This from Bethnal Yellow and Green on the equivalent thread on the Pink'Un forum: "Nick Stanley did a good job with Brighton's set pieces when Potter was there (Potter moved him to set piece coach back in the 2020/21 season). De Zerbi has talked fairly openly that he doesn't really like set pieces and would rather focus on open play. Doesn't matter how good a coach you are, you need time with the players to work on routines. It seems de Zerbi didn't give him that time to work with the players. Brighton have basically had one routine for a while now which is to go for a near post flick on as they have a good taker and short players. Norwich have done well to get him, I presume the new Brighton head coach will bring in his own guy as set pieces were a corner stone (get it?) of St Pauli's promotion, so the timing has worked out well for Knapper."
https://x.com/SteNCFC/status/1815802597132927112 Mildly interesting to see which younger players have stayed with the first time, now the U21s have split. Tomkinson with the U21s probably makes sense, but he surely needs senior football this season.
Pleasing to read that Dimi Giannoulis has earned himself a four year contract with Bundesliga club Augsburg. Nice contract for a nice guy.
Hugo Bueno on loan from Wolves the latest rumour that I’ve seen. He’s got a decent highlight reel from a few PL games
Bit surprising if true, given that our LB will be operating for much of his time as a LCB, while Stacey bombs forward over on the right. On that same theme, I wonder if that played any part in Martin Frese not showing interest in following Thorup to Norwich.
Ben Chrisene from Villa confirmed.... Left sided FB https://x.com/NorwichCityFC/status/1818255222151467460?t=3PC57_ukpBHxIJVHWat_8g&s=19
https://www.pinkun.com/sport/norwic...y-england-u20-ben-chrisene-signs-aston-villa/ Already out in Austria according to the above article from the PinkUn so could feature in tonight’s friendly. Article also says that Doyle is expected to join next week
Curious what happened with Chrisene at Blackburn last year. Came in and immediately started playing 90 mins each week, then his minutes dropped off significantly towards the end of the season. Perhaps he was injury cover initially and Blackburn preferred to play their own player towards the end of the season, not sure.
Looks like he was injury cover for Harry Pickering, who wasn't in the squad in the period when Chrisene played 90 mins. Pickering was their regular LB. I presume based on the fact he's struggled to get into a Blackburn team languishing in the depths of the Championship, he's signed as backup to Doyle this season, with the expectation he can potentially be a starting LB in the season after?
All the usual blog sites are reporting that Leeds have bid £5 m for Sara. They variously say we are holding out for:- £10m (?), £13.6m, and £20m. Well, one is close. What idiot blogger would say we want only £10m? We paid that for him, or thereabouts, and he is now a much better player. I would think Idah will be on his way in the next few days. Again, reports are so varied, one Celtic site says we want £11m for him.
Just read a story about Ben Chrisane joining us. It seems we now have four of the England U20 team. Brad Hills, Abu Kamara and Kellen Fisher being the others. Exciting times ahead for the youngsters.
Thorup on Ben Crisene: "It was a target where we really tried, went through a lot of conversations with him as well. It is obviously a difficult decision to take for him travelling to another part of the country into a new club new environment. But fortunately, he is in now with us. He was on top of our list. We also wanted to send a clear signal to him that it is for now but it's also for the future and then hopefully he can bring this club, and this team, up to the next level. Then hopefully you can also take the step to the next level in the future. That's the plan with him and I think definitely he has the potential, but he's also a player for now. He's a good technical player, he is used to, I will say it, thriving in teams where he can be involved a lot. He can be a good part of the build up game, but also offensively with his technique and his off the ball movement." https://www.pinkun.com/sport/interviews/24492537.norwich-city-ben-chrisene-real-deal-thorup/
https://x.com/cjsouthwell1902/status/1819460629050360220 Sounds like Sara might be off, lots of reports we've accepted this offer.
I hope not, it feels cheap to me. Maybe just because he’s our player but I thought we might get closer to £30m for him. Massive hole to fill if he goes and seemingly no money to spend on filling it
Several reports 5mins ago that the Sara deal is done, main one coming from Chris Reeve at TNC! Normally very reliable
We were a very very average side with a Brazilian superstar last season if it's true that Sara has gone that shows the ambition of the club. Remind me again why we let an American businessman take over ? With Buendia it was understandable but this one stings way worse. €23million to Galatasary is horrendous if reports turn out to be true
€23m + €3m add ons + ?% sell on fee. The way I read it those are the figures. Not sure what is required for the add ons, but one report I saw says they are attainable. ( For some strange reason every time I write was... done it again.. saw it reverses to was).
I think Sara to Galatasary for £20m plus add ons is pretty good business when you consider how much we paid for him and that he failed to turn up for the most important game of his Norwich career. People need to get their head around the significant change of direction at the club, with the new American owners coming in and Webber / Wagner going. There's clearly been a reset with the club now taking a longer term view re any PL return. All the signs are that fans can expect a couple of frustrating development seasons, before we make a proper serious attempt at promotion.
