“It’ll hurt but still have to say it”- Sky Sports pundit Don Goodman makes brutal prediction for Liam Manning”

Don Goodman Warns Norwich Boss Liam Manning After Poor Start to the Season

Speaking exclusively to Football League World, Sky Sports pundit Don Goodman has delivered a stark warning to Norwich City head coach Liam Manning following the club’s disappointing start to the campaign.

Norwich’s 3-1 loss to Ipswich Town in Sunday’s East Anglian derby at Portman Road has deepened the growing sense of crisis at Carrow Road. The defeat not only cost the Canaries local bragging rights but also extended their winless run to five matches, leaving them 19th in the Championship — just two points clear of the relegation zone.

The pressure is now mounting on Manning, who only took charge in June after replacing Johannes Hoff Thorup. Despite overseeing a busy summer in the transfer market that brought 12 new signings to the club, the team has endured a miserable start to the season, losing all four home games so far.

“The derby defeat will particularly hurt,” says Goodman

Goodman told Football League World that the loss to Ipswich would sting deeply for everyone associated with Norwich — not least the manager himself.

“It hasn’t gone as well as Liam Manning would have hoped at the start of his Norwich tenure,” Goodman said. “The derby defeat on Sunday will particularly hurt. It’ll hurt the fans, it’ll hurt the players, and it’ll hurt Liam Manning as a Norwich boy and a Norwich fan.”

With more than 40 years in the game, Goodman understands the realities of football management and the pressure Manning now faces.

“Liam’s not naïve — he knows this is a results-based business. Ultimately, results will decide the future of the club and his position as manager.”

Goodman also stressed that Norwich’s struggles go beyond one derby defeat, pointing to worrying underlying performances.

“Things need to improve quickly. Across most metrics, they’re average at best — except for conceding goals, where they’re well above average. They’re giving up far too many chances and goals. He needs to fix that quickly and get some wins soon, or the ending will be predictable.”

Norwich’s problems go deeper than one derby loss

Sunday’s defeat was painful not just because of the rivalry — this was only the third East Anglian derby since 2019 and Ipswich’s first win over Norwich since 2009 — but because it highlighted Norwich’s wider problems on the pitch.

Expectations were high when Manning arrived. Having guided Bristol City to the play-offs last season, his appointment was seen as both a smart footballing move and a homecoming, given his Norwich roots and early career in the club’s academy.

Backed by significant summer investment — with 12 signings, nine of them for transfer fees — optimism was high at Carrow Road. But results have failed to match that ambition. Norwich began the season with two away wins but quickly lost momentum, suffering defeats in both home fixtures and exiting the EFL Cup to Southampton by late August.

Now winless in five, and still without a home victory, the Canaries look devoid of confidence or improvement. By the time they return to action on October 18th, they will have gone seven weeks without a win. To make matters worse, their next game comes against Manning’s former club, Bristol City — who have started strongly under his successor, Gerhard Struber.

Goodman’s assessment is blunt but accurate: “Things need to improve quickly.” Unless Manning can turn results around soon, his tenure at Carrow Road — despite the promise and emotional connection — could prove to be short-lived.