Norwich City bosses must never take fans for granted

For various reasons I had needed to get my musings penned early so had put fingers to keyboard before the utterly bizarre evening which unfolded against Watford.

Take one was basically a look at some newly released figures which show how amazingly consistent the attendances are at Carrow Road despite the league the Canaries play in.

In the past five years the crowds have pretty much stayed the same - and even when we were in League One they were only slightly down.

And there was more than a fleeting mention in my early draft of how a certain team down the A140 have acquired more than 11,000 supporters since they have pulled up their socks a bit.

We keep being told that Ed Sheeran's barmy army keep filling their ground week in week out. The figures prove that is a very recent occurrence.

But I simply had to get out the metaphorical Tippex out on my column and reflect on the incredible goings on during Tuesday's match and once the final whistle blew and head coach David Wagner gave his explosive post-game presser.

In case you've been in hiding for the past day or so, Wagner responded to the loud boos which rang out around NR1 when he took off Josh Sargent and Onel Hernandez with City 2-1 up.

Soon afterwards the Hornets levelled before Wagner's men produced a stirring finish to seal the win - and yes, move into the play-off spots.

The talk should all be about three more points, four more goals and further momentum as we prepare for another home game against Cardiff on Saturday.

Instead, so much chat is about Wagner's fierce criticism of the boo-ers - which came after former sporting director Stuart Webber and joint majority shareholder Delia Smith both had a pop at sections of the Canary faithful in recent months.

Wagner said: "This small group that we have, from my point of view, should stay at home. This doesn't help and it affects the players. Those that boo aren't true supporters."

They are some comments from the head coach aimed at a significant group of supporters who dig very deep - and next term will be having to dig even deeper - to back their team.

Plenty of them have been fans for years and years and travel the length and breadth of the country to follow their club.

The discontent on Tuesday wasn't just based on two substitutions.

It is a culmination of months of feeling that many decisions haven't been right, that the style of football hasn't been acceptable and that the results have been below par.

The disconnect between those in the corridors of power and many supporters has grown over the past couple of years.

Fans have felt disrespected and taken for granted.

There should now be a real togetherness and a genuine belief that the season will have an exciting end - and could be extended into a play-off challenge.

Part of me understands why Wagner was frustrated on Tuesday night.

He clearly felt he was right in his substitutions - and had also been correct in making changes at QPR on Saturday, when of course the end result was somewhat less positive.

But when you so vocally criticise fans you are on dangerous ground, especially when there has been a body of evidence to suggest all has been far from well on and off the pitch.

Wagner said it was a "very small group." However, it was so obvious more than that were booing - and plenty of others were openly questioning his decision making.

What would happen if all those unhappy fans really did stay at home and decided not to renew their tickets?

Wagner's comments are unlikely do anything to create unity and togetherness and sadly the tensions seem inevitably to increase.

It will be very interesting to see the reaction from the stands on Saturday and before that to see what Wagner has to say in his pre-match presser ahead of the Cardiff game.

I so hope the damage can be repaired, we can keep winning and we see unity. But it certainly won't be easy.

Wagner said towards the end of his post match comments after Watford: "We all together now have to look forward to these 15 games, try to get a proper unit, try to see the targets, try to see the opportunity, the chance which we have. And for this we have to stick together and support each other."

I agree - but I repeat my comment that it won't be easy.

There was something of an irony that this latest spat all kicked off on the eve of Valentine's Day - so how can Norwich City and its fans really start loving each other again?

OTBC. 

Away day blues

If you don't tune into the weekly Pink Un podcasts by my colleagues Paddy Davitt, Connor Southwell, Samuel Seaman and Adam Harvey, then I'd thoroughly recommend them.

They chew the cud on all things Norwich City - and there was certainly plenty to chat about after Saturday's 2-2 draw at QPR.

One of the things they covered was the Canaries' form on the road - and the fact that Wagner's men are a very poor 16th in the away table.

The team has lost half of the 16 league games away from NR1, winning just four and drawing the other fours.

For a side having hopes of the play-offs, that's just not good enough.

They have conceded 32 goals - yes, an average of two a game - and scored 27.

It's certainly nothing to do with the support City have at away games and it's baffling why the team can only average a point a match.

And to have thrown away the chance to beat a Rangers side who are worst in the home table was really disappointing.

In Duncan's memory

I had a lovely message exchange this week with Ronnie Moulton from Fakenham, who is a home and away season ticket holder and has been covering our great club since 1963 (what amazing longevity).

Ronnie is also a proud volunteer at a dementia project called Duncan's Club, named after City legend Duncan Forbes.

It is run by the Norwich City Community Sport Foundation and now has two sessions every Thursday at the Nest.

It was wonderful to learn from Ronnie that in one of the sessions he uses Norwich City as a base stimuli with his vast memorabilia collection and memories to bring back happy memories and smiles.

Music and events through the ages are also used.

We have given Ronnie some advice on sourcing some information in his sessions and it is fantastic to hear about such brilliant work going on in our community in the name of Norwich City.

It was really touching to hear Ronnie say: "Our club is not just a football team as Duncan’s Club is a great support initiative for the community as dementia is a cruel illness but we can only support our friends and carers by bring good memories back and putting smiles on faces which we do successfully."

Ronnie, be assured that you and all those you work with have our support and very best wishes.