Are Clubs Too Quick To Fire Managers?

 

Are clubs always right in sacking managers when things don’t work straight away? And how long is too long for them to get it right?

Football is a ruthless business often completely driven by results and nothing but results. If things aren’t going in a particular way the reaction from fans often is to look at the manager and question whether he is the right man for the job. Football fans are entitled to an opinion as they pay their hard earned cash following their teams up-and-down the country and often across the world. However, it is easy to jump to results straight away without factoring in many factors such as progression and performances on and off the pitch.

Many clubs fall victim to sacking a manager without really outlining a plan or direction ahead of appointing a new manager or head coach. Norwich, once they sacked Alex Neil realised the club needed a new direction as it was stagnating, hence the reconstruction of the head coach and sporting director model. Stuart Webber came in and stripped the club from top to bottom which is a high-risk strategy and appointed new people in many positions. However, maybe the club shouldn’t have done this and should have stuck to the traditional English manager model according to a certain sports reporter and commentator last week.

On the 25th of May 2017, Norwich appointed Daniel Farke and outlined the new vision and brand of football that Norwich would play. Webber went on record on the day Farke was unveiled to say: “He’ll bring a certain style and identity to us that the fans can relate to”. Yet, any Norwich fan that was at the home games against Burton or Bolton last season would have been rightly quick to question and judge this sort of comment.

Norwich slowly wandered to a 14th place finish last season finishing on 60 points and the signs of progress were minimal. Many fans would have wondered whether Farke was the right man and whether this new structure was the right choice. The 5-1 demolition at Hillsborough to end the “transition” season and with the likely exit of the star man James Maddison many fans would have feared what this season had in store.

The savior of the 17/18 season James Maddison

The slow start to the season and Norwich lingering just above the relegation zone after the East Anglian derby on September 2nd (2018) even the patience of those willing to give it time would have worn thin. The away-end chanting; “Farke sort it out” after conceding to those lot down the road. I was always willing to give them the first season and despite no progress was happy to see where this season was going to lead us. Yet I couldn’t envision any way forward for Farke despite the improved performances at the start of this campaign. I never directly said to anyone I wanted him sacked but I wasn’t far off.

Yet here we are just over 3 months later second in the division playing arguably the best football I’ve ever seen us play (excluding Saturday) and 99% of Norwich fans are hoping for the gift of a new contract for Farke for Christmas. Patience does pay-off and many clubs should look at the way Norwich have handled this situation and follow suit. The belief in youth players, and allowing the foreign players and Farke himself, time to adjust to the English game has been refreshing to see as it’s something very rarely seen in the English game.

Ipswich had the branded “new era” at the start of the season with a young and hungry manager in Paul Hurst, and yet 3 months down the line he’s gone and they revert back to an older and experienced manager in Paul Lambert, who may become a short-term fix for their relegation problems, yet long-term it might come to bite them. However, I don’t support or even watch Ipswich other than the two times we face them in a season so who am I to comment I suppose.

Clubs like Swansea are in similar situation to Norwich last season, whereby expectation is still high and it is easy to criticize when things aren’t going to plan, but you have to believe and see a plan through and remain ‘patient’ something that doesn’t exist in football. Take pride in the bedding in of youth players, give the players time to adjust to a new playing style and eventually you’ll reap the rewards.

There is a long way to go yet this season but all the signs are positive with players returning from injury, a long unbeaten run and a never say die attitude. Keep behind Farke and the players even if there is a dip as ultimately patience and belief in your system is the key to success.

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