He is coming because he wants game time. This means he will be fighting for his place and putting pressure on the others to perform. I also think we would of pushed our wage structure to get him so this represents a step into the unknown for the club and a step forward.
Certainly looking more positive action than in August and badly needed to give the players and fans a lift going into the New Year. Looks like AN is doing his best to sign players who would add quality and experience to the team and the board is backing him.
Reading about this on the Daily Fail, they say Aston Villa, Sunderland and Newcastle are also interested in Naismith. But luckily I think we are in a better position and a better prospect. Not often we get an experienced premier league player, so happy if this goes through.
I suspect that's why we're supposedly paying the £8m they wanted in the summer, rather trying to factor in his contract being shorter now and him looking to move on. Paying a little extra makes sense to secure him, although slightly annoying as we could have had him for that fee but several months sooner. New record signing presumably?
If Pinto does join, that makes 4 possible RBs. That tweet would rather indicate he's not a replacement for an outgoing Wisdom. Surely Whittaker will have to look for a move?
Wisdom has delusions of grandeur and thinks he has a future at Liverpool when in reality he isn't even good enough to warrant a regular start with us. He will fade into obscurity, mark my words
"Norwich City are reportedly close to signing Dinamo Zagreb defender Ivo Pinto after holding off interest from the likes of Stuttgart and Anderlecht. The 25-year-old, who has been linked with a number of clubs in recent weeks, is a former Under-21 international for Portugal and has gained plenty of top-flight European experience since leaving Porto in 2011. According to Sky Sports News, Norwich have managed to hold off interested clubs to close on the right-back, who is expected to cost in the region of £2m. Pinto, who has previously been named in the full Portugal squad but has not yet been capped, is expected to join-up with the Canaries next week."
51 of those 103 appearances were as a sub, so that has to be taken into account. Also, Naismith can play as eiither an AM or a striker so it isn't all about scoring. I really hope this one comes off. I wonder if our fans chanting his name when we played Everton might help our cause.
Just back after a week away from Norfolk, so not yet fully up to speed with the rumour mill as the window prepares to open. A bit surprised to see this, though - Patrick Bamford? http://readnorwich.com/2015/12/29/norwich-take-chelsea-forward-loan/
I don't. I think Bamford would be a better option, he's younger for a start. The stats re-Naismith are a bit worrying, especially as you just mentioned that he couldn't get into the starting 11 for Everton for 50% of his time there! I don't think it will matter who we buy, they won't score or get chances if our midfield doesn't get the ball forward earlier, there's too much sideways and going back, and we then seem to lose possession too often. Just my opinion, no offence meant!
Naismith isn't really an out and out striker though. To my mind he's more of a number 10 or an alternative to Wes
But Bamford couldn't get into the Palace starting 11 and out of the two at this point we need experience PL players then young players still learning the game. Naismith is a hard worker and will fit into this team imo.
It's our midfield that worries me more than anything, we seem to have loads of them, but we just don't create chances. Wes loses possession too easily in this division, so maybe Naismith could do that job, I don't know! I just want to see us move the ball forward instead of sideways and backwards!
Fair comment, but he's 22 now and not a kid, he scored almost a goal every 2 games for Boro last season, i know it was in the championship but still quite impressive for a youngster.
Still quite young, Redmond is a year younger than him and still learning and improving and he has played more games in the PL than Bamford. Where as I think Naismith would improve the squad, Bamford would just be potential an unknown in this league. But guess we will have to wait and see, Naismith could be a hit or a miss but I've got a feeling he's what we need to stay up.
So is the Everton team, I was just using it as an example that Naismith not being in the starting 11 doesn't matter, still a good player.
