There's been some talk after the Brentford debacle about the need to clear out deadwood, and look to build a team rather than a group of individuals, with some suggesting our squad needs major surgery. With that in mind, who do you count as deadwood? Who would you get rid of, and what positions do you think are crying out for new blood? Personally I don't think our squad needs that much work, I think tactics and motivation have been the issue, and the manager has a big part to play in those areas.
It all depends on how you want the team to play/money available and who wants to stay. If come the end of the season we are still in this division I would probably offload some of the following. Subject to suitable players coming in to replace them. Bunn, Whittaker, Cuellar, Miquel, Wes, Becchio, Hooper, Bassong. The team lacks tempo and movement. So I would look to bring in players who can fulfil this.
Surely Neil Adams was the deadwood and now that you have cleared him out to make way for a proper more experienced manager, things will no doubt improve!
So, let's get this right, city fans are now allowed two (2) comments, before the binners begin sniping on every firkin thread - on the Norwich City forum
Well JWM - I appreciate your input and I would say give AN a couple of months to see if he can get our misfiring players playing as a team!!!!
Exactly JRF This guy will need a few months to work out the best side and employ the best tactics to suit. Every player should be nw busting a gut to impress him in training and on match days to ensure that they will figure in his long term plans.
A couple of months? We don't even have a couple of weeks if we are to get anything out of this season after that result. We have to win the next two games now that we're 4 points adrift of Watford and 6 from Brentford. That was a huge game for us and we blew it. I hope Neil can turn it around now, but I fear this has been a gamble that isn't going to pay off. Whatever we think about Neil, if the players don't respond to him, tinkering is not going to help. His putting the blame on them isn't going to help either.
Bit early Rick to say that the gamble hasn't paid off. Let us see how the next four or five games go and then review. To be honest, if this current squad got promoted next season would be a bloodbath. Maybe a quiet rest of season may pay dividends in the following. Just a thought.
Maybe, Thurnby, but the margins were tight before the Brentford game and now they are way beyond that. It's imperative that we win the six-pointers at home and not only did we not do that, we were completely outplayed on our own pitch. Neil was appointed to get us into the play-offs as a minimum, not to rebuild the squad in the Championship next season.
It might sound bizarre, but a part of me thinks there might be some good to come out of the loss to Brentford. We played very poorly against Cardiff in the second half and were ultimately lucky to get the win. I thought there was a danger after two quick wins that Neil might think this was a breeze. It really isn't. There are serious problems with the squad that can't just be sorted by a change of manager - there needs to be some concerted coaching and hard work. I was deeply disappointed by the result, obviously, but in the cold light of day I'm coming round to the fact that one loss doesn't ruin a season. It was a nasty one, yes, but if we get a string of good results in a row now I suspect we will be right back in the mix again. We still have plenty of time. There were always going to be tough moments. I think probably better sooner rather than later. Now we should be able to see what Neil can really do.
I agree Rob - I think (and hope) that some good might come out of it. To see us completely played off the park by a team that costs a fraction of our "elite" was quite cathartic in many ways. Neil will realise (hopefully) that his tactics were flawed and that certain players (the "deadwood") have to live up to their reputation and start playing for the team and strive for the common goal. Brentford epitomised what a strong team spirit, work ethic and cohesive tactics can achieve - we need our manager and team to show the same mentality and strength of purpose.
Alex Neil has certainly seen the whole Norwich City spectrum in his first two weeks, so as Rob says, maybe it'll do us good in the long run. The Bournemouth game was not typical of us this season. Cardiff was. Brentford saw us at our worst. Crazy to write him off after two wins and a defeat but he's going to have to get a response at Birmingham on Saturday. If he doesn't I fear that's probably going to see us drift for the rest of the season. I can't quite understand the criticism he's taken for his interview either - he was spot on in his assessments. The players need to know that they've been on easy street and it won't be tolerated.
So far Neil is on 2 points per game. 2ppg from here will see us comfortably in the play-offs at the end of the season.
I realise that it's sacrilege to say this, but tbh I for one wouldn't be that upset not to go up this year. I think a season or two rebuilding under An might do us the world of good and would be enjoyable as opposed to seeing us promoted and spend another year of misery trying to eke out points against teams with budgets 10 times ours
I take your point, but to be fair what happened on Saturday was rare with only Middlesbrough doing similar to us this season. I think most are underestimating just what a good TEAM the bees are. They are doing what we used to do under Lambo and playing for each other.
True Boots - I have said on another thread that I thought Brentford to be the best team I have seen at CR this season and I mean that. If, as I suspect, we have now blown our own shot at the autos I'd love to see Brentford and Bournemouth take the top two slots. How they'd fare next season would be anyone's guess but I'd love them to go up as winners and runners-up if we can't.
Couldn't agree more though I would fear for them once the initial exhilaration of promotion to the prem. wore off
