Jon Dahl Tomasson has “red flags,” according to Norwich City, and Blackburn Rovers
According to John Percy, Tomasson was interviewed by the Canaries for the open position after Liam Manning was fired after a late loss to Leicester City, which was his eighth home loss in as many games during his brief tenure in the Carrow Road dugout.
The Danish icon led the team to an eighth-place finish in the 2022–2023 season and had a 46% winning rate in 90 games during his 1.5-year tenure at Ewood Park. He did, however, leave Ewood Park by mutual accord the following month after criticising the Venkys for not investing in the team during the January transfer window in 2024. Although Tomasson’s first season as Blackburn’s manager was unquestionably successful, many Rovers supporters believed that the club’s shortcomings overshadowed its advantages.
Blackburn supporter Simon Middlehurst of FLW believes that the Canaries would not be wise to return to the Championship with Norwich. “I don’t think it’d be a good appointment for them, as he brings a few red flags,” he said. First of all, it was generally known at Blackburn after the first year that he looks to move on if he doesn’t get what he wants. He wanted to get out of the project because he didn’t want it. “Additionally, he doesn’t get involved in transfers whatsoever; he just tells recruitment what players he’s after position-wise and leaves it to them.”
The recruitment at Carrow Road under sporting director Ben Knapper has been, to put it mildly, underwhelming, so that second point might worry Norwich supporters more than the first. Under the current board, players like Ante Crnac, Matej Jurasek, and Amankwah Forson were all brought in for respectable fees, but they haven’t demonstrated the calibre needed to even have a chance at the top six during the last six months to a year. Middlehurst also doesn’t think Tomasson’s apparent obstinacy will help the Canaries, who are presently four points from safety and fighting relegation.
“He doesn’t have a plan B,” he added. At Blackburn, that was also widely known. “If you look at the first season’s record, the first few months were win, lose, win, lose. Although I believe we rode our luck quite a bit, it was a terrific year. He simply adheres to his method and doesn’t make good use of substitutes, therefore he doesn’t have a backup plan. Middlehurst said, “I don’t think it would be a good appointment.” The year after Norwich finished in the play-offs, one of Ben Knapper’s first significant choices as sporting director was to fire David Wagner in favour of rebuilding under Johannes Hoff Thorup.
Although there wasn’t much discussion surrounding Wagner’s departure because he wasn’t the most popular player at Carrow Road, Norwich supporters have had a terrible year and a half. Despite fan calls for Knapper to follow Manning out the door, it was revealed that he will stay in his position to choose the next manager. Knapper has made several mistakes in his two years at the club, from player arrivals to managerial hires.
Since the club’s short-term survival may be at stake, you believe that this is the moment for the former Arsenal loans manager to make the right decision. Norwich could drop to the third division for the first time since 2009 if the wrong management decision is made once more. Ideally, a decision will be made before to their upcoming away match against Birmingham City on November 22. If Middlehurst’s evaluation of Tomasson turns out to be accurate, Canaries supporters will be hoping that the former Blackburn manager is not selected.
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