How far can NCFC go?

[Beefforhire-NCFC]

Blatantly nicked this from the pinkun forums (they actually set up a good thread, had to happen eventually...)

Basically, as we sit here on the crossroads of our second season in the premier league, having come from League One, What is your vision for the future of Norwich City Football club?

As I've explained on another thread I'd like Norwich to be the first in a new generation of financially secure clubs, generating revenue and expanding in a linear fashion. I'd like Norwich to be seen as a "Go-To" club for the crop of the lower league players wanting to make a name for themselves, I'd like us to look further afield for youth development and create more players.

I can already feel we are winning peoples respect in this league. I'd like to win a cup too. Wasn't even alive for the milk cup. It makes me sick to see a "big-Club" saunter around Wembley with, say, the League cup. They consider it almost a pain that they've ended up in that position and are "Sort-Of" happy they've won it. If we won it it would mark a big success.

Anyway, I'd like to know what you guys would want from the not-too distant future of the club.

 

[canary-dave]

In the last two seasons, first in the Championship, and now in the Premiership, Paul Lambert has put together a squad that has exceeded our expectations by a considerable margin!

If he could continue that trend, year on year, we would very soon be in a wonderful position!

BRING IT ON! COYY OTBC

 

[Hairy Mary Quite Canary]

It's been an amazing story over the past 3 seasons. Where to now? Just to keep improving and I really hope we can reward Lambert with the success that he obviosuly craves. A major trophy perhaps or dare we dream of another Euro run!? I have no doubt the objective next season will again be survival, survival, survival but can't help thinking that Lambert will be gunning for more.

On a side note - I'd also love to see more of the team work we had at the Reading game last year. Who remembers McNally's throw to Lambert to Surman / Crofts for Holts goal in injury time?!?! That's teamwork.

 

[stilljaroldcanary]

It's been an amazing story over the past 3 seasons. Where to now? Just to keep improving and I really hope we can reward Lambert with the success that he obviosuly craves. A major trophy perhaps or dare we dream of another Euro run!? I have no doubt the objective next season will again be survival, survival, survival but can't help thinking that Lambert will be gunning for more.

On a side note - I'd also love to see more of the team work we had at the Reading game last year. Who remembers McNally's throw to Lambert to Surman / Crofts for Holts goal in injury time?!?! That's teamwork.

Saw that happen and it just underlined the togetherness from top to bottom!

I just want us to be realistic and go steady, next year tweaking the squad to give it more depth, aim for a mid to top half finish with a big challenge to Mr Lambert of do that and win a cup! OTBC!

 

[THURNBY CANARY]

The building blocks are very much in place now. A squad that is improving in quality steadily, everyone playing for their shirt and no prima donnas.

The academy is going to be a major investment that will mean nurturing OUR talent rather than buying (and this will be a template that others will have to follow) and also becoming a totally English or at least British club. I was a bit pissed off listening to 5Live when we were well beaten at the Etihad.

John Murray (who is a generally good commentator) seemed to gloat at little old Norwich being humiliated by this World X1 and I thought that was really poor. Our club is a beacon for decency and the minute the Kuwaiti's go Man. City and the others will be f*****.

 

[KIO]

We have to be careful and not get too carried away here. Considering where we were two and a bit years ago, I would settle for 2-3 years consolidation and a steady improvement. Long term I would like to see us increase in stature for I truly believe with our support and catchment we have the abilty to become one of the top ten clubs in England. What I am pissed off about is the 'we are a small club' mentailty of some City fans. We are NOT a small club by any stretch of the imagination and IMHO have the potential to become much bigger.
Our increased support over recent seasons has been well documented and although it may be quite obvious, one of the major factors for this is the increase in population of both Norwich and Norfolk. The varied accents at Carrow Road on matchday is quite evident now with those who have re-located here for whatever reason wanting to watch live football. With more and more new housing developments proposed for the County in the near future, most notably the eco-town just outside Rackheath (If it get's the go-ahead), the demand for tickets to watch City will increase even more. We have already 'out-grown' our stadium and a new capacity of 30-40K will IMO become a necessity should we maintain our PL status for the next few years. Exciting times could lay ahead but, as we all know too well, just when you think everything is 'rosy in the garden', football has a habit of, pardon the pun, 'kicking you in the teeth' bigtime !

OTBC

 

[Superman wears Grant Holt pyjamas in bed]

as stated above, the building blocks are now in place although its important that we don't get too ahead of ourselves. next season, just as this one, will be all about getting safety secured and probably the season after that too. the finances need to be bang on so that we don't ever get a repeat of what happened under chase and on relegation to league one. if we get it right off the pitch, success on the pitch will follow. once stability is sorted and our ground capacity is at a level it should be for our level of support (35k) then who knows. certainly cup finals shouldn't be out of the question and nor should european football both through cups and league position, but that could be two or three years down the line. i'm in no rush - i'm happy with the way the club are going about their business - we've already had a manic three years of unbridled joy so a period of stability would not be a problem at all. patience is key, then we can push on to what we all want to achieve... trying to win things

 

[tipsycanary]

Within 5 years I expect a Champions League victory, couple of league titles an FA cup and a league cup. World domination within 10 years.

Although I will settle for constant improvement year on year from playing staff, finances and youth set up

 

[canary_max]

we really can't mess up the finances, and that may mean we are uncompetitive to some extent in the transfer market which could impact on performance. indeed consolidation for sure. that may mean relegation and then promotion again; we should assume this may well happen.

look at West Brom for example, they have been up and down a bit in the last few years.

overall, the future looks bright with the current management and the academy investment.

 

[redruthyella]

We have to be careful and not get too carried away here. Considering where we were two and a bit years ago, I would settle for 2-3 years consolidation and a steady improvement. Long term I would like to see us increase in stature for I truly believe with our support and catchment we have the abilty to become one of the top ten clubs in England. What I am pissed off about is the 'we are a small club' mentailty of some City fans. We are NOT a small club by any stretch of the imagination and IMHO have the potential to become much bigger.
Our increased support over recent seasons has been well documented and although it may be quite obvious, one of the major factors for this is the increase in population of both Norwich and Norfolk. The varied accents at Carrow Road on matchday is quite evident now with those who have re-located here for whatever reason wanting to watch live football. With more and more new housing developments proposed for the County in the near future, most notably the eco-town just outside Rackheath (If it get's the go-ahead), the demand for tickets to watch City will increase even more. We have already 'out-grown' our stadium and a new capacity of 30-40K will IMO become a necessity should we maintain our PL status for the next few years. Exciting times could lay ahead but, as we all know too well, just when you think everything is 'rosy in the garden', football has a habit of, pardon the pun, 'kicking you in the teeth' bigtime !

OTBC

Good stuff.
I've been complaining about the smalltown boy attitude in Norwich for years. Maybe its because I moved away. Enzeders and Cornsih don't have a problem with it. I don't think Forest thought they were a provincial city when they won the European Cup two years running. Nor should City fans. Our position is on merit and if we improve it will be on merit.
I think the ground expansion needs to be considered only if it can be done without incurring debt. The team needs any spare money for the next couple of years.
But I do think we are far better prepared to stay up than last time as long as we keep our progress in check. I would hate for us to join the rat race of overpaid foreigners. Remember all those useless ones we had in the 90's.

 

[Superman wears Grant Holt pyjamas in bed]

we definitely have the potential to be a regular top ten premier league club. i read somewhere that based on estimated fan bases norwich city are the 14th biggest club in the country - more than half a million fans in this country alone. not sure how reliable this information is!

 

[Carra_Rud]

If we can stay up next season, we will be able to increase capacity at Carrow Road, which will obviously mean more revenue. More revenue means more money spent on players and wages, and while I never expect us to sign players for 10m with 60k wages, I would expect us to be able to attract the sort of player that could help us finish in the top-half on a regular basis. If that can happen, I see no reason why we couldn't win a cup competition and look for European football within 6 or 7 seasons.

Obviously, I hope Lambert will be here throughout our rise through the Premier League and beyond.

 

[Norfolkbhoy]

we definitely have the potential to be a regular top ten premier league club. i read somewhere that based on estimated fan bases norwich city are the 14th biggest club in the country - more than half a million fans in this country alone. not sure how reliable this information is!

Currently we are the 13th best supported club in England based on 11/12 average attendances. I completely agree that the population growth in Norwich and Norfolk in recent years has helped the cause and we do have a huge catchment area. I think that investment in extra capacity has to be the way forward - I do not advocate racking up huge debts to redevelop but a sensible, managed increase over the coming years could see the club grow into a more significant force. I am really please with the youth of our team and the investment in the acadamy which will undoubtedly reap dividends further down the line.

I am confiedent we will avoid second season syndrome simply because the bulk of our squad are young and only going to improve with age and more experience - how good will Howson/Barnett/Bennet/Ayala etc be with more games under their collective belts? It's all very well people saying that they will "find out" the likes of Holt but knowing what he does and stopping him from doing it are very different things.

The future's bright, the future's yellow and green

 

[Kenny Foggo on the Wing!!!]

I really dont want to be a negative nancy on this, but next season will be the big challenge. IMO it will be tougher to stay up next year. The momentum that got us out of league 1 and the Champ and then gave us such a good first 3 quarters in the prem could easily be lost. This will be Lamberts first season in the same league as last time and so to motivate tha players to go again and prove themselves will be the challenge.

I dont think it will be a problem, but it should not be underestimated. The goal for next year and for maybe one or two after will be to simply survive.

 

[Kenny Foggo on the Wing!!!]

I completely agree that the population growth in Norwich and Norfolk in recent years has helped the cause and we do have a huge catchment area.

A huge catchment area yes, but most of it very sparsely populated. With the roads the way they are in norfolk, attracting new support from the outer reaches of the county will not be easy. For instance, anybody west of Fakenham is looking at a minimum of 1hr travel each way. Further towards Kings Lynn and it is actually not much longer to get to Leicester, Forest or Derby!

In this respect, PL status is vital as none of the mentioned clubs can offer this currently.