Norwich City

Opinion: ‘These are funny old times to be a Norwich supporter’

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Gary Gowers, My Football Writer - Norwich City, external

These are funny old times to be a Norwich supporter. Funny as in bizarre. Not funny as in amusing because despite having snuck into the top six after Tuesday’s win over Watford, virtually no one at Carrow Road is smiling.

After last night’s game, David Wagner launched a broadside in the direction of some supporters and urged them to stay away from future games. Those in the firing line – let’s call them ‘The Unwelcome’ – were, according to Wagner, a “small group” who booed when he made a double substitution in the 56th minute.

As it transpired, the swapping of Josh Sargent and Onel Hernandez for Marcelino Nunez and Christian Fassnacht was not tactical but instead based on fitness issues, yet, to me at least, the unrest was less around the personnel changes and more about the tactical shift it appeared to signal. A similar change against QPR at the weekend saw City surrender the initiative and drop two points and that “small group” feared that history was repeating itself. No one was booing Fassnacht or Nunez.

But Wagner felt wronged and deserving, in his words, of “more respect”.

In this instance, he may have a point as City went on to win the game – and in the cold light of day it does seem a little odd to be booing when your team is winning – but it appears a lack of trust (and respect) between some supporters and Wagner has led to this bizarre stand-off.

In my opinion, Wagner is not alone in being part of the club's officialdom who resents parts of the Norwich City fanbase. In the recent past, ex-head coach Dean Smith, ex-sporting director Stuart Webber, and joint-owner Delia Smith have all taken very public potshots at various groups of supporters.

But in there here and now, the unease between club and supporter is palpable. Wins are not celebrated with the gusto and fervour of a club that is in with a realistic shout of a play-off spot. The place, by common footballing convention, should be bouncing but it isn’t. Where there should be excitement there is angst.

To try and describe the situation at Norwich to supporters of other clubs is nigh on impossible. It’s a feeling that’s unprecedented.

So, to summarise, we’re in the top six, on a decent run of form, and the play-offs are a possibility, yet Carrow Road feels largely joyless. And we have a joint-owner and head coach who have both been openly and vehemently critical of some City supporters, and the head coach has told the ones who are booing to stay away.

Such a weird situation.

I have no idea how this ends, but one thing’s for sure - the next couple of months are not going to be dull, even if the football is.

Dean Ashton's thoughts on David Wagner's criticism of fans

Former Norwich City striker Dean Ashton was BBC Radio Norfolk's expert summariser during the Canaries 4-2 win over Watford at Carrow Road.

Here's what Ashton had to say about head coach David Wagner's post-match comments on fans booing his substitutions:

"He's sticking to his guns, isn't he?

"You would normally say it doesn't tend to end well if you take on the supporters and question their support and how they should support their football club. But clearly that has really bothered him."

He continued, "I think he's trying hard to keep composed but you can tell it's really bothering him. The fact that he feels like he's not being respected by certain sections of the support, especially with the decisions that he has made with the substitutions.

"I can't really see this going away, if I'm honest."

You can hear more views from Dean Ashton on Canary Call with Rob Butler here.

Have your say on Wagner's comments about fans

Norwich City head coach David Wagner had plenty to say about fans who boo at Carrow Road.

It's fair to say, his comments have divided supporters.

Some agree with him, but others say it's wrong to criticise the fans.

What do you make of what he had to say?

Get in touch here.

Norwich City beat Watford 4-2 at Carrow Road to move back into the top six of the Championship for the first time since September 2023.

However, most supporters are talking about head coach David Wagner's post-match comments.

The City boss criticised what he calls a "small group" of fans who booed his decision to replace Onel Hernandez and Josh Sargent in the 55th minute of the game. He said both players had injuries.

You can hear the full interview with BBC Radio Norfolk here.

Norwich City host Watford in the Championship at Carrow Road on Tuesday (19.45 GMT).

A win could see the Canaries move into the play-off places.

You can listen to full live commentary with BBC Radio Norfolk on FM, DAB and Freeview. The special guest summariser is former Canary striker Dean Ashton.

Norwich City host Watford in the Championship on Tuesday (19.45 GMT).

A win could see the Canaries move into the play-off positions for the first time since September 2023.

Head coach David Wagner says he wants a good atmosphere at Carrow Road, City are unbeaten at home in 2024.

The Canaries host Watford at Carrow Road on Tuesday (19.45 GMT).

Here are some stats ahead of the game, provided by OPTA:

• Norwich City have lost eight of their last nine league matches against Watford, winning the other 3-0 in the Premier League in January 2022

• Watford have won eight of their last 11 away league games against Norwich (Lost 3), winning each of the last four in a row while conceding just one goal

• Norwich are unbeaten in their previous seven league matches at Carrow Road (Won 5 Drawn 2), and could win three in a row for the first time since their opening three games of the campaign

• Watford are unbeaten in their last seven league games on the road (W4 D3); they last went on a longer run in a single Championship season in April 2015 (9 games)

• Josh Sargent has scored in each of his last four home league games for Norwich; the last player to score in five successive home league games for the Canaries was Grant Holt in April 2011 (run of six)

Norwich City host Watford in the Championship on Tuesday (19.45 GMT).

The two sides last met in November 2023 with the Canaries surrendering a two-goal lead to lose 3-2.

City head coach David Wagner says he's keen for a positive result at home to banish that bad memory:

The latest Scrimmage podcast is here.

Rob Butler and Chris Reeve were joined by Canary fan Tulsa Lange. The panel discussed new striker Sydney van Hooijdonk - lots of City fans have been calling him to be brought into the team. He was an unused substitute during Saturday's draw at QPR.

Norwich host Watford in the Championship on Tuesday at 19.45 GMT. You can listen to the game live on BBC Radio Norfolk.

More of your views on Norwich City

Here's some more of your recent thoughts on the Canaries. On Tuesday they host Watford at Carrow Road:

Clive - Wagner made a big mistake of going negative too soon and we can’t play Barnes alone up front.

Vinny - Saturday didn’t go as planned and while some criticism towards Wagner is justified, the constant stream of negativity on social media is not helpful either. There just needs to be a little bit more balance in terms reacting to a bad result and levels of expectation. Watford are our bogey team so we need to get behind the boys on Tuesday.

John - The strange substitutions when we were leading changed the complexion of the match. I feel Barnes is better from the bench rather than starting. I would start Sara on the bench, he needs a wake up call, he's been below-par all season for me and especially recently. I'd love to see Sydney van Hooijdonk play a significant part against Watford too. See you at Carrow Road.

You can get in touch with your thoughts on Norwich City at any time here.

Norwich City head coach David Wagner has been speaking to the media ahead of the Canaries' game against Watford on Tuesday (19.45 GMT).

Here are some of the key points:

• Wagner confirmed Jonathan Rowe has a hamstring injury and will have a scan on Monday. He is definitely out of Tuesday's game against Watford

• The head coach said he has plenty of options in forward areas and is being careful with the workload put on Josh Sargent

• Defender Jack Stacey has recovered from illness and is fully fit. He almost missed the draw at QPR with a sickness bug

• Centre-back Grant Hanley played against QPR but Wagner says they are keeping an eye on him, the Scotsman has missed most of the season through injury

• Wagner said he's happy with the substitutions he made on Saturday in the QPR draw. Some fans criticised the head coach's game-management for that fixture

• On Sydney van Hooijdonk: Wagner said the club need to take their time with integrating him. "People need to calm down", he says

• On Watford: "After the away game (which Norwich lost) I am really looking forward to playing them again, they are a top team on the level of Leeds, Southampton and West Brom"

Rob Butler and Chris Reeve are back with another edition of BBC Radio Norfolk's Canary fanzine show The Scrimmage (Monday, 18.00 GMT)

Norwich supporter Tulsa Lange is the studio guest. Plus, we hear from a City fan who had an animal encounter during the game at Loftus Road on Saturday!

You can listen to the show live here, or download the podcast later.

Image source, Getty Images

Your views on Norwich City's draw at QPR

We asked for your thoughts on the Canaries' draw at QPR, plus your feelings ahead of Tuesday's game at home to Watford.

Here's what you had to say:

Dale - I don't think they have any chance of the play-offs. The manager keeps making very strange team selections from week to week, he should know his first eleven by now.

Ian - Norwich should have won but straight after we scored, the manager went negative. Taking off Sargent was so wrong and where is the new man? Not playing!

Philip - Missing a killer instinct. Do they need an "on pitch" effective marshall of effort?

Karen - The substitutions seemed very odd, until the info that Jack Stacey had been ill was made. However, it would have been better to play someone who normally plays right back in that position, rather than playing Jacob Sørenson. He may have had to mostly play out of position, but not a good idea when he's had so little game time up to now.

Lennie - Another two points thrown away by inept decisions from Wagner. Ideally I’d like Wagner to succeed, but it’s becoming blatantly obvious that his time is up. Over to you Mr Knapper!

Ian - We managed to get back in front when Sargent scores. He's our main man. We then go and take him off, why go negative? Why bring in a new striker and not play him? We have a manager that just doesn’t know what to do.

Nigel - Substitutions cost us, trying to defend a single goal lead when we should have gone for a third goal.

Image source, Getty Images

Have your say on Norwich's draw at QPR

Norwich City surrendered a 2-1 lead at Loftus Road to draw 2-2 with Queen's Park Rangers.

The Canaries are 8th in the Championship and still just two points off the play-off places, but was Saturday's result disappointing?

What do you make of David Wagner's substitutions and game-management?

How worried are you about the potential loss of Jonathan Rowe? He hobbled off with a hamstring injury during the game.

Send us your views here.

Image source, Getty Images

Norwich City head coach David Wagner says his side lost control of the game as the Canaries drew 2-2 at struggling QPR in the Championship.

Wagner spoke to BBC Radio Norfolk after the game, he said:

"The biggest challenge was to stay calm and I think we a lost a little bit of control on the game after we got the lead - in terms of having good ball possession in attack.

"After we conceded I think we were better again and had our chances as well. We have to play better with the final pass, or the pass before the final pass."

He continued, "So a lot of things were OK and good today, but a few things we should have done better. At the end of the day, we got a result we will live with, a point away from home makes it clear what you have to do at home."

City host Watford on Tuesday (19.45 GMT) before Cardiff come to Carrow Road on Saturday (15.00 GMT).

You can listen to a full interview with David Wagner here.

Darren Kenton's view on QPR 2-2 Norwich City

Former Norwich City defender Darren Kenton was the expert summariser for BBC Radio Norfolk as the Canaries' drew 2-2 with Queen's Park Rangers.

Here's what he had to say about Saturday's game:

"Throughout the season Norwich are always going to give 110 per cent, it's just that the quality wasn't quite there.

"They had levels to go up but they obviously just couldn't get to those levels today."

He continued, "Overall, probably on the balance of play and the chances created for both sides, I think 2-2 is a very fair result."

You can hear more from Darren Kenton on Canary Call with Rob Butler here.

Here's the answer for our quiz which was set by BBC Radio Norfolk's Chris Goreham. A reminder of the question:

If QPR’s Sinclair Armstrong scores against Norwich on Saturday he will achieve something not many players have managed.

Sean Devine (ex Barnet) & Nathan Tyson (ex Nottingham Forest) have both done it.

What is it?

The answer:

They will have all scored competitive goals against both Norwich and King’s Lynn.

Armstrong was on loan at Torquay and scored against Lynn in National League a couple of seasons ago.

Tyson scored against Norwich for Forest and against Lynn in National League while playing for Chesterfield.

Devine scored against Norwich for Barnet in the League Cup in the late 90's and versus Lynn for Exeter in FA Trophy in 2004.

Thanks to everyone who took part.

Norwich City face Queen's Park Rangers in the Championship on Saturday (15.00 GMT).

The Canaries' top scorer Jonathan Rowe has missed the last two games with a broken hand but is back for the game in West London.

Will he start for City?

All the team news and full live commentary will be on BBC Radio Norfolk from 14.00 GMT.

Your views on how to use Sydney van Hooijdonk against QPR.

Image source, Getty Images

We asked for your views on how Norwich City should use their new striker against QPR this weekend.

After joining on transfer deadline day, he's now had a full week training with the club.

Joshua - Put him up front with Sargent.

Keith - Give Sydney a chance to settle in before throwing him in at the deep end.

David - Not sure why Norwich have got in another striker. Only four teams in the Championship have scored more goals, only six conceded more. Perhaps they think Hooijdonk will make a decent centre half, not unlike the ever youthful Chris Sutton.

Jeremy - I think Norwich City should use Sydney as a substitute and come on if a player is tired and exhausted.

Mark - I don't see any need to rush van Hooijdonk into the starting eleven. Sargent is killing it this season and Barnes coming on against Coventry won the game. The way QPR play will throw up something different to what was required against Coventry, so perhaps he comes on before Barnes against them, and equally if we are cruising i'd give him some game-time.

Sophie - Although I think Sydney could have been thrown on for at least 10 minutes (versus Coventry) , the cameo he made was positive. Straight away, he got into a great position (he was flagged offside though) and he was using his physical presence - exactly the player we need- attacking minded, physical presence! With Sydney & Barnes, let's hope the season ends on a high! OTBC

Barry - NCFC should start the same team against QPR - the bench is strong - Wagner has improved his use of substitutes. Three games in a week provides plenty of scope for rotation.

Rob - Try putting Sorensen alongside McLean, Nunez on bench. Rowe and Sainz both in with Sara as a number 10, Sarge up front