Oh dear, things really have fallen off a cliff. On the pitch and off it.
But I will start with on the pitch.
We now have the worst defensive record in the Championship along with QPR, and still our coach does not change the defensive personnel at all.
Contrast this to Daniel Farke’s approach in 2018 when he fielded the youngest back-four in our history at Ipswich … Ipswich of all places! One year earlier he had watched as Marcel Franke and Russell Martin – our centre-back pairing of the day – were ripped apart at Millwall (a). I don’t Franke played for the first team again and it also signalled the end of his City career for Russ.
But David Wagner rigidly sticks with Shane Duffy and Ben Gibson while he has Danny Batth and Jaden Warner both available. Why not give one or both a game? Surely they can’t do any worse.
The big difference was that Farke was brave enough to play youngsters.
Another of Wagner’s failings is his in-game management and, most notably, his use of substitutions, which have generally been woeful. Instead of giving us a boost they usually do the reverse.
We have now conceded, on average, almost two goals per game, which is relegation form. It certainly isn’t all the fault of Duffy and Gibson for our recent defensive crisis but they are culpable.
In front of them, I still think we need a holding midfielder in the mould of Alex Tettey or Oliver Skipp. Middlesborough’s second goal on Tuesday night was a carbon copy of Leeds’ second on Saturday and was crying out for a deep-lying midfielder to close those spaces down.
We continue to give players free shots from the edge of the area for goodness sake, and have conceded a late goal in each of the last four games, which, among other things, also suggests a total lack of concentration.
I admire Wagner’s enthusiasm but we cannot go down the Dean Smith route (I stuck with him for far too long) and hang on for an upsurge of form that never comes, so a decision has to be made now.
He has done the same this season as last – a very good start followed by a dreadful ending to the season is precisely where we are now.
As things stand Saturday will inevitably bring another 2-0 or 3-0 defeat. Losing to Plymouth and Rotherham, who are in a relegation battle, can happen but we are now losing games and confidence in equal measure.
The question we have to ask is are these players good enough? Unlike Farke’s second EPL season, if the answer is purely to stay in the Championship, yes, I really hope so.
What is for sure is that we now better start looking down not up.
Now onto off the pitch, and I don’t really know where to start on this one.
Firstly Stuart Webber hanging around to hold Ben Knapper’s hand – if Ben wants this then fair enough but surely Neil Adams would be a good ‘settling in’ man, which would enable Knapper to keep his authority and feel able to make his own decisions.
Then Delia says she is going to mark Mark Attanasio’s homework like some demented Miss Trunchbull – it beggars belief.
Surely she doesn’t need another three years to judge if our American investor is a good man or not? And all of this talk of who will own the club in 2040 is irrelevant as none of us know what will be the situation with the club by then.
The recruitment since Kieran Scott left for Middlesbrough has been poor, and that is down to Webber’s decisions and Delia’s ability not to compete. While Scott has Teemu, Emi, etc on his CV, Webber has Christos Tzolis, Billy Gilmour etc on his.
(Okay, Gabriel Sara, I will admit, has been an excellent signing.)
When we prepared for our second Championship under Farke we signed six under-21-year-olds. This season we have signed six thirtysomethings. Now I personally think you need a mixture of experience and youth in the EPL but sadly that experience is beyond our budget in that league and, conversely, we need a young side for the Championship with a sprinkling of experience.
Ourselves, Leeds United, Fulham and especially Burnley won the Championship with predominantly young sides.
We seem to have lost our way as a club. The Sporting Director/Head Coach idea, initially as seen by Ed Balls, was based on employing an experienced SD and a young hungry coach, and with a good mix of youngsters and experienced players.
I am reluctant to call for managers and head coaches to go but we are at a huge crossroads and I feel that, like Bruce, Hughes, Pulis, and Smith, David Wagner has found the football of today has sadly passed him by.
We had under S Webbers watch, the best manager in our club’s history we all enjoyed Farke Life.
It is long overdue that the top brass at Norwich put their hands up and admit they have made a massive mistake in getting rid of DF after the Brentford game.
It’s easy go to Leeds cap in hand, pay whatever they want to bring Mr Farke back to Carrow Road, he still has time to get us promotion this season
Not sure the 49ers who are now the owners of Leeds would let him leave no matter what City offered.
To Kevin and Alex, I too would take Daniel Farke back in a heartbeat but we would substantially more investment for him to spend than Delia can presently afford.
The way I see it Mark Attanasio running the club would still mean selling our best players but if we follow Brentford, Brighton among others that increased investment could make quite a bit of difference. And the sale of those players could be when we are prepared to sell them, not have to.
I would wager we would have got a lot closer to out top 3 targets two summers ago, Ajer, Andrich and Billing.
Farke was well loved by the fans.
Delia got jealous – because she isn’t.
The king is dead long live the king! That is appropriate for Daniel Farke, there is no going back. What we need now is a steady hand to consolidate our position in the league and that is not Wagner sadly. Then to build a young side with a young manager to take us forward. Hull City have put their hopes on a young manager and it is beginning to pay off.
I think John Eustace maybe one to consider Cyprus.
Whoa there, best in our history?
There are plenty of others who achieved more, with less.
I must really have had too much beer (at last) today David I can’t see where I said best in our history ? Youngest back four, apologies if I got that wrong.
But it got me thinking where Daniel Farke sits in our Pantheon of managers.
The best? If you are talking about starting from scratch, perhaps. Lambert/Culverhouse certainly came from an even lower base. Ron Saunders achieved a miracle and Bondy built on it as did Ken, Dave and Mike and it must be said they did it at at the highest level.
Nigel Worthington also achieved a unbelievable promotion to the EPL after years in the wilderness (sorry on loan to The Endsleigh😂)
What I will say is taking account of where we came from under Farke I will say his was some of the best football I have seen supporting NCFC in nearly 60 years.
But the Brown, Stringer, Walker years have to be the pinnacle. It was at the highest level.
Daniel Farke had two great seasons but he started the rot. We can’t live in the past but small changes will have a good effect, i.e bringing back a DM and more defensive full backs. Also when the injured players return. We need a better atmosphere at the ground Wagner built up a good team over the close season but we have no plan b.
I admitted Farkeball had gone on here after he was sacked against Leeds, Gil.
So it is true the rot started with him. But name me one player that season we brought in who really contributed anything of merit to the team? Even Josh was poor.
But Daniel Farke isn’t coming back, so that ship has well and truly sailed. I love David Wagner’s enthusiasm but we would get that off Peter Kay if he was in charge. We definitely need a plan B. go 2-0 up try 5 at the back and flood midfield and use Rowe’s & Placheta’s pace on the break? It is worth a go.
How do you get 3 v 3 in the 85th minute at 2-2 ? A point is better than nothing.
Tomorrow is a massive game for DW, I really hope I am wrong but I think we could have another tough afternoon.
I agree that we are crying out for a DM.
Hi Tim
We were touted with interest for Edwards who’s doing a great job at Luton but as with the usual bunch of dawdlers in our boardroom they waited to long and went f9r the old pals act instead of a younger more enthusiastic coach.
Webber boasted he had a list of potential replacement coaches and Sporting Director yet it took an outside specialist company to do the research on Knapper, how many experienced SD applied for the post if any and have the board again for the cheaper option hoping for a miracle.
When will Knapper return from his family holiday before starting his new job my concern is with Webber’s wife pulling his strings and her pillow talk with hubby.
Knapper’s walking into a vipers nest and I hope he has the cajones to stamp his authority on things early on otherwise he will soon be out the back door
I agree wholeheartedly Alex, from the outside it looks as if Knapper is coming into a hornets nest, or as you say a vipers nest, either is a worry.
It has concerned me that staff retention at Carrow Road has been so poor over the last 2-3 years. There must be a reason that we are losing good staff especially many of them to clubs in our division.
I know knapper has not started yet, and will give him the chance. But cannot get rid of the thought, that this appointment is the cheap option. Surely an experienced SD would cost a bit more. When the .experienced one is what is needed, right now, not months down the line Has he been given the role, as he is green behind the ears and easy to manipulate ? (Sorry my paranoia peeping through )
Adams has been shadowing Webber for a while now, surely to knows enough to mentor Knapper into the chair, or hold the poisoned chalice.
Scott was one of the first to leave , since msny have departed from various depts. Some very good and talented people from what I have been told. We must ask Why ? But as with most things at Carrow Rd we will probably never find out, but I would place a bet that the Webber’s were involved in some way, far too much control and authority given to husband and wife .
Despite all the spouting about wanting to leave, Webber doesn’t look to be showing the same desire to depart. Having held a Ransome of sorts over the old folks heads. Or is it Leeds have shut that door now, ? And other clubs are covered., nice big earner to loose , I have said more than once I want to see the married couples get out of the club, between them they have effed it right up time and time again
Interesting point Canarylad, I hadn’t really thought of it but SW isn’t showing any haste to leave Carrow Road. The way he talks at times it sounds as if he would rather be somewhere like Mordor than the pleasant green fields of our fine city.
And as you say you do have to ask the question why?
Like you I will give our new Sporting Director every chance, I agree he looks a cheap options but all great SD’s have to start somewhere.