Back in the day, when I had a mortgage to service and a couple of dependent youngsters to keep warm, clean and healthy, going to work was a necessity.
Always being lucky in that respect, I enjoyed myself at work more than was really strictly allowable. Once or twice I had a little bit too much fun but more often than not I got away with it.
If something grabs me by the throat and enthuses, me such as football in general and NCFC in particular, or following my favourite bands, I have always done everything in my power to indulge myself to the hilt, filling my size nines at every opportunity.
I’ve never really thought of myself as a responsibility shirker in terms of either the commercial world or 99% legal hedonism, but I’m at the point where I’m pleased to have an unshakeable reason, let alone excuse, for not being able to attend games at Carrow Road any more beyond – and even this is a maybe – once in a blue moon.
Like, I guess, many of us who have lived our lives somewhat recklessly, the middle of the candle is on its last cohesive legs and my supporting career in an active sense has come to an end at what most would describe as “a very interesting time”.
Not one that I mind missing out on too much though – although watching a slow, strangled revolution unfold would have been a first for me.
James’s match report and Gary’s sobering piece on the aftermath of David Wagner’s first outing as our head coach set out the stall for the rest of the season and it’s going to be a fight, no doubt about it.
From my perspective, based on reports from friends and extended match highlights, it is true that “football can be weird … and we have to hope for something extraordinary to occur” as Gary put it but I don’t think we’re in the “late push for the playoffs” category.
Far from it in my view as wherever you look, there is turmoil, never better illustrated than by the sight of Grant Hanley on Sunday with the ball at his feet and facing his own keeper.
There is just so much work to do everywhere and the lot at the top have had 13 months to sort it out.
They’re not going to achieve much between now and the first Saturday in May, are they?
I doubt we’ll reach the nadir of a relegation shoot-out with, at this stage, I’d guess Rotherham, Wigan, Blackpool and Huddersfield. We are too good to go down aren’t we? 🙂
Realistically, we are not beyond hope of showing some improvements on the pitch and it is not unreasonable to expect that we will at least see Wagner draw his lines in the Colney sand in terms of stamina, general fitness and what for most of us is the most discussion-worthy topic of all – who should stay and who should go.
Minus the professional skills of a Stewart Lewis, I am unable to dip into the world of polling but vibes coming from the Canary community would seem to suggest that we are not equipped for evolution – so revolution it must be.
This will obviously mean a cull and while the highly likely departures of the great servants that have been Tim Krul and especially Teemu Pukki will be greeted with heartfelt thanks and more than a tinge of regret, I am really not so positive about most of the others.
Todd Cantwell, Kieran Dowell, Jordan Hugill, Milot Rashica?
You, dear reader, tell me how people will react to the probable departures of these folks and others of their ilk if you will. A sea change is on its way but events of this magnitude take time to enact so we will all have to be patient, a virtue which is slowly but surely becoming eroded from the traditional make-up of the long-suffering “$hit happens” Norwich fan.
The Academy may currently be witnessing a lull in breakthroughs but the youth is certainly coming through off the pitch – those that can be bothered to stay with us, of course.
They won’t stand for what my generation, all those above it, and the one immediately beneath it has put up with. Teenagers often get accused of showing a universal lack of respect but some, and I stress some, of it is justified and realistic – especially when it comes to those manifestations of authority that I heartily dislike myself.
When Nick Cave spoke of Kicking Against the Pricks in the mid-1980s it either resonated with you or it didn’t. Or you remain unaware of the album, its origins, and its social significance in certain circles to this day. As a call to arms, it’s up there with Strummer’s The Future is Unwritten, anyway.
Give it a decade or so and the New Footy Order will be marching right up the stairs.
Crushing realism emanated from the man in the stands Don H as well:
“Nine days, three games at Carrow Road, two defeats, one goal. As a Norwich fan, I know that there are going to be bleak times, but I didn’t expect this season to provide so many.
“We probably deserved to win the game. We spent pretty much all the second half in and around the Blackburn penalty area. There were plenty of shooting opportunities, but several players took three or four touches rather than one or two before shooting and the chances were gone. We had 20 corners; if only we had a set-piece coach!
“I don’t think many fans will have learned anything from this game but I’m sure the new head coach did!”
It’s definitely going to be one of those rocky rides from here and now until the end of the season.
Stuart Webber might gain from watching this. It’s professionalism in action and exciting to watch as well:
Morning Mr P another delight to read piece. Sadly the bleak times will continue, while a pattern is instilled,, and I fear that might well be next season.. Unless we are being feed pork pies there is no money to help. We said on here what seems an age ago that under this crazy ideal we will be seeing a team of old guys sprinkled with untried kids. We are fast getting closer to that.
After watching the unveiling of Wagner yesterday, he does command more than a little respect. Although perhaps playing down the problems a bit. I still liked what I heard,
As to one of the problems the club is in a mess (more than what we know ). His mishandling of running the show we are in more debt that perhaps we have ever been. I recall the debt being in the 20’s millions when Bowkett & ,McNasty were calling the shots. Correct me if wrong.
Now for a self funding club £55 huge ones is pretty mad, especially when we cannot see hardly one player who can help reduce that. Yes all well and good to take responsibility, but if nobody can criticize or voice an opinion against that management titvis nowt but siege mentality. Arrogance and narcissism stand out. Ignore the noise takes another meaning. How the press felt when told from the top table, he doesn’t read what they write. Here have a slap in the kisser, pressboys.
As good as Wagner can be hopefully very good he will find he mouth gagged and hands tied. But will win us pesky fans over, probably number 2 on his brief outline. Still if the football gets better. And being honest that won,t take a great deal the majority of fans will stay happy clappy. But the overall larger picture remains exactly the same.
Still the same hands on the rudder still heady for a little bit of calm seas but the rocks are still there to be steered round.
Hi Lad
Yes the problem remains the same, as in Delia, MWJ and the Webbers show no signs whatsoever of throwing in the towel.
Wagner is making all the right noises – I am just now beginning to recall how personable and eloquent he was at Huddersfield.
I don’t have a problem with him per se, just this nagging doubt that old acquaintance might mean he is occasionally proactively willing to play the *yes man* to Webber.
And that man has more than enough power already.
Cheers
Vintage Canary
A very good article my friend.but the club are still in the same predicament as Louis xv1 and Marie Antonette.
Poor managent and governence, wild spending.
Gross negativity on the pitch
And a total misunderstanding
Of the people the fans hidden away in versailles lofty towers doing there own thing i expect the same tones from the top like let them eat cake to the fans. The crowd. They are the life blood of Norwich and will always be so. Ithink that the Italian american recognises that as a republican would.
Ihave been saying for 18months the old guard are not up to scatch. So a revolution is the only way out
Let the storming of the bastille
Commence
This would be my team in the next two weeks mr Wagner
Gunn, Mumba, Omebamadele, Sorensen, Gino. Gibbs. Nunez. Gabby. Hernandez.Sargent.Springett.
H Keith
You’re a brave man picking a team right now – I wouldn’t dare to try 🙂
I always remember that scene from the allegedly historically-iffy film of Waterloo where 25 years after la Revolution a corpulent and well past their best Old Guard literally died for Napoleon rather than be captured.
Napoleon, of course, survived along with whatever woman he was with at the time.
I’m sure Attanasio thinks along the lines you suggest too, but the question is, what can he do about it – and just what might he wish to do about it?
Those Yanks know a bit about Revolution too.
Bon sante
A sea change eh, currently it’s as rough as the southern Pacific. The water needs smoothing and Wagner could be the man to do it. His first game was an improvement on the torpor under Smith , effort , but the lack of confidence in that final third. The lads would rather pass the ball round and round rather than take the shot..
It’s looking likely that Todd will off within a day or two to pursue his hippy dream ( it’s the hair) in Glasgow , soon to be followed by the others you mention.
But it’s depressing that anyone speaking out against Webber is immediately dismissed from the big time as a non believer, the man’s got a large fragile ego.
Hi Bernie
To me there is a deep irony if Todd does indeed join the Blue side of Glasgow in that I wonder if Billy Gilmour has given Michael Beale a personal reference?
The closest I can think of to a Glaswegian hippie is Donovan [Leitch] so maybe our Todd will have to start his own trend.
Rumour this morning says that Webber has turned down a low-level bid for Cantwell from a Championship rival which paves the way for an Ibrox link-up, but don’t tell Bears fans as they are bandying about words like *dud*, *work avoider* and *never was* in the Daily Record and elsewhere.
Webber would have sat easily between Cardinal Fang and Cardinal Biggles in Monty Python’s Spanish Inquisition.
Cheers
It‘s in everyone’s interest at the club to make a decent showing until the end of the season and Wagner may be the man to press the right buttons. We can‘t afford the present wage bill so there will have to be a fire sale and the players need to attract decent offers. So pull together lads and then it‘s off to pastures new. If Wagner can get them into a winning mode he then has to figure out what he can cobble together for next season and can he rely on Webber to up his game in the search for replacements. Please no injury prone, no long term chancers but players who can hit the ground running. And it‘s time for the development setup to earn it‘s keep. As you say Marty ˋA sea change on it‘s way´.
Hi Cutty
I’m not so sure about that cos every player looking for a move can point the finger at Dean Smith and Norwich City for his poor showing this season. I would if I were one of them anyway, telling the prospective new club that my head had cleared and I was now raring to go.
In some cases that might not be so far from the truth.
Injury prone signings, all done with eyes wide open, have to end I agree.
Can Wagner rely on Webber? I hope so because us supporters can’t.
Cheers
I have difficulty understanding David Wagners methods. Its middle of the season, sounds completely idiotic to start training very hard. The most likely outcome will be negative. It sounds like junior football methods. Also sticking to 1 playing system is outdated.
Todd Cantwell looks to be heading to Glasgow Rangers. This could be a great transfer for him, I suppose manager Beale sees him as low stake gambling. Rangers plays high level european cup games, their league might be important to local fans but at least foreign players are way more interested to play those european cup games. Ex manager Van Bronckhorst obviously didnt get along with some or even many players. I would say that he is a typical dutch coach, very harsh. Its interesting to see do Rangers finally in this transfer window let Glen Kamara leave. Van Bronckhorst denied his transfer and played him when he was injured. Their league games are something which are not enjoyable to watch, basically if you watch 1 game you have seen them all.
Finland played yesterday a friendly match vs Sweden in Portugal and lost 2-0. I would say that 0-0 would have been a fair result, 1 lucky bounce and 1 Norwich type gift was behind the result. Several players on both sides made their national team debuts. Bergström (Chelsea) 205 cm goalkeeper was impressive, also Galvez (ManC) looked good and he is only 17. Sadigu played now for Finland as striker, he just played for Kosovo but decided to play rather for Finland which is very good news. Our micky mouse midfield was bad, there is nothing positive in any of those players. On thursday Finland plays another friendly game in Portugal, this time vs Estonia. Then the lineup will be different and some players get their debut.
Hi 1×2
*Their league games are something which are not enjoyable to watch, basically if you watch 1 game you have seen them all.*
You have just said what almost every Englishman and Welshman thinks of the SPL!
I think you are right about Dutch managers. Ruud Gullit was the first big name we had in the UK and with his love of *sexy football* and the odd party he was a much loved character in the UK. He still pops up on TV sometimes, cool as ever.
That does not mean any of the others have been like Gullit of course 🙂
People in the UK sometimes wonder what the point of these friendlies like Finland are playing is, but I think they help the national team manager very much in weighing up a few players with nil, one or two caps to learn more about them.
Kiitos
Hi Martin
Revolution or Evolution who knows.
Wagner will set a few people thinking with his statement that Sargent plays through the middle as a centre forward not out wide, will we see Pukki gone before the window closes or drop into the No10 role which I think would suit his style.
No defending Hanley’s error in the last game but he looked like a rabbit in headlights trying to find an escape route and the only one was risky not one other defender or Midfielder made themselves available or cover Vale late run.
Stats say 20 corners and more shots than the last time we played Blackburn, but shots on target or saved are what count we never really tested their keeper, hit the post or crossbar how many blocks, similarly they were poor in front of goal but got the one that counted via an error so spilt milk let’s stop crying and start to analyse what’s needed.
Will money for loans or permanent signing be found can we send Hayden back,will a recall for Mumba happen ??
Cantwell is suppose to be in the Gorbals having a medical this week, Fulham looking at Aaron’s, Gala want Rashica pennies from heaven to fill an empty coffer.
Pritchard is being touted for a return but Martin on loan at Barnsley plays a similar position and is 8 years younger and less injury prone at the moment.
Did Idah blow his big chance last weekend, dud Hugill and Sinani show enough to impress, can we see a new pairing in the defence and the big question how do we add some steel or backbone to this team.
Lastly Delia gave us what we have all shouted 26 years for investment but in a mirror image of herself, I just don’t understand his motive the club needs the life blood of the greenbacks but that’s not fourth coming anytime soon but the looks of things a watching brief to see how bad things will get.
Hi Alex
All good points there so just a couple of minor observations.
I don’t really see the need for Pritchard and would Webber sign a 31-y-o anyway?
Hayden is back at Newcastle now in the physical sense. Id use whatever medical evidence the club surely has to keep him there, with the caveat that this situation is not the lad’s fault. Webber should have fought shy in the first place and with me that’s not hindsight – I do not believe in signing injury risks period.
To a layman like me Attanasio has invested a fixed amount for a fixed return with further options seven years down the line.
He’s also chucking in a bit of free bonhomie as a bonus along the way.
If he doesn’t take up the options at the appropriate time that will be that and by then hewould be unlikely to be dealing with Delia. It would be Tom Smith, probably without the Webbers in tow but it could just feasibly be with them still in situ.
Heaven help us all if it is.
Cheers
Morning Martin, whilst I declared my support for this appointment last week on this platform I have to say I was somewhat dismayed yesterday to see Stuart Webber maintaining his combative approach towards the local media. I’m finding this all very perplexing, surely this is the perfect opportunity to take a leaf from Wagner’s book and draw a line under what’s gone on in the past but he shows no signs of wanting to do that.
Whether he reads it or not (and I suspect he does) there was absolutely no need to utter those words, there’s nothing to be gained by the club in allowing this situation to simmer in the background. Good luck to David Wagner because he’s going to need it unless Delia and Michael do what they should have done ages ago and tell Webber to ‘wind his neck in’.
I don’t believe anybody (media or fans) is wanting or expecting anything approaching an apology from the club for allowing the disconnect to happen but uttering phrases about the fans never being to blame seems a bit hollow when SW follows it up with stuff about not hearing or listening to anyone else’s opinion from outside the club. He talks a good game about having an open mind and then demonstrates that his isn’t.
I sincerely hope this appointment works but if not I don’t see Wagner becoming the fall guy as far as the fans are concerned, the most likely targets of the vitriol will be the Webbers and Delia and Michael. We have to hope it doesn’t come to that but if it does there’ll be no ignoring the noise at that stage.
Hi Bob
Yes, there’s nothing like coming face to face with a man for the first time since he blanked you months ago only to be told he doesn’t read a word you write anyway.
Even if that is true, his PR team will read every word and pick out the salient points in a digest for him, either verbally given or sent as a document. Quite possibly both.
The Webbers seemingly have their claws in deeper every day.
In a funny kind of way I am reminded of a person I knew who I discovered liked my elderly mother’s jewellery a bit too much. This neighbour would would perform a series of uncalled for tiny favours and drop some extremely unsubtle hints.
After some persuasion from me my daughter got part of her inheritance a few months early.
Cheers
You’re absolutely right about the PR team – a few years ago a former member had to cut out NCFC-related stories from all the papers every morning so that they could be passed on to Stowmarket especially once a certain couple of local residents stopped having the EDP delivered…
Hi O-t a s-t h
In the very early 80s I was in the Met Press Bureau team at NSY and our Night Duty spent half his/her shift doing just that on behalf of the Boys in Blue. *Newsnight* had to be videoed too.
If the digest wasn’t on the DAC’s desk by 0600 the next morning – or even more so something had been overlooked – sheer bloody hell broke loose.
I once spent a rare 0900-1700 *middle turn* advising top Yard-based officers on the political bias of all our nationals. One or two couldn’t be persuaded that the Telegraph wasn’t produced by the *Searchlight* team!
Random on-topic observation: I always thought the EDP was a top quality regional when ECN owned it and Peter F was the Editor.
These days???
Cheers
Ah yes, PF could see which way the wind was blowing in an increasingly digital world and got out when he wanted and on his terms – unlike the following three successors in the editor’s chair. Sadly after nearly 20 years of bad investments, strategic errors and poor executive leadership – just like the football club, eh? – what remains of the local press should frankly now be offered a last cigarette and final request such is the way it is being starved of resources.
Brilliantly put Martin.
Revolution whatever way you look at it.
Stay in the Champo and it is goodbye to a whole load of players who we can no longer afford😱
A Playoff winning run and again a big churn of players as we prepare for another EPL campaign😱
And I do not know which one is scarier.
I am like you at “a very interesting time” in my life so worrying about things at Carrow Road is a welcome distraction. And yes I think that is the correct wording, worrying.
Que, Sera, Sera ( Not Gabby) will be the outcome however much we worry, argue, complain or get angry.
But after yesterday’s David Wagner press conference I was pleased to hear SW at least admit he had got some things wrong over the last 18 months, even if it looked like extracting blood from a stone.
But I am no body language expert but to me one person looked like he was well excited to be there and the other looked like he would prefer to be stuck in the loo with bad diarrhea.
No prizes for guessing which was which.
Of course SW doesn’t give a stuff about what we say, he is basically his own boss absolutely no chance of the sack, but I do believe recent events have hurt him despite what he says.
It is promises, promises Stuart, just don’t go there.
Nor blame the fans.
It wasn’t us who signed two holding midfield crocks two seasons running or a host of youngsters for a relegation fight.
But of course we know he didn’t mess all this up on purpose ( I am sure he worked extremely hard) it is just showing some humility and admitting it is an almost impossible job keeping Norwich City FC in the EPL as a supposed self funding club.
He says he doesn’t understand why the fans have turned so badly against himself and Dean Smith when we were going into a game that had we won we would have gone third in the league. (Blackburn).
Here is my reasons for what they are worth.
Two absolutely awful relegations. That delivered 21 and 22 points, Fulham our Championship winning successors had 22 points in December. Forest and Bournemouth have at least been competitive.
Stuart, to be told we should be grateful for all this is naivety. The first relegation in my opinion had caveats, a dreadful injury list especially at the back and the sudden stopping of football due to covid did not help us one bit especially as we were building up ahead of steam.
But Project Restart and the performances in the second half of last season were just plain embarrassing. Woeful.
Dean Smith was given a pass on this by most supporters as I have said before a Klopp/Pep team up would not have kept us up last season.
But the very least supporters wanted to see at the start of this season was some excitement, attacking football and a style of play. We got zero out of three, bar on a very few occasions.
I do not agree with all the vitriol Smith got at all got but cast our minds back to earlier this season and what did the fans chant….”Deano, Deano sort this out” Now that shows the fans WANTED Smith to succeed.
I believe 100% had there been any of the three things I mention above, Smith would have had the backing of the fans. But when you realize that Blackburn have had more wins at Carrow Road than we have since September then you know that even if you are Jurgen bloody Klopp you have a big problem on your hands.
Only an lunatic would argue that self funding didn’t have a bearing on all of this. But Stuart you still continue the club mantra that *self funding is the way to go.
But the biggest problem is one Stuart you and the board have brought on yourselves and that is blaming the fans for practically everything that has gone wrong in the last eighteen months.
Relegation, “oh that was when the fans gave up on us” nothing to do with self funding or bad recruitment then?
The contempt you Stuart and Delia hold most of us in is quite heartbreaking. And I mean that.
I have been going to Carrow Road for nearly 60 years now and though not as NCFC mad as my mate Marty ( who admits that he would go to a game even with pneumonia😂 I didn’t) I love my club and will continue support them even though I can no longer go regularly due to health and costs.
I do not need people who are passing through the club to tell me what I should think.
But the booing we all have to admit does affect the players so we all need to get behind David Wagner and give him every chance.
But the problem will remain, Farke & Smith both failed to keep Norwich in the EPL, Stuart Webber failed in the recruitment for the EPL twice but are any of them truly responsible? Or does it go higher?
Does this all lay at the door of The Authority?
*Self funding + borrowing against Two years Parachute Payments.
Hi Tim
*But of course we know he [Webber] didn’t mess all this up on purpose ( I am sure he worked extremely hard) it is just showing some humility and admitting it is an almost impossible job keeping Norwich City FC in the EPL as a supposed self funding club.*
True. Somebody should make a sign from the words and hang it over Delia’s front door.
*Self funding [has equated to] borrowing against two years’ of parachute payments.
True. That would look nice over the fire in the front room carved into a light natural wood with contrasting dark lettering. Like you often find in the more established pub.
Wagner will be cut more slack than Smith but I am buggered if he will be able to do much more than keep us up this season.
They can stick their self funding where the sun don’t shine.
Cheers
Super stuff Martin. Those of us “regulars” who could face attending the game certainly didn’t learn much. Apart perhaps that dean smith was stealing a living.
Wagner alluded to the performance stats following the game. Apparently more ground was covered, faster and with more purpose according to the data. One didn’t need a computer to see that.
The revolution as it stands is paused, awaiting some affirmative action, principally from across the pond. As yet, I can’t make up my mind as to whether our American cousins are teasing us or whether Delia smith is digging her heels in for a last stand. If the latter is true then her legacy, as it is, will be tarnished forever. Action is needed now. Both on and off the pitch.
Hi Chris
Yeah, the Attanasio situation remains a conundrum and I can only repeat what I said to Alex [above]:
*To a layman like me Attanasio has invested a fixed amount for a fixed return with further options seven years down the line.
*He’s also chucking in a bit of free bonhomie as a bonus along the way.
*If he doesn’t take up the options at the appropriate time that will be that.*
My guess is that by getting Attanasio on board in the way that she has, Delia has sold us a pup, as in dangling seven years of hope when in reality there may well be none.
Cheers
Hi Martin;
Given what had happened over the previous 14 months, the bar for Mr Wagners’ debut was set horrendously low. Having said that, from what (little) I’ve seen and heard, the attitude from those selected seemed very different from what went before. Max actually got past the half-way line, and post match gave out positive vibes – but who wouldn’t with a new man in charge.
If we should make the play-offs, (and if he can get these guys fitter it’s not out of the question), we could well luck back to the promised land. We’ll have a huge personnel change for next season whatever happens, but still very little to spend (remember Lambert’s very reasonable request??).
The jewels from the youth team suddenly seem to have dried up.
And there was I thinking that the US delegation had put in £10m…….however, I’m sure I read somewhere it’s a loan at 6%….,.,.if that’s the case I wouldn’t mind putting some in myself knowing that the interest payments would cover the cost of my ST’s, and I could always get my initial investment back!
O T B C
Hi John
Attanasio might indeed be a red herring as Chris suggests is a possibility [above].
Yes I remember the Lambert request and the Bowkett response to it. I think I read about it in the local media 🙂
Max spoke very positively after the game I agree. He’s in a small, select group alongside Pukki and Krul who would leave this month with my very best wishes.
Webber’s in charge of his destiny though rather than Max himself.
Cheers
Over the last five years, some fans have talked about Webber in prophet-like terms, someone who preaches the gospel and “tells it like it is”.
The reality is Webber “tells it” how he sees it, or how he believes it will most benefit him. There’s often a chasm between his words and the objective truth.
I called it out early, seeing petulance when he ‘had to’ throw Howson under the bus, and when he told us that fans on Canary Call couldn’t have an opinion if they weren’t watching in the ground. He’s never accepted criticism of him or his work. Be it from players, fans, or the media.
If you still believe him now consider that he just held a press conference where he said he ignores the noise. Doesn’t read it. Doesn’t impact him.
Then remember that one evening news headline led to a punishment of all news outlets, and a bed sheet led to him being dragged away from fans by the Executive Director of the club.
Still believe what he says?
Hi Dave
I must admit I was taken in early doors and so were very many of us.
Don’t worry, I haven’t *believed in him” for quite some time now and that means years rather than months..
Just like John Lydon, I know when I’ve been cheated.
Cheers