The other Norwich comparison is them in 2019/20. While we finished 9th, they started the season spending far less than us, with an expectation they were likely to head straight back down, and as the losses kept coming there was a familiar sense of confusion in the media why the club weren’t pulling the trigger and instead were willing to accept what was happening. They went down with 21 points in the end. The following season (prior to the one mentioned in the piece), they’d kept Farke in post, had to sell Godfrey & Lewis for big money to ease the financial pressures of relegation – they won the division easily in the end.
It is mentally tough to go from a league where we’re used to winning regularly to then be pummelled weekly. But if we’re seriously about doing things differently and valuing Hecky’s overall contribution to the club beyond just the first team results, we have to appreciate that changing a manager could mean that rather than be relegated and fighting for the autos next season we could be relegated and go through a difficult rebuild. It’s a really difficult sell, but we need to be thinking about where we want the club to be in 2025/26 with the decisions we make this season.
This isn’t also to say that Hecky is immune from any criticism – once he got settled into the job after he took over from Wilder, we were not as easy to push over as we have been in recent weeks. He needs to get back to that - it can’t have just been down to Jason Tindall’s input surely. I don’t think anyone is suggesting we tear everything up and play a completely different way, but there have to be alternatives he can explore than don’t leave us as exposed at the back.
Your sensible comments tick all my boxes – I have to just nod and agree with not acting out of panic; keeping the experience and skills that got us here in the first place; and letting Paul Heckingbottom be entrusted with (at least) the next six months, because I truly believe that no one else could do any better in the current situation.
I don’t like the Premier League at all, mostly for the inequality reasons you’ve written about. The only positive is the money it offers which will stand us in good stead even if (when) we are relegated. I really enjoy Championship football, where things are much more (‘scuse the pun) on a level playing field. What I miss most of all is attending one match – or even two most weeks, apart from International Breaks. For those of us who can’t get to away matches, it’s a real treat to go to a Home match at least every other week, but look at just now – a whole month between the last and the next Home matches! Chris Wilder used to say “Sat’dy/Tuesd’y” was a good rhythm to get into and with that I have to agree!
So yes, at least give PH time to take it from here.
Excellent article Sam. Completely agree with all u say. Having managed to get Arsenal away tickets am just going to enjoy the Premier League ride and be with the Blades if relegated unlike all those fans who left early after Newcastle game👍UTB
That’s very good,
Great to read some utter common sense , thanks
Brian ⚔️
Cheers Brian. I hope it is common sense! In many ways, I'm quite hopeful that this is how the "top-brass" see the situation.
The other Norwich comparison is them in 2019/20. While we finished 9th, they started the season spending far less than us, with an expectation they were likely to head straight back down, and as the losses kept coming there was a familiar sense of confusion in the media why the club weren’t pulling the trigger and instead were willing to accept what was happening. They went down with 21 points in the end. The following season (prior to the one mentioned in the piece), they’d kept Farke in post, had to sell Godfrey & Lewis for big money to ease the financial pressures of relegation – they won the division easily in the end.
It is mentally tough to go from a league where we’re used to winning regularly to then be pummelled weekly. But if we’re seriously about doing things differently and valuing Hecky’s overall contribution to the club beyond just the first team results, we have to appreciate that changing a manager could mean that rather than be relegated and fighting for the autos next season we could be relegated and go through a difficult rebuild. It’s a really difficult sell, but we need to be thinking about where we want the club to be in 2025/26 with the decisions we make this season.
This isn’t also to say that Hecky is immune from any criticism – once he got settled into the job after he took over from Wilder, we were not as easy to push over as we have been in recent weeks. He needs to get back to that - it can’t have just been down to Jason Tindall’s input surely. I don’t think anyone is suggesting we tear everything up and play a completely different way, but there have to be alternatives he can explore than don’t leave us as exposed at the back.
Thanks Sam,
Your sensible comments tick all my boxes – I have to just nod and agree with not acting out of panic; keeping the experience and skills that got us here in the first place; and letting Paul Heckingbottom be entrusted with (at least) the next six months, because I truly believe that no one else could do any better in the current situation.
I don’t like the Premier League at all, mostly for the inequality reasons you’ve written about. The only positive is the money it offers which will stand us in good stead even if (when) we are relegated. I really enjoy Championship football, where things are much more (‘scuse the pun) on a level playing field. What I miss most of all is attending one match – or even two most weeks, apart from International Breaks. For those of us who can’t get to away matches, it’s a real treat to go to a Home match at least every other week, but look at just now – a whole month between the last and the next Home matches! Chris Wilder used to say “Sat’dy/Tuesd’y” was a good rhythm to get into and with that I have to agree!
So yes, at least give PH time to take it from here.
Sue.
Excellent article Sam. Completely agree with all u say. Having managed to get Arsenal away tickets am just going to enjoy the Premier League ride and be with the Blades if relegated unlike all those fans who left early after Newcastle game👍UTB