I'm sure there are many city fans who felt / feel the same way as the writer of this piece. I know I was guilty - until Adams and his new look team started to show what they're all about. Save a slice of that humble pie for me, Samir http://norwichcity.myfootballwriter...r-window-in-the-top-six-and-pride-of-anglia/?
It is very easy to continue to be critical of Adams- but I'm not going to be at this point in time, just hoping for continued improvement from him and the team- I do think that he is going to have a tricky job, juggling what now looks like a very large and competitive squad- but I guess that is a very good position to be in.
Yes, all very pretty Cromer, but he´s doing no more than just regurgitating what several of us on here have been saying for a few weeks now. Anyone with even a half open mind, can see that Adams has performed above most people´s expectations, the crunch will come when/if the team hits a few problems, and goes a few weeks without winning, then we´ll see what he´s really made of. Managers don´t earn their corn when things are going well, so I hope he hasn´t got to earn his for many weeks to come.
pretty much where i sit. no matter how anyone dresses it up he is still an unknown in terms of his ability as a manager. for some reason, some people don't like me saying that but its true. so far so good, the squad looks very strong and we've made a promising start on the pitch, but we still have no idea if he has what it takes to get us back up.
There are no certainties in football, as all sorts of things can happen. Yes, we can get carried away by 10 points from 5 games and predict where that will place us at the end of the season (a bit like what the LibDems do every time they win a by-election). I'm happy enough with the 10 points, but what convinces me more is the motivation in the team as a whole, but also in individual players like Wes committing himself to the cause again. Many of us feared we'd lose countless players after relegation, but the fact is, we haven't. Snodgrass is a good player, but he wouldn't fit the Adams style of play, so it made sense to let him go and earn a good profit as well. Fer could have fitted, but wanted to go and again it made sense to do a good deal. But what impresses me more is the number of players who have stayed for the fight to get back into the PL and those who have come in to join that fight. I'm sure I wasn't the only one to gulp, when the Palace chairman made his announcement about signing a striker who had been in the PL before. It was an anxious wait, but not only did we not lose Hooper or Redmond, we acquired additional strength in the defense and a future prospect in midfield as well. It could have been very different and the new management structure deserves credit for that, including the Board of four wise men McNally has set up. Many of us were unsure at the time, but it certainly seems to be working now. There is a big change in direction going on and, IMO, it's a very good one.
I think only a very few of us expected Adams to be a failure; the majority, including me, thought he would be a capable Championship manager but were disappointed with the appointment because we wanted more than that! Adams may well gets us into the play-offs or even better, but even so, with the squad we have, we really should be there or there-abouts!
I'll hold my hands up. I really thought it would be a disaster. Thus far I have been wrong. I hope I continue to be wrong for some time.
i really didn't know what to expect! that's why i struggled so hard to predict where i thought we'd finish!! i certainly felt it was more likely to go tits up than thumbs up. there have been plenty of ex pros who have had a similar background, who you would think would go on to be top managers yet haven't done anything, whilst some you wouldn't expect could even spell the word 'coach' let alone actually do it effectively yet they become decent gaffers. one thing is important - you need a little bit of luck to be a good manager. maybe adams has had that luck in the squad he inherited. or maybe he was unlucky to have had those horrid five games at the back end of last season. all i know is if he keeps working hard and improving both his own skills and those of the players we'll have no complaints. a lot of work still to be done but it would be nice to see an inexperienced english manager come through at a decent level. it doesn't happen very often these days.
I was surprised with the appointment. However, without wishing to boast, as soon as I saw the additional structural changes with extra appointments which took a whole raft of power from Adams I actually felt very positive straight away, because even when he was first appointed I felt he came across as tactically astute and a decent motivator, I was just concerned about his ability to be an all-singing, all-dancing manager. I still am in fact, but he doesn't need to be so it doesn't matter. The current system plays precisely to his strengths so I am not surprised it's working. I will admit that the Wolves match shocked me because Adams suddenly looked well out of his depth, however. But he also rapidly restored that faith. I still want to see what happens when we have a bad run, though. If Adams panic, we still have the potential to have a disastrous season.
With the transfer window now closed and the mass exodus having not happened, perhaps it's time we relax a bit. Carrabuh predicted that City would 'implode' under Adams. Have we? On the contrary, (much to my relief as well), we have a good and deep squad well suited to the Championship (and, IMO, re-entry into the PL should that happen as well). Beyond that though, there seems to be a new squad morale, as those lucky enough to see the players' Twitter banter about keeping Hooper from leaving will vouch for. Many people questioned (understandably) Adams' ability as a motivator. That doesn't seem to be a question at the moment. With 10 points from 5 games, City have made a solid start. Yes, there will be setbacks, but this is surely a team and a manager we can all get behind so as to achieve what we all want - a return to the PL.
Have to agree RER!! Also, as you say it will be interesting how NA and the squad handle a 'sticky patch' which I'm sure will arise, but given the depth of the squad, we should be able to cope with any injuries.
In many ways I feel sorry for Adams. It is his first job and he is working to very high demands - anything short of the play-offs will generally be seen as a failure, I think. Compare that with someone who started at a club who are stuck in the Championship doldrums (mmm - who COULD i be thinking of?) where he could work his way into the job slowly as long as there were a few signs of progress. On the other hand, he is very lucky in having an excellent squad at his disposal for this level, one which any half-decent manager should easily get into the top six. I still think it's far too early to make a confident call. I have to congratulate both Adams and the board, though, on the transfer window. I'm one of those who thought the Board did very poorly last season in having far too much faith in Hughton, and I was also very critical of the 'death or relegation' PR nonsense and the 'scouring of Europe' bullshit. I was starting to fear that McNally & Co had just got one lucky throw of the dice with Lambert and weren't really up to much - it's certainly looking as if I was wrong on that one, and very glad to be wrong.
