Premier League season, 2021 / 2022

I think that he's going to be seen as our 2nd striker behind Pukki whether Hugill leaves or not. Michael Bailey's assertion that tactics could well tweak to a 4-3-2-1 next season would help explain the arrival of both Rashica and Lees-Melou, as both played in a 4-3-2-1, as did Gilmour. It's hard to believe we'd recruit those skills and go on playing a 4-2-3-1 every game. As the report says:

"The Kosovan is capable of playing across the frontline, having played on both flanks as well as centrally for both Werder and the Kosovo national side in recent seasons. Indeed, the majority of his playing time came as a striker for Werder last season, and while Norwich City have not signed him as a backup or replacement for Teemu Pukki, this sort of flexibility is a good addition to the Canaries’ squad."

He's not a replacement for Buendia, as the report explains, he's the right side of the 2 behind Pukki, playing as a 2nd striker/AM in a counterattacking tactical style. The Buendia role will more likely go to Lees-Melou playing on the right side of the 3 in the 4-3-2-1 formation. Pierre thus becomes the deep playmaker to feed the attacking players ahead of him. This means the opposing defence has to deal with the pace of both Pukki and Rashica with Cantwell, Dowell, Hernandez or Placheta providing supporting options.

Look at the 3 photographs in the report and how similar they are to Pukki's style of attack running on to through balls before scoring. Lees-Melou, Gilmour, McLean, Rupp, Sørensen and the new DM will become the new providers with less need for both FBs to 'bomb forward' recklessly, which could be why losing Aarons could be less of a blow than we might think. My other hope is that Liverpool turn up at CR expecting none of this.

 

I haven’t seen it mentioned anywhere but for those that are interest it looks as though Rashica has inherited Buendias number 17 squad number.

 

17 is becoming the new 14

 

Good news from the 'supercomputer' if you believe in such predictions:

https://www.givemesport.com/1721423...emier-league-table-predicted-by-supercomputer

Quick summary: We will stay up this season, with Palace, Brentford and Watford going down.

 

I'll take it if offered right now

 

Looking at the present squad (in bold) and that of our 2019-20 PL season the level of improvement is considerable considering we could have another CB, LB, DM and striker to come. Buendia is the major loss, but it depends on whether Rashica and Lees-Melou can make up for his loss.

GK: Krul, Gunn, McGovern
GK: Krul Fahrmann McGovern
CB: Hanley Zimmerman Gibson Omobamidele Sørensen
CB: Hanley Zimmerman Godfrey Klose
RB/WB: Aarons Byram Mumba
RB/WB: Aarons Byram
LB/WB: Giannoulis Byram Mumba
LB/WB: Lewis, Byram
DM: Sørensen [Skipp? or other] Sitti
DM: Tettey Amadou
CM: Gilmour Lees-Melou McLean Rupp CM: McLean Rupp Vrančić Leitner Trybull
WR: Rashica (Dowell) Rupp
WR: Buendia Drmic Rupp
WL: Cantwell Hernandez Placheta Sinani?
WL: Cantwell Hernandez
AM: Rashica Dowell Cantwell Rupp
AM: Stiepermann Vrančić Cantwell Rupp
S: Pukki Hugill Idah
S: Pukki Rhodes Drmic

 

Just going by the first friendly I doubt that Sitti and Sinani are going to be involved in the first team as they did not make that squad

 

That thought occurred to me as well Suffolk, unless they've picked up knocks. I included them on the squad list but not in the 25 players count, though Sitti is still under 21.

 

Any further news of Byram? Timm Klose looks surplus to requirements since he returned from Switzerland. I don’t recall any further news about him moving on to another club so I have assumed that he will see out his contract.

 

I believe Bryam has had another set back on his come back from injury, believed to be 2 weeks away from seeing game time.

 

Yes that was in a press release I saw somewhere

 

Here are this season ticket prices, if you can get one.
Gold (Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester City, Manchester United, Liverpool, Tottenham Hotspur, Leeds United, West Ham United, Leicester City)
Adults: £48
Over-65s and under-21s: £38
Under-18s: £20
Under-12: £15
Silver (Aston Villa, Everton, Wolves, Newcastle United, Brentford)
Adults: £43
Over-65s and under-21s: £33
Under-18s: £20
Under-12: £15
Bronze (Brighton, Burnley, Crystal Palace, Southampton, Watford)
Adults: £38
Over-65s and under-21s: £28
Under-18s: £20
Under-12: £15

 

The Huddersfield match(es) will be streamed on YouTube.

https://www.htafc.com/news/2021/july/watch-norwich-vs-town-live-on-youtube/

Note the change of time to 1.30:

"The format of the game has changed, and the sides will now face off over three 45-minute periods in order to get as many players as possible minutes on the pitch. This amended match will now kick-off at 1.30pm on Friday 23 July 2021."

 

Is that the pre-season match that has already been commented on on the pre-season thread? Do keep keep up Rick.

 

Haha! Haven't been over there recently canario, but there may be others like me.

 

News just in: Farke has signed a 4 year contract to 2025

https://www.pinkun.com/sport/norwic...g0yJoySPPtDRMn-pf_pEGTlaB6p7yRt2mM7AG34Q-8pPI

 

DF on tactics for the PL:

"My gut feeling is this season we have to be so flexible and that includes the option to play three at the back,” said Farke. “We have done this in earlier seasons but we were so dominant last season it was more about keeping the shape and keeping the momentum. We need to be able to react to the top class teams and be a bit unpredictable ourselves. You also have to adapt to the players available.”

 

Minor part of this deal which came out in an Athletic piece this morning, sounds like there's a clause which allows Farke to leave more easily should Webber leave. Sounds like it wouldn't reduce the compensation too much should another club want to take him from us, but that's still been factored into the contract.

 

I think that's natural on a Sporting Director setup, especially when the SD works so closely with the Head Coach creating trust. A new SD could come in with totally different ideas and tactics.