Interesting thoughts on Thorup and his 'style' and about the current group of players. I'm remaining in a (diminishing?) camp who thinks we've a few good / decent players. I'm even still a Crnac supporter despite the dog's abuse he gets on the other forum. The one who feels a poor signing is Medic and on other fans forums they did warn he was slow. I'm still to be convinced about Diallo and Forson who appear maybe too slight for the Championship. But we will see. I could see Diallo evolve definitely and we have missed him.
My main gripe remains that this manger isn't getting anywhere near the best out of them. They look so lacking in confidence. Reading Huckerby's comment yesterday and he said something along the lines of "I just get the ball and I'm running at the defender. No question, no second thought, I'm attacking him..." And that's the issue for me...players look fearful of expressing themselves. They play the safest pass - seemingly for fear of losing the ball. That HAS to be a coach thing. McLean was the most adventurous yesterday - but possibly because of his experience. Not that he had a brilliant game. Newer, younger players are yet to find the space (and permission) to express themselves. That's my take. And when I watch and hear the manager I sort of see why.
It's a terrible watch and Knapper has brought in a very safe coach it seems to me...just not in a Norwich City tradition. So, looking back on Thorup does feel a step up. Hell, even Dean Smith looks a step up. I don't believe Manning can change either. I agree with a comment made elsewhere that perhaps he needs a year out of the game to grieve and not try and achieve a difficult process by being a football manager and essentially trying to forget about it by structuring his time that way. Even though that's what people tend to do in life.
I wish him no ill and even feel a bit sorry for players who look better suited to a Thorup team than one of his. I'm convinced they were scouted a year before for Thorup.
But, Manning isn't the right fella for us. And never was. Just what Knapper's 'due diligence ' and lengthy recruitment process told him I don't know. There must have been some flags waving. He looks a troubled bloke in the interviews to me. Everything is downcast...players reflect their boss. Then I look at the likes of Lampard currently and of course I think of Warnock teams and how he set them up in his unique way
Sorry to all for a long post. I suppose I've nothing much else to say now at least so better stfu. All I feel I can do personally is just wait and hope that this little phase in Norwich City history is brief and passes over very soon...and using a mixed weather/football metaphor, we get a dramatic change in season soon.
