Wilshere Takes Norwich Reins - And Could Send His Mate Ramsey Packing

By Lewis Barnett 22 April, 2025 6 mins read 57 Views

Well, this is a bloody weird one. Jack Wilshere - yes, THAT Jack Wilshere - has just been handed the keys to Norwich City after they binned Johannes Thorup faster than I delete spam emails. Talk about a plot twist nobody saw coming!

I was actually at a pub quiz last night when my phone buzzed with teh news. Nearly spat out my pint. From Arsenal wonderkid to interim Championship manager... life comes at you fast.

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The Danish Experiment That Fizzled Out

Thorup's time at Carrow Road has been... how do I put this kindly? Underwhelming. The Dane has guided Norwich to a thoroughly mediocre 14th place in the Championship - about as exciting as watching paint dry while listening to elevator music. Not exactly what the Norwich faithful were hoping for when he took charge.

That Easter Monday defeat to Millwall was apparently the final straw. I actually watched that game with my brother-in-law (massive Canaries fan) who texted me afterward: "If he's still in charge tomorrow I'm burning my season ticket." Guess the Norwich board were reading his messages.

Out With The Old...

Norwich didn't mess around. Their statement was about as warm as my ex's goodbye letter:

"Norwich City have parted company with head coach Johannes Hoff Thorup with immediate effect. Assistant head coach Glen Riddersholm has also left his position with the club."

Ouch. No "thanks for the memories" there.

Sporting Director Ben Knapper tried to soften the blow with some corporate-speak about "long-term focus" and "wider club strategy" before admitting that, basically, results were garbage so they had to pull the plug.

Listen. We all know how this works. Football is brutal. One minute you're plotting pre-season, the next you're updating LinkedIn.

Jack's Unexpected Promotion

So in steps Wilshere. From Arsenal's glass-ankled midfield maestro to Norwich's interim gaffer. Back in 2011, if you'd told me Wilshere would be managing in the Championship by 2025, I'd have laughed you out of the room. I always thought he'd be England captain by now, not trying to motivate journeymen in East Anglia.

He was already part of the coaching setup at Norwich, which I completely missed (shows how much attention I've been paying to the Canaries this season). Now he's got Tony Roberts and Nick Stanley backing him up for the final two games.

The Ramsey Reunion Nobody Expected

Here's where it gets properly juicy.

Norwich's final game is against Cardiff City - who just happen to be managed by none other than Aaron Ramsey. Yes, THAT Aaron Ramsey. Wilshere's old Arsenal buddy.

And here's the kicker - if Norwich win that game, they could send Cardiff down to League One. Talk about awkward Christmas card exchanges.

These two spent years together at Arsenal but only shared the pitch 101 times. I remember watching them against Barcelona in 2011... they looked like they could dominate England's midfield for a decade. Instead, they spent most of their time comparing notes with the physios.

Ramsey even admitted recently: "I wish I had the opportunity to play with him a lot more, but he got injured [and then] I got injured [laughs at the irony] – so we didn't get a lot of time playing together."

Now they'll be in opposing dugouts with Cardiff's survival on the line. You couldn't make it up.

From Teammates to Touchline Rivals

I actually spent $75 on a ticket to see these two play together at the Emirates back in 2013. Worth every penny. The vision, the technique... both of them had that rare ability to make time slow down when they were on the ball.

Now one might send the other into the football wilderness of League One. Football, eh?

Before that potential relegation showdown, Wilshere takes his Norwich side to Middlesbrough on Saturday. Boro are still chasing that final playoff spot, so it's hardly an easy start to Jack's managerial career.

God. I'm getting old watching these players from my youth become managers.

What Next For Jack?

This could be the start of something interesting for Wilshere. He's only 33 (makes me feel ancient, I swear I was just watching his debut yesterday). If he impresses in these two games, who knows? The Norwich job could be his permanently.

Or it could be a complete disaster and we'll never speak of it again.

Either way, I'll be watching that Cardiff game with popcorn ready. Former teammates facing off with careers on the line... it's like a football soap opera.

And they say the Championship lacks drama...

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Is the Premier League governed by financial regulations?

The Premier League does have financial regulations known as Financial Fair Play rules (FFP). These are meant to stop clubs from going beyond their means, and promote financial stability. These rules require clubs to limit their losses over a three-year period and to ensure that expenditures do not massively exceed their earnings from football-related activities. The regulations have been put in place as a way to encourage responsible expenditure and to maintain the competitive balance of the league.

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The Premier League is the top-tier football league in England and one of the most popular and competitive domestic football leagues in the world. The Premier League is played by 20 teams, and it operates under a promotion-relegation system with the English Football League. The teams compete every year, each playing 38 matches at home and away. Typically the season lasts from August to May. The Premier League is renowned for its international star players and high-quality soccer.

What is the role played by the video assistant referee in the Premier League league?

In the Premier League, the Video Assistant Referee system (VAR), which is used to assist on-field officials in making correct decisions about goals, penalties, red card incidents and cases of misidentification, is employed. The VAR examines the footage of the incident and provides advice to the on-field referee. They can also view a video replay at the pitchside monitor, before making their final decision. The system is intended to minimize human mistakes that could affect the outcome a match.

What happens when a Premier League team is relegated to the bottom?

The teams who finish the Premier League season in the bottom 3 positions are relegated into the Championship. This is the second division of English football. In their place, two of the top teams from the Championship and the winner of Championship playoffs will be promoted to the Premier League.

How do you determine the Premier League champion?

The Premier League's winner is the club that accumulates the greatest number of points during the season of 38 games. Three points are awarded for each win, while one point is given for a tie and none for a defeat. If teams finish the season with equal points, then the winner is determined by the goal difference and, if needed, the number scored. If the teams are still level, a playoff at a neutral venue may be used to decide the title, although this scenario has never occurred in Premier League history.

Statistics

Alan Shearer is the all-time top scorer in the Premier League with 260 goals across his stellar career.
Durability is exemplified by Gareth Barry who made an impressive 653 Premier League appearances, the highest number to date.
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Ryan Giggs holds the distinction of scoring in 21 consecutive Premier League seasons, marking consistency seldom seen in such a demanding league.
Petr Čech set a remarkable defensive record during the 2004-2005 season with 24 clean sheets, the most by a goalkeeper in a single Premier League season.

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