I'd still like us to bring in a couple more players. That's not to say I'm disappointed with what we've done in the transfer window so far, as I genuinely believe Lambert has created a fantastically balanced yet exciting squad on a budget. There is genuine competition across the park, and even the 'certainties' for a starting place are no longer guarantees, with this perhaps being proven most by Russell Martin (Who, for me, was our best player last season) facing an incredibly stern test from the incoming Naughton. To add to this, we've brought in a number of players who can operate in various positions, meaning we have plenty of depth. I know some people want an extra centre-back, and I can understand why, but I personally think we're near enough sorted in that department. Defensively, we've got plenty of options. For instance, a veritable legion of players have experience of playing left-back in their career. Now, obviously some of them are very much last-resort options, but the fact remains that potentially any of the following have/can play there: Tierney, Drury, De Laet, B.Johnson, Lappin, Surman, R.Martin and (I believe?) Naughton Equally, on the right, we have the following with experience playing there: R.Martin, Naughton, De Laet, K.Smith, Francomb and Bennett. Again, some of those options won't be ideal, but I wouldn't feel uncomfortable with any of at least the first four. In the middle, we have Barnett, Ward, Whitbread, De Laet and - to a lesser extent - R.Martin and Drury. Again, plenty of options, with different styles of player available. One more centre-back would be nice, but it would be far from the end of the world if we couldn't get one. I'm happy with our defensive choices, and certainly wouldn't be keen for us to 'splash out' an over-priced player just because they supposedly have 'Premiership experience' - which more often than not comes in the form of being relegated... No, I'm more eager for us to focus on the goalkeeping position. I am a firm believer that John Ruddy should be first choice, but I also think we need a more experienced back-up than Declan Rudd and Jed Steer - who ideally need games out on loan to prove they are ready for first-team football at this level. Therefore, I'd be looking to bring in an 'old head' for the season, to effectively act as understudy to Ruddy, and to act as a mentor to both Ruddy and our younger assets. Someone like Maik Taylor, who is available on a free transfer, would be perfect - having spent the last couple of years acting as very competent back-up at Birmingham City. I'm sure people don't need reminding of what happened the last time we went into a Premiership season without sufficient goal-keeping back-up, when an injury to Bryan Gunn saw us relegated, and we need to minimise the risk of a repeat. Finally, once we've got that sorted, I'd hope Lambert sees what he's got left in the bank, and acts accordingly. I would still absolutely love to see Dani Pacheco and Henri Lansbury back at the club, and both would be superb long-term additions. In the case of Pacheco, he would round off our striking options very nicely, but can also drop deeper into the 'Hoolahan role'. Meanwhile, Lansbury proved his versatility last season, playing anywhere across midfield. Much like Pacheco, Lansbury has the potential to be a top-class player, and I struggle to see long-term futures for either at their current clubs. If, somehow, we can nab both late in the window, it would show serious intent to not only 'survive' but to 'thrive' in this division. Having completed our major business early, we're left to only ice the cake. The same can not be said for the likes of QPR, who are yet to even buy the recipe book, although have acquired some slightly gone-off sponge who goes by the name of Kieron Dyer... Controversial maybe, but we've improved massively from our squad of last season, which wasn't exactly poor to begin with. Contrastingly, QPR (who in my opinion were weaker all-round, with Taarabt dragging them to the top) have gone backwards significantly, and that's before their mercurial talent moves to the French capital... Anyway, going off on a tangent slightly, so back to my original point. I am truly delighted with what we have done so far, but an experienced goalkeeper (an absolute must!) along with Pacheco and Lansbury would make this the strongest Norwich squad I can remember. The added bonus with Pacheco and Lansbury, of course, being that they would not need to be registered in our squad because of their age! Either way, it's refreshing to have a good five weeks left until the end of the transfer window, yet still have a more than competent squad. For that, praise must go to Paul Lambert, his staff, and the board! It's certainly a good omen!
goalkeeper situation has been discussed at length many times. i too believe ruddy should be number 1 but would have liked to see hahnemann come in. wily and experienced, still good enough to call upon or even challenge ruddy. free transfer and workable wages to boot. however, for the rest of the park i feel we are done. remember, we can still move for more in january when we have a more realistic view of where we stand as a club. we don't know if players such as korey smith are able to step up yet! we have the depth to get through to january. lansbury is one for the future - same with pacheco - but why sign them now if they aren't going to play regularly, which i don't think they would? lambert has done really well this summer (again!) and has done his business nice and early - all the new players seem to be settling in really well, and excellent progress has been made. no need for more, unless, as i say, a keeper is found.
jimbob - I won't go on and on - everyone knows where I stand on the 'keeper front! I think Rudd and Steer will play against some quality opposition this coming season in the Prem. reserve league! I also think Rudd is more than capable of providing excellent back-up to Ruddy, I really don't think we need to spend money on an experienced 'keeper, I think we just need our 'keepers to carry on and gain experience of their own! OTBC
can i just clarify this - i mean we shouldn't purchase pacheco or lansbury at the moment. it just adds more wages to an already massive squad and they are both young and in no way guaranteed to play. i'd love them to join the club, but now is not the time.
I do wonder if players of the calibre of Lansbury and Pacheco might be out of our price range now though anyway. When you weigh up what we've already spent (all told), plus the need to keep some back for emergency loans or the January window, I think they may be out of reach. My big worry with the GK situation has been will Rudd provide enough direct competition to Ruddy to keep him on his toes? Have to say, I'm still not sure. The other worry has been about any injury to Ruddy, but of course if that happened, we could use the emergency loan system.
Maybe I'm too cautious but I wonder if when people clamour for an experienced GK and an experienced defender they have have worked out the end result. As I understand it we are only allowed 2 season long loans so that option is exhausted and as short term loans would be no help at the start of the season they would have to be bought. We are allowed a squad of 25. Ruddy plus 2 new experienced players bring that down to 22. The 7 new signings bring that down to 15. If people still advocate more signings could they please set out which 15 of last years squad they think should be retained.
1950, my choice of those from last year would be Ruddy, R. Martin, Drury, Ward, Tierney, Whitbread, Crofts, Holt, Jackson, Surman, Hoolahan, Fox, C.Martin, Lappin, Barnett, and Wilbraham. So that's sixteen from last season, plus the seven new signings, making 23. Other than Macnamee or Oli Johnson who could possibly get in the squad if there's still space at the close of the window, everyone else is either under 21 or surplus to requirements. Defensively I think we're OK, but I do have this nagging feeling about that number two spot.
GK - Ruddy DL - Tierney, Drury DR - R.Martin, Naughton DC - Whitbread, Ward, Barnett, De Laet DM - Fox, B.Johnson ML - Surman, Lappin, Pilkington MR - Crofts, Bennett AM - Hoolahan S - Holt, Vaughan, Morison, Jackson, Martin, Wilbraham Under 21 (who don't need to be registered): K. Smith, Rudd, Steer, Francomb, Adeyemi, Dawkin That makes it 23 players (unless I'm missing anyone?) in our squad, as it seems the likes of McNamee/Hughes/Tudor-Jones aren't wanted. So two more spaces for players over the age of 21, and definitely room for an experienced goalkeeper in my opinion. A word of warning - there's a good chance the Premier League wouldn't ratify an emergency loan for a goalkeeper unless ALL our goalkeeper's were injured. If we requested one just because Ruddy was injured, there's a good chance they'd point out that we should have acquired the necessary player when we had the chance...
jimbob, that may well be a very good point! Another thing with an experienced keeper, without wishing to be negative, is that there's a fair chance we might conceed a few this year. The one who that could affect most confidence wise is likely to be the one between the sticks. In that situation, a bit of experience could be invaluable. I've got to say I don't really have worries about Ruddy, but it would be good to be covered.
Sorry, realised the end of that sounded wishy-washy about JR. To make clear, I am not worried about Ruddy, just the potential pressure on the cover.
