Figured we might as well have a continuation of the season-long thread. 50% wage cuts, if true will sort the 'loyals' among the current squad out, for sure. Will certainly alert a few more player agents! https://www.pinkun.com/norwich-city/city-players-face-50pc-wage-cut-1-6733757 Plus speculation on when fans may be allowed back into the ground: https://www.edp24.co.uk/news/when-w...o-watch-norwich-city-at-carrow-road-1-6733526
If we had a £10k p/w wage cap in the Championship and most players saw their salary increase to £25-30k p/w for the Prem, then most players are looking at higher salaries for this Championship season than our last one. As to potential moves away, everyone is on long term deals, and beyond 5-6 players there's very few you'd think have done enough to get Premier League interest. Given the mess of finances in the Championship, I can't see us losing players to rival teams. I'd like to see us sign the players for a 3-4-2-1 formation to be viable next season. From our current squad, that would look something like: Krul Godfrey Hanley Klose Aarons Tettey McLean Lewis Buendia Cantwell (Both playing more centrally than they current do) Pukki Backup/rotation/tactical options: McGovern Zimmerman ??? ??? Byram Trybull Vrancic McCallum Stiepermann Sinani Idah With Drmic, Hernandez, Rupp, Sitti, Sorensen (?) the rest of the squad. I'd like to see a physical, imposing DM in the squad, perhaps Sorensen, Sitti, Thompson could be that player? If not perhaps a signing here. For a 3 CB formation, we'd probably need to sign 1 more, with Famewo, etc closer to the first team. Arguably a 35 year old McGovern isn't the calibre of goalkeeper we'd want to be relying on too much going forwards, and it doesn't look like Oxborough is ready for the Championship. So perhaps a backup GK? Otherwise it would be 1 in, 1 out for the rest of the squad. Looks like we've probably already covered Leitner's expected departure.
Like you reasonings etc. My only comment would be re the 1st 11. Byram for Lewis,Zimmers for Klose.would be my preference.
I hope people don't underestimate the financial problems we will face next year. Whilst a few of of our top earners will face a pay cut the rest of our expenses will remain constant and I suspect it will be a while before supporters will be allowed in the ground. We might need the parachute money and the sale of a player or two just to survive and we will be in a better position than most. Quite frankly I am amazed that more Clubs have not gone bust already. I suspect that we might out of necessity have to rely more and more on youngsters next year to supplement the remains of this years squad but that should be sufficient for a good season especially as I cannot see too many departures happening. The most important thing for our Club is financial stability and I most certainly would not want to face the problems a club like Villa will face if they join us in the Championship next year.
This topic may have been discussed before but I would like to know what views others have with regard to the decline of Pukki. After winning an award last season for his prolific form in the Championship, he has been a disappointment since January. Ok, he has to now operate in the PL, but he seemed disinterested in the Watford game. Will there be any interest in him from other clubs?
A bit unfair as the service to him has been non existent. I can't help wondering if we had stumped up for Rhodes we might not have been as toothless in attack.
Pukki has a track record all his career of blowing hot and cold and this is one of his cold spells. I do not know if the good Pukki will return but at 30 years of age I cannot think too many clubs would want to take a chance in the current climate. As far as Rhodes is concerned I think that his reputation is better than the player and if Pukki struggled with the service he got Rhodes would have been even worse.
Speaking of Rhodes, he's out of contract this summer...get the old gang back together? I doubt Pukki moves on. He likes Norwich, and we'd want mega money for him to leave. I don't think he's done enough, at his age, for someone to stump up the sizeable fee.
Villa 0-2 down to United. Effectively now five points off safety with four games left. Unlike us they have spent £100 million +. Of course spending might have saved us but I very much doubt it. Not spending looks like a good strategy to me.
Watford play West Ham in two games time too, so chances are that safety line gets further out of reach. They do have West Ham in the final game of the season, but I'd be astonished if it's relevant. I'd take Bournemouth and Villa joining us in the Championship, I would imagine both have much more complex financial pictures.
Would love to see West Ham rather than Cherries, but I agree. Bournemouth look to have no more teeth than us, given where they are what they do have are probably false ones.
How has Rhodes been performing in Championship? If I recall correctly, he is about Pukki's age. He didn't get much action last season so if he were to come back would he still be back up to Pukki?
Barely played, randomly scored a hat trick, no other league goals this season I think. If he were to join, it would be as backup, and either because Drmic doesn't fancy the championship, or to let Idah out on loan.
Re. Villa, I can't see Dean Smith being there next season, whichever division they end up in. Grealish will definitely move on if relegated, and there will be plenty of interest in McGinn. Given last summer's overspend, and a defence as leaky as ours, losing those two would really hurt them.
Financially/ squad wise we may be in a better position than the rest that go down with us next year, but the championship isn't going to be pretty next year with the finances for everyone.
Sheffield United beat Chelsea today 3 - 0 at home and are now 6th in PL. So it begs the question how is that this team had succeeded where we have failed?Did they spend big and wisely (or little and wisely) on players?