Over the past few weeks, a lot has been written about the future of Delia Smith and Michael Wynn-Jones, Mr. and Mrs. Webber, Tom Smith, the Attanasio Norfolk Group and, lastly, the managerial and coaching positions, so let’s, first of all, look at what we know.
Stuart Webber
His last day is today, Saturday 11th November 2023, so let’s presume over the last day and a bit he has been saying his goodbyes, clearing out his desk, and heading to the Lion and Castle for a farewell party.
I don’t fully understand the announcement that he will leave after the game. Surely Friday, his final working day, would have seemed more in line and would have saved him from going all the way to Cardiff (if he does). This just prolongs his departure.
So no handover from Stuart – that, presumably, will be left to Neil Adams on Monday.
Ben Knapper
He comes with glowing references from Mikel Arteta and Edu after spending 13 years at Arsenal which concluded with him heading up the Data Analysis department.
For those who don’t know his history… in 2008, he graduated from the University of Hull with a degree in Sports Coaching and Performance, and in 2007 was appointed analyst of Scunthorpe United. In 2019, he was appointed loan manager of Arsenal.
I’m not sure how any of this qualifies him for a Sporting Director at City but he describes the Loans Manager role as a training ground for a SD position. (Not so sure about that – just look at Neil Adams)
Knapper also performed a number of other roles after joining the Gunners in 2010, including football analyst, senior football analyst, and first-team scout.
So has City’s due diligence found a gem? Only time and his making big decisions will tell. We can only hope that recruiting a novice pays dividends sooner rather than later.
It was announced that more experienced candidates had been discarded, so the speculation says cheap option, or the club can mould him into Webber Mark II?
I, like many others, will give him time and wish him all the best in his endeavours to turn around City’s fortunes.
Decisions to be made
Wagner and his backroom team have to be the first on the agenda. Will BK pull the plug come Monday or have a watching brief on his coaching team until after the QPR game? Then there’s the suggestion that pressure from within might mean he waits until just before his roll-on contract kicks in so no compensation will need to be paid.
Could we see Narcis Pelach stay on as a temporary head coach until the end of the season and just maybe impress everyone enough to get the job full-time?
Other Candidates – No Compensation
Scott Parker – Flattered at both Fulham and Bournemouth but flopped in Belgium with Club Brugge.
Frank Lampard – Another who did well in his first job (Derby) but his last two appointments (Chelsea and Everton) have not really taken his career forwards.
Gary Rowett – As with the others, has never taken an early career high at Birmingham to the next level.
Nathan Jones – Two good spells at Luton but jumped ship when Southampton and Stoke came calling, and neither were good career moves.
Carlos Cuesta – A 28-year-old who is well known to the Sporting Director as assistant manager at Arsenal.
Will Still – Relatively unknown, but the 31-year-old is currently managing Reins in Ligue 1 in France. Born in Belgium to English parents, he has spent his playing and coaching career on the continent.
Clearly, the biggest decision for Knapper should be who will follow Wagner into the Carrow Road hot seat and, then, can they use the loan market to the club’s advantage.
BK should also have a possible list of academy players at Arsenal who just might be in the free market come January due to contracts coming to an end. That could be an opportunity for some short-term that would give the players a chance to prove themselves.
In summary, it’s going to be a busy couple of weeks and lots of questions will be asked. Let’s just hope BK and the Board can show the supporters what a new start can look like.
As you’ll probably know by now, in his Thursday presser Wagner stated Delia and Michael have confirmed to him they will give him their full backing and BK has told him to keep on going, so maybe my look into the future is void and nothing will change!
Oh blimey.
Welcome and good luck to Knapper. Plenty of scope to become a hero. A clean break from Webber is a step in the right direction.
Hi Cutty
Yeah is a clean break and that was needed but as I think Iwan Roberts said it’s a big leap of faith taking on a Loans Manager as your new Sporting Director when more experienced people weren’t considered.
I just hope the cheap option doesn’t turnout to be the poor option.
Like your good self I will give him time to settle in but his first utterances will be digested by the media looking for any weakness and so will his early decisions.
Thanks for the comment
Who knows Alex, being supporters we will be the last to know rightly. I am concerned about the molding you mentioned, In my mind I can hear The cook saying, “We don’t do that, that’s not the Norwich way” That goes back over the years seeing things stay the same.
Changing the coach is perhaps needed badly, but I also am concerned that is exactly what the board feel is the answer to all the problems. Another scapegoat followed by another sticking plaster over the wound.
It is a sure bet there will be no promotion, and very hard to see a play off place being won this season. Can any of the canary faithful see that happening with this squad, never mind who is coaching them.
Another failure only adds to the crisis situation the club has been allowed to get in, debt will be even more next years accounts, only Sara and Rowe can raise enough to keep the wolves at bay. But then is £30-35million (Sara 20 & Rowe 15 if lucky) They might be forced into putting Sargent up as well when fit and finishes the season on a high Might help towards that huge hole, but what about replacements ? Got to pin hopes on youngsters and Freebies again.
If Wagner is replaced, Whoever comes in as coach has to be allowed to gel his squad into a team, with no thoughts of selling on any. Success they (board) supposedly crave will only come from having and keeping a team together to gain promotion, it surely would not be for next season, but a season and a half of building shaping and forming the missing identity is hopefully enough.
But I will not hold my breath for that to happen, this is the stowmarket’s pair we are talking about.
As to coaches, There is only one out of that little list who would possibly be a good fit, Cuesta, if Arteta will let him leave . Several have mentioned Wiltshire, I just wonder if this job is a bit too early for him.
I can see Pelach being given the job until summer unless he effs it up too, Personally I still fancy Dave Challinor at Stockport, who now sit top of L2 winning their last 6 in a row with clean sheets.
Someone said to me it is an exciting time, I pressed him for more, there was not much of note only that Delia is saving the club again. people say in Norfolk as deaf as a post. That clearly trickles down from the boardroom to certain fans.
Hi Canarylad
The dread vote of confidence and has Delia slammed the door on that with her phone call to Wagner.
BK might find his hands and feet tied to the post in making major decisions or could it be the complete opposite and she let’s him have free reign and any and all the brown stuff lands on him leaving them looking pure as snow, then they utter we gave you what you want and now look at the mess we’re in !
Will BK be eyes wide shut or open on Monday which ever it is he’s going to need help from somewhere so let’s hope he can get his own crew in soon.
Thanks for the comment
Challinor has certainly done well, but in both the National League he has had strong financial backing compared to most of his rivals (Wrexham being the obvious exception).
The trick is always to look for someone who has vastly over-achieved. When both Farke and Dean Smith left Ryan Lowe was one of the people who I felt had his club punching above it’s weight (as he had at previous clubs). At that time we would probably have been an attractive option for him, whom we could afford. I doubt if that’s the case now.
His successor at Plymouth, Schumacher, might be of interest though.
Oops, that should read
“both the National League and League Two”
Hi Keith
Thanks for the reply
Both would have or could still be of interest and there’s also the Notts County boss Luke Williams his win rate is 61.5% at present
Yes I too looked at the possibility of some real changes but dear old granny Delia doesn’t seem the type to give the dreaded vote of confidence! I suspect that they will run Wagner’s contract down before any change. As you said “Oh Blimey!!”
Hi Cyprus
It just seems a strange thing for Wagner to say at a pre-match conference that Delia gives him her backing, followed by talks with BK saying carry on with what you’ve been doing.
For me it just makes pulling the plug that more difficult but does give them a breathing space till his contract end.
The big question is who will make the final decision possibly a call from Attanasio but he has big problems finding a new baseball coach for the Brewers to think about a new coach for the Canaries
Thanks for the comment
Challinor is a good call and he has done well in non league also, I just wonder if he’s found his level not many championship or league 1 clubs have looked at him with the raft of sackings this season.
Fat Frank is now the bookies favourite for the Oxford United job how the mighty have fallen.