Are you not excited?

[Robert N. LiM 6,282]

Reading this board it seems very few of us are excited about the play-offs and a possible trip to Wembley. Most downbeat attitude to a possible promotion season that I can remember.

So, are you excited? And if not, why not? I have some ideas, but I'm interested in what people say...

[kirku 1,358]

No - zero interest.

Have remarked to friends recently the same thing. It's a sign of how broken football is these days. How can our fans look at this team, understand the amount of money that would have to be spent to even get it remotely competitive in the PL, and then be excited for the prospect of another PL season?

Which teams have genuinely managed to establish themselves in the PL and start competing for European football?

Once upon a time, people would've pointed towards Stoke or Portsmouth..

[Midlands Yellow 4,682]

We’re certainly not a Portsmouth in terms of true support.That said, you'd expect more from the eighty per cent to be honest.

[Mason 47 1,924]

I'm not yet, but this has often been the case. It's usually around Wednesday/ Thursday that attention starts turning towards the weekend and the buzz it brings.

As to the wider fanbase, I think there were a number of 'dream' scenarios, one utter nightmare scenario and then the relative fizzle we ended up with. I would hope the resulting malaise will lift closer to the game on Sunday

[A K Narey 236]

I may be in the minority, but yes, I am excited about the play-offs. A chance to beat dirty Leeds and weekend in London for the Final.

If you cannot enjoy the good times, why bother with City at all?

OTBC 😁

[Robert N. LiM 6,282]

9 minutes ago, kirku said:

Have remarked to friends recently the same thing. It's a sign of how broken football is these days. How can our fans look at this team, understand the amount of money that would have to be spent to even get it remotely competitive in the PL, and then be excited for the prospect of another PL season?

Get this entirely. But as @A K Narey says - day out at Wembley? Not up for that?

[cambridgeshire canary 7,798]

Will get mocked for saying I don't enjoy watching us get spanked 5-0 every match and that the idea of promotion scares me so I'll keep my mouth shut 🙃

[S_81 1,101]

I have the same feeling approaching a major England game. I’m hopeful. But I’ve seen on too many occasions that the manager’s tactics have cost us success. Others celebrate the fact that we simply reached the play offs or a major tournament final / semi in the example of England. But I’m more concerned with the win, there’s no prize for losing.  And I feel it’s almost an inevitability that when it matters Wagner will tactically cost us the game. He still has not learnt that attack is our best form of defence. Nor has Southgate.  
 

As for the Premier League - I doubt highly that we’d be competitive. We certainly would not under his management. But I’ll take that year as the club needs it financially. 

Edited May 6 by S_81

[kdncfc 28]

Always excited to be in the play offs, tension and excitement like no other.

Brentford and Palace have been in the Premier League for a few years now, difference between them and us is they have had wealthier owners. Hopefully that is about to change.

Attansio and his associates may not pump endless millions into the club but if we get promoted I'd like to think he would fund deals for new players in lieu of the tv money we'd get from sky as the season progresses. That hasn't happened before as the owners have never had the money.

[yellowrider120 917]

10 minutes ago, S_81 said:

I have the same feeling approaching a major England game. I’m hopeful. But I’ve seen on too many occasions that the manager’s tactics have cost us success. Others celebrate the fact that we simply reached the play offs or a major tournament final / semi in the example of England. But I’m more concerned with the win, there’s no prize for losing.  And I feel it’s almost an inevitability that when it matters Wagner will tactically cost us the game. He still has not learnt that attack is our best form of defence. Nor has Southgate.  
 

As for the Premier League - I doubt highly that we’d be competitive. We certainly would not under his management. But I’ll take that year as the club needs it financially. 

Correct - twice in fact!

[Commonsense 802]

28 minutes ago, Robert N. LiM said:

Reading this board it seems very few of us are excited about the play-offs and a possible trip to Wembley. Most downbeat attitude to a possible promotion season that I can remember.

So, are you excited? And if not, why not? I have some ideas, but I'm interested in what people say...

Yes, but remember that this board is increasingly unrepresentative of fans. It’s largely filled with sad middle-aged and old men ( I’m beginning to sound like Webber), who are forever talking about the past. There are people on here who assume that using the word yellow or canary in their name makes them a fan, rather than actually supporting ( and watching) the team. Yes we’ve had some great times in the past but we need to always look at what’s coming up as well. There’s even a poster on this very thread comparing us to Portsmouth-a club who surpass the Binners in ripping off emergency services, taxpayers and local services. Fans aren’t ‘better’ because they are loud on occasion and have a **** with a bell. 

[yellowrider120 917]

3 minutes ago, Commonsense said:

Yes, but remember that this board is increasingly unrepresentative of fans. It’s largely filled with sad middle-aged and old men ( I’m beginning to sound like Webber), who are forever talking about the past. There are people on here who assume that using the word yellow or canary in their name makes them a fan, rather than actually supporting ( and watching) the team. Yes we’ve had some great times in the past but we need to always look at what’s coming up as well. There’s even a poster on this very thread comparing us to Portsmouth-a club who surpass the Binners in ripping off emergency services, taxpayers and local services. Fans aren’t ‘better’ because they are loud on occasion and have a **** with a bell. 

If that's a 'dig' at me then you need to try harder and get your facts right!

[FCC 94]

It all seems a bit pointless to me. Miserable for a weekend if we lose the playoffs, or miserable for a season if we go up.  

Noticed a fair number of empty seats as Brighton were on TV yesterday.  I wondered if the malaise is spreading.  If you support, Brighton, West Ham, Fulham, Palace - what is the point. Maybe a cup run, but you’re really in a League you can’t win.  You can’t build a team, as like us, your players will want more and be picked off by the super rich clubs.  Those that come up, go back down.

Leicester go up again with some financial shenanigans around them and no consequences.

Time the EFL treated the Premier like the breakaway league it is.  If you choose to go into the Premier, you can’t come back 

[Petriix 3,219]

I think I'm more apprehensive than excited. I think that Farke knows how to beat us and I'm not looking forward to the entitled Leeds fans celebrating. I know Leeds always fall apart under pressure, but I've got a sad feeling that they'll save their inevitable capitulation for Wembley. 

More than anything I know it's the hope that kills you. If I go in expecting defeat then I can only be pleasantly surprised if I'm wrong. Everything else aside, I do think we're the third best team in the playoffs. 

[Commonsense 802]

13 minutes ago, FCC said:

It all seems a bit pointless to me. Miserable for a weekend if we lose the playoffs, or miserable for a season if we go up.  

Noticed a fair number of empty seats as Brighton were on TV yesterday.  I wondered if the malaise is spreading.  If you support, Brighton, West Ham, Fulham, Palace - what is the point. Maybe a cup run, but you’re really in a League you can’t win.  You can’t build a team, as like us, your players will want more and be picked off by the super rich clubs.  Those that come up, go back down.

Leicester go up again with some financial shenanigans around them and no consequences.

Time the EFL treated the Premier like the breakaway league it is.  If you choose to go into the Premier, you can’t come back 

Worth remembering that every club you mention never won the league in the 100+ years before the prem either, so you may ask what has been the point since 1888, most of those are doing far better in the current era than they ever have before.

[ged in the onion bag 961]

20 minutes ago, S_81 said:

I have the same feeling approaching a major England game. I’m hopeful. But I’ve seen on too many occasions that the manager’s tactics have cost us success. Others celebrate the fact that we simply reached the play offs or a major tournament final / semi in the example of England. But I’m more concerned with the win, there’s no prize for losing.  And I feel it’s almost an inevitability that when it matters Wagner will tactically cost us the game. He still has not learnt that attack is our best form of defence. Nor has Southgate.  
 

As for the Premier League - I doubt highly that we’d be competitive. We certainly would not under his management. But I’ll take that year as the club needs it financially. 

Responding to this post rather than others as I get (and agree with some of what you're saying), Wagner for example, but you're probably removing your opportunities for any criticism of the club next season.... as are all the other positive fans...... can't see how fans can want promotion and then moan next year when (if) we get it.   I fear we will get embarrassed with a record defeat and fear we don't have the recruitment personnel in place to find the right players or the money to invest adequately.       

I expect us to beat Leeds for the reason they are a young team and under significant pressure which they might not be able to cope with at Elland Road.     That should be the case although I fear (as you suggest) that Wagner will hand them all the initiative and incentive they need through his negativity.   If the Watford, Middlesbrough and Leicester debacles occur again, his contract needs terminating before they get back on the coach. 

Personally, be good that they can get to the final and have a good showing but........... hopefully the loser takes all the money, that would be a good outcome to my mind.    I believe a promotion would not benefit us right now.....also the rules and VAR favour the better teams, the EPL has no integrity....    

 

 

[hogesar 10,762]

If fans aren't excited for the playoffs then I'd really have to question why those same fans spent 7 months complaining and whining on here and trying to get everyone sacked for not being good enough...

[Branston Pickle 4,149]

Just now, hogesar said:

If fans aren't excited for the playoffs then I'd really have to question why those same fans spent 7 months complaining and whining on here and trying to get everyone sacked for not being good enough...

The level of ‘meh’ness in some is quite bizarre - if things really are as iffy as people are making out, I don’t know why they are bothering.  

[GodlyOtsemobor 2,830]

Always excited for a promotion push. And/or a possible Wembley visit. 

The same people who aren't happy now would be the same people who wouldn't be happy if we now spent 5-10 years milling about in the chumps or worse. 

Yes the premier League is a  $hítshow and I absolutely hate the league, but I'm not for a million years going to turn my nose up at a promotion push. 

This is only our 3rd go at the play offs, the past two times were electric, we were sucking the ball into the net from the stands, I've never known anything like both of those finals, and to see the absolute drivel being spouted by people who think this is a bad situation really baffles my Swede. 

If people can't get themselves up for a battle in the stands for the playoffs then maybe they really need to question if going to football is for them anymore, move aside, let someone who can get up for it have a spot. 

I understand there's been a disconnect between club and fans for a few years, I've been apart of that disconnect, as many others have, I also very much understand football has changed dramatically in recent years which also adds to the disconnect in general, however, it's still a choice, you can choose to go, be miserable, not back the side ( however you feel about the squad and/or management ) and then feel defeated while others are celebrating, or you can decide to grow a pair, put your personal footballing angst aside and add to what should be one of the best atmospheres the carra has seen in many years and pull those player over the line! 

We CAN do this if we're all pulling the same way, and it'd be one of the most remarkable promotions we've ever managed. 

So excited? Absolutely. Bring it on. 

 

Edited May 6 by GodlyOtsemobor

[GJL Mid-Norfolk Canary 2,035]

IMO ,we had to avoid Leeds in these semi finals because I just dont see us overcoming them over 2 legs, second of which at Elland Rd

...however when I saw our apparant lack of urgency and desire to win the game on Saturday to get 5th place, I can only assume that those at the club dont share that view and are more relaxed about it

Lets see if my fears are unfounded

[Christoph Stiepermann 1,261]

Really excited and we've not fluffed up a genuine promotion challenge since 2001 so I'm quietly confident too. I'm not relishing the prospect of another PL relegation if we do go up but I want another season of watching Rowe and Sara and the competitive advantage of parachute payment for a couple of years to keep us near the top of this league if we go down so I'm just as desperate to win these games as I was the last play off campaign. 

[Robert N. LiM 6,282]

20 minutes ago, GodlyOtsemobor said:

We CAN do this if we're all pulling the same way, and it'd be one of the most remarkable promotions we've ever managed. 

So excited? Absolutely. Bring it on. 

Thought this was a great post

[Monty13 2,736]

Excited and nervous in equal measure. 

It’s a lottery but we have a ticket, it’s only three games and anything can happen.

To be honest the nervousness only comes from the thought that if we don’t go up what’s going to happen to this squad.

I don’t understand the lack of excitement, I went to Cardiff and saw us lose, but it was still amazing (right up to the penalties). Winning at Wembley last time is one of my favourite Norwich memories. 

Days like those unfortunately don’t come too often for our Club. I’m going to try and take my son if we get there and I can this year, he’s 6 but he may likely be an adult before I get another opportunity.

[Barham Blitz 869]

I'm excited - IF Wagner sets us up to play to our strengths (instead of his default trying to unsuccessfully park the proverbial bus against any team he views as a threat) then we stand a decent chance against any of the other three sides, none of whom are in dazzling form and all of whom have exploitable tactical flaws (much like ourselves.). Should be some exciting, nervy games across all five matches.

But that is a big if.

If you can't get excited about being in the playoffs - even if it leads to the masochistic delights of another season in the Premier League - then really just give it up.  The club needs it if we aren't to lose the players that currently make it worthwhile watching us in the Championship and really what else is there to look forward to ?

Edited May 6 by Barham Blitz

[Robert N. LiM 6,282]

57 minutes ago, Petriix said:

I think I'm more apprehensive than excited. I think that Farke knows how to beat us and I'm not looking forward to the entitled Leeds fans celebrating. I know Leeds always fall apart under pressure, but I've got a sad feeling that they'll save their inevitable capitulation for Wembley. 

More than anything I know it's the hope that kills you. If I go in expecting defeat then I can only be pleasantly surprised if I'm wrong. Everything else aside, I do think we're the third best team in the playoffs. 

Yeah, I think we're clear second-favourites against Leeds. I'm not expecting us to win. But I do think we have a chance. And I'd really like to see my team at Wembley.

[Monty13 2,736]

1 hour ago, cambridgeshire canary said:

Will get mocked for saying I don't enjoy watching us get spanked 5-0 every match and that the idea of promotion scares me so I'll keep my mouth shut 🙃

Don’t get this, yes we’ve failed multiple times but we also haven’t, and it’s not that old a memory.

Yes the PL sucks, but I’d rather see how we approach another opportunity to do one of the hardest things in football and survive than become a Championship nothing club.

It can be different this time. I don’t for a minute think if we make it to the PL that Attanasio and his group would ignore the opportunity.

As good as Farke was for us his way wasn’t suited to the PL, I’m excited to see something different, I’m not worried about the results.

Yea the likelihood is we’ll still fail but I’d rather see us attempt than not bother and hide in the Championship. The worst thing about our last two relegations was not that we got relegated or spanked, it’s that we failed to show any fight and compete for that 17th spot.

Who cares, new regime let’s try again.

[dylanisabaddog 6,138]

1 hour ago, cambridgeshire canary said:

Will get mocked for saying I don't enjoy watching us get spanked 5-0 every match and that the idea of promotion scares me so I'll keep my mouth shut 🙃

I agree to a point. But on the other hand I like to see us win and I think some of our players deserve a crack at it. There are lots of reasons to dislike the Premier League though and I can understand why some people don't want it. I've hated VAR since its inception and it's actually worse than I thought it would be. It sucks the life out of the game and recently we've seen examples of either incompetence at best or corruption at worse. 

Obviously if we are to have a decent crack at it we need someone competent to bring in players. The current bloke has given us a centre forward of League 1 standard at best and is now linked with a QPR player who has an appalling attitude problem. See the QPR forum for details but he makes TC sound like a committed club man in comparison. 

Anyone thinking our American owner is going to splash the cash is very wide of the mark. We're up to our eyeballs in debt after the last disastrous promotion purchases (and Covid) and he will simply see this as an opportunity to balance the books. 

As I type this a friend has messaged me to say the Daily Mail is reporting that the Premier League are trying to get out of the Manchester City case. I know it's the Daily Mail so it's probably wrong but it wouldn't surprise me one bit if just for once they've got it right. 

 

[SwindonCanary 457]

we should beat Brum,  at home ,' but the hard bit is holding on to the lead we have !

[hogesar 10,762]

45 minutes ago, GJL Mid-Norfolk Canary said:

IMO ,we had to avoid Leeds in these semi finals because I just dont see us overcoming them over 2 legs, second of which at Elland Rd

...however when I saw our apparant lack of urgency and desire to win the game on Saturday to get 5th place, I can only assume that those at the club dont share that view and are more relaxed about it

Lets see if my fears are unfounded

Ultimately both Leeds and Southampton have better squads than us and significantly better depth - in fact West Brom have more depth too.

So we are underdogs regardless. Its going to take something special regardless of opponent.

[cornish sam 1,040]

18 minutes ago, Barham Blitz said:

I'm excited - IF Wagner sets us up to play to our strengths (instead of his default trying to unsuccessfully park the proverbial bus against any team he views as a threat) then we stand a decent chance against any of the other three sides, none of whom are in dazzling form and all of whom have exploitable tactical flaws (much like ourselves.). Should be some exciting, nervy games across all five matches.

But that is a big if.

If you can't get excited about being in the playoffs - even if it leads to the masochistic delights of another season in the Premier League - then really just give it up.  The club needs it if we aren't to lose the players that currently make it worthwhile watching us in the Championship and really what else is there to look forward to ?

Thing is, he has absolutely no reason to set up like that. It really is **** or bust, in the league it's a different bottle of haddock...