FA Cup third round exit | Connor's Verdict: Norwich City 0-4 Brighton

[@chrisdenman1371]

It wasn't that long ago we were looking up at Norwich with Envy. You speak well and are a credit to your club. I genuinely wish you and Norwich City FC the very best. I'm and old seagull that has spent more years watching Brighton struggling than being successful. I shall enjoy the sunshine whilst it lasts.

[@Milton1079]

BHAFC fan here. What a thoughtful and articulate assessment. Well done, young man.

[@graham8400]

Just a few things. First and foremost and I realise that those folks making comments about your ongoing welfare mean them tongue in cheek but I think your analysis is spot on. I don't know how old you are but your underlying view has been around for a while regarding the PL. I remember when we got promoted in 2017 under Hughton having mixed feelings as whilst I was euphoric at us being back among the big boys after 34 long years and especially after our fraught time in the 90's when oblivion was a very real possibility, I also dreaded the thought of us losing more games than we won and the emotions that would accompany those times. I'm eternally grateful to CH stabilising the ship when he first arrived and for the PL presence. Oddly and ironically too maybe, his dull, safety first style of football led Tony Bloom and co to take a punt on Graham Potter and we've not looked back since. RDZ consolidated that and got us into Europe playing even more exquisite football and now FH is carrying that on in his more methodical way. So factually, it's not been year 7 when all this has kicked in, more like 4-5. Spending the Chelsea money mainly - oh how we laughed all the way to the bank as we fleeced them for way above the asking price for Caicedo, Cucurella and Sanchez - has been done to further reinforce this foothold in the PL and future proof if you like when, as seems inevitable now, the bigger clubs come knocking again for the likes of Baleba and others. So it can be done. This spending spree came as quite a shock to a fair few Albion fans I reckon too as until then, we'd not properly flashed the cash as you've cited. If we had a season earlier, we might have gone further in Europe than we did. Anyway, I'm hoping the more moany Brighton fans can see this video and it gives them a refreshed sense of perspective as to where we are in the overall scheme of things. Ok, essay over. Best wishes to Norwich City this season and however far it takes you.

[@krisexploresasia]

What a brilliant balanced and intelligent view. I am a Brighton fan, albeit now live in Indonesia. I see Norwich and Brighton as very similar clubs both Stadium and fan size wise. But the clear difference here is the Brighton (Tony Bloom) business model which is probably one of the best in World Football. Clubs like ours need these as we don’t have rich Arabs or Russians giving us untold amounts of cash. With FFP, then a lot more clubs, including the likes of Man City will also need to revaluate how they operate and maybe copy Brighton’s model. I sincerely wish Norwich the best of luck for the future.

[@juliangiulio3147]

Good balanced evaluation. (But it's CORDoba, some commentators have cottoned on!)

[@hnotbarry]

It feels like that gap between the Premier league and the rest has really accelerated in recent years and that we have missed the boat! So much harder to establish yourself in recent years.

[@hucksey]

I’m intrigued to learn more about what Ben Knapper intends strategy-wise if (or when) Norwich get promoted, as Connor is absolutely spot on when saying you can spend £100mil and still be in a relegation battle. How much do you change playing style for much better teams that keep the ball better?

[@johnraby4214]

I'm afraid I can't see Norwich ever holding their own if we get promoted again. Although I fealise that bigger clubs will always be after our best players and not much can be done about that, it seems more like Norwich recruit players almost with an immediate view to getting them better in order to sell them! I don't see us ever competing with the big boys again!

[@timphillips9954]

ฺWe spent 200 mil this summer and were the second highest spending team in world football last year. BHAFC.

[@timphillips9954]

Don't forget Brighton have never been in the bottom three in the PL. Tony Bloom is not a rich owner when compared to others in the top flight. TB has built our club with his brain and not his cash!

[@oakleyrivers9518]

Ok?

[@stuhough5130]

10 -11 years ago Norwich was the target, get promoted stay up build slowly a very strong prem/ championship squad. You guys were solid. At Brighton we never broke FFP going up or staying up unlike many around us before and after. But It was brutal Chris H had us out of the relegation zone for 2 years, skirting it but never in it. But it was brutal, that’s why Duffy is held in such hi regard. But the games moved on, I suspect your previous owners hadn’t. How do you thrive against established teams with all their wealth. It’s a hell of a challenge but there are poorly run clubs in the prem that go bang. You need to be run better, smarter, more streetwise. Your previous owners weren’t gonna do that.

[@darrellwilliams213]

Fantastic assessment. The unbreachable chasm ! I'd be interested to know what Norwich supporters want when young people like yourself realise 'there is no point to spending £100 per week to watch a team that cannot progress ? The answer perhaps lies in the first team to refuse the offer of a place in the 'Premier League'......not completely out of the question if parachute payments are stopped by the bigger clubs.

[@lukegillett5214]

Flippin heck Connor. I’m off me lunch now.

[@ITFC_Mark]

Sad reality is the best championship squad will need a whole new squad if they go up. Im not sure in the foreseeable future, a championship team will go up and survive. £100m buys you 4 or 5 players you hope will adapt. Look at Leicester, went up with a near prem squad and added players, yet they are struggling and had a manager change after 9 games. Sad situation

[@JonathanTubby-t7l]

Some one give Connor a “check in”call later today… make sure he’s ok

[@thomasallen3225]

If the biggest clubs leave the domestic league for a European Super League, then maybe the money at the top domestically disappears, and the gap between Prem and Championship lessens.

[@johnraby4214]

I really like your reporting and your knowledge of the game but today I was a bit disappointed that you, as many other Norwich fans, only focused on a George Long"s error and no mention of the 2 or 3 good saves he made

[@LeebBlue274]

Did not see that one coming budgies. I think you must have played a weakened team ?? Still, concentrate on your impending promotion !!

[@ManWalksDogs]

let's see how you get on against them next week, eh...? bore draw at their place, i doubt you'll stop them scoring this time though...