Delia and Michael - total amateurs

[Rossi 0]

After waiting months to hear something roll off the tongue of queen Delia, I am quite frankly appalled with the statement. To be honest it''s the sort of statement that was made up by a bunch of year 8 pupils in an English lesson - 100% amateurish she shouldnt have bothered

I''ve had my suspicions for a very long time that Delia and MIchael are in fact completely clue less when it comes to football. Supporters they may well be, but I''ve finally accepted that they have absolutely no idea of actually running a club, they just have good advisors (apart from Nigel with the on the pitch department.)

I believe from what i''ve heard that our Nigel doesnt like other people interfering and that both Delia and Michael are happy with the level of trust they have in Nigel. I can only put the whole scenario down to one thing (stay with me on this one) Delia and Michael trust Nigel to ''look after their money'' like some old dear trusting someone to do her shopping. And like the old dear, there doesnt seem too much faith in anyone else doing the same job because they might buy the wrong thing, or have different standards, heaven forbid they might not be nice people - it''s absolutely pathetic. They are worried and totally out of their depth, and quite obviously change scares them.

We need visionary leaders of this club, it''s not hard to see after this latest address that all we are ever going to do is ''play it safe'' or ''gamble'' when it''s too late like we did with Ashton. This football club with its on the field disappointments has only ever reacted to situations, they have not ever acted proactively.

I know the vast majority of fans of this club treat Delia like their favourite grandmother, but folks there is a reason why, its becasue she acts like a grandmother, not the person in charge of a failing football club.

Sorry Delia, the longer you wait, the more friends you will lose. Your statement hasnt changed one tiny little thing apart from your now rather smaller audience, and a believed perception that maybe you cant take this club forward.

[Yellow Rider 0]

Strong stuff Rossi but, in essence, I agree.

In fairness I think their perceived ''lack of knowledge'' of football is not unique to them at NCFC, it probably applies to most / all Boards up and down the country. Most directors are fans but that''s it, they have businesses to run in their other lives. Incidentally this thought that ''Delia Smith knows little / nothing of football'' actually originated FROM HER!! Back in October 1996 when she joined the Board I will always remember the first thing I ever heard her say at the press conference (it was live on Rodeo Norfolk). She said and I quote.....''I know nothing about football but will be pleased to help the club in whatever way I can'' . Pity she didn''t stick to what she said then. 

In order to try and help the Board to get a better knowledge of the footballing side of the club, a great suggestion was made at the public meeting last week. That was to appoint a Director of Football. Not in the traditional sense of the word but the job description (IMO) would be broadly as follows :

• Appoint an experienced ex manager
• Must be independent of the club in terms of previous experience
• No previous working relationship with our manaement team (especially the manager)
• The D of F would have an OBSERVATION role only i.e. would NOT be part of the footballing management team
• The D of F would have a paid ''consultant'' type role
• They would bring an entirely objective and independent analysis of everything on the footballing side i.e the way the teams are set up (Youth, Reserves, First Team), the tactics employed, the style of man management and motivational techniques observed, the fitness and training activities, scouting of players, pre match strategies etc.
• The Dof F would provide Quarterly reports to the Board (or more frequently if req''d)

I think this would work really well, would give the Board an independent view of the footballing side and would build confidence amongst the fans.

In principle, what do others think?? 

  

[T07 0]

Well I''m not really sure what led you to think that they ''run the club''. They are neither Chairman nor Chief Exec. As Majority shareholders they have a say, but people, specislists, are employed to ''run the club''. When times are Rosey everyone sings her name and is proud of the assocoaition, essentially little has changed from their perspective yet the lynch mob are out. So they showed a little faith and loyalty in Worthington.... what a terrible trait.Worthingtons never been any good. He''s been telling us what good football we play since day one, but we never have. The biggest hypocrisy in all of this is from the fans in my opinion, as long as the results were going our way, all is rosey. Never mind anything so complex as tactics and style of play, it seems most fans dont give a toss, so long as we win. Defend for 89 minutes, hoof it, score, job done.Not for me thanks. Season ticket binnedWell you are now getting what you deserve, cos after 5 years of hoofball its now time to see it for what it always was.

[gazzathegreat 0]

I too heard this idea at the NCISA meeting and yes, in essence it''s a great idea, but who would be appointed IF the board decided to go ahead?  Am I alone in thinking that it would be a nice little earner for Bryan Hamilton?  Aargggghh

With the current thinking re the management within the confines of the board at the moment I can''t think that they would particularly welcome an independent thought or views on how the management team are faring.  They don''t seem to respond favourably to mere supporters, many of whom have been attending Carrow Road longer than Delia and Michael.  None of the other members of the board, to my knowledge have given any details as to how long they had been supporters of the club. 

However, the setting up of such a post would be a very positive step.  I just can''t see it happening....

[carpio 0]

[quote user="ROSSI 46"]

After waiting months to hear something roll off the tongue of queen Delia, I am quite frankly appalled with the statement. To be honest it''s the sort of statement that was made up by a bunch of year 8 pupils in an English lesson - 100% amateurish she shouldnt have bothered

I''ve had my suspicions for a very long time that Delia and MIchael are in fact completely clue less when it comes to football. Supporters they may well be, but I''ve finally accepted that they have absolutely no idea of actually running a club, they just have good advisors (apart from Nigel with the on the pitch department.)

I believe from what i''ve heard that our Nigel doesnt like other people interfering and that both Delia and Michael are happy with the level of trust they have in Nigel. I can only put the whole scenario down to one thing (stay with me on this one) Delia and Michael trust Nigel to ''look after their money'' like some old dear trusting someone to do her shopping. And like the old dear, there doesnt seem too much faith in anyone else doing the same job because they might buy the wrong thing, or have different standards, heaven forbid they might not be nice people - it''s absolutely pathetic. They are worried and totally out of their depth, and quite obviously change scares them.

We need visionary leaders of this club, it''s not hard to see after this latest address that all we are ever going to do is ''play it safe'' or ''gamble'' when it''s too late like we did with Ashton. This football club with its on the field disappointments has only ever reacted to situations, they have not ever acted proactively.

I know the vast majority of fans of this club treat Delia like their favourite grandmother, but folks there is a reason why, its becasue she acts like a grandmother, not the person in charge of a failing football club.

Sorry Delia, the longer you wait, the more friends you will lose. Your statement hasnt changed one tiny little thing apart from your now rather smaller audience, and a believed perception that maybe you cant take this club forward.

[/quote] And obviosly you are better qualified to know what is required in to Run  a football club?  This Club is ran by a board of people with various skills and knowledge of which the Two majority share holders are a part. They have used their business acumen to steady the Financial ship over a period of years to the point where the club will only sell players if the price is right,and before you start quoting player deals ALL yes ALL clubs have a point where they will listen to offers. Everyone, including the board have made it clear this season has not been good enough, the problem is that the people IN CHARGE have their own veiw on what is required to put it right. THAT is what they are there to do!! We are here to moan and groan and keep them on their toes. but we are not here to run the club.

[Huddy 0]

I agree.

I have said on another topic that the main problem is that Delia and her husband are massive fans, but with a lack of football knowledge. I am not going to moan at Delia and MWJ because 10 years ago they saved the club, and since then they have invested alot of money and time in trying to get the club they love to succeed. For that every NCFC fan will always be more than grateful to them for that

The problem is that you need more than just passion to run a football club, Delia has a passion for food, but if she couldnt cook she wouldnt make a very good chef. Thats what is like with Delia and her relationship with the football club. I am afraid it seems that them and the majority of the board, mumbles, doomcaster and that idiot skipper are scared of change and no little about the running of a football club. So, to my final point. If Delia had a chef in her brasserie, who wasnt performing, kept taking too long to cook the meals, kept burning the steak and half the customers were getting food poisoning she would have to sack him, Cant she relate the 2 and realise football management is like any other job.

[LinkNR9 0]

The Board know about running THE BUSINESS side of a football club and they run it very well, in terms of the finance and community side; however, they don''t know much about THE GAME. That is not a criticism, it''s a fact.

Only a few ex-players on the Board of a football club (such as Dave Whelan at Wigan, who is an ex-professional) know about the game. I think that is why we''re in such a muddle at this Club now.   

[Rossi 0]

i hear what you are saying city r us, and IMO what they did when the first came to this club makes them fully deserving of the adolation that they get. Yes, our off the field situation is not even on the same planet that Chase left - they have been wonderful.

IMO. this club has lost sight of what it is really about. I have major concerns with the selling of land to finance things like players sales, purchases, stadium development too to a certain extent. It reminds me of the boom / bust years of the late 80s and 90s. I firmly believe that this club is setting itself up for failure with its player policy. Player wages are a massive drain on resources, especially when you bring in players that are already on a fair whack.

NCFC, unfortunately, is a selling club. Whether we like that or not, our long term future lies in producing young players and integrating them into the team. (Less so if we get back to the prem - not looking likely under Nigel)Even if they dont get sold for millions, their mere presence should be enough not to pay £500k for a player that has never proved really done anything in their career to date. On top of that, wages for a young player that emulates from the academy will rise based upon performances, first team performances, in essence they have something to prove. If they dont we are not tied to 5 years of £10k a week or whatever they are on. The long term liability of such a contract is huge - say for example our wages for Etuhu are £5k a week over 5 years then the liability is somewhere around £1.25m, what is the long term liability of, for example, Michael Spillane or Rossi Jarvis? Hardly anything in comparision.

When we are to buy players, assuming we have enough experience in the side then we have to look at the likelyhood of ever receiving that money back. Take Earnshaw for example, will Norwich ever make a profit on his potential sale? It would take a bold manager to pay £3.25m+ for him. Hughes and Etuhu, will we ever get more than £500k for them? I doubt that too.

When you also figure in the wages paid to premiership loan players, all of a sudden i see money that could be used elsewhere disappearing into the bank account of a player that, by all accounts has nothing to lose, immaterial of their performances, unless of course they are nearing the end of their current contract.

This club has had a sniff of the good times and has benefitted with the additional revenue, but what it doesnt seem to realise is that we could have and should have used that revenue better. You can only sell a piece of land once, then it''s gone. No sell-on clauses there to generate revenue in the next few years.

One of the biggest things the disaster of this season has been fobbed off on is injuries. Some may quote Nigel wanted a small squad, but the real truth is the wage liability, especially when you look at Ashton''s contract being hiked up, probably near Prem wages when he re-signed a new contract in August to keep him here for 5 months.

No we are not a selling club we keep hearing, well I promise you all one thing we dont get the promotion next season, you watch the ''stars'' leave because we are unable to fund their wages. How do we cope with the wage liability and no parachute payment.? By playing youth players?

If we do have to bring in other players, make it players that have something to prove at a higher level. Look at our team, the players who most of us ''warm to'' Safri, McKenzie, Huckerby, Doherty, Drury, - the all had something to prove.

It''s the board that are blamed for a lack of ambition - maybe its just that their ambition is misplaced along with their faith in those they trust.

We seem to wanna drive the fast cars and have the house in the country before we have set up the foundations to supply that, and in the meantime we are taking one heck of a gamble. I can accept that gamble if I have faith in those taking the gamble, but if you dont....

[harrywebb 0]

Take your point on this. Delia & the Board lack any real knowledge of the game and tactics etc. 

However much we hate Sheepshanks he does seem to have a high standing in the Football League and FA and uses this experience and standing to good effect. i.e. sacking Burley shortly after relegation and appointing the experienced Royle was in hind site a master stroke.

Also his focus on youth seems to be paying devidends.

 

Oh if only we had someone like him.

 

More years of blue domination ??  

[LinkNR9 0]

It''s difficult getting a balance, isn''t it, because Sheepshanks allowed Ipswich to fall into financial ruin!

[Herb 0]

[quote user="harrywebb"]

Take your point on this. Delia & the Board lack any real knowledge of the game and tactics etc. 

However much we hate Sheepshanks he does seem to have a high standing in the Football League and FA and uses this experience and standing to good effect. i.e. sacking Burley shortly after relegation and appointing the experienced Royle was in hind site a master stroke.

Also his focus on youth seems to be paying devidends.

 

Oh if only we had someone like him.

 

More years of blue domination ??  

[/quote]

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