It's fair to say that every conversation I've had with fellow City fans in the past week has had a theme to match the current miserable autumn weather.

Whether it be on WhatsApp groups, walking through the city at lunchtime, chatting over a cuppa after church or on social media, there's been an unrelentingly gloomy tone to the discussions.

We're not yet a third of the way through the campaign, and the season seems over for so many supporters.

Seven defeats in 10 games, 17th in the table and the joint highest number of goals conceded in the league.

The worrying statistics just don't stop and I could easily keep going.

And yes while I hate to go on about the lot down the A140, we have half the number of points they've got.

The Canaries can barely beat an egg at the moment, whereas the Blues seem unable to stop winning.

As Storm Ciaran blasts in this week, there seems an almighty storm of a different kind circling over Carrow Road.

Eastern Daily Press: It was another depressing day at Sunderland for Norwich fans

The script seems depressingly set for this Sunday's high noon, fireworks day, crunch clash with Blackburn.

It was against the Lancashire side that Dean Smith's time was basically up.

It will be exactly two years to the day that Daniel Farke was shown the door after the victory at Brentford.

Thinking back over those last 24 months, what have Norwich City actually achieved? Yes, I'm struggling to think too.

What is absolutely clear to reverse this malaise is that things have to change dramatically - and very quickly.

There's a mix of stagnation, toxicity and hopelessness hanging over the club, players, officials and fans.

In his post match press conference at the Stadium of Light, head coach David Wagner looked a beaten man.

The German normally exudes positivity and enthusiasm. His demeanour was so different on Saturday night.

Eastern Daily Press: Norwich City head coach David Wagner during the Sky Bet Championship match at the Stadium Of Light,

The club has said that Wagner will host Friday's pre-match press conference ahead of the Sky TV fixture so it seems very likely that he will be in the dugout come Sunday.

If things go wrong, there's no doubt that pressure will massively increase.

So where do we go from here?

For many months now we have known that Stuart Webber will be leaving to take up new adventures.

On Sunday morning there were national newspaper reports that he would be leaving within the next couple of weeks - and some time before Ben Knapper succeeds him as sporting director.

The club quashed that story and said Webber would be staying on until after Knapper starts on November 27 for a handover period.

That seems total nonsense to me. 

We are all crying out for new ideas and a fresh vision.

Lots of what Webber has done in his time at Norwich has been positive - but his time is well and truly up.

We want Knapper to provide a clean start. We don't want the former Arsenal loans manager to be handed over stale ideas.

We're told he's spending the month before he starts recharging his batteries and being with his family. 

I don't deny that's important, but surely at such a crucial time for his new employer, he must be in touch and already shaping his vision?

The growing number of City fans who now want a new head coach are being asked who they would prefer to replace Wagner.

That's not the job of supporters - it's the role of the man at the helm. And I would hope Knapper was asked that when he was interviewed.

Unless things change, City will have two sporting directors and four joint minority shareholders for a period.

How can that be good?

We're entering an absolutely critical period for our club. We need decisive leadership, clarity and vision.

Oh, and let's not forget that all those players - especially the really experienced ones - need to do their jobs and earn their very decent salaries.

OTBC.

Learn lessons from rugby

Before the Rugby World Cup started, if you had said there was going to be a Norfolk presence in the final, you would have assumed it would have been through our very own Freddie Stewart and Ben Youngs.

Sadly as England just fell short against South Africa, that didn't happen.

But once the referee was announced for the big game in Paris we had representation from someone with a local link.

Wayne Barnes studied at the University of East Anglia and I heard an interview with a friend at the weekend who said what he learned in Norwich put him in good stead to reach the pinnacle of officiating.

I'm not a massive rugby fan but really appreciate the job the whole refereeing team does in the sport. And what a tough task it is with so much going on.

Football can learn a lot from the way rugby is run.

There is a real clarity in the way the man in middle speaks to the players (I find it quite amusing that massive burly lads tower over the referee and yet call them "Sir" and do exactly as they are told).

Regular readers of this column will know that I'm very sceptical about VAR and yet TMO in rugby is so much more efficient.

Fans can see and hear all that is going and the decisions are quick and without the chaotic and confusing approach from VAR.

Come on football - take some tips from rugby.

Fans forgotten yet again

I'm getting a bit bored in this column complaining about how fans are being continually forgotten.

So many games are being scheduled at ridiculous times, especially late on midweek nights when supporters have to travel across the country.

In a new twist - which has really annoyed fans' groups - fixtures are being held on Christmas Eve for the first time for many years.

Wolves play Chelsea and Motherwell will take on Rangers on December 24. 

I suspect more games will be shifted to the day when the whole country is getting ready for Christmas - and there seems little doubt that in future years the number will grow further.

I'm sure the TV companies will argue that it gives a festive period treat to armchair fans with more games available to watch.

But what about all those who will be leaving their families, especially the away supporters?

We all know what public transport is like on Christmas Eve and with it being on a Sunday this year it can only make things worse.

Some clubs have complained and fans' representatives have had their say. However, their protestations have fallen on deaf ears.

There's a depressing familiarity to that. And if those who spend very hard earned money going to football matches continue to be ignored, they will eventually vote with their feet.