After the supposed PL interest in Godfrey a while back, TalkSport now has Watford and Bournemouth expressing interest in Jamal Lewis, with a valuation at around £10m. http://www.pinkun.com/norwich-city/norwich-city-transfer-rumours-jamal-lewis-1-5580357 He signed a four year contract last summer and is now being offered a new upgraded four year contract. Some questioned paying out money on young players like Maddison, Godfrey and Lewis, but it's certainly paying off now. We may not have a rich owner splashing the cash, but our youth set-up is generating big money players to keep the club solvent.
I don't think anyone questioned the signing of good youngsters with a view to developing possible first teamers cheaper. As a club that will always be a necessity. I think everyone did object to the repeated failures to spend the big money on the most pressing issues, defence for years and now forwards. Add to that, that the bigger bucks were spent very badly for the main. Bah!
Yes, I was one of those worried about our failure to sign a CB at that time, but there has to be a balance between immediate and long-term planning. When we opted for Academy One status it was a long-term commitment. Hopefully that'll begin to produce more 'home grown' talent like the Murphys, but before that happens we're 'priming' the process by bringing in talented prospects from other clubs to produce results more quickly. Like Maddison and Godfrey, Lewis is one of those, brought in in 2014. I'm trying to remember the last time a 20 year old youth player was promoted to the first team to become the first choice at his position without having gone out on loan first. There are negatives about our present situation, but this has to be one of the biggest positives.
Don't forget the "Home Grown" players rule also comes into effect when naming a side, of which I would like to know who our "home grown" players are, what makes a player a home grown player and what the actual rules are on playing home grown players
6 of the 18 chosen for a match have to be eligible for England or Wales. 1 has to have been in the youth system for at least 3 years. Lewis, Cantwell, Morris, Matthews and Godfrey would be ok. Thompson might be another but I'm not sure. I think that's right anyway.
I don't think it's entirely related to national teams, more for how long they were in an English or Welsh sides' academy. I believe Hanley qualifies this way. I think it's also 6 who qualify that way, plus a 7th from our club. As you say, plenty of options for that last slot.
The rules are fairly weak. You can basically field an entirely foreign XI as long as your bench is Anglo-welsh. Bah!
I see that Angus Gunn is lined up for a £15m move to Saints, with ManC inserting a buyback clause. Surely this just makes it an extended loan.
I like this comment from DF in today's EDP - He added: “I think this area on the pitch is good. We have some key players from last season still here – Alex Tettey, Tom Trybull, Moritz, Mario Vrancic. And you have Kenny McLean coming in, Ben Godfrey back, so in general we’re done in central midfield.” I'm ASSUMING therefor that Godfrey is in his plans as part of the first team squad for next season!!! http://www.edp24.co.uk/sport/norwic...-jigsaw-with-moritz-leitner-signing-1-5581032
The pinkun have run Farke's comments too, adding that Farke considers his central midfield options complete. Also, a £1.5m fee for Leitner, basically what we received for Watkins. Very good business!
Given that Watkins arrived on a free, using the money we made selling him to buy ML is the same as getting HIM on a free. Rather good business in my view. two years down the line he could be worth substantially more than that.
EDP reporting that an option for a permanent switch has been negotiated too. Somewhat surprised that he wasn't at least given some of pre-season to impress, but I guess our scouts will have watched him last season, and perhaps he wants a return to Germany anyway. Probably rules out Klose leaving this summer?
Given how quickly the club reacted to rumours about Godfrey leaving I'm sure he'll be an option at both DM and RB. Thompson could go out on loan to build up his playing time and fitness. What is unclear is what role Stiepermann will play. When he arrived, DF said: “He started his career as a number ten but the last season played as a holding midfielder and in the left full-back position a lot. He will give us many options and is at a good age so that will help us to be more flexible. He played some matches for Borussia Dortmund in the Bundesliga under Jürgen Klopp. In the Bundesliga II he has played nearly 170 games and got 20 goals. Marco’s height will help us with set-pieces. We’ve got lots of technical, passing players in central midfield. Marco is technically good as well but will give us a different option. When an opponent plays with long-balls or with set-pieces, he’ll be good for us.” Given our strength in midfield, he would seem to be an option at WL or at LB/WB. He's 6'3" tall, so certainly would help with set pieces for and against. He did play at WL and WR early last season before moving to LB until Lewis emerged from injury.
I disagree, selling Marley means that after wages paid, he was a moderately profitable but ultimately failed player for us. ML is not "on a free", we still paid for him. Getting Marley for free and selling for a profit was decent business (Especially given thet he was free so might have commander wages that then precluded selling him easily, might we be finally learning?) ML the jury is still out, on face value, he looks a decent player for £1.5m but in 2 years time we could be saddled with a player that has not performed and no one will even match the modest wages we now pay. He could as easily be worth less than we paid and we could be stuck with him. (I hope not, nor think so) But there is a reason that he has gone from hot prospect with German youth caps to a £1.5m capture for Norwich, I hope he can be turned around. Bah!
Given that his key pass percentage was second behind Maddison, Leitner could be a key player post Madders. DF knew him before and for the 3 month loan so he must see him fitting well. Seems a bargain at £1.5m.
............ another midfielder http://www.skysports.com/football/news/11709/11419652/norwich-to-bid-for-chelseas-kasey-palmer
Seems yes, but he must prove to be on the pitch. As for DF, I'm sure he also saw us playing: without Tettey, scoring more goals and finishing higher. Because he thinks he knows a player, doesn't make them a nailed on cert for success. Will he have been a success if next season he has the highest key pass percentage, but only 2-3 assists and 1-2 goals with us finishing 16th? Bah!
