I disagree. The area we need to strengthen is anywhere where service to the strikers will come from. Our leaky defence would have been far less so if we hadnt spent the majority of games sitting back because our strikers were getting no service. A winger to replace Snoddy is important. Hopefully (if we get him) this one can cross to our players rather than generically into the box. Our main need is is an attacking mid to play behind the striker/strikers. Unless Adams is planning on using Fer in a more advanced position like he plays for Holland?
Sorry Dave, though you were referring to our defence like others have. Also, I would consider ACMs to be forwards (like Wes for example) which is why I disagreed that other areas need to be strengthened. My bad
I think Troy Deeney would still be a great signing. A strike force of Hooper, Grabban, RvW, Deeney and Lafferty would be seriously good! I would certainly hope that Becchio is the player to go (for his sake as much as ours). I really doubt that this is going to happen but you cant deny that its an exciting thought! With those 5 strikers we would have plenty of different options for formations and rotation to help deal with the heavy fixture list. Still, I cant see it happening im afraid. It is most likely going to be a story that has cropped up months after the bid was made or one of Hooper and RvW are going to make way.
This very much as I see it DH. Either 4-3-3 or 4-2-1-3 (Which would use an ACM). We may play 4-4-2 at home sometimes, but I don't think it will be the most frequent choice. Even Deeney (if he is still a consideration) was played out wide by MacKay much of the time. I do think that City can afford to have 5 strikers plus Loza, as long as half of those can play wide as well. The only change in your preferred line-up I'd make is a midfield of Tettey, Howson and Fer (which could provide decent support through the middle as well).
For me an ACM is the link between the central mids and strikers (ie a number 10) like Rooney, Mata, Oscar etc all of whom I would consider to be forwards. Nevermind, we are on the same page in some way or another.
anybody who thinks we'd keep everyone is living in a dream world! absolutely, unequivocally no chance whatsoever of keeping all those strikers on our books. if we are in for deeney it means at least two, probably three of our current strikers will leave. we probably couldn't afford to keep all those players (and keep them happy!) if we were in the top flight so its madness to think we could a league lower. people need to be more realistic. if we are in for deeney i think it virtually guarantees that hooper and rvw are off. i think becchio will go regardless of whether we bring anyone else in. an 'ACM' is just that - an 'attacking central midfielder'. not a forward
Not convinced youre right Supers. My point was that I doubt it would happen but would be exciting. However, I can still see us starting with RvW, Hooper, Grabban and Lafferty as our strike force. Can only see Becchio leaving really. Especially after the whole Hooper situation (Adams coming out and saying he isnt going) and then RvW making it clear that he is back in Norwich and looking forward to getting back to training etc. This is what makes me think that the Deeney situation is old news being brought up now.
Football is a world of dreams Supers, but I know what you mean. It all depends on what Adams sees as City's new attacking style. In a 4-2-1-3 or a 4-1-3-1, for instance, Hooper could play as a second striker as Elmander did last year and still have 3 more strikers up front. I do think that we might lose RvW and/or Hooper, along with several others, but Adams can only respond to people leaving (as he has done with Snods).
there seems to be a little naivity being shown here. rvw tweeted that he was happy to be back in norwich and ready for training - that is not the same as him saying he is staying, anymore than snodgrass appearing in the kit video led some to assume he must be staying – he is simply being professional. likewise adams didn't say hooper was definitely staying, he said he's a player he'd like to keep and he's quite right to say that. again, means little in the world of football because if someone matches the clubs asking price he will leave. if another centre forward comes in, the club will not be able to afford to keep the current strikers we have - that's just the maths - these new players will come in to replace, not join, the likes of hooper, rvw, becchio. are people that dopey that they can't understand how much our finances have changed since relegation? we might be secure financially (in the short term) but we cannot afford to pay a whole host of players £25k+, some of whom might not even get in the match day squad. nice to dream? of course, but lets be a little bit realistic here...
Lets also not forget every single player has a relegation clause in their contracts, so we have very little idea on wages at the moment, it's just guesswork
And we've also got comments from the club stating that we don't need to sell players and money will still be available. That's not to say the club won't sell, but we're capable of keeping what remains of last seasons squad together should we want to.
its true every player had a clause so their wages dropped, but they will not have been halved! our income however will have been. i know its not fun to hear, and the club are right to say nobody 'has' to be sold, but its basic logic to say that if we bring in two or three players who play in the same role, players already at the club, especially the high earners, will leave to accommodate them. bring in three new strikers, at least two currently at the club will leave. as it stands, if we don't bring in deeney it is realistically (though highly unlikey) possible to keep rvw and hooper alongside grabban and lafferty and probably lose just becchio. those slim chances diminish further if deeney comes in too.
Don't forget we have lost Elmander, Yobo and Guttierez off the wage bill as loans. Plus Fox and Nash being released.
Does anyone know how likely the Troy Deaney deal is? He is a proper championship striker and would be a great addition.
agree, a player i like at this level. impossible to know if there is any truth in it at this stage though
Sorry to say, but with Premier League clubs (Swansea, Villa, W. Brom) nosing around, he´s more likely to end up there - also have to agree with Superdad, that with all the interest in strikers at the moment, it would strongly suggest that one or more of our current crop, are soon to be off.
It was a nailed on certainty that we would score goals in the Prem with RvW and Hooper joining the ranks - and just look how that turned out
