It’s Grim Up North

Article by Mik Hancock

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Blackpool, Leeds, Huddersfield, Sheffield Wednesday, Bolton, Middlesbrough, Blackburn and there could be more, Wigan or Preston or Rotherham. The list reads like the lyrics of the 1991 #10 hit by The Justified Ancients of Mu Mu ‘It’s Grim Up North’ and that’s what fans of Norwich City have to look forward to next season on their travels.

Thankfully there will be some games closer to home, Ipswich, Millwall, Charlton, Watford, Brentford and possibly QPR, Leyton Orient or Peterborough and a day or two at the seaside in Bournemouth or maybe Brighton. But make no mistake, after three seasons of tackling the big boys it’s depressing reading.

It’s easy to point at where things went wrong this season. 28 goals scored is nowhere near enough and 60 conceded in 25 games (yes, clean sheets in the other 12 [a club record]) is abysmal, but the truth is, the rot started much earlier on 26th January 2013 to be precise. 26th January 2013, a date forever etched in the memories of Canaries fans as any belief in the tactics of Chris Hughton started evaporating in the aftermath of the home defeat against non-league Luton Town in the FA Cup.

4 league wins in 15 matches after this and 8 more this season meant the writing was on the wall for some time. That the directors and board backed their man was admirable, but the fans knew and had had made it clear for some time that Hughton had to go. Unfortunately, the decision was all too late, losing to West Bromich Albion at home the killer blow. What if the decision had been taken one week earlier and The Canaries had not lost this game? At the very worst, both teams could have been equal on 34 points going into this week’s fixtures with everything to play for. But hindsight is a wonderful thing.

Still, it’s actually over yet, and as they say, it ain’t all over ‘til the fat lady sings (or in this case the Justified Ancients of Mu Mu). West Bromich could lose by 9 at home to Stoke and Norwich could beat Arsenal by 9 at home. Did I just see a pig fly past the window?

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