Feels like the whole Premier League is in a weird place for the start of the season. So few moves got done early to allow players to bed in, plenty of clubs haven't completed their business, and arguably few clubs have strengthened significantly. Of those likely to be around us: Burnley are under new ownership, and The Athletic had an article the other day saying that there's worry about the senior management outgoings, with few coming in. Spent good money on a 3rd choice CB (£12.5m), essentially replacing Gibson, but otherwise it's a new backup goalkeeper and a youth player. Robbie Brady has left. Average squad age is 30, with just 21 senior players including 3 goalkeepers. Southampton have signed a new LB to replace Bertrand, spent £5m on a Chelsea youngster, and confirmed Walcott on a fre transfer. Danny Ings has just left for big money, Minamino's loan ended, Lemina sold. They may yet lose Ward-Prowse. Che Adams, Shane Long, Michael Obafemi is arguably a worse set of strikers than Norwich have, and they look thin in central midfield whilst having 6 wingers. GK position was a problem last season and they haven't strengthened. Newcastle may have thumped us in pre-season, but have made no first team additions whilst losing Andy Carroll, Atsu and Lejuene. Plenty of uncertainty around their future ownership. In goal, Dubravka is injured, Darlow was hospitalised with Covid and still returning. They struggled for goals last season and haven't recruited anyone to help with that. West Ham may seem an odd inclusion given they qualified for the Europa League, but I think that's going to seriously challenge their squad. Only a GK added, with a CB departing. Their central midfield of Soucek and Rice is strong, but Noble is literally the only other CM in their squad, nobody else likely to fit there. Antonio is the only striker in their squad, who has been notoriously injury prone over the last few seasons and needed his minutes managing - not extra midweek games. Brentford have made a couple of neat additions in Ajer and Onyeka, but otherwise are reliant on their Championship squad. Watford's squad is very hard to work out. A central midfielder seems to be the main signing, plus three strikers and Danny Rose. A second central midfielder has signed on loan from Stoke? Their squad is massive, with 10 senior strikers (Despite really only using a single striker system last season) and 10 central midfielders. Brighton have signed a couple of nice players, but lost a key CB and have defensive injuries already. They didn't have an effective striker last season and that hasn't been fixed. Palace have been very busy. Guehi and Olise are very young, come with hefty price tags, but have only played in the Championship. They've let established players Scott Dann, Gary Cahill, James McCarthy, Wayne Hennessey, Mamadou Sakho, Andros Townsend and Patrick van Aanholt all leave for a combined £0m. Their central midfield is aging and already has injuries and a lack of depth, Eze is also injured, and they seem determined to get more out of Benteke up front. A new, relatively inexperienced manager too, and the likes of Zaha who may want out, could lead to things going very badly if things don't start well. Wolves, Spurs and Everton have also had strange summers, and even at the top of the league there's several teams who are going to start the season with plenty of players missing thanks to the summer internationals.
Just seen that Watford currently have 34 Over 21's in their squad - so they can't register 9 of them for the Premier League season. I wonder how problematic that'll be.
Interesting review of the pre-season: https://www.edp24.co.uk/sport/norwi...-way-during-ncfc-disrupted-pre-season-8218910 Omobamidele and Zimmerman have had the maximum minutes, which could be a hidden benefit for two players who may be waiting some time for playing time except for cup matches or injuries to starting players.
The loan window closes 11 days after the transfer window, so I imagine they will try and loan a heap of them out then
Hope we don't regret letting Akin Famewo go out on loan, as he's made the Skybet team of the week. If we sign another CB, then that's fine, but Famewo, now 22 and a rare left footed CB, could have been a useful 5th option. https://the72.co.uk/244497/charlton...mewo-included-in-league-one-team-of-the-week/
Liverpool's Andy Robertson could be a major doubt for the opening fixture against City https://www.eveningnews24.co.uk/spo...l-andy-robertson-premier-league-doubt-8219580
Best kits in Premier league this season. Unbelievable, we are top https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/58033862
The Guardian previews our season. https://www.theguardian.com/football/2021/aug/11/premier-league-2021-22-preview-no-15-norwich-city
I must confess, it's probably the first time I have posted or quoted anything from the Guardian, but I also thought it was a good article..
Decent overview but no mention of the glaring Skipp hole we have now. With our new signings it feels like progress but I do worry about that DM slot. (I may have mentioned it once or twice)
Billy Gilmour is ready to go: https://www.skysports.com/football/...-norwich-loan-move-and-euro-2020-frustrations
So Dimi Giannoulis is "defensively sound". Thank goodness for that. It's one less thing we need to worry about.
No doubt you disagree? Including with the Guardian’s experts’ views that we have improved defensively?
