BREAKING please log in to view this image : Frank Lampard is expected to be named as Norwich manager, talkSPORT understands #NCFC please log in to view this image
Could be nothing in it if you read it carefully: "Frank Lampard is expected to be named as Norwich manager, talkSPORT understands" All of the bookies 'expect' this as well.
Until this happened, I had no idea how much I didn't want Lampard to be our next manager. Getting star-struck and chasing a name (sorry, *brand*). It seems so much against everything Norwich stand for.
I don't think SW does 'star struck' or is looking for a 'brand'. The whole point in having a SD is to leave these decisions to an expert, who then takes it to the management team and if they agree it is referred on to the board. I don't feel strongly one way or the other as all three candidates are fully capable IMO. I'm willing to trust the system we've set up. Here's David Freezer's view: “Looking increasingly likely that the next NCFC head coach will be a Premier League legend with 106 England caps – but with plenty to prove as a manager. Lampard has seemed to be leading the way from the start, could well provide the inspiration factor for this City squad,”
OK, so if it isn't the 'name', why does Lampard get the job? His England caps are irrelevant as a predictor of his managerial abilities, and nothing he did at either Derby or Chelsea justify taking him on. Even if Favre and Knutsen turned us down, there are other guys out there with a far better track record than Lampard as a manager. I didn't want Smith, but at least he has done something to justify being chosen in his time with Brentford and Villa.
I have to admit I wasn’t for Lampard to begin with and would have preferred Favre if we could have got him, but in the last couple of days I have started to see the sense it could make. Lampard will inspire the players just because of who he is, he has premier league experience with Chelsea, great contacts in the game. I don’t think improving us tactically after the first 11 games of the season will be a massive feat, and we are never going to attract a big name tactician like a Klopp, Tuchel and Pep. What he can provide is drive and belief to the players. A lot of people have focused on what it will mean for Gilmour and Cantwell in terms of them coming back into the team but I wonder what he could do with the likes of Dowell, Cantwell maybe even Tzolis and Idah in terms of imparting his experience to develop them into better players. Again if he brings Jody Morris with him he is another name widely renouned for developing young players.
According to TeamTalk: "Norwich deliberately looked for someone with an attacking philosophy not dissimilar to Farke’s. Lampard fits their criteria and they will be hoping he provides the subtle changes needed to spark a reaction." If true, that would seem to me what Webber would be looking for and if he feels Lampard fits the criteria then so be it. I do also feel that Lampard's stature in the game could be an important factor with a mixed squad of British and overseas internationals, though I deeply hope we don't get labelled 'Lampard's Norwich'. If not Jody Morris: "According to a recent report from journalist Simon Phillips, Lampard’s impending appointment could see Chelsea’s assistant coach, Joe Edwards, follow suit. Lampard and Edwards have worked together before and are also good friends." https://www.caughtoffside.com/2021/11/11/chelsea-set-to-lose-key-backroom-staff-member/
The Edwards link could be the reason for the delay in announcing as negotiating with Chelsea now could take a few days.
I'm presuming we would be poaching coaches that just won the Champions league and are fighting for the title. Wow this is getting better
You can't get better than the Chelsea academy and Joe Edwards played a major part before eventually being promoted to assistant head manager . Aa a side heavily reliant on youth this could be a masterstroke. https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/joe-edwards/profil/trainer/39208
Given that we have gained 5 points from the last 5 games it could be argued that we have moved on from the disrupted pre-season and brutal early schedule. A fair test would be to compare how the new manager does over the next five matches.
So why jump to the conclusion that they've gone against "so much of everything they stand for" in this instance? As Rick says, being star-struck and indulging in name chasing are the last things anyone would seriously attribute to Webber.
It's always difficult when people have different choices for a new man at the helm. McNally basically headhunted Lambert with no other candidates. I remember having qualms about that but it proved to be the right decision. Lambert had done it as a player and worked his way up through the leagues and he achieved 3 promotions and PL survival. Hughton also came in with stature as a player and manager and also achieved survival. Neil had less stature but a reasonable tactical approach which achieved promotion but failed to cope with the PL. Whoever comes in now will have a good squad to work with but has to hit the ground running. All 3 seem capable of that but Lampard perhaps has the presence to make that happen from day one, which is why I would choose him.
I've said this before. Webber's reputation is on the line now so he's detached himself from Farke and is making a populist appointment in the hope that none of the blame for this year's relegation sticks to him. If by some miracle Lampard keeps us up, Webber gets the accolades. If Lampard takes us down, he did his best, but it's all Farke's fault for making such a dreadful start to the season. None of it is Webber's recruitment of players, and anyway look what a famous manager he got for little ol' Norwich (rather than a European unknown). I don't think for a moment he's really star-struck; I think it's damage limitation in terms of his future career. I figure he would like to move on but not with his reputation in shreds. Hence the new contract, but I'll be surprised if it's for more than six months. I know this sounds cynical, but Webber's no fool,and when push comes to shove he'll look after himself.
If I was Mathias Normann, I think I'd be rather excited by the prospect of having Frank Lampard in charge.
