Ben Knapper

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carrabuh

carrabuh

Well-Known Member
Jan 26, 2011
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Summation of Ben Knappers signings and my opinion of value (not a sale value, more based on performances)

The

Van Hooijdonk - loan - flop

Ante Crnac - 8.5m
Flop
Done nothing
Value 2m

Matej Jurasek 5.8m
Flop
Disaster from day 1
Value 500k

Amankwa Forson 4m
Flop
Done nothing and injured alot
value
1m

Jose Cordoba 3m
Half flop
Not sure he can really defend, error prone with his diving in. Very good on the ball though.
Value 2.5m

Roari Mcconville 1m
Ok
I think he looks reasonable for the money
Value 1.5m

Oscar Schwartau 2m
Ok
Not really ready for 1st team if im honest. Too young and no real standout attributes
Value 2m

Ben Chrisene 1.5m
Flop
Full of errors. Not got the physique of a left back. Should be a centreback if anything
Value 1m

Anis Slimane 1.2m
Flop
value 500k

Callum Doyle loan
Good
Fat, slow, cant defend but amazing on the ball

Lewis Dobbin loan
Flop

Kaide Gordon loan
Flop

Jacob Wright 2.3m
Ok
Average player
Value 2.5m

28.5 million spent on that lot!!!
That's conservative and not including add ons.

Mattias Kvistgaarden 6.9m
I rate him so far

Papa Diallo 4.3m
I think he's going to flop, no end product

Mirko Topic 3m
Good
Looks competent and technically good.
Hate all the long balls though
Value 4m

Vladan Kovacevic 2m
Flop
I don't think he'll be no1 in 6 weeks
Value free

Jakov Medic 2m
Ok
Too big, too slow for where hes playing
Value 2m

Javon Makama 1.2m
Good
Impressed so far although very little end product.
Value 1.2m

Harry Darling free
Excellent
super player, love him
Value 10m

Jeffrey Schlupp free
Not fit

Daniel Grimshaw 750k
Ok , soon to be no1 i feel

Pelle Mattson 2.7m
Highlights reel very average

23 million on that lot.

That's nearly 52 million spent.

Lets be serious here. Does that team look like its had that amount spent on it?

I mean out of all of them I'd genuinely say so far I am comfortable saying 1 is a hit......and he was free and really a Manning signing.

The rest. I'd say many have regressed, some are just very average and barely anyone has gotten better.

It very much feels like a bloated mess now.
 
So they have not got better, or have regressed? That's down to the training staff, who Knapper recruited. But they are the staff who got Bristol City, against all the odds, into the playoffs last season. But that was over 46 matches, not four.
Diallo no end product,apart from the two assists that is. He has only played in four games so far. Would hate to be on trial with you on jury duty.
 
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Golden Eadie 2 said:
So they have not got better, or have regressed? That's down to the training staff, who Knapper recruited. But they are the staff who got Bristol City, against all the odds, into the playoffs last season. But that was over 46 matches, not four.
Diallo no end product,apart from the two assists that is. He has only played in four games so far. Would hate to be on trial with you on jury duty.
Click to expand...

No. It is likely not the training staff, thats my point. We have overpaid for players who did not warrant the fees. They've not necessarily regressed, they were just never what we paid for.
 
Whilst a but harsh on one or two players It is an accurate assessment. This has also been part funded by the sale and profit of players like Nunez and Sainz bought by Webber. I also find it relevant that according to the Bristol Board the best spell they had last season and the spell that pushed them into the playoffs was when Manning was on compassionate leave and others took over. I accept, before others remind me, that it is early days but at the moment the Knapper/Manning combination does not fill me with confidence.
 
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agreed generally, although by modern english league standards £50m or so over a couple of seasons isn’t really very much
 
Canary Rob said:
agreed generally, although by modern english league standards £50m or so over a couple of seasons isn’t really very much
Click to expand...

I'd love to see how it compares with other Champonship teams. I'd say its likely 2 to 3 time the average none parachute team spend
 
carrabuh said:
I'd love to see how it compares with other Champonship teams. I'd say its likely 2 to 3 time the average none parachute team spend
Click to expand...

Quite possibly, but Norwich are one of only only a handful of clubs in the Championship to have a positive transfer balance so just on expenditure, that’s not quite the right measure.

The question is whether it’s been spent wisely - and I think I’ve answered that.
 
Canary Rob said:
Quite possibly, but Norwich are one of only only a handful of clubs in the Championship to have a positive transfer balance so just on expenditure, that’s not quite the right measure.

The question is whether it’s been spent wisely - and I think I’ve answered that.
Click to expand...

I don't know what measure you'd use. The sales are immaterial when judging the signings.

It actually makes it look worse for Knapper as none of those funds have been generated from anything he's done. He's spending someone else's good work.
 
carrabuh said:
I don't know what measure you'd use. The sales are immaterial when judging the signings.

It actually makes it look worse for Knapper as none of those funds have been generated from anything he's done. He's spending someone else's good work.
Click to expand...

You’re a pointlessly argumentative bugger aren’t you! The gaping hole you appear to have missed is I’m agreeing with you…
 
According to the BBC coverage of the appointment of Vinai Venkatesham as successor to Daniel Levy at Spurs, Ben Knapper was instrumental in Arsenal's pursuit of Mikel Arteta to take over as manager of the Gunners following the sacking of Unai Emery. To quote the relevant paragraph:

"Edu, then technical director, was the main protagonist of Arsenal's pursuit of Arteta, having been originally persuaded to take a chance on the then Manchester City assistant coach by the club's loan and pathways manager Ben Knapper, who is now sporting director at Norwich [my emphasis] ......... Arteta, as we know, has transformed the club's fortunes on the pitch ........."

Arsenal showed far greater preparedness to give Arteta time, than Norwich under Knapper showed in regard to Knapper's own choice for Head Coach.
 
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