N
Number 9
Well-Known Member
It's not a good look by the club, shocking really.
morty
Moderator
Staff member
I'm not sure where to start frankly. Just seems extremely tone deaf. And the fact that someone thought this would be a great idea just kinda feeds into the disconnect theory.
N
Number 9
Well-Known Member
Maybe they'll be some rainbow flags for everyone to wave on Saturday.
That'll cheer people up.
morty
Moderator
Staff member
I reckon they should roll out the clap banners, just like that day that Hughton went...
N
Number 9
Well-Known Member
We've had some good days out at games where managers are holding on by their fingertips.
"You're not Worthy anymore "
G
GJP
Well-Known Member
There's not a disconnect between the club and the fans but... we would win a few more games if you could cheer a bit more you miserable bastards.
morty
Moderator
Staff member
I'm not even sure I can be bothered to try and unpack all this, but will give it a go anyway, that video tonight has shown that there are a lot of layers to where we are right now, and a lot of them aren't great. As with anything in life, you can liken most situations to juggling. If you have one or two "problem" balls to juggle, you can manage fine, but if someone throws a few more in then you start to struggle. I'll try and do this under headings, hopefully to simplify it, and make it more readable.
The Disconnect
Fans communications is a strange beast, under certain regimes they have been kept at arms length, under others they have been listened to just a bit too much. I actually think that lockdown did things to people in different ways, perhaps some realised they didn't actually need going to football in their lives? Maybe some have decided they would rather spend time elsewhere, maybe some just plain can't afford it? But there has been a definite apathy, especially at Carrow Road, since the beginning of the season, even when we were winning. It has also been said that a lot of people, after last season question, what is the point? Why bother getting promoted, we'll only come back down. Its like going on Bullseye and winning a speedboat when you live on the 7th floor of a highrise flat in Croydon. I think a lot of fans also feel further disconnect due to the likes of VAR, certainly everything I see says people feel it is ruining the matchday experience. Maybe some of our fans also feel a bit cheated because they missed that winning season that was played behind closed doors? The upshot I think is that yes, there is disconnect, but all the club's fault? Nah, not so sure.
Financials
We are in a bit of a precarious position frankly, turns out we can't find an Emi every few years. We lost 35m during Covid, and although we have our heads just about above water, if the situation worsens, who do we really have as a saleable asset? Max? Todd? Big Andy? I suspect we may recoup a bit of money at the end of the season from Tzolis and Rashica, but short term cashflow could be tricky.
The Manager
I get why we employed Dean, lets face it, as much as we loved Farke, he just didn't have the nous to compete in the Premier league. You have to question the logic of buying a load of players for him then sacking him, but hey ho. So Dean was on our "to get" list, which I don't really believe, but we'll run with it. Manager with something to prove, got sides promoted before, has Prem experience, can maybe introduce a more pragmatic, solid style, all those boxes ticked, the only one totally not ticked being the reason we have a director of football. The theory always being that you have a singular football style philosophy, and recruitment style, so theoretically a new manager, that you have chosen based on that, can slot straight in. Lets be honest here, Dean has really never fitted in. I think even when we were winning, we were all holding our collective breaths waiting for it to click, and we muller someone, and it has just never really happened, sure the injuries have been a pain in the arse, but the whole thing has just never smelled quite right. I'm not normally one for a knee jerk, but it really feels like he needs to go. And as fans we need to face a reality, we will never attract a Premier league quality manager, we will always be taking a gamble on an Alex Neil, a Daniel Farke, or a Russel Martin.
The local press thing
Duncan actually worked this out a few months ago, part of it is the Evening news front page caning Webber, but part of it is also a certain local press "reporter" who got lucky in snapping a picture of our potential American investors and couldn't wait to spunk it all over the place, despite being asked not to. Michael Bailey was also working on the story, and was apparently furious that he had been gazumped on it, when the person that did so actually had nothing. Local ITK Twitter account tweeted about it tonight :-
Conclusion
It really feels like a few things are coming apart here, and whoever at the club who thought that video was a great idea wants their arse booted. We need to get a grip of the situation, or we really could be in a bit of trouble frankly. In fact, based on the form table, why even wait till Saturday, get rid of him before then, and avoid a poisonous atmosphere.
The Disconnect
Fans communications is a strange beast, under certain regimes they have been kept at arms length, under others they have been listened to just a bit too much. I actually think that lockdown did things to people in different ways, perhaps some realised they didn't actually need going to football in their lives? Maybe some have decided they would rather spend time elsewhere, maybe some just plain can't afford it? But there has been a definite apathy, especially at Carrow Road, since the beginning of the season, even when we were winning. It has also been said that a lot of people, after last season question, what is the point? Why bother getting promoted, we'll only come back down. Its like going on Bullseye and winning a speedboat when you live on the 7th floor of a highrise flat in Croydon. I think a lot of fans also feel further disconnect due to the likes of VAR, certainly everything I see says people feel it is ruining the matchday experience. Maybe some of our fans also feel a bit cheated because they missed that winning season that was played behind closed doors? The upshot I think is that yes, there is disconnect, but all the club's fault? Nah, not so sure.
Financials
We are in a bit of a precarious position frankly, turns out we can't find an Emi every few years. We lost 35m during Covid, and although we have our heads just about above water, if the situation worsens, who do we really have as a saleable asset? Max? Todd? Big Andy? I suspect we may recoup a bit of money at the end of the season from Tzolis and Rashica, but short term cashflow could be tricky.
The Manager
I get why we employed Dean, lets face it, as much as we loved Farke, he just didn't have the nous to compete in the Premier league. You have to question the logic of buying a load of players for him then sacking him, but hey ho. So Dean was on our "to get" list, which I don't really believe, but we'll run with it. Manager with something to prove, got sides promoted before, has Prem experience, can maybe introduce a more pragmatic, solid style, all those boxes ticked, the only one totally not ticked being the reason we have a director of football. The theory always being that you have a singular football style philosophy, and recruitment style, so theoretically a new manager, that you have chosen based on that, can slot straight in. Lets be honest here, Dean has really never fitted in. I think even when we were winning, we were all holding our collective breaths waiting for it to click, and we muller someone, and it has just never really happened, sure the injuries have been a pain in the arse, but the whole thing has just never smelled quite right. I'm not normally one for a knee jerk, but it really feels like he needs to go. And as fans we need to face a reality, we will never attract a Premier league quality manager, we will always be taking a gamble on an Alex Neil, a Daniel Farke, or a Russel Martin.
The local press thing
Duncan actually worked this out a few months ago, part of it is the Evening news front page caning Webber, but part of it is also a certain local press "reporter" who got lucky in snapping a picture of our potential American investors and couldn't wait to spunk it all over the place, despite being asked not to. Michael Bailey was also working on the story, and was apparently furious that he had been gazumped on it, when the person that did so actually had nothing. Local ITK Twitter account tweeted about it tonight :-
Conclusion
It really feels like a few things are coming apart here, and whoever at the club who thought that video was a great idea wants their arse booted. We need to get a grip of the situation, or we really could be in a bit of trouble frankly. In fact, based on the form table, why even wait till Saturday, get rid of him before then, and avoid a poisonous atmosphere.
Fenway Frank
Well-Known Member
So because we have good support it means everyone’s happy ? Oh dear, bit of a car crash wasn’t it ? Having said that, they could have just ignored some of the questions I suppose rather than giving us a response of “ nothing is wrong “
Fenway Frank
Well-Known Member
This sums everything up perfectly
norwichcity.myfootballwriter.com
How can we unconditionally support an approach that we don’t fully understand?
G
GJP
Well-Known Member
See, you would have to assume there was at least a small team of people who were involved or at least knew what was going to be put out.
So I think it's a bit worrying in a few possible aspects.
Are we saying nobody involved knew how bad the fan comments would be?
In which case have we got the right/good enough people at the club?
Or
Was there at least one person who said "Wait a minute"?
Were their concerns listened to or are we looking at a culture where that person didn't think they could speak because there's too much control and certain people at the top can't be challenged?
Or
Are they just incredibly arrogant and think they are better than people? And in truth don't care what the fans think or feel? The fans either like what they are told to like or they're wrong and part of the problem.
Or
Are we looking at pretty a combination of all?
"Multi" problems as Mr Richens might put it.
morty
Moderator
Staff member
I think you could add into that, that we do have a certain amount of fans that can be a teensy bit "oversensitive".
morty
Moderator
Staff member
G
GJP
Well-Known Member
Absolutely.
I accepted a long time ago that Norwich will always be a yoyo team at best unless we come into some scandalous amounts of money. If we score a goal I will cheer it, if we get promoted I will celebrate it. If we lose a match I'll shrug it off and basically I shrug off relegation too.
What I would hope to see is a little bit of humility from the club. It costs a lot to go to matches and follow your team. Against the backdrop of the cost of living crisis and the difficulties many people face it would be nice if the club could just say "Thanks very much for your support, we are all grateful for it" and leave it there.
Mr Richens might be right that ticket prices are justified because they get sold but there will be some people who may well have to sacrifice football in favour of putting food on the table and heating their home.
And I guess for people that are putting their pounds and pennies into season tickets they would like to be rewarded with a decent game of football from their team. The players haven't got to worry, they are going home in their Range Rovers to their plush homes.
My team and I don't need a round of applause to do our jobs well.
G
GJP
Well-Known Member
Well, absolutely.
But for some people that choice may be getting made for them with the tighter budgets many now have to work with.