"We need" - Norwich City plea made as Mark Robins doubts arise | OneFootball

FLW's Norwich fan pundit isn't a fan of the different managerial styles which have been bestowed upon the Canaries recently

This article is part of Football League World's 'Terrace Talk' series, which provides personal opinions from our FLW Fan Pundits regarding the latest breaking news, teams, players, managers, potential signings and more…

After a poor start to the season, in which Norwich City have won just two of their opening 10 league games, the higher-ups at Carrow Road may be looking at making a change in the dugout.

Liam Manning's tenure managing his hometown club has been incredibly disappointing, especially given the excitement that surrounded his appointment following an unlikely top six finish with Bristol City.

Many expected the Canaries to be back challenging in and around the play-offs, but currently find themselves scrapping amongst the early-season basement dwellers in the Championship, and according to Graeme Bailey, the decision makers are ready to part ways with the 40-year-old.

Bailey's tweet states that Stoke City boss Mark Robins is the "first choice" option if Norwich can navigate the release clause in his contract. Robins spent three years there as a player, leading the line as the Canaries finished third in the top-flight during the 1992/93 campaign.

However, whilst it would be a feel-good appointment to bring him in, Zeke Downes, FLW's Norwich fan pundit, can't see him leaving The bet365 Stadium, and also disagrees with the chopping and changing of managers who have different play-styles.

Norwich City fan pundit comments on Mark Robins' links to Carrow Road

"I understand why we have been linked with Mark Robins, as he's been linked with us in the past due to his playing links with Norwich," Downes said.

However, this time around, the fan pundit doesn't see their former striker taking the job. Robins has yet to cross a year in the dugout at Stoke, and after spending seven years at Coventry City before that, he may see the Potters' project as one he wants to complete.

He was unable to bring the Sky Blues back to the Premier League, but after a start which has seen Stoke third after 10 games, he may be able to do so at his current club.

"He's doing well at Stoke at the moment, and he'd be a good fit here, but I don't see why he'd want to leave with them doing well now," Downes added.

"The only reason I could see him joining would be because of those links; it may persuade him, but he's not been at Stoke for long, and he hasn't finished what he started there.

"I think he'd be a good fit, but it's hard to tell."

Given the opposite trajectories to the start of either side's season, it's difficult to see why Robins would depart to join a club who are currently 17 places below them in the table, but stranger things have happened.

However, Downes expressed further frustration at the talk surrounding yet another sacking at Carrow Road, as he feels his side is losing its identity.

Norwich City fan pundit urges club to be "more aligned"

If Liam Manning does end up getting the boot, it would be the third time a manager has been sacked at Carrow Road since Ben Knapper became the new Sporting Director in November 2023.

Some question marks were raised when Johannes Hoff Thorup was relieved of his duties towards the back end of last season, as many expected him to be given more time to get the club back towards the top six. Now, it seems that Manning is being given even less.

"We need the club to have an idea of what they want to be and stick with it," Downes said.

"We chop and change managers with different styles of play, managers who like to use older players, managers who like to use younger ones — we need to be more aligned.

"Once we work out what it is that we're after, then we can go from there."

Sometimes, managers need to be relieved of their duties, but in other situations, it's good to allow the man in the dugout some time to turn things around himself.

Unfortunately, Norwich's recruitment in the past couple of years has been sub-par at best, and poor results combined with the sales of some of their better players (some even to their closest rivals) have contributed to a rather negative atmosphere at Carrow Road.