Transfer Rumours Tosh, goss 'n twaddle - Summer 2020

You'd think you'd be looking at the progress of Adam Idah (and Josh Murphy, Jacob Murphy, Cantwell, Aarons, Lewis, Godfrey, Morris, Josh Martin, Jordan Thomas...) and see that NCFC offers a pretty good pathway from youth to Championship/Premier League opportunities.

You'd think you'd look at Benny Ashley-Seal making a negligible impact on loan at Accrington this season.

You'd think you'd look at the way Jed Steer's career went after a move to Villa, where despite performing in the Championship when they needed him, they've never trusted him since.

You'd think you'd look at Keinan Davis breaking through at Villa, and realise they already have a very promising young striker they'll prioritise as "one of their own".

You'd think you'd look beyond Jack Grealish, and realise the only other academy player Villa have produced in recent years is Andre Green. Released this summer after not impressing on loan at Charlton.

If he looks at his situation, and what's on the table, and decides to move on, then good luck to him.

 

This happens for various reasons, like Villa staying in the PL, which team he supported early on, better players ahead of him in our academy, like Idah and those brought in this year (Soto) and last. My impression is that our academy is doing very well with the young players sold for big money, those currently in the first team and those breaking through now, like Famewo and Thomas. One young player leaving seems small beer by comparison.

 

Indeed, you would think so, which is why the EDP article gave me pause.

 

The 11 goals in one game sounds promising for him

 

Yes, there may well not be anything in it. I can, though, imagine that a promising youngster, who has represented England at U15 level and already made an, albeit brief, appearance for our U18 side, might be discouraged by finding himself behind "better" older players brought in from the academies of other clubs. If we are prioritising our role as, so to speak, a finishing school, is there really that much point in the rest of the academy?

 

My guess would be that the 'imported' players are scouted to fill any gaps at the various levels. With Idah moving up to the first team, Soto has been brought into the U23s and then gone out on loan. Thomas was brought in to fill the gap caused by Aarons suddenly moving up to the first team, and so it goes.

 

The summer intake of 2020 (so far…): What do we think?

https://norwichcity.myfootballwrite...ummer-intake-of-2020-so-far-what-do-we-think/

 

As a finishing school, there's not a restrictive limit to the number of players we can "finish". We could bring in 50 teenagers from other academies, and put them all through a program at Colney and out on loan, without really diminishing the quality of their footballing education/development. The route to the NCFC first team becomes more competitive, but those who don't make it will still have (hopefully) had an education which leaves them well placed for a career in league football.

And buying those 50 teenagers in will still be more expensive than developing our own from the youngest age groups, so it makes sense to develop them.

I can see an individual who has been with NCFC a while realising that they're becoming a smaller fish in a bigger pond, and that feeling threatening. But whilst that might limit first team opportunities at Carrow Road, they'll benefit from the increased profile of our academy and improved facilities/coaching/contacts that come from having a stronger academy.

 

Buying in is more expensive, but it also has a greater chance of success. The Murphys and Cantwell were homegrown, but Maddison, Aarons, Lewis, Godfrey, Idah and Thomas were buy ins with a total worth well over £100m. We still wait to see what last year's buy ins will produce.

As for the new players, if Martin Penney is right, we've spent over £13m already, though Sitti and Sinani were in last year's budget. Quite a contrast to last year's window and we're not finished yet. I'm quietly pleased with the signings so far, but there's no clear wow factor to be seen yet, though the same could have been said of the window two years ago and up popped Pukki, Buendia and Krul once the season started (two free transfers and a £1.5m fee). I'm still hoping for an experienced CB and a striker, but then it depends on who leaves.

 

It also needs to be remembered that Maddison, Lewis, Aarons and Godfrey were, I believe, all recruited by the pre-Webber academy regime. That's some standard for the current regime to maintain.

 

Yes they were, as the change came with Academy One Status. SW has brought in Idah and Martin as well as Adheads who was on the bench at Citeh. McCallum is 19, but if he lives up to his billing and price (£3.5m), he could be good find. There's another 6 out on loans plus Soto and Dennis, so SW has a reasonable chance of getting there out of those 12.

 

Alfie Mawson of Fulham is the latest CB rumour:

https://footballleagueworld.co.uk/n...fl-outcast-as-part-of-double-defensive-swoop/

Ryan Bennett is mentioned as another possibility.

At 26, Mawson looks a good prospect but he wouldn't come cheap as Transfermarkt rate him at £6.3m, though that is down from £13.5m two years ago. He's left-footed and his WhoScored rating is 6.75, the same as Mike van der Hoorn from Swansea, who has also been rumoured. At 30 now, it's hard to believe we're interested in Bennett, whose rating is 6.39 from his 3 starts and two sub appearances at Leicester on loan from Wolves.

 

Article mentions Ryan Bennett on our radar. Would he return?

 

See above, CS.

 

If you ignore his time with us, Ryan Bennett is a 30 year old CB who has recently played a large part in a Championship winning side (his second promotion), and made 50 Premier League appearances over the last two seasons. He's also made a lot of those appearances either in the centre or the right of a back 3, but can play in a two as well. At 1.88m, he's taller than Godfrey.

With 12 months on his contract and clearly surplus to requirements at Wolves (given the loan to Leicester), there's a deal to be made. The loan to Leicester had an optional £5m buy-out clause which they elected not to use. That's a fee we could pay, but you'd hope if the player is keen on a return to Norfolk, then we could use that to our advantage and reduce the price. He knows the club and wage structure here, so he'd know the kind of wage he could expect.

When he left Norwich, it was clear he needed a change of scenery, and he flourished at Wolves. I guess in bringing him back we'd be hoping to get the player he became, rather than the player we let go. Financially, there's a lot of "Webber-logic" behind such a move.

 

Would love to see Ryan back.
Classy CB, never let us down

 

He spent more time out injured if I remember correctly but he was decent.

 

DHCanary you have made a very good case for Ryan Bennett’s return. If he does return he would be very much welcomed by most of the fans, although you can’t please all of the people all of the time. If Godfrey goes, a second new CB along with Bennett would be cover for the existing CB’s who have been prone to injury.

 

Few things from the Pinkun Q&A today:

• Their reporters see Dowell as direct competition for Stiepermann, with Stiepermann likely relegated to the bench.
• Feeling is that Vrancic may also be confined to a bench role, with Tettey, McLean, Sorensen, Rupp preferred for the deep midfield roles.
• Aim with Sinani is to convert him into a striker.
• Rhodes "remains of interest".
• Matthew Dennis (U23 signing from Arsenal) played as LB there, but the club press release described him as a midfielder. So perhaps figuring out his best position will be the first stage of his development.
• Paddy Davitt would bet on Leitner and Trybull to depart this summer, and probably Buendia more likely to leave than Cantwell.
• Expects Thomas and Martin to have a chance of making the first team squad for next season, also believes there's a young LB in the academy we haven't seen break through yet, who the club have very high hopes for.
• Paddy's midfield guess for next season: Sorensen McLean, Cantwell Dowell Placheta.
• "Sorensen is in the natural replacement [for Tettey]. He is slightly older as well. Sitti is still potential. Lungi likes to dominate the second ball and impose himself physically onto matches whilst having the passing range to contribute in possession. He's Tom Trybull with legs. "
• Fee for Dowell was £1-2m up front, with add-ons.
• Norwich are increasingly scouting in South America, with the expectation that Brexit makes it easier to get work permits.
• Likely no new kit for weeks, or departures for a while.

 

I always liked Bennett and thought he was a good, all round CB, but at 30, I can't help thinking SW would consider him too old. On a free transfer it might happen, but not at £5m. Alfie Mawson would be my first choice, then Mike van der Hoorn before Bennett, much as I liked him.