Not sure why we don't have a dedicated Pre-Season thread, it seems appropriate! Highlights from the 2-2 vs Stevenage: Also, the game vs Cambridge will be 120 minutes long, in order to give the entire squad minutes. I believe we did a similar thing with them last year?
Apparently Jacob only returned for pre-season yesterday. Not sure when Gunn returned, but the fitness demands on a goalkeeper are a little different! The suggestion that Zimmerman will be a regular starter is surprising, but pleasing. I expected him to be 4th choice this season, but if he can perform well enough to do better than that then that's excellent. No surprise Husband will be first choice given his competition, Godfrey looking more settled as a DM is pleasing too, particularly with Thompson sidelined.
Some other injury news, from Dave Freezer on twitter (EDP journo(?) speaking to Farke): Toffolo strained a muscle against Lowestoft but will be fine in a week Matt Jarvis' ankle injury means he won't be ready for any of pre-season. Hoolahan and Reed were rested for Cambridge, whilst Watkins had a small issue. All 3 will travel to Germany tomorrow. Farke expects Jacob to be with them. Tony Andreu will be continuing to train with the U23's, and is not in Farke's first team plans.
I feel a bit sorry for Andreu, AN convinced him to come to the club, he hardly ever featured, went back to Scotland on loan and did well given some game time. He'd be best off leaving on a free just to get him playing regular football and to get his wages off the payroll. Bummer about Jarvis, not ready for any pre-season games... Though weren't we saying the same thing this time last year? I know it's not his fault he's injured, but...............
I watched Jarvis and Lafferty play against Baggies in the league cup a few years back and they were brilliant.
Today’s offering from Stewart Lewis on MFW, who was at the game on Saturday - http://norwichcity.myfootballwriter...ers-–-my-past-and-present-world-of-cambridge/ Pritchard’s injury is a sickener. of course. Against that, Maddison is a revelation. In the top two divisions you need players who can turn and pass their way out of tight situations, and he’s clearly one. Why he didn’t get more games last season is beyond me, but he’s a bonus for the new regime. Probably because that would have meant dropping one of his 'pets!!!' - ie Naismith!!! FML - please note the comment re JM!!!
Senior squad for Germany: Angus Gunn, Michael McGovern, Remi Matthews, Paul Jones, Ivo Pinto, Ben Godfrey, Russell Martin, Christoph Zimmermann, Marcel Franke, James Husband, Harry Toffolo, Jamal Lewis, Josh Murphy, Yanic Wildschut, Harrison Reed, Alex Tettey, Mario Vrancic, James Maddison, Steven Naismith, Jacob Murphy, Wes Hoolahan, Marley Watkins, Nelson Oliveira, Cameron Jerome. Klose and Pritchard have been ruled out through injury. U23 squad: Aston Oxborough, Jake Hallett, Michee Efete, Timi Odusina, William Wright (trialist), Max Aarons, Brad Catton, Adam Phillips (trialist), Todd Cantwell, Diallang Jaiyesimi, Bilal Kamal, Agust Hlynsson, Emersson Sambu, Devonte Aransiba, Tony Andreu, Pierre Xavier Fonkeu (trialist), Kieran Higgs, Glenn Middleton. To highlight the trialists, Adam Phillips has already been discussed, a promising central midfielder released by Liverpool. William Wright I can find precisely nothing about - assuming he didn't play for Everton in the 1914-15 season. Pierre Fonkeu is interesting, apparently Stoke, ourselves, Wolves and Sunderland are all interested in the young Club Brugge striker.