I just hope we don't live to regret this decision, but I look back at the new players coming in after our last promotion and can only hope we do better. Only Byram made a major contribution. Amadou had some appearances covering at CB but never really made it at DM and both he and Roberts moved on after 4 months. I really hope Dowell can kick on now that he is finding his form with goals and assists. Stiepermann is now the only other option and his previous year in the PL was disappointing. Neither of the two Ryans, Gauld or Christie, coming in to replace Vrančić would fill me with confidence but we have to hope that SW makes the right decision this time. I realise that Tettey is 35, but with Skipp going back to Spurs with a metatarsal injury means we're currently left with the virtually untried Sørensen at DM (how the management must regret not playing him once we were promoted) and Sitti, who can play as a DM but has mainly played at CM, and has not even played for us yet. There have been other names rumoured but any new player will be yet another gamble and we have to hope it works, as is the case if McCallum is now thrust into the PL by injury. Yes, others can play there, but that's yet another unknown in the PL as is what happens if Buendia, Aarons and/or Cantwell leave. It's the uncertainty that saps confidence.
Skipp has undergone surgery to repair a metatarsal fracture, expected to be out for 12 weeks, but available for at least some of Spurs' pre-season. That's going to make it awkward to get a decision out of Spurs on his future early in the window, if the new manager can't seem him play until mid-August.
12 weeks from today will be the end of July, but then there's the fitness required, so mid August sounds about right. How long do we go on hoping that he might be available?
With Tettey out, we realistically need two defensive midfielders, Skipp +1. We can at least get the other in earlier in the window and wait on Skipp a little.
We paid £3.7m for Melvin Sitti who was recruited to play at DM, though he's described by Transfermarkt as a CM who can also play as a DM or an AM. That suggests a slightly different skills set to those of Skipp or Sørensen, who is also undergoing a transition from CM to DM. It may also explain why Sitti returned from loan in January and has been playing with the U23s since then. He's 21 now, with considerable playing experience in France as well as the loan in the Netherlands. Clearly DF has his own strategy about how the central midfield should operate. This may mean that there isn't be a designated DM as such, but instead both CMs sharing that responsibility as situations develop. McLean has adjusted to a new role alongside Skipp which allows them both to be more mobile as they move the ball forward or drop back to cover for the FBs when the ball is lost. That has also been a crucial part of playing the ball out from the back as the transformed Hanley and Gibson link up with the midfield who then move the ball on to the attacking players. Farkeball is a mobile team process and the changes in midfield are a key part of what has made us stronger this season.
Are we likely to ever see Byram playing for us again? Perhaps early retirement from playing could be forced on him?
He's only 27, even Matt Jarvis at 34 after all his injury isses managed 21 appearances in the 20/21 season for Woking. Whether he's capable of playing to the same level is a different question. Either way, I think it needs to be 4 full-backs + Byram in the squad next season.
RB/WB: Aarons (or other), Byram, Mumba LB/WB: Giannoulis, McCallum, (Sørensen) Given that Byram and Sørensen can cover either FB position it may depend on whether SW and DF think Mumba and McCallum are sufficient cover. Meanwhile another rumour has surfaced: https://footballleagueworld.co.uk/s...ty-brighton-interested-in-coventry-city-star/ Gustavo Hamer has had a good year at Coventry this year with 5 goals and 2 assists in 43 appearances. Perhaps McCallum flagged him up? He's a DM who can also play as a CM or RB. Perhaps a more defensive option than Gauld or Christie. 2021 Transfer Window dates: "The Premier League has today confirmed the dates for the Summer 2021 Transfer Window. The window will open for 12 weeks from 9 June and will close at 23:00 BST on 31 August. This will align with other European leagues."
This seems sensible for a change. Not that our normal European targets are necessarily options anymore after Brexit.
Norwich City have emerged as one of the clubs interested in Fenerbahce defensive midfielder Ozan Tufan. https://footballleagueworld.co.uk/t...h-if-they-seal-26-y-o-international-transfer/
I would guess that this has no legs. £17.4m ? Not a hope. Teams higher up the food chain would most likely be his destination.
I find that site usually makes mountains out of molehills and talks out of its backside most if not all of the time.
Besides which, one big money player could upset the locker room morale and the wage structure as well. Meanwhile the Pinkun offers an insight into a shift in the club's recruitment policy: https://www.pinkun.com/sport/norwich-city/norwich-city-recruitment-premier-league-7953728
Interesting that Placheta is highlighted as an example of the club's new metrics playing into recruitment. It's early in his NCFC career admittedly, but we can't afford to sign 5 Placheta's this summer who clearly need time to adapt to the league. I think how we arrived at Gibson, Giannoulis and Dowell would be more interesting to look at.
You could include Hugill as well, DH. Placheta's pace is his primary 'physical metric' so that is easy to identify. Perhaps he, like Cantwell, will prove his worth in the PL where it won't be so much about breaking down packed defences. Pace is also a key metric for Giannoulis but he is also taller and more physical than Lewis, especially important for defending against set pieces. The physicality of Gibson and Hugill is obvious enough when compared with their predecessors but Gibson in particular is a very good fit into DF's style of play and the same could be said of Dowell, whose position will be a key factor next season. With Vrančić leaving, we should have another option coming in as we currently have 5 squad places available by my count.
Is there anyway back into the squad for someone like Trybull? Seems to have done well at Blackburn, but was never really trusted in the PL. Need to try to sell Drmic and Leitner this summer. Anyone have any idea what Leitner has been doing all year?
I never quite understood Trybull being considered surplus to requirements. He worked hard on both sides of the ball and would seem to fit the McLean/Skipp style of midfield play. I think Drmic is on a loan with an option to buy, but I'm not sure and Leitner is back in Germany but hasn't had any interest since Werder Bremen were said to be interested early on.
That's good enough for me. Get the mugs printed and chants composed. Suggest "Ajer Love" to the Whitney Houston's "Higher Love".
How come nearly every blog I look what is quoting Jon Newsome on Norwich matters? How come he has become the font of all Canary knowledge?