Obviously a little soon to be drawing conclusions, but to me an early concern would be that we look like we're going to give Farke's original 4-1-4-1 from last season another shot, with the same lack of defensive midfield. The midfield options might be more to Farke's liking, but I'm still not sure it's a tactic you can make work in the championship.
Maybe it's his Vindaloo formation, 'we're gonna score one more than you!' With the right players it can work especially at home where we must carry more threat, away I'd go for the greater resolve of 3 at the back with lots of pace up front. Bah!
First team friendlies (UK times) Tues, July 10 – Lincoln City (a) – Sincil Bank, 7.45pm Thurs, July 12 – Crawley Town (h) – Colney, 5pm (behind closed doors) Sun, July 15 – Paderborn (a) – Energieversumstadion, Gutersloh, 12pm Tues, July 17 – Union Berlin (a) – Stadium Laumeskamp, Delbruck, 5pm Thurs, July 19 – Wolfsburg (a) – August Wenzel Stadium Platz 1, Barsinghausen, 5pm Weds, July 25 – Luton Town (a) – Kenilworth Road, 7.45pm Sat, July 28 – Charlton Athletic (a) – The Valley, 3pm Confirmed U23 friendlies (UK times) Sun, July 15 – Paderborn U23s (a) – Parderborn training ground, 10am Tues, July 17 – Borussia Dortmund U23s (a) – Kampfbahn Schwanbel, Lunen, 1.30pm Sat, July 21 – King’s Lynn Town (a) – The Walks, 3pm Sat, July 28 – Sutton United (a) – Gander Green Lane, 12pm Nothing too onerous on there!! I remember my trip to the Valley in 2010 I think it was, when a glorious header from 'the Admiral' saw us guaranteed promotion from league 1. #goingup
I was also disappointed to see the 4-1-4-1 formation return. I realise that we now have new players who might make it work, but it seems at odds with the strikers we've signed. Pukki had to play wide, which he can do, but it seems like fitting the players to the system rather than the system to the players. It's said to be DF's preferred formation, but we failed to score in the first 60 minutes with both strikers on. In the second 60 Hernandez and Srbeny fared better, first with a cross from the former that Srbeny put away and then another assist for Hernandez, but this time Srbeny dummied to allow it to run through to Stiepermann who lashed it into the net. It may just be that Rhodes and Pukki are still adjusting, but it concerns me. The DM becomes the link between defence and attack and that certainly isn't Tettey's strength and I'm not at all sure Trybull, Godfrey or Thompson prefer that role either. In a 3-4-3 or a 4-3-3 there's one less layer for moving the ball forward, allowing more movement up front while also not leaving gaps at the back.
Meanwhile it seems unclear whether Oliveira will stay or move on. Apparently he's a week behind the other players and is still catching up. http://www.pinkun.com/norwich-city/canaries-oliveira-future-farke-response-1-5604836
Also see - https://www.not606.com/threads/transfers-rumours-goss-summer-2018.361115/page-55#post-11929384 post #43
Right. Last season, this kind of thing was said in pre-season, it didn't work that well. And all the talk was, "give him a window", "one window was never going to be enough to change things, give him the second window" "It was his first season, give him the summer window" Agree, a little, in a way. But all this talk about his brutal over the top training, was that by the second season, we will be machines!! The players will be so on it, we can really push on. Nope. We sold every one of our good players again, and bought in new players. So we are pretty much back at last Summer. Farke working players way too hard who aren't use to it. With worse players. Before I get attacked, I'm not saying that in an aggressive way, I am calm. I just don't understand last seasons logic. We basically have had to buy a new first team again, so what did the "Farke breaking in" season actually mean? It's a question for discussion rather than trying to make an argument.
OK FML - some very reasoned points for discussion. Unfortunately, our good players all WANTED to leave and we were amply rewarded re the fees we received for them (I know you disagree re Pritchard, but Huddersfield were the only team interested). My problem is that SW/DF will only see a maximum of approx £10M. I'm fairly impressed with the majority of the new recruits and I'm hopeful that JM n't be missed won't be missed too much - Josh not really bothered and I hope 'Colin' can make him a better player. We've made good signings in both McClean and Pukki (jury's out on Rhodes) and I'm hoping that TC stays, rather than be loaned out again. Thompson (if he stays free of injury) and Gofrey have the potential to 'step up to the plate' IMO. Overall, I'm feeling quite positive!!
Interesting comments from DF on our attacking players in the Crawley game: “Not just Onel, all the lads were not clinical enough in this game. We had so much speed in the last row and created so many chances. It is a topic that will improve when we have done our fitness work because when you are not so tired the concentration levels are higher. We know we struggled in this area last season but we have scored goals so far this summer. You will never take each and every chance but we have to be hungry and greedy.” This is the key to this season, IMO. The change so far creates optimism for improvement up front this season. Hernandez was pacey last season, but now it's pace with a purpose. His two assists against Crawley suggests this new intensity and hopefully the new players coming in will also make a difference. McLean has already looked an all action player as well as a free kick specialist. Leitner has taken on the playmaker role with aplomb and Marshall looks ready both on attack and in defence. Buendia hasn't been seen yet, but it's the two new strikers who have the potential to improve our performances overall. Add to that a solid midfield with plenty of options and cover for injuries and a settled defence as well and this could just be a far better season.
Yea, the fee's wasn't my point. It was the drop in quality of player, and the fact all this "getting players use to his work rate and style" was for nothing. They were barely use to it, and they have gone. I know we had to sell, because how much our board have totally p*ssed away all our opportunities. That's not what I was talking about. I was talking about Farkes work, that we were told would show benefits in the second season. It can't when all the players move on, and we have to do that again. That was my point.
OK, so we've lost JM and I don't see Josh as a loss - how many other players have moved on??? Positives - Passlack is an upgrade, as is Pukki and if Pinto leaves, I wouldn't class that as a loss, same for Basil. TC, Thompson and Godfrey can certainly make an impact given the opportunity.
Well, right off the bat. Without Madders, we had nothing to us. 2nd, Madders was top assists and scorer, Josh was our second. In a season where we never knew how to attack, let alone score. Didn't we also lose our 3rd highest? Or was that just internet bs? Again though, my point wasn't really about who we bought or sold.
I hope this isn't us getting into an argument. I can't tell anymore. If you say something and someone disagrees, it seems like it needs to have a fight happen.
No fight FML. You seem to feel that we'd be better off if we go into this season with the same players we had last season (and presumably the same style of play). I'm a huge fan of Madders and he did a tremendous job for us last season, but it also meant that most of our play had to go through him. That slowed us down and, IMO, cost us points because the players around him couldn't make the most of his skills. Murphy had some great moments and scored some valuable goals, but there were also too many games where he was anonymous. Our lack of another viable option meant that he played more than he should have. We also lost Wes to age more than anything else. Gunn and Reed will be missed as well. In their place we've resigned Leitner and added six other promising players who have the whole of the pre-season to gel into the squad, as well as five promising young players to provide a depth that we lacked last season. As I posted above, the key will lie in the potential improvement in attack, as we have a settled defence, improved by Passlack, and a solid midfield improved by McLean, Thompson and Godfrey. Matthews has a tough act to follow 'for sure', but can that be said for Pukki and Rhodes? That's where our season will lie, IMO.
Not at all. Last season was one of the worse seasons of football I’ve had to watch. Last season was horrific. Madders was the only positive thing. The football was so,so negative and boring.
