Other clubs "role models" for Norwich City?

[Dubai Mark]

The latest club touted in our local football press as being the ideal "role model" for Norwich City are West Bromwich Albion, a story that seems to be based on the fact that we have signed a couple of players from them recently, that our new head of scouting worked their until 2012 and that they have now been in the EPL since 2010,

So, is that enough for City to want to become "another West Brom"?  (well in reality, its a poor story as per usual, but gives us something to discuss) 

I am sure, like me, many others will remember Charlton Athletic as being the club Norwich City should follow........interesting to see how they have done since.

My thoughts on other clubs as "role models" are that, there is probably only one club that has shown true discipline and patience over many years and appears to be very well run, and that is Arsenal, so maybe there are some lessons to be learnt from them, sure we are not of the scale of an Arsenal, but many things that club does,do certainly set a great example?

But other than Arsenal, no other side really impresses me, Southampton for example........yes maybe for their Academy, but financially prior to being taken over they were well dodgy. 

For me, I'd like things to be done the "Norwich City way", although without the "from the heart" rather than "from the head" managerial choices we have seen a couple of times. I say that even though the apparent "prudence" and "lack of risk taking" does frustrate me  at times, although Alex Neil at the time did appear to be a huge risk, and probably still is now we are back in the EPL as he faces his first game in charge at this level.      

Like all clubs, Norwich City are unique, and I want it to stay like that and really do not want to see our great club start to resemble one of our rivals.....The club's senior management have had lots of experience now over many seasons experiencing a real roller coaster of ups and down, and I am sure they have learnt many lessons, and will now manage us through probably our most successful few years in our clubs history....., we will just need a little patience along the way......OTBC  

Perhaps you do think we need a "role model club", if so...who? 

 

[Din]

I think there are quite a few teams in this league who are potential 'role models', Palace being one of them. You've also got Swansea, Southampton and Stoke who are all labelled as 'established' sides now.

 

[KeiranShikari]

I think our current approach is similar to West Brom's during the 00s, or at least that's what I thought when we retained a majority of our squad after relegation before bouncing right back.

We also have half of their team, Darnbrough and Dean Kiely.

 

[GJP]

We could be Swansea or Southampton.

At the moment we're Burnley.

 

[It's Character Forming]

Yes, like the OP whenever I hear a team talked about as a role model for teams aspiring to stay in the Prem like ourselves, I always think "Charlton".  Which does make you realise plenty of caution is needed for this sort of thing.

For me, we need to remain debt-free and have players on sensible contracts that we could still afford if relegated, and we should be looking to sign quality players who will give their all rather than lose their motivation when it gets tough.  In other words, not signing players like Fer/Elmander etc and going for Howsons/Tetteys.

 

[KeiranShikari]

We could be Swansea or Southampton.

At the moment we're Burnley.

Disagree. We're stronger than Burnley were going into last season thus don't require as much in the transfer market. 

 

[Lone Star Canary]

The experience of watching my baseball team (Kansas City Royals) suffer for thirty years before again becoming the class of the American League has taught me patience... and that looking to specific clubs as role models may not be necessary if you can blaze your own path.  Yes, you may borrow a best practice here and there and apply it to your situation, but I'm simply not convinced any of the clubs mentioned is really a peer.  I think the market size, stadium, level of capitalization and (lack of) debt make Norwich City unique.

And guess what?  It's okay to be unique.

 

[Indy_Bones]

Arsenal has to be the gold standard when it comes to role models IMHO, they play great football which gives them a Champions League place EVERY season, they have a financial stability that means that even when they've signed world class players, they've usually got their money back or made a profit upon sale at a later point, a brand new custom built stadium that's already been paid off, and of course have the 'London' advantage for attracting players.

I don't see why we'd EVER want to use the likes of WBA as a role model, I'd much rather look back at the teams managed by Stringer and Walker, take some hints and inspiration from there and continue on developing back to our previous position during those years as a genuinely dangerous, competitive team that plays good to watch football, as against a relegation Yo-yo club who are happy to settle for bland football and journeymen players if it keeps us safe ad nauseum...

 

[KeiranShikari]

I know. A club of a similar size, with a similar size fanbase and similar funding that have retained Premier League status for the last 6 years would be a terrible role model. 

We're never going to be a bloody Arsenal. 

 

[Canaryboy]

My only question is why West Brom specifically, why not Stoke? 

West Brom and Stoke are both very well run clubs, of similar size to ours. 

I'd like to think we are just as well run as both of those clubs (breaking a profit in the Premier League, relegated with a squad which we could keep together, etc).

 

[Ricardo]

We are Norwich City, we don't need to model ourselves on anyone else.

 

[KeiranShikari]

Stoke spent loads of money and didn't really improve until Hughes took over.

 

[GJP]

They also didn't get relegated.

 

[KeiranShikari]

Yes, but they had big financial backing, something we don't have. As a club we are much more like a West Brom.

Ricardo is right though, we are our own club and shouldn't straight up copy another team. I would hope that 6 years in the Premier League would leave us stronger than West Brom are now.