Since the posters on here are not the youngest cohort in the world, I assume many like me will remember a book called 'How to Lie with Statistics' by Darrell Huff.
https://www.pinkun.com/sport/23199871.lee-payne-norwich-city-fans-want-dean-smith-sacked/ Why Norwich City fans want Dean Smith sacked https://norwichcity.myfootballwrite...fans-usually-spells-the-beginning-of-the-end/ Blaming the fans usually spells the beginning of the end
Do the inverted commas around the word 'fans' mean that you get to decide who is and isn't a 'fan', Robbie? Some people might call that presumptuous. And please explain to this person without a lot of brain how an 'underlying agenda' differs from Smith's 'narrative'.
What I actually said was that I consider myself a SUPPORTER of the club, not a "fan". I've supported City for approaching 60 years, for most of that time as a season ticket holder. Can you match that Duncan? And I can tell you, never once in that time, has the thought of booing the players on the pitch ever entered my mind.
Another Smithball obituary https://norwichcity.myfootballwrite...-norwich-fans-werent-seen-as-the-clubs-enemy/
From the above: "Either way, the new Sporting Director/Head Coach partnership has neither the will nor the ability to effectively engage with the supporters and they have denied themselves the goodwill that would have eased tensions over the perceived downturn in results and performances." Nail on head.
A good attempt to get at the heart of the problem. Gozo's quote above and this excerpt are the crux for me: "Dean Smith’s arrival, days after being dismissed by his beloved Aston Villa, was greeted with a degree of surprise and scepticism as it seemed to deviate from the masterplan. With no immediate upturn in results to ease the concerns, the new Head Coach found himself and his methods under increasing scrutiny and yet, despite that, has made little attempt to forge a meaningful connection with the fanbase." Smith arrived with grand comments about forging a club culture and going forward together as a unified force (much like Webber's original aims when the 'project' started). This started well, then faded as results went against us time and time again. This season stuttered, then produced a run of results, though the performances were uninspiring. Now Smith seems aloof, seeing the fans as a detriment to the team's progress, not unlike Roeder in his final days. There's a disconnect and it's hard to see a way back now.
I don't think there is a way back, but if the club dig their heels in and turn this into a long-running conflict, it could have a disastrous effect, perhaps even threatening the new investment from America. As Webber is now effectively in control of the club, I fear this may well happen.
I don’t subscribe to the idea that Webber is a total bogeyman and some sort of grand power. He’s made mistakes, sure, but there are more than enough positives to outweigh those mistakes. Smith’s just a mistake. I maintain it was a question of timing rather than the wrong appointment altogether. I like that the Norwich board aren’t trigger happy - Farke would have gone half a dozen times if they were. The only question with Smith is when they get rid. I think everyone knows it’s just a matter of time (other than maybe Robbie BB who even in a hundred years will no doubt still be extolling the virtues of Smith’s fuseball style rigidity to the underside of a coffin lid).
I agree there are still more positives than negatives when viewed historically over the course of Webber's stay here. But every day the balance of the scales tips a little more to the negative side. For me, he is a liability from now on and, if it is true that he offered his resignation, Delia and Michael should have accepted it. I suggest that a lot of the disconnect with the fans is down to him, and I don't see how he can escape virtually all of the blame for the split with the local media. There is also the issue of what looks from the outside like a mass turnover of good staff within Carrow Road. This is before we even begin to talk about the woeful recruitment of last season at both the player and manager levels.
https://www.norfolklive.co.uk/sport...dean-smith-norwich-luton-championship-7950460 Dean Smith tells Norwich City how to turn things around ahead of Luton Town Championship fixture Dean Smith says Norwich City 'have to' play better after the 2-0 loss to Blackburn Rovers which leaves them fifth in the Championship
More well written heracy from another ignorant 'fan- https://norwichcity.myfootballwriter.com/2022/12/21/why-are-norwich-fans-so-fed-up/ Why are Norwich fans so fed up?