Norwich City vs Portsmouth (Home) Good Friday.

[morty]

I'd like to think we can do a win here? But who knows? I saw people talking about " green shoots of recovery" after the Burnley game, but I can't really see it, I think we all know the season is pretty much over!

 

[GJP]

Could really do with building some positive momentum. Momentum is huge in football and just ending the season on some kind of high could make all the difference going forward.

 

[Rock The Boat]

What I find frustrating is the obvious errors that were there in the first game of the season are still there at the end of the season. Some individual players have improved over the season, some have gone backwards, but as a whole, the club has not progressed at all.

 

[Fen Canary]

What I find frustrating is the obvious errors that were there in the first game of the season are still there at the end of the season. Some individual players have improved over the season, some have gone backwards, but as a whole, the club has not progressed at all.

I’m willing to give them til Christmas. By that point they’ve had 3 windows to get the players to suit the style of football they want to play. If it’s still rubbish at that point I’ll be calling for a change

 

[Fimbo]

Same here. My concern is that there is a gap between the kind of football Thorup wants to play and the players that he and Knapper are capable of recruiting. At least i've given up worrying about whether it's a style of football that would work in the PL

 

[morty]

 

[Rock The Boat]

when I saw Long in goal, I had this as a loss. 3-1 down at half time and Pompey going through our defence like a knife through butter. Even more worrying was the reaction of players when we scored. Sargant looked non-plussed, the other players barely congratulated him. Bad vibes behind the scenes, I fear.

 

[Sonyc]

Something's not been right in the group for a number of weeks. Don't like hearing from Thorup that we are where we are either - and we are on track. On track to where? FFS
A shambles of a performance so far, embarrassing in front of home fans, shameful even
As for Long, I don't think I've seen a worse keeper in yellow and green (ref. Theoklitus - he only played just the one game).

 

[gerryinromania]

What a superb half from Norwich City.
My view from the telly box, is telling me that Fisher and Nunez are real dog shit. Cordoba seems as thick as pig shit.
Sad that you good fans are being robbed of your hard earned money

 

[nwcanary]

Dreadful performance. Thorup is showing no evidence of having the ability to do a good job. If he stays, we go down next season

 

[nwcanary]

Same here. My concern is that there is a gap between the kind of football Thorup wants to play and the players that he and Knapper are capable of recruiting. At least i've given up worrying about whether it's a style of football that would work in the PL

More likely to be in L1 than PL with him in charge

 

[GJP]

Unacceptable. Arguably, unforgiveable.

 

[morty]

Luckily I was too busy in work to watch.

 

[Fenway Frank]

Also luckily I watched Wroxham draw 2-2 with top of the league Brentwood

 

[Fen Canary]

Something's not been right in the group for a number of weeks. Don't like hearing from Thorup that we are where we are either - and we are on track. On track to where? FFS
A shambles of a performance so far, embarrassing in front of home fans, shameful even
As for Long, I don't think I've seen a worse keeper in yellow and green (ref. Theoklitus - he only played just the one game).

I’m losing faith on Thorup to be honest, he strikes me as one of the current crop of young managers thats in fashion at the moment (Martin, Kompany) that prizes ideology over actual results.
Having a way you want your team to play is fine. Trying to do so with players not suited to playing that way is idiotic.
I make no secret that I’m not a fan of the style, but expecting Duffy to play intricate passes reminiscent of Pirlo is just stupid. Until you have the players to piss around with it at the back just let Duffy do what he’s built a solid career doing, namely snuffing out attacks and clearing the lines

 

[GJP]

I’m losing faith on Thorup to be honest, he strikes me as one of the current crop of young managers thats in fashion at the moment (Martin, Kompany) that prizes ideology over actual results.
Having a way you want your team to play is fine. Trying to do so with players not suited to playing that way is idiotic.
I make no secret that I’m not a fan of the style, but expecting Duffy to play intricate passes reminiscent of Pirlo is just stupid. Until you have the players to piss around with it at the back just let Duffy do what he’s built a solid career doing, namely snuffing out attacks and clearing the lines

Interesting that you used Martin and Kompany as examples.

It might not have worked out in the Premier League but they did both get their clubs promoted to it.

And that's really what it's about. Getting promoted. I don't think you can hold too much against any manager failing to keep a newly promoted club in the Prem, that league is a monster.

But this Norwich squad is actually pretty decent for this league. Yes, we've had injuries but that's football. We've got a mix of proven, experienced campaigners and youth yet JHT can't get a tune out of it.

I actually think he's got away quite lightly. Take Sargent and Sainz respective periods of form and goals out of this season and what has JHT actually done for us?

And just going back to Martin and Kompany, they are significantly more experienced at this level of football (or better). JHT has really come from nowhere (comparatively) and really not shown anything since.

Could JHT turn it around? Possibly (but unlikely).

Could we have appointed someone better in the first place? Probably.

 

[nwcanary]

An old hand like Steve Cooper could do a decent job.

 

[morty]

I am basically clinging on to the fact, at this point, that Farke's first season wasn't great either...

 

[Sonyc]

An old hand like Steve Cooper could do a decent job.

Would agree he could and has tons of experience and the kind we need. Probably anyone could do a better job than Thorup at the minute. Managers do go through difficult periods but his set up and tactics seem ill-suited for the team he has and something appears wrong to the eye in team chemistry...the best I've seen it this year was after the Forson late double.

There are mitigations...a difficult run of injuries, the Sainz lay off, the McLean lay off, the introduction of many new young players (some who've looked decent...Mahovo),the attempt to integrate players into the Championship from abroad (nearly always takes a season),the integration of loanees. Any manager might struggle, let alone one with zero Championship experience or of English football.

Players too have let the club down and not 100% must be to do with the manager. As a pro you HAVE to know how to game manage. You've spent years getting an understanding of holding on to a winning position. But this lot? Pathetic is one word. Can't all be on Thorup can it. I've seen Nunez and McLean lose positions many times and so often goals against have been scored. Having such a midfield puts pressure on a defence (which doesn't really know each other). I tend to watch midfield more than any other area...for me it's where games are won and lost. It's where control lies. I haven't been impressed with any of them (Wright looks to have a decent potential to improve...but he is still 19). We can criticise the defence (rightly) but the midfield shouldn't get off lightly. Look at the number of games lost from winning positions. Astonishing. Soft underbelly.

So, mitigations aside, which I think are fairly offered, I'm unconvinced by Thorup. I think too, as a SD, I would make the change in the summer. Bit harsh maybe. It isn't working so why keep on? When he signed my intuition (watching him closely in interviews) was that he was out of his depth and I felt we might land somewhere between 12th and 16th (which looks about where we may end up). Such a learning curve for him. I like how he speaks and wish him to do well. Yet somehow I cannot see the learning on the pitch.

Some games have shown us to be a class act. Certain moves etc....the attacking department has been really good too. Overall though, such a frustrating season for us. High hopes have been dashed constantly. And now the team is to be split up we all know. Not a lot of expectation either for next season. And we need that kind of expectation to bring the fans together again and be the "12th man" again. We need that to drive the team forward (as does any promotion chasing team) and I am quite sure Thorup won't be able to generate that spirit. Farke, as an example, knew that he had to get fans onboard (and he did and generally made a lot of effort 'courting' fans).
Just my random thoughts and summary of the season.

 

[Scott]

Statement

We are fucking shite