Reassurance........what a difference a month makes!

[Dubai Mark]

It was the 27th January when I wrote my desperate post asking for some reassurance.......certainly a bit OTT at the time, BUT I was genuinely very concerned about things at our great club, particularly as I believed we had a cracking squad that was severely under performing........and had just seen a dire performance (even considering the injury situation) under our new "rookie" manager when I felt one of experience was needed!  (looking back we had only a couple of games before gone to the then league leaders and won....yep a bit of an over reaction, I must have had my man period or something) 

Now, even though it is not that many games since.....how things have changed!

It maybe still a honeymoon period or, "new manager bounce", but I dont think so......we do seem to be seeing the real deal in Alex Neil and we are now seeing what IS an excellent squad, set up brilliantly each game playing at or, close to its potential for the majority of each game, hence we are winning games, often comfortably.

Now......I am going the other way in terms of emotion and am genuinely feeling that we will go up automatically......and wouldnt discount going up a Champions.......I am serious!  Sure, still more twists and turns to come I know, but other than Derby I really dont see the others keeping up with us if we continue at this level!!  Absolutely stunning..............

 

[Beauseant]

Told you so!

 

[Monty13]

I was quite excited when we signed Neil, I was always dead against the signing of a "proven" manager at this level like you were suggesting. Proven just means failed elsewhere to me. I was hoping Neil would prove to be the exciting up and coming manager at our club that he was being touted as and his short record suggested.

I also think a lot of the criticism of the Brentford game was a little unwarranted considering how light we were in midfield and just how well they played that day.

Saying all that, I wouldn't have dared believe just how good he has proven to be since that day, I was quietly hopeful he would get us to the play-offs and the chance of promotion, I don't think anyone truly believed we would be knocking on the automatic spaces quite this soon or quite so hard!

I have always doubted when people say we have the strongest squad this season, just didn't look that way to me, but now I believe it. The last few games have shown that this squad, well organised and with good tactics, is a cut above the vast majority of what this division has to offer.

 

[Gorlestongirl]

Told you so!

. I'm also feeling quietly satisfied with how Neil is doing. I was optimistic at the time of his appointment because it was clear that Club had been tracking him for a while. What a breath of fresh air he is, and watching the contrast between his and McCarthy's demeanour yesterday only serves to underline that what we didn't need was one of the usual suspects.

 

[Dubai Mark]

I never had any doubt whatsoever from the start of the season about the strength of our squad, just list them down and next to their names add what level they have played, whether they are an international etc.....for the Championship its impressive (try doing the same for that rabble down the road). I even thought it was strong enough to gain success under a manager I had zero faith in (nothing personal with NA just felt that from the time he took over in the EPL)........I know, how strange!!

But clearly you do need both, and right now, the signing of Alex Neil appears to be a master stroke.

...and Beauseant.. you did tell me!!

 

[Yellow Fever]

My doubts about Neil when appointed were because his experience was as a player-manager with the team he had played for over 8 years. I wondered if he would be able to command the respect of our largely PL level squad. Well he certainly has, and not with emotional motivation, but with a strong emphasis on organisation and discipline that the players have bought into big-time as well as detailed preparation for each match to build into that organisation and discipline. I'm a believer now and even though there will be some struggles ahead, I think he's the man to deal with them.

 

[It's Character Forming]

Watching on Sky on Sunday they have a lot of close-ups of the managers.  MM for the scum was generally looking a bit vague and anxious (understandably).  AN has an extreme intensity and focus.

Also it doesn't hurt that without hair, he looks a bit older than someone who's just turned 30!

It's still early days, but I think it's extremely promising for us.

Can't take the game against Wigan tomorrow for granted, but I trust this manager to make sure the players will be focused.

 

[Private Fraser]

What a difference a month makes indeed. Since Alex left us at Hamilton we haven’t won a single game losing 7 and drawing 2, conceding 19 goals and scoring 3. On Saturday we lost to Saint Mirren who haven’t won at home since last May and in the second half two of our players nearly came to fisticuffs, while for the first time in years our fans were booing the player during the game. Our under 20’s Development Squad who had been on a 12 game winning run have now lost the last 3 out of four games and squandered a six point lead at the top of the Development League and our fans forum reads like the Battle of the Somme with cries of sack the board, sack the management team, sack most of the squad. Yes what  difference a month makes. Never mind I consoled myself by watching your derby game on Sunday. You never know what you’ve got till you’ve lost it  

 

[Moosheep]

What a difference a month makes indeed. Since Alex left us at Hamilton we haven’t won a single game losing 7 and drawing 2, conceding 19 goals and scoring 3. On Saturday we lost to Saint Mirren who haven’t won at home since last May and in the second half two of our players nearly came to fisticuffs, while for the first time in years our fans were booing the player during the game. Our under 20’s Development Squad who had been on a 12 game winning run have now lost the last 3 out of four games and squandered a six point lead at the top of the Development League and our fans forum reads like the Battle of the Somme with cries of sack the board, sack the management team, sack most of the squad. Yes what  difference a month makes. Never mind I consoled myself by watching your derby game on Sunday. You never know what you’ve got till you’ve lost it  

Hamilton's loss is most definitely Norwich's gain. Having a good manager poached sucks, and for that I sympathise, but can I commend you on the way you (and the few other Accies who have posted on here) have taken it. Make sure you let us know if you head south for the friendly this summer as I am sure there will be some hospitality on offer.

To get back to the original topic, it has been a great month. One of the best I can remember in fact. I was less sceptical at the appointment of AN than I was at the appointment of NA, but I still saw it as a risk. There were lots of questions to be answered by this unknown manager, but at least it appeared that the club had done its homework. I was not one of those up in arms after the Brentford game because you would be a fool to judge anyone in a new job after such a short period of time and we have to remember that it is still early days, but it is looking good isn't it. There is a buzz around the club and in my experience when you get that buzz good things happen. There are still a few games to go but I am starting to believe that automatic promotion is a real possibility. Its an exciting time to be a Norwich fan.

Moo

 

[Dubai Mark]

I like this board and the way its going, had I posted a similar OP on that "other board" it would have attracted all sorts of unnecessary comments, probable personal attacks and also undoubtedly some arguments between the usual suspects that have nothing to do with the topic. On here right now you get decent comments back, even if critical or not in agreement, and threads that are worth reading.

Anyway, I hadnt realised just what effect AN leaving Hamilton has had and sympathise with their fans as he does appear to be a bit special.....amazing that tonight we could go in to an automatic spot, BUT lets not under estimate Wigan, who "on paper" will be putting out a team technically and potentially better than the scum did on Sunday!  

 

[Yellow Fever]

You're right about this board, Mark. Good in-depth discussion without any of the slanging and such. I feared early on that this might be lost over time, but touch wood, it's still very much that way. 

As you also say, Wigan will be a test of our ability to maintain our consistency throughout the rest of the season, as will Millwall. 

 

[Din]

Just to reassure everyone even further, we are now mathematically safe from relegation.

 

[bloodwagon]

Wow I was really worried about relegation, glad thats clear now

 

[Dubai Mark]

Despite last nights result I am staying solid and not suffering any relapse

 

[bloodwagon]

We will STILL get 2nd come the end of season , have faith