Norwich City column: Time to part ways with Dean Smith and bring in a new manager with fresh ideas

I’m going to get straight to the point – the time has come for Norwich City to part ways with Dean Smith.

While I would never want us to become a club with a sacking culture, it has become clear as day that we are going absolutely nowhere with Smith at the helm.

For me, the performance during Tuesday’s 1-0 defeat against Luton was the final straw. I cannot remember a more abject display, particularly at this level.

The difference between the two sides was frightening.

Luton are a team greater than the sum of their parts. You can only applaud the way Nathan Jones has his rag-tag bunch of misfits working together with such energy and determination to consistently punch above their weight.

On the other hand, we are nothing more than a collection of expensively assembled individuals, void of any leadership, cohesion, belief and urgency.

And the buck for that stops with the head coach.

While I have plenty of respect for what Smith has achieved in his managerial career, his 11 months at Carrow Road have been disastrous. Performances have gone from bad to worse, while off the pitch, he has done little to build any sort of relationship with the fans.

Like most, I was willing to cut Smith some slack last season, given the circumstances of his arrival.

But the improvement we so desperately needed to see following relegation has failed to materialise. We have become a team so painfully boring to watch – with no identity or vision.

In the end, it comes down to this. Do you still believe we are capable of promotion? For me, with Smith in charge, the answer is no. However, with fresh energy and ideas, anything remains possible.

There are still 31 games to go – 93 points to play for. I genuinely believe we have at our disposal the quality and experience needed to be a title-winning side again.

That’s why Smith needs to go – and he needs to go now.