It was Norfolk’s worst-kept secret. David Wagner has finally been named as Norwich City’s new head coach, with Christoph Bühler as his assistant and Andrew Hughes as first-team coach.
While his appointment probably won’t set the pulse racing among a lot of City fans, it makes sense and is probably the best option available right now.
He has previously worked successfully with Stuart Webber and, probably more important as things stand right now, as he’s currently unemployed no compensation has to be paid to another club.
But while this could be seen as an easy option, it isn’t one the Webbers will have chosen lightly. They will have thought long and hard about it, as it is as crucial for them as it is for the football club.
Make no mistake, Stuart Webber is nowhere near the prized scalp he was during the Daniel Farke era. When all was rosy at Carrow Road, he was sought after in the football world and was linked with several bigger clubs.
I don’t remember his exact wording, but back in 2019 when asked about his future here, he refused to commit himself to City and expressed a desire to work abroad with one of the top teams in Europe. It sounded realistic at the time.
Well, right now I’m afraid to say they probably wouldn’t want him. After two poor seasons and a lot of hard-earned money being wasted on failed signings, his stock has fallen considerably. So to get this appointment right is as crucial for his own career as it is for Norwich City.
Of course, all City fans will be 100 per cent behind the new coach and really hope he can soon get things right on the pitch. Winning games and good performances would, to some extent, help bring back the feel-good factor at Carrow Road.
What it won’t do, however, is right the deep-seated wrongs that exist behind the scenes.
A head coach waving and smiling to the fans at the end of the game would be great but it won’t restore the trust and respect that has been lost with the departure of liked and admired key staff.
The Stuart Webber interview with Sky Sports went a little way towards calming the troubled waters. The previously denied disconnect was at least acknowledged, even if it did only refer only to the managerial situation, but it only papered over the cracks.
A new man in charge of the team provides an opportunity for this to be a watershed moment for the Club as a whole, and so, as a fan, I would humbly suggest the following:
- Appoint a chairman. The club needs a figurehead to whom those running the show are answerable.
- Appoint a CEO in the style of Steve Stone/Ben Kensell – someone who isn’t married to another person at the club.
- Swallow your pride and end this ridiculous spat with the local press. It matters not who did what, or who said what, it’s time to move on. Recognise that mistakes were made on both sides and learn from them. It has to end at some time and now is as good as any.
- Embrace the long history and traditions of this football club, and start respecting and being honest with the fans again. We are not your employees. We invest a great deal of time, money, and emotion into this football club. Listen to what we have to say. Some of it is worth listening to. We’ve been around a long time.
Do all of the above and this football club becomes a happier place for everyone again, not to mention a more desirable acquisition for Mr. Attanasio. Watching from afar he must have been horrified at the events of the last few weeks. Right now, a lot of hope is resting on his shoulders and his bank balance.
But, most important of all, give us our football club back.
Hi Kathy
Being of the older generation I remember Arthur South taking the reins from Geoffrey Watling and the the few successful years under Robert Chase who had ideas that he could make profit on players and continue to buy cheaper replacement until it all went wrong, a few demonstrations later Geoffrey Watling saved the club he would possibly be turning in his grave see how poorly the club has done under the people he trusted to sell the club too.
Some will say we have had a few promotions but more relegations from the premiership than any other club.
Healing the rift as your 4 point plan would be a start but the big problem isn’t 1 married couple but 2 that are making all the big decisions and getting most completely wrong.
Top quality coaches, recruiters have all left for pastures new so something is wrong at the top maybe big ego’s people thinking they know best.
Webber has made big profits on players but most were recruited prior to him arriving Kieran Scott sourced Buendia and again Webber made a profit, but since he left none of that ilk have been found.
Others have left and are now doing well at other clubs yet the Finance Manager says it shows city have recruited top staff, you can only do that for so long before the bubble busts the question is why did all these high quality personnel jumpship it comes down to the ego of one man I presume.
Cleanout from the top is need but 2 family teams will not give up and I have forgotten the silent husband and wife team of Tim Smith and Wife as board members.
Not many businesses are run like city maybe that’s why are American Cousins are holding back before making a move ??
The problem with lack of proper scrutiny from above the Exec level is that they, the Exec team, effectively end up marking their own homework, which is okay until the wheels fall off!
Ala Mr Chase Gary!!!
And dear fellow supporters it was worse than you can ever imagine.
Gossy and Rob Newman and youngsters !!!
Yes really. So as stubborn as Delia is the alternative of Mr Chase continuing would have been ALOT worse😂
And so say all of us!
Your final short paragraph hits the nail on the head.
“We are not your employees” an excellent comment which sums up the way paying customers are thought of by all at carrow Road. Well said.
Good piece Kathy nail and head do not want to add anything as will only be repeating your good self, only not so well written.
Great stuff Kathy.
*We are not your employees*.
Too bloody right we’re not,
As for those at the top I would neither employ nor work for any of them. Except NA o course 🙂
I really hope at least one of them reads this article.
Agree almost entirely Kathy although I must confess I’m delighted with the appointment, I’m sensing you’re a tad underwhelmed but hey ho – all about opinions.
As a huge fan of Farke and the feeling he brought to our club, I can’t wait to at least try and get back to sampling some of that joy at matches again as opposed to the utter misery that the last year has brought. I believe that Wagner albeit playing a different style is the man to bring it back, it’s clear from his first interview that he’s all about ‘workers not shirkers’ and Andy Hughes will undoubtedly deliver that message as 1st team coach.
It’s excellent advice Kathy but I doubt if our woeful owners will understand the need or benefits of it.
Agreed, John. For the second time in the space of a fortnight, our Kathy has absolutely nailed it. As you say, our owners appear content to sit on their hands and let it slide. It’s no longer *just* about the money – the Club just very badly needs fresh impetus and ideas from the very top.
Ksthy is completely spot on. Around the turn of the century the Club developed the largest shareholder cohort of any Club. Our Community Club must be exactly that. We will only get any substantial time in the Premier League if we play to our strengths.
Let me see, and I quote, Wagner is probably a good signing because he’s unemployed and we don’t have to pay compensation?
Well, that’s why things have gone so wrong at Carrow Road. It’s always the cheap option. Wouldn’t it be better to pay compensation for a proven manager because just how much have we paid out to compensate sacked managers?
The club thrives on cheap, they thrive on bad loan players and bad buys. We don’t need Webber and his wife with her made-up job – it’s all behind the scenes that need replacing I.e directors, so-called talent scouts etc
It’s one bad decision after another – the club is full of oldies and hangers on. The ground needs updating along with owners.
After 50 years of this constant bull at Carrow Road I’m done – I’m ashamed of everything to with this club everyone at the club is on the make. RIP
Ivan,
I’m not actually sure we can afford to pay compensation right now. If we’re going to do anything at all in the transfer window, we either have to sell, or hang on to every penny we have.