i don't think i'd even want to try and guess what wage he is currently on! what is certain is that he won't be coming here if his demands don't sit within our structure.
i imagine that we would not have made an approach without knowing his wage expectations. McNally would have nailed that down i would think.
So, we could line up like this next season Snodgrass Johnson Toivonen Pilkington Hooper Van Wolfswinkel Tantalising prospect?
Not sure how accurate this quote (from 'Vital Football') but here it is anyway: Asked about a move to the Premier League last week, Toivonen said: "It is always interesting. I don`t know, hard to say (what league would suit him). It depends on which team you come to. "There are teams who like to play long balls and those who like to play by the ground. I prefer the latter." Toivonen added: "The policy of PSV has changed and that`s bad for me. I didn`t start all this. "So I will start with the approaches on July 1. But the asking price is too high. I`ve said it before and I continue to say it." Read more: http://www.norwich.vitalfootball.co.uk/sitepage.asp?a=321550#ixzz2VvSu3bQ4
Accuse me of clinging on to the past or whatever you want, but I'd much rather have Holt partnering RVW than Hooper. The partnership would work better, besides the fact Holt is, in my opinion, a better player.
Hucks, i would agree with that, i mean what has Holt done wrong! - Holt still knows where the goal is doesn't he. Holt didn't score many last season but that was down to the system Hughton ask us to play, more than Holt ability to put the ball in the net.
I think Holt and RVW would suit each other very well. Holt wins the knock downs and RVW plays the clever through balls that a player with the awareness of Holt should be able to latch on to. They're both lethal finishers too.
I'd be worried if we brought in Hooper and sold Holt, as our top 3 strikers would all be yet to score in the PL. Holt still has something to offer, both on the pitch and in helping continuity. Next year with improved service, Holt will be capable of scoring just as many, and in fact might be able to do so in fewer appearances, as he'll be more fully rested.
I'm a huge fan of Grant Holt, but being a huge fan doesn't mean ignoring the facts. Fact 1 is that, despite "the system Hughton asked us to play", Grant Holt COULD have had double the goal tally he actually achieved last season; the reason he didn't is (this being Fact 2) that he WASN'T as lethal as he has been for us in previous seasons. Quite apart from the missed penalty (deserved or not) against the Saints, there were numerous times when Holty had only the keeper to beat, but didn't, or clear cut chances to score with his head that he didn't take. I'm not criticising him; it would have been an immense surprise to me if he had maintained the same exceptional form this season as last; and I hope he will still be a Norwich player next season. But the fact is he had plenty of chances to double his tally, but didn't take them.
To be honest, if this comes off surely it'll reinforce the fact we will most likely play with 5 midfielders next season? I can see Toivonen playing in the Wes role behind Wolfswinkel myself with two defensive minded midfielders behind him and snoddy and pilks out wide. Can't really see him being compatible in a 4-4-3 myself.
i am one of grant holt's biggest fans, but in all honesty, from what i've seen, gary hooper is better in most departments. the thing holty has going for him is his leadership ability and the fact he's a 'bit different' to anyone else we have. hooper is a better finisher, that's for sure and his movement is far better, so is his touch (though holt's is way better than most give credit for) but it's hooper's instinct to be in the right place at the right time which elevates him above holt. you can tell there are a number of people who haven't really watched hooper that much, no offence! it's just you need to see him in action to see exactly why he has the attributes he does.
Yep, I think sneaking on a 12th man might be beyond him! But yeah, I think we'll be going 4-5-1, but our midfield will be less settled next season.
Back to topic, Toivenon looked useful playing up front for Sweden tonight. He can play as a striker, but given that he prefers playing as an ACM or AM in the hole, I can see a lot of potential there. He likes the ball at his feet, but can also be a real threat at set pieces or running into the box to take crosses. It's a definite yes for me from what I have seen.
You're bang on the money here mate, I was slated when I predicted he would struggle to get into double figures this year. I don't wish to slate the man, what he has done for us should never be forgotten, but I was proved right. Holty's way past his best now and we SHOULD let him go IMO. Thanks for the memories and all that, but there is absolutely no room for sentiment in football whatsoever. We move on
Its amazing how people form different opinions. He is getting a huge amount of flack from reporters and supporters here in Sweden. On a scale of -1 to 5, 47% of online voters have awarded him -1 with the top rated comment being "Toivonen should never play for Sweden again". I watched the game and my own opinion is that the Swedes are being a bit unfair in singling him out. He had a game to forget but the whole team were pretty poor. He was playing up front alongside Ibrahimovic and showed some good touches in build up play, but he had at least three reasonable chances to score, including a one on one with the keeper, and lacked composure. The papers here are saying he is on his way to Norwich.
