A side’s fans have every right to be highly critical of their side’s performance when they lose – they pay the money and have the choice. That’s just what you’d expect from Norwich fans after today.
Norwich were a side that many were thinking would do good things this season in the Sky Bet Championship. They more than held their own last season, finishing a credible 8th place in the table. What helped them finish so highly was their 85 goals over the 46 game campaign – a number that tied for the highest in the division with champions Newcastle and top-six side Fulham.
However, on the flip side, whereas Newcastle conceded just 40 times across the season, the Canaries conceded 69 times. This defensive weakness, as such, may make for interesting games, but it is a weakness all the same. It is also a carryover in to this season as the Norfolk side showed today against Millwall.
Newly promoted side Millwall entered today’s game with a mixed bag of results and just two points from their opening four games. A pair of draws against Bolton (1-1) and Bristol City (0-0) were shared with a pair of losses against Nottingham Forest (1-0) and high-fling Ipswich (4-3).
Norwich should have had the nous and class to take Millwall on, in the end it wasn’t even close. By half-time the game was effectively beyond the Canaries reach as goals from Lee Gregory (15′), George Saville (17′) and Jed Wallace (42′) saw the Lions roar into a lead often said unassailable.
A fourth and final goal from Shaun Hutchinson (72′) wrapped things up for the Londoners, the four goals meaning that Norwich have now conceded 12 times over their opening five games – including shipping eight in their last two games.
71.7% of possession, 643 passes at 87% accuracy and 15 shots at goal with seven on target all goes for nothing when you concede four goals. Expectedly, Norwich City fans were more than a little miffed on Twitter after the result.
Norwich City fans take to Twitter after Norwich horror show at Millwall
Against a team promoted from the division below, you’d expect your side to put up a better showing than what Norwich produced against Millwall – that seems to be the gist of what many Norwich fans are feeling.
On this start,it's going to be one long season! #ncfc
— Jamie Burgum (@jamieburgum) August 26, 2017
From promotion favourites last season to missed playoffs to mid table rebuild to relegation fodder. The Rise & Fall of Norwich City! #ncfc
— Daniel Morris (@DanielMorrisUK) August 26, 2017
I'm happy with a long term project – but there's losing and there's losing #ncfc https://t.co/SeZHmeOwMH
— Will Bunn (@wbunny) August 26, 2017
Whilst patience is a virtue in some, this fan’s levels of patience are wearing thin.
I'm happy to be patient. When it involves being dicked by ANOTHER team without a win, that patience runs a tad thin!!! #NCFC
— Steven Pearce (@pearciencfc) August 26, 2017
Sometimes an attempt at humour is all there is to make it bearable.
Daniel Farke's touchline notes this afternoon. #ncfc @pinkun @BobRutler @NorwichCityFC pic.twitter.com/o5ms0XzfuZ
— Dan Hall (@DanHall1985) August 26, 2017
Hope springs eternal in this Norwich City fan.
Despite our bad start I'm still remaining positive and hope we can do some more business in transfer market #ncfc
— Shauny S (@ShaunNcfc) August 26, 2017
Bit of well=placed sarcasm here from this fan.
No worries. Would have been nice if the team had showed up #ncfc https://t.co/z9KRVJPI8t
— 🇩🇪Iän🇬🇧 (@Ian_M1) August 26, 2017
The final two comments go to a fan with a novel response to anyone asking where the moolah is at and another with a cutting review provided by the opposition.
https://twitter.com/Arggers/status/901561790152265728
Review from a Millwall fan this evening on #ncfc performance today. pic.twitter.com/reRmEkcTyB
— Nick Deal (@Nicko12321) August 26, 2017
It’s early doors yet in a 46-game Sky Bet Championship campaign, what with just five games gone. What Norwich don’t want to do is suffer many more game like this. The reason being that when the relegation mire starts to cling, it really does hold a side down.
