It is great that we've finally got Normann on board and we can only hope it isn't another Amadou type outcome. As for Sørensen, he did himself a lot of good in the Bournemouth game and will still be competing for the DM role. If we can get Ozan Kabak as well this would turn out to be a cracker of a transfer window!
Webber signing a DM was never in doubt I don't know what you lot were moaning about . A centre back wouldn't go a miss
Normann could our record signing in the long term. He will certainly go straight into the starting side. I agree with those who think that Gilmour will miss out, unless Farke had promised Chelsea that he will play regularly. If he is initially a loan move as is Gilmour and Williams, is there a limit to loans?
"We see lots of potential in Mathias and he's capable to play in several roles. He's quite versatile in the midfield positions." (Daniel Farke)
Reading a lot into one statement Robbie. It could mean that Normann is not simply a 'destroyer' type DM. I suspect that DF wants a DM who can break up play but contribute to moving the ball out of defence as well, with passing and through ball capabilities in a 'regista' type role.
Versatile within the midfield positions seems to be exactly what Farke wants. All-rounders who can run with the ball, pass well and tackle. McLean, Gilmour and Normann as a midfield three offer all of that, it's just communicating well enough to decide exactly "who is the DM" in each the moment. Hopefully Normann has a natural tendancy to take that role moreso than our other midfielders. 2 domestic, 2 international. So one international loan spot still available. Yeah I feel bad for Sorensen too, he gets plenty of praise, but that doesn't seem to match the opportunities afforded to him. If he's not going to get played when Normann wasn't here, he'll get even fewer opportunities now. Does a loan beckon?
I wasn't too interested about the rumors of Normann signing but, now that he has, I'm excited about the prospects of him playing DM for us. Really hope I'm not disappointed.
It could mean that, but it could also mean him having a different role when we have the ball than when we don't. Skipp was very good against the ball, but rarely played a key role when we had the ball. Normann should be a DM against the ball, but should move forward to direct play when we have it, to act as a pivot. Gilmour does pretty well with the ball, but is fairly limited against it. The other midfielders will support our attacking play but also drop back on the flanks to cover for the FBs when the ball is lost. The DM role is the missing piece, now hopefully filled.
I’m delighted he’s signed as I think he is the sort of player we need. However let’s not get ahead of ourselves: he could get injured or not find form. And also remember of the ten goals we’ve conceded, seven of them have been from a left back error. Not sure he would make much of a difference there. It’s defensive errors we need to eliminate, more so than personnel at this stage.
That's very true, Rob but we won't always come up against the left wing threat of a Jesus, who was described as 'unplayable' in the Arsenal thrashing. We're also still adjusting to the new 3 man midfield and the tweaks that brings.
Dynamic athlete, similar profile to Skipp but more developed on the ball than Skipp was when he joined.
Rick, I love a dm who can also go forward either dribbling or passing; especially dribbling. Skipp could do that when the opportunity arose, just not often enough. As long as the dm knows his first responsibility is to defend, everything he provides offensively is a bonus: the more the better.
What Farke wants? I'm interested in what the team needs, which is why that comment set alarm bells ringing. And when you say it's "just" a matter of communicating enough, do you see any teams outside the top four or five with the quality of player across their midfield to demonstrably possess the required levels of awareness etc. to operate effectively on that basis? I don't. It's not just a matter of "being able to run with the ball, pass well and tackle"; more than anything it's possessing the instincts, the mentality, the anticipation, the speed of thought, that enables a player to lock the defensive door before the thief has managed to fully open it. DM is not simply a transferable role that players who don't have that focus and mentality can play pass the parcel with, "deciding" who is the DM "in each moment". We need someone to give us what Ollie Skipp single-handedly gave us last season in the Championship. McLean isn't that person; Gilmour isn't that person. The evidence is that Normann has it in him to be that person. For heaven's sake let him get on with it.
