Pots; Daniel Farke

Normally the Player of the Season award is highly predictable, a stand-out candidate, heads and shoulders above his colleagues. So much so, that often there is little point in waiting until the seasons end before crowning the king of Carrow Road.

For example, you would have got very short odds on last year’s winner, James Maddison, as you would Wes the season before. Even in City’s successful seasons, the pool has been relatively small, few would argue with Craig Fleming in 2003/04 and Grant Holt in 2010/11.

This glorious season, however, things are different, very different. Sure there are a few slight favourites, namely Temmu Pukki or Christoph Zimmerman but in reality, you could make a strong case for all who have appeared in a yellow shirt this campaign. Max Aarons, Jamal Lewis, Ben Godfrey, Emiliano Buendia …. See what I mean, it’s an endless list, all have had a superb season, way beyond the terrace dreams and supporter expectations. It is almost impossible to differentiate who has been the best, who has made the greatest contribution.

Therefore, this season, it is as good a time as any to break from protocol. Awarding the team as a whole is one answer. Giving the award to the fans another (although this one normally gathers support during barren seasons). For me, it is obvious, for one year only, let us subtract ‘player’ for ‘manager’.

This year, let us honour the man who has made us dream – Daniel Farke.

The case for Farke is incredibly strong. Purely at a statistical level, his win ratio this season, to date, is 61%. That puts him 4th in the top two divisions, beaten, only by Guardiola, Pochettino, and his good friend Jurgen Klopp. That is some company.But what stands Farke out from the above, and for that matter, Norwich managers of previous promotion winning sides is the vast improvement on his previous season. In one year, and with a similar squad, his ratio has leapt by 29% (from 32%), while his team this season, has scored 35 more goals and conceded 10 less, compared to 2017/18.

Remember this is in context of a difficult debut season. Very few managers have had to overcome the hurdles that Farke has faced. Coming to a new country, the Norwich job was his first at that level and as Norwich’s first overseas coach the focus was more intense.

He was joining a club on a low both on and off the pitch and tasked with changing an entire playing philosophy while at the same time meeting the expectations of a promotion-hungry public.

The family silver was sold in the summer of 2018 and the slow start that followed had left Farke on the ropes, rumoured to be one game from the sack. What followed, has been frankly astonishing and pretty much unprecedented in Norwich footballing history.

It was a steep learning curve that Farke has scaled and he has emerged as one of the best in the business.
There are so many facets to Farkes achievements which stand him apart from his peers.

Firstly, he has bought well. Very, very well. lb1.5m brought Buendia to East Anglia, plus the lb0 spunked on Pukki and you have 35 goals and 20 assists, I challenge anybody to find better value for money in any league in any nation.

This followed previous astute signings. Hands up who had heard of Moritz Leitner, Marco Stiepermann and Tom Trybull? All three, and you can throw Zimmerman and Vrancic names into the hat, had challenging first seasons but have improved beyond recognition. This must be largely a result of Farkes coaching abilities and the manner in which he has managed to get the maximum out of his squad.

The signings aside, the one aspect of the game where Farke has really excelled has been the successful introduction and then the faith shown in the four academy lads that have flourished in the first team. For one youngster to make a successful breakthrough is rare, so for four to do it in such style and play with such confidence and joy is almost unheard of.

The supporters love to see ‘one of their own’, so for them to see Messrs Godfrey, Aarons, Lewis and Cantwell performing with such grace and style is a moment to savour. Key components in this exhilarating Norwich side, their rapid rise and progression fill supporters with pride. None of this would have been possible without a manager brave enough to throw them in and without a coach capable enough of improving them as players.

On both fronts, take a bow Daniel Farke.

Farke has got his team of local(ish) lads and foreign imports playing some the finest quality football ever witnessed by Canary fans. It’s officially a 4-2-3-1 but has a fluidity and flexibility that has created the Championships most potent attacking force. Some of the interplay, movement and attacking pace has been breathtaking this season, as has a ball playing yet combative defensive unit. Match that attractive style of play with the tangible team spirit that Farke has installed throughout the squad, then you have a team destined for the top.

Finally, as if you needed another reason, Farke should be awarded the ultimate individual club accolade because of the unique bond that he has created with the fans.

Those same fans that vote in numbers for their Player of the Season. All of the above, the blooding of academy lads, the exciting exotic signings, the style of football and, of course, the winning has all helped Norwich fans in their thousands to reconnect with the club. The mutual respect between manager and fans is clear and encapsulated in that special moment at the end of each game with Farke serenading his adoring public with the ‘Farke waves’.

The reaction to Farke’s new contract before the Hull game says it all really and it, at least on paper, commits Farke to the long-term future at Carrow Road. Ultimately, he is destined to shine on a bigger stage, be it back in his native German or with one of the Premier League big boys.

Forget Mourinho, Daniel Farke is the special one. Such is the nature of football management that he won’t be with us forever. So now it is time to rise as one and thank him for all he has done.

Daniel Farke 2018/19 Norwich City Man of the Season.