I detested mathematics at school, basically because I didn’t really understand it or [I know, I know] see the purpose of it.
I have always been reasonably good at mental arithmetic, my skills honed by spending a final school Easter holiday taking the bets and doing some primitive settling at a bookies in the East End’s Commercial Road owned by my mate’s dad. Bless me, that was 47 years ago to the month!
Things like geometry, trigonometry and algebra completely defeated me and I managed to scrape an O-Level grade #5 without which I would have probably missed out on a few lucrative jobs I had during my sixth form years and for a few months beyond.
But this hatred of maths has returned to haunt me, as in how the hell have Norwich City managed to remain in seventh place in the EFL Championship, four points behind Millwall in fifth and Blackburn in sixth with seven games to go? And with a better goal difference than both?
Everybody seemingly everywhere is saying that this has been the most ridiculous Championship season for several years and I am nobody to disagree.
There remain a few diehard fans of an absurdly optimistic nature who think we can still creep into sixth spot and point to our next fixture: Blackburn Rovers [a] as do-able.
Now, I hate to write off my own team but for us, the season is surely over. Have a serious look in your yellow and green framed mirror and answer yourself honestly: what are our chances of picking up anything at Ewood Park, on Good Friday?
Returning to Saturday afternoon, City boss David Wagner was obviously not best pleased with the way referee Darren Bond allowed James McAtee’s goal to stand. His view, for what little it’s worth, is completely in line with how I interpreted matters after seeing the highlights:
“It was offside. Not the final pass offside but in the build-up, there was a clear offside. In this situation a clear offside at least a yard or half a yard, then Max got the ball and after this situation, the game continues and the final pass is not offside but he [the referee] didn’t stop the game when the play was offside.
“I have not spoken to the ref, it makes no sense. We have to accept the decision. It doesn’t change why we didn’t play well today. We have to be honest, offensively we were not good enough individually or collectively.”We were not able to create clear-cut chances and were not good in our passing.”
Blades counterpart Paul Heckingbottom seemed to be in jocular mood when he claimed: “I’ve been told it’s onside but I’m not bothered. I wish it was offside, to be honest. It’s upset me that it’s not.
“We’ve had so many go against us this season, as anyone who has seen us regularly will know. It’s easy to talk about how we’ve won, but we’re owed. And I hope we get many more [of these decisions] between now and the end of the season.”
We troubled Blades keeper Wes Foderingham just once during the entire s**t-show – a Marquinhos shot from 20 metres out that was hit straight down the Sheffield stopper’s throat.
Most of the Canary nation are resigned to the idea of a summer reset. I am for sure and I think one of the fundamental ways of approaching it is to appreciate that, internally, we do not have a level playing field from which to launch such a massive operation.
That’s largely because of the £55 million debt accumulated by spending, albeit remarkably badly, prior to a Premier League season in the summer of 2021.
Gary G said yesterday that Sheffield United are a wholly unexceptional side and it’s hard to disagree with that, although they are always up for a battle and well-versed in the Dark Arts, a subject where City remain very much bottom of the class.
It will do Heckingbottom’s crew no good at all in the PL, but at Championship level it is no bad thing to be able to introduce Messrs Olliver Norwood, Chris Basham, John Fleck and Mr Gobby, aka Billy Sharp, late in a game.
We have nobody like any of them, which might please the purists but we are crying out for a genuine ball-winner in the Oliver Skipp mould.
Quite how we get around Stuart Webber’s insistence on gambling with the future resale value of seemingly every player bought in as a sacrifice to the clay-footed God of fan funding I do not know. No seasoned 28-year-old Championship regulars for us I am afraid.
What we have to sell and what we might get for them is a question I am not ideally placed to answer, but I feel it should be asked nonetheless so I’ll do my best, and it goes something like this:
In terms of “cash sales” we have Max Aarons, who deserves a move if anyone ever has. Loyal, injury-free and no mean footballer, surely every single one of us will wish Max well. Rumour has long surrounded him, and whether he goes to a top-four PL side and bides his time to make the right-back/wingback slot his own or goes for a mid-table move and instant minutes is his choice. Let’s say £10 million.
Gaby Sara is a strange one. He’s only been here five minutes and nobody is prepared to say exactly how much we paid Santos for him, although £6 million sounds about right. Would an offer of £10 million secure his services? With the financial plight we are in, most likely.
Andrew Omobamidele, as cultured as he often appears, is still a bit raw but might “attract a PL punt” from somebody or another. If I were playing second fiddle to Ben Gibson I would certainly treat a decent offer from elsewhere very seriously. Methinks £5 million plus add-ons might make it happen.
Milot Rashica would probably achieve about £5 million from top Turkish side Galatasaray and that, folks is that.
There are of course several players who could be released just to get their wages off our books, including Tim Krul, Kieran Dowell, Onel Hernandez and others. We will all have our own divergent views concerning who from this contingent should stay and who should go. I would like to see Dowell stay, but I bet many of you will disagree with me, which is just how it should be.
Loans both in and out is another area where we have underperformed spectacularly, never more so than this wretched season. There’s no need for me to yet again go over the failures of Isaac Hayden and Marquinhos or the crazy situation with Aaron “are you really out for the season?” Ramsey. Outwards Bali Mumba has been outstanding for Plymouth but nobody else seems to have benefitted at all, so by definition neither has the player or the club.
It was pointed out to me yesterday [thanks Alex B] that from all of our outbound loanees, only Jon McCracken featured anywhere at all on Saturday, playing the full 90 in goal for Stevenage in their hard-fought local promotion derby at Northampton, which ended 1-1.
While the Academy isn’t exactly stacked with saleable assets right now, there is the Alex Matos to Chelsea situation, which worries me for the future.
And on top of all that we’ve got the mystery of Mark Attanasio and the take-up of the newly-available shares to take on board. Gary F and Stewart Lewis both wrote articles on MFW last week in which they said they believe it is only formality holding up some kind of announcement from the Club, which is very good to hear indeed.
I am losing faith that communication channels might be reopened between the Club and the local media but if something could yet be sorted out it would be to the benefit of everybody, but in relatively recent times the benefit of everybody seems like an alien concept to the club, who have said nothing to contradict their stance concerning us, the supporters.
Last but not least, can any form of reset get off the ground with Delia Smith and Michael Wynn-Jones still, it seems, intransigent in their desire to cling on to the majority shareholding at Carrow Road? I am doubtful in extremis, you might think differently.
One thing is for sure, it’s going to be a very eventful summer. Not straightforward, it rarely is with Norwich City, but eventful and there’ll be plenty for us MFW types to discuss.
***I cannot end without expressing my thanks to the nurse who administered me with an infusion of something or other at Cromer Hospital last week, educating me about the osteoporosis I, unfortunately, acquired last summer as the cannula acted as a conduit for the KoolAid or whatever it was.
I was amazed when she saw the Canary tattoo on my lower forearm, appeared to double-check my name and said “you’re the bloke who writes on MFW and always puts some music on at the end, aren’t you?”
Suitably unmasked, the half-an-hour flew by as we had a good old natter about NCFC – like me, she has had a season ticket for over 30 years. I won’t name you as you asked me not to, but thanks for making a potentially bad experience a bit of light-hearted fun. And for the story about Grant Hanley and your mum, which was heart-warming indeed.
Talking of music, this line of thought might help us during the reset [and any excuse to feature the ubercool Mr Ferry, whichever band he is with]:
Sad indeed. I agree about Dowell I think it is no coincidence that since his injury any semblance of creativity has disappeared from the midfield area.
Although I have said I thought we would still make the playoffs I must admit that was a false hope. If not for the financial consequences I think staying in the championship for a reset is no bad thing but not with Webber still being responsible for trading in the transfer market.
Pukki has his mind elsewhere or is just a fading star and the rest of the attacking players are firing blanks so it is time for a shakeup anyway.
Keep smiling!!
Hi Cyprus
I’m glad there’s a little bit of love for Dowell out there – I would very much like Onel to sign on for another three-stretch too for what that’s worth.
Pukki is certainly a talking point – has been all season really – and I think he’s weighing up his options off the pitch to the detriment of what he’s doing on it. But what is he getting in terms of the type of service he thrives on? Sweet FA I’m afraid.
Maybe our Finnish friend 1×2 will be along later to give his view, and I doubt it will differ much from yours and mine!
Cheers
Morning MR P, glad things went well at hospital. If nothing changes, things will stay the same.
Exactly how I feel about all thing NCFC, I feel we have had our highs for a while if you can call promotion quickly followed by relegation a high. But the way things are looking that is as good as it will get. We will be back to mid-table championship club, with fantastic support, in debt to double what we were when the cook and co took over. Getting near to the magical 6th spot is perhaps the best we can look forward to. and a Derby game with those down the road. Many will say “we are lucky to have a club at all” Good subservient cap doffers, happy with their lot.
The fans have taken a fair amount of stick from the club this season, but still they can boast of the amount of season tickets being sold. About the only time lately fans have felt wanted. , sadly this stems from the guy who has been allowed to run up the debt on low quality players, until there is nothing left. What happened to the dream of being an established premiership team. (his dream not mine) perhaps the word PIPE should be added .
But we have learned a great deal from our American cousins according to the football expert on the Board, when we will see any benefit from this cross the pond hook up is anyone guess. I do not think or believe for one second, that The Stowmarket duo would have allowed anyone onto and into the club if there was a danger of then being ousted from their lofty controlling position. Safe Hands have many meanings.
Morning Lad
*I do not think or believe for one second, that The Stowmarket duo would have allowed anyone onto and into the club if there was a danger of then being ousted from their lofty controlling position.*
It’s early doors but that’s already a strong candidate for comment of the day.
I wish you hadn’t mentioned *Safe Hands* though.
It reminds me of that cringeworthy David Seaman TV ad for double glazing or whatever. And in turn double glazing reminds me of smarmy salesmen.
I’d better break the chain at this point 🙂
Cheers
Well Martin it’s championship again next year’s team seem weak and clueless 3 forwards on pitch not one shot from them on target miidfied non existing and arsenal loanee no better then we have here don’t miss dowell myself even when we had better run he was very poor in some of the games . Hernandez is the big miss for me because he carries the ball so far up the field only arrons on occasions does that we have no cutting edge be lucky to get another 4points by end of season on this form .
Hi Kev
Yes Dowell does blow hot and cold and moves like a geriatric sloth but he possesses a genuine creative spark last seen exhibited by Buendia – and Cantwell to an extent, when he could be bothered at the beginning of his career.
Our form is wretched as you say and I don’t see the upcoming reset as an easy task to implement.
What maddens me the most is that nobody at the very top even seems to care, of if they do they’ve got a funny way of showing it.
Cheers
Well I wonder if maddisson might come to our rescue again if he goes in the summer also there’s more parachute money to come and of course they could do a few lines on the lotto 20mill this Sunday 😉
Trouble is mate that while *every £1 million helps*, most incomings will be used to offset the debt in one way or another.
The demise of Brendan R at Leicester should pave the way for Madders’ departure from the East Midlands.
Hi Martin.
Well the weather is improving up here in sunny Blackpool but the Tangerines got their arse kicked at Deepdale on Saturday lunch time so it seems Mick Mccarthy hasn’t done well in derbies of late.
Lots of conjecture about the goal was it or wasn’t it does it really matter the blades were the better of 2 poor teams on the day Dark Arts included and a Ref who looked as if he was more interested in a Chocolate Easter Bunny than doing what he was paid for and control the game.
A reset at board level and senior management should be the first on a summer agenda followed closely by the first team but with a failing academy in recruitment we are not fit for purpose.
Chelsea have picked Matos and there could be more to follow I would presume, kick of ambition or greed ? That’s an agent or family pushing him I would presume, at city he might have got a first team chance at Chelsea it’s a round of loans then a sale for big money, in the long run money for city.
I read that city were the hover fir the London clubs sacking in their rejects, Lewis, Aaron’s, Famewo all from Luton the we got players from Arse-nal, Spurs and Chelsea that were good for us but not going to get into their first team so released but since Webber we have spent big at Rochdale, and in Scotland with no end product for the academy.
My question is why have we left our traditional hunting grounds of freebies only to go for expensive flops.
Keep safe and well
Add Martin
On your list of sales, we might £3m plus add on for Gunny Jr if the Rangers rumours are to be believed.
So another loss of a transfer input we have Barden, McCracken plus Mair gaining experience at differing levels.
Will Krul be gone to a windmill inold Amsterdam and then theirs aging Irishman will he pack his harp and return to a team in Scotland or a lower league in England.
We could struggle next season but that’s nothing new being a city supporter, Delia will lording over her subjects and cohorts and be Queen bee at home games on free canapés and wine regailing how well she runs a football club while slowly sinking into the lower depths of the Wensum 🫨🫨🫨
The trouble with the Angus rumour is that it has all the hallmarks of the possible about it and if we sell him the support will not be happy bunnies, whether of the Easter variety or not.
How much of it is wishful thinking on behalf of the Light Blues fansites and how much is based in reality is yet to be seen but Gunny Jnr falls firmly into the *I wouldn’t blame him if he did* category for me. It’s a no lose situation for Angus and good luck to him.
No disrespect to any of them but we surely cannot contemplate going into an EFL Championship season with the inexperienced keeping trio you mention!
Hi Alex
From freebies to flops, now there’s a thought!
As disturbing as I find the Matos situation, as you say we were doing something similar until it all dried up a couple of seasons ago. In addition to Daniel Adshead from 92nd placed Rochdale and the lads from Luton you mention there were so many more from all over the shop.
Just a few who come to mind are Sebastien Soto, Danel Sinani, Melvyn Sitti, Matthew Dennis and Conor McGrandles, while Kenny Coker, Bali Mumba, Archie Mair, Sam McCallum, Flynn Clarke and others are still with us – but I can’t remember a speculative purchase like any of these for some time now.
Chelsea are notorious for propping up their Academy by buying youngsters to stock it, very few of whom will ever get a chance with the first team as you say.
MFW’s Will Grant knows the Academy scene better than most and his end of term report will be as interesting and educational as Andy Head’s version on the First Team will doubtless be wryly comical and suitably scathing in equal measure!
*A reset at board level and senior management should be the first on a summer agenda followed closely by the first team*.
Sure – but who sets the agenda if not those at board level and senior management?
And that’s a closed shop.
Cheers
If the truth be known our forward line was lost in space on saturday. The number of shot’s we had well its been said. Poor.
During last week the ‘noise ‘ emanating from Carrow Road was that the players wanted to make a statement to the fans with their performance against Sheff Utd and get the push back on. Well they certainly did that.
Hi Bernie
Yes it’s very much fair to say that the statement was clear to all who witnessed it.
If we don’t learn a new language over the summer recess we are going to be in for one heck of a bumpy ride next season.
Cheers
Pleased your trip to Cromer hospital was made as pleasant as it could be by the staff.
I also visited it recently and can concur with you that it’s a brilliant little testament to the NHS.
It’s a pity Carrow Road isn’t as pleasant experience at the moment. I’ve renewed the season ticket more out of hope than expectation governed by loyalty to the club rather than the owners.
As you say a £55 million financial hole means we cannot afford to do much but I hope it doesn’t force us into selling off what we do have cheaply.
We also seem to be suffering a double whammy as any funds will doubtless be made available to our sporting director and I have no faith in his recruitment abilities whatsoever.
Unless a miracle happens and a billionaire Norwich fan comes along I can see us swapping places with our friends in the south.
An alternative choice of music might have been “ Love will tear us apart again”.
Hi John
I have to split visits between Cromer and the N&N about 50/50 depending on equipment/consultant availability. It’s like the peaceful east and the wild, wild west!
That’s a nice – and accurate – turn of phrase you use there and while I sincerely hope you don’t have to visit again if you do make sure you spot the signed Teemu Pukki shirt on the atrium wall!
I’m still not crystal clear in my own mind whether I would have renewed or not had I have been given the choice. Probably I would have done the same as you and definitely with the same mindset if I had.
Your musical choice is much more apt in terms of the current mood enveloping NR1 1JE than Byron Ferrari and his upbeat cover version – Joy Division must be the most ironically named band in musical history after The Pretty Things!
Both trading places with the Binners and a burgeoning collective perception of the Webber recruitment system are pretty much spot on too, I fear.
Faith No More would have been a reasonable choice too, but I don’t like ’em 🙂
Cheers
I have always wanted NCFC to play at the highest standard possible, so my present feelings are quite odd. I think the performances of this team have been so poor that it seems pointless to scrape into the top 6 and frightening to consider what might happen on the pitch in the ludicrous possibility that we start next season in the Prem.
I wasn’t at Carrow Road on Saturday but the ‘highlights’ and stats tell their own sad story. One shot on target in a vital home game is pathetic against any team, especially when we’ve been a goal down for a third of the match.
Bryan Ferry is indeed ubercool, and his music is legendary, but the fact that he is father of the odious Otis Ferry proves that nobody is good at everything.
The other factor in a promotion is the set price we have to pay for Hayden, so our esteemed transfer guru really screwed up on this one, no recall or send back option due to his continued absence and injuries.
The strange one is no goodwill from Newcastle, just taking him back would show some concern for their players well being
Yes – good point. I hope Isaac Hayden has received all the relevent help he needs. It must have been one pig of a season for him on a personal level.
Hi Don
I don’t think we need worry about embarrassing ourselves in the PL next season as I think we’re certain to get what we [don’t] deserve in that respect.
If needs must, Watford can probably ride out their failure to achieve promotion for a couple more seasons yet due to the wealth of the Pozzo clan but I sincerely doubt we will be able to do likewise and fear that the only exit from the Championship will be via the departure lounge at the other end of the table.
They don’t come more working class than Bryan Ferry so I can understand the reasoning behind his sending young Otis to whichever public school he went to, but it doesn’t look like Bryan’s money bought very much though, does it?
Our Oscar had it right all those years ago when he referred to the *unspeakable in pursuit of the inedible* and it remains an apposite observation to this day.
Cheers
I see that Norwich just like many other teams have realistic chances to fifth or sixth place. Boro and Luton are surely in the playoffs. The team which looks to be right now the best in the league is Stoke, if they win their last 7 games they end up to 72 points which could be enough. Even, Blackburn-Norwich looks like a vital game especially to Norwich, there are still enough games to make playoffs if Norwich loses that one.
About Pukki. He proved in international games that he is in fine form and still the same player but more and more versatile. He was asked about his contract situation during that international games period and his answer was typical pukki, he will look at the situation next time after June when his contract has been expired. Before that he will also want to keep a holiday break. When he made a contract with Norwich, I suppose he made it quite late and came just when the season started or was it already going on? Brondby tried 1 and half years to make a contract extension with him.
Finnish league starts this Wednesday. HJK like always is the only favorite to win a title. Teemu Pukkis KTP has made some kind of deal with Venezia, so they get players from there. They are not this time 100% certain to get relegated back to the second level. Player budgets for 2023 season gives more perspective to the financial situation in finnish league football. HJKs player budget is clearly the largest one 2,1 million after them comes Kups and Honka both 1,0 million. KTP is seventh 685k and IFK Mariehamn has the lowest by 584599 euro player budget. IFK Mariehamn is from Åland and likely they are more exact than others with their figures.
Hi 1×2
Yes mathematically Norwich could make the playoffs but morale is pretty low right now and the desire does not seem to be there deep down.
You are right about Boro and Luton – Luton have been a real surprise this season and their manager, Rob Edwards, has done a terrific job.
Pukki did come to us late in the window, but I am pretty sure he joined in pre-season.
Of course he, of all players, needs a proper holiday with his family and thoroughly deserves it. He has done his job at Norwich exceptionally well and will remain popular with our supporters long after he has gone which will almost cerainly happen in May.
It looks like Norwich paid player agents twice the amount of the complete HJK player budget which certainly puts things in a chilling perspective!
Thanks for that – I found the precision of the IFK Mariehamn budget interesting as a figure like that would never be released in the UK!
I hope you enjoy your season at home in Finland. It will not surprise you to know that many Norwich fans are pleased that ours is nearly over 🙂
Kiitos
Hi Martin,
I’ve never expected D&M to simply sell out their shares to a third party and ride off into the sunset, just like that.
Similarly, now MA is in the background, I can understand why they would want to see what he’s all about before considering the possibility (and I do believe that they will) sell their shares to him, or his co-investors. Their caution is understandable, even if it’s a source of much frustration for those who are desperate for immediate change.
Hi Gary
I guess I would count myself as part of the frustrated sector, which is why it was good to hear from yourself and Stew in the way we did this past week.
It would take a man with a harder heart than I possess not to actively want Delia to continue to play a prominent role in the *official* social side of things at the Club. A disconnect of that nature would doubtless be heartbreaking for her and she does not deserve that kind of treatment. And neither will she get treated that way I am sure – Norwich City fans have more class than that.
Other clubs have suitably apt titles, such as Hon. life vice-President or a variation thereof, for figureheads such as Delia. It logically follows that MWJ should be afforded the same acknowledgement as well.
I am not in the slightest part embarrassed that I do not know *how these things work* when it comes to share issues etc but I don’t think i’m alone on that score within our supporter base 🙂
Having gained some additional knowledge over the past couple of weeks, yes I can understand why Delia wants to be absolutely sure she has found the right person to open the door to in MA.
Equally she should understand that frustration very much remains at the lack of pace in developments and the NCFC Board is gaining a reputation for secrecy and holding a disregard for supporters that is both unwanted and unwarranted.
It’s going to be one heck of a summer.
Cheers
I fervently hope she has caught the mood of the masses just in time to effect
Please ignore the final demi-line – it’s actually intended for John F [below] 🙂
Hi Gary /Martin
The frustration for most people is the lack of information.
Zoe Webber made a statement that the club was working through the legal paper and said an announcement would be made in due course.
Stewart did an interview with Tom Smith and to me it looked like prepared questions and answers so that the club came out smiling.
No one at the club will open up on the smallest detail so it’s no wonder conspiracy abound, all it would take for most people is either the Jones/Smith or Mark A to make a small statement to the open press about how the where club is moving forward from the end of this season, put some plans out there give people some insight.
A closed shop isn’t good for no one.
I agree that this wretched impasse on communications has gone on for far too long and should have been nipped in the bud at the outset.
Yes Martin; the maths say it’s doable…..but can we really want to stink out the PL again?
It seems incredible after the weekend to think that just 2 short years ago, we ended the season 10 points ahead of Brentford. I watched the highlights of Brentford v Brighton and then tried to imagine how our current first choice eleven would fare against either of them……
Brighton, of course, are owned by a professional gambler……who is obviously much more successful at his chosen profession than the one employed at Carrow Road. Using the club’s money, he’s truly pi$$ed 60m “up the wall” to use his own phrase on a bunch of injured and non-proven VERY expensive imports.
To your cash sales I would add Angus Gunn….if Rangers were to come for him would Webber refuse them?
Once again under the Smiths we’ve wasted a golden opportunity to truly establish ourselves in the PL.
Given that it looks as if 2 “established” PL teams will be relegated; the quality being promoted appears better than a number of sides currently in the Championship, and this season’s dreadful performances, it doesn’t look as if we’re going up any time soon (with apologies to the 20k+ who’ve supposedly already renewed).
O T B C
Hi John
I remember saying after the doughty win at Millwall – when I must have been feeling pretty happy – that Brentford, Brighton and Fulham would marmalise our current squad so it’s only logical that I would doubly agree with you in the here and now!
Yes we have indeed missed two or three golden opportunities to establish ourselves in the PL under the Smiths – none more so than under Lambert imo.
As for Delia I fervently hope she has caught the mood of the masses just in time to effectively let Mark Attanasio get his feet under the table well in time for next season as the need for fresh blood is absolute – even it it’s ideas we get rather than investment, any form of *refreshment* can only be for the good.
On the ST renewals without them the Club is sunk so let’s hope that MA has already silently played a part by *signing up* with the promise of fresh input I referred to!
Gunny? The choice will be his as he is in a very strong position and good luck to him.
Cheers
I’ll put my neck on the block here: no way will the club sell Gabriel Sara for £10 million.
Perhaps more significantly, I appreciate you mentioning the articles by myself (actually, the views of Tom Smith) and Gary Field who knows more about shareholding than most of us ever will. A shame, though, that we don’t seem to have made any inroads into your view of Delia and Michael’s “intransigence in their desire to cling on to the majority shareholding at Carrow Road”.
Gary made clear there’s nothing sinister to be read into the delay in a formal announcement about take-up of the new share issue. If there’s any special hold-up, I sense it’s less likely to be from the NCFC end. Especially in the light of Gary’s informed view and Tom Smith’s comments, I don’t think there’s a shred of reason for the “intransigent clinging on” view.
Anyway, we agree on the likelihood of substantial player turnover in the summer. Best wishes, S.
Hi Stew
I’d like to think you are right about Gaby Sara as there is definitely the makings of quite a baller for David Wagner to work with there.
You’re quite right of course – there is no evidence of *intransigence* as such but then there isn’t any evidence to the contrary either! Just the well-worn old writer’s trick of hurling the bait overboard and hoping to land the reassuring type of comment that constituted your reply for one 🙂
Although I’m supposedly a grown adult I am never ashamed to seek said reassurance from those with more insight than myself.
And we sure do agree on a forthcoming high turnover of players in the summer!
Cheers
Isn’t there some intransigence?
“We don’t want the camels coming up carrow roard” – Along comes a non-camel owning investor
“We don’t get any offers” – Along comes an investor
“We won’t sell to anyone unwilling to invest in the club” – Along comes an investor who injects more than they’re willing to.
“We want to make sure any buyer is the right fit” – Other shareholders deem him fit and sell to him. Additionally we appear to be creating more shares, to sell to said investor.
What more hurdles are left to jump before Delia and Michael sell up? If D&M are not gone by the end of this season, there is something incredibly wrong. We need a new owner now. Not in a year or two. Not after they’ve all had a tea, biscuits, and a hug. We need the investment and the change of direction ahead of pre-season.
“If D&M are not gone by the end of this season, there is something incredibly wrong.”
The only thing that’s incredibly wrong is your personal desire to see them gone ASAP. The mechanism is in place for further investment and it’s highly likely MA will purchase the shares, and D&M’s shares in due course.
Sure Gary, that’s what’s wrong. My desire to see the current owners move on, not…
– The existing owners refusing to invest in the squad (something they demand any new owners do, ironically)
– The existing owners refusing to invest in their own business’s facilities, having the fans do it instead.
– The existing owners putting the club in a situation where there is a lack of governance or accountability at boardroom level.
– The existing owners presiding over the club while it requires some of the biggest loans in its history to pay the bills..
– The existing owners allowing a complete breakdown of communication between the club, local media, and fans.
– The existing owners watching our Sporting Director squander vast sums of money, fail repeatedly at the communicated goal of PL survival, and generally have an anti-fan attitude.
Gary, “due course’ is now.
@Dave Bowers. Thanks for your reply. Ironically, there’s elements of that which I agree with, but, if you’re expecting immediate change, you’re highly likely to be disappointed. Not least because Attanasio is almost certainly working to a different time frame.
Hi Dave
One of the major problems here as I see it – and there can be no doubt that it has been gently but noticeably towards a crescendo for some time – is that nobody can force a majority shareholder to leave.
Robert Chase was arguably forced out by supporter power, but I remain unsure if there is the will to adopt this tactic regarding Delia.
Despite her myriad faults I really wouldn’t like to see that happen to her but don’t get me wrong, I think she probably realises this as well and thinks it gives her carte blanche to *carry on dithering*.
That could prove to be a mistake in that, largely, I think it is this very dithering that is turning many supporters mildly hostile – if indeed there is a reaction known as *mildly hostile* 🙂
Cheers
I would suspect that the reason for the share issue not yet taking place is because it’s not yet certain which division Norwich will be in next season. Premiership sides are worth much more than Championship ones and this is reflected in the issued share price.
Hi Barry
Good point!
Thanks
Saturdays turd of a game is best glossed over Martin. Apparently we have gone the equivalent of 2 whole games between our one shot on target at Stoke and the marquinhos effort in injury time against those lovable blades.
To your list of assets for the fire sale I would add gunn, who is attracting some interest although Rangers are dreaming if they think another cut price cantwell is heading north.
The mood around the city is lower than a snakes belly due to a combination of lousy football, constant defeats, the impending money troubles and self funding. Something has to give.
In addition to delias latest cash and carry ill toss the names rashica and maddison into the ring. Let’s cross our fingers that these 2 find an expensive new home in June and alleviate some of the damage in a more painless way than losing a coveted player.
As for the alleged share issue, we can only wait and hope. The smiths and the webbers time has long since passed and in the event of intransigence they should be made aware in the strongest possible terms.
Needless to say the reset and shake up which everyone is longing for would take on pol pot proportions if it was left to me. Last years relegation and the season that has followed it have sickened me and I suspect, many others.
Hi Chris
I wouldn’t expect too much from Rashica from what little I can glean. Break even is being bandied about so if we swallow the considerable loss on wages, etc I guess it’ll be better than nothing in terms of a player who simply didn’t fit.
As I’ve said a couple of times above, I reckon Angus is in the box seat on this one and we’ll find out what his ambitions are and where his loyalties lie over the summer. Whatever he chooses to do gets my blessing, along with Max and Pukki too.
I have had one of those *road to Dilham* moments on the Share Issue issue, which is that nothing we can do as supporters is likely to speed anything up, which kind of leaves an empty feeling where constant conjecture is wearing the jolly old spirits down just a tad.
Maybe *it’ll happen when it happens – if it happens* should be the mantra for the summer, as desparate as many of us for closure 🙂
If I ever see an MFW guest blog with *Chris’s Killing Fields* in the headline I’ll know what to expect but you’re up against a serious literary adversary in the shape of le Disparu – one Richey Edwards of Manic Street Preachers who managed to namecheck our cuddly Cambodian cove on an early album track!
Cheers
🙂 I love the idea of Dilham being norfolks answer to Damascus.
Break even would be a fantastic deal given the players lack of professionalism whilst here.
3 more home games established to negotiate and the atmosphere will be very interesting. It might get tasty.
As for pol pot, I recall jello biafra giving him a name check as well back in the eighties.
I don’t remember the Jello Biafra hookup but on Generation Terrorists the track Nat West-Barclays-Midlands-Lloyds was a Richey rant against the clearing banks who refused to lend the band money when they were starting out. The question *would you?* has to be asked 🙂
The outro was a killer if you could stop laughing for long enough to listen:
Prosperity – exports for Pol Pot
Prosperity – Mein Kampf for Beginners…
Might it get tasty before season’s end? I go with the Manics this time: there’s too much culture alienation, boredom and despair among the fan base for that to happen!
Evening Martin, couldn’t agree more. Playoffs…. no chance.
I told my maths teacher who had a wonderful Dickensian name Mr Caddywold 😂 firmly but respectfully that I wouldn’t need logarithms at all in my life. I was 100% correct.
Algebra as well. Though I do love the way D:ream’s ex-keyboard player explains things related to it on his astronomy TV shows. Where I am enthralled but completely lost.
I also failed Pitman’s math, which was for the dunces.
Back to our great heroes.
I am also in agreement that I would love to see Dowell and Hernandez here next season.
I mostly agree with your guesses about how much the possible outgoing players may fetch. I just hope we do not cash in on Sara at £10 million or Andy O at £5 million. Your estimates are right, but I just hope in the words of one Daniel Farke, I hope we remain more “greedy” regards these two players as I feel another season with us could see those prices double or in Andy’s case at least treble.
I missed the offside, I thought the goal was fine due to the final ball. I find offside more confusing than ever. But I am sure David Wagner is more savvy than me on such things.
But that aside Sheffield did look a lot better than us.
For my money …. here I go again…yawn, yawn, we MUST get a fit and fit for purpose holding midfielder for next season if we want any chance of the playoffs.
Take care, Martin hope you are feeling better.
Hi Tim
Some wise words there, mate – yous, not mine!
Glad a few of us can spot the baller in Omobamidele. Is he better than a young Ben Godfrey? It’s hard to do a like for like obviously, but comparisons can be made and I think mamy of them would be in the young Irishman’s favour.
The need for a holding midfielder is so clear for us supporters to see that it really is time to stop the talking and act – FIT for purpose essential!
Cheers
Hi Martin. I watched your other team on the box tonight, and if you think we have problems here, they pale into insignificance compared to the Lillywhites. Manager departed after an almost incoherent rant, and a sporting director with a world-wide ban after accounting irregularities at his previous club. On top of that, they were one nil up against ten men, then somehow conspired to let the ten men take control of the game, got a player sent off for a reckless dangerous tackle, and allowed a central defender swarm forward without a challenge before launching an unstoppable rocket into the top corner.
Have you ever felt someone has got it in for you?!!
Hi Jim Spurs are my second also.
I would say that at the moment they are just a more expensive version of our city.
Manager wise is a conundrum all those associated with the position want CL football next season so someone’s in for a shock.
At least city have a smaller debt and a manager we just need to change the upper management but that’s like asking a Turkey to vote for Christmas or Thanksgiving.
Unless there’s a change of ownership then things will stay the same.
You and I have enough Celtic heritage to ensure there isn’t sufficient DNA to build a patient person between us 🙂
Hi Jim
Reading that reminds me of my sometime neighbour on Mallorca.
He claimed Real Madrid and Espana as his birthright. I contemplated my pre-ordained options and quickly disappeared for a beer 🙂
Cheers