Deanos biggest game

[wr4sb 33]

As someone said somewhere, I thought having a Sporting Director negated the need for the manager (Head Coach?)'s to have own players as the way we play shouldn't be particularly different.

Yes, Smith will have a say but if he wants to play a different way to that which the Sporting Director sets then surely Webber has hired the wrong man.

[Canaries north 151]

3 hours ago, Move Klose said:

Watford didn't start any new players last night. 

They did lose a lot of players from their regular starting 11. Foster, Samir, feminia, Masina, Sissoko, Kucka Josh King and Hernandez( info from my Watford mate). Also Louza was injured. Yes the players who started had all been with the club for a while but they did have major changes and a new manager. They still looked more cohesive than we did. Smith worries me as yes it's not his players but he should still be able to get a tune out of them in this division. He has also had the time to do so. 

[Canaries north 151]

1 hour ago, wr4sb said:

As someone said somewhere, I thought having a Sporting Director negated the need for the manager (Head Coach?)'s to have own players as the way we play shouldn't be particularly different.

Yes, Smith will have a say but if he wants to play a different way to that which the Sporting Director sets then surely Webber has hired the wrong man.

100% agree. The whole idea of the sporting director is he sets the style of play and buys players and appoints a manager to fit with that. Something has gone a miss. 

[The Real Buh 3,432]

4 hours ago, Canary dwarf said:

This is Dean Smith's biggest and most important game in his Norwich reign at home to Wigan Saturday,when he took over last season , he had a group of underperforming players, that most weren't prem standard,and opening day of the season ALWAYS throws up some freakish results , so this is a Biggie for him at home to a side that will almost certainly be in a relegation scrap,nothing but a win will be good enough anything less and he'll be walking on thin ice and it will be hard to see a way back for him. OTBC😄

Correct, but I also have the feeling some have already got the excuses and mitigating circumstances ready to go. I'm calling them "Gel-ers" or "Gellers", those that are obsessed with the fact that we just need a little more time to "Gel"

The excuse is Hanley wasnt here and our Center back partnership couldn't have possibly kept Wigan out as they scored those 4 goals. They just need time to gel.

[The Real Buh 3,432]

3 hours ago, GenerationA47 said:

Carrow Road will become a living hell for the guilty parties

The crowd further turns its volume down half a notch, sending out a punishing message

Fans are caught on camera in overt muttering and  even some scowling incidents, across more than one stand throughout the match

An unprecedented flashpoint occurs in the snake pit towards the end of the match, when an irate supporter curses out loud the manager, SD & board, which is audible for several rows around

*Fan mutters under their breath as Wigan score a 4th*

Webber "The fan negativity is getting out of hand and they should be ashamed of themselves. We must not forget that this is all their fault. Public floggings will begin at the next home game

All the best

Webbo

#OTBC #StopTheHate"

[Mello Yello 2,296]

[repman 635]

55 minutes ago, Canaries north said:

100% agree. The whole idea of the sporting director is he sets the style of play and buys players and appoints a manager to fit with that. Something has gone a miss. 

The plan at the start of last season was to change the style of play.

[Canaries north 151]

2 minutes ago, repman said:

The plan at the start of last season was to change the style of play.

I do agree the plan was to change the way we play. I also don't think the change took into account the best player we have. Sometimes you have to play to your strength. I still hope we have unearthed a gem from South America but if not then we will still have Pukki playing and getting no service and as out highest earner. I did an earlier post about starting with Hugill rather than Pukki. We all know who is the better player and by a country mile but would Hugill suit the other players better.  

[Nexus_Canary 1,016]

4 hours ago, BigFish said:

Speaks for itsself really, pathetic, really pathetic

So your going to sit there all happy **** if we lose?

Stop kidding yourself.

Pathetic, really pathetic 

[HazzaJet 253]

I’m not writing Smith or last week’s squad after just one game, but I have to say that I think Saturday’s fixture against Wigan is a must win for Smith. Considering we’ve only just come down from the PL and are regarded as having one of the strongest squads in the Championship, most would expect us to find an easy 3 points at home to a team that’s only just come up from League One. Although I thought our performance against Cardiff was abysmal, I’d never judge us after one game as there’s another 45 still to be played and first promotion season under Farke we didn’t really get going until mid/late September.

We might even just be suffering from a relegation hangover, but if we fail to beat Wigan though I have to say I think I will start hovering the question mark over Smith unless we get going very soon.

[paddycanary 539]

11 hours ago, Move Klose said:

Watford didn't start any new players last night. 

Watford were only marginally less shíte than ourselves last season.

[Canaries north 151]

10 minutes ago, paddycanary said:

Watford were only marginally less shíte than ourselves last season.

But looked like they had a idea of what they were doing and a few fast players upfront with flair. This was also under a new manager. Smith has had a long time to look at these players and if they are as good as we thought they were or at least some of them, he should have managed to find a way to make a team that looked like it had an idea of what it was trying to do. I'm still struggling to work out what the master plan was on Saturday. 

[kenfoggo 247]

Expect the same goal shy, non competitive performance as directed by Norwich’s least inspiring coaching team since Glenn Roeder. It will be another dreary, lifeless 90 minutes. Best part of the game will be the pre-match pulled pork bap.

[Bonzo 198]

If we don't beat Wigan at home it's time for heads on spikes.

Nothing else will do.

I don't want to hear any more excuses from Smith "lacked quality", "referee", "lucky deflection",  "Shakey had a broken thermos" or any of that nonsense. 

Win or its heads on spikes time.  JFDI. 

[norfolkngood 1,087]

On 03/08/2022 at 07:30, kenfoggo said:

Expect the same goal shy, non competitive performance as directed by Norwich’s least inspiring coaching team since Glenn Roeder. It will be another dreary, lifeless 90 minutes. Best part of the game will be the pre-match pulled pork bap.

 

58 minutes ago, Bonzo said:

If we don't beat Wigan at home it's time for heads on spikes.

Nothing else will do.

I don't want to hear any more excuses from Smith "lacked quality", "referee", "lucky deflection",  "Shakey had a broken thermos" or any of that nonsense. 

Win or its heads on spikes time.  JFDI. 

Don't upset Webber he will Threaten to Leave ! 

[AJ 1,221]

I dread to think what the reception will be like if we lose at home at the weekend. I don't feel like the crowd are going to give Smith a great deal of patience or time.

[kenfoggo 247]

For all those who think that the Cardiff loss on Saturday does not matter, “it’s only one game in a long season,”, “funny things happen in first games”, “the team has yet to gel”  etc, etc; The thing to take away from that game is that Cardiff wanted to win, they were determined to win, they were prepared to do anything to achieve the win. Norwich were not prepared to be physically competitive and that has sent a message to the rest of the Championship. If I was the Wigan coach I would want my side to kick Norwich off the park in the first ten minutes, rough them up and be dominant, Norwich have proven that they cannot take it. Cantwell will mince around making sure his Alice band doesn’t get pushed out of place and the rest will back off not wanting to get a “hurty toe”.

[rock bus 852]

2 hours ago, kenfoggo said:

For all those who think that the Cardiff loss on Saturday does not matter, “it’s only one game in a long season,”, “funny things happen in first games”, “the team has yet to gel”  etc, etc; The thing to take away from that game is that Cardiff wanted to win, they were determined to win, they were prepared to do anything to achieve the win. Norwich were not prepared to be physically competitive and that has sent a message to the rest of the Championship. If I was the Wigan coach I would want my side to kick Norwich off the park in the first ten minutes, rough them up and be dominant, Norwich have proven that they cannot take it. Cantwell will mince around making sure his Alice band doesn’t get pushed out of place and the rest will back off not wanting to get a “hurty toe”.

Sadly I don't really disagree with most of this.

Although, I would say Cantwell was our best player last week and was one of the few who did look like they were prepared to make an effort (and even 'put a foot in' where necessary...even though he is not blessed with naturally being the most physical a player)

[YellowCanary 11]

Smith has had more than enough time with these players,no excuses it should be six points from the next two games otherwise things will start to feel uncomfortable 

 

[Capt. Pants 4,236]

3 hours ago, kenfoggo said:

For all those who think that the Cardiff loss on Saturday does not matter, “it’s only one game in a long season,”, “funny things happen in first games”, “the team has yet to gel”  etc, etc; The thing to take away from that game is that Cardiff wanted to win, they were determined to win, they were prepared to do anything to achieve the win. Norwich were not prepared to be physically competitive and that has sent a message to the rest of the Championship. If I was the Wigan coach I would want my side to kick Norwich off the park in the first ten minutes, rough them up and be dominant, Norwich have proven that they cannot take it. Cantwell will mince around making sure his Alice band doesn’t get pushed out of place and the rest will back off not wanting to get a “hurty toe”.

Totally agree with this. Unfortunately if last week's ref is anything to go by we won't be getting much protection from them either. Bearing in mind most of the starting XI has played in the Championship it was extraordinary how many of them weren't up for the physicality. This is where Hayden will he absolutely key.

[kenfoggo 247]

Speculation is building that this is a significant game for the future of Smith and the coaching team. Norwich (newly relegated) V Wigan (newly promoted). There should be a gulf in ability between the City squad and the Athletic squad. But Leam Richardson seems to be a grounded,  inspirational, motivational coach who has got Wigan performing above their on paper level. They know how to score goals , in July they beat a Liverpool team 6-0 and they finished an unbeaten pre season build up with a 4-1 win over Sheffield Wednesday. Wigan do not concede that many goals , their first game was 0-0 against Preston (which after one game puts them above us in the Championship). No game this season will be a walk over for Norwich, the Championship is obviously a highly competitive division but while City should be favourites at home it may not be the easy fixture many believe it will be.

Edited August 5, 2022 by kenfoggo

[BroadstairsR 2,172]

Nobody can be over supportive of Dean Smith at this moment in time, and the reasons for this have been put forward with varying  degrees of force in this thread and others.

Although it is currently difficult to find one real positive, step forward or even element of encouragement from his tenure at Carrow Road, he still needs to be given a fair run.

I suppose that the tact has to be to get as many points on the board as we can until the new boys are up and running and then, hopefully, start to be the force that many anticipated.

The Cardiff game was a stunning disappointment in that respect, as that fixture was as benign an opener as ever there was.  Three points discarded in what will be a tough ask in the race at the top.

Ditto Wigan as our first home fixture. 

We need a dominating performance. I have a feeling the management team does even more so. There are rumblings afoot and other suitable candidates are being eyed up, by the fans at least. Webber and Co. will rightfully have more patience. Smith needs to produce a lot more, though, or otherwise the  boardroom will get nervous.

[Samwam27 527]

To defend Smith, and to extend the excuse that is NCFC, other than beating Blackburn convincingly, we are notoriously bad opening game of the season, every season.

For whatever reason, and whatever manager, we always seem to still be on holiday every opening game of the season, and have always look sluggish.

Let's hope a more stirring, energetic and sharper performance will be given, 3 points in the bag and everyone will feel better!

[canarybubbles 1,915]

It can't be a make-or-break game this early in the season, but a loss would pile the pressure on Smith. He has to start delivering soon, or at least looking like he is capable of delivering.

[The Real Buh 3,432]

1 hour ago, kenfoggo said:

Speculation is building that this is a significant game for the future of Smith and the coaching team. Norwich (newly relegated) V Wigan (newly promoted). There should be a gulf in ability between the City squad and the Athletic squad. But Leam Richardson seems to be a grounded,  inspirational, motivational coach who has got Wigan performing above their on paper level. They know how to score goals , in July they beat a Liverpool team 6-0 and they finished an unbeaten pre season build up with a 4-1 win over Sheffield Wednesday. Wigan do not concede that many goals , their first game was 0-0 against Preston (which after one game puts them above us in the Championship). No game this season will be a walk over for Norwich, the Championship is obviously a highly competitive division but while City should be favourites at home it may not be the easy fixture many believe it will be.

0-0 and there will be a riot 🤣

[Nora's Ghost 157]

Lightning struck twice for Smith and Jones in Paul Lambert/Grant Holt followed by Daniel Farke/Teemu Pukki.....

 

Those odds were long enough so what chance of it happening for them again? Virtually zero is the answer to that so get used to being a mid table Champs set up until things radically change in the Boardroom..

[kenfoggo 247]

57 minutes ago, The Real Buh said:

0-0 and there will be a riot 🤣

As we cannot score and they concede few goals a 0-0 result would seem likely.

[canarydan23 4,060]

Just now, Nora's Ghost said:

Lightning struck twice for Smith and Jones in Paul Lambert/Grant Holt followed by Daniel Farke/Teemu Pukki.....

 

Those odds were long enough so what chance of it happening for them again? Virtually zero is the answer to that so get used to being a mid table Champs set up until things radically change in the Boardroom..

Was it a lightning strike that got Worthington? And Alex Neil too?

Don't get me wrong, I think they've made a massive error appointing Dean Smith, but of our last ten full time appointments, four of them managed to get us promoted to the Premier League. And as one of those appointments only managed in the EPL, that's basically 4 from 9, a strike rate of 45%. Pretty good record that.

[The Real Buh 3,432]

13 minutes ago, kenfoggo said:

As we cannot score and they concede few goals a 0-0 result would seem likely.

Agreed! If it’s boring as well I can see walkouts like last season

[sgncfc 1,228]

The result against Cardiff was disappointing. The performance itself wasn't actually that bad and the overreaction on here won't be replicated at the club. Someone even said we had no shots on target just so it fitted with their negativity. In reality it was a very unlucky defeat against a side allowed to get away with all kinds of gamesmanship by a poor, timid referee. We weren't good, but we made enough chances to win it.

The performance tomorrow will be as important than the result. I can't see the crowd turning yet - not while we have new players to bed in and youngsters to support.