As I mentioned more than once at the MFW weekend, the phony war begins at 1500 hours CRT precisely on Saturday, August 5, with CRT in this case obviously standing for Carrow Road Time, where the first shots of 2023-24 will be exchanged between ourselves and the Tigers of Hull City.
The summer has been nothing without incident, but as seemingly every man and woman of us has mentioned recently, nothing has happened to grab the interest either in a funny sort of way.
I’d like to once more introduce the posse, who will as usual sally forth on an individual basis, and seeing Alex Bain’s first couple of sentences it stands out a mile that there are some folk who remain discontent with the machinations of the Carrow Road board.
Let’s have some patience with these views, which are still wholeheartedly agreed with by many of us [including my good self] and which Alex presented a full week ago now. He might have changed his mind since then, but I doubt it!
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“Well, I suppose we all have different ways of looking at the recruitment at present. I’m stuck in the middle so here are my thoughts.
“The transfer situation for the club all comes down to poor finance and our intransigent owners. Our version of the Iron Lady, maybe? The original famously said ‘She’s not for turning’ while our own doesn’t know when she’s past her sell-by date.
“Her recent interview shows she (or both of them) haven’t an idea on how to turn it around and we know they will not finance any incoming players .
“How their ownership has allowed a so-called self-financing club to get £60 million plus in debt is beyond me. Or has that occurred with their full knowledge? So poor ownership or poor club management? Both of these affect our transfer policy (or lack of it), yet it all goes under the radar because they’ve opened a new Delia Franchise Bar.
Screw the team rebuilding, let’s all go for a drink
“Has the Guru lost the touch or did he ever have it? Has asset stripping started to cover the £60m plus black hole? What other club announces that offers will be accepted for their best players, and then say they will only be sold if it suits Norwich – to me that gives the buying club the upper hand in negotiations.
“Webber/Wagner said they wanted an experienced backbone we have that now, all classed as free agents. But how cheap are free agents? No feelings to a club but the player will expect a signing-on fee, higher wages, and bonuses plus the agents’ fees – so not so cheap especially with other costs like relocation fees and possibly accommodation till a home is found.[By no means all of this type of player will choose to live in Norfolk so a rental for the period of the player’s contract is usually negotiated – Martin].
“In the time Webber has been at the club, it’s all been about outgoings: Lewis, Godfrey, and Maddison were all recruited prior to his term in office, Buendia wasn’t his signing either and had to be convinced so the story goes.
“Many hopefuls have been recruited for progress and future profit but at present, I can’t recall one that’s left for big profit prior to Bali Mumba leaving to rejoin Plymouth. (not a big profit)
Webber should no longer be involved with transfers
“Webber shouldn’t be involved with transfers in or out of the club. Once he resigned he should have been placed on gardening leave, and being involved in the recruitment of his replacement is also a no-no.
“Since when was the club run to suit a husband and wife employed by them?
“We have poor ownership, management, and recruitment now it looks like an uninterested investment group as well, no matter what is said in interviews or from senior employees. It’s about time Attanasio spoke out on how he wants to take the club forward – if he does.
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Now it’s Bernie Owen‘s turn and his script is slightly less volatile than Alex’s – quite an easy achievement given the circumstances:
“When Norwich bought Bali Mumba from Sunderland, the Sunderland Echo posed a question: Mistake or Masterstroke?
“Now Norwich have sold Bali Mumba to Plymouth Argyle for around £1.25 million that same question can be asked once more: Mistake or Masterstroke?
“Mumba was nailed on for a first-team squad place at Norwich given that Max will surely leave (won’t he?). One gone, t’other likely to go, and now Wagner [apparently, rather than Webber] has purchased yet another versatile either-side fullback and or wingback.
“Wagner meanwhile is bigging up the lad from Bromley, Kellen Fisher, who obviously has promise but was playing at a lower level than Mumba last season.
“And that still leaves room at full-back for Jack Stacey [a right full-back] and two left-sided players as in Dimi Giannoulis and Sam McCallum.
“On other outgoings, apart from the out-of-contract departures and Mumba, the expected assets have not been sold. Even Milot Rashica was kind of back in the group which beat Toulouse 2-0 on Saturday – but there was absolutely no room for Christos Tzolis who was strangely sent off to join in some meaningless under-21 competition where he would play once more for Greece.
“Not moving Max on when he could have signed a pre-contract freebie agreement in January is mind-boggling. Also, the rumours are gathering that Angus Gunn is on Leeds’ radar. [That particular rumour tends to oscillate, Bernie, and the quicker the light goes out the happier I shall be – Martin]“
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Cutty relies on the old M&GN railway
Cutty: “Preseason I am a glass-half-full kind of person, if some bugger knocks it over (sorry Bernie, but it was Ghost Sh##) you generally get a replacement and the jollifications carry on until October, anything beyond that is a bonus or a nightmare.
“Our replacement so far is Fassnacht who scored on his debut prep game along with Sara, who seems raring to go, as does Barnes who is spicing up things up front and knows where the goal is. The Sarge might learn a thing or two from this guy and perhaps even Adam Idah.
Stacey and Duffy are bolstering the defence and as yet our two for-sale defenders are still with us, which is good news. Tactically Farkeball is out, and the less said about Smudger the better.
I‘m reminded of the old M&GN railway. If you don‘t know where I‘m going with that comparison don‘t worry they didn‘t know either – their livery was yellow so it fits.
Waggyball is now the style as is super fitness. We will have a chance to lord it over that lot down the road once again and Webber has his coat on so, yes, my glass is half full.
OTBC.
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Nice of Cutty to end it on a positive note. Five days and counting!
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Well, this is dedicated to the one and only MFW Posse, fine deputies all.
And there’s nothing wrong with a bit of Thin Lizzy, oh no.
Everything totally all right with it in fact
Hi Martin
No change in my opinions and if they upset a few on the other side of the divide then all I can say is, they are just mine no one else’s.
I read and peruse others and accept those opinions and at no time belittle them, even at times when I heartily disagree with them.
MFW is about a community that loves a football club and in that community many have different views, so let’s read and peruse and give respect for others views with polite replies that are also informative.
No one knows what’s going on in the dark corners of power and until someone who has informed knowledge tells us otherwise, we common or garden supporters can only speculate.
And with the news that Southampton are in talks with City about Aarons, I just wonder why we are contemplating strengthening a direct rival for a possible promotion push if its not about the money or asset stripping.
Sorry if my comments upset any one 🤣🤣🤣
No doesn’t upset. Read it so many times before. Sad really.
Yeah, it is and no one that has the power to change it seems to want to, they all feel comfortable in how things are
Thanks for the reply
That’s not at all what I was referencing as sad.
So you don’t like the article’s content?
That’s life – you can’t please everyone. Not everyone will agree with my opinions
Cor! After seven years i’m forrced to take just single day off through the most serious of serious illnesses is there is UK % stats will unhappily confirm it to find…this.
If the contender is already on the canvas what is the point in piling in once more?
That shows no class, whatever your views on anbody’s comment and I even put in a brief “advisory note” before we published!
I love hearing opinions from all sides – particularly when clearly articulated, as in this case – it indicates passion for our club.
I still have hope (not faith 😉), that a full takeover is in hand, which hopefully improves our financial state and gives new impetus. We’ve trod water for a few years now, which was disguised by the excitement on the pitch every now and then.
Hi Christopher
That’s the great thing with MFW varied views and so far no distasteful replies and I along with many other are waiting with bated breath for some announcement maybe the Cardinals Enclave might release some with smoke before the season starts
Thanks for the reply
Hi Christopher.
Many of us have some hope of a full takeover for anything less isn’t really much use to us as supporters..
Cheers
I don’t find the non-sale of Aarons “mind-boggling” at all. He’s been “certain” to go for at least the last 5 transfer windows. And he’s still here. I’m sure a lot of the supposed interest has been agent talk, although the club seem to have colluded with that in allowing us to think some big names have made approaches – but if he’s been so determined to go it’s been in their interests too to talk him up.
Now the suggestion is that Southampton are in for him – which make sense with Russ Martin being there. How the mighty aspirations have fallen. If he goes there for more money and a fresh start so be it, but we’d better extract a decent price and add-ons for him (and in that respect I’m happy to trust Webber’s negotiations).
Obviously we need to see what happens in meaningful matches, but on the evidence so far the way Jack Stacey ploughs forward, and doesn’t feel the need to hold the ball up and play square EVERY time, is a good example of why Aarons has not (yet) turned into the player he should be.
Btw, who recruited Stacey? It obviously couldn’t have been the “idiot” Webber… could it?
Hi Keith
Gary O’Neil gave Stacy a good review on him leaving Bournemouth and somewhere I said if he thought so much of him why was he giving him a free ? MAYBE he knew his days were numbered.
Webber must drop lucky every now and again and this might be his now before he leaves.
Thanks for the reply
Since I penned my piece City won yet again and it was Mcpointy and the Sarge strutting their stuff. My glass has been topped up yet again. So never mind about She-Who-Must-Be-Obeyed and the Bean Counters the lads seem in fine fettle. It maybe muddle and go nowhere but the yellow engine is chugging along just nicely and I‘m enjoying the ride. Went on the North Yorks railway last year, took forever to get to Whitby and part way the loco had to be changed from steam to diesel but the scenery and the journey were great. We should enjoy the journey while we can.
To be honest, it doesn’t matter what I think or say, we have what we have or don’t have, whether we rate them or not. I have sounded off and let off steam more than I care to remember on these fine pages.
To be honest yet again. I am tired of a lot of it all, it is quite clear to me that the club doesn’t give a flying F what I say or do anymore, after having been told by an official at the club, that someone else will take my season ticket seat if I decide not to renew. For me that was enough not to renew. that was a few seasons ago. Do I see anything that would make me change my mind and try and come back. ? Not on your life. I made a self Vow That I would not put another load of my pension into the club while this regime is still dictating the downfall. And I shall stick to that.
Who takes a person’s notice to leave and allows them to carry on doing their job without a leaving date? Making decisions that will still have the effect for months to come. Someone has their bread buttered both sides. What can change when this is allowed.
To the squad, I live with the hope just like every season since 1962, they will surpass what I hope for no different this time around. My only real concern is, where are the goals coming from ? Perhaps Sargent can find the real scoring boots with different support around him in Barnes an old head on an ageing body, but still got enough for a good season. He won’t be bullied instead he will be doing that job by all accounts at both ends of the park.
Aarons to Southampton, seems an understandable rumour, with Martin at St Mary’s, but would we want to help a rival strengthen? That old TV show comes to mind in my answer – The Price is Right, will take precedence. There has been several seasons that Max is going to leave to anyone of a host of clubs, yet he is still here (for now any rate) I thought that one of the country’s brightest prospects would have been snapped up, every season there are young players that go for big money. But not our boy. Is it we see him bigger, than others do ?
Now I’ll try and get a head of positivity going, can we make the play offs ? Yep the best we can hope for.
I agree with all that but as I mentioned to Martin once you let the world know you are willing sellers then you’re lost the high ground.
Galatasaray are trying to build a European Team for Kebab money and City aren’t going to change that it’s who will Blink first.
Southampton will sell a player for top dollar to Newcastle and reap the benefit of Aarons for much less.
Omobamidele could stay but will Webber’s mate a Forwst come calling I just wonder?
Thanks for the reply.
I think it will take more supporters like you to vote with their feet Canarylad to change the status quo of ownership at Carrow Road.
To be told that if you don’t renew your season ticket that someone else will take it up, says all we need to know about the callousness at our once loved family club.
Sad times.
Hi Tim,
I think it was the Financial Director who said that for every unrenewed season ticket there are two wanting them.
Supply and demand is the name of the game and at times I think ground capacity is kept at 27k to continue that demand. Increase it and your back-up demand is gone.
Then maybe it’s the old cynic in me.
I think this site should be renamed norwichcity.mygrumble&whinge.com
Hi Andrew
I believe our door is always open for a guest blog – drop editor Gary a line.if you would like to have a go.
Believe it or not we like to hear from positive supporters such as yourself!
Cheers
Andrew, isn‘t that a firm of Dickensian solicitors? Alex does get a bee in his bonnet, Bernie played a straight bat and I tried to be upbeat and positive, so there were three shades of opinion and we all write and submit our thoughts to Marty independently no collusion or good guy bad guy routine.
That’s a very good point to make. The brief for the three Posse guys was what it always is: write what you like, tell me what you think.
Sure the four of us are mates but we’re not a clique, a cartel or anything of that nature. I edit for style and length only, NOT opinion.
None of the guys has a clue what the other has written until it is published and you cannot get any more democratic than that.
I really wish some folks would grasp the fact that although MFW has other functions it is largely an opinion site, and as such very much open to all.
A final word on the Posse.
Maybe they don’t have the inkling to write a full article – maybe they’ve other commitments. But that’s about their 20th appearance now it’s been a good journalistic vehicle to run three opinions together to make a full-length piece -and okay I admit it, a bit of fun for me to do!
Unfortunately 1 win in the last 11 games of the season means it’s been a very long spring and summer waiting for something positive to happen. Let’s hope that by 5.00pm on Saturday the wait is over.
I don’t agree with many of the complaints that have been posted repeatedly, but I totally get why many people are fed up (other phrases may be available…) especially season ticket holders.
I’ve decided to dip my toe in the water and get up at the crack of dawn for the Milwall game. If what’s on offer isn’t considerably more attractive than last season’s fare I won’t be making many more 400+ mile round trips this season.
Thanks for the reply.
Thanks for fielding the comments Alex – appreciated.
To an extent you have to understand the negativity that’s taken root in this site (and to be fair to Gary, he’s repeatedly invited more positive views). Anyone who wasn’t frustrated by last season, or by our transfer business in recent windows before this summer, can’t be a real City fan.
However, that doesn’t give licence to believe or promote baseless conspiracy theories. Delia and Michael aren’t clinging onto their majority ownership (they voluntarily instigated a process that will end it); Mark Attanasio isn’t having cold feet about his involvement with the club (we’re waiting for his purchase of the new share issue to be rubber-stamped by the financial authorities).
It’s my firm view that Stuart Webber is working hard and unreservedly for Norwich City Football Club. If I heard or saw any evidence to the contrary I’d take it on board – but I don’t.
For what it’s worth, I think we’ll do better this season than many of the MFW pundits believe. For me, our biggest flaws last season were a lack of physical fitness, defensive organisation and (above all) mental strength. It seems David Wagner agrees; our signings are clearly geared to addressing those faults. While the turnover of players hasn’t been as great as I thought it might be, we’ve enough arrivals to inject a new mentality into the team.
Time will tell, of course!
Hi Stewart
After reading Delia’s last interview – where she said she’s not selling up and she didn’t know if Attanasio was the right person for the club but was going to do it her way – it seems to fly in the face of what you’re saying.
Opinions, as I’ve said many times, are just that. Also, when reading an interview, we all see or take a different view on said utterings.
You said that PLC’s take longer for clarification – I’m not so sure. Huddersfield was a PLC and the new American owner said the deal was completed in three weeks and he hadn’t a notion where Huddersfield was until he came to England and signed the deal,
Bournemouth, another PLC, is now owned by an American who said it took two months to purchase the club from the previous owner. He did say a deal with one owner or a majority shareholder is a better way forward as you only need to agree with one person, not a whole boardroom.
Abramovich was in talks to buy Spurs prior to buying Chelsea and he said that one call to Chelsea’s owner and Spurs missed out because they were a listed company. With Chelsea it was just Ken Bates to deal with.
Lots of deals for multinationals have taken less time than City have taken to confirm the sale of a shares issue and the longer it goes on speculation from the non-believers will grow, and with no sound bites from over the pond it just adds to the uncertainty.
Thanks for the comments.
Thanks, Alex.
I can only say I’ve had reassurance from a number of different sources I trust that the hold-up in confirming the new share allocation is purely administrative. The structure of the deal was specifically tailored to Mark Attanasio as the buyer, to bring his ownership up to a par with Delia & Michael’s.
Unlike some club takeovers, this is a step-by-step process. Both parties are happy with the relationship so far, but neither wanted to jump into a full and immediate takeover. In some ways that’s frustrating to fans – especially as neither side is allowed to talk about further plans until the current deal is rubber-stamped – but it’s the chosen way for both D&M and the Attanasios.
Hence Delia saying she’s not giving up the entirety of her ownership in the immediate future. What she’s done – surely the biggest step – is to give up her majority share.
As for why some PLC deals take a shorter time than ours, and others a longer time, I really don’t know. My expertise doesn’t extend that far!
Cheers.
Hear! Hear!
Rarely have I seen a comment on MFW with which I agree so completely.
There is also a growing tendency on this site for authors to castigate those who show their disagreement with the published views.
Scot, castigation is a dicey business. But you are right misery likes company. Fortunately Gary keeps the site troll free but there is a lack of happy clappy, not sure if that‘s a shortage of good news or a what’s the point attitude? But such an article would be published and any banter is a thing to enjoy, full speed ahead and damn the torpedoes.
For sure the club is not in the best place but see below for castigation. Damn The Torpedoes is a mighty fine album; maybe MP could use a song from it to close a future article.
Hi ScotCan
Medical issues largely led me to be late for my own part here – and what a rotten, miserable part it was in parts, too.
I’m certainly not one for the jolly old castigation, oh no. I love to hear what other faces think, particularly when they support other clubs.
Speaking of the late, great Tom Petty, this hard-rockin’ metal traditionalist and selective New Wave fan heard something called *I Need to Know* by Tom Petty and then discovered the rest afterwards.
Late 70s here I would guess.
I don’t do castigation but I do entertain requests so on my Monday column a track from Damn the Torpedoes it shall be.
At least I’ve got a vast rage of emotions to choose from, and was one of many things Tom Petty was all about. Right up there with The Boss for me.
Cheers – and take a peek on Monday 🙂
Castigate is an interesting word – I’ve never seen anyone castigated on here. Yes there are disagreement in opinions and, in fact, that’s what sites like this are for.
If I add a comment, I try not to disrespect others for having a different outlook to my own, even when my own comments have been disrespected, and I often put on record that I’m sorry if my opinions upset people.
Most comments show how much City supporters care about the club.
It would be a dull read if everyone agreed, and opinions can change as the season progress and the Club clarifies the share issue and are more open on the Webber replacement situation.
Anyway, thanks for the comment
There is a very clear example of castigation up-thread (a comment described a comment as having ‘no class’; or was it the commentator who was so described?).
I am all for opinions and diversity thereof but it has got a bit out of hand at MFW on occasions of late.
If that’s what you believe ScotCan, then I can only apologise.
As moderator of the comments, I do my very best to weed out any personal references or insults. If I’ve missed some, I’m genuinely sorry.
Gary
That was me ScotCan.
Guy A makes a comment, Guy B replies with a put down that Guy A doesn’t get the nuance of [dunno why it was as clear as the Lutene Bell].
Guy B having very clearly won the exchange proceeds to go back in again and kicks Guy A while he is on the floor and that was the moment I decided Guy B had no class and called him out on it.
Had I been medically fit enough I would have jumped in earlier because when Gary said he does everything he can to weed out any personals he means it. And I should know as that is my responsibility too with these *Posse* type articles.
Unfortunately something like cancer let’s you know it’s the big daddy at the most inconvenient of times 🙂
Hi Stewart
I think I can speak for so many people here when I say: We WANT you to be right.
I do – so many do – WANT you to be right.
You often mention the late arrival of a couple of key PL-style loan players and we’re not quite at that point yet so there’s hope there. Fassnacht seems as good as he was unexpected – he could be a key recruit at that level so it’s by no means all bad.
The best way to look at it is that, perversely, Saturday’s will definitely not be the strongest starting XI of the season.
I think so very many of us are glad indeed it’s time to start kicking that ball again!
Cheers
Thanks, Martin.
Setting aside the ownership issue (where I simply go with what I know and have been told) I do see some reason for optimism about the season. Comments emanating from the camp – players saying they’re fitter than ever before, Josh Sargent saying there are no longer any hiding places, etc – give me a bit of encouragement.
But the proof of the pudding’s in the eating, of course.
Cheers.
Hi Martin
Cannot reply to your reply above, so here.
First, and most importantly – really sorry that you are unwell and I really do hope that you make a full recovery,
On Guy A vs Guy B, I saw it rather differently in the end game
“Guy A makes a comment, Guy B replies with a put down that Guy A doesn’t get the nuance of [dunno why it was as clear as the Lutene Bell].” Completely agreed, not sure that there was any ‘nuance’ ;-).
“Guy B having very clearly won the exchange proceeds to go back in again and kicks Guy A while he is on the floor … ” I saw that as Guy B reiterating/explaining his point to someone whose head it had clearly only skimmed.
“…and that was the moment I decided Guy B had no class and called him out on it.” And that is why I thought your comment about Guy B having no class was both unnecessary and uncalled for.
Back to the important stuff – Get well!
Hi ScotCan
I’m happy to accept what you’re saying – I think, retrospectively that:
“Guy B having very clearly won the exchange proceeds to go back in again and kicks Guy A while he is on the floor … ” I saw that as Guy B reiterating/explaining his point to someone whose head it had clearly only skimmed.”
is valid and I should not have made the comment I did.
So while I’m here Rob Reeves, I withdraw said comment. Too much heat of a bad moment, and not enough considered perspective from me on this occasion so sincere apologies for that.
Thanks for the good wishes SC – let’s see which slice of the Tom Petty cake gets served up on Monday morning 🙂
Just to clarify as I am guy B. My sad really comment was about the whole situation as I saw it.
First the perceived need to again rewrite old stuff on here that does little but polarise fans. Second that ,as a fan ,guy A feels so against the club. Thirdly that on the eve of a new season when for the good of all we need to come together rather than the opposite. There was nothing personal in anything I wrote.
My second comment was to hopefully ensure guy B got it , Which he subsequently did. How on earth that was kicking him when he was down I have no idea. His response was fine, we had different opinions. Fine. Move on.
All the best for a speedy recovery.
Thanks Rob.
Your taking the time and trouble to make that comment means a lot to me.
Thanks for the personal wishes. They are much appreciated.
I think we ALL feel a good bit better after yesterday:-)
Cheers