Norwich City could face relegation fight next season

What was the point when you knew any vague hope of going into the end of term lottery were gone?

Depending on your level of optimism as a Norwich City fan, it may have only been after Saturday's catastrophically grim 3-0 loss to Russ Martin's Swansea.

Perhaps (like me) it was when David Wagner's men failed to beat a QPR side which had been on a wretched run of form.

Others may have given up on any hope of promotion some time earlier than that.

Yes, I know that with two games to go there is a still a mathematical chance of the Canaries getting into the top six.

Such is the indictment of this very strange league in a bizarre season, although City are 11th, they are only three points out of the play off spots.

But let's face it, there's probably as much chance of me being called off the bench to be a late sub to be crowned at next week's Coronation than there is of Norwich's season being extended beyond the Blackpool home game. (Actually, there's a certain ring about King Ian I.....).

Even if somehow City can get a win at play off hopefuls West Brom on Saturday teatime and then secure a victory in Teemu Pukki's bank holiday Monday farewell party, the team will still only be on 68 points.

That - as plenty of people have pointed out this week - will still be two points fewer than the total which sparked the major changes at Carrow Road and a certain Stuart Webber coming through the front door six years ago.

If the current form continues, any more points this term will be a struggle.

The Baggies are still in the hunt for the play-offs and Blackpool could still have a chance of surviving on the last day of the campaign.

Norwich appear to barely able to beat an egg at the moment.

A glance at the form table over the last nine games shows the Canaries are third from bottom in the Championship.

Wagner's team have only won once, with four draws and four losses and they have a goal difference of -7.

Only Rotherham and Reading are more out of form in that period.

I hate to be so gloomy, but there is currently no momentum or cohesion or confidence in the City set up.

We're seeing no leadership or belief.

I stayed to the end on Saturday. Don't ask me why.

There were no more 10,000 others still in the ground when the final whistle went. At least we got home quicker as most of the traffic had long gone.

The boos when the referee put us out of our misery were muted, mainly because so few were left. There's also a depressing numbness among City fans too.

So what's the plan when this wretched campaign finally ends?

That's the multi-million pound question.

We simply have to hear from sporting director Stuart Webber. He has to allow himself to be properly put under scrutiny by journalists and not asked pre-agreed questions by a member of the club's in-house media team.

He has to take responsibility for what has happened in this dreadful period.

Calls for him to leave are getting louder and louder. Even the top deck of the River End joined in chants on Saturday.

My personal view is that it's time for a clean start. 

Webber has achieved a huge amount in his time in NR1, especially in those early seasons.

But we're in a very different place now. And there has to be a major reset.

If that doesn't happen, I really think City could be scrapping at the wrong end of the table next year rather than challenging to go up.

All three teams who come down from the Premier League will be strong.

I hate to say it, but a certain bunch of Blues from down the A140 look in fine shape.

That proud 14 year boast of not losing to the Tractor Boys will be very much under threat.

Let's be honest, if we played them today who would in any way fancy winning?

There will also be lots of other clubs who have been in an around the play offs this season who look much more equipped than we do.

It's a fact that City are only 19 points above the relegation zone and yet are 33 points behind champions Burnley.

You don't need a long memory to recall City's last fall into the third tier.

And we could be in danger of flirting with the same fate if those in control don't act on the massive wake-up call from this dreadful campaign.

Great away day

For various reasons, last week's trip to Loftus Road was my first away game since that never to be forgotten FA Cup victory at Spurs just before the pandemic kicked in.

When we booked the tickets a few weeks ago, there was certainly a considerable amount more optimism around than there was as we mingled with hundreds of fellow fans in the Bellushi's and Sindercombe Social away pubs before kick off.

Unfortunately the match itself was sadly forgettable.

But the day was salvaged by a great time with my son Tom and good mate Andy and other aspects of what makes away days special (a few people joked that 90 minutes of action spoils a great trip).

Tom lives in London, so we had some special time together and then met Andy for some thoroughly enjoyable drinks in the warm spring sunshine by the river.

As we made our way to the ground, we met up with lots of familiar faces and had a good old yap.

I'm sure lots of supporters are like me and have a pretty rigid routine for home matches.

When you to travel to games, things are different and there's more of a buzz and less predictability.

It will certainly not be three more years until my next away day.

Set piece puzzle

There's been lots of debate among the City faithful this season about set pieces.

Far too many goals have been conceded from free kicks and corners and too little impact has been made from them at the other end of the pitch.

For a club which had a set piece coach, things really should have been a lot better.

One of my gripes when defending corners - and it was particularly evident during the QPR game - is why City bring all 11 players back in our box.

Surely when playing a team which had been struggling so badly, there has to be more confidence?

I can't understand why we don't leave at least one player up - which would almost certainly mean the opposition would keep two back.

It's so frustrating when a corner is cleared up the pitch to know that the opposition will get the ball straight back as there is no player in yellow and green there to challenge for it.

If someone can explain to me why this strategy is in place I'd be very interested to hear it.