In my time following Norwich City, it has never been dull. The Premier League era's definitional yo-yo club has changed leagues seven times in the last dozen seasons, going up and down and up and down again with dizzying frequency.
Despite the joys of promotion seasons, this cycle is uniquely disillusioning in sports. I have never seen this team survive a season in the Premier League, and they have had four tries at it while I've been paying attention. As England's top flight becomes more of a cartel (run by a six-team cabal), increasing the distance between its longtime members and those hoping to re-establish themselves as even minnows in the big pond, I doubt I ever will see Norwich string together more than a couple seasons in the top division of the pyramid.
It is true, though, that the Canaries have a little more financial might than before, having recently changed hands from longtime stewards Delia Smith and Michael Wynn-Jones to Milwaukee Brewers owner Mark Attanasio. By merit of appearing in the Premier League a few times during its global boom, the club has gained international fans like me who will pay to stream their matches, order a yellow-and-green scarf, or even fly across oceans to visit the Fine City. Whatever one's opinion on foreign investment and foreign fandom, they are necessary to compete.
What's more, the team does have some talent. Josh Sargent, for my money the Championship's best striker, led the United States' front line at the 2022 World Cup. Midfielder Marcelino Núñez will be at the next World Cup, should Chile make it out of CONMEBOL qualifying. Borja Sainz led the league's Golden Boot race for most of this season.
In his first full season in charge, sporting director Ben Knapper made the squad dramatically younger over the last two transfer windows, shipping out Championship veterans for some intriguing prospects. They genuinely might have the next James Maddison or Emilano Buendía on their hands. Maybe a couple of those young players even become the next Alex Tettey or Wes Hoolahan, beloved and essential regulars who stay for years rather than leaving for bigger clubs.
However, no one feels so optimistic at the moment. Knapper recently fired the Dane he had charged with leading this project, Johannes Hoff Thorup. Over Thorup's last 10 matches, Norwich picked up just 6 points, including losses to inferior sides such as Oxford United, Plymouth Argyle, and Portsmouth. After threatening the playoff places in February, they will finish right in the middle of the table, closer to the relegation zone than the top six despite having the league's second-highest goal total. It looks like it could be some time before Norwich go back up again.