Lots of people on here were praising Sheffield United last season, well they've certainly gone to pot this season. 1 point from 13 games, that's o.o77 points per game. Compared to the 0.55 points per game we earned last season. Just wondering what those posters that were saying we need to be more like SU last year think now. Would anyone want to swap current positions with them ?
If, rather than trying to score cheap points, you actually looked at what those who wanted us to be more like Sheffield Utd were saying last season, you would realise that they have been proved absolutely right -- and have Daniel Farke's own words and, more importantly, actions to prove it. This season we are seeing the exact shift in balance between defence and attack that I and others advocated -- and you repeatedly rejected as "wanting us to go all defensive". Sheffield built their success over several seasons on being defensively sound; this season we have finally got round to following suit -- and it's nothing to do with injuries, either this season or last.
Ben Marshall with some less than complimentary things to say about Norwich. "If I'm honest, I think anyone being at Norwich is going to get a bit of depression," Apparently he had depression whilst here, but it sounds like he was the architect of his own downfall a bit, never wanting to come here and just wanting the money, sitting playing games (candycrush) on his phone and then going home alone. Also he talks about how he even stopped drinking whilst here, as if that's a sign that something was wrong. Sorry to hear he had depression, and he gets points for cancelling the contract and not doing a Naismith, but his recent interview suggests he has some issues still. Just look at tettey. Hes been here yonks and cant stop smiling.
So the legs may tire more quickly at 32 / 33, but the footballing brain and eye for a pass doesn't. Nor the set-piece delivery ability.
If we're in the Championship, absolutely keep him. In the Premier League? I think he's probably only appropriate as an impact sub. His ability to pass through a packed defence late in the game is exceptional. If he's happy with that role in the squad, and trying to prove he can be more than that, I think keep.
It's expensive to keep an impact sub on Premier League wages. I think we'll need better value than that.
The answer is No!, because the current strategy already allows for a different approach to the EPL second time round. We will buy Premier League quality to the extent that sensible risk management dictates.
I'd compare it to the situations with Tettey, McGovern, even Klose, over the last few years. When contracts have expired, the club have driven a hard bargain to get contracts signed which reflect the current value of someone to the squad. Vrancic would go into negotiations knowing that realistically, this is his last shot at Premier League football, and otherwise he'd probably be looking at a move overseas where he'd be paid less too. Whilst the squad will inevitably need fresh faces and improvements, there's a lot to be said for older heads who know the systems and are prepared to play a part from the bench. I'd rather we were able to spend larger sums on fewer players, and maintain some continuity. Feels awfully presumptuous discussing summer transfers with the Premier League in mind though!
Good Christmas story here about the time Norwich and Brighton Met on Christmas Day 1940. http://wearebrighton.com/albiondatabase/all-i-want-for-christmas-is-an-18-0-defeat-at-norwich/
Interview with Ed Balls about his time at the club. https://www.pinkun.com/sport/norwich-city/ed-balls-explains-club-restructure-alex-neil-6864232
https://www.edp24.co.uk/news/from-norwich-city-football-hero-to-teaching-assistant-here-s-849312 An article about Robert Fleck