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Norwich City Blog Entry No 7 - Shades of Grey

If there is one thing I have learnt from life it is simply that nothing is clear cut. Nothing is black and white and there are many shades of grey and there are always two (and sometimes more) sides to every argument. 

That’s why I often have problems with what is reported in the Media. Journalists are notorious for only seeing one side of the coin and slanting a story according to their own views. I was probably guilty of this during my days in newspapers. 

A lot of hot air has been written and spoken about the departure of Darren Huckerby. I don’t think we will ever know the real reasons behind it but I have just two comments to make before moving on. Firstly I am immensely impressed by the professional way in which the player has conducted himself throughout this matter and secondly it really is time for both Hucks and the club to move on. 

Whatever else happens the decision has been made and ultimately, as I said in my last blog, the manager will live or die by that decision. So come on Media, stop raking up old coals and concentrate on what’s going to happen for the new season. 

Already the manager has started a cull of backroom staff and whilst this can be cruel for individuals it is right that he has around him people that he can work with. We live in a disposable society where nothing is permanent and where loyalty counts for nothing. Glenn Roeder knows that the chips he is playing with could lead to untold riches. They could also end in the zero of life’s roulette wheel – it’s all very much a gamble. 

We would expect a new manager not to shy away from making difficult decisions and to make those decisions quickly. Time of course will tell whether they are the correct ones and we will judge him on that. 

I knew when I made comments about the greatest feats by Norwich City managers that I would be playing with fire. I rated Roeder’s efforts at keeping Norwich in the Championship second only to Ron Saunders achievements in obtaining top division football for the first time in the early 70s. 

One fan quite pointedly told me I didn’t know what I was talking about and Mike Walker’s achievements clearly eclipsed both of these. Indeed Walker was voted Norwich’s greatest ever manager recently. 

Yes he took us to our highest ever league position and yes we did incredibly well in Europe. But to me that didn’t have the same buzz that Saunders brought to the club when he moulded a team of journeymen (sorry Duncan) into a cohesive unit. I remember the thrill of the first realisation that promotion was a possibility. Indeed I’m going to unashamedly give my next column over to those memories. That way readers can rightly call be a fuddy-duddy. 

I still rate Glenn Roeder’s achievement second to only that. As I have said it’s all a matter of opinion. I once had a boss who openly told someone “You’re entitled to your opinion as long as you keep it to yourself.” Thankfully today that kind of attitude is one for the dinosaurs. So if you want to shout me down that’s fine. 

I see that season ticket sales are still going really well which means that most supporters are happy with what is happening at Carrow Road at the present time, whilst accepting that it’s quite likely that much of our squad next season will consist of loan players. 

There are arguments both for and against the loan system. It’s a way of getting fresh faces in without a ridiculous financial outlay. It’s also a way of keeping a squad fresh. On the other hand it must make it difficult to mould a team when the personnel changes so regularly. But as they say beggars can’t be choosers when finance is tight. 

Let’s just hope the manager picks wisely. Former Norwich manager John Deehan quite rightly said this week that team-work is the most important aspect in having a successful team – just ask Bristol City and Hull. This is of course true in every walk of life.