WE WENT OFF THE CLIFF.. NOW WE GO AGAIN
Canaries can take flight says chief Webber
THE trio in charge of Norwich chatted with their players, shaking hands and passing on words of encouragement an hour after the final whistle.
There was Daniel Farke (top, with Todd Cantwell), who shunned of fers from around Europe to stick with City af t er their Premier League flop, as engaging, lively a boss as a fan could ask for.
There was director of football Stuart Webber, who showed leadership, ordering fans to “blame me, it was my strategy” for the club’s relegation.
“I didn’t have to sit sulking or crying or lying on the football pitch hoping someone would take a photo of me,” he said. “We had to make sure we didn’t die. We went off that cliff edge and could brush ourselves off and go again.”
And they have. Matriarchal Del ia Smith, clearly popular with her young charges, was among the squad showing she is willing the lads to succeed.
It is early days, but few clubs emerge from the wreckage of relegation – a £60million income cut, a 10-game losing streak, no win since February – looking as together and ready for the new challenge as the Canaries.
They did not spend silly money last season, relegation clauses in contracts automatically reduced the wage bill this term, and only Jamal Lewis has been sold – £15m to Newcastle.
Solid characters have been added like Ben
Gibson and Jordan Hugill. Stability and a united front mean Norwich will be among the promotion contenders again. This was their first win since February when they beat Leicester, 197 days ago.
Webber has overseen more than 460 first-team appearances from home grown academy players in the last three years.
Another, Adam Idah, 19, grabbed the winner in Yorkshire against a resilient Huddersfield who were undone only by a terrible backpass by Richard Stearman.
Cork- born I Idah played t tw i c e for I Ireland in the w week, and n nabbed his first l league goal.
He said: “All of us work well together, even in training. We get each other going and we want to do well.
“We had a difficult end to last season, so this was an unbelievable start and we’re just raring to go.
“Every season once you get off to a good start the confidence comes in.”
Terriers manager Carlos Corberan (above) said: “The team showed the spirit we wanted, which is the positive.”