The ACN SEASON REVIEW – 2024/2025 | OneFootball

How did we play this season?

Ben Stokes – In a word, annoyingly. There were glimpses of good football and well-crafted goals and during the early Autumn, the project seemed to be well ahead of schedule. But there was always something not quite right for me – the goal tally in a number of home games was masking the fact that we often looked quite one-dimensional, not particularly thrilling to watch and were still consistently making defensive errors. We often seemed to run out of ideas quite early in games and a sense persisted that whatever Thorup was trying to instill, it was rarely executed in a satisfactory way. And mentality wise, we were a disaster this season.

Matthew McGregor – When it worked and everyone was trying, it was glorious. But it didn’t work more often than it did, and not everyone seemed to be trying for the final third of the season.

Cameron Huggett – Ultimately, we were consistently inconsistent. Whilst we could move the ball well in attack, all too often we lacked that cutting edge – especially when we were missing key goal scorers through injury or suspension. However, we were frequently too trepidatious to get forwards, which opposition teams were quick to exploit. More concerning were our glaring weaknesses in defence, which were never rectified either through tactics or reinforcements. The table doesn’t lie. We played like a middle of the pack team and finished accordingly.

Nathan Hill – Until injuries and ill-discipline began to derail us, we were way ahead of schedule. We attacked with pace and numbers and had numerous threats and avenues to break teams down. Out of possession we were refreshingly dogged, I remember roaring with delight at the pressing and some of the tackles made in those early home games, against the likes of Watford and Hull, for the first time in years.

Special mention, by the way, to the challenge made by Kellen Fisher in the dying moments against The Tigers. Almost a nailed-on penalty and red card but probably one of the most perfectly executed slides I’ve seen live.

Those effort and energy levels were night and day compared to what we saw in the last couple of months, and it’s why we’re looking for another new head coach. It’s been a difficult watch since the Stoke game when the players last showed some joy, or even interest, in playing for Norwich.

Paul Buller – It was a bit all over the shop. At times it was very exciting and even felt like we could win the play-offs if we got there and matched our best performances. Too many variables intervened and coupled with the now regular deficiency in defending our midfield, it was a mess.

What was the best bit of the season?

BS – Derby away was a turning point that never was. The fight and application on show that day, with players standing up and proving their class would be frustratingly ephemeral across the season. My favourite moment at a game this season was probably the 10 minute goal rush against Cardiff with the accompanying relentless, purposeful attacking play by players looking free to express themselves. The massive caveat being that we would still end up conceding another pair of crap goals against an already relegated team with 10 men and a goalkeeper who couldn’t be arsed to dive, making George Long look like Lev Yashin.

It’s a problematic favourite moment for me as I’m not particularly excited about the coronation of Jack Wilshere. Post JHT, I would prefer someone a bit more savvy and experienced. That said, you’d have to imagine that the Knapper/Wilshere working relationship will be a close one and also, footballers (especially British ones) are funny creatures – they do sometimes respond better to a manager who was a decent player rather than a data nerd. Who knows, maybe we’ll uncover the 2010s England midfielder who can coach.

The other best bit was that Ipswich disgraced themselves.

MM – It’s not a season that will live long in the memory but Derby (a) was great fun and properly funny.

CH – If I’m honest, it’s hard to think of some really stand out high points in what was a mediocre season. As has already been said, Derby away was probably my favourite away game; a great atmosphere and gripping from start to finish. At home, the 6-1 dismantling of Plymouth Argyle was a tantalising glimpse of what could have been.

Of course, the schadenfreude of our dear neighbours south of the Waveney was an enjoyable sub-plot.

NH – Amankwah Forson’s heroics against Coventry, and the euphoria in the ground during those stoppage time minutes, is as close as we’ve got to the magical moments of 2019 – aside from derby day last season.

Every win felt like a win this season, unlike under the previous two head coaches. There were, of course, plenty of spills to match the plenty of thrills but I’m much happier paying my league-leading season ticket price for 23 games like that rather than what 2022/23 and 2023/24 served up.

If we’re only fussed about the end result, we’d want to invent a technology like in Football Manager where you can sim your way through to the end and not bother trying to enjoy the actual 90 minutes.

PB – That incredible period during which Borja Sainz couldn’t stop scoring. He had a worldie in him every time and it was such fun to watch. You have to lap those moments up in seasons like this.

What was the worst bit of the season?

BS – A few spring to mind – turning an away win at Cardiff into a defeat in the dying minutes. The woefully inept game management at Blackburn, attempting to hold possession for the mere seconds it required to secure a win. And then there was ridiculously blowing a two-goal lead at home to Sheffield Wednesday – a game that raised serious doubts about the ability of the coaching staff to change the course of games that were so clearly going horribly wrong. This game also crystallised a persistent problem, which shall be my nomination for worst (ongoing) bit of the season – the total lack of the mental fortitude required to withstand any sign of adversity within a game. For some on the pitch, that lack of fight would eventually turn into a total absence of effort. I do have sympathies with JHT in trying to work with that, it’s almost impossible for a manager to recover from such a downing of tools. It’s unforgivable and if any of those players are still here in August, they should not be allowed to forget it.

MM – Whether he was ultimately the right or wrong man for the job, the way in which the players let JHT down over the final dozen or so games has left a bad taste in the mouth.

CH – Millwall away was a particular low point. It really felt like everyone had had enough, on and off the pitch. It was also the point that it seemed plausible JHT would not be in the dugout for the start of the ‘25/26 season. I’m still not sure if Thorup’s dismissal was the right call (I suppose only time will tell), but it’s hard to argue that there was no justification.

NH – The obvious one would be Good Friday at home to Pompey but the squad’s complete lack of minerals was evident by that point. It was the totally unprofessional Sheffield Wednesday collapse which essentially doomed Thorup.

Had he carried on approaching games in the same manner, it would’ve been the definition of insanity and all that. Or, as any manager should in this scenario, you go the other way and make your team more difficult to beat and score against and it’s viewed as an abandonment of principles and modern-day players lose belief in the messaging. This was what did for Daniel Farke too.

PB – Reading the transcript of what our captain said to the referee on his way to an early bath after that ridiculous challenge against Middlesbrough made me wince. That kind of behaviour is really not what we need at this football club or in football at all. My fellow writers here have talked about character and discipline and I think this episode tells us all we need to know about the direction in which ‘character’ is being channelled. That and Sainz’s ‘phlegm fatale’ undermined our season, our momentum and any sense of purpose. We need to move on from this old-school behaviour, immediately.

What was the atmosphere like this season?

BS – The season began with willing patience and encouragement from a fanbase who seemed appreciative of the project/season of transition narrative. I often felt sorry for JHT in having comparisons made to Daniel Farke’s first season all the time, although to begin with, it did afford him time and understanding. We’ve had such a recent example of how dramatically things can change for the better after an underwhelming first season of bedding in. I wasn’t at Millwall away, but prior to that game it didn’t feel like the fans had fully turned against JHT, the ire was quite rightly being directed at our players.

CH – I do think the fanbase was, broadly speaking, on-board with ‘the project’. However, the lack of apparent direction at times left room for doubt to creep in. It’s common knowledge that atmospheres are tied to performances. As a result, our support did feel pretty tepid this season (with the exceptions of matches like the aforementioned Derby away and Plymouth at home).

MM – If ever there was a season where the atmosphere followed the performances this was it, even within games. Very up and down on the pitch, and in the stands.

NH – In terms of the upper D block of the Barclay where I sit, it was pretty unforgiving.

We backed the idea of a consistent and recognisable playing style – until the first few errors playing out from the back were made, and until we had the temerity not to put every non-parachute team to the sword. Then the aforementioned Sheffield Wednesday game came around and even the biggest proponents of the project – including myself – begged for a temporary change of tack and for some solidity.

We got it – at home to West Brom – and Carrow Road responded by booing substitutions, chanting “boring, boring Norwich” and some claiming they’d rather see us have a go and lose 3-2. We did exactly that two weeks prior. Football fans are fickle by nature, but this season was even more exhausting than most.

PB – sat in the Barclay, you’d be forgiven for thinking that the atmosphere has ticked along relatively OK, but talk to away fans or those at the opposite end of the stadium and they’ll tell you how quiet it’s been. You know things are bad when our own supporters who travel to away games – normally the most patient of fans despite the toil they put themselves through – turn, and that reaction at Millwall (a) seems to have spooked everyone at the club. Something to play for helps though, doesn’t it?

Hero of the season

BS – Lucien Denhere Patrick Java Mahovo. I loved seeing him stroll into the team and immediately look the part. He just looks like a really classy player and I’m looking forward to seeing him fit again for next season. Honourable mentions also to walking yellow card Kellen Fisher and Josh Sargent whose physicality and directness, as well his ability to smash it into the net, will be sorely missed if he does understandably move on.

CH – Josh Sargent was player of the season for a reason. Not just for the goals he scored, but his ability to inject life into our performances. Here’s hoping he’s still in yellow and green next season.

MM – Kellen Fisher is going places.

NH – Josh Sargent scoring when given any sniff of the goal became as sure as water is wet. We were lucky to have him for three whole Championship campaigns and his finishing and all-round play took a leap forward in each one despite missing significant chunks of games – note the past tense there.

Few others covered themselves in glory. Kellen Fisher has become everything we want to see in a young Norwich player and it came as no shock to me that he was one of only two players to say anything about Thorup’s sacking.

PB – Josh Sargent. I don’t need to add to the fine words above except to say what a joy it’s been to watch a player who was once a laughing stock to his own fans become a lethal striker at this level.

Summarise the season in five words

BS – Remember that squirrel at Hull?

MM – We are where we are

CH – Good times will come again

NH – We are at a crossroads

PB – Swearing, spitting and Shane Duffy