Norwich fans look like mugs in foul-mouthed chant at Billy Gilmour

Gilmour facing a battle on and off the pitch

If I were a Norwich supporter this season - I'd probably be a ridiculously angry person too. Dead last in the Premier League with just eight goals scored across nineteen matches does not scream fun match going experience. When a team is this low, it's hard to pinpoint a single contributing factor - but that did not stop the fans at Selhurst Park from singling out Billy Gilmour.

In fact no single loan player in the history of players being loaned out has directly contributed to an entirely abject season. Especially when that player was largely left out of the squad. Daniel Farke made it clear that he did not want to develop loan players - so Gilmour spent most of his time on the fringes during matches. With his strong views on loanees being outsiders - you can draw some conclusions about how they were treated during training when planning for their next embarrassing defeat.

With nothing better to sing about - the grown men in the away end at Selhurst Park gleefully shouted at 20 year-old Billy Gilmour to 'f*** off back to Chelsea'. Give him back then. He's never put a foot wrong for his parent club and was Scotland's shining light in their Euros campaign as well. He's obviously a huge talent who will only get better and can only do so much when there's no direction around him. 

So desperate for a scapegoat that they ignore the basic facts. Complaints that the midfielder passes to the opposition, yet has one of the highest pass success rates on the entire team. Also averages more tackles and dribbles than any single Norwich player this season. If it's creativity they're looking for - the Scotland international has made four more key passes than any of his teammates - and in six fewer matches. 

It is nothing short of embarrassing that they've singled out this young player who by and large is one of the best they've got this season. They have set the bar very low, but still. It could not be clearer that Gilmour is not the problem with the Canaries misfortunes - but their fans are making a case for themselves being part of a growing issue.

Chelsea should intervene on his behalf - play the good parent (club). Whether that's to rotate into the first team's current crop of injury plagued stars or to find him a new foster home for the remainder of the season. One that allows him to progress as a player and where fans appreciate what he brings to the table.

Norwich fans can f*** off back to the Championship while Billy Gilmour returns to the Champions of Europe.