Blades can follow in Norwich’s footsteps and rise up

THE PAIN of relegation to League One is still raw, the Premier League feels a million miles away.

However, if Sheffield United require inspiration as they prepare to wave farewell to the Championship, they need only cast a glance in the direction of Norwich City.

Just two years ago, the Canaries endured the same fate as the Blades and dropped into the third tier of English football for the first time in 49 years.

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Today, they are celebrating a return to the big time, the first club since Manchester City in 2000 to secure back-to-back promotions to the top-flight.

If things can change so quickly for one club, why can’t it happen for another?

Former Norwich midfielder Neil Adams, who won a league title winners’ medal at Everton under former Blades manager Howard Kendall, is now a youth team coach at Carrow Road and matchday summariser for BBC Radio Norfolk.

Although unrelated to current Blades boss Micky Adams, he says there is every possibility of him leading the club back to the Championship at the first attempt.

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However, whether talking finances or fickle fans, he also stressed the need for patience.

“We know just how everyone at Sheffield United is feeling right now,” Adams told the Yorkshire Post. “It’s the worst feeling in the world when you get relegated and a club of that size and stature certainly doesn’t belong in the old Third Division.

“Getting into the Premier League was a phenomenal achievement and they will be under pressure to bounce straight back.

“Everyone in the country is surprised that they are where they are now – but many other clubs have been there, not just us, look at Manchester City, Nottingham Forest, Leeds and Charlton.

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“No-one has a divine right to stay in the Championship or win promotion and clubs like Charlton and Southampton have found it a struggle to get out. But Norwich have shown what can be done if you get it right.

“I have a lot of time for Micky Adams. I know it’s not worked out for him so far but he has proved himself as a good manager in the past and I hope he gets the opportunity to take them straight back.”

The Canaries initially crash landed with a bump – losing 7-1 to Colchester United in the opening game of the 2009-10 season and sacking manager Bryan Gunn.

With financial pressures mounting, they duly hired Colchester’s manager Paul Lambert and the rest, as they say, is history.

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Reflecting on events, Adams said: “Finances are a massive issue. We came very close to going into administration in August 2009 and are still in debt now – but won’t be for much longer thanks to the Premier League! If you have creditors, it is a difficult time but, fortunately, Norwich took the division by storm. Make no mistake, League One is no gravy train and you have to scrape for every pound. Two years ago, I think everyone around here had everything crossed.

“But you don’t have to throw money at it to get out. We have shown that and Paul Lambert has achieved success on a shoestring budget. The secret to our success has been getting the right blend, the right mix of players, and playing in a formation that suits those players.

“Continuity has also helped in the last 12 months. It’s been mainly the same set of players who have got us out of both divisions. Sheffield United will probably feel they have players who are better than League One standard but they have got to want to prove that. Norwich did that in League One and we won the title in some style. Sheffield United are capable of doing that too.

“There is a marked drop in quality in League One,” he added “It is a tough league with a lot of teams who play direct football, and employ a percentage game where they cut out the risk of errors in their own half of the field.

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“One or two teams will try to play – and we got promoted playing a nice brand of football – but you have got to be prepared for teams who will try and bully you into submission. Norwich had players who were up to that physical challenge and, once they had overcome that, were also good enough to play on the ball.”

Buoyed by success, Norwich’s home gates have averaged nearly 25,500 this season yet the capacity at Carrow Road is only 26,000. The average attendance for Blades’ home games this season is 20,632 but Bramall Lane has a capacity of over 32,500 and gates will rise for a winning team.

On the part the fans must play, Adams said: “I have played at Bramall Lane a lot of times and the supporters are a noisy and passionate lot. They need to get off to a good start, get a few wins under their belt, and get some momentum. When you have been in the top-flight, fans do have a right to expect to see you competing at the higher level. There will be disappointment around Bramall Lane – and if they don’t start brightly, that disappointment can fester.”