Can't argue with any of that DH and I feel that at least we've now got a squad with the potential to develop into something capable of at the very least challenging fr a play-off berth next season. Had we not rejuvenated the squad, I'm pretty sure we'd be lower in the Championship than we currently find ourselves.
Not a fan of what I've seen from Stiepermann. But I don't think he's played in his position yet has he? He's an attacking Midfielder mainly I think. I thought he had even played as a striker in the past, strange we haven't stuck him up there in our desperation. As for his performances so far. First-half away to Ipswich. He was very good at LB. Gave us a good 45 minutes there.
I think you could make a case that a back three of Klose, Hanley and Zimm would be better than any defence we have had in the Prem in recent years. Pinto did well in the Prem last time and Lewis could grow to that level.
Given the age of the new players, other than Vrancic who is 27, they are 25 or younger and still developing towards their prime in the late 20s. The 6 players will continue to develop, as will others like Husband, who played very well his last time out. IMO, that potential is where the hope lies for next season.
You could make a case by virtue of the clean sheets, but for me they have proven very little. Firstly they have not played together at that level, the PL is a very different challenge, they maybe better suited, they might not. Secondly, they seem to be found wanting if we so much as try to attack. Look at our last six games. In games where we kept it tight and conceded less than 2 goals, we could not score 2 goals. Attack a bit and score 2 or more and we conceed 2 or more. It is over simplistic also to compare the 3 man defence against previous two men set ups, the team in each instance defends and attacks as a team. Much like this season, if Farke goes with 3 and a very defensive lineup, we likely will concede less, but we will also likely score less , unfortunately the result is likely the same - Relegation. Is that better defnce from those three? those 5 or the whole team, or as is currently the case a product of imbalance? We can only really say they are better defensively if they not only play for us in the PL, but keep more clean sheets/concedes less goals, in a balanced side that stays up, preferably with more points and higher in the table. Even then any judgement is subjective, but until they are defensively sound enough or a more balanced side, to at least propel us to the PL I can't agree that they are better. Last seasons team was as unbalanced as this one only the otherway, were the defence actually worse? or were they just left overly exposed by a system designed more to score than keep out? Bah!
I agree, there is hope that these collectively younger players could become better and that is where our hope must lie. But it still doesn't make them excellent signings for me until they actually fulfil that potential to improve. If they fail to at the very least, match last seasons position/points tally next season, then I'd be hard pressed to believe they were excellent when they can't match the now vilified old guard. Bah!
The comment below from the BBC article sounds familiar: "We have been waiting for this news for a while as the form has been dire in the past three months. I think most Reading fans would have anticipated this news a long time ago. The club, the board and the owners have been incredibly slow to react. Most clubs would have got rid of their manager way before now had the form been as bad as this. Finally the decision has come. Whether it was too late or the correct decision, time will tell." Always tough looking from the outside in, but he looked like another inexperienced manager with potential that didn't have the experience or tools to arrest a slump. Neil rebounded after we rightly sacked him but too late, I'm sure Stam will too. Bah!
Well, everyone will have their own criteria for that. I accepted last summer that the restructuring would be a two year process and I stick to that. The new players struggled to adjust early on, as did some older players as the approach was new and valuable points were lost, so I'll take that into account. From October onwards performances improved as adjustments brought more consistency. The addition of the more experienced Trybull and Leitner has also helped, and that for me suggests that the potential will lead to results for the remaining games and more importantly for next year. There won't be as many comings and goings from the present squad so a more settled pre-season will help as well.
I think the key thing to get right, as you've eluded to, is the CM pairings. We didn't make the right signings in that part of the field last summer, and injuries haven't helped. Webber/Farke didn't expect to be so reliant on Tettey, but nobody else has offered that defensive steel. I don't think it's coincidence that our best run of form came when we had Tettey and Trybull paired, but injuries have restricted that partnership to just a handful of games. I expect Tettey to depart this summer, so a proper replacement is needed. Whilst Thompson and Godfrey offer options, I'd rather they weren't the only ones in such a crucial position. Hopefully we can start the season with 2/3 proper DMs and 2 players more box-to-box, with some creativity. Hopefully that will help at both ends of the pitch!
I would have thought the games we play with 3x CB we're not so reliant on a defined DM and in fact regular CM types (that don't shirk their defensive duties) might give us more of that balance we need to turn a tight defence into a half decent attack as well. No doubt you're right when we play the 2x CB formation tho.
As I see it, Tettey would be used less if he could be persuaded to stay for another season and Trybull could be our main player in that set up and be partnered by either Godfrey or Thompson, so IMO, it's not a major concern and I feel we have a squad even without JM wh can mount a decent challenge on a top 6 finish next season, especially if Hernandez can push on and improve his crossing. Edit - A couple of excerpts from Ian Clarke's column today - 'This season Carrow Road has sold 94.3pc of seats. which is the most in the Championship ahead of leaders Wolves (91pc), Leeds (83.2pc) and Sheffield United (82,2pc). As I thought about the figures and sensed the mood among a lot of fans (not just due to the weather), my mind went from arrogance to a feeling of “that could be us”. I haven’t heard how many NR1 season tickets have been renewed for 2018/19. I would be very surprised (and of course delighted) if it matches this year’s total. From a tweet by Supers, it is considerably lower. I really hope the likes of Ben Godfrey and Carlton Morris return and can replicate what they have done at Shrewsbury for us next term. I hope Farke is reading this, otherwise, if they're not both part of the first team squad, then they will be leaving us!!!! Full article here - http://www.edp24.co.uk/sport/norwic...t-to-stop-norwich-being-new-ipswich-1-5445860
Given DF's emphasis on possession football, the CM pairing will be a key factor. As HMQC says, the formation will be another factor. Tettey is great defensively, but his passing is weak. My preferred pair would be Trybull and Leitner (if he can be tempted to stay), especially in a 3-4-1-2. Tettey (again, if he can be tempted to stay) is still an option when we play 4-2-3-1 or against top sides away, but we need effective passing to keep possession. Tettey is ok with short passes to a partner who can then make a telling pass to attacking players. Trybull and Leitner eliminate the need for that first pass as both can make those telling passes to get the ball forward quickly and effectively. We've missed that in recent games, though Vrancic and Reed have played well enough. Even with Morris returning, however, our key need now is another striker to turn possession into goals, whether or not Oliveira stays.
