Excellent post Rick and I have to agree that what you've said in your last paragraph makes a lot of sense and I can see 'green shoots' of us developing young players and I also believe that DF and his coaching staff may just be the way to achieve that. Also, at the end of this season, Klose, Pinto, Basil and NAISMITH will all be at the end of their contracts and so ALL players will be on realistic salaries more akin to our Championship status. We’ve got a long way to go, but we’re heading in the right direction!!!
We are a million miles from the Southampton model , Aarons and Lewis were poached from Luton so we didn't really put the early work in . Saints usually sell for crazy prices then poach players from lesser clubs like us . From the results and performances this season we will be battling to stay up . I'm always hopeful that everything will click and we go on a 2 game winning streak but we are really not very good. To have any realistic chance of getting near top 6 we would need at least 15 to 20 points from the first 10 games . We have got 5 from our first 6 so far .
Don't agree. We only moved up to Academy One status a couple of years ago, so it will take time to develop quality players from scratch. Saints bought Lallana from Bournemouth and then developed him through their academy system. All clubs scout youth team games to spot talent to purchase. The money from that is vital to lower league teams. The Murphys were the exception, being here for years, but it also makes sense to buy the likes of Maddison, Lewis, Aarons and Abrahams at a young age and then develop them. We did this back in the 90s with young players like Sutton and Goss, but we also bought in players like McVeigh and Mulryne and then developed them into first team players. That produces players who identify with the club from a young age rather than just transferring here for higher wages. Next year and the year after I hope that we're moving towards half a squad who are home grown or home developed. That's the way for sustainable progress over the coming years. As for this year, I'll settle for an improvement on last year if it means we're developing young players for a sustained challenge next year. I like the way we're playing now and am convinced that results will improve. I'd also like to target the play-offs, but not at the expence of developing our young players.
Have to say that other than Derby away that was probably our worst performance so far this season. We've started playing some nice stuff in patches (Which deserted us on Sunday).. Probably to do with the 6 changes and 3 debuts in a new system Still not sure how I feel about such a large scale change as we'd started to get some key partnerships developing, but looked incredibly disjointed and like a side that hadn't really played together for most of Sunday, apart from the first 20 of the 2nd half, but even then... Was a little disappointed with us, but the standard was possibly a further downgrade on last season's fixtures (which we piss poor) as only Maddison (and possibly Waghorn at a stretch) looked capable of making anything happen. This season's edition didn't have that player who could rise above the dross. Edwards was our biggest threat, but Lewis marshaled him well expect for a spell in the 2nd half and your brightest spark was Pukki by quite a long way. He looked lively, but wasn't able to really make the most of good positions he got into. I'd even venture a bold claim that we won't finish more than 3 points apart at the conclusion of the season... Probably around Mid to lower mid table
No. I don't think we'll need to sell our best players at all. As Steve Stone said, the books have been balanced by the sale of Pritchard and the two JMs and we now have a balanced budget to move forward with. Every player has a price and if we're offered silly money we will sell, like any other club - but it will be on our terms. We don't have to sell. We have a young squad and adjustments are going on. I expect results to improve over the season. Whether that will be enough to mount a challenge this season remains to be seen. If we continue to focus on development I'm convinced we will improve. I had hoped AN would do that, but he went for big money players instead and got us into this mess. SW is the decision maker now and he isn't going to go down that route.
Comment from DF today in the aftermath of the Derby - “You could feel it but those young lads helped us to turn the game and then defend the situation when we basically had 10 players towards the end because we had made all the changes. “I can’t think of any club on this level who has integrated so many lads in the first team. That shows our way and if we can go on in this style our future looks bright.” IMO, the future is looking brighter and we should have McLean back - though Boro may be too soon for him to play 90 minutes. At least the 2 away games after Boro (Reading & QPR should be easier!!!) and I would certainly like to see DF in charge until the end of the season!!!! <donstinhatemoji> http://www.edp24.co.uk/sport/norwich-city/canaries-buendia-key-role-farke-1-5675022
I would like to see Farke in charge at the end of the season IF his win average drastically improves if we are bottom 6 in December then that's long enough .
That article was focusing on Emi Buendia, who, with Lewis, Godfrey and Aarons, was one of 4 players 21 or under involved against Ipswich. Then there's Cantwell (a Dereham lad) and Passlack, who are both 20 and played the whole game against Cardiff along with Buendia, Godfrey and Aarons. That's 6 players 21 or under. Would any other manager have involved so many young players so early? Add the young players currently out on loan and Oxborough as the third keeper and suddenly the focus seems very different to previous regimes. If Thompson's hamstring injury is serious, Godfrey may have to shift forward to DM in coming matches, showing the wisdom of not sending him out on loan. DF's comment seems to sum it up perfectly: “I can’t think of any club on this level who has integrated so many lads in the first team. That shows our way and if we can go on in this style our future looks bright.”
I also agree that half a season should show considerable improvement on our present position and I would say mid-table at the very least. DF has the players now and a squad large enough to cope with injuries. I'm confident that will be the case though, and that our next four games will get us up the table.
If you're talking this season, I'd suggest our chances of reaching the play-offs are, to quote Boris, diddly-squat. Just my opinion - I hope you're correct
I was referring back to a specific period when we had our best years, GE, finishing third and then fourth in the top division. ("We did this back in the 90s with young players like Sutton and Goss"). Otherwise I'd have had to go back to the Fashanus and list all of the players all the way through to the Murphys. I'm just pleased that we're getting back to a focus on sustainable growth through young players. It's unlikely, but could we see a future team like this? Oxborough Aarons, Godfrey, Raggett, Lewis Thompson Spyrou, Cantwell, Idah, Jaiyesimi Abrahams
