Stuart Hodge thinks McLean has a good chance of stepping into the first team next season. Listening to CC replay it was interesting that some of the callers were praising our defence and work rate today. That's always good to hear.
I only heard it, but it sounded like we were moving the ball much more quickly. Our top scorers on Whoscored were the whole defence, especially Gunn, and Vrancic scored high as well.
As usual, a VERY good read from Gary on MFW - http://norwichcity.myfootballwriter...t-a-shot-on-target-for-city-in-deepdale-draw/ Some of the comments that follow are also very interesting and most seem to be looking forward to being better placed in the league next season, having accepted that the current one is nearing its thankful end. Against my better judgment, I'll probably get a ticket for Saturday, if only to see JM in what will most likely be his last game in yellow and green and whoever replaces him, he WILL be 'a hard act to follow!!' Edit - I WON'T be changing my Avatar!!!
Good article JMF and Gary usually gets the balance right. Looking at the season as a whole, we started off with a new keeper, four new defenders, and four new midfielders. Little wonder that the wheels came off in the early games after all those changes. Hanley's arrival and eventual inclusion steadied the ship in defence as Zimmerman adapted and Klose returned from injury. Trybull and Tettey brought a welcome tenacity in midfield as clean sheets cropped up regularly. The curious thing was no new striker coming in to offer another option. Selling Jerome made sense, but it was asking a lot of young Srbeny to step in midseason. Why didn't we buy another striker? I'm for the new system, but the lack of a third striker when neither Fonkeu or Abraham's are considered ready for the bench is my major doubt about SW. This has to be our major priority this summer.
The only thing I can say on the striker hunt is that this season looked like a lost cause in January. If the right player isn't available, why pay January prices for the wrong player, when it's unlikely to change the outcome of the season? It's a cynical approach admittedly, and certainly not one you'd ever hear the club admit to.
It did seem like that DH, but having sold Jerome and let Wildschut go out on loan, expecting Srbeny to fill the gap seems strange, but you may well be right that the other 'right' player just wasn't available. That could also explain DF's almost immediate attempts to lower expectations. It does put a lot of pressure on getting it right this summer though.
