If our recent luck with injuries is anything to go by , they will all be regular starters by Christmas.
Hard call to make because sending them out on loan seems a bit of a lottery. Martin seems to have gone backwards, and I'm afraid that the same thing may happen to Mumba. But if Hayden and Sara are eventually fit, Cantwell is not just pis*sing us about again, and we don't shift a couple of the other players, there seems little opportunity for Gibbs, Rowe and Springett to break through. I'm glad it's not a decision I have to take.
For me the best thing for their long term development is game time. All 3 could do with going out on loan.
In which case the squad, now numbering 26, would look like this: GK: Gunn, Krul, McGovern FB: Aarons, Byram, Giannoulis, McCallum CB: Gibson, Hanley, Zimmermann, Omobamidele DM Hayden, Sørensen CM: Sara, Lees-Melou, McLean AM: Dowell, Cantwell, Sinani WR: Sargent, Hernandez WL: Rashica, Tzolis S: Pukki, Idah, Hugill Looking round this squad for additional cover, there's no lack of flexibility in forward areas (from AM through to the strikers), but less so in defence (FB, CB, DM)
IMHO, Rowe should stay with the 1st team now. He got some significant appearances towards the end of last season and looked pretty effective in doing so. Given the squad size I can see a good argument for Gibbs and Springett going on loan but I'd be keen to see more of Rowe in the Championship. The club has shown it's not afraid to play capable yoof ahead of established players (even captains) e.g. Aarons in for Pinto.
There is no need to make any changes now as the window is open until the end of August and loans can go out after that. Should Tzolis, Hernandez and/or Cantwell leave we'd need more options in those positions so let's wait and see. Finding a replacement for Zimmerman may be a far more pressing issue: https://www.edp24.co.uk/sport/norwi...umours-christoph-zimmermann-darmstadt-9152994
It would be a shame to lose our last German but realistically he would get little game time with us, so career wise it makes sense for him to move on. He will always be remembered for that header.
The Max Aarons transfer saga again continues to rumble. All these teams supposedly interested in him have never been serious rumours. Have there been any recent inquiries that are worthy of note?
Can't say I'm a fan of last minute loans, either from the point of view of getting the right club for the player or facilitating the loanee's integration. The handling of Bali Mumba's loan to Plymouth has been spot on in those respects.
Surely we will have a replacement in place before we let him go. Without him we will only have 3 CBs. One of them is coming back from injury and another (Hanley) always picks up a knock or two during the season. Yes, Sorensen and Byram can do a job, but we need players in their natural positions. Any news on potential CBs coming in?
The Athletic (Michael Bailey) seems to believe that the club feel Byram, Sorensen and Tomkinson offer sufficient options for "4th CB" to mean Zimmerman can leave without a replacement being signed. For me, I think that's a decision with one eye on the Premier League. This season we'd maybe have the money to add a 4th choice CB, not a first choice. That player is going to get limited playing time, then should we win promotion find themselves even further from the first team and the club probably need to sign a first choice CB. We can always reassess in December/January and make an addition for this season if necessary.
That concerns me, given the number of CB injuries we've had recently. Why not get a CB in on loan to play in the cups and to cover for injuries or a fancied player on loan with an option to buy if it works out? This sounds like false economy to me given the number of games we have this season.
I think the self funding approach means we use the Championship as a platform to blood the Elite academy prospects and we have a few very good centre backs coming through . For me the pecking order is Handley Gibson Omobamidele Tomkinson Warner Sorensen Byram
If Zimbo leaving means Tomkinson gets a chance as 4th CB to then that's ok, but l'm not at all keen on moving players out of position to cover for injuries.
As I understand it the Captain of the under 23's is a CB. If he is not in the squad as 4th choice CB when we are in the Championship when will he be given the chance to prove himself?
Interesting https://www.pinkun.com/sport/norwich-city/ncfc-take-coritiba-players-on-trial-9155618 Brazilian trio heading to Norwich City on trial
Paddy Davitt on Twitter: "Tzolis absence is transfer-related. Heavily linked with #Bruges all summer. Still work to do on a deal. But clearly moving towards a departure." Think that's probably best for all concerned.
