I also like Marco, who was a big factor in our promotion and adds a physical factor up front when needed. What seems to be missing this season is scoring from him and Kenny in that position. In one game Duda has had two shots on target and one would have been a goal but for the handball. I also think that Duda looks PL quality in his tactical movement and passing. As the tactical analysis says: "Duda’s tactical intelligence paired with his positional movements and high technical ability allows him to penetrate a number of dangerous areas in the final third and connect with the strikers in front of him." Marco has similar abilities, but this season has lacked the ability to penetrate PL defences as he did in the Championship. He's had shots from outside the box, but I can't remember any on target. Duda's technical ability allows him to find space in tight defences and either pass or shoot. His 55% shots on target and 33% goals per shots ratio in 2018-19 suggests we could have a new dimension up front for both shots and assists that could boost our survival chances. Fingers crossed, but I'm looking forward to seeing what he can do against Spurs.
Very few players are equally adept with both feet, and it so happens that the majority of Marco's openings this season have been left-footed from the left side of the box. He is at his most effective running with the ball and drilling it right-footed, as opposed to striking balls coming across him. Duda is also right-footed, and his goal-bound shot on Saturday was from that side. So we are yet to see how effective he is with his left foot. Lack of goals is a criticism that can be levied at all our midfielders this year, bar Cantwell. Emi has been particularly poor in that respect. On Saturday Duda was an unknown quantity. One thing is for sure, his performance will have been noted by opposition analysts and he will start to receive the same level of "attention" accorded to Marco when he plays.
Forgive me if I'm wrong but I thought Stiepermann was left footed? I personally think he just needs more time and space which you don't get in the PL.
TransferMarkt says Marco's left footed and values him at £3.6m at 28, nearing the end of his prime while Duda is valued at £11.7m at 25, just coming into his prime. He'd cost us twice that if we survive (£25m has been mentioned). Duda's right is his stronger foot, but he can also shoot with his left. "While passing is his primary focus, Duda also doesn’t waste possession on goalscoring chances, as he tends to only take high-percentage shots. For example, last season 55.5% of his shots were on target with an impressive 31% goal conversion rate, besting a number of high-profile names who held a similar shot count such as Yussuf Poulsen, Lucas Alario, and James Rodríguez. A majority of Duda’s shot distribution on the pitch are in the central area inside the 18-yard box, again illustrating Duda’s care of the ball. The second most common area is just outside the penalty area coming from the left half of the pitch. This is due to Duda’s inclination to cut inside and shoot with his dominant right foot. It was in this overall attacking style of play last season that Duda enjoyed his most successful statistical season of his career, tallying 11 goals and five assists in 32 appearances for Hertha Berlin. Norwich supporters will be hoping he can find that level of prolificity again this season." I certainly am.
Oops! My mistake, so I'm the one needing forgiveness! Re. time and space, he isn't the only one finding things harder; Cantwell is the only one who appears unaffected; Pukki's goal tally compared to last season reflects it.
Time and space has been the problem, compounded by a disproportionate number of injuries. Before the season started we knew the step up would be a big one. Why have some players thrived while others haven't? Pukki has been consistent, as his Finland success would imply. Krul has stepped up, as has Tettey, but they have PL experience. Cantwell has been the biggest surprise for me, looking at home in the PL, but others like Leitner and Vrančic have not had the impact I expected. Buendia has been excellent with assists but deficient in scoring, as have the other midfielders, none of whom have more than one goal. Drmić and Srbeny each scored one goal in their series of cameos and Srbeny is gone now. Byram has been the pick of the summer signings when most of us thought he'd be a backup. This is why I hope Duda can make a difference both in his own goals and helping others to score, as well as creating another threat for opposing defences. If he can cope with the time and space problem better than others have, then the overall balance in games could change and results improve. He has that potential, let's just hope he can realise it.
Interesting interview with Jan Siewert on the BBC web site today. https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/51181591 The yo-yo strategy is full of pitfalls: "We wanted to give something back to our supporters, although we were already relegated," Siewert remembers. "[The players] were doing my things on the pitch, but already I could feel there was a deeper problem. After such a period when you lose so many games, it's painful, and this was in their heads; you could see it within the players."
As well as Huddersfield add Cardiff, Stoke, Hull, Boro, Sunderland, Swansea etc ...................... going down is no guarantee of bouncing straight back.
I know, but we stand a better chance of being promoted if our finances are stable rather than being broke
Maybe naively I also think we will be in a good position to refresh the squad for a new tilt at promotion. Not only will we have some money, but we will also have either a fat transfer fee or some good developing players. Either way, we will have a spine of a team who know Farkeball and new recruits bought who have been scouted to do so. Between that and over the last ten years we have shown an ability to bounce back even when looking far less organised for the task. Bah!
We'll probably lose Amadou, Duda and Fährmann if we go down and Tettey will be 34 so there should be room for recruitment even if none of the young guns are sold. Byram, Drmić and Rupp would already make an even stronger squad than when we won the Championship.
Drmic has hardly featured at all and Rupp has played one (1) full match and a cameo. Don't follow your logic about 'stronger squad' based on those two examples ?
I think the real issue with going down will be how do we replace Pukki's goals. I can't see him staying if we are relegated unfortunately and having a striker that can score consistently is what go us promoted. He will stay in the Prem either as a first choice striker for one of the smaller teams or a back up striker to someone like Vardy or Kane at one of the bigger teams. We will hopefully get £20-30m out of it as proven PL strikers dont grow on trees but it will be very difficult to replace not just the goals but his workrate.
Goals win matches in one of two ways, either by out-scoring the opposition, or by conceding fewer than the opposition. Pukki's heroics last season papered over the defensive frailties that this season has cruelly exposed. IMO the real issue in going down is whether DF is able, or even inclined, to address our defensive issues. Every team we play expects to score against us. Unless we change that we will struggle to get out of the Championship, never mind stay in the EPL.
I was comparing our squad with those 3 players to the squad which won the Championship, assuming no players left (no guarantee of that though). The only player who has left is Srbeny so we'd be stronger if nobody else left. If Sussex is right and Pukki leaves, then we'd have more money but be much weaker as Pukki would be very hard to replace. As for the defence, we'd be unlikely to have the number of serious CB injuries we've had this year, so would have more consistency in defence with Byram as a new option. Much would depend on what Ruup brings to midfield and how much Drmić can avoid injuries and how much Idah progresses. Pukki would still be the key though.
I think giving Teemu a little rest is more important than the cup game tomorrow. Drmic needs game time anyway.
For years thought, Norwich have attacked their way out of the championship (i.e. since Lambert) and the defence hasn't been the strong suit. That being said, we have had awful defensive injuries this year.
James Husband has had his contract cancelled at Norwich City to allow him to join Blackpool on a permanent deal. https://www.blackpoolgazette.co.uk/...ntract-cancelled-with-norwich-city-1-10220910