History Repeating Itself

The club is going to have a hard time selling season tickets at this rate, regardless of the price. The fans have been loyal beyond any reasonable expectation the Board may have had and now I think many will decide that they will find a better place for their money next season. Close to two thousand season ticket holders did not renew for this season but this was offset by those that were on the waiting list. By all accounts, there is only about 500 who have gone on the waiting list this time and I can see as many as 3,000 not renewing for next season. Judging by the empty seats at Carrow Road on Saturday, many fans are already voting with their feet.

No matter who is in charge, this club has always promised more than it has delivered. It has also demonstrated a singular talent for being able to squander opportunities when they do arrive. Do you remember the season we eventually finished fourth under Ken Brown? All we needed was another striker to partner Kevin Drinkell but ended up with Dean Coney. It was the same during Walker's first stint when we finished third after being eight points clear at Christmas. A bit more investment at the right time to make that final push and we might just have made it. Instead a frustrated Walker disappeared off to Everton and our decline started. When it comes to exasperated/frustrated managers you can add Bruce Rioch and Martin O'Neil to that list.

Now, after a season in the Prem and two years of parachute payments we are looking at another squandered opportunity in the shape of another season in the Championship (if we are lucky). Eventually, the reality of the situation dawns on the fans and they start to drift away. I personally know many people who used to have Carrow Road as their second home but became disillusioned and simply turned their backs on the club. Now, they only return sporadically if someone happens to offer them a spare ticket. Otherwise, their only association with the club these days is through the pages of the EDP or Radio Norfolk. They probably allow themselves a knowing nod when they hear the reports of our current plight (been there, done that but didn't bother with the t-shirt). This may sound disloyal but loyalty is a two way street and at the end of the day, like any other customer, they need to know they are getting their money's worth.

Norwich fans have often allowed themselves a little pleasure at the financial plight of Ipswich but ask yourselves how they got into that position in the first place. Ultimately, it was because they showed a little bit too much ambition and paid a heavy price for it. Misguided and naive they may have been but I would rather the Board of Norwich City Football Club were accused of that rather than the small minded thinking that has held this club back so much over the years.

If the Board want to retrieve the situation they have to give the fans some hope. They can start by getting some players in to bolster the squad.

Posted By: Wraith on January 18th 2007 at 13:32:58

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