Eiran Cashin is another possibility at CB: https://footballleagueworld.co.uk/b...ity-middlesbrough-derby-county-should-pounce/
The situation with Long is more complicated, but to sit out the final years of his contract would be likely to end his career. Reyes and Barden are unfortunately two more young players where things didn't work out so they need to look for other options.
Long is nearly 32 and I believe has 2 years left on his contract at the end of which his career is virtually over in any event. With young players being released all over the place this is not a good time for Reyes and Barden to find another club and as they are under contract and being paid they can bide their time. They owe the Club, who have treated them badly, nothing and good luck to them.
How things change 1950. A year ago you were chiding me for being negative and encouraging me to be more optimistic and now you're all gloom. Personally, I'm glad the focus has returned to the here and now, targeting the playoffs. I'd rather that we have to pay Long's wages than have him as our backup keeper and I don't think Reyes and Barden will create major problems. Time will tell.
According to Connor Southwell in today's Pink'Un, not only was Long given a new contract last season, but Reyes and Barden were given new contracts as well. I'd say there is now urgent need of a scapegoat along with a new No.1.
Reyes contract was definitely extended, not so sure about Barden - it may have been an extension which covers him to the end of this coming season
Yes, very likely. His contract expires 30th June 2026. His loan at Swindon was ended prematurely by Norwich recalling him (in March?).
You are perfectly correct Rick. Last season I thought we were embarking on a long term project to bring forward younger players playing entertaining football with the aim of promotion or the playoffs in a few years. It became apparent during the season that the aim changed from that to immediate playoffs or else and that now seems what we are aiming for along with the 3 Clubs coming down, 2 well financed Clubs coming up plus the existing bigger Clubs in the division such as Coventry. IMO we don't stand a cat in hells chance of making the playoffs this year and then what? Follow the model of Watford, Hull and others and sack Manning and whoever eventually comes in as his coaching staff and start all over again? With the fears I have for the Club now being owned by an American Businessman yes -I am all gloom.
Just seen a post from Dutch de telegraffe that says Medic is complete. €2.5m rising to €3m with add ons. 6'3" Croat.
That's consistent with all of the rumours so far, but 1.93m is closer to 6'4" (6' 3.9") and at 26 he should be reaching his prime. There's some suggestion that we may use a back 3 of Córdoba, Medic and Darling. Properly coached, that could be formidable. Edit: This is the Pinkun's latest take on Medic: "Work is ongoing to make Ajax defender Jakov Medic their fifth addition of the summer, with the two clubs working through paperwork and the formalities of the deal to bring the 26-year-old to Carrow Road. The Croatian is keen to join Liam Manning's side, and there is confidence on all sides of the deal that he will be unveiled as their fifth senior signing in due course." https://www.pinkun.com/sport/norwic...sis-norwich-citys-fast-transfer-window-start/
I don't think the long term aim has changed, 1950, but the prospect this year is an aim to be competitive at the top of the league (not 'to make the playoffs or else'). There is still an emphasis on a younger squad, but with players who are ready to compete from the off. At 26, Darling is an excellent signing on a free transfer and Wright(19) and Medić(26) are also ready to go from the off. Grimshaw(27), Moulden(23) and Wilkes(19) have provided a path at GK for this year and beyond once the new number 1 is signed. Knapper has acquired experience the hard way and instead of a hopeful 3 year 'transition' based on a fixed ideology, we now have Manning's here and now pragmatic approach taking shape in the form of the new signings and his 4 year contract doesn't suggest that this is a Watford like plan. Much will depend on who leaves and who else comes in but this has been a solid start to the window which I find encouraging.
Dan O'Hagan on Jakov Medić: "They will be signing a very modern defender, and technically Medić is excellent, but also has the kind of physical edge as well. I think he's six foot three, he's really imposing...Ajax are not a club you join unless you can play a bit. So that should tell you that, technically, this guy is the real deal...he is a very capable defender, footballing defender, who can play in a three or a back four. So, I'd have no qualms about that. Obviously, Liam Manning will have his ideas on how he wants to set up. If he wants to play with a three, then Medić can certainly play that role right, left or in the middle of that three. So, a good, flexible, versatile, modern centre back, which I think ticks for Norwich a lot of boxes." He can also play as a DM, which should give Manning even more options. https://www.pinkun.com/sport/norwic...ew-imminent-norwich-city-signing-jakov-medic/
Contrary view accepting that the three outfield players signed look solid. Where is the coaching staff? We have lost Doyle and gained Wright - which one is the better player? Would we have got Doyle for the same fee as we paid for Wright? If not then we have not improved things overall. Darling looks a solid signing but who will he partner? Carthorse Duffy? Cordoba who looked good to start with and was a liability after that? McConville who does not seem to have impressed the previous regime? We are signing 4 new keepers before we have moved on Long, Reyes or Barden. If none of them goes we will be paying a lot of wages to unused keepers. Are you saying that Manning won't be given a playoffs this year target when Thorup appears to have been told that when we were only a couple of points outside the playoffs mid season and was sacked when we failed to achieve it? If, as I expect, we finish mid table this year how long will Manning be given? As you say only time will tell but I do not share your ' encouragement ' at this stage although we will have to wait and see how things unfold.
Wright is a DM, so an upgrade on Sørensen rather than Doyle, who we were never going to be able to afford(he's valued at £15m by Transfermarkt). In his place we've now got Darling and Medić, though one may replace Duffy if he goes. Hopefully Córdoba will improve after a year's experience and having settled in. My hunch is that we may change to 3 at the back like Manning used at Bristol and Darling, Medić and Córdoba are all well suited to that. McConville showed his versatility and perhaps Manning will see Hills and Adegboyega as cover there as well. I don't think Thorup was sacked for failing to make the playoffs. It was the way things fell apart at the end. That's unlikely to happen with Manning, IMO.
You're kidding, Rick. Learning 'the hard way" means paying a price; what price has Knapper paid? It's Knapper's scapegoats, Thorup and Riddersholm, who have paid the price for Knapper's failings. Furthermore, with the exception of the personal tie between Manning and Darling, nothing in the summer recruitment so far particularly speaks to "Manning's here and now pragmatric approach", as opposed to Thorup's planned Year 2 recruitment, which he saw -- and constantly referenced -- as how last season's defensive shortcomings would be addressed. Thorup expected to be challenging for promotion in the coming season, just as you say Manning is. Does anyone really think that e.g. the revamp of the goalkeeping department, bears Manning's unique signature as opposed to being a necessity irrespective of who the head coach is? Likewise the central defenders? As for "thing's falling apart at the end", you need to ask why they fell apart, and how many of the reasons for it ultimately lie at Knapper's door, not Thorup's.
I agree that Knapper bears the overall responsibility for last season but I don't agree that Thorup would have been likely to put things right this season. Knapper is under pressure now and responding accordingly. He has chosen Manning to put things right and that was a big factor in Darling coming to us, Manning having worked with him at MK Dons. As for the goalkeepers, Grimshaw played under Manning at Lommel so yes, there is a direct link. The possession based approach is still the dominant aim but the method will be more direct and more flexible under Manning, who knows this league well.
Thorup was a mistake. Yes, he appeared to be a decent coach, but I think his current coaching style / outlook is that of an U21's development team coach and inconsistent with a championship team challenging for a play off place. That may change in the future, but I get the feeling he was a little out of his depth. Maybe he lacks confidence at this level and felt threatened by senior players, hence why he preferred younger (more easily coachable) players, appeared to have issues with older influential players and seemed to like the security of planned presentations in a more controlled environment, where he could spend time talking about things, rather than the more challenging part of the job of getting out on the training pitch where things are less predictable and sorting things out. We sacked both Farke & Wagner both of whom were less deserving of being sacked than Thorup. Anyway it doesn't matter he's gone and we move on.
