What an earth is knapper waiting for ?…

[Sussexyellow 55]

Knapper has to report to the board and as a new boy will be feeling his way. He is faced with Delia/MWJ who are averse to sacking nice guy managers, and Attanasio who believes in longevity of managers plus a philosophy of things are never as bad or as good as they seem.

In many ways Attanasio may be the bigger hurdle to overcome. His lack of experience of English football and the difference the manager can make could be a big issue. I have zero knowledge of baseball but I just wonder if the manager has less of an impact in that sport. If so that could explain a stick with the manager strategy. 

Finally although the football is beyond dire the league position is not yet that alarming.

All of this mitigates against him being likely to pull the trigger. And I am now coming to the conclusion that he will not do it imminently. If this is so it is not then unsurprising he has not communicated with the support as he must realise that he is likely to get lambasted for any announcement other than we have just sacked Wagner. I do though agree with the point that he has not engaged with the stakeholders which is poor and a must do in his position.

Damage is being done to the club and apathy amongst the support is becoming legion. It will be interesting to see what the rate of renewal of season tickets will be. But a dip in support is something the club can ride out, as the commitment is lifelong and supporters will return as and when the style, excitement, entertainment and results return.

Unfortunately all this is indicative that Wagner will be here for a while yet. Those scrolling these pages for an announcement of a sacking is a triumph of hope over expectation.

Possibly the only thing that would drive a change is a toxic hostile crowd at Carrow Rd, but I suspect the apathy is too deeply set for this to happen.

[PurpleCanary 6,276]

1 hour ago, Bradwell canary said:

Waiting for Zoe Webber to give him permission?

 

Knapper does not need Zoe Webber's permission. If there is anyone he would think it either worthile or perhaps even necessary to run his plans by it would be Attanasio.

[Kenny Foggo 1,175]

God,  its so bloody depressing... bottom of the barrel stuff. I thought last years campaign was hard to engage with...

[norwich canary 171]

Has there ever  been a bigger disappointment at the club than Ben Knapper? 

[Kenny Foggo 1,175]

Just now, norwich canary said:

Has there ever  been a bigger disappointment at the club than Ben Knapper? 

He hasn't been here 2 minutes...bit early to start writing him off...

[The Raptor 1,527]

11 minutes ago, norwich canary said:

Has there ever  been a bigger disappointment at the club than Ben Knapper? 

So many over the years. Van wolfswinkel, nasmith, gilmour, not paying that extra few quid for Dean windass, etuhu, the fact the half way line isn't in line with the middle of the tunnel. Half our kits, Steve walsh. 

How many shall I think of. You can't judge a guy after so little time. (Unless his names rooney)

[shefcanary 2,901]

I don't think it should be in Knapper's JD to face the press regularly, particularly in the middle of a transfer window; he has more important things to do (which perhaps is what that phone message was yesterday). There is also a need to keep details under wraps to prevent raised expectations, or risk potential signings or outgoings becoming too public and scuppering deals. 

The chance for the club to make clear the strategy was at the AGM (still only 6 weeks ago). But it was an abysmal failure. The lack of a respectable, but independent board person, to provide a public face and act as a conduit to the majority owners, is what is generating the disconnect with the supporters. This failure, more than any other, has to be addressed pdq.

Edited January 7 by shefcanary

[Worthy Nigelton 1,277]

3 hours ago, hogesar said:

I think you're right by the way, but I don't think the club will see it that way when they got a lot of stick for Webber coming out and talking - its only really accepted by fans when things are going well, otherwise they're called board puppets, delias best friend, lying to the fans etc.

 

I think their hand will be forced in the same way it was that Webber wouldn't do a handover and Knapper would start sooner.

[Feedthewolf 5,756]

2 hours ago, Sussexyellow said:

Knapper has to report to the board and as a new boy will be feeling his way. He is faced with Delia/MWJ who are averse to sacking nice guy managers, and Attanasio who believes in longevity of managers plus a philosophy of things are never as bad or as good as they seem.

In many ways Attanasio may be the bigger hurdle to overcome. His lack of experience of English football and the difference the manager can make could be a big issue. I have zero knowledge of baseball but I just wonder if the manager has less of an impact in that sport. If so that could explain a stick with the manager strategy. 

Finally although the football is beyond dire the league position is not yet that alarming.

All of this mitigates against him being likely to pull the trigger. And I am now coming to the conclusion that he will not do it imminently. If this is so it is not then unsurprising he has not communicated with the support as he must realise that he is likely to get lambasted for any announcement other than we have just sacked Wagner. I do though agree with the point that he has not engaged with the stakeholders which is poor and a must do in his position.

Damage is being done to the club and apathy amongst the support is becoming legion. It will be interesting to see what the rate of renewal of season tickets will be. But a dip in support is something the club can ride out, as the commitment is lifelong and supporters will return as and when the style, excitement, entertainment and results return.

Unfortunately all this is indicative that Wagner will be here for a while yet. Those scrolling these pages for an announcement of a sacking is a triumph of hope over expectation.

Possibly the only thing that would drive a change is a toxic hostile crowd at Carrow Rd, but I suspect the apathy is too deeply set for this to happen.

This is a great post, and I'd like to direct @City Stand Ultra to it as pretty much summing up my thoughts on the current situation, in response to their long and insightful post from earlier. Bottom line is that Knapper is definitely here for the long haul, and Wagner may also be here a while yet. The lack of communication is a concern, and hopefully Knapper will be smart enough to know that now is the time to poke his head above the parapet and share his findings and plans with the fans.

[canarycop 232]

Knapper was brought in early I'm assuming to stamp his authority and sort the mess out. For one reason or another he isn't or isn't being allowed to do this. Sound like a very modern middle management way. You do your job and don't rock the boat and I will let you get on with it. As long as I don't have any decisions to make we will be fine. Doesn't work and that is why we need change and now. If I continued in poor delivery in my job I would be sacked. The look on the faces of Adams, Knapper and  Webber yesterday gave me hope there would be change but obviously we are playing far too well.

Had enough now. For my health I can't keep putting myself through this 

[Hairy Canary 737]

It’s not an easy situation for him as whatever he says is likely to be ripped to shreds but I’m afraid he, or another senior person, simply has to say something to try and stop the obvious disconnect between the club and the support.

No organisation can be successful when it is disunited. A club like ours is massively more likely to progress when we are all pulling together. You only have to look at the Lambert and Farke years to know that is true.

He doesn’t even have to say anything that specific. Just that he is aware that things need to change, ask for patience while the club works through the process and say how valued the support base is. Won’t please everyone but a huge percentage will give him that leeway.

Saying nothing feels like doing nothing and really isn’t an option.

[canarycop 232]

23 minutes ago, Hairy Canary said:

It’s not an easy situation for him as whatever he says is likely to be ripped to shreds but I’m afraid he, or another senior person, simply has to say something to try and stop the obvious disconnect between the club and the support.

No organisation can be successful when it is disunited. A club like ours is massively more likely to progress when we are all pulling together. You only have to look at the Lambert and Farke years to know that is true.

He doesn’t even have to say anything that specific. Just that he is aware that things need to change, ask for patience while the club works through the process and say how valued the support base is. Won’t please everyone but a huge percentage will give him that leeway.

Saying nothing feels like doing nothing and really isn’t an option.

For God's sake Norwich say something. Even if it is so we know what's going on. You are making every fan feel so disconnected with the club now. We want to be entertained and that isn't happening. This isn't the Norwich I support. 

[norwich canary 171]

One thing that I have just realised that Knapper loaned that awful Marquinhos to us , he was an awful fit for us at the time that does make me worry about his competence in the transfer market , he just goes from bad to worse 

Knapper out 

[GodlyOtsemobor 2,808]

39 minutes ago, norwich canary said:

One thing that I have just realised that Knapper loaned that awful Marquinhos to us , he was an awful fit for us at the time that does make me worry about his competence in the transfer market , he just goes from bad to worse 

Knapper out 

I'd argue he's a genius because he found someone to actually offload him onto. 

If he can do that with the like of Placheta then we're laughing 

[Cityfc2 13]

To be told what to do by Delia and Co.

[littleyellowbirdie 3,103]

The big lesson I take from the Webber era is that the Sporting Director is only relevant to the football on the pitch as far as the appointment of a manager is concerned and the recruitment of players. As such, in my view, that sums up the only times the Sporting Director should be making public statements, i.e. end of the January transfer window, AGM, Summer break, and in the event of a change of manager. Other than that, there's no point them making public statements on anything during the season; the focus should be on the players, the manager, and the football.

[Dean Coneys boots 1,497]

15 hours ago, Kenny Foggo said:

He hasn't been here 2 minutes...bit early to start writing him off...

He has been here for months and has - from the outside - done absolutely nothing. Given the situation that doesn’t reflect well. He should either have acted to demonstrate he has a vision - or else come out and explained his vision and the reason nothing has yet happened. To do neither is not good leadership given the disconnect 

[Fen Canary 1,450]

8 minutes ago, Dean Coneys boots said:

He has been here for months and has - from the outside - done absolutely nothing. Given the situation that doesn’t reflect well. He should either have acted to demonstrate he has a vision - or else come out and explained his vision and the reason nothing has yet happened. To do neither is not good leadership given the disconnect 

What did you have want him to have done? The transfer window has only been open a week, do you expect him to give a running commentary of every attempted loan or transfer?

[Dean Coneys boots 1,497]

5 minutes ago, Fen Canary said:

What did you have want him to have done? The transfer window has only been open a week, do you expect him to give a running commentary of every attempted loan or transfer?

I expected he would sack a non performing manager on arrival. If not I would have expected him to come out and tell us what the vision is and what to expect into the future. 

[Fen Canary 1,450]

40 minutes ago, Dean Coneys boots said:

I expected he would sack a non performing manager on arrival. If not I would have expected him to come out and tell us what the vision is and what to expect into the future. 

https://www.canaries.co.uk/content/knapper-interview
 

Like this you mean, which he did the day after his arrival?

[Dean Coneys boots 1,497]

No not like that. A timid interview followed by no action is not what was needed after crisis of late stage Webber. We needed to see action and clear change of direction, we have seen neither. He’s invisible and in leadership that isn’t good. 

[Fen Canary 1,450]

31 minutes ago, Dean Coneys boots said:

No not like that. A timid interview followed by no action is not what was needed after crisis of late stage Webber. We needed to see action and clear change of direction, we have seen neither. He’s invisible and in leadership that isn’t good. 

So you wanted him to crash in and start making wholesale changes before he’d even had chance to get to know club, how it’s operating and what the problems are? How do you expect him to have solutions ready before he’s even had chance to identify where we’ve been going wrong? 

[BobLoz3 607]

Wahey! Hello all! I'm back. 

Well, I've been lurking but haven't really been inclined to post. 

I'm not as Wagner out as some people I must admit. Predominantly because I have absolutely no idea who we go out and get to replace him! So, I'd like to hear some ideas. 

I remember how rash it felt sacking Farke, despite the fact we weren't doing well in the Prem. And I think that decision set us back some time, especially in regards to his utterly useless replacement who is now managing in a league that Rooney became a manager in. 

I also remember plenty of people on here and on other socials who wanted DF out, and they are probably the same people who want him back now 🤣🤦

So, go on. Who do we get? I saw someone mentioned Warnock which would be quite funny. 

[Dean Coneys boots 1,497]

Well Webber did that before he went sour- hiring farke in days- and we benefited enormously. And even if he does want time to observe - just come out and tell us- this is what I think will happen in summer - please be patient. 

[Fen Canary 1,450]

8 minutes ago, Dean Coneys boots said:

Well Webber did that before he went sour- hiring farke in days- and we benefited enormously. And even if he does want time to observe - just come out and tell us- this is what I think will happen in summer - please be patient. 

So you expect him to come out publicly and tell the manager he’s going to be replaced in the summer? Do you believe that will lead to improved performances from the players knowing that his authority has now vanished?

What if Knapper says he’s gone in the summer and then we manage to sneak our way to promotion via the playoffs? Do you still sack him or do you go back on your word and reward the improved performances?

Or should he say he’s sticking with Wagner, only to then sack him before the season is out after another bad run?

Knapper has literally nothing to gain by making any statement of this nature, however he has plenty to lose if he comes out making bold statements then has to backtrack a few months later. 

[norwich canary 171]

1 hour ago, Dean Coneys boots said:

No not like that. A timid interview followed by no action is not what was needed after crisis of late stage Webber. We needed to see action and clear change of direction, we have seen neither. He’s invisible and in leadership that isn’t good. 

No one has an issue with him taking time to understand the club and develop a winning strategy 

where he is falling well short is some tactile short terms actions to steady the ship.

an experienced director coming into a failing business would indeed take the necessary short term actions whilst putting the organisation structures in place to deliver the strategy 

He is doing none of this it's very  clear he is out of his depth and yet another bad appointment by the stowmarket 2 

 

 

[canarybubbles 2,158]

The current situation is clearly getting a lot of us very angry. But none of that anger should be aimed at Knapper, or even Wagner. It should be aimed squarely at Smith.

She immediately sabotaged Knapper by making that phone call to Wagner. Then, when asked at the AGM about Sporting Directors in the plural, we got the extended, sick-inducing paean to Webber, followed by one line about Knapper. This was followed by an attack on the fans, thereby scuppering any chance Knapper had of an arrival with a reservoir of goodwill from fans whose patience has worn thin.

The mask has slipped and we have seen Smith for what she really is: manipulative (the phone call), self-serving (putting her own pique ahead of the good of the club at the AGM), condescending (you have no idea), dismissive of anyone who dares to question her (the fans, the media), lacking in judgement (her worship of Webber), unprofessional (glugging wine at an AGM), and a fake socialist (the only good pleb is a pleb who does what he or she is told).

We shouldn't be sucked in by aiming our fire at fall-guys like Wagner and Knapper. If we do, there'll just be other fall-guys, and this situation will get worse and worse. 

[Feedthewolf 5,756]

2 hours ago, BobLoz3 said:

Wahey! Hello all! I'm back. 

Well, I've been lurking but haven't really been inclined to post. 

I'm not as Wagner out as some people I must admit. Predominantly because I have absolutely no idea who we go out and get to replace him! So, I'd like to hear some ideas. 

I remember how rash it felt sacking Farke, despite the fact we weren't doing well in the Prem. And I think that decision set us back some time, especially in regards to his utterly useless replacement who is now managing in a league that Rooney became a manager in. 

I also remember plenty of people on here and on other socials who wanted DF out, and they are probably the same people who want him back now 🤣🤦

So, go on. Who do we get? I saw someone mentioned Warnock which would be quite funny. 

Welcome back Bob! I think Steve Cooper is the dream appointment at this juncture. Failing that, you'd expect Knapper to be thinking about Mehmet Ali, Jack Wilshere or Per Mertesacker from the Arsenal academy setup.

I don't think the head coach is necessarily the most pressing concern; we need to hear some kind of statement from the club about where we're going. The video that @Fen Canary posted above was a good starting point, but a couple of months into the job with results and performances showing no signs of improvement, the fans need something to go on.

I seem to recall Stuart Webber saying something about his visibility being much greater than any other sporting director; that most other SDs stay in the background and don't have as much public-facing activity as he had. In which case, it might be that Delia/Michael/Tom/Zoe/Mark collectively feel that this is a better approach.

But if that's the case, who does the public-facing stuff? Since we lost Ben Kensell, there has undoubtedly been a huge disconnect that needs filling. Someone at the club needs to address the inertia both on and off the pitch, and fast.

[bringbackchippy 53]

Give it to Neil Adams

[shefcanary 2,901]

As I've said on the Bridget thread, the club is still majority owned by Smith & Jones in lieu of the EFL announcement of its review Directors & Owners test of Attanasio. Also, I to feel Knapper should not be the source of any public announcement - he has a tricky transfer window ongoing, he is in the middle of delicate negotiations and so won't have anything public to divulge worthy of the paper its printed on. Let him get on with his job, hopefully without the former SD interfering although doubt publicly has been raised about this which if true is very disappointing.

My fear is that with the season ticket renewal programme looming, the public announcement of the state of things will be part of that. This has a big chance of totally backfiring, just like the recent PR faux pas of the current still majority shareholders. 

Until the EFL confirms Attanasio's share transaction can go ahead, the club is in a right old pickle, no mistake, especially as matters on the pitch are going from bad to worse.