We have another season of parachute payments to come after this one. Until the summer of 2021, the ambition was simply to be a "top 26 club". I don't recall anyone on here criticising the club for a lack of ambition. That summer it emerged (it was never publicly announced) that the bar had been raised and the ambition was now to establish ourselves in the EPL. Farke and his staff were given new contracts, reflecting the greater expectations under which they were now operating. If the club's ambition had remained unchanged, do you think Farke would have been sacked? So, far from the current situation being due to lack of ambition, the opposite is the case.
Quite; the effect of two demoralising EPL relegations on those of our players who have been through them is patently obvious. I said before this season started that promotion in 2024 should be the target, not this season. Of course, the club couldn't say that even if they accepted it (though Attanasio hinted at it in his interview with ACN when he said it's sometimes necessary to take a step back in order to move forward).
Sorry if posted elsewhere, but a Mick Dennis view in support of the Smith / Shakespeare regime. I suspect he had mushroom omelet for lunch before writing this. Of the 'magic' variety. https://norwichcity.myfootballwriter.com/2022/12/21/because-football-because-the-championship/
It is more a question as to whether a coach/manager is a good fit for a club. Lambert excelled with us, not so much elsewhere. Smith is, so far, just the opposite.
Yet another article trying to turn Smith into some kind of victim. Those horrible fans are being nasty to him and never gave him a chance. He's had 50 games (plus Cup games and friendlies). And the football is no better than when he arrived, and arguably worse. Certainly a lot of players have regressed badly under his coaching - Pukki, Aarons, Gibson, Hanley, Giannoulis. Even those who weren't here last season have tailed off alarmingly after promising starts - Sinani, Núñez. The truth is that the Norwich fans have been incredibly patient. And I should know, because when I was calling for him to be sacked at the end of last season, I was in a very small minority - the overwhelming feeling was that he deserved more time, certainly until Christmas. And this feeling lasted well into this season, although there was a slow trickle of people moving over to my way of thinking. So it simply isn't true to say that Smith has been subjected to 'relentless criticism' and that fans have been calling for his head from Day One, despite the attempt to rewrite history by both himself and the people who continue to support him. A few boos, admittedly, but no calls of Dean Out until the very last game. Well, it's Christmas, and those fans who said he deserved until Christmas have largely made up their minds that they want him to go.
The only game at Carrow Road under Dean Smith that I enjoyed watching with good play for much of the game was against Millwall . Watford away was good last season other than that , zero giants wounded let alone killed . At this point I think Robbie is the only person that likes the guy & his 'philosophy ', more out of stubbornness & fear of losing face than anything else.
The numbers for most Championship sides would be pretty respectable but when you factor in the cost of the roster as well as many of the same players breezing this league twice , as well as the nature of the wins & overall performances then it's not good enough. It's ugly horrible boring football every game and even when we win it's not entertainment. The enjoyment has been sucked out of the club , honestly couldn't care less about the result against Luton on boxing day & of course if they lose that will be the fans fault again.
We had some good fortune during the unbeaten run earlier but now the luck seems to be running against us. Through all of that the quality of the football has been disappointing, much like it was last season. I also feel rather flat about the Luton game and think we'll struggle to take anything from it. Smith's only hope is that the players respond to the Blackburn loss and put in a rousing performance. I'll watch for that reason, but not with a lot of hope.
Hayden The Arab Billionaire's don't need the Chelmsford boy. Hayden he's arrived injured shoe horned in through necessity & expected to be as good as Skipp. Flashes of brilliance for 10 minutes then gets booked & leaves the field. We are Skint so can't afford a DM still after Tetty & his knees retired? Tzolis Rashica & Placheta about €25m loaned out so free transfer Argos gets brung on ? Mental Krul was a liability but chucking Gunny in hasn't helped things Krul was keeper in the unbeaten run . Pukki is thirty fùcking two & of course he's not as quick. Especially after the heroics performed. The golden goose is awaiting his last basting probably in America. Sargent was good in the Qatar world cup without scoring or looking like he would,. Energy sapping and rubbish, as well as injuring himself by standing on a ball. Nunez looked like our very own Chilean superstar scoring a Beckham against Hull & Premier league standard moments of brilliance. Can't get a start now Sara was brought in injured & already wants out back to Sao Paolo. Improving lately but no guidance or confidence. Idah Always injured looking like a flop sick note. Max Wants to leave tries too hard but always passes backwards from an attack play. Sinani looked good but became disillusioned. Ramsey Loves Dean , sparks of genuine talent but not consistently. Gunn Does enough to win games good with his distribution jinxed McLean Underrated but rarely offers much anymore sell to Rangers Handley Consistently our best player but no where near good enough for the Premier league Gimpson Crap
Team news from DS for Monday: "We've got a couple out injured. AJ felt his knee, Todd felt his groin, so he'll be out too. We'll look at a couple of others. Sam Byram will be doing a restart session today and training with us tomorrow, but won't be available for Monday, and Lungi is a little bit further away." https://www.canaries.co.uk/content/team-news-three-set-to-miss-out-at-luton
Our next 3 are home games including a cup game. DS may be gone soon but I'm not convinced our players are that good. They will have a lot to prove to me even if we get a new coach.
It's interesting I think all the fans were willing to give him time. We knew it would be a tall order last year and we were willing to give time this season, but the players just don't look like they have ever played together before.
We've now played 11 games against other teams in the top half of the league. No wins, 4 draws, 7 defeats.
Once again following another series of poor 'performances' the fans are rightly examining the role of both Webber in recruiting the deadwood dross that currently forms the majority of the squad, as well as the nepotistic board. It's time posters on here and in the ground take off the colour coded blinkers and see the squad for what they are....Aarons, Gibson ( ), Giannoulis, Sinani, Catalogue boy, Cantwell (MIA? ), Hugill, Dowell, Byram are not worthy of a squad place, poor at best. McClean, Pukki, Hanley, only just about keep out of that list, due to recent performances, they're average and not getting younger, they're heading in the out of the door direction. That's most of the squad to be replaced, with a bunch of untried youngsters next in-line and naff all £££ to do so. How many of those would honestly command a place in any of the top 8 teams, based on their individual performances over the past year? Pukki & McClean at a push, likely subs bench only. Webber needs to get this appointment correct, not just for his career here, but for the future of the club. Taking loans out against the return to EPL footy seems fairly OTT considering how poor players were last year (perhaps suing them for impersonation of a football player is possible?) going up this year would leave us in the same position in 2 seasons time, following further embarrassment next year. However not going up this year will see us stuck in the Championship for another 2-3 years minimum, of course that'll please some fans. If we as a club have any ideals of becoming a top flight team, we need to forget this mantra of self funding baloney, it hasn't worked and isn't going to work. DS & MWJ minds needs a serious reality check, sadly given their posturing ensuring the club stays in family hands this isn't going to happen. Of course there's a buyer out there who'd buy us but with Delia's tickbox sheet for owners no-one will be interested, this also fits with the fans small club mentality.
