m not sure they do.
I suspect Delia and Michael think if they batten down the hatches, keep their heads down for a few weeks and allow enough time to pass for City fans to start looking forward instead of backward, then slowly the fans will come round just as they always do.
Throw a couple of new signings into the mix, sell a couple of our best players to fill the inevitable financial black hole, and off we jolly well go again.
And the sad thing is, they’re probably right.
We’ve fallen for it before and we’ll fall for it again, especially if somehow we manage a couple of wins by mid-August.
But so dire has this season been and so dire is the future under this current model, why the hell should we all just sit back and await the return of the good times as if they’re a somehow god-given right? This model denies the head coach a squad that’s good enough to compete
I decried the efforts of the players at the start of this piece, and I do still seriously question the heart and desire, but ultimately we’re asking Championship standard players to keep us in the Premier League.
It may work in a one-off campaign if the planets align and literally everything goes right, but as a model, it’s wholly incompatible with producing a team that can sustainably compete in the top flight. The stats don’t lie.
Of course, the usual suspects will come after me for asking the question, but are we really all content for more of the same?
Even if there is *literally* no one out there willing to inject some cash into this football club, even if the *only* option is for it to be self-funded, even if we have no choice but to only spend the revenues we raise ourselves, then I still believe this club would be better off with a change of leadership at the very top.
Delia and Michael are not, however many times I’m told otherwise, the only two individuals in the whole world who are worthy and capable of owning this football club.
I’ve given up on the idea of new money coming in. Every time I mention it, it becomes ever clearer there’s no appetite for it from those who matter and far too many obstacles are put in the way for it to ever happen, but at the very least it needs new voices, a new direction and fresh ideas.
Who knows, then maybe we would be a more attractive proposition for someone or something.
And I know (before anyone reminds me) that’s the wrong way to view it.
I know football itself should be looking at a self-funding model rather than taking the billionaire route, but if Norwich City is going to hang around waiting for football to finally agree that its way is the only way, then it’s going to have a bloody long wait.
As the curtain closes on the most miserable season imaginable, never before has this club been more in need of a fresh outlook and new ideas.
Hi Gary
*This world is is the will to power and nothing else* is my favourite Nietzsche quote – even robbed by Manic Street Preachers on The Holy Bible when they adapted it to *I know I believe in nothing but it is MY nothing* on *Faster*.
Nietzsche was possibly the original nihilist philosopher.
Maybe Delia Smith and MWJ are urging supporters to seek out his ponderings.
Because with these tw0 at the helm we’re hardly likely to seek inspiration by singing *All things Bright and Beautiful* now are we?
We should stick with the Stranglers and Something Better Change.
Great article – well said mate.
Great article Gary. It’s getting ugly now and the full ground of ST holders will diminish should next year go badly. It’s disgusting to think we pay well above average for games and yet are at best ignored (joke of a PR team) and criticised by DOF.
It will be interesting to see casual prices next season. Will we try to sell at £35 or will it be close to or lower than the average price per match of season tickets
Well at least you didn’t have the frustration of going and watching it Gary . You look at them two at the top of the page and it they look like the two muppets on the balcony ,just what is it they are clinging on too ,they don’t invest and they are happy to be the joke of the prem, quite what goes through their minds head sand probably just like the sporting director .
Sad Sad situation .
Thank god we got a rest from it now . Only for us to stupidly stupidly raise our hopes once more yawn yawn .
Spot on Gary , Delia etc must go now !!! The club is rotten from the top down ,it needs root and branch reform otherwise we are heading to league 1 or even league 2 . Personally , I think there is more support for your views and a change of ownership than you realize ! Unfortunately its the minorities in this country including the Delia lovers that shout the loudest and more often than not very aggressively ! In my opinion this particular part of the fanbase are incredibly naive and delusional whilst propping up these two old people who really should now be enjoying their retirement ! If the woman had a shred of decency and decorum she would go !
Well said Gary, so depressing yesterday. No semblance of professionalism, pride or honour.
Nobody, nobody who cares for the club could defend the status quo that has brought us to this sorry situation.
Norwich city weren’t simply relegated. They were humiliated on a weekly basis in front of a worldwide audience – The butt of a million jokes, derided and in many corners despised. The city of Norwich and the wider county of Norfolk have been reputationally tarnished by this. God alone knows how tge club’s ‘brand’ will recover.
The Pink Un published an article last week citing Norwich city tickets as the 7th highest price in English football. That’s before the demotion and a 7 percent increase in the cost next season. Self funding my arse. We can all see who is funding the damn thing.
All this talk of communities and the like and the supporters are treated like shite. How the hell can anyone defend this circus?
As you mention Gary, the two happy couples are battening down the hatches hoping to front out the discord and pray for a decent start next season. The problem will still remain. It’s in its 80s and it needs to go.
Couldn’t agree more with you Chris. I’ve not been to a game for a while. My granddaughter has my ticket and has endured this with the optimism of youth. There is money out there but D&M and Webbers are too fond of their own reflections to open the window and look.
Sorry to learn you’re unwell Gary and wish you a full recovery. I missed the 2019 promotion run-in after being taken ill suddenly after the Reading game April 10, at least viewed from afar the remainder of that season gave me such a lift, for you it’s been abject misery which you could have done without.
I’m just lost but hanging my hat and hope on some major announcement from those at the top finally telling the truth about what’s occurred whilst providing some light at the end of the tunnel.
Your words, “Speak to anyone who either works for the club or who knows someone who works in the non-football part of the operation and you hear the same word over and over. Shambles.”, are 100% true, respected ex- players to department managers, shop, bar & restaurant staff are all saying the same. There is indeed an ill wind that blows throughout the club it seems.
At the end of the day I was gutted for Burnley as they’d defied the odds for many seasons, such a shame Leeds survived, whilst the bottom 2 were in a league of their own. The top 6 were the ‘top 6’, how tedious it’s all become.
It’s been good but it’s time for change lets go and get Paul Warne and build a team with fight & passion who we can get behind and identify with. We’ve had the pretty football but now we just need a team to support, something we’ve not had since mid February.
Hey, what’s the problem with some people? We’re a top 26 team-rejoice!
oh dear, or are you being ironic ?
It’s all I have left
Top 26 with this current shower Don??
Never in a million years.
I only made it along to Carrow Rd for four games this season, four games in which we failed to score and conceded 15. In those four games (Villa, Arsenal, Newcastle and Spurs yesterday), the stats speak for themselves: we managed 25 shots, of which only 7 were on target and, as mentioned, none registered. By contrast, our opponents managed 65 shots, 32 of which were on target and 15 went in. In other words, if you’re playing us have a shot from anywhere – you’ve got a 50% chance of it being on target and a 50% chance of scoring with an on-target shot!
In the simplest terms, we can’t score and we can’t defend … but the underlying reasons are more complex. Obviously our players, with one or two exceptions, are not Prem standard – we can’t afford to recruit to that level and sell any players we develop to that level. Is Dean the right manager? Too soon to judge, perhaps, but I can’t imagine we’d have been any worse if we’d kept Daniel. Can we compete physically in the Prem? Really noticeable against Spurs is what a small side we are – the sort of variation in size you normally only see in an U12 kids game, where some have started to shoot up and others haven’t. But it must be hard to battle for the ball when you get brushed off it so easier.
I’m no great footballer, never have been, never will be. But when I play, I want to win and I try damn hard to that end. I chase lost causes because I hate losing, even at a meaningless game of social five-a-side. But I’m not sure I see that on the pitch, however much we are told otherwise. What I saw yesterday was, first, acceptance and then, after the third goal, recrimination and the blame game. I know we can’t afford to buy players from the top drawer, so have to chase the stats and take punts on unproven players from lower leagues around Europe, based on their stats and, probably, a variation of “money-ball”. But I don’t think there’s a money-ball stat for heart, for stubbornness, for refusal to give up, for fight … and that’s what we need. And we’ll need it even more than ever in a tough season of Championship football.
I don’t think I want a billionaire to parachute in and help us buy our way to success … but something has to change, throughout the club. Recruitment has to be better, and the connection between club and fanbase needs urgent attention. I don’t know if Delia, Dean and Stuart are the team to get the punters back on board – on current form, you’d have to say not. But something has to change – I can’t remember when following Norwich last felt like this.
I noticed the size difference yesterday, that must give a clue as to what our problem is. We look like the lightweight players from the mid 70s
Without doubt it has been an awful abject season that has probably been the worst I have seen in 29 years of being a season ticket holder. However, I am with Martin on not being sure about billionaire funding coming in, even if there was an offer on the table. That does not mean I don’t think change at the very top would help to refresh the outlook and direction of our club.
I think Newcastle fans should be wary of their expectations from mega money investment. Two expensively assembled clubs slug it out in what most would agree was a fantastic battle for the title. But two other (and there are more) expensively assembled clubs Chelsea and Spurs were 18 and 22 points respectively behind them. I’m not saying 3rd and 4th place is bad, but that is a massive gap. As Bruce Ricoh once said. You could give the same budget to every club at the start if a season and still there would be on team at the top and three relegated clubs at the bottom.
Agree with everything you’ve said. Especially this:
“Speak to anyone who either works for the club or who knows someone who works in the non-football part of the operation and you hear the same word over and over. Shambles.”
Some of the stuff I’ve been told is beyond embarrassment and blows the long held myth that we are a well run club. We are not, not by a long chalk.
I happened to look at the report from The Times and I’ll leave you with a saddening, if not entirely surprising view of how Norwich City Football Club is viewed, with the last sentence quite amusing:
“Must be awful being Norwich fans. Most despised useless club that no one wants to watch. Just waste of space. FL need to find a way to stop their disruption. They are like John Bercow, eventually he was thrown out to everyone’s satisfaction.”
OTBC
Hi IR
I hadn’t previously seen that quote from the Times but it’s chilling.
Especially the Bercow reference 🙂
IR that’s not, as you well know, part of the Times Report.
It’s one of 103 comments on that report, most of which not surprisingly are related to Spurs. It’s buried at the bottom and currently has no “recommendations”. The writer is someone called Eddie who doesn’t reveal which club (if any) he supports himself.
What Gary Jacob’s report did say was
“Norwich’s suggestion that they could be “party poopers” was laughable and after another pitiful display they ended the season with one win in 16 league matches, losing 12” and nobody can argue with that.
Apologies. I was going to mention it was in the comments section, but forgot as I got sidetracked by my own despair!
Guess Bercow was thrown out as he didn’t toe the Boris line. Still nice that someone stood up against lies and corruption .
Glass of wine PM, only 409 today.
Hi Gary.
Having lived through the Chase era and these two took over her first statement was I am a custodian of this club and will take it forward or find someone that can sadly they have done neither.
Having moved to Blackpool the Oysten’s took the club on a roller coaster ride that culminated in a season in the Premiership, once the parachute payments started coming in things went TxTsup and similarly the Oystens said we are self funding and building for a brighter future.
Everyone was on board till the club struggled to stay in the league protests at every home game and they sat behind locked doors finally it took a court case to remove Owen Oysten his family had abandoned him and still to this day have nothing to do with him.
Can I see a parallel in many ways the Jones and Oysten both couldn’t let go, all thought they knew best and never listened to sound advice.
No one is saying that the Smith and Jones have used city as the Oysten’s did and their is no board member willing to go to court to remove them but can we see a concerted campaign to remove them I sadly can’t neither can they so as you say tin hats on and wait for next season.
Anybreaking news will come via their favourite interviewer or the Times no red tops.
Players will be sold for sheckles just enough to save their life style for another season as once Aarons and Cantwell have gone the young bunch coming into contention will need help to mature hopefully into good players but large profits I can’t see that.
Get well soon
Another great article which i totalky agree with.What satisfaction the Stowmarket two get out of their position ive no idea,having to watch every game this season would be more than enough.Thought there might have been a bigger demo after the game yesterday,not the 50 or 60 who did. Looks like we’re stuck with the geriatric board for now until they decide theyve had enough and pass it down to Tom Wonder if a happy clapper/Delia lover could tell me what happens when theres no more talented players left to sell to finance the self funded shambles?Just except league 1 or 2 and keep happy clapping?Because ive never heard a proper answer to that question And no i dont want a dirty billionaire in the club before anyone asks,just someone to put in a few millions each season would be a start.
The club feels like it is at a point of change but with no change happening. I can understand owners not speaking to the public but they should appoint someone to do this.
I cast my mind back to when the owners took over. A shambles of a club unable to compete with the clubs coming down with Premier League money or those smaller clubs who had a bit of fight. I remember a half full stadium at a home defeat to Port Vale. The club started to recover and I can see some of the credit that the owners deserved at the time. For me things started to go wrong after the 2005 relegation when a mediocre season was accepted in our first year down and cutting the budget was followed by a further relegation. Lessons were learned and we made it back to the promised land. However, it became clear to me that we had problems when it became apparent that we could not afford PL football and we could not afford Championship football. We do not have debt but worryingly we don’t have cash either. This makes us vulnerable to administration by not being able to pay bills as they fall due.
The club needs capital investment, I’d guess at least £50m to stabilise the club, we need change, Stuart Webber is acting very strangely and appears unlikely to be asked to leave. We have Neil Adams as his stand in. We lack anybody with an overall overview of the club. We could be asking admin staff to be taking on responsibility beyond their pay grade as a result of the vacuum above them. If the owners are unwilling to resolve these issues then they must go
Sell, sell, sell!
It’s the only way to avoid the inevitable slide to League One mediocrity which is where our owners’ non-existent funding will leave us. Don’t believe me? Check out the list of club owners’ wealth and that’s where Norwich City sit. Our league position will inevitably fall to match our funding level.
Not much to look forward to foreseeably I’m afraid.
Sorry to hear you’re not well Gary; too much Carrow Road pre-March perhaps??
As you know, Gary , I’m gone.
25 years of D and M and I hung in there, but the last 6 months of SW and the new DS has just been too much.
No fight; no care; no fitness…..nothing of anything which gives me any hope at all for next season.
I fear we will see League 1 before we return to the PL but even now, I fervently hope that I’m wrong.
Oh; and in case anyone missed it, Reece McAlear scored another 2 on Friday night, the second a candidate for Goal of the Season in Scotland….we paid a sizeable fee for him.
He’s a mid fielder who is box to box; can tackle; head a ball, sprint, score goals, and most important of all, actually pass a ball to a team-mate…..everything our current shower appear not to be able to do. So, guess what?? We’ve released him on a free.
He could have been a very, very good Championship player next season.
I really do NOT know where we are heading with this shower in charge.
O T B C
None of this would feel as bad if it wasn’t against the backdrop of Sherpa Webber jetting off to Kathmandu and preparing to stick a Canary flag on the summit of Everest and our celebrity chef concerning herself over upcoming ‘Pop’ Concerts and her Summer menu at Delia’s. They are both ‘in this’, for the money after all they have a business to run.
Not to acknowledge the misery caused to the loyal thousands that spend a small fortune, travel, turn up, tune in every week is unforgivable.
As DS once said, ‘Let’s be having you’.
Bet Lotus are pleased they sponsored us…🤣
To be honest I am sick to the back teeth of the way my club has turned into a total effing shamble. What more can I add. The season is over and nobody will be at Carrow Rd. Some disagree about protests, but in my view how else can supporters voice their views, fears etc. Ask Manchester Utd Fans, Ask Newcastle Fans. The cook can turn the internet off along with the TV and wireless. Brighton & Hove supporters campaigned with effect several years ago , as other clubs have.
All left too late now but. a campaign needs to be started now, Car Bumper Stickers, Posters and other things made and put out, it will get picked up. They cannot be allowed to use the summer to let this ride out, yet again.
One statistic which was quoted during Bob Rutler’s Radio Norfolk phone-in programme after yesterday’s game made my blood boil….. I’ve checked it: and it’s true.
The team’s SECOND highest scorer after Teemu Pukki (what a hero that man is, scoring nearly 50% of our Premier League goals this season…. 11/23…. and NEVER giving up over 90 minutes, unlike his team-mates) is …. OWN GOALS – 2
OK, I exaggerate….. Josh Sargent scored 2 against Watford, as well.
8 others scored 1 each.
Never mind ‘No Mow May’. In checking the stats, I was reminded that we had ‘No Goals December’. Indeed, we waited 46 days, between 30 November 2021 and 15 January 2022, for one…. that was 7 matches; there wasn’t even a Christmas/New Year gift of an own goal during that time.
But, let’s not be too critical, eh? I think we can all agree that we have been richly entertained this season by Krul’s inept ‘passes out from the back’ which have gifted at least 2 goals and created mayhem on countless other occasions.
And how we’ve laughed when Hanley and Gibson have each attempted to ‘dribble it out from the back’ with something like a 95% failure rate.
And let’s not forget how we’ve watched in amazement as Gilmour has booted the ball aimlessly forward whilst shouting “to whom it may concern” …. It was rarely to someone in a yellow shirt, of course. This outcome was normally followed by Maclean pointing out Gilmour’s mistake to him …. but Gilmour never seemed to learn, and so Maclean never stopped pointing, all season.
I made my farewells yesterday, because I’ve not renewed my season ticket. I can’t take any more. The AWFUL football (I’ve seen better at Eaton Park) and the club’s appalling attitude towards its unwaveringly faithful supporters have finally taken their toll.
But, even as I was gathering my thoughts about leaving Carrer Rud for the last time, I was entertained by one wag standing nearby, as we all took a ‘comfort break’ before the long journey home, who said in a loud voice, for all to hear: “This club hasn’t even invested in the toilet facilities recently” [his expletives have been deleted].
How I shall miss such jocularity…. but I’m afraid he was wrong about “recently”. They haven’t spent a penny (pun intended) on the troughs or the ineffective hand driers in the Jarrold stand in the 21 years I’ve had my ticket.
A Dyson AirBlade hand dryer costs £650. My season ticket contributions alone over the past 21 years could have bought 15 of them. Am I being unreasonable….or just sarcastic? I’ll let you decide, dear reader.
I’m sure someone, somewhere has said “ it’s much easier to be negative than it is to be positive “.
For all the angst and despair contained in the foregoing comments let’s just remind ourselves that once all the new signings were in the building at the start of the fixtures many felt this would be a season to savour.
I feel certain that no management/recruiting team anywhere deliberately set out to locate and sign footballing failures. The scouting regime does work, look at the examples set by Pukki and Buendia. Who knew their pedigree before we saw it on the pitch?
Failure to post good results can happen in any organisation it’s what comes next that matters.
So much of what has been written above calls for new ideas, fresh thinking, new blood but regrettably none are forthcoming other than “sack the lot”!
Football is a fickle industry that results in even the best laid plans falling into the abyss or in our case relegation. Whilst the guarantees of success usually revolve around the amount of money being available we should perhaps remind ourselves that both Everton and Leeds just managed to avoid the drop by the skin of their teeth despite the value of their respective squads!
Another saying is “you pays your money, you takes your chance” well SW et all did just that but the “chance “ bit ended in defeat. The same goes for us season ticket holders and supporters, the paying bit is definite but the chance bit is out of our hands.
So wipe away the tears of despair, think positively that next season will be enjoyable, that the Phoenix or in our case the Canary can rise from the ashes to once again gain its rightful place, whatever that may be.
But how many points did we finish behind Everton and Leeds??
According to my PL table 17 and 16 respectively without taking our shameful goal difference into account.
That, Phil, is 6 additional victories….yes; 6 which is one more than we managed across 38 matches.
Unless there is a wholesale clearout from the very top down, this club is only heading one way, and it is not back to the Premier League.
O T B C
What most fans were angry with Webber about was the failure to replace Skipp and Buendia,everybody knew we needed a defensive midfielder or 2 and another creative player,we got neither,thanks to Webber.
I hope you feel better soon Gary.
I have to agree wholeheartedly with your column.
Many excuses/reasons for our abject failure have been given on here by me and many other contributors.
The covid outbreak just before season started, therefore no pre season as such, early fixture list toughness, recruitment, age of players brought in, injured players brought in on loan, having your head of recruitment on gardening leave, signing players seemingly not suited to our system of play, Todd Cantwell’s behaviour, the lack of the physicality and strength needed for the EPL, the lack of pace needed for the EPL, really the list just goes on and on.
But the truth is it all comes down to recruitment. Plain and simple, these players are just not good enough.
It is not all Stuart Webber’s fault, but he must take responsibility for it especially as it seems he was more hands on than at any other time he has been here as sporting director. As I have said before he has done a lot for this football club and we must thank him for that, but operating in the EPL has proven beyond him.
On another site some fan says it is modern footballs fault 😱 Entitled to your opinion fellow supporter but I don’t think Brentford see it that way. Another caller on Canary Call said players should not lose confidence, sorry but playing in that sh** show every week would sap Mo Salah’s confidence.
We finished 10 points in front of Brentford last season but this we have finished a staggering 24 points behind them. That is what is unacceptable.
I thought we had less chance of staying up this time than I did two years ago but we were assured this time around we were better prepared. Now that has a hollow ring to it.
I bet SW and Delia thinks that we are all talking in hindsight, well we are not I and a few other on here, after the initial excitement over our recruitment, and once we had watched the first few games could see we had brought in far too many young players.
And those orders for “buy em cheap sell em high” I have no doubt came from Delia. Even Mr Magoo could see we needed strong, athletic and experienced players for the obvious relegation scrap we faced.
Relegation was always likely but for goodness sake go down with a bl**dy fight. Man U and Burnley that was it. We have gone down with a whimper again.
So the real responsibility has to rest with Delia. The clubs PR this season has been a disaster time and again. Voting for POTS was an absolute joke…….. What voting ?
I have this feeling that I cannot shake that Stuart and Delia for some unknown obscure reason blame us the fans for all this. God knows why but it feels like that second sense you get when you know your boss isn’t happy about something you have done.
Finally often I talk on here about my City mad friend Marty who once berated me for missing Millwall (H) because I had Pneumonia😂
Now on Sunday after 33 minutes Marty chose to swap the delights of Carrow Road’s five goal thriller for a local Inn of his choosing and the dulcet tones of Jeff Stelling. And he enjoyed it a lot more than watching City in reverse gear while Spurs never really got out of second.
People like Marty will support the club through thick and thin, all that is needed is effort a bit of fight.
If you start losing people like him Delia your income is going to seriously take a hit. Time to wake up and smell the coffee your club is in a mess.
Wholeheartedly agree with your article Gary and most of the comments, what an absolute shambles of a season. Totally devoid of joy and if this brand of gutless non football which Smith serves up continues into next year then I will definitely consider my position regarding the renewal of my ST. I broke the habit of a lifetime yesterday and left on 75 mins when the fifth goal went in rather than endure that nonsense of a lap of appreciation or whatever they called it. I certainly wasn’t prepared to applaud mediocrity and I don’t want to be patronised by a group of overpayed individuals who don’t appear to care as much about the club as I do. There are a few exceptions of course, I’d happily buy Pukki and one or two others a drink but you get my gist.
Sadly Mr Webber probably won’t consider his position after this debacle, the silence has been deafening from within the club but in all honestly when he does surface I’m not expecting him to say anything other than “I take full responsibility”. The problem is, his idea of taking responsibility is just to utter those words and not actually do anything else unless of course he can find another scapegoat as was the case with Farke. At least with Daniel the club had an identity, a style of play (given the right players) and someone who cared as opposed to the clueless Villa fan.
Webber was quick enough to have a pop at McNally et al about pi**ing money up the wall, I wonder how he’ll explain his dealings last summer when he appears to have done just that and then spent whatever was left in the budget on compensation packages for Farke and his staff thereby ensuring that whoever he brought in would have the best part of sod all to try and fix things.
I chuckled at Don’s comment although I’m more inclined to think we might struggle to be a top 36 team for the foreseeable future. Hope your health improves Gary.
Another flabby article that doesn’t say anything new or constructive. I don’t need to be told how bad that season was! Talking to the Landlord In my local (West Ham) pub of the last 14 years; the word I chose was ‘dross’.
I tend to ignore those ideologically opposed to our current custodians as they are a rag bag of rather nasty parochial insignificants e.g the ageist stuff on here.
It’s daft to suggest there has been no innovation from the Board, bringing in a German maestro, and fresh ideas with Webber. It’s also silly to say the Board are under no pressure. None of us on here have any clue how much pressure they have been under. As fans we are all hurting. From the Board downwards we all need to look at ourselves and whether we have it in us to contribute positively. If not then walk away. I’ve bought a season ticket after 10 years as a mere member.
The Board deserves plaudits for our many successes, so must accept responsibility for last season. They have the attributes that I want in the boardroom, which is simply a love for our club. Now, it time for “bread “and roses.
Wrong and right Mike.
I certainly am NOT parochial but I am old, 64 and counting. Supported City all those years from when I can remember.
I also have been very fair in praising the board for a lot of what they have done, and as you say appointing Farke and Webber was inspired. Mainly that came from Ed Balls but that can be construed as nit picking.
I would disagree with those who have accused the club this season of lacking ambition. That has not been the case. It hasn’t worked but we all know no one done this on purpose.
But the Board are happy to take everybody’s money but do you really think that the supporters are getting value for money? Everything starts from the top, so you cannot have a season like this where Delia and Michael are exempt from criticism.
Some of the noise is unfair I would agree, take Dean Smith who has played no part in putting this squad together at all is “pushed under the bus” week in week out to explain yet another dreadful display.
Where is Stuart ? Where is Delia ? Silence.
As I have said on here before everyone has a right to an opinion but allowing the debate to fall into name calling is what is making this whole situation toxic. I think it that kind of debate that is encouraging these idiots who are running on the pitch to attack players. I remember fences, and I never want to see them again.
I know a lot of people disagree with me and I can see the other side of the argument, that new “custodians” won’t guarantee a return to the good old days. And that is very true.
But allowing our present custodians a free ride on this debacle to me is short sighted. As fans we have a right to vent our frustrations. Due to ill health & costs I cannot go to every match as I once did but I can still see when people are being taken for a ride.
Go down fighting like Burnley and there would be a completely different response on here.
Great piece from the NCFC ridden heart , head and gut Gary, I hope your health improves.
Thanks all of this seasons ups and downs, mainly downs after match overviews.
Said to my son, how the hell could you have a home team man of the match yesterday, was there one ?
We will have to give Smith a chance with ‘his’ squad but like the Paul Warne shout above.
Fair points Tim, the lack of fight has been the worse thing. I was in the Holmesdale end with the Palace again this season (cannot get away tickets at that time); and I was embarrassed , until Jon Rowe came on.
Superb article Gary and sorry to hear you’re not well.
I can’t really add much except to say that I’m hearing about a lot of things within the club that aren’t pretty and go against everything that we are meant to stand for. It’s bad enough watching the horrendous football on the pitch, but when it’s followed by such a shambles off the pitch, it just makes things a whole lot worse.
How has everyone gone so toxic so quickly? How has everything disintegrated at such a rapid rate? Why the continuing wall of silence? Why the antagonism towards the local media and supporters?
Some words from those at the top might have been useful, but I feel whatever comes out now might be too late to placate many of the disillusioned.