Instead of a nerve-steadying three points at Carrow Road against Middlesbrough on Saturday, we were served up another four weeks of angst and anxiety concerning our beloved City between now and a trip to play Russell Martin’s Swans on December 10, thanks to a soul-destroying but ultimately deserved 2-1 defeat.
So it will doubtless be a case of same old, same old when it comes to football chat over the coming month. This is something that MFW readers and writers will either enjoy or endure, depending on their various levels of tolerance and perspective I assume.
As Tim Ball and Gary Field’s excellent articles showed last week, we all have our own views on the standoff between the Club and the local media, especially concerning the recent AGM.
Will this issue be resolved over the World Cup break?
Nah.
Dean Smith’s popularity seems to have reached rock bottom with an ever-increasing number of supporters wanting shot of him during this perfect opportunity offered by the World Cup hiatus.
Will we be saying farewell to S&S?
Nah, but this time I at least know why: Stuart Webber is not even contemplating getting rid of them as his head’s too big, and his available compensation wallet is too small.
Will Anthony Richens be apologising to supporters for his ill-thought-out remarks about our collective lack of commitment to the cause?
That’s another nah from me I’m afraid.
My Canary friends never let me down when it comes to some original expressions and wry observations and Saturday proved to be no exception, with them probably hitting a zenith to match the nadir of Smith’s popularity rating.
I didn’t bother listening to Chris Goreham and Jeremy Goss on Radio Norfolk all the time, dipping in and out as I often do, and thus missed this gem from Gossy: “We saw a very good Norwich for 30 mins. Then a very poor Norwich for the rest of the game.”
The apparent lack of fitness in the squad was a major issue for all of us, with a couple of the guys lamenting the disappearance of Daniel Farke’s “two sessions a day, one for general fitness and one for tactical awareness” approach. Even a few of the players have asked for extra sessions by all accounts – and been turned down.
Boro outran and outmuscled us for almost an hour and if that doesn’t show that something is fundamentally wrong then what does?
Smith himself seems predictably uncertain as to why our fitness levels are not at the races, saying afterwards:
“For some reason for 15 minutes either side of half time we looked lethargic and lacked a bit of energy.”
For some reason? Surely it’s in your job description to know the problems and at least try to eradicate them, Dean?
A few random observations include that if Coventry were to win one and draw one of their games in hand over us they would leapfrog us in the table, and while we still – somehow – remain in fifth with what seems a miserly 32 points from an available 63, there are four teams below us on 31 points.
Ominously Watford have overtaken us and although they too are blowing hot and cold, I am not too sure we will rise above them again.
Consensus, articulated in this case by Bernie O, was that we neither go wide and cross nor penetrate centrally with any pace. We should have been out of sight in the first 30 minutes but after that we became pedestrian and very, very predictable.
We can still get promotion in the sense that while the points are available we have a chance, but right now I do not know a single soul who thinks that we will be celebrating anything in May other than a season that flattered to deceive and burned out in mid-November.
The final word goes to Don H, who reckons:
“The first half was very good. We dominated possession and looked dangerous going forward. Our USMNT World Cup hero scored an excellent goal and the team collectively created enough good chances to win two games.
“Half-time came and presented the chance for S&S to inspire the team to victory. Quite how they went about this is beyond me. I’ve seen the word ‘passive’ used to describe many of our displays and I can’t think of a better one to describe City in the second half.
“Boro dominated and, after only a month in charge, Carrick has coached them into a team where everyone seems to know their job and play with flair.
“Smith, after a year at the helm, has yet to address many of the problems he inherited.
“So off they go to Tampa Bay, Florida, for ‘warm weather training’. I hope they enjoy it.”
From Carrick to Carrack. This guy has been around the block as much as Dean Smith, enjoying stints with Ace [How Long], Squeeze, and Mike & the Mechanics as well as a soulful and successful solo career.
Maybe he had NCFC’s faltering efforts to escape the EFL Championship at the right end in mind when he recorded this:
Morning Mr P, Depressing ain’t, I am normally on a bit of a downer this time of year, the weather is colder and damper, darkness is longer and everywhere you go it is ruddy the commercialization of Christmas. I have often looked to NCFC as an escape from this humdrum. A few hours of anticipation 90 minutes of football and a few hours savoring it. That now has gone, for the 2nd year running, only this year there can be no leeway given S&S have had enough time, but we are worse than what we were.
There was always a chance of Farke & Co pulling a surprise, that left for Germany too.
We all struggle to say the same things but in a different way but always the main theme is WE ARE CRAP to what we once were.
I said yesterday the Yellow and Green ribbons that tied me to Norwich City for the last 60 years have been cut, and not by me. Thanks to the 4 people who I see as the main people with the scissors, The Stowmarket Duo along with Ward and Webber, and their arrogance, ignorance, and autocratic rule.
Nothing will change for the long term, forget Mark Attanasio, can you, me or anyone see, the Cook & Co allowing them to take control, which is what is so badly needed? He is keen to take a bigger part of the club but he will not be allowed to. They will gladly take the dollars but who can we say we trust with the money ?
I saw a quote the other day, which for me seems apt.
All good things come to an end. All bad things go on forever.
excellent choice of song and artist .
Hi Lad
You’ve nailed the mood there all right and I think it is spreading to people far younger than you and I, which makes it all the sadder.
You pinpoint the right quartet. If they are really not fussed by Richens making those crass remarks it says more about them than it does any supporter.
I couldn’t agree more with your comment about Attanasio and the Cook. As I discussed with my mates very recently she wants self funding [aka fan funding] in perpetuity and if Mark A wasn’t prepared to at least pay lip service to that she would never have let him in.
Don’t apologise for being depressed. It’s a very common feeling right now.
Finally although I’m a Clash-loving metallist I like to think I can appreciate quality across the genres, which is why I picked Paul Carrack today 🙂
Cheers – great post.
This is my reply to Michael Bailey’s article on The Athletic:
You hit the nail on the head. I didn’t expect us to run away with the title – it’s the Championship after all. However, I did expect us to be a much more cohesive unit. We have players who have been there, done that under Farke yet, as you rightly pointed out, we can only produce that for about 20 minutes per match. Why? Again you alluded to the problem. Simply our players don’t buy into whatever Smith is trying to do.
We have several Premier League quality players who obviously need stronger players around them (in the Premier League), but I think the entire squad, more or less, is upper echelon Championship. That we’re, at best, a middling Championship side is a real cause for concern. We need a spark and I don’t feel as if we’ll get it from the current management on or off the pitch.
The Attanasio aspect is rather intriguing though. I don’t imagine one just invests ten million because they can. I assume he sees us as a lucrative source of income, which could make for an interesting January window. On the other hand the Brewers are worth an estimated 1.2 billion dollars (US), so what’s ten million quid? Time will tell.
OTBC
The biggest problem at the club is the majority owner.
One of the Gary’s alluded to a few months ago about a share issue that was voted in by the board that would give any potential investor the majority ownership but would Smith and Jones every allow that not in my lifetime.
Is the club run along socialist or dictatorship rules I go for the latter
I would only add that I keep my views on politics and religion away from football and it would be great if Delia elected to do likewise.
Who on earth refuses to lower themselves to speak to local media [she’s on record as saying *I only talk to the nationals*] and then gives an interview to a norwich based Church nespaper?
Hi Geoff
A fine speech although I personally hold out no hope for the January window. The only point of interest will be how much we get for Rashica 🙂
I really must get around to subscribing to the Athletic – our MB was always good but now he has spread his wings he has become even better to read.
Cheers
Hi Martin.
I have recently said a few times our American Cousins were hand picked out of a group of 4 that were willing to invest in city as they matched Delia’s receipt on how to run a self financing club.
A UK Brewers support after hearing M-A was now a share holder said something along the lines that in their time at the Baseball club things have slowly improved but without major expenditure so that might be a plus as I do see Delia and Co having improved city in a quarter of a century they haven’t been any better or worse than Chase just did it with a smile.
Autocratic or dogmatic maybe both but egocentric comes to mind not seeing the errors of their ways, a once blooming career as a Director of Football has gone up in smoke with so many poor recruitment and sacking the man that made him look good was shameful and not falling on his own sword at the same time lack morals.
Many city loyal servants have left for pastures new either by choice or not and making good decisions at their new clubs again is this down to one man’s ego of I know best or lack of trust from him something we will never get to know unless a tell all book comes out.
No matter where you look on any site sadly including MFW there are Delia’s cohorts still blinded by her assassin smile and thinking she is doing the right thing by the club, we aren’t her children as she announced but fully paid up members for life to Cities cause with opinions that matter.
For 26 years the owners have had a free party and yes they have loaned the club money when needed but grabbed it back at the first opportunity not allowing the club to stabilise first, I can only see a big blackhole in the near future with our smiling owners proudly announcing it’s the supports fault but we tried our best well that hasn’t been good enfor the majority of supporters so pack up your kitchen and go back to Stowmarket.
Changes are needed to get the best out of this club stagnation set in a long time ago with a few high points but no lasting legacy
Hi Alex
As I said in my reply to Lad [above] we have had some good chats with the other lads about Attanasio and the Cook recently and I think we are all in agreement that something isn’t quite right.
We all know there is no *I* in team, except the four horsepersons of the Apocalypse who dwell in the Carrow Road Boardroom.
Mick D and a few others quite rightly don’t like it if anbody suggests Delia has taken money from the Club but you are nevertheless right that her and Michael have enjoyed a free party for a quarter of a century.
The trouble is that she has invited some dodgy people to the party and often asked the wrong ones to leave.
Cheers
I really believe d she loved the club and was one of us.
How she has let webber talk to the fans make me think otherwise.
She can’t be that blind to what is happening surely.
Excellently summed up yet again Martin.
To think that when Webber and then Farke arrived in 2017, little old Norwich were ahead of the curve.
A forward thinking DoF, and (for NCFC) an even more outrageous appoinment of a head coach.
It took a little time to gel, but boy, when it did we were good; at times bl**dy good.
There was a total togetherness about the club, and I still think that if Covid hadn’t happened, we could have survived in the PL in 2020.
Now, what do we have?? TweedleDum and TweedleDee in charge of a squad who look totally unfit and unable to perform in the Championship for more than 30 minutes out of every 90+.
They’ve had more than a year now, and, as I put to Gary yesterday, what exactly have they improved.
DS is proving to be an expert at sugar coating the problems, but of course, nothing is his fault. He is so far out of his comfort zone here that he even claims we “head-hunted” him….I thought that at the time he was actually unemployed.
Kompany has had around half the time at Burnley; Carrick just about a month at ‘Boro. Both young, hungry managers whose players have really bought into what they are trying to do. Their teams have a plan; the players execute it. Sounds a bit like NCFC 4 or 5 years ago.
If, by some fluke, promotion is achieved, can you imagine the horror-show of this lot in the PL next season?
I leave you with an offer to look at the Championship table…yes; we are 5th, how under this clown I will never know – but the same number of points separate us from the top of the table as they do to the relegation zone.
O T B C
Hi John
*Ahead of the curve* is really quite risible now, isn’t it?
What have they improved? I see you got 20 likes for that and Gary quite a few for simply replying: *nowt*!
Smith really does say some dumb-a$$ things. I normally include one in every article and this morning is no exception.
I’m depressed enough without once more looking at the table.
The next glance will literally be *eyes down* at 5pm on December 10 for me.
Cheers
Football is a team game and you don’t produce a team by chopping and changing all the time. We all have our favourites and our pet hates but for goodness sake what is our best team? S & S certainly don’t seem to know. When we were winning we had the trio of Aarons, Dowell and Sinani down the right developing a useful partnership but we don’t give them time to thrive. Smith has to go but it won’t happen until promotion is out of reach. (Although that might be sooner than we expected). Sad ain’t it !!
Hi Cyprus
La tristesse durera as Van Gogh [and Manic Street Preachers] have said.
Sinani disappeared off a cliff and Dowell developed a few niggles but I too liked them on the right combining with Max. Many of us did I am sure.
What is our best team? I think we could all pick the same eight starters but opinions would vary on the other three.
Cheers
We have ex players like Sutton and Sherwood both saying we should stick with the current manager he will get it right my question to both would be how long does he need and how low are we going to get before he gets it right.
Another pair of successful managers known as S&S!
And you just know that Russell Martin will have his Swans ready for the battle in 4 weeks time. I’m not sure Smiff will have his canaries ready .
Till then it’s go Josh.
Hi Bernie
Yes, RM will have his lot WELL motivated for that match.
Cheers
Marty, it’s like having a sports car that just doesn’t perform, so you sent it to a decent mechanic who knows how to tune the engine and give the local garage a miss, and surprise surprise the car becomes what it should be. City has the players, we saw that for 30 minutes, gotta say it, it’s the mechanic sorry manager! And he is.
Hi Cutty
The old adage about engineers and oily rags certainly comes to mind.
Cheers
Carrack has also played with the Eagles, Roxy Music and Eric Clapton- a great musician but the song I would have chosen is “He’ll Have To Go” by Jim Reeves or Ry Cooder
Hi Gil
Yes indeed. Didn’t he session a couple of Roxy albums on keyboards?
He was also part of Roger Waters’ stage and [I think] studio line-ups at some stage.
He’s done a LOT of session work.
Cheers
A very good read Martin. Together with a lot of really good replies.
In 12 months of Dean Smith football its difficult to recall a single impressive 90 minute performance. He clearly has no idea what he’s doing.
The four horsemen of the apocalypse aka the webbers and smiths have led the club into a parlous position both on and off the pitch and should bear full responsibility for the atmosphere at the ground.
Its time for a seismic change at all levels at norwich city, a new broom to sweep clean and reinvigorate the city.
Hi Chris.
Absolutely. When it comes to the atmosphere at the ground they’d rather deflect any guilt by allowing Richens to blame us, the supporters.
That really does rub the old proboscis right in it. It’s impossible to say you dislike a person you’ve never met but from afar I doubt I’d warm to Mr Richens.
Cheers
We have an owner who can’t finance a club at our level and a manager who looks better suited to coach driving in his white shirt on the touch line.
Looking at the finances it’ll probably require us to go into administration before Delia realises all is not well.
In the meantime there’s an awful lot of empty seats around me in the south stand but this could be due to the glare from the lights which we are informed are the fault of tv. They said on two occasions I would receive a reply to my emails regarding the lights within two working days. That was weeks ago and demonstrates there is a complete disconnect between the club and the fans.
Doubtless we’ll soon be asked to pay inflated prices to try and watch rubbish through the glare.
I’m at a point now that if both Smiths are here at renewal time I’ll start supporting a local non league team. At least Chase took us into Europe and provided entertainment.
Hi John.
Spot on as usual – I like the coach driver line 🙂
I haven’t seen these wretched lights but I know a lot of folks REALLY dislike them and they can’t all be wrong. Outside of Delia’s world anyway.
Again I’ve heard of several people who have been let down by the club when it comes to comms, although I must be fair and say that I’ve very recently dealt with a senior member of the marketing team and he’s been first class.
The way the club is acting reminds me of a dog you’ve nurtured all its life that one day suddenly bites you on the bum without a backward thought.
Cheers
Makes you wonder just who is in charge.
There’s a lot of people praying for an American buyout.
Amen to that!
I third the motion!
Agreed. However much people may not like Chase, at least he achieved success in the top division – including a trophy! But, what since? Championship anonymity with a rancid side salad of (extremely) occasional top division humiliation. We could have done better under Chase if he’d eased the purse-strings, but are we any better off?
In three words – NO, NO, (and this one just in), NO!
Hi Chris S
I never thought Chase had a peer in the *downright obnoxious* stakes but the four horsemen plus Richens in the Grima Wormtongue role are pushing him very close right now.
Cheers
Morning Martin another dreary defeat first 30mins as good as all season but fell apart after could well be fitness problem last time I saw this was under Neil couldn’t see games out remember spurs one nil up the better team wheels came off after 60mins and lost 21 happened alot under him . Geoff earlier said it should be better as they’ve been there before there lays the problem I think battle scarred players not wanting that again maybe we would be better with lesser players who have the desire for it .that said we have missed enough great chances this season to be in a much better position would be a diff mfw if some of them had gone in keep well mate .
Hi Kev
So-called lesser players who had a point to prove?
Lambert knitted together a whole team of them during some great times for everybody and it wasn’t that long ago really.
Don’t tell me Webber sourced Mario, Tommy T or the Stieperdude either – that was purely down to Daniel Farke.
Cheers mate and regards to the Barclay boys.
Jeez I forgot possibly the pick of the bunch in Zimbo!
Has there been a thaw in the Club / media relationship? Radio Norfolk had an interview with Attanasio on Saturday and the TNC boys have a chat scheduled for tonight.
Not sure that’s the case, Gaz. Certainly hasn’t extended to Archant (or MFW) 🙂
It’s a first step, maybe, hopefully of many, as there’s several steps still to go.
Don’t wait for increased communication with local media. Archant is no more. Newsquest bought them earlier this year. An American company with a London office who are renowned for xxxxxx business practices. To compound the issue, local BBC stations have had it. The folks at NCFC realise this diminishment of journalistic influence and, seemingly, have decided they don’t need it. Sadly, for old school rules of journalism integrity, they are probably right. And not just them, everyone across the board has realised it, here and in other countries. The only real question left is what will the new media landscape look like? As with all change, it will undoubtedly benefit those who instigate it, and if you’re not one of them… mmm, bad luck…
You’re 100% right about Newsquest – a mate who should know told me the other day that they make Quest appear positively angelic.
You paint a bleak but accurate picture of our rapidly changing media and things are moving [downhill] quicker than ever.
The two newish recruits to the Pink Un/EDP face a different world to the one I did when I started out 42 years ago and something tells me that being the terrific whole hearted young fellas they are they are in for a few unwanted eye-openers.
Where’s Nostrafarmus when you need him 🙂
Hi Garys both
This is an interesting one.
Personally I cannot imagine Mark Attanasio being told what to say or who he may say it to so to me it doesn’t constitute a proper thaw in media relations.
In this case I’d love to be wrong.
Cheers both
Good evening Martin.
I mentioned my worries regarding fitness issues last week.
I really would love to see the running stats comparisons for this season and Daniel Farke’s two championship winning seasons.
I am appalled that players are asking for extra training and it is being turned down.
Whatever is going on
Stuart Webber said in relation to relegation last season ” that was when the supporters deserted us ”
The financial executive’s comments regarding the fans further show the gulf between the executive and the fans.
Lack of commitment mate 😡 my two friends have no change from a £100+ on an away day trip. And they go just about to every away game.
Also who said ” all unrealistic offers for the club are dealt with before the realistic ones are decided by Delia and Michael ” what !!!!
We have been told consistently that there have been no realistic enquiries for the club. For years.
Both statements cannot be true.
It’s like they are trying to dig a bigger hole.
That are the ones saying all this then take offence when they quite bloody rightfully criticized.
We plan to be a top 25 club, soon changed to top 17.
Who said that, It wasn’t me or any other fan it was SW.
Stop making promises you can’t keep.
Is it just me or is anyone else getting more and more angry seeing Forest, Fulham and even Bournemouth put up some good performances this season ?
We were absolutely awful in the EPL, twice and instead of looking inwards they blame us the fans
Think about it Marks and Spencer’s make a crap Lasagne and if the customers complain about it, it’s the customers fault…. really!
And I reluctantly agree Martin, it is time to make a change in head coach, especially if we have someone in mind.
I just feel Dean hasn’t improved the team enough, 1 win over the top 11 in the championship with that squad is not acceptable, but it’s not all his fault as he had no holding midfielder at the start of the season and from what I hear he had to go with what he had.
Hi Tim
Whatever is going on? I couldn’t explain if I tried as I have simply given up trying to work it out. It’s not worth it any more.
When it comes to MFW articles I write instictively and very quickly, sometimes getting facts wrong or saying something in a clumsy fashion that might leave an opinion open to misinterpretation.
But that’s my bad and I am the first to put my hands up when replying to comments if I am wrong. I’m not alone in that among the MFW team either – we’re nothing if not an honest collective.
But those who cannot take criticism [especially that of a polite and constructive nature] do themselves no good whatsoever and frankly are probably in the wrong business.
Currently there is no engagement with the Club for us supporters and it’s like a slightly more subtle version of the Chase days that I thought had gone forever.
Cheers
Spot on