We'll know age has caught up with him when all those yellows he gets, start turning into more regular reds. Bah!
Whilst his knees going fully is possible, Godfrey playing and keeping him out before moving on is conceivable, I still don't think this deal will be a bad one. This is not like Russ, where he was already an obvious liability, but seemingly kept on for continuity and his charactor. Tettey offers continuity and charactor but has been one of our best and most influencial players this season, keeping him even if as backup for Godfrey makes sense. DF thought he could get by without Tettey this season, I don't think he wants to leave himself exposed by losing him now. The only thing I would question is the second year, I know that might well be part of the price to get him to sign but I'd be happier with 1 year with an option. Because he ain't getting any younger and I am optimistic that Godfrey and a sustainedly fit Thompson can step up to this level. Bah!
As the season draws to a close it's great that we already have an exciting new player ready for the pre-season. Here's JM's take on Kenny McLean: http://www.edp24.co.uk/sport/norwich-city/canaries-maddison-aberdeen-loanee-mclean-fan-1-5500738 This and the possible Leistner signing will start the summer transfer window off early and there's also Godfrey, Morris and Matthews returning from loan and Thompson from injury. http://www.pinkun.com/norwich-city/canaries-keeper-unlikely-to-make-plymouth-return-1-5499771 http://www.edp24.co.uk/sport/norwich-city/injury-spell-nearly-over-for-canaries-midfielder-1-5498887
Is the assumption then that Leistner is the signing we've made but can't announce yet for some reason?
If, and it is a tenuous if, wwe have signed Leistner, then it surely cannot be announced until the window is open/his contract expires. But I really hope we have signed him. Klose to move on if so?
Talk of Leistner got me thinking who else is out of contract in the 2. BuLi this summer, as that seems a reasonable guess for players we might look at. Given there's dozens of players in that position, here's some highlights, sorted roughly by transfermarkt value: Kevin Mohwald, AM, Nurnberg: 24 years old, with 27 appearances and 6 goals this season. A key part of their promotion chasing side, Werder Bremen are apparently sniffing around however. Lasse Sobiech, CB, St Pauli: 27 years old, the giant CB has been ever-present for St Pauli, contributing 3 goals too. Previously with Dortmund's youth, so perhaps Farke is familiar with him? Pauli haven't kept too many clean sheets this season, so he'll fit right in. Max Christiansen, DM, Ingolstadt: 21 year old bit part player this season. Ingolstadt want him to extend his stay as they mount another promotion push, but he's reluctant to commit. Kevin Stöger, AM, Bochum: 24 year old, 4 goals and 8 assists this season. The playmaker wants to leave, with Cologne, Frankurt and Nuremberg interested. Salim Khelifi, RW, Braunschweig: The 24 year old had 5 assists and 2 goals before Christmas, but then seems to have dropped out of the side. I can't find a reason for that. HSV and Fortuna Dusseldorf are apparently interested, and he's stated he won't sign a new contract where he is. Stanislav Iljutcenko, CF, Duisberg: 27 year old with 7 goals and 6 assists this season. Who knows, he could be the next Strihavka!
I would love to have Leistner on a free, but not at the expense of losing Klose. We have four CB's not including Russ who probably won't get near the bench next season. If we start with three at the back, Hanley Zimm and Klose are all solid with Raggett as backup so we need a fifth CB to cover for injuries and rest. It would make financial sense, though, to bring in Leistner and move Klose on thus saving his PL wages and getting a nice transfer fee. We would still need another CB IMO. ps. I have no idea how Raggett's progress is going.
Pleased that Tettey has signed for another two years so that Godfrey and Thompson can be developed without a lot of immediate pressure. Hard to say whether Klose will leave if Leistner comes in. Every year Klose's departure is rumoured but it doesn't happen. Much might depend on what happens with Madders. If he leaves for a big fee, the financial pressure will be eased and Klose's wages will be less of an issue. I'd rather see Klose stay and Raggett go out on loan. Given that any fee will be paid in stages, it is vital that what money is available should be prioritised on a striker.
I don't have a problem with the club keeping hold of one of our most influential players this season. We've looked tighter when Tettey plays. There's still more fuel in the Tettey tank.
Fuel for 2 more years ? I can remember people saying Martin still had a role to play at the club when he signed his extension and look how that worked out. At least we didn't give Hoolahan an extension.
Both Martin and Tettey took pay cuts when they signed on so it's not a case of PL wages any more. Martin's wages have been covered by Rangers, so it's not a huge problem. As HMQC says Tettey has been influential in the side whenever he plays and his staying greatly increases our chances next season. Thompson and Godfrey are the future hopefully, but we need Tettey for the transition and the skills he can pass on, like Wes has done for Madders and others.
Wonder whose going to pay Martins wages next year, the extension year, suspect it won't be Rangers. Madders would say that the training ground cat had helped him if he thought it was the right thing to do. I can see the point of possibly signing Tettey for an extra year, but 2. I'd be disappointed if he still featured in our starting 11 in the second year as it would mean that some of the potential at the club had not been realised (Godfrey, Thompson) and he's certainly not up to PL standard if we get promoted. Seems to me like the cost of keeping him for one year is 2 years wages, not very financially astute in my view.
Throughout this season we have looked better with Tettey in the team than we have when he isn't - he is still a major influence and a key player in my view. I'm glad he is staying. We don't yet know if Thompson can stay fit - he and Jarvis seem to be permanently injured, so he can't yet be relied upon as an heir apparent to Tettey. I think Godfrey will see more game time with us next year and will eventually take over as the midfield enforcer when Tettey does begin to take a lesser part.
I too would rather it had been for 1 year only, but I can see him playing an active role next season and maybe more of a cover role the one after. This coming season he may even play in tandem with Godfrey, who has also played CM. In many ways, I think if Godfrey is going to stay and play, we will need Reed even less. Godfrey can not only cover DM and CM, but right back too. Perhaps its that versatility that means we will continue to need Tettey as cover. For me Thompson is the great unknown. His footballing powers before his injury nightmare were looking good, but not to Tettey's standards then, or now judging on this seasons form from Tett's. Had he been injury free I think he may by now have surpassed him and Tettey would have been jettisoned and I'd have supported that, but those injuries leave us not knowing if he will even hit his previous heights, leave allone surpass Tettey now. If he can't surpass Tettey this next season, then the 2 years might not look to bad a deal. Bah!
For those who doubt the re-signing of Tettey, take a look at David Freezer's article on the Pinkun today. To cut a long story short: CITY IN THE CHAMPIONSHIP THIS SEASON • With Tettey P21 W10 D8 L3 F22 A16 Pts38 • Without Tettey P24 W5 D7 L12 F26 A39 Pts22 Even our goal scoring has not suffered significantly with him at roughly a goal a game with or without, but our points per game and goals conceded are hideous without him. I doubt any other player has had such an obvious impact across the season. (R Martin and Franke maybe the other examples, but not in a good way and in a very small sample, both suffering in a pre-Tettey team) Bah!
