OK folks, now the dust is settling on the January transfer window, can we ALL put our sabres away for a few months and get on with supporting the team without any personal attacks (or perceived personal attacks [as I said in a recent post - the problem with the written/typed word!!]). EVERYONE is entitled to their opinion!!! Overall, I feel the team is stronger than it was at the beginning of the month (OK canario, you probably disagree with the loss of Jerome) and losing Pritchard was an unwanted loss, but we also have to consider the significant savings in inflated salaries. We will obviously have to wait and see how well our new German recruits perform, but as GE highlighted in post #1477, after a period of adjustment/settling in, the majority have improved our team and will continue to do so (especially if Trybull can be persuaded to sign a new contract!!). OTBC A summary from the EDP - http://www.edp24.co.uk/sport/norwich-city/canaries-transfer-deadline-day-revealed-1-5377621
I agree about entitlement to opinions and trying not to get personnal. As far as I'm concerned Marcus Evans is a Twat though. But FML was not calling anyone a twat, just saying he felt that was how he perceived others perception of him, unless i missed something. In the grander scheme of the evolution of the squad it has been a successful window, we have less well payed players and I think the weakening of the squad has been minimal with the biggest blow the late loss of Middleton. But with that said I do still think the squad is weaker, we are paper thin in a number of positions and I just don't see anyone incoming reaching Pritchards level this season or maybe ever. Jerome for Srbeny remains to be seen as a positive and is a big gamble, but with Webber and Farke's knowledge of the German market I'm optimistic that it will work out, Jerome was over the hill and the fact his fee more than payed for a younger cheaper replacement is good, Jerome wasn't playing so the gamble is not so big. The rest only time will tell, they are all gambles, but as I said, with Webber and Farke their hit rate is in my opinion good so far so I will trust that they will come good even if not this season. I don't really care about where our players come from, if its 60% German, 20% youth and 20% British (To continue to keep within eligability guidlines. Then I think that is great because it means we are producing good youngsters. Anyway, I think our recruitment is the least of our problems, we are doing the best on that score that we can whilst self funding. The trouble will come when we again lose our best in the summer. Right now I think there can be little doubt Madders will be on his way, but he will not be the only one on low wages that not only the PL clubs might pinch but also deeper pocketed Championship clubs. With the wages we now pay, I could see many players angling for bigger things and better pay. Zimmerman has already been linked, Lewis is the sort of bright young prospect that if he continues in his current vein will also have a number of suitors. Hanley too is really proving himself, would he hang about if Derby/Wolves/Fulham etc offered to give 30/50/100% more? Theres no loyalty in football and I could see the squad continually ripped apart, shorn of its better performing players. Inspite of that I believe Farke should get only until Christmas to show that he can form some sort of effective attack, he will lose Maddison but should have a great chance to build on a sold defence (if it isn't decimated). If we ain't carrying any threat and are still boring to watch by then, unless we are top two on 1-0 wins I think I would role the dice. I still doubt he is capable of getting a team scoring enough goals to truly challenge for promotion. Bah!
I agree with GE's summary of our 6 Germans (though one is Bosnian by birth) signed in the summer. The three new signings look good on paper but the proof will be on the pitch. I also like the look of McClean for next season. Of our current playing squad of 25, 11 are non British Isles, which is higher than in the past but not disproportionate, and that is likely to drop next season when McLean and some of the youth players come into the squad. I believe we are stronger now in spite of the loss of Pritchard and Jerome. I rate Madders above the former (for as long as we are able to keep him), and hopefully Hernandez will offer a bigger threat on the right wing. Loitner looks to be a quality player with Bundesliga experience and Srbeny should be able to surpass Jerome's recent scoring rate, but he also needs to contribute the kind of work Jerome did off the ball. We may also have Jarvis back soon to offer another attacking option. The real strength, however, lies in the growth potential of a much younger squad both now and in the future, especially with the younger players coming into the squad and the potential of those like Abraham's and Fonkeu who could come into the squad over the next few months. At last we seem to have a long term plan again.
Kenny McLean had a good night for Aberdeen: "Kenny deserved his two goals this evening as he was outstanding."
I agree with virtually all of that, the only thing I disagree with is whether Madders is better than Pritchard. I think Pritchard is at this time a better player, it was his reintroduction to the team that had us look genuinely better going forward. I do believe that Maddison will become a better player in the next 12-18 months and will then be for the rest of their careers. But right now, I think Pritchard is just that bit sharper on the ball and can have a better effect in quickening a sides attacks. It is really my one criticism of Maddison that he can take too long and slow things up. Say what you like about the Webberlution but it is certainly exciting to see so many knew players coming in and seeing how they all adapt and hopefully excel. Certainly beats the static over the hill squad that we were all beginning to resent. bah!
Certainly an improvement on, for, example, offering Turner and Whittaker one year contract extensions just to maintain the (declining, getting older and stale) status quo of a squad that was going nowhere and was screaming out for some freshening up
Since GM mentioned it, let me explain the misunderstanding of the "twat" comment. If FML had said "talk to me as if I were a twat" that would be crystal clear, the fact he said "talk to me like a twat" leaves it open to be misunderstood.
You may well be right about Pritchard, GM. I admire his skilful two-footedness and ability to beat players in a one on one. I'm also influenced by DF playing him out of position to accommodate Madders, who tends to draw two defenders playing in the centre. Madders is a more likely scorer, IMO, and we have been dependent upon his goals lately. Pritchard hasn't made a great start at Huddersfield, but that could change. He didn't make an impact at Spurs and only got on twice during a year long loan at West Brom, so we'll have to see how he gets on in the PL. The same question hangs over Madders, of course, except that he hasn't had any PL opportunities yet. PL teams may want to see a lot more before they take the plunge.
I understood his intended meaning last night. I thought it was made reasonably clear what he meant, despite the fact that FML appeared to be midway between fuming (or should that be FOOMUN, NEYUL) and livid. Anyway, the point is, what do we all discuss, contest, argue about and name call (very occasionally) between now and the summer transfer window slamming open again?
I agree. Strangely, AN turned out to be a 'play it safe' manager without the strength of SW behind him. He did give the Murphys their chance but failed completely on Madders and even Irvine only brought him on as sub. DF seems more of a youth oriented manager and that is where our potential now lies.
Not to mention Pritchard and Canos, neither of whom were given the sort of opportunities they surely deserved to make an impact.
I still think that remains to be seen, Farke had few options but to try the youth when he arrived, even then though he sent out Godfrey who many believed was already ready, inspite of saying Tettey, a player in his position was surplus to requirements. I think with Pritchard injured and wes a fading force there couldn't be many managers who wouldn't have started and persisted with Maddison. So really apart from Lewis who again may have got game time from another manager given his obvious talent (Was still a risk to play him and well done for taking it) and the failure of Husband to make a positive impact, Who has he really given a push to say he's giving youth a chance? One appearance from Cantwell for what he probably thought was going to be 5 minutes in a losing cause? We've been dire upfront, but none of the youngsters are trusted or get a look in. Why is that? Not ready? To be fair to Neil and Irvine was Madders last season? We all think so, but cannot say for certain. Given our slim resources it is a fact of Farke's reign that youth must be pushed, it is an intrinsic part of webber and the clubs strategy, I still think Godfrey proves he is still little more disposed to give youth its chance than some of his predacessors. Bah!
This sort of statement is very condescending or as IFML puts it talking to me like a twat. You then carried on with your perceived views of his which he has never expressed. "SorryFML, I thought you were a sensible lad with a decent knowledge of football, but you are now making silly statements about the running of our club. " IFML them felt talked down to then Dave claimed victimhood. A sequence of events that will be forever repeated on here resulting in flouncing offs or ignoring. e.g.. Sorry Dave I thought you were a sensible chap that understands how the game of football works , but clearly you don't or you would know you don't win games without goals and we don't have anyone that can do that. Only an idiot would gamble on one striker who has completely lost form and a young German that is used to playing in front of a few hundred people in German league 3. You clearly don't have a clue as to the best way of running our club so run along and let the grown ups decide what's best .
I'm not sure I saw Pritchard as a youth player when he was bought, he was bought at that price and having played a full seasons role impressively with Brentford as the capable first teamer, something went wrong for that with Neil, but I wouldn't judge anyone else by Neil's standards there. Canos was a bit bewildering, but if he isn't consistently starting for Brentford, maybe he wasn't ready for a side that was aspiring to a quick PL return. bah!
WOW. I be busy more frequently so that I can't read/post on Not606 - there have been some terrific posts in my absence. I agree totally General that we need to be winning games more convincingly than hanging on for 1-0 wins and giving DF until Xmas seems a very reasonable timescale. Yes, we will certainly be weaker in future without Middleton to come through and I just hope he hasn't opted to join the wrong club (he should have gone to Aberdeen!!! - Only joking, as he was a Gers fan as a lad). The next few weeks as the new recruits start playing for us are going to be interesting and if even 2 out of the 3 are successful, then I'd be happy.
Welcome back ColU Mike - we have missed you (although I thought DD was indeed him under a different account lol)
I am relatively content with the dealings thus far but the squad has huge gaps in for me. 1. Goalkeeper Without Angus we would have nowhere near as many victories , the defence has improved dramatically but when called upon Gunny has pulled off many a World class save. I would love to keep him after this season but unless we fluke promotion we will be dipping into our youth team or Bundesliga3 again to replace him. 2. Right back Pinto is our only recognised player in that position with on loan Reed playing out of position as cover. 3. Left back Husband is our only recognised player in that position and is total mince it is just a massive stroke of luck that Lewis stepped up or we would be relying on Stiepermann to play out of position again. 4 The 3 centre backs are all excellent keeping Klose was shrewd business and Zimmermann and Hanley were very good signings . 5 Holding midfield I don't think the midfield is a problem Tettey unsurprisingly has rarely played in a losing team and Trybull alongside him is another class signing and we need to give him a long contract based on performances so far. 6 Left wing Josh is first choice left wing he links up well with Lewis but all too often shoots when the pass is on or flys into the box crossing before anyone else has passed the halfway line, very wasteful but raw talent that needs leadership on the pitch. 7 Right wing I'm hoping the Cuban German boy Hernandes will be able to do a job there as Watkins can't neither could Wildshutt or Naismith either . 8 Centre midfield Number 23 Maddisson will surely be player of the season and get into the team of the year, for a guy of his age in his first full season to drag this team to mid table is incredible without him his assists set pieces and goals we would probably be bottom 3 now . Vrancic can sometimes show up but I'm still not convinced , the other new German on loan will probably sit next to Madders . 9 Strike options Oliviera is a great talent but he can be a bit petulant lazy and prone to Stupid bookings so will be first choice . I'm hoping Sir Benny can when ready hit the ground running and pull up trees etc etc but I don't see him getting the double figures we need to win games. Being the eternal optimist I predict that we will finish 5th place but we need to get our goal difference out of the red before that is looking feasable . I understand that as a club we lost money on stupid signings and the cost of hotels academy, wages, paying compo to Neil and that other useless waste of space CEO prick etc etc and are now on the same financial footing as most of the bottom half clubs . This is difficult to take as we have had shed loads of TV money and continue to sell our best players I presume to paper over the financial mistakes and realistically without investment we will become another Ipswich lost in the Championship wilderness or worse relegated to League1. Let's not kid ourselves Farke is here as a stepping stone to manage in the Premier league and every Interview of our new players starts with. I have always wanted to play in England it's a dream of mine. Translated to I always wanted to play in the premier league because they get ridiculous salaries compared to Germany . Bah
It will be interesting to see if Basil, now he is staying, can shake off the sulks and be the striker we all saw earlier on and start hitting the net again.
Can't really disagree with any of that DD, as long as all those players coming here to then get a shot at the PL put in a shift and do well then they might get their chance of a PL payday and it will benefit us along the way. Whether its a German, lge 2, serie B they all want as much money as possible whilst also playing at as higher level as they can. We have always been, are and will forever be a selling club. Even with an outragiously rich new owner, we couls pay as much as Citeh, PSG and Chelski but we would never quite have the aspirational glamour of the big boys. Bah!
