These international breaks are a proper nuisance. You have just (finally) had a win and then off goes a group of your better players to play, somewhere, and then you sit tight and await news of pulled hamstrings, tweaked groins, rolled ankles, or worse.
But at least we can sit and bask in the glow of that most unexpected away win in Cardiff.
So, how did it happen?
Well, we for once saw a little bit of ne’er say die, combined with a Cardiff team that has become commonly known as a Norwich. My spies from Splott tell me the Bluebirds have a habit of doing this every now and again, so many thanks to them for choosing to do it against us. Appreciated.
Now I occasionally like an Old Peculiar but never in a month of Sundays did I expect our head coach to pick the starting back four that he did on Saturday. It certainly didn’t work when Cardiff had the ball but when we did it has to be said that Przemysław Placheta looked our most direct and effective attacker.
Plus – and make sure you’re sitting down for this one – the substitutions made by David Wagner had an effect on the game. Adam Idah finally reminded us again what he can do when he’s hungry and focused, so now, please Adam, can we have that from the start of a game?
Maybe it was all a clever move by Wagner to engineer effective substitutions … not before time!
Anyway, it might be the international break, but it’s not as if there isn’t much going on at our football club right now, and this one gives us a chance to welcome Ben Knapper to the hot seat of sporting director.
He now has six weeks to have a good look at the playing squad from close quarters before there is the small matter of the January transfer window. And it promises to be, for the want of a better word… interesting.
- Will there be a small stash of cash available for a purchase or a loan? Hhmm.
- Or (more likely) will we see a lower-half, desperate Premier League club throw in a bid for Gabriel Sara or Jonathan Rowe that we really can’t duck?
- And the big question (which I’ve been avoiding) … does our new sporting director intend to stick with Wagner or has he arrived here with an ace up his sleeve?
If it is to be the ace up the sleeve then it’s best he moves with all possible haste as games come sixteen to the dozen this time of year – ten of the perishing things between 25th November and 1st January.
But if he has faith in Wagner then he needs to get out there and say it. The worst thing will be for him to take a ho-hum-ha, game-by-game approach because, by the time he makes the decision, it will be too late.
And then there is also the small matter of the flak Mr Knapper will receive for the indecision (and the ace may no longer be up the sleeve), which would be far from an ideal start to his Norwich City tenure.
No doubt interviews will flow around Colney this week and I would like to see a thawing of relations between the club and the regional media. New brooms and new starts etc.
But, to end, just a personal plea to Mr. Wagner and/or Mr. Knapper and/or anyone else at Colney who is listening … please keep Danny Batth (top of page) in the side at centre-back for the QPR game.
Based on what we saw in Cardiff, he looks to have fewer mistakes in him than Messrs Duffy and Gibson, and for that reason, I think Jaden Warner should stay in too.
But that’s just my two penneth. Let us know what you think in the comments.
***
We know our Martin would approve of this one…
I agree Bernie, no need to change the back four that finished the game. But I worry that something will get picked up in training, which seems to happen a lot. Training methods need looking into in my opinion.
To think that this international break we have our National side playing Malta, that world class bastion of football, and if that isn’t exciting enough they head off to North Macedonia. Thank gawd we have nobody in the full England squad. A top class test of Southgate,s troops, the pundits will need a tissue if England beat either, which they really should. Scotland fare a little better with Georgia and Norway. . If things go to plan Idah will be up against Van Dyke again.
We are missing league football for that ?
Thanks Bernie
Yes… Knapper is in a difficult situation thanks in part to the owners farting about on the phone. Many still want Wagner to be shown the door, which I did, not that I changed my mind just as it is Norwich . They never do the right or correct thing straight off, normally leaving it until it too late.
If Knapper decides Wagner isn’t the right fit, what does he do, when The Stowmarket duo have given Wagner a big vote of confidence, which normally means you are getting sacked – but this is Norwich.
Bridges need to be rebuilt with the terraces quickly, we need to hear a plan, a vision for the way forward. A reassurance that he wants to keep the squad together and add to here and there in January .
There is the matter of Batth on a 1-year deal with an option. While Duffy has the delight of a 3 year deal. not bad for a 31 year old . He isn’t fast now what is he going to be in 2 years time ?
To me they may have got the deals around the wrong way or both should have been on the 1year deal with the options to extend. Webber’s last oversight and I am being kind there.
Exactly what Neil Adams meant is his comments at Gt Yarmouth last night “I think moving forward this club will look round the edges. Rather than going through manager after manager.”
I take it to mean Wagner is safe for the time being, the next coach is already in-house. In Pelach, unless I am reading wrongly. We’ll see we got keep troshing I sappose
If we don’t change the back four that finished the game, Kenny will be playing at centre back, not Warner. Depending on how Hanley’s “setback” is, he could be in contention, but I’m betting it will be Batth and Duffy at centre back, with Giannoulis and Stacy at full back.
Knapper is taking on a job with quite a large and varied in-tray. I think the chances of him adding to that by walking in to the Board Room and asking for the immediate removal of the manager, with all the disruption and extra work that would lead to, are pretty slim. It must be difficult enough to co-ordinate an exercise like replacing a manager (and in all likelihood many of his staff) when you have been working with colleagues for two years, never mind two days. The only way I can see Wagner leaving quickly is f he and Knapper just don’t get on, or have radically different approaches.
This isn’t a case of pressing a few buttons as if you’re playing Football Manager – you’ve got to do the equivalent of all the research and programming behind them too.
Failing to remove Wagner would not be “indecision”; what anyone saying that would really mean is that it is a decision, but they don’t agree with it.
He’s far better taking stock, asking a few questions (such as why so many injuries?) and developing a strategy for the January window and rest of the season. There is, of course, a bit of wing and prayer involved, because he’s relying on Wagner keeping us at least within reach of the play-offs and hopefully developing the team so that they can compete with the better sides in the league when we get to play them again. We may not have had a great first third of the season, but it is the final third that really counts and there’s a long way to go yet.
Hi Keith
When he was announced as Webber’s replacement it was said how informed he was on all the playing staff and management structures at city.
I think he will have a good idea on how he wants to move forward but it will depend on those above him giving him the power to make changes .
Maybe he will see Wagner at work before he makes a decision, Wagner has said himself that BK has been in constant touch with him since the announcement especially after games so only time will tell how all this pans out.
Hi Bernie
A good read.
The slowly decision mentally is the killer at the club and like many I can understand the powers that be not wanting to jump from frying pan into a fire as many clubs do but the thought process needs to be speeded up and be decisive.
Will BK be Wagner’s saviour or as you say have something up his sleeve ie Carlos Cuesta or another young hungry coach ready to try his luck only time can tell us.
Narcis Pelach has been mentioned but he has the shadow of Wagner over him and was quoted as saying he couldn’t learn from a better coach than him to take his career forward so if he got the gig would it be carry on regardless or a new broom approach.
Sara, Gunn, Rowe and anon could all be on the alter of self-funding to fill the blackhole and replacing any or all could be a labour Hercules would have wanted.
More freebies, loans with an option to buy or academy grads thrown in the deep end who in his or her right mind would want to take it on Fat Frank Lampard Wilder, Warnock will all want big pay packets and bonuses so maybe Luke Williams from Notts County(once a city academy boy) or Will Still from Reims experience or novice take your pick.
Hanley just might surprise us with an early return from his hamstring or 4 weeks out plus getting fit so new year.
Great music Bernie
Alex, would Warnock be so bad to steady the ship for a couple of months. This would give Ben a chance to bed in before making any rash permanent management changes. Oh hang on, he may not suit, like the ex Home Secretary, both guilty of being out spoken.
Too much so for Happy Valley I think..
Hi Ken
Warnock would certainly stir up the squad and just might get them into the playoffs I just wonder if the Octogenarian’s could survive his management style and he’s never worked with a Sporting Director I think so could put a fire under BK early in his City career.
I agree with all said in the article and by Gordon. Seems just as we are getting to the end of one three year contract for errors (Gibson) we splash out on another (Duffy). At least on a much lower wage I hope?
Notwithstanding his assist I would add that McLean is a better defender than attacker. I hope we get to see Sorensen in his best position for long enough to be offered a new deal. Oh and, as mentioned, that Idah can show more of his better more urgent side not just plodding up and down failing to control any ball that comes his way out wide quickly enough to scare the opposition and not piss NCFC fans off :p.
Oh and how right you are Keith and Alex. Both B’s. Not related by chance?!
I have a large family in and around Gt Yarmouth but can’t think of a Keith but at 73 my memory might have a little lapse every now and then.
LOL, no Im sure we’re not (I don’t even have family in Norfolk) but I’m only a few years younger, so it’s obviously an age thing.
Sure, he’s not totally in the dark, of course. Far from it. And if he has indeed been in touch with Wagner a lot that probably suggests he’s settling for the Status Quo right now. Not having the wide musical knowledge of Martin I’m afraid I can’t suggest an appropriate song to back that up.
Hi Keith
Let’s hope that the conversations have a positive effect on Wagner.
A few Quo songs come to mind
For Delia: Enough is Enough
For Attanasio: Someone’s Learning
For BK: Lonely Man
For Wagner: Down Down
For Webber: Mountain Lady
From the Club to Supporters: Who asked You
From Supporters to Club: What you’re proposing
From doom and gloom to eternal optimism in one game! I would settle personally for the 2nd team to win at Portman Road. This is my tune re play offs, the late great Steve Bruton ‘This Train is Gone’.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_4EHJoDja8M
Got me on a roll now. A tune for Naarch and the Premier League. Delbert McClinton. “(I Never Lost You) You Were Never Mine” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J5oQocGP8CA
One for all Canaries fans. The late great Otis Redding “I’ve Got Dreams to Remember”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MOwNCKZeNOE