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Norwich City owners not as culpable as recruitment team for Premier League struggles




The debate over whether Delia Smith and Michael Wynn-Jones should sell up and pave the way for more prosperous owners is far from a new one among Norwich City fans.

The issue has regularly raised its head over the years, particularly when the club is struggling on the pitch.

So with six straight Premier League defeats all but condemning us to relegation, it is little surprise many people are once again questioning whether greater financial clout is needed to take a step forward.

Norwich City supporter Edward Seaman
Norwich City supporter Edward Seaman

First of all, I wholly understand the frustration – after all we are looking at another season where the Canaries are going to fall painfully short of the required standard needed to stay in the top flight. Nor am I disagreeing that extra money could give us a better chance of establishing ourselves in the top flight.

But I certainly don’t subscribe to the theory that we can’t achieve success with Delia and Michael at the helm – or that the blame for this largely disastrous season lies at their feet.

There is still a lot of football to be played, and plenty of time for a full post mortem – but the bottom line is that the club must do better with the resources it does have at its disposal.

My main gripe is recruitment, which can only be described as woefully inadequate. For that, questions need to be asked of Stuart Webber – and not for the first time.

Both Josh Sargent and Milot Rashica have made an impact, but forward players are judged on their output and they have scored a combined total of three goals.

Brandon Williams has impressed – as did Mathais Normann before his injury – but for the rest, I’m struggling to think of many positive contributions.

It is perhaps best summed up by the fortunes of Christos Tzolis, who after reportedly costing the club in excess of £10m, has managed just 302 minutes of Premier League action.