Excerpts from the diary of Chris Hughton - Part 4

Excerpts from the diary of Chris Hughton - Part 4

Hughton, we have a problem.

It is over. Me and David sat down on saturday evening and discussed the match. I was slightly excitable due to the fact I had eaten a mars bar before the meeting and was experiencing a sugar rush. I hoped David would not see this as a sign that I wasn't hurting from the loss of today.

I told him I would keep the team up and was still on task to do though. We have been incredibly unlucky this season with my innovative tactics and mental preparation thwarted by a combination of bad luck and circumstance.

As I cleared out my things I called a few select players into my office for a final goodbye. Luciano, my friend, I was sad to leave. We have enjoyed many a moment on the training pitch and our time together will not be forgotten.

Wesley. Both of us short enough to sneak into the cafeteria and steal the last brownies without anyone seeing. Another player I will be sad to leave. I enjoyed a good relationship with most. The exception, Sebastian. I was still furious at him for his abject performance against West Brom I couldn't bring myself to say goodbye.

I took a final look at my tactics board. Oh the memories. Late nights with Colin, drawing diagrams of how the team was going to get the ball out to the wing, diagrams of Elmander's surging runs into the box... I'm truly going to miss it.

My parting words to David were diplomatic and frank. He asked me if I was a better fit than Neil Adams and I replied, "Neil is a threatening manager who will always put out a good side. I haven't perhaps got my formula right this season but what you will get from Neil is a great performance. I'm aware of what threats he brings to the table and I would do my best to combat them but as I said, Neil will always put out a very good side and I have to take note of that".

Driving home I contemplated my next move, TV? the Cardiff job? I don't quite know what's around the corner but i'm confident that Mcnally will be begging for me back at the end of the season. Year on year i've delivered consistent away performances and results, and at home I'll always send the fans home with a smile on their faces.

Norwich City Breaking Press Conference

Norwich City Breaking Press Conference

At 14:00 today, the trio of David Mcnally, Neil Adams and Russell Martin held a press conference dealing with the dismissal of Chris Hughton.

The media dealt mainly with Mcnally, attempting to tease a reaction over the decision to dismiss Chris so late in the season. Mcnally held the questions confidently, offering the media the explanation that this “was not a decision taken lightly” and he had thoroughly consulted “all of the stakeholders” involved in the business.

Interestingly this was followed by Russell Martin saying that Chris had the players “still playing for him and giving their all”, although when pressed regarding the dressing room being lost on Hughton he responded, “I dunno what that means really”. It’s fair to say that some players were unhappy with Chris Hughton and with Neil Adams being a popular man at Colney, Mcnally will have a team where they will be at least playing for the manager in the right capacity.

Neil Adams alluded to “putting his own stamp on the team” and “organising players the way they want, and the way we need to play”. A slight reference to the possibility that these players were unhappy with the setup of the team and felt, much like the fans that the tactics were unsuccessful due to the choice of formation, mentality etc.

Adams also pushed the idea that this was a “unique club”, one which many outside of the county do not quite understand. He pressed on to praise the fans and urged the media not to view the outburst following the West Brom match as a reflection of the fans and their usual behaviour.

One media representative searched Mcnally with a recollection that Mcnally said that only when Norwich City were in the bottom three would Chris Hughton’s position come into question. Mcnally responded saying that “4 points in 6 games is relegation form” and that “there always has to be a succession plan for key business areas”.

It is widely believed that the board have been on a scouting mission for a new manager for some time and have been holding fire until the end of the season. It is questionable that this late change will see Norwich City transform into a different outfit however fans would agree that the change is better late than never.

It appears that Neil Adams will still have a job no matter the outcome, however Mcnally made it clear that whether it is the top job is up to him and the results he obtains.

Mark Robson and Paul Nevin are to join Adams on his coaching staff and goalkeeping coach Dave Watson is to maintain his position.

I think it is clear that Norwich’s safety is clearly hanging in the balance. Can Neil Adams turn the desire and love for the club into the points needed to be in the Premier League next season?

Let me know your thoughts.

Comment Below or Tweet me @NorfolkCanary_

Return to the Blog - Discussing Recent Norwich Developments

So. What a week it has been for Norwich fans. Firstly I am going to have a moan about West Brom (h). What was Chris thinking? The fans were shocked at the end by the manner of the defeat more than anything, we looked awful.

Defensively we looked shaky, namely Bassong. Ollson at times looked like he was struggling with a hamstring and Martin and Yobo look devoid of confidence, West Brom were having a field day.

Tactically I couldn't work out where Hughton thought he was going to penetrate West Brom's defence. Following their goal Norwich set up in an unconventional 4-2-4 formation. The midfielders, Tettey and Howson interchanged from playing as centre back or right wing, leaving the middle of the park exposed for the majority of the game allowing West Brom to attack through the middle with ease.

There was no idea on how to attack the game other than the usual "pass it out wide and cross method". West Brom found it all too easy. Elmander carries less threat than a worm on concrete and Hooper seems lost in a team that will never play to his strengths. I firmly believe Hughton acquired some decent players in Fer, Wolfswinkel (yes i said it) and Hooper. RVW at the start of the season looked so lively, running across the line and looking for the through ball which never came all season.

The nucleus of our team is imbalanced. Centrebacks passing to Russel Martin, over the top to Snodgrass and into the box is the only plan. There is no utilisation of other areas of the pitch. For example, why play Hoolahan left wing when he clearly does not have the pace or the physique to play that position. He suits the number 10 role where he can be creative and try to find that through ball.

As much as I admire Tettey and Johnson's passion for the good old fashioned tackle, all too often this season they have been found putting in a weak foot. Neither can distribute the ball or display any aptitude for passing and that is a key area where Norwich lose out.

I feel for the strikers when I see Norwich set up against West Brom a goal down. The attack took the formation of a flat four, as did the defence. No player dropped into space to collect the ball and as such nothing was created. Norwich never looked like scoring and, set up like that they could have played another two hours and not scored. Hughton and his coaches have shown they are not up to the task of managing in the Premier League.

And at last, the mighty fell. A late Sunday night blow to the career of Hughton and Neil Adams is in charge of Norwich City until the end of the season. Right decision? Yes. Right time? No. This should have been done months ago. Mcnally has put the players in a precarious predicament. If Adams takes Norwich to relegation, the fans may turn on the players as Hughton is not there anymore, it could be a disaster.

Chris Hughton will go down in my book as a manager without any adaptability, any confidence or any desire to be the best he can be. He is one of those managers who will never lead a club like Norwich City to a new level. Norwich are a club with a lot of potential, a huge catchment area and the "almost" stability of being a Premier League team, they could be an expansive club that build a bigger stadium and attract wealthy investment to reach a new level. I feel Hughton has brought that dream tumbling down. Hughton and his coaches, are they the men who have kept a local club within the status quo?

What are your thoughts?

Rant following the Villa annihalation

Where do I begin? It is common knowledge for Norwich fans that when you travel away in the Premier League, under Chris Hughton you are very unlikely to witness a victory. Saying that, you're also very unlikely to score more than one goal.

From the outset it was clear that Villa were very nervous and making a lot of mistakes and after a fine Wes Hoolahan goal, Villa were there for the taking.

Numerous times we won the ball high up the pitch and didn't want to attack, instead opting to hold the play up and play it across the midfield. Norwich could have made it two, three before Villa had time to respond in the first 10 minutes. But Hughton preferred to instruct his team to be cautious, not kill the game and allow the game to settle into a rhythm, a rhythm that would prove to be very costly for Norwich City.

As Villa got the ball into an attacking position, mainly through punts up the field, Tettey and Johnson failed to get a grip on the midfield and were constantly out-run and overpowered by the slim figures that occupied the Villa midfield. Credit to Villa for using Benteke so effectively, holding up the play and not allowing Yobo to win a large portion of the aerial balls that were soaring over to the Norwich back-line.

Up comes the first goal, then the second, third and fourth. Sitting in the away end we couldn't believe it. How could we have gone from such a commanding position in the first 10 minutes to this. Not one fan could believe how a team could crumble so easily and allow a poor Villa team to appear a world class outfit.

But then isn't that what we have done all season. Our wonderful manager who's approach to every game has allowed teams to play and utilise the strengths of their team to pick us apart. Not once did our players get stuck in, hassle the Villa players or cause them any troubles. They were allowed to play at their pace and inevitably got their reward.

Hughton does not come across as a manager that inspires his players. Nor does he appear to be a manager that wishes to kill a game off. Not once this season have Norwich won back to back Premier League games. And only once this season can I recall winning a game from a two goal margin, the third goal coming in stoppage time. Our team deserves to be where it is this season and whatever happens in these last 10 games the manager has to go.

We are 4-1 down at half-time and the second half brought no fight back. I recall in the first 15 minutes after the restart we didn't even muster a shot on goal. So much for the hopes of 4-4. Our glorious manager didn't change formation. Oh no, Elmander was brought on to support Hooper (the same Elmander that has been firing in the goals for us all season) and was placed at right midfield. Right midfield. I couldn't believe it. As expected, he made very little contribution to the match and nor did Pilkington when he was brought on.

I can see the argument for keeping shape. No doubt about that. But it's the ability of a manager to change things when the match isn't going your way that I question. Also most teams in the Premier League play 4-5-1 or the equivalent of and it's how you play. Norwich are very slow to attack, we pass the ball across the midfield as opposed to playing in the strikers, van Wolfswinkel and Hooper are forever on the last defenders shoulder waiting for the through ball that will never come. They must be so frustrated. I can sympathise with both as to why they are devoid of confidence.

Successful teams are able to keep possession and pass the ball. Norwich passed the ball over 100 times less than Aston Villa and 18% of their passes were long balls. 1% of the 421 passes they made were considered to be through balls. Compare the 421 passes with the 74% completion meaning just 312 of those passes found their target. 18% of passes being long balls strikes me as poor considering the two players they would have been aiming for are 5ft10 and 5ft6.

There are very little positives to take from this match. Hughton has me in confusion. The man wants to make Norwich a defensive outfit and yet we have the third worst goal difference in the division. On that basis there is no argument for us not going out and attacking these last 10 games like the team we should be. But do I hold out much hope for this? not under Chris Hughton. Disappointment has surrounded his every move at the club and whichever division we find ourselves in at the end of May, the end for him should be on the agenda. It is time to bring a dynamic, inspirational and innovative leader to Carrow Road and end this dreadful period.