City in decent fettle but has Alex missed a trick by not refreshing a squad that has tasted failure?
3rd October 2016 By Matthew Howman 19 Comments
After City's good win on Saturday – and it was a good win – I'm loathe to bring up the capitulation on Tyneside, but was intrigued by a stat used by a commentator on last Wednesday's game. It got me thinking about the different paths both Norwich and Newcastle have taken since relegation.
Rafa Benitez has reportedly ousted 31 players that were part of the disappointing relegation side of 2015/16 and just three players remained from the side that beat us 6-2 last season. In contrast to this, eight of City's first eleven in Wednesday's fixture were part of the side that lost that game.
Last season, when Norwich were struggling down the bottom end of the table, it became an all too familiar scenario because our squad had barely changed from the last time we found ourselves there. Our marquee signing, Robbie Brady was also poached from a side, Hull City, that had been relegated.
I am less confident commenting on the subject of transfers because it is becoming more obvious that it's a market where there's less authenticity than Del Boy's latest get-rich-quick scheme but we are at a point where our squad is littered with players that have suffered relegation on more than one occasion (and under different managers).
The obvious answer is that they're not good enough.
Fans will always form attachments to their favourite players and would hate to see them leave the club but there is seldom any loyalty that runs the other way. If a player knew he could get a better deal elsewhere there are perhaps only rare examples of where he would rather stay at their current club – that's football.
The way the game works is every man for himself and loyalty is just a word – agents, players, managers all know this and most will always be on the look-out for a better deal.
So what could we have achieved if we have sold a bulk of players and reinvigorated the team?
In all reality, this season it won't make a great deal of difference. The Newcastle game underlined our defensive woes when Timm Klose isn't in the side and put Alex Neil's game management tactics into the spotlight but over the course of the season our players will be absolutely fine.
As Rafa says, they're comfortable being the "head of the mouse".
It was last season where the problems lie. Again, we are beginning to see how the transfer market is a more complex area to navigate than we perhaps thought but when we failed to breathe new life into a squad that had already been relegated two seasons previous we were setting up to fail.
This year, in an almost a carbon copy of the last time we came down from the Premier League, we have one of the strongest teams and should find ourselves pushing for promotion come the end of the seson. Yet that seems to be the limit for these players – the head of the mouse. Not the tail of the lion and nowhere near the body.
City will not progress as a club and solidify their status as a Premier League club until they replace the Seb Bassongs, the Russell Martins and the Alex Tetteys. They're all players that can look great in the Championship – and fans with short memories will begin to believe in them again – but they can't be retained if we get promoted again.
We need to create a team environment that doesn't look over the shoulder; that doesn't know what relegation feels like; that doesn't know what it's like to throw away games throughout the season and not have the ability to bounce back.
Reading this it will come across as wholly negative but the key point I'm trying to make is that long-term, the management of the squad over the past few years has failed.
We can clearly beat most sides in the Championship and with the squad at hand there's no doubt they will be pushing for promotion, but there's something about the current set of players that can't make the transition into competing in the Premier League.
Rafa was more than happy to clear out the squad and create a winning environment. There's the short-term problem of losing a few games as the players have to learn their team-mates strengths and weaknesses and the tactics and style of Benitez but the long-term benefit is that Newcastle will be much better off if they get promoted. They'll have a team ready to compete from day one.
Promotion is a long way off as yet and at the end of the season it might not come but it's time now to kill off that relegation culture that resides within the squad and reinvigorate a club that should at the very least be the tail of the lion.
Filed Under: Column, Matthew Howman
3rd October 2016 at 7:52 am
Finally. Part of the common sense based article that all the others aren't astute enough to write. There is far more to it, like the fact Neil is too weak and we are too poor (which is another very interesting point when you dig into board related dividends) but this is a good start. I've said all along those who see relegation as their main course should have gone in the summer for long term gain. Newcastle will pick up momentum and beat us to the title and then stay up. We won't and Neil's tenure will have been another step back.
Newcastle had buyers for the many players who wanted to leave. Even if Alex Neil wanted to offload certain players he can't if theyre on too generous contracts and dont want to go (eg Turner, Laffety).
This squad is well suited for promotion but is clearly too weak to survive in the Premier. But one stage at a time – if we get promoted hopefully the recruitment team can then finally get their act together.
Am not sure this is at all relevant at this moment in time. Should we get promoted then I don't suppose for one moment AN will be relying on the SBs,RMs and ATs ! We all know how difficult it can be to attract players to the rural outpost that is Norwich so no, a trick hasn't been missed. AN has brought in and helped develop some promising youngsters to add to the relegated brigade to compete in the championship and has a good balance of motivated players to work with. Aside from a couple of minutes of madness ( time we accepted this freak result ) we would be sitting top with 26 points ahead of Newcastle on 19 points and maybe you wouldn't be lauding Benetiz philosophy of replacing the Newcastle team. £60 million certainly hasn't done much for Villa. AN is doing a great job competing with the players he has at his disposable. We know that some of the players you mention are not necessarily here by choice but probably havn't been moved on because we failed to replace them, that happens in the uncertainty of a transfer window when every team is trying to strengthen.
"Jeff" (1) – If you're so unhappy with the general thrust and direction of this site please remember there is a guest blog slot on here awaiting your thoughts.
Surely better to collate your angst into 800 words rather than chip in every time you read something positive (which clearly makes your blood boil).
The offer's there. My email is lgr_webwriter@btinternet.com..
I understand the points made in the article, but they seem a bit strangely directed.
We have a squad which is judged by every commentator outside Norwich as a strong one for the Championship, and no-one outside the Canary faithful is surprised to see us in the top two. Given our lack of a super-rich owner, that's quite a feat after relegation. We may once again buck the trend and bounce straight back to the Premier League.
Your assertion "The obvious answer is that they're not good enough" must relate to our ability to thrive in the top flight, and few would disagree. But surely that's an indictment of our business in summer 2015 following promotion, rather than now?
In our financial situation, there's no way that we could put together a PL squad at the moment. Our best achievement – and it WOULD be an achievement – is to go up again. Then the test, as other responses suggest, will be to do better than last time with the promotion dividend.
I'd love to be a fly on the wall in the room when Jeff (1) tells AN to his face that he's 'too weak'.
But I'd also like to see the above article written with Villa as the comparison instead of Newcastle. Or Cardiff and Fulham, with whom we were relegated before.
I'm not so sure either that the current Newcastle team is ready to consolidate in the Prem, which seems to be the implication.
Alex Gregory says
Our premier league squad was missing a couple of decent strikers and a couple of decent centre backs, its the same now.
unthank says
3rd October 2016 at 10:07 am
I too was underwhelmed by the transfer activity in the summer but at least the Board have started the process of refreshing the squad and reducing their average age. I am so pleased that Pritchard was signed to replace Wes – and Maddison may even prove to be better than that. Louis (not a new signing) deserves a few games too.
We've seen the distraction of players (Lafferty) who rate themselves but show no sign of being good enough to cement a first-team place. Add to that the likes of Bassong, Turner, Ruddy, (Naismith?), etc. who are hardly going to move for the lower salaries they can now command, and there is potential for an "awkward squad" of big personalities to develop, which will not help.
I remain, however, concerned about AN's team selection, particularly in Defence. Ryan Bennett should be partnering TK whenever possible, they have looked by far the best central defensive partnership we have. I don't believe that having RM in to help out Ivo, or to provide leadership, is worth it.
That said I think our squad depth and a couple of canny purchases in January should get us over the line. We have, after all, one of the best managers in this division!
Keith B says
Thanks for this Matthew. You remind us how this squad is full of relegated players – that is, players relegated from the Premier League (and, in Wes's case, from the Championship, once).
But you forget to mention it is also full of players that have been promoted from the Championship, some more than once.
I know what you are trying to say, and if we get promoted I think we all know that to stay up several of those who have shown they cannot quite bridge the gap will need replacing. Whether we can cough up the wages to attract better players remains to be seen.
Yes, there is a certain mindset that comes with relegation and nobody should underestimate the draining effect mentally of a long relegation campaign, even if you survive in the end. That I'm sure is one reason relegated teams often make a slow start. If they don't change their personnel there's a hangover; if they do, they have to learn to play together.
For now we have a squad that looks capable of being in the mix come May, many of whom know how to win this division. And so far we have yet to see much of fresh faces in Canos, Oliveira and Pritchard – it will be very surprising if they don't have a part to play in time, especially if we can keep our cup run going.
I was quite happy with the lack of transfer activity – i.e. failure to sell Klose, Olsson, Brady and Naismith. Why do people forget that "transfer activity" is both in and out?
And I really look forward to your guest column Jeff's. I'll be particularly interested to know what you mean by:
"… and we are too poor (which is another very interesting point when you dig into board related dividends)"…
Mick Dennis says
3rd October 2016 at 1:33 pm
We did try to significantly refresh the squad, but couldn't move people out. Villa had more success with that. Yet you choose to compare us, not with them, but with Newcastle.
And, of course, the Murphys, Pritchard, McGovern, Canos, Nelson and Maddison are new this season and not familiar with relegation.
darren says
A Good piece.
With Norwich City there are always as many questions as answerers, both on and off the pitch.
The squad is one of those.
We have the luxury of having quite a large – and pretty equal – squad. Can you ever have a squad that is too big? Well, this season I think the answer is 'Yes' and that is down to Alex Neill.
Some managers use the squad – Paul Lambert was an absolute master – keeping everyone guessing until the last minute and having the knack of keeping all the players onside. Alex Neill is generally more traditional i.e the players keeps the shirt until his form dips, which means there are not too many changes from game to game – if at atall.
Arguably there is no right and wrong and the table doesn't lie, but if a manager doesn't use the squad (exclude cup game here) than can he justify the board to spend when money is tight?
Post Lambert, I've always argued that it isn't what money Norwich spend or do not spend, it is how it is used. I feel that we would be better of financially and on the pitch in the longer term if we had a slightly smaller, but higher quality squad. This would be more effective in my view.
If we did go up – and that is a big if – the squad would need a substantial overhaul as we know there are quite a few player that are proven not to cut it at EPL level. If not, I may be writing this email again in two year time… 🙂
Mike C says
Not certain of the premise of comparing Alex Neil's transfer activity with that of a newly arrived Benitez at Newcastle who is clearing out players he doesn't know and bringing in new ones, partly funded by the sale of, particularly, Sissoko for £30m.
AN knows his squad and was able to hang onto those he wanted, who will do a good job in this league. Trouble is, the sort of players we would like to buy (and their agents) are looking for the best (monetary) deal for them and we are not prepared to bankrupt ourselves to compete.
Our ventures into expensive (for us) players have not gone well – Ricky, Naismith – and it may be that we will have to carry on in the same way for the foreseeable future.
My crystal ball tells me that, whatever else might happen, and however much they might have spent, three clubs will be relegated from the Premier League at the end of this season.
Another three clubs currently in the Championship will replace them. We need to be one of those three and with the squad we have there is every reason that we should.
I agree with Keith B (9), come on Jeff spill the beans what is your issue with "board related dividends"? What dark and sinister dealings do you suspect have been going on?
Andy B says
Don't forget that Newcastle sold players to the tune of 85m before going on their shopping spree where they picked up Gayle who couldn't get in Palace's first team and Ciaran Clark (a guy who was hardly used to that winning feeling) from Villa. I would be amazed that either will be first 11 picks if Newcastle get promoted.
They like us have a very good Championship squad that will compete this season. If they do go up it will be interesting to see what happens to some of their squad next season.
As for our squad, the contracts for Turner, Ruddy, Bassong, Bennett, Olsson, Whittaker, Mulumbo and Laffety all expire June 2017 (if the web is correct) which should allow more flexibility during next summers transfer window irrespective of what division we are in next season.
After re-reading the comments: Jeff (1) Do tell what you've found by 'digging into board related dividends'. No director has taken a penny from the club in the Smith n Jones era. No digging needed. It's all in the accounts each year.
Richard Garratt says
4th October 2016 at 1:53 pm
Generally this website encourages more thoughtful comments and Jeff (1) would not stand out on the Pinkun boards. It would be interesting to see him write a whole 800 words or have a chat with Alex Neill or the Board. Aside from this, I read an interesting article on the Newcastle local paper website and noted that they considered Norwich would finish in the top two, primarily because Norwich had a settled squad with experience of promotion, No mention of relegation. I'm of the same belief but not holding my breath that Norwich would conduct wholesale changes if we get promotion. Having said that I do believe that if we are in the top two or six in January, the next transfer window will be more positive with ambitious players able to see Norwich as an attractive option.
Cheep Shot says
Not sure what to say… I'm used to reading entertaining copy on this site, both negative and positive, providing insight and original thought. This, on the other hand, was stale, rambling and distinctly past its sell by date. We all know we don't have the available millions of Newcastle or Aston Villa, and surely, as a result, we cut our cloth accordingly. The City squad has depth, experience, youth and, when it clicks, swagger. With a few exceptions, we have quality in most areas. Surely Alex Neil would have looked at his personnel following relegation and saw enough there to win promotion, with a few additions? Wholesale changes would have been an enormous risk. This squad isn't damaged, it looks together and ready for the challenge. Surely better looking ahead to January and examining the improvements we need to seal promotion and the likelihood of Alex being backed financially in a winning position. Looking back constantly just fuels the fire of discontent and doesn't provide any new angle on our club. Perhaps the next article could be on Robert Chase and his role in the club's capitulation at St James Park t'other night?
I agree that our best chance of success this year was to retain the nucleus of last season's squad which is essentially what we've done. We've added some attacking quality with Pritchard & with the emergence of the Murphy twins. There are of course areas of the squad that require an upgrade, but as mentioned above, our best chances of doing that is if we're successful with promotion.
Just to pick up on a couple of points:
8 – I too was initially disappointed to see Bennett dropped for Martin. However, Neil felt we needed Martin's presence & with
the run we've gone on its difficult to argue with it.
11 – Don't forget that with the changes to the loan system, carrying a larger squad is vitally important. As the season moves on, the advantage we have with a big squad may become more obvious. If we get promotion, a focus on quality rather than quantity will then be necessary.
5th October 2016 at 12:59 am
Sense. This is not a 'change now or die'. This a sensible look to the future and what we need to do if we're to do a Swansea, who we're so jealous of. Oh. Hang on…
victor says
As I see it , the problem with the squad that is Norwich City , is that it is not balanced The question of the merits of individual players is always one of personal , opinion so the debate about this player or that one is a bit of a red herring However It is the managers call on how to best use players of the SQUAD to form a TEAM. What cannot be in dispute is the fact that selecting a team from an unbalanced squad is much more challenging than from a balanced one. I there fore suggest that AN ' s problem lies deeper than the individuals at his disposal.
Those difficulties are down to him. The squad is largely of his making at a cost of around 40 million. The accumulation of a surplus of similar midfield players at the expense of the central defence & goal scoring forwards means we will probably continue to yo-yo. Too good for the championship , not good enough to stay in the PL. If we manage to go up again , & as contracts expire let's hope the club make a better job of investing the riches of that league into a formidable squad than we did last time.