It’s been another week at Carrow Road. I thought I’d summarise it by listing all the concrete news about the new head coach search and transfers in and out now that the transfer window – more of a cat flap – has opened.
.
.
.
Well, that’s the news done!
What we do have, of course, is a series of well-sourced shout-outs from the Pink’Un boys. I mentioned last week that Paddy clearly had a semi-official source at Carrow Road. Last week, a list of head coaches on the short list; this week, several players City are said to be ‘aware of’.
To me, the least surprising aspect is the imminent appointment of Liam Manning as head coach and, we are told, his backroom team. He always seemed the most likely candidate.
Hopefully, there won’t be a next time, but this will be the second time that Knapper has interviewed a variety of candidates in the name of ‘due diligence’ only to resort to his first choice.
Word will spread that an interview for the City job is akin to the dreaded ‘vote of confidence’ from the board.
For what it’s worth, I think Manning seems to be a pretty steady pair of hands. His football is based on a philosophy, and he’s not wedded to a particular ‘system’ to achieve it.
He seems to start from the back with defensive solidity and then go from there, manna to the ears of the City faithful, given the Keystone Kops nature of the last two seasons’ defences.
Of the players mentioned, Thyrese Dolan is the only one I have heard of, I’m afraid. I thought he’s looked pretty useful whenever I’ve seen him play, and he’s only 24. He could make a decent replacement for the departing Onel Hernandez.
Speaking of whom, everyone’s favourite Cuban (unless you have a penchant for 1980s dictators) has resumed his social media ‘onslaught’ against the former City coach.
I say onslaught – allow me a little license! This week, he’s been saying that he didn’t feel that the fitness regime at Colney was strict enough and that he never felt match-fit or conditioned.
This could be the reason for City’s soft centre.
The high-tempo gegenpress that JHT wanted to deploy requires the highest levels of fitness from the players, but given his lack of knowledge of the Championship, is it too much of a stretch to guess that Thorup and Glen Riddersholm may have underestimated the rigours of the league?
To stretch it further, could it be the reason for so many impact injuries, with tired and under-strength players not able to hit the tackles hard enough?
All pure speculation – but let’s hear what your thoughts are.
Away from the football, I’ve been indulging in my second sport of Formula 1, with a visit to Barcelona for the Spanish Grand Prix.
You may have seen the scorching weather, and the crowd of over 300,000 enjoyed a great race.
The circuit itself is wonderful, with elevation changes and lots of shady areas to protect the crowd from the extremes of heat.
What does this have to do with Norwich City?
It’s that old blight again. People who pay good money to attend a sporting fixture and then leave before the end.
The procession started with 20 laps to go and continued unabated even during the excitement of the late safety car, which saw the race turned on its head for Max Verstappen. (Oh dear. How sad.)
Given the climate, though, I can well understand the lure of a return home for Borja Sainz, rather than another round of Championship winter fixtures.
So, given the paucity of concrete stories to talk about, I’ll direct you all to Lonestar this week, who sing a song called “No News”.