I think we need to have a bit of realism about this season eing one of transition. I had a look at the squad yesterday and counted 4 of the 22 that would have been involved in the first team last year (Klose, Tettey, Murphy and Oliveira). You could argue McGovern and maybe Madders to make it 6. But this is still a massive number of players to integrate in one year, along with a new coach. We have pretty much done as I would have expected so far this season, and im glad to see that we have made so many changes. The squad had become so stagnated with essentially the same team rolled out for the past 4 or 5 years. Who knows we may just make the play-offs? However I wouldn't be too disappointed if we didn't, with next year being the year I would expect us to make a push, providing we can keep the majority of our best players together next season.
My thoughts entirely The remaining games this season, though still very important, are for me more about DF establishing his strongest team / squad and getting all the new(ish) arrivals to integrate and develop the style he wants them to play. Admittedly he's had to alter his preferred style to suit the rigours of the championship but these are reasonably well paid professional footballers and should be able to adapt with relative ease.
I pretty much agree although there is still more trimming of deadwood to be done and he also needs to think about who isn't going to be here next season and identify replacements.
Another report on Saturday's game by Jack Reeve (aka -TNC??) - http://www.pinkun.com/norwich-city/...ust-a-football-club-says-jack-reeve-1-5382966
So Gestede gets his red card rescinded - http://www.edp24.co.uk/sport/norwic...y-appeals-red-card-shown-at-norwich-1-5384621 #ludicrous
I think this is one of the most bizarre decisions I’ve heard. Normally they give you the middle finger even when it’s not a foul. Here, it looked like a clear foul and ok, maybe a yellow but he still would have been sent off!
I was really surprised to see that, as VERY few appeals are upheld IMO, the issue was that the referee gave Gestede a straight red, as opposed to a 2nd yellow, which would have led to a sending off anyway.
Excellent analysis Suffolk. I count 14 new players in the current 24 man squad. That's a massive change in one season. The style of play is also a major change to be absorbed. IMO the current formation isn't a back five, but a 3-4-2-1 or a 3-4-1-2 where the WBs slide up and down the touchlines according to the situation. This allows overloads on the wings when attacking and Pinto and Lewis are well suited to the role. Tettey plays a key role defensively but so does Trybull or Vrancic (or now Leitner) in a more passing role alongside him as the link to the attacking players. I'd like to see Trybull and Leitner in home games to increase our attacking capabilities with Tettey providing more cover in away games. It's system that could work well in the PL eventually. The likes of Derby or Cardiff could gain promotion, but they would be soon found out by PL teams. DF is building something far better IMO, but it requires patience.
Worked out well for Gestede. Instead of a second yellow and a one match ban, the red is rescinded and he gets no ban.
Rediculous! Never hear of them getting rescinded and if it wasn’t a straight red it should have been a yellow then a red anyway. They should have just reduced it to a one game bab
From what I know, OK, very little, they cannot change the colour of the card. They can only say it was a straight red or not a straight red. Ludicrous situation though.