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Ed: Picture tells a story

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Image for Ed: Picture tells a story

“It was an image which, for me, summed up how worrying it is to be a Norwich City fan at present.”

And no, it wasn’t an action shot of Andy Gray’s penalty, or Jason Shackell with his head in his hands at Burnley on Tuesday night.

Nor was it Lee Trundle’s late strike for Bristol City at Carrow Road last Saturday, although there is a connection.

The PinkUn carried a picture on its front cover of the Norwich City dugout during the latest Carrow Road horrow show, and it hit me – the painful lack of people who can affect a game right at the top; the absence of any coaching quality or tactical leadership, even in a temporary capacity.

The bench consisted of caretaker manager Jim Duffy, the only one with any coaching or managerial experience. Next to him? Our former hospitality manager Bryan Gunn.

These are the people currently guiding our football team. It’s not their fault, but then it doesn’t have to be.

With this line-up set to remain for Saturday’s hopeless-looking trip to West Bromwich Albion, the pressing need for a new collection of permanent managerial and coaching faces is approaching desperation time.

In fact, those calmest are probably the ones on the City board discussing the appointment, which is the way it should be. We don’t want any rash decisions.

As we all follow the story of Norwich’s managerless ship, the current speculation seems to have a focus for the first time since Peter Grant’s Carrow Road departure.

While the media is at pains to stress Colchester United have said ‘no’ to Norwich as they target Geraint Williams, read the comments again.

United chief executive Marie Partner has said they would expect Williams to turn down any opportunity to talk to Norwich, but no contact has been made… yet.

Williams said he hasn’t received any contact from Norwich, or been informed of any approach by his bosses, and he was with his team on Tuesday. Not being interviewed at Carrow Road.

There isn’t anything here to suggest an approach by Norwich for Geraint Williams wouldn’t be successful other than his Ipswich connections, which we know about already.

Whether he’s the right man for the Norwich job, however, is another discussion altogether.

Blackpool boss Simon Grayson would be an excellent shout. His success has continued at Championship level this season and, although inexperienced and only 37, is certainly a manager on the up.

But with Gary Megson somehow blagging the job at Bolton, I think Grayson may fancy the vacancy at his former club, Leicester. This is assuming he would want to leave Blackpool at all.

On a separate point, I see Milan Mandaric is still struggling to find success without old ‘Arry by his side.

Back on topic, I bet Steve Tilson would love the Norwich job. The Southend boss has done well, but he now has a relegation sitting on his CV following last season; the kind of thing all at Carrow Road should be avoiding at present.

The story which caught my eye last week was the news at Stoke City, who have tied director of football John Rudge down to a new three-year contract.

The Sun reported on Thursday that Norwich were about to step up their chase for current Stoke boss Tony Pulis. Has Rudge been given a new contract to secure some continuity at the Britannia should Pulis leave for Norwich?

The two clubs have been involved in a couple of secretive dealings recently, including moves from the Potteries to Carrow Road for Luke Chadwick and Darel Russell. Maybe there is one more deal left in the fire?

I would expect Pulis to receive a luke-warm reception from Norwich fans if he did arrive, primarily for his style of football as well as a lack of the X Factor, which has embedded itself into all aspects of society. Football is no different.

But I think a sense of realism should prevail.

His record is solid and he has a good deal of experience at this level. Plus Norwich have the potential to go further than Stoke who, like most of the division, have smaller crowds but a more successful football team.

He has done an excellent job at Stoke. We need a manager who can do such a thing at Carrow Road.

Aside from Pulis, Paul Jewell continues to be linked. Phil Parkinson is being linked strongly, but would the City board follow the Alan Pardew assistant role for a seocnd successive time?

Or will it be Ian Crook who arrives, alongside Pierre Littbarski, especially if we’re still managerless three weeks from now.

I get the feeling this is where the list ends.

We know Jim Duffy is in charge for Saturday’s fear-inducing trip to West Brom, and with the increase in speculation, it seems clear Norwich are closing in on who they want sitting in the City dugout.

As the front cover of last week’s PinkUn clearly shows, there’s a gaping hole crying out to be filled.

And beyond three weeks is taking too long to fill it.




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Vital Norwich Editor