Córdoba has signed. https://www.edp24.co.uk/sport/24361888.norwich-jose-cordoba-signs-canaries-levski-sofia/
https://www.canaries.co.uk/content/city-agrees-to-sign-jose-cordoba City have their first signing of the 2024/25 season. The rebuild of the squad has begun
please log in to view this image Norwich City have confirmed the signing of Jose Cordoba (Image: Getty) Pace, potential and a left foot: What Cordoba will bring to City please log in to view this image Samuel Seaman|5 Jun 2024, 17:19 Norwich City aren’t expected to spend much money this summer, but there’s a reason they’re forking out for Jose Cordoba. The Panama international defender is both a convenient and exciting signing for the Canaries, for whom the recruitment of a left-sided centre-back was a significant priority. In the absence of the released Ben Gibson and with an increasing need for left footers to play that role, he makes perfect sense for Johannes Hoff Thorup’s possession-based system. In Bulgaria, where he made his name with Levski Sofia, Cordoba is known for his work on the ball, with the ability to find searching passes forward and drive into the opposition half. “We improved his confidence on the ball,” said former Levski assistant Tsanko Tsvetanov toThe Sun, as he lauded the potential of his once-charge. “Jose is a player who will be aiming to play in the Premier League in England. If he develops the way he has, I believe he will.” Not all of that quality is on the ball, however, with Cordoba representing an imposing physical figure. He’s a handy six-foot-one, exactly the same height as Gibson. He’s also bulked up since moving to Sofia, where he first gained consistent game time after a disappointing spell with Celta Vigo in Spain. His once-defensive partner Kellian van der Kaap talked up those attributes when he spoke to theDaily Record, saying: “Jose’s a very talented player. “He’s a modern centre-back — fast, good height, good speed, comfortable with the ball, and he’s left-footed, which is not so easy to find at centre-back. He has all the requirements to go to the next level.” Cordoba also has a decent number of games under his belt for someone aged just 23, with 130 first-team outings already. For context, Jonathan Tomkinson is less than a year younger and has 36, while 21-year-old Jaden Warner has only 13. That age is another clear strength, especially given Ben Knapper’s mission to make City’s squad look much younger during the transfer window. The former Arsenal loans manager’s admission that “we feel he still has big steps in his development to come” is a pointed one, and the imperative on improvement is undoubtable. “Under Johannes’ guidance, along with the rest of our staff, we feel sure we can help him achieve his potential,” Knapper continued in the club’s official statement. The step from Bulgaria to the high-paced English second division is a big one, and there will be some adaptation needed. Tsvetanov has discussed the defender’s willingness to learn, and given Thorup’s track record for working with young players the recipe is an exciting one. The ability to play at left-back is another string to Cordoba’s bow, especially as Norwich search for one this summer. Ex-Nordsjaelland free agent Martin Frese is a target, and many others have been tracked, but extra cover in a position that’s looking extremely thin on the ground will always be welcome. Ben Knapper (right) has talked up Cordoba’s potential(Image: Paul Chesterton/Focus Images Ltd) City’s first signing of the summer will soon head off to the Copa America, and that means there may be a slight delay in fans’ eagerly anticipated first meeting. But being at that tournament alone speaks to the calibre of player their club has signed. It likely won’t be smooth sailing all the way through. Much like the Thorup project as a whole, there’s great potential seen but patience may be required. Nonetheless, City’s willingness to pay a fee for Cordoba, which won’t be happening much this season, tells you how highly they rate him. The fact they fought off competition from Glasgow Rangers and others makes things look even better on paper. There’s excitement on the player’s side, too, having said in arecent interview that he was joining a “good project” and that he was “very happy”. As always, the proof will be in the pudding and on the Carrow Road pitch. But it’s hard to deny that the early signs are encouraging.
It's good to get the Córdoba signing done so early because it effectively fills the gaps created by the departure ot Gibson, Batth and McCallum in one go. We will probably have a small squad so his ability to play LB is a real bonus (he played RB in Panama's last game). As mentioned above, the savings in wages from the 3 departures is enough to cover the payment for Cordoba and his likely salary as well (he was on £7k per week at Sofia). We will still need a first choice LB to replace Giannoulis, but the possibility of Martin Frese is already there and hopefully will happen. In Thorup's system, the LB tends to drop into a back 3 in possession and that would be a natural role for José. Frese is well used to playing that role already, so that could help Thorup get his system in place early in the pre-season.
What's the name of the LB we have on our books? The youth player, people were talking about last year
He's 20 (21 in September) and was on the bench several times near the end of last season. "Portuguese left-back Guilherme Montóia signed for Norwich City in the summer of 2023. The defender had been a regular for Benfica's youth sides, and also represented Portugal at underage level." (From the Official site)
Very raw, but things seem to happen when he is on the ball. Training and playing with better class of player is likely to accelerate his development. Exciting signing, given who else was interested. Talking about Cordoba here, not the Korean lad. And who is LW?
Thorup is arriving with a brief aimed at developing young players so what are our main needs now? Obviously we need a first choice LB and perhaps a DM, though Sørensen may get more of a look in from a fellow Dane, and we'll need to replace any player leaving, but with Reyes, Tomkinson, Warner, Hills, Adegboyega, Springett and Kamara all returning from productive loan spells, we surely have the makings of a decent squad now. GK: Gunn Long Reyes RB: Stacey Fisher LB: (Córdoba) (Sørensen) Montóia CB: Duffy Tomkinson Adegboyega CB: Hanley °Córdoba Warner Hills DM: McLean Sørensen CM: Sara Núñez Gibbs Manning WR: Rowe Fassnacht Springett Welch AM: Barnes Sara Manning Forsyth WL: Sainz Hernandez Kamara ST: Sargent Barnes Idah Aboh
This might be Gunn's response to that situation: "I think [Manchester City have] definitely [impacted the way I look at football]... Growing up, part of my sort of youth career there definitely how, in terms of me and how I look at the game and like the game to be played. At the same time, when you step into first-team, men’s football you’ve got to be adaptable as well because not every manager is the same and there’s different styles of play that people want. It’s also important to be open minded, adaptable and be ready to do what the manager you’ve got wants." https://www.pinkun.com/sport/interv...angus-gunn-man-citys-pep-guardiola-influence/
Unfortunately there is a big difference between knowing you have to adapt and being able to do it. Joe Hart could not adapt and ended up at Celtic. The modern Keeper has to be, amongst other things, a sweeper, master in the box, an outlet for his defence and an accurate passer of the ball. I just don't think that Gunn is capable of that - he is just a good shot stopper. Ramsdale is a better shot stopper than Pickford and Raya but cannot displace either. Don't both Celtic and Rangers need to sign a keeper? The game still seems to be more basic in Scotland.
One minute you're saying we're deep in debt and in the next you say we need to sign a world class keeper, 1950.
Also, it isn't just a matter of adapting to this or that style of play. Some "skills" (e.g. decision making and passing accuracy), are basic requirements of any style of play (Pulisball apart). They are crucial to a possession-hungry team. Gunny will have been trying to improve in these respects throughout his career, irrespective of manager or style of football. At 28, is he really going to get better at them? The coaches and analysts at Man City and Southamption clearly saw limitations to his potential.
I can see that this could be a key factor if we were in the PL but we aren't. Córdoba is a start on revamping the defence and he will need time to adjust but we won't be able to do it all now. Thorup has suitable players for his possession based approach but will need to make adjustments in stages. I certainly can't see the need to sell Rowe, Sargent or Sara so we can buy a new keeper.
