So this evening (7pm at CR) sees our Under 23s hopefully continue their winning start to 2018 scoring 7, whilst conceding only 4, in beating both Stoke and Newcastle. I fully expect Cantwell to play and look forward to seeing some goals and players actually being in the box when we're attacking!!! I'll try to give a few updates during the game.
Quite an even first half and TC seems to have caught the first team disease and wants to 'walk the ball into the net' - a couple of times he could have had a shot on goal, but opted to pass instead. Or goal had a charmed life on about 30 minutes with at least 3 attempts blocked.
To think how sh*t and weak our squad is, and we have no attacking options. To watch these games, like I did the other year, and still none of them get a game going forward!. Stopped me looking.
Cantwell wins it at the death! "City counter, McIntosh gets Cantwell going, he dances across the edge of the box with a crowd of Bournemouth defenders chasing him and fires a low shot past the keeper and into the bottom-right corner." Norwich 1-0 Bournemouth
Cantwell has made it into the senior squad following Lewis, Thompson and Godfrey. Not sure what your point is.
Pretty much how I saw it - TC took his goal well and it looked as though the game was heading for a draw. Several good displays - Fonkeu, Wallis, Abrahams.Crowe, McIntosh and Cantwell (though I wish he'd shoot more often). Toffolo deserved to be subbed and I think his contract is up at the end of this season Edit - that's now 3 wins out of 3 this year and all against PL teams!!
That was from the Pink'un match commentary by Dave Freezer. His match report is here: http://www.pinkun.com/norwich-city/norwich-city-u23s-1-bournemouth-u23s-0-1-5365240
FML - I've seen many Under 23 games in the past 18 months and they seem to have a far more settled squad this season with some exciting prospects coming through and I think that several of them will follow in the footsteps of the Murphy twins, Godfrey, Morris, Jaiyesimi and Phillips by going out on loan to gain more experience. I'd be surprised (and disappointed) if at least Godfrey and a couple of others aren't promoted to the first team squad next season and if they aren't then I will agree that all this talk from SW/DF about developing players in the Academy is just a lot of 'hot air'. Watch this space. According to the Canaries website, we are due to play Reading at CR on 4th Feb. If you want, I can get you a ticket and I'll buy you a pint either before or after the game in the Queen of Iceni.
FML - please try to find the time t read this article, as it explains things far better than I can - http://norwichcity.myfootballwriter...pathway-for-this-talented-crop-of-youngsters/
This is at the core of the article: The club needs to have an academy that is regularly producing talent and who better to source and develop that talent than a man who was leading operations at Borussia Dortmund’s Under-23s only a year ago. Jamal Lewis and Todd Cantwell are the new poster boys despite Alan Irvine, upon his departure last May, stating the club was devoid of talent in its youth sides. Farke however has already plucked a real gem in Lewis and it is not implausible to suggest that there is an abundance of talent working tirelessly to be the next Lewis, Murphy and the like.
Cantwell looked really good against Chelsea. I’m surprised and disappointed that it took so long to get his chance. Hopefully that kicks off his career. In a game where everyone was knackered, and didn’t turn up against Sheffield, to see vrancic, Stiepermann and hoolahan come on when Cantwell could have a free run at a home debut. Was pretty gut wrenching.
Had we been ahead, I could see Cantwell coming on, but chasing the game we needed craft and guile to try and break down a packed defense. His time will come or perhaps with Edwards here, he'll go on loan to get valuable experience and then join Godfrey, Thompson, Morris, Phillips and others in the senior squad next season.
Is that promoted whether they're ready or not ? Or if DF doesn't promote them when you think they're ready. DF has shown he is willing to play young players when he thinks they are ready i.e. Maddison, Lewis, Cantwell others have been sent out on loans and done very well playing at a level suitable for their development. Our younger players seem to be being managed very professionally at the moment and as a result some are developing into very good players. DF has also shown that he won't damage their development and bring them into the first team just to placate some fans or for short term popularity.
My gut feeling is that Cantwell needs to go out on loan to a league 1 club and get regular football. I think in the medium term this will be much better for his development than the odd cameo appearance in the first team.
Harsh - but VERY fair!!! The case of Godfrey going back to Shrewsbury is the perfect example of that, as is Phillips. Can't really argue with Cantwell as well in all honesty, though that will probably have to wait until the end of this month to ensure that JM is staying with us until the summer at least!!!
Godfrey has already played in the first team, as have Morris, Thompson, Toffolo and Cantwell. Phillips has been on the bench, so all of those could be considered senior squad members. With Reed gone back to Southampton and Tettey at the end of his contract, Godfrey and Thompson could become regular DMs next year as Trybull is more of a holding CM. Toffolo is coming back from injury (which is why he only played the first half). It's make or break time for him as his contract ends this summer. Cantwell could be our third AM next season.
GRRRR8 post Rick and I'd love to see Trybull accept his contract, so that we have an experienced player to help the youff coming through. I see Godfrey as Tettey's successor and Cantwell as JM's. IMO, it would be BRILLIANT of those changes actually happen!!!
My issue with the loan of Godfrey is not that it is good for his development, clearly it is, it for me is confirmation that we couldn't give a monkey's about this season. Look how thin our squad is, look how we played 120mins vs Chelsea and then couldn't make many changes for the Sheff utd match. A fresh Tettey Godfrey engine room plus a fresh striker and we might have had a better chance. For me Godfrey is needed with us now, arguably Morris too. I am not so sure Morris is ready but given we have no alternative at the moment to an out of sorts Oliviera or unfancied youngsters its poor squad management for my money. We could not write off the Sheff utd game given their position and how close it could have brought us to the playoff places. The players no doubt gave their all and ironnically it was the only player who was reasonably rested who made the worst error to cost us the game, but we were jaded because we have too thin a squad and prioritised the wrong game. Godfrey should be back playing for us. The rest on loan I agree with, Yannick is a weird one, I don't think he's great, but to give Josh a rest he strikes me as an option that we should still have had. I know the window isn't closed and I know our financial limitations, but as soon as we sold Pritchard that should have enabled us to make the signings perceived as most important and quite quickly to reinvigorate the managers very limited options...........have we signed a striker yet? Bah!
