I analyse that this joke will be used 5 to 10 times more than last season, that's not a prediction though.
Pukki is making all the right noises: "The speedy and tenacious forward has scored 12 goals in 62 appearances for Finland and joins up with City fresh from having won the Danish Cup in May, finishing with 19 goals in 44 games in all competitions last season. “Of course I’m a striker and the job for strikers is mostly to score goals so that’s one thing I want to bring to the team,” he continued, speaking to City’s website. I would say I’m quite good moving up there and I have good runs, and I will work for the team.” http://www.pinkun.com/norwich-city/pukki-first-city-interview-1-5591113
SW had made some EXCELLENT signings this window and there's still around 8 weeks of it left. Some fans of other clubs are quite envious of us being able to entice Passlack on loan, so that must mean he HAS potential at least. #bringiton
With pre-season only just started, I think we have a functional squad. Some slight tweaks would undoubtedly improve it, but it's looking fairly robust. I think we've bought the players to play two systems, a more counter-attacking system and a possession based approach. Possession (3-4-2-1): Matthews Klose Hanley Zimmerman Passlack Tettey Trybull Lewis Leitner McLean Pukki Plenty of other players can fit this system - Marshall/Pinto for Passlack, Godfrey/Thompson for Tettey, Vrancic for Trybull. Cantwell for Leitner. It's a bit short on (decent) CB cover, I could see Godfrey being used here? A mobile RCB option with the ability on the ball this system needs from a CB? He'd be cover for Klose potentially. This could also be adapted to a 3-4-1-2 by replacing McLean or Leitner with Srbeny/Morris. Counter (4-3-3) Matthews Passlack Hanley Zimmerman Lewis Trybull Tettey Leitner Hernandez Pukki Buendia Big change obviously being the front 3 offering width, with full backs not wing backs. Marshall is the only other true option for those wide positions, with Jarvis and Wildschut unlikely to feature. Marshall doesn't offer the same threat from pace though. Harry Wilson would make sense as an option in this formation.
This is very much how I see it as well, DH. Post Maddison, though, I wonder whether the 4-2-3-1 might be compressed to a 4-5-1 to get the ball forward more quickly. A 3-5-2 is another option, with the WBs providing width and the midfielders working the ball forward quickly to the strikers. This would also suit the option of Godfrey at RCB. I also think Vrancic could be a key player in the second style with his long passing skills and improved defensive game. Pukki and Hernandez could thrive in this option as Hernandez can also play as a second striker. We now have a 28 man squad, though some of those could leave or be loaned out but other new players could come in. This larger squad will help us cope with injuries and give DF options that weren't there last year. Hopefully a degree of rotation will keep injuries to a minimum, though there should be sufficient cover at most positions.
Very much a half-rumour (but then I said that about Passlack 24h before he signed...), Samuel Essende from PSG B. 20 year old striker currently out of contract and having rejected a new PSG deal. Brighton also interested apparently.
Sorry, can’t see Essende coming to CR if there is PL interests and if Oliveria is still on our books.
Interesting article about possession based football and what DF has to do to make it work, much as Huddersfield and Fulham did: http://norwichcity.myfootballwriter...d-purpose-it-has-a-place-in-the-championship/
Rob Butler has tweeted that he believes Rhodes is in Norwich to discuss personal terms ahead of any potential move. And that if it does have, the loan fee will have come down considerably.
With the midfield we have now and the flexibility in defence, possession football should be more successful and enjoyable, particularly if Pukki can display the attributes required for a striker in the system, as described by Southwell in the MFW article above: "The reality is City require a more dynamic striker who can both connect the play in front of the defence through his technical play and also be a threat in behind. Oliveira didn’t require cryptic social media posts to reinforce his frustration at the style of play – kicking the ball into the stands repeatedly was evidence enough." Pukki is much more a team player (something Oliveira lacks) and hopefully he'll be able to connect play and also use his quickness to lose defenders and get in behind. This must have also been a consideration when Srbeny was signed. If Rob Butler is right about Rhodes, I'm struggling a bit to see how he fits these requirements, except perhaps as a plan B.
