The latest offering from Will Jennings on MFW - http://norwichcity.myfootballwriter...ere-impressive-but-moxey-and-co-must-act-now/ He makes some very good points, as do some of those adding comments.
This was one of the few things to make me this weekend - I assume it's deliberate? "We didn’t play that badly. We weren’t in the first half because Huddersfield were excellent. I agree we looked unfit – badly unfit. We didn’t get thrashed. We had most of the second half. We couldn’t score. Neil made a poor sub in bringing off Aloevera."
Some very scathing words from Paddy in today's EDP article and I see he agrees with me re Huddersfield being the best team so far this season at CR - “David Wagner’s Huddersfield were the best team seen at Carrow Road this season. Cohesive, young, energetic, fearless. The Canaries are rudderless; they appear a collection of individuals, not a team unit who defend and attack on the same page. The last four goals conceded have all come down their left flank. The centre backs and keeper raise palpitations whenever they try to play out methodically from the back and, when the crowd voice displeasure, launch it aimlessly long. Neil has a midfield mix without the legs or energy to last the gruelling pace. Timm Klose on the bench, Alex Pritchard not even in the squad, James Maddison parked at Aberdeen. The dots are everywhere and the manager appears incapable of joining them up. The Scot may not survive, now the frustration has publicly turned in the direction of the club’s owners, but the structural problems in an aging squad run much deeper than managerial change. This season is at a crossroads. Bouncing back at the first attempt was always going to be the best chance but if the tipping point has been reached it is time to dismantle and re-build; to genuinely develop a strong identity forged on a group of promising young players. That will require honesty, realism and a painful lowering of expectations in the short-term. Yet that might be the only way to salvage a season which started with so much promise and has descended into a pit of despair.” Full article here - http://www.edp24.co.uk/sport/norwic...wich_city_at_the_point_of_no_return_1_4821090 Something drastic needs to happen and I'm not convinced that our board has the stomach to do anything positive and AN should make it easier by 'falling on his sword'. I'm not sure who I would want to replace him and I know some have suggested Gary Rowett, but I'm not convinced. I do however feel that we need a clear out of the likes of Martin, Bassong, Whittaker, Turner and Lafferty; but of course they won't want to leave for clubs who will offer them reduced salaries. Edit - Just seen this article as well http://www.edp24.co.uk/sport/norwic...h_city_fans_deliver_damning_verdict_1_4821094
This more or less echoes what RBF said yesterday, I think it was. And it's true. You could have Pep Guardiola here, but if the squad don't have the 'legs', commitment, desire etc even he would struggle. It all points to complete ineptness and failure of three or four recent transfer windows, not putting the required 'money where the mouth is' (Alex Neil has our full support - from the press-room, but not the wallet ). And, even when they go, you can bet nephew Tom is a 'chip off the proverbial block', and has been brainwashed into the 'talk about ambition but show extreme prudence' mentality - so status quo will be assured...for all eternity
We paid over the odds for Klose Naismith & Pritchard a combined £25m. On the bench . All Neil's signings.
But even in League 1 we should be proud of our debt free club. It will be our 10th season under Neil and he'll be hoping for promotion by catching the oposition out with exactly the same tactics he tried and failed with for the preceding 9 1/2. They won't expect us to do it again! We will have the 4 best attacking midfielders in the division on the bench or on loan and still not have the faintest idea how to defend but thats alright because he got us promoted 9 1/2 years ago!
The overall fitness of the players when compared to that of other teams has often been mentioned in numerous posts and after AN's ineptitude, is my biggest worry. They now have a week in which to up the tempo of their fitness in preparation for their trip to Reading. I know I'm not alone in struggling to understand why on earth we signed Pritchard when we had Naismith and Hoolahan more or less suited to the No 10 role when everyone I knew was calling for defensive reinforcements!!! Ain't that the truth???? Mind you, I can't imagine they'll be playing in front of 26.000 fans any more, so they'll be able to make do with fewer stewards/catering staff etc and won't have such high overheads.
What a depressing morning, I've scanned all likely media outlets and still found nothing suggesting our board have woken from their stupidity and sacked Gollum and his precious but failing tactics!
The fact that Neil considers the top two unreachable now (most sensible thing he has said in a while) speaks volumes. Even before Christmas has arrived our best bet and last hope is squeezing into the play-offs..... If that is to happen the second half of the season needs to be infinitely better than the lousy first half and somehow I can't see any evidence of that being the case. Maybe now is the time to start thinking about next season and bin some of the old guard who clearly don't have the energy or stamina to last a game of 90 minutes at this level and start to blood the young uns - bring back Maddison for starters and start to build a foundation for next season based on energy, hard work, dedication, application and desire. Will it happen ? Course not ...............
Great post ocf and something myself and ILD have been saying for a while now!!! Will it happen ? Course not ............but we can dream.
We've all got our hopes and wishes but at the end of the day there's sweet Fanny Adams we can do about the outcome except moan and groan and fall out with each other. We all want a successful team and management and ownership. Are we all deluded? Probably!
Agree totally with the sentiments here - but not a cat in hell's chance while this board stick by this management set up. He's demonstrated a zillion times that cosy familiarity > being adventurous. Hence Klose, Pritchard and co can't get a look in despite costing millions. And what's the betting he perseveres with 'lacklustre' Brady, even when he has both Murphys, Canos and very soon, Jarvis all available as options. Pig-headed tool [AN, not you, OCF ]
