No real need for them to do that. Once he's nutmegged himself four or five times and then tripped over the ball the oppo have possession back anyway! (p.s. I love him really )
My guess is that Pritchard (if he stays) will be our main player in the hole over the course of the next season. Wes will have to fight for the shirt against both AP and JM as well as Naismith and that's as it should be but he's still one of the best at unlocking packed defenses (whatever Cromer says ). I expect JM to start in the cup games (there's more of those now) and to come on as sub more frequently in the way he has been doing to prove himself at Championship level, which I think he will do. Until he does, however, we still need Wes if we want to be serious about promotion next year.
I just don't see how the club - or any club of our stature, can justify retaining four (4!) players all ostensibly fighting for one position. Unless Wes plays wide left and Naismith wide right We need to free up squad places and wages to bolster our not-fit-for-purpose defence, 'keeping and CM departments
Other than Irvine being appointed full time (and I'm still not ruling that out), I cannot think of a more underwhelming appointment so I wouldn't rule out him pitching up at Conley either ! "We scoured Europe for a new Head Coach, but after careful consideration and bearing in mind who out there was 'available' we have decided that the best person to take this club forward based on the end of season performances is Alan"
I certainly wouldn't bet against that being exactly what happens. I thought that at least he was forthright about the team's failings on Saturday - something AN rarely was.
Howson can also play in that role and if we change to playing 2 up front we have a whole new range of options. We don't need WH, AP & JM. One of them needs to go, it's just a question of which. For me AP & JM are the future, so the WH goes, however there are other options 1) We sell AP and keep WH & JM. Positive are will bring in money to buy some decent defenders. Negatives Selling one of our best players, who has PL potential. Means WH will be the main man (can't play 3 time a week) with JM as understudy. 2) We sell or loan out JM. Positives We keep AP, give WH another year (because the past means more to the club than the future) and if we get the right loan for JM and he develops to the player he has the potential to be then we have two potnetially fantastic players for the season after next (AP & JM) Negatives if we sell JM in order to keep WH then we are clearly sacrificing the future for past, which send totally the wrong message not just to JM, but others in the team. WH over the next season is likely to be the weaker of the 3 and can't play 3 games a week. WH has probably one season at this level left in him at the best. I we did get promoted to the PL WH would not be able to cut it in the PL if we had sold JM then we would need to buy a replacement, which would be costly. A better option would be to develop AP & JM.
This is a key question Cromer. IMO, they are not fighting for the one position, as Wes can also play WL, especially when Pritchard is at AM, Naismith can play WL, AM or WR (which he has been doing very effectively lately). Even JM has dropped back to CM for the U23s at times to allow Middleton to come on. I think Pritchard will be our primary AM next season, but we need more than JM as back-up and that would be Wes for me. Wes will probably play more at WL, competing with Wildschut and Josh there. Naismith could compete with Jacob at WR with Jaiyesimi as the youth cover there. That flexibility saves any need for squad players (something a good squad shouldn't need) and allows the key acquisitions to be made in defense, where we need at least 3 quality players (more if Klose and/or Dijks leave).
Hasn't SW already ruled out AI as HC? I can't see that happening but I would like to see AI stay in the coaching set-up.
I think if we are going to maintain the same size squad as last year then the arguement to retain Hoolahan. is stronger, although there is still a negative it that it would potentially hinder JM's development. However the message I'm getting from Webber is that the squad is going to be significantly smaller, in which case it just doesn't make sense to me to retain 3 players who are so similar and if nothing else the last 2 seasons should have taught us to play square pegs in square holes. Morally I think the club should prioritse the development of developing players over the retention of players who are close to or reached their sell by dart.
Indeed he has and why would he say that he had to wait until the end of the season before naming his HC if it was going to be AI?? By all means, keep AI in a coaching capacity.
JM has played a total of 24-25 minutes of Championship football. His experience at Coventry and then Aberdeen have given him a good start and he shows real promise, but he needs more experience in this league before he can become number 2 at AM, probably the most challenging position on the pitch. Wishful thinking can also be a dangerous sentiment, canario and we can't afford to take unnecessary risks next season. If we do cut the squad down to 20 or below, then we will struggle to cope with injuries and suspensions.
There are some cracking posts on here which makes me glad it's not me that has to decide who will stay or go!
Too right. Wessi wide left, pah! Naismith wide right, pah! Whittaker, left back...enough said (though he didn't disgrace himself to be fair) Play people where they are most effective for the team, rather than try and shoe-horn them in just because "they cost a lot of money" or are a teacher's pet
I for one am a little worried about where funds for all the replacement players are going to come from. Here is the current squad list and who is probably leaving (with a rough estimate as to what we might get): Ruddy x (contract up) McGovern x (£1m?) Jones Pinto Whittaker x (contract up) Godfrey Martin Bennett Klose x (£6m? If he wants to leave)) Bassong x (contract up) Turner x (contract up) Djiks x (loan finishes) Toffolo Howson Dorrans Tettey x (£2m?) Mulumbu x (contract up) Thompson Murphy Murphy Wildschut Jarvis x (£1m?) Naismith Wes Pritchard Maddison Jerome Oliveira Lafferty x (contract up) That brings in about £9m in transfer funds (if Klose goes for anywhere near that sum or at all!). Now by my reckoning we need 10/11 players to replace these. 2 x GK (or bring Rudd back?) 1 x RB 2 x LB 2/3 x CB (depending on whether Klose leaves too) 2 x CM 1 x ST Surely (unless we are to collect freebies or gems from lower leagues) this is going to cost the best part of £30m to get decent replacements in all positions!? Doubt we can afford anywhere near this which makes me worry about the quality of player they will be looking to bring in!
Even i admit he's not the future, but he's one of the best players seen at this club in recent times, and I see that as pretty disrespectful, even in (apparent) jest.
Apparently negotiating a new contract extension for Toffolo, or maybe taking up the 1 year option, at the moment.
If we bring Rudd back to the club for next season it will have to be as first choice. He is, what, 26 now and would demand the starting role at whatever club he is at. I can only see him leaving, probably for Charlton.
Today's dollop of MFW - and it makes very good reading http://norwichcity.myfootballwriter...-a-massive-improvement-on-our-recent-history/
http://www.hibernian-mad.co.uk/news/tmnw/hibs_eye_move_for_steven_whittaker_907549/index.shtml:emoticon-0137-
