Paddy

Paddy Davitt delivers his Swansea verdict from Norwich's 1-1 Championship comeback.

The longest of long shots. A statistical probability of less than 1pc for Norwich City to reach the play-offs. A figure Philippe Clement himself referenced in his pre-match media.

But we have become accustomed to this head coach, and this group of players he transformed, upsetting the odds since he inherited what felt a club in crisis, a fan base ready to revolt, a perilous position below the relegation waterline.

Any such fears of League One lapping at the door were long since ended. But the curve has bent upward to the point where Norwich at kick-off still had a shot, amplified by Charlton beating Hull.

But Norwich’s trip to Humberside for the final weekend will now be one final swansong for a group that will inevitably break up and be refreshed in a summer transfer window that could hold the key to a genuine promotion tilt next season.

That wheel has already started to turn with confirmation on Friday of the release of five senior players. More will likely follow in all probability. There will be some in Clement’s squad who perhaps crave more game time, and opportunities elsewhere. But it will be on City’s terms.

Clement has called the shots superbly since he was parachuted into place in November 2025. This is a head coach who has operated in the highest echelons across Europe.

Yet it is his body of work in green and yellow that underscores he is the real deal. Norwich is lucky to have him. This might be the end of the first chapter. But the story remains to be written.

Kenny McLean was named Norwich City's player-of-the-year (Image: Paul Chesterton/Focus Images Ltd)

2. Awards season

Kenny McLean and Oscar Schwartau lifted the Barry Butler Memorial Trophy and the Etty Smith Young player-of-the season respectively prior to kick-off.

A nice touch with Neil Adams warmly applauded onto the Carrow Road pitch he graced to present the trophies as he prepares to take his leave as technical director.

Few arguments surely with the choice of either recipient. McLean was the one constant in that deep trough City found themselves before Clement’s arrival; a driving force as a captain. Not that he needed to serve up a reminder but it was the Scot who levelled from the spot, and tried everything in his power to source a winner in a frantic finale.

While Schwartau’s powerful attacking surges have become a valuable commodity for a prospect who only turns 20 next month but now has over 80 senior appearances. Clement has lent heavily on both when fit and available.

The City head coach might portray a stern public persona, but when he speaks about his players you do not have to scratch too deep to sense the fatherly affection.

“No, no, I cannot do that, because then I start to have favourites,” was his response when asked pre-match where he would cast his votes. “That's also not the good thing to have favourites as a manager. It's about them showing themselves every day, every game, every week, every month, to be in the team.

"So the moment I start with doing that and saying this one is the best, firstly, for themselves, maybe they think, ‘Ah I have a good relationship with the gaffer, and I can do whatever I want’, or other gets de-motivated and say, ‘He's the favourite, so I don't stand a chance to play’."

Nothing given cheaply, be it in praise or game time. Everything earnt. A pair of fitting winners.

3. Field of dreams

In confirming the pending departures of Shane Duffy, Jeffrey Schlupp, Emi Marcondes, Tony Springett and Dan Barden there was also a reveal from Clement regarding the status of QPR loanee, Sam Field.

Implicit in Clement’s comments were not only how he impressed he has been by the 27-year-old, who answered the club’s SOS in the final hours of the January transfer window when Pelle Mattsson was ruled out with injury.

But also that he would be open to exploring the possibility for Field to return beyond the expiration of his short term loan move. That hints at positive noises from Field in the first instance for Clement to be quite so candid.

But equally it is for QPR to decide whether the experienced central midfielder can work his way back in at Loftus Road and, if not, both the scale of interest and the likely fee required.

It would indicate Clement feels perhaps even with Mirko Topic due to return for the start of pre-season after his ACL injury he feels that is an area of his squad that requires a summer touch up.

While Clement has previously talked up his desire to add a seasoned striker to compete and lead the way for Jovon Makama and Mo Toure.

Springett’s exit is another signal that right-hand side of the attacking three with be another recruitment strand. So too at left-back, with Schlupp departing, and residual fitness concerns at this stage around both Ben Chrisene and Lucien Mahovo over the entirety of their relatively short City careers.

Manchester United’s Harry Amass only featured once in his loan stint before a hamstring injury returned him to sender. That feels a stretch to engineer a Carrow Road reunion for a player who may well be set to feature in United’s pre-season plans, given it is a World Cup cycle for some of their senior stars.

This is a head coach in a hurry. Not one you feel is willing to wait until the new season is almost upon the Canaries. Perhaps in the same way a previous City head coach and recruitment team were willing to bide their time to land Callum Doyle from Manchester City.

4. Tears in the eyes

The City boss appeared genuinely touched by the love showered on him by those supporters who stayed well beyond the final whistle to show their appreciation towards him for a stunning salvage mission.

First he gathered his players in a tight huddle and told them to put their disappointment to one side at reaching the end of the play-off road and instead savour these special moments with fans and loved ones as they prepared to tour around the playing surface.

When they reached the Lower Barclay, Clement was feted like a returning hero. He revealed in his post-match media the reception almost brought ‘tears to his eyes’ at the way a fan base had embraced him, and got behind a group of players who at one point perhaps feared stepping out at Carrow Road.

That toxicity and the barbs around not being fit to wear the shirt feel a lifetime ago now, rather than the same season.

Clement has been good for Norwich. But maybe after a bruising spell at Rangers the Canaries, and the people of Norfolk, have been good for a head coach who must feel he has found an environment, and a support network from Mark Attanasio and Norfolk Holdings downwards, that will allow him the authority and the backing to build something sustainable.

When Clement drops anecdotes into his press conferences about the time he was able to stop Neymar, Mbappe and Messi, or take teams to Real Madrid and get a positive result, it must be hard for City fans to comprehend they have managed to attract such a pedigree coach.

But the feeling is clearly mutual.

Clement labelled the turnaround in recent months ‘amazing’. But this is a head coach who will not rest, or feel satisfied, until he can lead Norwich back to the Premier League.