Farke not about to jump ship when his 'little miracle' fails to materialise https://www.pinkun.com/norwich-city/canaries-daniel-farke-future-career-thoughts-revealed-1-6519007
How refreshing to have a man who listens to a question and answers it honestly and in depth! I know it won’t happen but I'd love this man to stay with us for at least a decade
I think we need to offer him a share scheme to keep him here and invested. Over 20 years DS and MWJ could sign over their shares progressively. OK he hasn't got the riches to invest when he became owner, but I reckon having a proper football man like him here for 20 years+ would see us have some of our best years. Obviously stipulate some serious tie ins and preventative measures to prevent damaging sales. But if in 20 years time he had 50% of the shares and sold up, fair play to him. Could make if bonus related. PL and promotions to it see 3% shares, Relegation 1%, 3rd tier relegation 0%, as you were in the Championship 1.5%. Delia should be happy that it is putting the club in safe hands. Bah!
Unfortunately I think his ambitions are set a bit higher and I don't think it's all about the money for him.
Exactly this! He's been open before about stepping up into a Euro club. Suspect he's got an Oprah-style visualisation board at home with a picture of the Liverpool job in the middle of it. I bloody hope he sticks around for now though. Part 2 of that interview is also really good. More brutal truths and insight but worth listening through to the end if only for the analogy about a marriage.
Iwan thinks it's a very long shot, but we still have a chance: "Norwich have won four of their 26 games, they've got 18 points from those 26 and possibly need another 18 from their remaining 12 to have any chance of staying up." That's an average of 1.5 points per game which is a big ask, but that's the way it is. The truth is we need at least 5 wins from those 12 and that means continuing our present improvement, defending well and putting away our scoring chances. It's a very long shot but it'll be interesting how the players respond. https://www.eveningnews24.co.uk/sport/norwich-city/canaries-iwan-roberts-column-1-6523739
So much for having 3 CB's available. Who knows, Handley and Godfrey may be the right combination. Zim hurt, Byram out, Onel hurt again. Feels like "The Mean Season" part 2.
On the plus side, Bournemouth lost 3-0 at Burnley and Villa lost 2-0 at Southampton. Watford go to Old Trafford tomorrow and West Ham go to Anfield on Monday. A good result tomorrow could make a big difference.
Some good news on Klose anyway: “I’m very happy with my injury, it’s gone! I think we’re looking at coming back next week. Hopefully next week I’m back in training with the squad, then we’ll see if I can get some games in. In my head I’d love to play the Leicester game, but our medical department is very smart, they know exactly how to deal with me to make sure I’m strong enough to not break down when I’m out there again. Sometimes they have to hold me back, but I’ll push as hard as I can.” Probably too late now, but his return could make a big difference in our remaining games. https://www.canaries.co.uk/News/2020/february/timm-klose-on-returning-from-injury/
There was an interesting analysis last season comparing our performances in the early part up until Klose and Leitner got injured, with the later part when Godfrey and McLean had come in and taken over the shirts. I can't remember the exact details but the gist of it was that we conceded fewer goals with TK and ML in the team, but scored more freely with BG and KM in the team. Since DF stuck with the latter pair even when Klose and Leitner were fit again raises the question of which of TK or BG would have been first choice had TK not been injured.
Godfrey did so well when he covered for Timm last season that Klose couldn't move him out of the starting lineup. It happened with others, too. If someone got hurt, there was another player ready to step in and make the position their own.
What the analysis showed was that BG did certain things better that TK, and other things less well. There's always a cost/benefit analysis to be done when selecting any player, so DF's selections are indicative of the relative importance he attaches to this or that aspect of a player's game. A lot of people seem to be assuming that TK would have been first choice LCB this season had he been fit. On the evidence of last season, I don't think that can be assumed at all.
I have to disagree with you, Robbie. Last season Ben took his chance and didn't give Daniel a reason to pull him from the starting lineup, regardless of which one is better for the offense or defense. Timm is good on the ball and a better passer, in my view; while Ben can make a run up the pitch with the ball (rarely happens though). Had both been healthy this season I would have expected Timm to win the spot sooner or later.
Klose, Zimmerman and Godfrey all have different strengths. Klose has more top level experience for club and country, marks well and is good at working the ball out of defence. Zimbo reads the play well and has strength and the ability to make telling passes out of defence. Godfrey has pace and mobility and can carry the ball out of defence well, though his height is a disadvantage. Even Hanley has his strengths, but he's just not a natural for Farkeball, though he has improved. It isn't so much about who would be chosen this season, it's about having 2 CBs fit to play. It's only 2 or 3 matches we've had more than two available and often it's been only one. Had Klose been available at those times, it could have made all the difference.