2025/2026 Season

On 17th September 2018, after 7 games, we had the same number of points as now, i.e. 8 points. A week later, having played 9 games, we were 6 points better off, with 14 points and 8th in the table. From game 8 onwards, until beaten by Derby in that memorable game at Carrow Road at the end of December, we lost only once, 0:1 to Stoke City; that was game 12, on 6th October.
Game 7, a 1:0 win over 'Boro at Carrow Road, was the game Farkeball really clicked; we never looked back after that.

[Edit] Those first 7 matches in 2018--19 included games against WBA (lost 3:4), Sheffield Utd (lost 2:1), Leeds (lost 0:3) and Ipswich (drawn 1:1). We drew with Birmingham, and beat Preston and 'Boro.

 

Chris Sutton's take on the present situation:

"This feels like the start of a big few days for Norwich City, but Sunday's East Anglian derby should not be judgement day for Liam Manning's tenure as head coach. Manning has copped all sorts of flak for Norwich's sluggish start to the season, poor performances and lack of progress as a team - but what did people expect after 12 new signings, a whole new coaching team and all the change the club has witnessed over the past 18 months? He is the latest of four head coaches who have, so far, failed to ignite Norwich. Dean Smith was the first, David Wagner did okay, but it never really worked for him, and Johannes Hoff Thorup was sacked eight months into a long-term project. Manning is the latest, and you look at his CV, pedigree and reputation in the game, he is an excellent coach."

https://www.pinkun.com/sport/interviews/25505593.sutton-liam-manning-not-another-city-fall-guy/

 

On top of this you must also consider that Farke had not exactly pulled up tree's in the previous season. There was plenty of grumbling going on as we drew that Ipswich game, that draw may well have saved his job, a loss there could have turned the fans and the board.
I am disappointed in the current form and the quality of the football, but there is no way we can reasonably sack him any time soon.

Even if it is all a bit demoralising ATM!

Bah!

 

I’d reiterate, though, that with Farke the green shoots were really clear. We were playing some good football. There was reason to be optimistic even while complaints were legitimate.

I see no reason based on what we have seen on the pitch to be optimistic with Manning I’m afraid.

 

Á propos of Knapper's declaration on taking over that he likes a team that "dominates with the ball", he can't be very happy about these minute-by-minute SofaScore graphics from the Coventry and Stoke games. The bars represent intensity of pressure, a measure of a team's dominance at any given time, defined by a range of metrics, i.e. not simply possession (N.B. we are the "blue" away team, not the "green" home team):

Coventry City 1:1 Norwich City



Stoke City 1:1 Norwich City

 

Ok but Farke had already been given half a season previous to that slow start. Similar to now he had a heavy squad turnover but he was at least accustomed with half the squad

 

You are concentrating on just results. In the slow periods under Farke and Thorup there were signs of good football and hope for improved performances and results. Under Manning the performances have gone from poor to very poor to, in the word of a loyal away supporter, diabolical. How long can we be expected to wait for the 'green shoots' let alone improved performances and results?

 

I remember much of the first Farke season, we looked very like we do now, minimal goal threat, lots of lateral passing. I remember looking at his record prior to Norwich and there were very few goals, he looked a manager who could defend but little idea on attack. Clearly with time that was proved wrong.
From Manning perspective if the guys had brought their shooting boots tonight this could very well been a win. As poorly as we have played against a WBA team who have showed zero ambition we could easily won if the players weren't so hopeless infront of goal. Manning needs more time.

 

I agree that he should have more time and if the players had their scoring boots on then we could have won that, however I do question why we didn't go 4-4-2 or 4-3-3 towards then end.

 

We were essentially 4-2-2-2 at the end, arguably more attacking with Sargent, Crnac, Makama and Jurasek on the pitch. Probably our most attacking fit players

 

Whereas West Brom were in a 5-4-1 formation throughout the second half in which they had 1 shot on a breakaway. Their keeper kept us out but this was a much better performance. Mattsson had another good game and Mahovo looked sharp when he came on, particularly with that lovely cross which nearly produced a goal. Our pressing was also better but we need to quicken our attacking play more. When we did manage that even their 9 man low block struggled at times.

 

Yes but Makama was playing out wide on the right. With his attributes I think he should have been the point.

 

Sorry to be provocative but if you thought it was a much better performance you were watching a different game to me. After the game I switched over to SSN and the game he saw was the one I saw with comments such as ' the only praise I can give Norwich is that they did try in the last 10 mins. The first 80 mins they were ponderous, lethargic, predictable and uninterested' He also commented that the crowd was flat and had enough. If, as is possible, they get a thrashing on Sunday all hell will break loose.

 

Have to agree with 1950. Judging a performance by the last ten minutes of a game where the other side is defending a lead is absolutely not the right way to judge performance IMO

 

It's the Norwich way. Sargent had to do a frustrating apprenticeship out wide before being given the nod up top.

 

As has been said before, by Rob I think, it was a low bar from the last 2 games, but if you couldn’t see a an improvement in that game then I am struggling to understand what you are looking for. No one is saying it was perfect or that it was exactly what we want to see but to be unable to acknowledge any sort of improvement?
The press was better, we played higher up the pitch, the passing was more controlled, passing was more crisp, we treated people in tighter spaces, we created more chances and limited them to only one or two.
We didn’t get a result so ultimately none of it matters but surely you could see something that was improved.
Sky Sports pundits are hardly the gospel on football, the PinkUn guys were able to see promising signs and they watch us every week.

I do agree however that if we lose badly at the weekend then Manning could be gone. It wouldn’t be my choice but losing all his games at home and the derby could push fans over the edge

 

I agree Suffolk, but I think opinions are too fixed to change and I don't see much point in discussing it any more. As Pope put it, "All looks yellow to the jaundiced eye".

Paddy Davitt's take on it:

"That was more of a reflection of a dire home start under Manning which continued against the Baggies, you suspect, than this latest 90 minutes where the visitors were indebted to keeper Joshua Griffiths to secure a win sealed by Josh Maja’s first half slot. Griffiths pulled off two stunning reaction stops to foil Jovon Makama and Ante Crnac as City rumbled forward in search of a first Championship home point under Manning. The Albion keeper also denied Emi Marcondes in each half, while Harry Darling miscued two big chances in the vicinity of the six yard box."

Somehow those chances were only visible to some.

 

They weren't invisible, but, whatever Paddy Davitt may say, only three (18%) of our 16 shots satisfied the standard definition of a "big chance". While West Brom mustered only 6 shots, 2 (33%) were big chances. Our 3 genuine big chances were Darling (min 29, 0.32xg), Makama (min 83, 0.21xg) and Crnac (min 89, 0.43xg). Darling missed, the other two attempts were saved. West Brom's 2 big chances were Maja's goal (min 20, 0.33xg) and Heggebo's late miss (min 92, 0.45xg).

 

Perhaps I was expecting too much . Perhaps I listen too much to people like my son who actually go to Carrow Road. Perhaps I listened too much to the Bristol City supporters who were glad to see the back of him, warned us what to expect and have been proven right. Perhaps I expect too much by way of entertainment. Perhaps I listen too much to pundits who seem to see the same game as me. Perhaps I look for bigger signs of improvement than others. Perhaps I am generally pissed off because my local team where I have a season ticket are just as bad. Perhaps I pay more attention to stats such as this is the first time ever we have lost our first five home games and less attention to the outstanding stat that last night at home we managed 5 shots on target. Perhaps when I look at the table I see us 2 points above the drop zone and worry rather than see it as a springboard to better things. As I have said before - time will tell.