Trying to think how the team evolution across the window looks: Giannoulis -> Doyle McCallum -> Chrisene Gibson -> Cordoba Batth -> Hills Sara -> Forson & Slimane Rowe -> Gordon Idah -> Crnac Kamara -> Schwartau We've definitely got younger, and cheaper, but remains to be seen if we maintain the goal threat.
Good post - my assessment so far: Giannoulis-> Doyle = TBC McCallum -> Chrisene = TBC Gibson -> Cordoba = TBC Batth -> Hills = STRONGER Sara -> Forson & Slimane = WEAKER Rowe -> Gordon = WEAKER Idah -> Crnac = TBC Kamara -> Schwartau = STRONGER On paper that looks like we are not clearly worse off, but of course the reduction in quality from Sara and Rowe departures is larger than the other improvements. Basically it all turns on whether Crnac, Chrisene, Doyle and Cordoba come good
I would add Schwartau to the come good list as he's the closest to a replacement for Rowe, though Forson is as well, at least in part as Thorup varies from the initial 4-3-3 to a 4-2-3-1 formation in more recent games. It's also an advantage that Schwartau played with Slimane at Bronby and Thorup knows them both already.
What happened to our youth going out on loan? Nothing mentioned on here. All happened whilst I was asleep so trying to catch up.
Aboh to Stevenage, Barden to Swindon, Shipley to Cheltenham. First two are full season, Shipley until January. Plus the two earlier, season-long loans of Reyes to Cambridge and Adeboyega to Dundee. I wonder what the thinking is regarding the trio of CBs, Hills, Warner and Tomkinson. With Hills and Warner on the verges of the first team, I was rather expecting Tomkinson to move on.
For all the angst on social media about whether Sargent would stay, I don't personally think there was ever any doubt. A couple of weeks back I saw Josh and family enjoying a quiet brunch at the Green Grocer on Earlham Road. Josh and his wife were clearly relaxed, the epitome of normal, happy young parents; they certainly weren't discussing how they were going to cope with the upheaval of moving elsewhere. I imagine a return home might well appeal if that opportunity came up, but for the time being I'd say they are very happy here.
According to the Pinkun: "Waylon Renecke and Jonathan Tomkinson are poised for permanent exits." https://www.pinkun.com/sport/norwic...ity-sign-chelsea-england-youngster-billy-gee/
It seems we've spent around £16-17m and received around £33m for players leaving as well as a considerable saving in wages. The squad now has 24 senior players and around 8 U21s which seems about right with at least 2 players per position. Liverpool's Gordon will probably make the bench fairly soon to get some sub minutes and there seems good coverage for injuries. The test of how good the window has been will be on the pitch and how many players realise the potential attributed to them.
Aren’t we still light at left back? Also I don’t think the positive balance is anywhere near as good as that - those are the headline figures after add-one etc: I think the profit will be negligible overall (which is a good thing as it shows the owners are not pulling money out of the club by failing to reinvest, but also are not overspending)
Supporters tend to forget that as well as being players they are also family men who have to listen to ' her indoors ' Huckerby came to Norwich because Mrs Huckerby told him to get down here and negotiate his own deal. Declan Rice, whose wife and family were born and bred in London, going to Arsenal rather than Manchester or Liverpool was obvious. Same yesterday with Sterling. Norfolk is a lovely place to live and that is important to families.
Today was certainly an encouraging result from a much improved performance, but good though the window was it leaves a lot of questions still unanswered. I'd say left back is adequately covered by Doyle and Crisene. The former started at CB, then moved to LB as Crisene made way for Córdoba to come on near the end. A bigger question for me is filling the holes left by Sara and Rowe leaving. Forson has started well, but struggled at times today and made way for Slimane to come on for the second half along with Schwartau who replaced Crnac. Those two played together at Brøndby and both brought a new drive and more pacey play that helped turn the match in our favour. The big holes remain, but the solutions could just be in sight and I'm also curious to see what Liverpool's Kaide Gordon can bring to the flanks once he settles in on loan. The downside for me is that Crnac still hasn't yet impressed, but perhaps that will come. As for the fee differentials, they're all paid in installments anyway, so just become part of the future financial planning.
Crnac only arrived 9 days ago (22nd August). This is what Ben Knapper said at the time: "Ante is a very exciting talent, and someone we have been tracking for some time. He is a young player who will need time to adapt to his new surroundings, team-mates and style of play, but we believe he can have success here in both the medium and long term. He is a real asset that we feel we can develop into a player for the highest level. We're delighted to be able to welcome him to the club and are excited to see how he can progress, improve and help the team." So, "a young player who will need time to adapt", seen as someone who can "have success here in both the medium and long term", "a real asset that we feel we can develop into a player for the highest level". Notwithstanding which Thorup felt he could be thrown straight into the fray two days later against Sheffield, and again, three days after that, against EPL opposition in the Carabao Cup. He wasn't the worst rated player on either occasion, matching Chrisene both times. Personally I think that is impressive enough, even if he didn't pull up any trees, and struggled yesterday, as did Forson. IMO, to pick him out as representing the sole "downside" amongst all the positives is unfair and unwarranted.
I have lived and worked in a great number of countries, and never had any real problem adapting and adjusting to my new enviroment. But at the same time some fellow workers found it much harder, and in a couple of instances, impossible to do so. In other words all our foreign recruits will adapt in their own time frame.
In Gabby Sara's case it took until he was re-united with his dogs (apparently Stuart Webber neglected to tell him they would be held in quarantine for several months).
Players will certainly adapt at different rates as Núñez and Sara demonstrated after they came. I'm hopeful Crnac improves, but it was his substitution at half time, like that of Forson, that suggested that both players were struggling. Slimane and Schwartau changed the course of the game IMO. It helps that they're good friends (warming up on the touchline together). Oscar is only 18, but seems to have settled and adjusted quickly and Slimane will help with that. Hopefully Crnac will be able to do so soon. The international break will also help.
We do have to accept that 7 of the players who either started or came on yesterday were not at the Club at the end of last season so to be able to go to a Championship hardened side like Coventry and win and keep a clean sheet must be encouraging for the season ahead.
