With all the transfer rumours going round (or lack of) concerning who will be joining Norwich next season, where would you like to see Alex Neil strengthen the team most and which player(s) would you bring in to fill that position(s) to strengthen the team? (sensible & realistic suggestions only please - so no suggestions such as Messi & Ronaldo, I too would like to have both of them in the team but the club unfortunately wouldn't be able to afford their transfer fee or wages, and they'd be unlikely to sign for us)
I am pretty sure that there is a transfer rumour/suggestion thread that has been covering this topic in stickys for some while now Jedi.
I am still a tad concerned about our strikers... CJ is okay and did well in the Championship but I don't see him as a 10+ goal getter in the PL. He certainly was not at Stoke so the jury remains open as far as I am concerned. GH might or might not score goals on a regular(ish) basis - the jury is out on him also The other strikers, for me, will probably not be nearly good enough so lets hope the midfield chip in with their fair share of goals again.
I think this is slightly different to the Transfer thread, GE. It's more about hypothetical choices than current rumoured signings. Room for both, IMO. I'm more optimistic than Thai about CJ getting 10+ goals. At Stoke, he scored 10 goals in 18 starts and 38 sub appearances over 3 years. As a regular starter he's far more likely to score more regularly. I'd predict 10-12 goals if he's our regular striker this season. Grabban will do OK with his movement and he has the ability to play wide as well, which will be useful. Not sure whether Hooper will be willing to be third choice striker, but if he is then certainly one or both RvW or Lafferty will move on. Personally, I'd rather see a marquee signing at CB.
I do know there is a Transfer thread on this forum but the purpose of this thread is to not to find out which players are being linked to Norwich or are being signed by Norwich but to find out if you were in Alex Neil's shoes and had to decide which area(s) of the team needed to be strengthened, what area(s) would you strengthen and who would you bring in to strengthen that area. For example, Thai is concerned about our strikers, would he try and sign someone like Jelavic from Hull who had a reputation as a prolific goal-scorer with clubs such as Rapid Vienna, Rangers & Everton.
Riverend has got the idea of this thread, I'd just be interested to know who would be his marquee signing at CB
If we are able to make a marquee signing in any position - wage demands might scupper that - I hope it is somebody with PL experience and not another RVW who looks good on paper but might not function in the PL.
Totally agree with that 1950. I think both AN and DM are also wary of risking too much in any one signing. I mentioned van Dijk because of his potential, but he would be competing with Seb for a starting place, so if for any reason he didn't measure up, we'd still have Seb. There's always a risk in any new signing, but we should be looking to the future as well and a very good 23 year-old CB would be just that.
For me, I'd like to see signings at centre back, full back, attacking midfield (wide or central) and up front. As to names: Van Dijk at centre back appeals Yedlin at right back concerns me only because he's quite attacking, and therefore not a contrast to Whittaker. I'd like to throw Hans Vanaken into the debate as the attacking midfielder. 22 year old Belgian at Lokeren with 10 goals and 10 assists last season, and the season before. Two footed, creative, with a great range of passing, but also 6ft4 and strong, so hopefully capable of adapting to the league. Only a year left on his contact, although I fear he's destined for bigger things. Up front, John Guidetti, James Wilson on loan maybe? Admittedly not sure they'd fit our system. A better version of Jerome would be ideal.
Hans Vanaken is an interesting one, DH, though Wiki has him at 6'1" rather than 6'4" (which would be too tall for Carrabuh, methinks). AN has a lot of present options for AM now that Mulumbu has come in - Hoolahan, Howson, Andreu, Dorrans. I'd love to know what he's thinking about AM! I watched Guidetti in the U21 game and was impressed, considering his side were playing containment football (well, up until the goal at least). With 5 strikers at present, at least one would have to move on first.
Apologies Jedi, misunderstood the point of the thread. van Dijk in a swap deal involving Hooper springs to mind. Guidetti would be a good replacement for Hoops, and from what I know, would seem a Neil type of player. Plus he knows the English game.
Surely Van Dijk would be competing with Russ initially. Seb is better than Russ and VvD is better than the pair of them. I know people will say that he's the captain and a great servant but that doesn't mean we should compromise the XI on the pitch. If we could play Yedlin - Van Dijk - Bassong - Ollson With Mulumbu sat in front that would be a superb defence. Having Tettey, O'neil and Johnson who can play as DM that area seems fine. After that we need a left sided winger/attacking mid. Bradey has been discussed who would be a great signing. We seem good down the right with Redmond and Bennett, if we got him Yedlin can play there too. Attacking Midfield is a bit of an enigma. Obviously we have Wes and Howson both with PL experience. Andreau who we basically haven't seen. I'd be interested if we could bring in a new player here but it's not a nevessity. Then there's the whole striker situation. Which has been gone over again and again.
He would play both sides, as GE says he's right footed but used to playing on the left. Bassong is left footed so the pair should fit well together.
With the signing of Mulumbu I'm not too worried about midfield, although a left sided winger/attacking midfielder would be good. As I've said plenty of times before we need at least one CB of better quality than what we already have, Van Dijk would be an excellent signing. Would be happy with Martin & Whittaker competing for the RB position, however if Martin is going to compete for CB position then would like to see us get another RB. I would also like to see Ollson given some serious competition for his starting place. So my priorities would be CB - Van Dijk would be excellent with Hooper going the other way. Striker - Of similar quality or better than Jerome. Would be happy to lose 3 of Hooper, RvW, Lafferty & Grabban. Not too precious which one we keep. 2nd CB or RB - Depending on which position Martin is going to focus on. Young and hungry with potential. 2nd Striker - As above LB - Assuming of course Toffolo isn't good enough to push Ollson, which I suspect is the case. Left side winger or AM - Ideally some who can play both roles.
Just seen this on the BBC gossip page and the alleged price is certainly not out of our league? Not sure if he's what we need, but poor Wessi isn't getting any younger. Swansea are ready to sell Spanish attacking midfielder Michu, 29, for as little as £4m when he returns to Wales this week.
His knees have gone haven't they? I don't think he'll ever come close to his form of two season ago. My priorities would be: Left winger come fullback who could challenge Olsson/play in front of him. Back-up young CB who has the potential to be superb (although if an experienced classy one is available for a decent price, then snap it up!) Striker, although I'm assuming that one of ours will leave otherwise no real space
