Very apt metaphor, Robbie, with SW's strategic vision spanning years rather than months (similar to McNally's 7 year plan). If we sign 2-3 expensive players and then are relegated because they don't fit the plan or the squad togetherness they may not want to drop down to the Championship and the cycle will start again as we have to find uneconomic loans while paying their wages. The loan deals for Roberts and Fährmann make perfect sense - if we stay up they might return on loan or on a permanent deal and if we don't we're not stuck with expensive wages we can't afford. The incentive for them is to show their parent clubs their value. I presume Drmić and Byram have agreed to stay whatever happens. Heise and Idah are both like new signings without a big hit on the budget. That's 5 more players than we had last season (6 including Heise), so we have added to an intact squad to compete for promotion. Like JMF though, I think we have more than enough to survive and push on in the PL (but a new DM option would make me feel even more confident).
If we don't recruit another DM or DM/CB option, what alternatives does DF have? One is to play 3 at the back in a 3-4-3 or 3-4-2-1. The obvious choice is Klose-Hanley-Godfrey, but DF might also opt for Lewis-Klose-Godfrey to cope with Liverpool's pace and trickery up front, with Heise coming in at WB. He used the latter in the German pre-season games when Klose wasn't available and it worked quite well. Even when we're using a 4-2-3-1, Lewis often drops back to be a third CB when the ball is lost, then moves back to LB when we have the ball. The advantage is the pace and mobility Lewis and Godfrey have to deal with pacy attackers. Another option is to use McLean alongside Trybull to strengthen the cover. Edit: I've just seen that Hanley wasn't available last night because of a slight groin strain. He should be available for Toulouse though. Good news on Tettey though as he doesn't need an operation on his calf injury, so should be back within a month.
So following on from the idiotic BT article on our chances of survival yesterday, we now have this one from the PL itself, suggesting that ALL 3 promoted teams could survive - https://www.premierleague.com/news/1229598
I think if Farke had serious intentions to play with 3 CBs, we'd have seen it more. Injuries have had an influence, but I think we'd have seen Franke or Bushiri involved in pre-season had Farke been desperate to experiment with it. Lewis played at CB very early in pre-season, when fitness and minutes were more important than performance. We can't go into a season in a higher league and throw Lewis or Godfrey into an unfamiliar role. For all the talk of tweaking formations, I still think we'll be 4-2-3-1 for most of the season. The continued experiments with Srbeny at CAM, rather than a more combative McLean/Trybull/Leitner trio, would appear to suggest 4-3-2-1 isn't on the cards either. We should have 3 CBs fit for Toulouse, if we don't see all play together for at least 60 mins, I think we can forget that being a tactic under consideration.
Hard to know. DF has spoken about tweaking formations to meet PL challenges, but his options have been limited by CB injuries. Hanley wasn't available last night because of a slight groin strain, but he'll be in contention for Toulouse. If we stay rigidly with a 4-2-3-1 we'll be found out quickly in the PL.
I'm going to buy a new 'home' shirt today and have 23 on it. I really like it and if the 3rd kit is black or pink, I wouldn't want it.
BRILLIANT!!! I've made the right choice. Got 23 on it (homage to JM and of course KM - aka the temporary Mayor of Norwich!!)
I like the home and away kits, not fussed on the 3rd kit. Not likely to buy any kit this season, got the home one last season as well as the away in the sale at the end. Clubs can change the blighters as often as they like but, a new one every 2-3 seasons is plenty for me. Bah!
