This week I began to put down initial plans for both training and fundraising.

Something struck me about running and Norwich City.

I’ve always been a runner and a few bad runs don't suddenly make you a bad runner.

You can have a few weeks when nothing really clicks, your legs feel heavy and the times just aren't there. But the miles you've put in, the fitness you've built and the muscle memory developed over the days, months and years haven't just disappeared overnight.

Perhaps that's worth remembering with Philippe Clement.

Five consecutive league defeats hurts - it hurts a lot.

Everyone connected no doubt has a mixture of feelings. I'm angry, frustrated and, if I'm truthful, a little sad about where we find ourselves coming towards the end of October.

But almost 12 months ago Clement inherited a struggling football club and gave us something we'd almost forgotten existed: belief.

Without belief you really have nothing.

Having reflected these past few weeks this is where, in my opinion, I currently see the current position.

The positive work since November 2025 hasn't disappeared.

We've got a very strong manager who has demonstrated his ability to turn difficult situations around and no doubt the expectations he created are now contributing to the frustration we're all feeling.

But let's consider what he's dealing with and perhaps this very young group of players.

Firstly, losing Mo Toure, Ali Ahmed and Kenny McLean this early in the season is enormous. Goals, creativity, energy and leadership, all missing together.

Kenny's absence, however, has exposed something I've worried about for a long while.

Where are our other leaders?

We once had Grant Hanley, Shane Duffy and characters like Ashley Barnes around the dressing room. Experienced professionals who understood what younger players needed when things weren't going well.

I get it, Duffy wasn't everyone's favourite cup of tea, he wasn't even playing last season, but I remember seeing him often walk on and congratulate young Ruairi McConville after victories.

He wasn't getting the minutes himself, yet he was encouraging the youngster playing in his position.

We supporters only see the matchdays.

Think about the work during the week.

The conversations on the training ground, advice after mistakes or a meeting with the coaching staff where a young player has been told some home truths, helping younger players understand positioning, decision-making and dealing with setbacks.

Think about the work during the week.

Conversations on the training ground, advice after mistakes, or a quiet word following a difficult meeting with the coaching staff.

Sometimes it's demonstrating standards. Sometimes it's reassuring a youngster that one poor performance doesn't define him.

Andre Brooks springs to mind.

That's leadership too.

Young players need to play, make mistakes and learn.

But having somebody who's already experienced those situations alongside them can accelerate their development enormously.

Kenny cannot do this all on his own and without knowing the players personally my assumption is that Jack Stacey, the second most senior pro, perhaps isn’t the strongest of vocal leaders, but a consummate professional both on and off the pitch for young players to look up to.

You need that blend.

There is no doubt that last season, both in individual moments and collectively, we've got a talented squad.

What I'm less convinced about is whether we've got enough experienced characters helping that talent develop.

We didn’t need wholesale change in the summer, most agreed on this, especially after how the second half of the season unfolded.

The summer arrival of Brooks will also be a great signing - he has already shown glimpses of what he’s about.

But we desperately lack two more seniors to support Big Phil and the team.

You can never underestimate the quality of seasoned players spearheading the team that can take moments out of games and help see important points gained.

I think the most recent player we’ve had that could do this was Emi Marcondes - think Watford away under Thorup.

I imagine Clement demands exceptionally high standards. But when results turn against you, young players sometimes need another voice beyond an understandably frustrated management team.

Perhaps last season when everyone was both playing for their own and the club's future, the sleeves were rolled up and momentum built and sustained.

My feeling is this season that same approach isn’t working with some of the players.

I feel we need to keep in touch with the top eight between now and January and ensure top of the list is a couple of older heads that were missed last summer.

Perhaps Clement wanted them himself. We don't know.

But I fear we're missing that influence now.

And that's where running comes back into it. One poor training session doesn't erase months of work, neither do five narrow losses. You adjust, trust the foundations and keep going.

But you must also recognise what's not working and be prepared to make changes to improve performance.

My one significant criticism of Clement remains the apparent lack of a Plan B with respect to formation. The number 10 position simply hasn't worked consistently this season. Nobody has regularly found those little pockets of space, created the final ball or influenced games in the way we've needed.

I’m not convinced by the quality we have in that position, despite the options available.

We've been spoiled by Wes Hoolahan. He could see passes nobody else imagined and find space where there seemingly wasn't any, even when defenders had pushed up.

So why not change the shape? Go 4-4-2 or 4-1-3-2.

Two forwards (Jovon Makama and Mathias Kvistgaarden) and a tighter midfield three allowing the full-backs the opportunity to bomb on without exposing gaping holes which any of our midfield combinations this season have been unable to cover.

I'm not suggesting there's one perfect answer.

But surely after almost 12 months we should have a minimum of two or three approaches available when circumstances and conditions change within a game.

It’s taken time for the much spoken about Daniel Farke to change his ways, but Leeds United are certainly seeing the benefit of having varying options of Farkeball this season.

We've seen Clement make decisive half-time changes before, notably at West Brom away. He can adapt. I'd just like to see more of it.

Above all, we need to become harder to beat. Several defeats have been by a single goal, but narrow defeats still leave you with nothing. You won’t win football matches if you concede goals.

To add to it all the emotional feeling sweeping across the club, seeing the guard of honour and those legends stood shoulder to shoulder who both wore our yellow shirt or held the touchline with such distinction standing together for Michael Wynn Jones' tribute made the hairs on the back of my neck stand up.

A lovely tribute, memories flashing before your very eyes.

That's the club we love, and why these difficult periods hurt.

But football changes remarkably quickly. This for me is a mini season until the final whistle is blown at Bristol City.

Three wins from the next four and the mood transforms everywhere. Fewer than four points, though, and I fear the conversation becomes very different…

For now, let's stick together, back big Phil Clement and give these players the support they need.

I hope Kenny has made his way back to fitness and into the team today.

The foundations have been built, but even the best runners sometimes need somebody alongside them through the difficult miles.

And perhaps that's exactly what this Norwich team is missing.