I think what sickened most fans was seeing a very talented group of players by Championship standards (as Wagner is proving) languishing in mid-table and playing timid football in a succession of clueless formations because their Head Coach didn't have the slightest idea how to motivate them or utilise them effectively, and then being accused of not being supportive enough when they dared to criticise him. He's gone, thank God, and Wagner has the unenviable task of trying to rescue something from this season out of the demoralised shambles that he inherited.
I , and many thousands of other ignorant fans ( plebs) agree 100% with the above. So let me see if I have got this right. Our players were not technically gifted enough to play Farkeball in the Premiership. And Smith, with arguably a better squad at his disposal, was unable to coach the players to play a different style of football, because apparently they were not good enough?? If that were true, what chance did Farke ever have of survival during his first season in the Premiership ? As usual Robbie's posts are full of contradictions. I will however, refrain from calling him ignorant.
I missed this earlier, but Sørensen made a huge difference in the game, providing the first goal and a major presence in both attack and defence. I was surprised that Wagner changed a winning lineup, but Jakob was WhoScored's Motm with a rating of 8.4, just edging out Sara (8.2). Would we have won with him playing at LB? I doubt it. It's not just about Wagner's tactics, it's his ability to see new dynamic roles for players that improves them and the team as a whole. McLean, Sara, Hernandez, Núñez and Sargent have all spoken about this with enthusiasm and it shows on the pitch in game after game. Edit: The details of Wagner's success are explained in Ben Lee's latest tactical analysis, which he sums up thus: "Wagner's ability to improve players and make beneficial tactical adjustments between games is incredibly impressive." https://www.pinkun.com/news/23364635.norwich-city-tactical-analysis-millwall-championship-comeback/
If I understand this correctly, the crux of your argument is that it was the players who weren't good enough rather than Dean Smith. So far the evidence since he has left (admittedly a very small sample of games) suggests to me that the exact opposite is true - I've seen ample evidence that the players are sufficiently coachable since they are actually adapting very well to a new style of management which is different not only from Smith's but also from Farke's. I would appeciate, please, some detailing of the 'many contributory factors' that led to the task defeating him. It's difficult to argue against generalities.
Ben Lee's tactical analysis of the Millwall game: https://ncfcanalysis1.wixsite.com/ncfcanalysis/post/millwall-vs-norwich
https://www.pinkun.com/sport/23374146.i-fell-love---marcelino-nunez-lifts-lid-norwich-city-transfer/ "Nunez's arrival marked the stepping up of City's South American scouting that has also brought Brazilian midfielder Gabriel Sara to Norfolk from Sao Paulo. Norwich invested more resources in the region after sensing an opportunity upon the change of regulations caused by Brexit. It has yielded success with both additions so far, with the feeling that there is still more to come from their South American duo. "
