McNally tweeted not so long ago saying the board have no influence on footballing matters. I'm going to trust him to be telling the truth over a canary caller any day of the week.
We used to jokingly call Paul Lambert "God", but clearly some of us actually believe Chris Hughton IS God, that is to say, everything that our team does on the pitch in every match is ordained by the Supreme Being who exercises this mysterious influence over them. So Howson getting forward is down to God saying "Jonny you can go forward", whereas in games where he hasn't got forward it was "Johnny, you aren't to go forward -- ever". Not only does this see Chris Hughton as all-powerful, it sees the players as mere puppets dancing to the puppet-master's string pulling. So our team is not made up of human beings with physical and mental strengths and weaknesses, filled at one time with confidence and other times with apprehension, sometimes tired mentally and physically, with aches and pains, niggles, colds or viruses or off-field problems like unhappy families, and at other times feeling just great with not a care in the world. In reality our club is not managed by God but by an intelligent, experienced man who from the start of the season has set out to make us more disciplined defensively and hence harder to beat, and who has basically targeted (as others have pointed out) home wins and away draws. That overall strategy has seen us finish higher than last season, though with a lower points tally (44 v 47), and within the general context of that strategy but with many, many other variables at play (among which is the fact that other teams are involved), has produced a whole spectrum of on-field performances. I don't believe for a moment that our performances in these last two games have come about because "God" has "ordained" anything very different from before. Of course the time of the season, league position, in-club events, and player mentality of the opposition played a part. But their effect was on our players not the manager. I see our on-field performances in these last two games as indicative of what CH has been wanting ALL SEASON, but for a host of multifarious reasons has not always been getting from his team. Can't wait now to see who is added to the squad in addition to RvW, and for next season to start.
agree. Ruddy THREW the ball out more times in this game than Bunn did in total in every game he played, if in fact he ever threw the ball out at all. thus we start with possession which, by lumping it forward we hardly ever will.
Its funny how things turn around. 3-4 weeks ago I did not think that we could beat Reading and all of a sudden we stuff West Brom and then do Man City Away?! It certainly is a funny old game.
This is no coincidence. I was out of the country (as well documented on the appropriate thread ) for the 4 - 0 mauling of the Baggies and the excellent youth team cup win. If fellow canary fans would like to have a whip round to send me back to Dubrovnik in time for the start of next season, I can pretty much guarantee a blockbusting start to the new campaign
I was out of the country for the Man City victory so maybe I should be sent away too! I'd gone out to Germany to watch Dortmund vs Hoffenheim (on Saturday). Amazing atmosphere - nothing like you get in England. If I get time I might even upload a couple of pictures of me in my Norwich shirt in front of the stadium!
I had sex with the missus on the morning of both the West Brom and Citeh games I should........nah that's not gonna work.
I totally agree with that, GG. I'd even thought of the puppet analogy myself. Well done RobbieBB. Too many people forget that this is a game, and often a funny old game at that. There will be good times and there will be bad times. You enjoy the former and suffer through the latter, but the only stats that really matter are in the league table at the end of the season - a solid mid-table eleventh place finish with established PL teams like Fulham, Stoke, Villa, Newcastle and Sunderland below us in the table. That is worth a celebration!
Absolutly correct, I've been beaten up so many times on this board because I've put this idea forward! Howson has been pretty poor for most of the season, mainly because he's been playing in front of the back line, now he's doing what he was bought for he's a completely different player, and so is Grant Holt now he's getting the service. Why has it taken so long for this to happen? The team looks re-energised, positive and back to something like the Norwich way of playing football, and I love it. I was at the game yesterday, it was exciting, yes exciting, edge of the seat stuff, not dull, dour, boring, playing for a point!! Hallelujah! You see it can be done! As for the Hughton debate, I'm still not sure, if the rumours are true, then he's not the manager anymore, if the rumours are not true then I'm glad he's finally seen the light!
Robbie, there's so many things I disagree with in your post, but 'all the blame is on the players', is totally beyond belief!!!!
Lots of people have already said it in a roundabout kind of way, but in the four games where we've really turned up and played recently - Reading, Villa, West Brom and City - Grant Holt's been back to his brilliant best. The man is huge for us; anyone who wanted him sold a few weeks ago better have changed their minds.
I don't think anyone has disagreed that Howson has appeared shackled until very recently. I certainly haven't seen any of the Hughton-ins suggesting the Hughton-outs were wrong on this point, so I'm not sure where you go that impression from ILD. Otherwise, I completely agree that it's frustrating to see it taking so long. What rumours suggest he isn't manager? That would be completely bonkers? Unless he resigned.
The 'rumours' are little more than a pathetic attempt to discredit CH. For me, the players suffered a drop in confidence after Ruddy's injury and the run of 4 defeats in December and on New Years day. The win against Everton was a boost, as was that against Reading. Holt's return to form and the return of Ruddy has helped boost confidence. Like others, Howson has struggled with CH's total football approach, but has now found the balance between attacking and defending and he's become a better player because of that. No one is saying that it's the players' fault, just that they have had to struggle at times during a difficult run of games and then come out of it with two brilliant wins to close out the season.
The rumours, (NOT STARTED BY ME), suggesting that the board had told Hughton to be more attacking, if they had then he's no longer in control! Thats what was meant!! Not sure where the Hughton in Hughton out bit came from, was it attributed to me?
But there is a huge difference Rob between "was shackled" and "appeared shackled". In his interview after the game he is quoted by the EDP as saying this: âSo on a personal note itâs nice to be on the scoresheet, but even more so itâs another win for the lads and a good end to the season. âIâd say this has been the highlight of my time at club. For me as a player itâs something I enjoy doing, to get forward and chip in with a few goals. On the season as a whole, itâs maybe something I couldâve done a little bit more but hopefully now I can carry this on to the start of next season.â Are people reading that as a veiled swipe at CH (just as some people read Holty's recent comments when in reality he was taking a swipe at his critics among the fans)? Or is it an acknowledgement from Howson himself of the truth in Riverendrick's view, expressed above, that Howson and others have simply struggled to find the right balance between attacking and defending?
Ah, I see - I misunderstood your post. I agree that if the board are telling him how to manage, it is a bit pointless him being given control... As for that bit, you just said you'd been "beaten up" about your opinion on Howson, but I meant that I thought we all actually agreed on that point - did someone disagree with you that Howson was playing very defensively and not allowed to attack? Perhaps I misunderstood your post
As for the board telling CH to be more attacking, DM has quite categorically ruled this out, saying that the board would never interfere with the manager's footballing decisions (and thank god for that). Do we really want a club where decisions are made that way?
