The season 2020 - 2021.

I was wondering if the Rupp, McLean, Skipp experiment the other week was with one eye on the Prem, hence I asked about it the other day. Feels like it's easier for Rupp and McLean to exchange roles, or switch the formation to a 4-3-2-1 with them both on the pitch. I don't think Dowell or Vrancic would be as effective if used in that way.

Agree with Sorensen needing a run-out, but the Skipp-McLean partnership is so strong I'd want things to be mathematically certain before risking disturbing it! Sorensen absolutely looks like a player, but hard to know what he'll be like in that role.

Feels like Sorensen, Dowell, Placheta might be in an awkward position this summer. They've only just joined, but none of them have really shown they can be good Championship players in their own position, and that makes it hard to consider them as strong first team options next season.

I'd probably add to that trio Hernandez, Vrancic, Stiepermann, Martin, Mumba and Idah who might need a permanent or loan move this summer. But that's quite a lot of upheaval so it'll be interesting to see who stays.

 

POTS in my opinion depends on whether Pukki maintains his current scoring rate. If he does and reaches 30 then I think it's going to be very hard to look elsewhere.

 

For me, if he doesn’t get another red card, Buendia hands down

 

Is POTS an online vote? If so, safe to say Skipp will have that sewn up once the Spurs fans get onto it.
POTS for me is about who has been indispensable. Who do we miss most when they're out? Therefore, Emi, Krul, Skipp in that order for me. Honourable mentions for Pukki, Hamleys and Air-uns.

 

I can't see that we'll have the money for that much upheaval, DH. We have to spend £12m on Gibson and Giannoulis for a start and possibly another £6m on Quintilla. It's cost us having to carry Leitner's wages all season and Drmic for part of the season. If players leave we may have more options but I'd hate to see us break up this tight squad. We can't compete financially with PL teams, we have to do it through player's motivation and drive. We finished 3rd and 4th in the top division back in the 90s without big signings. We need to add some players though and hopefully they'll bring more than Roberts and Amadou did last time and help us survive.

 

Sorry, but that's totally irrelevant. We've stood still [financially] since those days whereas everybody
else has advanced light years in terms of fees, wages, etc.
It was a far more level playing field back in the Mike Walker days

 

Carlo Nash anyone?

 

That's true, but even then the big clubs were way beyond our means. We couldn't compete financially then either so we found another way. Burnley, Brighton and Palace aren't world beaters but they have found a way to survive, much like Sheffield United did last season.

 

Well exactly, we aren't going to have the funds nor the desire to change a third of the squad, but those are all players I can see a case for leaving on loan/permanently. So it'll be interesting to see who stays and who goes.

 

I think Sorensen did enough at LB and his sub appearances and it depends on what Dowell has shown in training once he recovered from injuries. Placheta has done ok except for his lack of finishing, but like the others he's young and will develop and his pace could keep him in the squad.

Of the others Hernandez has yet to get back into a rhythm after injuries but has shown enough in the past to be retained. Vrancic may or may not stay unless his experience and quality is seen to be enough to outweigh the age factor. Stiepermann also has valuable PL experience. Martin, Mumba and Idah all qualify as U21s so won't take squad places and they provide useful backup should injuries occur.

 

Interesting article on Huddersfield's owner saying they overpaid for Pritchard (£11m) and how serious the loss of SW was to them:

https://www.edp24.co.uk/sport/norwi...ritchard-norwich-huddersfield-regrets-7820848

Anybody for Pritchard at a knockdown price as his contract ends this year.

 

It will be interesting to see how many make it into the Championship team of the season.
I would be delinquent not to include Hanley, Skipp, Buendia and Pukki, as things currently stand.
Which is brilliant as it covers all bases - CB, DM, AM / RW and striker.
[edit - and Tim Krul has been no slouch, either.]
to Daniel Farke for that.

 

They'll probably put Toney rather than Pukki, but Hanley and Buendia should be there for certain based on how often they have appeared in the team of the week.

 

They usually include two strikers, so it could be both Toney and Pukki.

 

Wouldn't surprise me if Pukki finished top scorer on current form. Start with a hat trick at Hillsborough?

 

Could Pritchard play the Beundia role? Is he still as good as he was with us about 4/5 years ago?

 

There's also Kieffer Moore at Cardiff with a rating of 7.68.

It bothers me that Teemu doesn't get credit for his defensive work; otherwise, his rating would be quite a bit higher.

 

https://www.canaries.co.uk/News/202...y-bet-player-of-the-month-award-for-february/

Teemu, player of the month

 

Is there an associated curse like the manager of the month?