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We could be walking around in Liverpool shirts, Man City shirts, Man Utd shirts. But we don't, we chose the famous Norwich City. For various reasons, I suspect most by accident of birth or family allegiance. I've been involved in some terrible squabbles on here about club related issues. I've at times been provocative, at times been mean to a few people (if anybody holds a grudge reach out by DM and I'd love to talk it out. I regret a few confrontations, a few others have been reciprocal and might be more worthy of a two way apology) This post doesn't mean I won't have fall outs again, but it is the result of some reflection. But whether we like or dislike Dean Smith, Delia Smith, or Stuart Webber, I know that 97 percent of this forum will be calling themselves a Norwich fan, going to games no matter what, or supporting afar and buying the merchandise (whether that's 5 or 6 games a year like me, or every game like some others). We're bonded by a common love for this football club, even if many of disagree on what is best for our club. A Norwich fan is a Norwich fan, and that alone is worthy of kinship and respect. There are 2 or 3 people on this forum who seem to exist to goad me and a few others into arguments, I don't like that, but I even extend this goodwill to them. When i go on s package holiday and meet a Norwich fan they instantly become my best friend for the week Without the fans this club is nothing, the fans are the club, and that includes each and every one of us on here, and irrespective of our opinions. It doesn't matter whether we are Premier League with money to waste on dross, or League One and only able to sign dross, Norwich City is in our DNA and we're a great group of fans. OTBC

She’s laughing knowing that despite how many woeful PL seasons we have, she will always have her army of zombies defending her to the hilt.

Do you not think we can stay up then? Negative Nancy 🙄

I have been asking this since August.

Burnley winning, thank f*ck. How is Dean Smith getting off so lightly with what has happened this season? We've been p!ss poor, he's had 3/4 of a season and made zero impact. None. Nothing at all.

They wanted us to go down ? Wanted it ? You think “they” (whoever they are) wouldn’t prefer to be staying up? Our old stager Ricardo just said he knew we were down in October . Is he one of these people that wanted it ? Or just thought it ?

Genuinely hope we don't return until we look like we might actually compete. I couldn't stand another shower of $h!t season like that.

What a superb article. LOADS of points I pulled out of it above and beyond what has been mentioned. Lukas Rupp likely to depart Normann signed on wages "not far off" what Andrich wanted Farke wanted just three signings; a marquee centre back, a Skipp replacement DM and a Buendia replacement forward The plan to sign quality over quantity changed when behind the scenes people panicked over Farke's brutal training and feeling injuries would catch them out Club feels they got over the odds for Buendia. Ajer wasn't signed because only prepared to pay £10m and felt could get him free in Jan Kieran Scott was on gardening leave from start of summer window - led Webber to be more hands on which meant a greater leaning on agents Todd Cantwell failed to respond to every trick in Smith's and Shakey's playbook Current side felt "too quiet". Want to change culture to one where players challenge each other more rather than accepting defeat. Really great article which I recommend you read if you can.

I'm not sure giving what are clearly parody accounts as your examples help yours and Chickens arguments much here. Yes we're not all as positive as Lakey, and some are more doom than others but every last poster on here that is not clearly a parody account are Norwich fans and always want success. To argue otherwise is a tad naive and nonsensical really.

With another pathetic Premier League campaign nearly over and relegation confirmed, time for Mr Webber to do the right thing. Last time in the Premier League we lacked physicality. Guess what? He didn’t get enough players to fit this mould. Our best player was sold and replaced with players that have contributed next to nothing, or in some cases, barely got a kick. To cap it off, his infamous Times interview all but confirmed he’s sticking around to do us a favour, in between climbing mountains. I’m sorry, but you’re not really that indispensable. I nearly forgot his aggro with fans outside the ground too. Thanks for everything Stuart, but time to hand in that notice.

The only statement I want to hear is “Webber has left with immediate effect and the owners are now seeking new buyers for the club and will take on a life president position with no voting power when a new owner and board is appointed”

F@#K THE PREMIER LEAGUE! F@#K TALKSPORT F@#K MOTD AND F@#K ALAN SHEARERS FACE!!

Everything that could of gone wrong at the club this year has gone wrong. it started embarrassing enough with the sponsorship debacle. We sold our player of the season yet again after going up rather than pay him what he deserved. invested heavily for the first time in living memory but the shop we went too must of had big windows as we seem to of paid way over the odds for a bunch of players I wouldn’t deem good enough for the championship. Then we are made a laughing stock by firing our manager in an away dressing room after our first win of the season. The new manager has gotten absolutely no better performances out of the player and we now play even worse football than we did under Farke. in short we’ve lost our morals, our integrity, our identity and our philosophy. Not bad for 9 months work after a real sense of optimism in August last year.

Premier League Away Fixture to Aston Villa at Villa Park, 3pm(GMT) Kick off. Videos: Articles:The bbc have their article up here.The Pinkun has it's pre match press conference article here.The club has it's match preview at canaries.co.uk here.Villa have their own match preview article here.Ins, Outs, Shake em all abouts:Norwich: Idah, Omobamidele and Kabak won't be seen again this season. Zimmermann has a hip injury so is out. Rupp is back in contention as is Sargent. McLean continues to battle on with a fractured toe which requires injections, so may be touch and go.Villa: Lucas Digne, Kortney Hause and Morgan Sanson are all out injured. Bertrand Traore back and in contention. Referee: John Brooks. Assistants: Adam Nunn, Wade Smith. Fourth official: Kevin Friend. VAR: Lee Mason. Assistant VAR: Harry Lennard.A little bit of knowledge:Aston Villa were founded in 1874, their local rivalry with Birmingham City dates back to 1879. In their 148 year history they have won the First Division (top tier) title 7 times the last of which in 1980-81 with the others all falling pre WW1. 1981-82, on the back of their league win, saw them win the European Cup (now Champions League) and the European Super Cup. The top tier feat is repeated with the FA Cup which they have also won 7 times. Once more the last time was the 1956-57 season and bar the 1919-20 season, the others were all pre WW1. They have fared a little less successful in the League Cup, their name only featuring five times on that, though all much more recently, generally speaking from the early 1960's to the mid 1990's. They have also won the Championship/Division 2 (2nd tier) 2 times and the third tier of English football once. Until their relegation to the Championship in recent years, they were one of a few select teams that had been ever-present in the Premier League. Rays Funds for the Community Sports FoundationNutty has his PUPs thread up and running as usual. Please do go and take a look and take part in all of the fun. Something Extra:

Agreed but there was always hope we would find a way with Farke. We felt connected. He'd given us so many great times to identify with. They were great times but will be great memories now. I felt no connection at all with Dean Smith. Right now it seems sacking Farke was so pointless. But what's done is done. Hopefully we'll have a new identity next season as Smith assembles his own team.

I agree Bailey's article says 60,000 would "have put him near the top of the wage bill" - which seems reasonable for an experienced 26 year old in the exact position we really needed He also says we ended up paying Normann "not far short of what Andrich was after" So instead of a proper CDM who's ended up at a team 3rd in the Bundesliga we've ended up with a luxury player who's definitely not a CDM in Normann just to save a few quid

For **** sake, we could sign pep and even he wouldent keep us up. Dont turn us into Watford. Don't turn us into a club that sacks and replaces it's manager every two months on an endless cyce and loop. We went down beacaue our players are gash, not our manager. May I remind you Shakespeare has won the league before? Anyways, feel free to judge him at the end of next season.. Just not now

Sums her up entirely! Please, just leave!

Clear to me once we played our peers among the also rans and looked very second best. Failure to get a recognised DMF made this almost a certainty. I like to live in hope but you can't buck reality.

Not really KG, Chicken is right in that a number of trolls have been acheing for this moment

Burnley are historically a club not bigger than us and with a budget I assume quite similar. And yet year on year the club shows hunger to stay in this division. Compare that with us 🤣

That is a silly post Chicken. I thought you were better than that. Nobody wanted this. Nobody. Its just the different opinions of why or how to change it that make this a football forum and not a series of yes, I agree.

No one wanted it, it’s just been inevitable.

Relegated with four games to play . There's absolutely NO reason to play any loanees from now on.

Everton, come on down 😂😂😂 The older posters among us will be enjoying this

I'm afraid it's very simple. With Emi or a player of his ability we may just survive. Without a player like that we won't. On the plus side we will probably go straight back up again. And then go straight back down again. In my view that's a Premier League problem not a Norwich City problem

It's over; we are not getting out of it. For that reason, I am firmly a Burnley supporter for the rest of the season. I want Everton relegated.

Great post, TVB. 👍 I suspect that a lot of our forum arguments are to do with the old saying "I find it intensely irritating when other people think that they are right, when I know that I am!" But as you say, what unites us is more important than what divides us!

Surely? Or at least not play them. All that matters now is preparing for next season.

Just read through John Percy's (well respected and sourced) Telegraph article about what comes next for us. The headlines; Major squad changes ahead - Smith looking for more "physical" players as he believes the side is not battle hardened enough Smith safe - Webber is not. Recruitment is said to be questioned within Carrow Road due to amount spent vs return Smith brought "more organisation" into the club when he joined. COVID around Christmas left us with only 4 players able to train Todd Cantwell thought "likely" to return to Carrow Road in Summer Players to take 60% wage cut Thought likely to be interest in Max Aarons and Milot Rashica No change to self funding model - £6m swimming pool to be built over summer Aim next season to win the league for third time in row Nothing absolutely earth shattering but worth a mention. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2022/04/30/pay-cuts-departures-trusting-dean-smith-relegated-norwich-city/

I like how Bailey is regarded by posters as well-informed and accurate, except when... And to add, it is our inability to pay high wages that is bound to scupper some otherwise ideal deals. Bailey's list and the reasons for those failures look perfectly believable.

Smith has to be given time. Our lack of physicality has made it look like men against boys at times over the last two prem seasons, so if a squad can be built with a view to this it must be progress.

You’ve obviously got a short memory! We’ve benefited massively from the loan market over recent years… Skipp, Gibson, Dimi, Rhodes, Harrison Reed, Gunn, Leitner, Dijks, Lita, Bertrand, Ched Evans, Fraser Forster, Russ Martin, Naughton…. Just to name a few….

I think S and S had us playing a functional, if not beautiful, style of football with the 4-4-2 which included Idah. As soon as he got injured, that system had to be scrapped. Having only one fit senior striker, who at 32 has been playing non stop for club and country for 2 years plus, is absolutely not good enough from our recruitment team.

I'm sure you were also one of those that wanted Farke gone after his first season. "He's out of his depth" "clueless" etc etc "Oh, he's won the championship, yay, he's amazing" etc etc Farke was given the opportunity to build his squad and philosophy over a season in the vastly inferior championship. You dont believe Smith deserves the same (or less) courtesy considering he's taken a championship squad part way through the the PL season, had injuries to our only decent players at key times and done all he can to get a tune out of woefully poor PL standard squad? Smith deserves his chance to have HIS squad, his philosophy and make his mark on the club. Then he will be judged. Sadly the OP is all too typical of the inpatient, hindsight loving, modern football fan.

Well MK Dons got off to a rip roaring start then. 5-0 up after -5 mins.

It's constantly half term on this forum.

Is it half term again ?

Everton 100%, they'd be utterly screwed. Leeds would probably win the league.

People who think the club got key decisions wrong still didn’t want the club relegated. You are making stuff up unless you can provide evidence. I’ve thought we would be relegated since before Farke was sacked, I hoped we wouldn’t be and I certainly never wanted us to be and I’ve seen zero evidence of anyone that did.

Just happy to be there, isn't she 🙄 Sooner she f*cks off the better.

****e football, and ****e results, compounded by a knee-jerk mistreatment of a club legend (Daniel) to appoint someone random as an afterthought. Dreadful and cringetastic season.

Brilliant. I'm so happy. OTBC

May well be true, Smith's judgement of players and selection has frequently been very poor IMO and Sorensen is one of several players who I imagine will be looking to leave this summer - unless we get really lucky and both Smith and Webber get the bullet before then.

Been one of our best players this season and one of only a few who seems to care so not sure what you're on about

I shall pop next door and repeatedly punch my neighbour in the face, and while he is unconscious I shall move my boundary fence a metre in his direction. When he regains consciousness I shall politely explain to him that I was worried he might do the same to me, so in order to defend my territorial rights I had no other defensive option. When he protests that he had not done a single thing to indicate that he had any intention to do that, nor indeed the capacity to do that, I shall tell the 90 year-old that I couldn't be sure that he wasn't secretly harbouring such a plan. I shall further explain that in the cause of peace he must accept the new boundary arrangements I have imposed, although I won't be able to give a cast iron guarantee that I might not need to repeat the process in the future. That's the thing with borders I shall explain with a knowing shrug of the shoulders. Yes! That's how utterly ridiculous Putin's claim is, and how utterly moronic it is for others to swallow that guff.

Surely the problems with all this reading of 'ethnic' Russians (actually likely to be Ukrainians in Transnistria) is that a very great deal of ethnic movement took place in the 20th century in the USSR - either forcibly by Stalin or by choice. Some 'native' groups were even forcibly removed as in the Crimea. Hence many of these 'ethnic' Russian enclaves have no deep roots but are 'stirred' up by Putin and used as excuses for him to recreate the USSR. Its as if the UK broke up and England went to war with Wales to 'protect' all those Englishmen that had previously decided to move to Wales. Most of Europe has had flexible boundaries and many countries have large minority populations. These minorities should be respected but equally they also have to accept the national boundaries and countries (which were arrived at by agreement - even those of pre 2014 Ukraine and Russia and live in peace).

Mark E Smith enjoying his 10th pint

🤣

If you're talking about Dowell sat on the floor, he literally got up as soon as we got the ball, pisses me off players flaunting that rule to stop attacks. Milner did it earlier v Newcastle