Along Come Norwich - Stuart Webber interview.

[ZLF]

Webber seems to have the squad structure and fans sussed already.   if he has the solutions as fast then we have  fun year to look forward to.

While i think safe standing would help i do think there is far more to it than just standing. Add that to the only area where there is already most (not all as too many suggest)  noise wont make the whole stadium more raucous.  We have certainly managed good atmospheres at fcr as an all seater stadia in recent seasons too.  And it must be at least 2 seasons since I was made to sit there anyway,  so its to all intense and purposes a standing area.   

For all the praise the barclay gets I watched the fulham game from block d/e lower barclay and too many fans were a negative embarrassment even before kick off, let alone after the early goal.  

For me an atmosphere is mainly created by the team, through performances and style,and supportive fans who want the best without an unresaonable level of expectation.   I have no doubt that even with safe standing this seasons atmosphere would have been the same level of *bleep*.

 

[Fenway Frank]

Surely Webber has noticed that our casual prices are a bit steep for your typical working class 21 year old though?

Completely disagree with this, a typical working class 21 year old will have more disposable income than most other age ranges. If they're saying they can't afford it then that's just an excuse for not coming. My neighbour has a 22 year old lad there that spends far more on booze than the monthly payment on my season ticket, if he had one more night at home that would pay for it easily.

 

[OldRobert]

I've put my tin hat on.....................the atmosphere in football grounds were destroyed the moment they put all those seats in.

I'll accept my ban humbly!

 

[hogesar]

The thing that keeps coming across from his multiple interviews is he's almost disgusted at our recruitment under Alex Neil. It's hard to disagree when you look at it on paper.

5 attacking midfielders but no contracted senior left-back is kind of the extreme example but goes to show how disjointed we've been and how poor we've been at recruiting, in particular, in defence.

 

[morty]

I've put my tin hat on.....................the atmosphere in football grounds were destroyed the moment they put all those seats in.

I'll accept my ban humbly!

Its a reasonable point, which is why the football associations need to get a move on with safe standing.

 

[Canaryboy]

The thing that keeps coming across from his multiple interviews is he's almost disgusted at our recruitment under Alex Neil. It's hard to disagree when you look at it on paper.

5 attacking midfielders but no contracted senior left-back is kind of the extreme example but goes to show how disjointed we've been and how poor we've been at recruiting, in particular, in defence.

Also quite telling about the state of our wage bill, sounds like he'd have been a bit more aggressive in trying to cut it upon relegation. I do think that means Ruddy off though, he's going to be on serious wonga but hasn't been able to hold down his place for two seasons. Some Premier League team will pay him well to be their number 2, to help towards their home grown player quota. 

Would love to see a list of player wages, in some countries salaries are a matter of public record. I think another level of transparency could be a positive thing in English football. Would certainly provide some context when it comes to expectations and performance, I think it would make people realise that Mick McCarthy has actually done an excellent job at Ipswich for example.

 

[Gaffer]

I'm really impressed by what Webber says and feel the coming refresh of the team is in safe hands. Changing the attitude of our supporters is going to be a real challenge though. Most of the stadium is full of people who just want to sit quietly, clap when a goal goes in and moan loudly whenever a player makes a mistake. Even the Barclay is full of people who want to be near the singing but are too timid or self-conscious to do it themselves. This whole 'the team have to give the fans something to cheer about' is bullshit. You look at a place like Crystal Palace and the fans are with the team from start to finish which creates an intimidating atmosphere that drives the players on and causes the opposition to slip up. At Carrow Road the away team know that it only takes 20 minutes of disciplined defensive football and the crowd will be on the backs on their own players. Who do you think that helps?

I think one solution is to have some sort of organised fan group that is recognised by the club, like the ultras on the continent. I think even Crystal Palace have something like that. Of course Norwich are never going to have an ultra group but there must be some people in the Barclay who would be prepared to step up.

 

[morty]

Nice one Gaffer, that sums the situation up for me perfectly. I see all too many people trotting out "Well why should we get behind them when they're rubbish"?

Which, of course, is the very time you actually need to give your team support.

 

[Canaryboy]

I think one solution is to have some sort of organised fan group that is recognised by the club, like the ultras on the continent. I think even Crystal Palace have something like that. Of course Norwich are never going to have an ultra group but there must be some people in the Barclay who would be prepared to step up.

Those Holmesdale Ultras at Palace started very small and it was a group of fans who wanted to fix the same problem, a bad atmosphere, since extended the size of the block and it has had the knock on effect of making the rest of the ground louder. So I do think it would be possible at Norwich. Do have to worry about whether such a group could ever become a bit too political though, Ultras on the continent are either left wing or right wing depending on club. 

 

[morty]

What started a few years ago as the Barclay End Project (Now called the Barclay end Norwich) is the genesis of such a thing. They used to go to the U23 games in a large group, and just start songs for 90 minutes, they are also advocates of safe standing. I believe they have had communication with the club regarding improving atmosphere. I think they are primarily in block D and E in the lower Barclay, and if you have been to home games and heard the extended chanting of "We are Norwich yellow army" then thats them.

If the club can buy into this, and market the lower Barclay to fans who want to sing and create atmosphere then we could really improve things. And it sounds like Webber could be interested in such a concept.

https://www.facebook.com/barclayendnorwich/

The rest of the South stand a bit shy, but you get the idea!

 

[Fenway Frank]

Shame that last chant never took off, " if we sway from side to side city's gonna win " ?

 

[OldRobert]

Shame that last chant never took off, " if we sway from side to side city's gonna win " ?

Isn't this the trouble that at a League match they'd be told to sit down, so swaying from side to side sitting down doesn't quite have the same effect.  Don't get me wrong I thought it was a good chant too..........

 

[morty]

Isn't this the trouble that at a League match they'd be told to sit down, so swaying from side to side sitting down doesn't quite have the same effect.  Don't get me wrong I thought it was a good chant too..........

No different to "Stand up if you hate the scum" I guess. I think its easier to turn a bit of a blind eye to the standing, if everyone in the block is fine with it. If it ruins someones view or enjoyment of the game then thats obviously not ideal. I have been to a few games this season in Block E in the lower Barclay, and stood for the entire game.

 

[morty]

Its quite amusing seeing just who is getting annoyed about this whole thing, and denying that there is a problem that exists. Surely people must want atmosphere at a game? Surely they couldn't be against changes to improve it? Whether or not you see it as a wider problem within football, whats wrong with addressing it at Norwich City? I think some people are taking this personally because they are part of the problem, rather than the solution.

When I first started going to Carrow road I used to sit in the old South stand, couple of rows back, right on the half way line. In the row in front of me there were three old ladies, guessing maybe in their 60's, who would have their knitting out and just natter through the whole game, barely even aware there was football going on. And thats fine, they were paying their money, its their choice. This epitomises the same issues we having now. Its great we have so many season ticket holders, but its basically like the whole of the City stand and the Main stand have reached retirement age together. Webber is right, we need change, and we need new blood.

 

[hogesar]

Thing is we've had quite a good atmosphere generally over recent years - if you compare it to other clubs at home with similar seasons to us, anyway.

I think this season has been poor but this is the first season I've really seen so much apathy towards some players. I don't agree with it, booing Martin's 300th appearance = not a Norwich fan in my book, but maybe i'm wrong. 

Regardless, whether it's accusations of laziness, not wanting to be here, not being good enough, that apathy hasn't existed in previous seasons. In relegations from the Prem fans have typically seen us giving it our all and maybe that hasn't come across as much this season.

When the relationship between fans and players is strained, the atmosphere always suffers.

 

[morty]

Thing is we've had quite a good atmosphere generally over recent years - if you compare it to other clubs at home with similar seasons to us, anyway.

I think this season has been poor but this is the first season I've really seen so much apathy towards some players. I don't agree with it, booing Martin's 300th appearance = not a Norwich fan in my book, but maybe i'm wrong. 

Regardless, whether it's accusations of laziness, not wanting to be here, not being good enough, that apathy hasn't existed in previous seasons. In relegations from the Prem fans have typically seen us giving it our all and maybe that hasn't come across as much this season.

When the relationship between fans and players is strained, the atmosphere always suffers.

I agree, I go away a fair bit, and our home atmosphere stands up with most others I see. The Russel Martin thing was utterly ridiculous, and petulant. I think the issue is over expectation with a dose of self entitlement thrown in. Everyone talked us up to go back up automatic, and people bought into it, big style. I think people got it into their heads, after the Lambert glory years, that we would just keep improving and improving. But that really is quite naive, and relegation brought a lot of very fickle fans, back down to earth with a bump. Our record at Carrow road has been excellent, and we have had some amazing football on show, yet some of our fans choose to moan and groan, berate our young players and boo our captain. A lot of these "fans" have arrived at the game tripping over their lip and just waiting to get on someones back.

Some of them seriously want to sort their attitude out, and if this is what being in the Premiership for a few seasons has done to them then I'd rather stay in the Championship. Suddenly they see the big fancy clubs with their fancy foreign owners, and start pouting because they can't have it.

I am proud of who and what Norwich City are, and how we do things, I don't want to be Stoke, Swansea, Southampton or Bournemouth. I want our identity and the things that make this club unique.

The biggest disconnect hasn't been between the fans and the club, but the fans and reality.

 

[rbf]

I agree, I go away a fair bit, and our home atmosphere stands up with most others I see. The Russel Martin thing was utterly ridiculous, and petulant. I think the issue is over expectation with a dose of self entitlement thrown in. Everyone talked us up to go back up automatic, and people bought into it, big style. I think people got it into their heads, after the Lambert glory years, that we would just keep improving and improving. But that really is quite naive, and relegation brought a lot of very fickle fans, back down to earth with a bump. Our record at Carrow road has been excellent, and we have had some amazing football on show, yet some of our fans choose to moan and groan, berate our young players and boo our captain. A lot of these "fans" have arrived at the game tripping over their lip and just waiting to get on someones back.

Some of them seriously want to sort their attitude out, and if this is what being in the Premiership for a few seasons has done to them then I'd rather stay in the Championship. Suddenly they see the big fancy clubs with their fancy foreign owners, and start pouting because they can't have it.

I am proud of who and what Norwich City are, and how we do things, I don't want to be Stoke, Swansea, Southampton or Bournemouth. I want our identity and the things that make this club unique.

The biggest disconnect hasn't been between the fans and the club, but the fans and reality.

Well said morty, I agree totally, you´ve described the situation perfectly as far as I can see, and it has to be said, that I only see it from afar, but nevertheless. I´ve thought for several seasons that our supporters have become too demanding, too critical, and too intolerant of the slightest thing, and I thought Webber´s reference to the importance of fans at games was very pertinent to the situation we have here. One thing´s for a sure, our fans  will have to get off their high horses even more next season, when the likelihood is,  we will be blooding several more young players into the squad - if they don´t start to show a bit more tolerance, they´ll destroy them.

 

[rbf]

 If this is what being in the Premiership for a few seasons has done to them then I'd rather stay in the Championship. Suddenly they see the big fancy clubs with their fancy foreign owners, and start pouting because they can't have it.

Funnily enough, I made exactly the same point on the not606 forum quite a while ago now, and got hauled over the coals for it then  :lol:  -  how dare I show such little ambition ? etc, etc. Fact is, most fans have got far too much ambition for their own good, sprinkled with far too little reality, or in some cases, no reality at all. With the set-up and structure we have at the Club, a yo-yoing existence is about the best we can ever hope for in today´s ridiculously inflated environment, which can sustain us for a few years, but which will at some point ( like now) necessitate a longer spell in the Championship to rebuild the squad ready for another attempt.

 

[morty]

Oh don't get me wrong, I want success. I want Norwich City to be the very best they can be. But I want us to remain Norwich City, and not some bland Premiership cash cow. Faceless and totally disconnected from the fans, and more interested in what Sky PLC wants us to do.

 

[rbf]

Oh don't get me wrong, I want success. I want Norwich City to be the very best they can be. But I want us to remain Norwich City, and not some bland Premiership cash cow. Faceless and totally disconnected from the fans, and more interested in what Sky PLC wants us to do.

I´d go along with that morty, but in today´s climate, I seriously fear that the ´best we can be´,  is what we have been seeing for the past decade or so - yo-yoing, and with each passing season, the chance of that ever changing or becoming something better, diminishes.