UNACCEPTABLE.

Yesterday's debacle wasn't a rare anomoly, something that happens once in a blue moon. Yesterday was yet another example of the abject no-show this club has consistantly displayed in the last 18 months.

We supporters spend hundreds if not thousands supporting and following our team week in, week out, every season. Is this the thanks we get for our loyalty? Yet another abysmal, inexcusable no-show from our team for the whole 90 minutes. Out-classed, out-thought, annihialated, thrashed, ripped-to-shreds, embarrasing, un-challenged, unbelievable. Just some of the words used by Chris Goreham and Neil Adams on their Radio Norfolk commentary. Those are the sort of words you might expect to hear if you'd just been defeated by Barcelona in their own back yard. NOT by Crystal Palace in theirs. There can be no excuses for yesterday. Purely and simply, unacceptable.

This is not the first time a Norwich City performance this year has been unacceptable. Luton away. QPR away. Derby away. Wolves away. Stoke away. Millwall away. Sheffield Wednesday home. Ipswich home. Hardly names of teams that should strike fear into us. Then how about being soundly thrashed by Reading and Preston so soon after Worthington's manager of the month award for December. A footballing lesson from Watford in January too. The form teams of the Championship this year, but is there really that much of a gulf between them and us?

We were a Premiership team nine months ago. Why roll over so tamely against Birmingham and West Ham (twice in two years) in the Cups? Such a huge gulf isn't there?

The last two away games typify the clubs apathetic approach towards what is its bread and butter. Two scrambled, lucky own goals in the dying minutes. The first rescued us a point we hardly deserved against a Hull side, who by their own manager's admission didn't turn up on the day. The other against Palace, something that would do a dis-service to the word 'consolation'.

The criticisms of tactics and team selections have been well documented in recent months. Very few, if any, regular Norwich supporters have ever played football at the highest level, but even we can see the weaknesses which continually are not addressed by the team management. A proper right-sided midfielder who can provide a service to our strikers. A midfield of any quality would surfice to avoid the tedious and persistant hoof-ball we see from the back to the front. The playing of players out of position. The refusal to blood more youngsters from the accademy instead bringing in (mostly) second-rate loanees. The picking of certain favourites, even though they might well be out of form, they have a tremendous work ethic so they play. The embarrasing public criticism by Worthington of those like McVeigh and Huckerby (our joint top scorers FFS), one of only a small handful at the club that actually care about NCFC and demonstrate the passion.

I do not believe for one minute that Barry Skipper actually thinks that it's a tiny minority of supporters that are dissatisfied with the state of the club at present. If he continues to argue his case, it displays a stunning ignorance and arrogance. The Board constantly advocate that they listen to the supporters and take their views on board. I think Mr Doncaster, Delia and Michael are accutely aware of the supporters dissatisfaction, coupled with the many unnacceptable performances from the team. It may well be, Mr Skipper that many have not publically voiced their concerns till now. I believed in giving Worthington and his back room team every opportunity to make ammends this season. Even after half a dozen games when people were calling for a change, I remained very much of the mind to give it time, a sort of infinite patience as the Board may put it. However, a few good results here, and a few heartening displays there have not, and will not make ammends for a season where we have seriously under-performed. I have mainly kept my dissatisfaction to myself and close friends. Now though, it's time to stand up and be counted. For the first time this season, I am THAT angry, I feel compelled to make my views truly known.

After yesterday's debacle, my infinite patience has now run out entirely. IF the Board can honestly stand up and say that what they witnessed yesterday was "wholly unacceptable", then there is a consequence, and a serious course of action they surely have to take. To accept the unacceptable is unthinkable for the long term future and prosperity of Norwich City Football Club.

Posted By: Jim Nasium on February 26th 2006 at 13:31:47

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