I hadn't seen that change before, CS. There was an EDP article today saying that he would be banned but now it seems to have disappeared. Perhaps it was their mistake. I hope you're right!
I see several posters on MFW raising concerns that the Board may be tempted into selling some of our emerging youff in January and if so, demonstrating that they have a complete disregard for us fans/supporters. I think I’m right in saying that the only one of our starlets who hasn’t signed a new contract recently is TC. And go to the ‘comments’ section at the bottom of the article. http://norwichcity.myfootballwriter...ay-the-price-for-some-horror-misses/#comments
We may have to sell in January, we need to move McGovern on and get another keeper who can cope with Farke's playing philosophy. The current reality is we need a conveyor belt of youth coming through to support the club financially, but equally if there is a chance of getting promoted or indeed just into the play-offs then financially that needs o be factored in. So we may need to hedge our bets. So for me I'm comfortable maybe selling one or two of our better players if we get the RIGHT DEAL. So for example if a PL team came in with an offer of 10m + for Cantwell with a loan back until the end of the season then I'd be comfortable with that. Of all our youth options I think he's the one we have good replacement options for. On the other hand Lewis, Aaron's & Godfrey I'd pretty much keep til the end of the season whatever as I can see their value rising, they are on good long contracts and I think they all offer things where the replacement options aren't great.
Certainly this will be a test of the club's resolve. If we start selling young players who have broken into the first team we'll have to replace them with new players who aren't part of the togetherness that has made this run possible. A fall off in results would produce a fall off in togetherness as well as fans start to turn. I can't see any need for selling now as the money from Pritchard, Maddison and Murphy is still coming in and we're in the top six now. Should we manage to gain promotion we could then keep our successful team together and add to it. If we fail to gain promotion, then we might have to sell, but only if the price is right. The longer we wait, the more their value will rise. As always, the players concerned have to consider whether the want to be playing with us or in a PL teams U23 squad. I also liked Richard's comment about the 8 players coming into the side: "Now we seem to have a full squad of players who fit the system and will be able to step into the first team as and when required. So real depth in numbers."
On Todd Cantwell, I read a rumour (can't remember where) that the "improved" deal we were offering him was nothing of the sort, which is why he wasn't in the first team picture earlier in the season, until injuries necessitated it. I think he signed his current deal in 2016 whilst we were still a Premier League club, when apparently we were giving out very lucrative contracts to youth players. Addressing the wage bill obviously applies to senior players as well as youngsters, so despite the fact he's progressed from trainee to first team squad member, the new deal was on about the same money. Understandably, he/his family wanted his new contract to reflect his progression, but it hasn't been offered by the club. I believe his current deal runs out in the summer, with a club option until 2020. So it's not imperative he signs or that we sell, but like CC says, should we need to sell to buy I suspect he's top of the list from our core squad. In an ideal world, Oliveira, McGovern, Husband, Pinto are moved on so we don't need to, but I suspect realistically it'd be Cantwell who has the value needed. In terms of new signings, what do people think we need? For me, I'd like to see cover for Tettey. Even though he might be over his current injury by January, I'm not sure we can rely on Thompson. Godfrey appears to be under consideration only as a CB. Otherwise, I think we're pretty good? If we can find quality players on the cheap then great, and adding more youngsters to the pipeline too, but otherwise I doubt we can signficantly improve this squad with the money available. Getting Klose to sign a new deal would be amazing. I suspect he's waiting though until it's clear which league we're in. If we achieve a miraculous promotion then maybe he'll stay.
More from MFW - this time the article's author is Martin Penney and well worth a read - http://norwichcity.myfootballwriter...nd-take-notice-uncle-joe-would-have-approved/ Edit - Seems like TC only signed last year, so he'd most likely have signed until 2020, so #dontpanic
I like what DF had to say about fears that we might go into a slide like last season's after the cup loss: “But I got the feeling you can compare the good run last season and this in terms of result, but the level of performance is much better. Last season we won many games 1-0 with good defending behaviour, maybe even some luck at times, but in this recent run I felt we deserved everything we got and we dominated the games.”
So I have done a comparison of the top six and bottom six between early September and today and I'll try to update it each month - The biggest changes are ourselves, Brum and QPR (8th and 10th respectively!!!)
So MB (I got it right today Cromer!!!) has come up with this interesting stat - 'Every national media outlet is expecting City to run out of puff in a few kilometres; meanwhile, the last decade says more than two-thirds of the teams to reach 30 points after 16 games end up promoted.' http://www.edp24.co.uk/sport/norwic...things-learned-buendia-farke-safety-1-5764520
I'm always a bit relieved when National pundits write us off. Our lack of an English manager (especially one they knew as a player) and known English players in the twilight of their career means we don't have a chance. The other stat seems a far more reliable indicator. As MB says later: "It doesn’t take much watching of City in recent weeks to see how comfortable they are with the plan laid out before them. And perhaps most impressive of all, that isn’t changing if the personnel does. Rhodes, Trybull, McLean, Passlack, Hanley, Thompson and Cantwell – all out of contention on Saturday; all more than capable of starting and influencing. And I’ve not even mentioned those on more money, with less favour." Our squad depth without loss of quality means we cope with injuries, which wasn't true last season. Rhodes came in for 3 wins in the absence of Pukki. Cantwell came in for Hernandez, Buendia for McLean/Marshall and Stiepermann and Vrancic have both fitted in very well behind the striker. The other key factor is the 'togetherness' of club, coaches, players and fans. I can't see any reason why performance levels should drop off, especially looking at the opposition in our next 7 matches.
I can see a few possible reasons: Boggy winter pitches Tettey, Lewis or Krul injuries Further injuries before any of those injured return 11 men behind the ball unambitious oponents January transfer window Lack of anything but forced rotation, Farke doesn't like to make changes to a winning side. I understand that but we have seen games where especially the yoff have looked jaded But whilst all of those remain possibilities for a drop in form, I am genuinely optimistic that we can keep performing at a high level. The players do as you say all seem to slot effortlessly into the system and the system is working. Bah!
A couple of stats about our fixtures: 4 of the 7 teams we are yet to play this season are currently in the bottom 6 Our key run of fixtures come across the hectic Christmas period: 22/12: Blackburn (A) - currently 8th 26/12: Forest (H) - 6th 29/12: Derby (H) - 5th 1/1: Brentford (A) - 13th 12/1: WBA (A) - 7th 19/1: Birmingham (H) - 10th but in very good form 26/1: Sheff Utd (H) - 3rd 2/2: Leeds (A) - 1st Get through that unscathed and I'll start to feel more confident!
Keeping "both feet firmly on the ground" I, too, took a peek at the schedule and saw the same thing. The way we're playing, though, I don't expect us to go on a losing run. If we get to Feb. 3rd near the top six, I expect us to make the playoffs at least.
What I meant (without in any way saying it..) was that hopefully we can keep our good run going through the easier fixtures, and build a sufficiently healthy points total that a mediocre/poor 6 weeks doesn't leave us too far off the pace.
It's all easy, we're gonna keep getting better and better, 100% win rate from here to the end of the season. you heard it here first! Bah!
