I enjoyed reading Ed Couzens-Lake’s rant (his words, not mine) on the circus that is the transfer deadline and found myself agreeing with pretty much all of it – in particular the way that Sky Sports attempts to whip it up into a feeding frenzy of epic proportions.
But it’s here for the foreseeable and, love it or hate it, it’s a process that has to be managed. Those that do so successfully emerge on September 2 or February 1 the stronger; those that don’t find themselves at a disadvantage.
And while there are plenty of occasions in the not too recent past when the Yellow Army have bemoaned City’s lack of activity, this time round there can be few complaints.
Even the sceptics have admitted to feeling a tinge of optimism as we emerged the feeding trough with not only most of the existing crew intact, but with three shiny new faces.
The arrival of two centre-backs made perfect sense and with both coming from good, wholesome footballing stock the element of risk that comes with every new signing appears to have been mitigated as much as possible.
Jos Hooiveld is one who brings bags of experience and, if the warmth emanating toward him from St Mary’s is anything to go by, is someone who will quickly endear himself to the Carrow Road faithful. With City being his tenth professional club he’s been around the footballing block a few times and it’s difficult to see him being fazed by anything the Championship has to throw at him.
At 6ft 4in, is also a ‘big unit’ who will add some much needed inches to Adams’ squad. While they coped admirably with all that Mick McCarthy’s limited collection of giants had to throw at them at Portman Road, much reliance was placed on the redoubtable forehead of Michael Turner. An injury to this season’s outstanding performer, to go with that picked up by the unlucky Ryan Bennett, would have been a disaster.
Now City can cope with such eventualities.
And, while on the subject of Turner, isn’t it time we found another song with which to pay tribute to one of the good guys? While he will admit to having had a slow start to his City career he was never as described.
Now that he’s at the heart of everything that’s good about Norwich City, can’t we dispense with that song and come up with something new and a little less tinged with insult?
But I digress.
The other centre-back who arrived courtesy of a Jim White fanfare also adds that rare City commodity called height to the mix. Ignasi Miquel, in addition to also being 6ft 4in and having a wonderful name, has spent the last four years under the tutelage of Arsene Wenger and so will be well versed in the art of passing a football.
Miquel’s formative years were spent at Barcelona’s La Masia Academy but, aged just 16, he was snapped up by the Gunners back in 2008. He worked his way through the Arsenal ranks to become captain of their Under-21s before making his first-team debut in 2011.
He went on to make appearances in the FA Cup, League Cup and in the Champions League before spending last season on loan at Leicester City.
With his Gunners’ contract due to expire at the end of the season, and with little prospect of usurping Per Mertesacker and Laurent Koscielny, Adams and David McNally pounced in a move that makes sense for all parties.
Let’s hope for the sake of Master Miquel – and our own – that he goes on to become City’s most successful Spanish centre-back. With his competition for that dubious title being Victor Segura and Daniel Ayala my money is on him being just that.
With Carlos Cuéllar already in situ, Adams is now well stocked in the central defensive department and it will be fascinating to see how the bun fight for the two places develops. For now, for the reasons stated, one of the slots is Turner’s to lose but with regards to the other – who knows.
With only training sessions in which to impress I expect there to be one or to meaty challenges flying around the fields of Colney over the next week. The Murphys should be warned.
The signing of Louis Thompson was one that caught most of us off-guard. In truth, until Monday I knew little about him but have since learned that at 19 years-old and with Wales Under-19 caps to his name he’s one for the future. For him to continue his footballing education at Swindon for the remainder of this season appears a good deal for all concerned.
If nothing else, the Football League Show will hold our interest for a little longer every Saturday night as we try and catch a glimpse of our new signing.
With Cameron Jerome, Conor McGrandles and Vadis Odjidja-Ofoe having already made their Carrow Road bows it feels like the transfer window has been kind to us. We have emerged stronger, especially with Gary Hooper, Martin Olsson and Nathan Redmond still of this parish.
And the bookies agree, with most knocking a point or two off our odds given our decent start and sound transfer window business.
For now, the biggest issue for Adams will be perming his best XI from those available. The squad is such that he could name two separate first-teams, both with a Championship look to them. How often have we been able to say that?
A graphic that did the Twitter rounds depicted this perfectly – with at least two quality options for each position.
So, we are midst-international break in rude health. Things are ticking along nicely. Adams clearly has time to ponder his line-up for Cardiff and all his problems are the good kind.
But, we’re just five games in. The real work begins now and while we’re all as one for the time being there will be some downs to overcome.
Let’s just hope this feelgood factor has plenty of steam left.
Good article Gary, and I think we were all filled with optimism by the end of the transfer window and the sign of intent it signalled, both in terms of incomings and the lack of outgoings – though I hope Bassong finds a loan home soon!
Looking forward, though, whilst it will be interesting to see who NA perms for his first team with the complete squad against Cardiff, what I am more interested to see is how he intends to rotate his squad and keep everyone both motivated and fresh. Including Cardiff we have 7 games coming up in 3 weeks between 13 Sept and 4 Oct (including one League Cup match), before there is yet another international break. So it’s how Adams uses his whole squad during these 7 games that I think will be fascinating – and of course the results this second clutch of games brings.
A very good summary, Gary. I would add one thing: Intent. Our wheeler dealings show that we actually do intend to go straight back up. History shows that it is easier to stay in the Premier League than get promoted from the Championship so if we do make it, let’s keep it going this time. With Adams at the helm we may have the ingredient that was missing under Hughton: Passion. OTBC
Can I be the first (and possibly only) one to wish Senor Becchio well at Rotherham and hope he finds his shooting boots? Whatever went on behind the scenes, it amazes me that we didn’t make better use of someone who averaged a goal every 2.5 games in distinctly average Leeds sides.
I think the jury is very much out on Hooiveld – he’s been a persistent bench warmer at St Marys for a couple of years and prior to Southampton, his playing record is..unimpressive to put it kindly – and our recent experiences with Dutch ‘talent’ have left a bit of a doubt in my mind.
Good stuff, Gary. We all need to keep saying – and meaning – that it’s early days, but bookies have probably read it right.
Two things particularly encourage me from the past fortnight. We’ve added some exciting young players, but also some solid experience where it’s most needed. Hooiveld and O’Neil, I suspect, will be important positive influences both on and off the field.
The other encouraging thing, to me, is the reaction of fans to the draw with Bournemouth. It was disappointing to end the winning run, but most fans seem pretty calm and philosophical about it. Perhaps we’re shaking off our recent skittishness – if so, it will be to the huge benefit of our team.
Thanks for the feedback folks.
And respect to Stewart for his use of the word ‘skittishness’. Much underused!
‘Damian’- Good point re Becchio. Other than his public broadside at Hughton he appeared to handle an impossible position with good grace. Am sure we all wish him well.
Yeh, respect to Stewart for ‘skittishness’ but I’m not sure what Alec Salmond’s national qualities have to do with it?
I seem to recall someone using ‘egalitarianism’ in another article which has to be thoroughly commended also.
A tear in the Gowers’ household at the final exit of Surman to the south coast? It looked like he’d managed to resurrect things with us but with Wes there, don’t think Adams could afford the luxury.
‘Bob’ (6) – There was indeed a sniffle to be heard as Surs packed his bags for the south coast, but – as you say – the re-emergence of Wes (and the form of Johnson and Tettey) meant the writing was on the wall. I fear, not for the first time, I’d fallen victim to misty-eyed nostalgia. His underwhelming performance at Molineux certainly didn’t help.
So… the campaign is over. The leaflets are in the blue bin, the banners are in the loft and the tears have finally dried.
I’m delighted with the business we have done in the transfer window. I hope at least one of the centre halves has pace and mobility; yes “big units” are essential when playing the likes of McCarthy’s lot but there are plenty of teams in the Championship who play passing football – one of them just ruined our home record.
There are some lively strikers around too. For example when that ex-Peterborough lad turns up with Forest it’s going to take more than sheer muscle to keep him in check.
After the Wolves game the knee-jerkers (mainly those who opposed Adams from day one) went overboard. Now after 3 wins in 4 plus a League Cup win that, had a penalty we’d have screamed for been given against us, might not even have happened, there’s a risk of going the other way.
In cricket they say take your current score – 200 for 3 shall we say, not bad – and then add two more wickets on, so now 200 for 5. Not quite so convincing is it?
10 points from 5 games, certainly not bad. 2 away games coming up in 4 days; 10 points from 7 games would be rather more modest. And it would also bring the knee-jerkers back out in force.
“Look at the squad he’s got, biggest in the league, McNally’s backed him, can’t get anything out of them, we’re doomed I tell you, we’re doomed”. Etc. etc.
I would never join in that chorus myself but it is a fair point that having put together a very impressive looking squad on paper, the pressure is on Adams even more than before to make it equally impressive on grass. It may still take a little while, but I think he’ll get there.
For me the willingness of Odjidja-Ofoe and Miquel to join us and of Rudd, Tettey and Redmond to stay put is the biggest positive of the season so far. When players of their calibre are willing to play for you even when you are not in the top division then you must be doing something right.
Well done McNally, well done Neil. Keep it going!