Chris Sutton reveals clear reason Norwich City are going backwards - it isn't Liam Manning | OneFootball

Chris Sutton has highlighted the key issues holding Norwich City back

Chris Sutton has blamed recruitment, strategy and flip-flopping for Norwich City’s poor form, instead of Liam Manning.

The Canaries finished an underwhelming 13th in the Championship last season under Johannes Hoff Thorup, falling from the sixth they had earned when David Wagner was in charge.

But their form has continued to decline even with another change in head coach, with Manning’s side earning just eight points from their opening nine fixtures.

Norwich have lost five times already this campaign, with just two points separating them from a place inside the relegation zone.

Pressure could mount on the former Bristol City coach if form doesn’t improve in the following weeks, with league action set to return this weekend with the international break now concluded.

Chris Sutton highlights three key Norwich City issues

Sutton has claimed that Manning doesn’t deserve the blame for Norwich’s poor start to the season, instead highlighting three key areas that must improve.

He blamed recruitment, strategy and flip-flopping on decisions as major errors that have been made by the current leadership team.

“In modern football, sacking the head coach or manager whenever there is a little bit of difficulty is presented as a silver bullet solution,” wrote Sutton, via Pink Un.

“‘Just sack Dean Smith, and it'll ignite', 'just get rid of David Wagner and the football will be better', 'just sack Johannes Hoff Thorup and start winning again'.

“On every occasion after making a sacking since Daniel Farke, Norwich have slid further down the table.

“That proves this is not on one person.

“Norwich's problems existed before Manning, and there will be a mess to sort long after he has gone.

“Norwich's problems are based in recruitment, strategy and constant flip-flopping.”

Sutton has claimed that the current squad isn’t good enough to match the club’s ambitions, and that the problems at Norwich go way beyond the manager “Manning has inherited all of that, along with a squad that increasingly doesn't look fit for purpose at this level and sky-high expectations that appear to be little more than a pipe dream.

“You don't become a bad coach in four months.

“This is the same person who took Bristol City to the play-offs against the odds for the first time in over a decade.

“It is the same coach who has constantly left clubs in better positions than he has found them.

“It is not his fault that Norwich made the mistake of binning off his predecessor and changing course.

“It is not his fault that the players signed are not good enough. It is not his fault that those in charge seemingly don't know what direction they want to take the club in.”

Norwich City’s declining form

Norwich were relegated from the Premier League in 2022, and they endured a difficult 13th place finish upon their return to the Championship.

But an upswing in form under Wagner saw the Canaries earn a place back in the play-offs, where they were defeated by Leeds United at the semi-final stages.

Thorup was brought in after the loss to the Whites, with fans regularly displaying their disappointment with the team under Wagner.

The Dane failed to see out the season in its entirety, as form again nosedived and the Norfolk outfit returned to 13th in the table.

Manning’s side are now 19th ahead of their clash with his former side Bristol City this weekend at Carrow Road.

Ben Knapper must take some responsibility for Norwich City’s decline

The head coach is now just a cog in the club’s system, with Ben Knapper playing a more important role in how things are at Carrow Road as their sporting director.

He is heavily involved in devising their long-term strategy, their recruitment plans and their vision for how to take the club forward.

But his arrival in November 2023 has coincided with a difficult period for the Canaries, and he must take some responsibility for that.