- Analysing what Norwich City can learn from Premier League failures.
- How three relegated clubs offer vital survival lessons for Norwich City.
- Examining the Premier League blueprints that Norwich City must avoid.
It is often said that you learn more from defeat than you do from victory. If this is the case, then Norwich City should learn a lot from the recently relegated Burnley, Wolves and West Ham.
All of these lessons will, of course, only be put into practice if/when Philippe Clement takes us back to the Premier League.
Wolves
For a time Wolves were seen as the upstarts. Their Portuguese contingent added a level of quality that defied the usual perception of the club as a bit rough and unfashionable.
Unfortunately for them, fans could see the decline. After years of smart investment, the likes of Matheus Cunha were not adequately replaced.
Worse than that, their replacements were very expensive.
The lesson here is clear – don’t get complacent. Your club is incredibly well run until it isn’t.
Burnley
If ever there was a club that was a kind of alternate dimension equivalent to Norwich City, it is Burnley.
They had an incredible Championship promotion season, smashing records in the process. Their manager Scott Parker seemed very likeable and charming.
Like Norwich City, they spent a record amount to try and keep themselves up.
In a season where Leeds and Sunderland achieved with shrewd buys, Burnley spent hundreds of millions for a team that failed to ever really convince that they had a chance of defying relegation.
The lesson here is a depressing one – it’s not just the amount of money that you spend but how effectively you spend it.
West Ham
West Ham is a strange case – on the one hand, they rent out a former national stadium, they won a European trophy, and the club has often been praised for developing some of the finest young talent.
Conversely, fans have argued that their shiny new home lacks the community spirit of Upton Park and there has often been clashes with the top brass, including recently departing chairwoman Karen Brady, owner David Sullivan and recently deceased co-owner David Gold.
The lesson here is to be mindful when making appointments – former striker Michail Antonio blamed former manager Graham Potter for clearing out experienced players before complaining that the team lacked leadership after some poor results.
Norwich City recently had similar issues when it came to its stadium redevelopment – hopefully Mark Attanasio and the board will see this and avoid any similar disruption to the supporter community.
Make it happen…
Clement has proven in a short time that he has a good instinct for our team.
While the road to promotion is getting harder and harder, now is the time to set the foundations for a strong Norwich City squad in the long term.
