Match Day Thread Norwich City v Southampton 19:45 Tuesday 26th August

I mean, there's no Armstrong or Stephens either, so...

 

If we look toothless tonight a lot of questions to be asked around striking options in the next 6 days

 

Heaven, must be missing an angel...

 

Yeah fair point.

 

The strikers aren't the issue, it's getting the ball to them.

 

I don't think we could or would spend £7m on one for the future in the championship. He will surely have been bought to start this season.

 

We'll see how LND deals with all the crosses into the box.

 

I agree but would also add that we don't actually know if our strikers are a problem yet. Stewart hasn't played in years and we know next to nothing about Downs.

It would be typical if we brought in a couple of great wingers, a tadic-esque CAM only to find out our strikers were also crap

 

What a ground. Lovely and old school.

Not overly impressed with the line up but thats how **** our squad is at the moment

 

Well he won't progress without game time. Not sure I agree about him being a long term option either as don't think we'd have spent £7m on someone we weren't expecting to play a big part.

From what I've seen so far I don't think how Will wants to play will suit Archer (or Armstrong) so for me it's more important to get Downes up and running given Stewart is a liability fitness wise.

 

Not really sure how we are lining up? 3 centre backs, obviously. Then Roerslev and Manning at wing back, obviously. Then Charles and Downes as centre mids, obviously. Then what? Fraser playing as a 10 with Stewart and Wrcher central? A front three with Archer and Fraser wide which negates the need for wingbacks anyway?

Seems a weird lineup for a 5 at the back formation

 

Archer cost 15m and Stewart over 10m iirc, so if we're going on fee alone, Downs is below them in the pecking order. Plus they are both older than him, and both have experience at this level, and have scored goals at this level. It just makes more sense to me, to see if we can get these two going. Downes we could spend half a dozen games trying to get him up to speed, only to realise he just isn't ready yet. There's no rush with him imo.

 

Why are we acting like 7m is a lot? We spent 5m on Kayi Sanda only to send him out on loan to Ligue 2.

 

I'm not going to pretend that I like three CBs - I still hate it - but at least the personnel in that XI makes a lot more sense. Although assuming that it's 3-4-3 (or 5-2-3), then Armstrong rather than Archer would have made even more sense.

 

And Downes did 45 mins on Saturday, Stewart & Archer less. That is probably the thinking.

 

£7m is a lot in the championship. Last time we went down i think we spent about £18m in total.

 

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Is my guess.

It's like an arrow the front three, if so, surely Archer needs to be the tip

 

Pretty sure Armstrong picked up a knock at the weekend & that’s why he came off @ half time and why he’s out, but definitely fearing the worst with no Fernandes included

 

I’m hoping WS just thinks Charles and Downes need the game time more than Fernandes as both looked rusty on Sat.

 

No Sargent to worry about