Clement urges Norwich to silence criticism as relegation looms
Philippe Clement, appointed Norwich City manager last November, has told his squad to block out the "noise" as they head into Saturday's trip to Charlton Athletic with the Canaries sitting 21st in the Championship, one place and one point above the drop zone after six straight defeats in league and cup.
Form and league position
The club have lost ten of their last twelve league games, including the five most recent, and have not won a league match since 9 September. Their most recent setback came on the previous Saturday, a defeat to Portsmouth that left supporters uneasy about the team's body language. With the Charlton away fixture looming, the pressure to halt the slide intensifies.
Clement's philosophy
Speaking to BBC Look East, Clement said, "I don't think there can be more desire but my job is to stabilise the team, to keep everything in balance." He added that shouting at players would not help and that motivation must be paired with constructive criticism. "So it's about keeping a good balance between motivating but also pointing out things and letting the team grow," he explained. Clement also urged his players to ignore negative commentary, insisting they must focus on the football and draw on the talent they possess to start winning again.
Since taking charge, Clement has overseen 48 matches, winning 24 of them. He noted that the recent run has been "really unlucky" and stressed the need to learn from individual and collective mistakes to manage games better.
Club turmoil and fan sentiment
Norwich have cycled through five permanent head coaches since Daniel Farke’s departure, with Dean Smith (Nov 2021‑Dec 2022) dismissed after three defeats in four games, David Wagner (Jan 2023‑May 2024) losing seven of nine before reaching the play‑offs, Johannes Hoff Thorup (May 2024‑Apr 2025) seeing six defeats in eight, and Liam Manning (Jun 2025‑Nov 2025) failing to win in 11, including eight successive home losses.
Supporter Chris Reeve, a 33‑year‑old co‑host of Talk Norwich City, said Clement’s job is under threat, describing the situation as "troubling" after a near‑play‑off finish last season. He praised Clement’s intensity but warned that the credit does not rest solely on the manager.
Long‑time fan Tulsa Lange, 34, blamed sporting director Ben Knapper for the club’s decline, accusing him of wasting "tens of millions of pounds" on players who have not adapted to English football. Lange still expressed affection for Clement but felt the dressing‑room atmosphere had deteriorated.
Owners Norfolk FB Holdings, led by American businessman Mark Attanasio, took full control of the club in 2024. Attanasio also owns the Milwaukee Brewers, who recently defeated the Los Angeles Dodgers to claim the National League Championship. Fans noted that the club’s recent tributes to former majority shareholder Michael Wynn Jones, who died aged 85 last month, were missed amid the turmoil.
The combination of a precarious league position, a string of defeats and vocal fan criticism leaves Clement’s tenure hanging in the balance as the Canaries prepare for their Charlton Athletic challenge.