We can all agree this season has surpassed any realistic expectations, particularly when we consider the significant influx of new players, as the changing of the guard continued and more youth team members were promoted.
It’s something, as Stuart Webber stated a few times, which was always likely to take a few windows to sort out and will only be complete come the beginning of next season. That’s the first time I’d say the entire squad will be Daniel Farke’s and any deadwood/problem children from previous regimes removed.
That makes what’s happened this season all the more remarkable.
Three things have pleased me most of all:
Firstly, the Farke style now has the necessary personnel for it to fulfil its full potential. I’ve heard lots say Farke changed his philosophy, mostly from those who wanted him out now having large amounts of egg on their faces, but I don’t think this is accurate.
If you look closely and listen to what Webber stated at the excellent Norwich City Fans Social Club Fans’ Forum it is all about Farke getting the right players who understand what he wants and puts what they’ve been practising all week in training onto the pitch. [By the way, the Fans’ Forum with Daniel Farke next Wednesday (20th February) should be a cracker too!]
It must have been frustrating for Farke to work on tactics all week only to have Nelson Oliveira never getting into the box as he wanted to score another 30-yarder, or Josh Murphy staying wide instead of getting in the box. Those two alone meant attacks would often break down and we’d have to start again.
Farke’s biggest wish was for players that wanted to get into the box, so his midfielders could pick out the right pass to hurt the opposition. In Teemu Pukki, Jordan Rhodes, Onel Hernandez and Emi Buendia we now have that and the difference for players like Mo Leitner, Mario Vrancic and Marco Stiepermann, who all can play killer through balls, is the like chalk and cheese.
Secondly, the amount of youth players promoted over senior pros and keeping their places when doing well is a credit to all involved and will be crucial to our continued self-sustainability; the most notable being Max Aarons, Jamal Lewis, Ben Godfrey and Todd Cantwell. although I have a feeling Alfie Payne won’t be far behind.
And thirdly, is how players who have come in, when players were sold in the summer or injuries have occurred during the season, have either maintained the high standards or, in a lot of cases, out-performed their predecessors. The most notable cases here are Stiepermann for James Maddison, Hernandez for Murphy, Buendia for anyone you like, Christoph Zimmermann for Grant Hanley, Ben Godfrey for Timm Klose, Vrancic for Leitner and Alex Tettey for Tom Trybull.
This got me thinking as to what our best first team starting eleven for the current 2018/19 squad would be.
After much deliberation I decided upon the following, using our most used formation of 4-2-3-1:
There are some sho0-ins in goal, at fullback, the two wide attacking midfielders and up front, but the rest is really difficult and as that’s largely the spine of the team that’s really interesting.
I found it really difficult to drop one of Klose, Zimmermann or Godfrey and one of Stiepermann, Leitner or Vrancic. Picking between Tettey and Trybull is not so easy either!
It also has to be said Rhodes has been superb from the bench on numerous occasions too.
I mean the “B-team” I was left with is pretty decent too:
When you think this squad has been built on a significant transfer surplus, it makes it even more remarkable. Huge credit must go to Webber and Farke, but also to the board for having the foresight and nous to put the set-up in place and get the right people.
I found picking my best starting eleven really interesting, so thought it would be an interesting exercise to put a survey together to get the opinions in of all you fantastic MFW readers.
Please click here, and select your team!
We’ll announce the results in one week’s time… enjoy.
Good one Craig.
The only bone of contention for me is that Marco Stiepermann simply has to play in the spot you’ve allocated to Mario Vrancic in the First XI. I feel Vrancic is far more effective slightly withdrawn and alongside Tom Trybull – and a natural alternative to Moritz Leitner.
And it would be cruel in my mind to drop Ben Godfrey, as good as I well appreciate Timm Klose is.
It’s all down to availability on any given day but a wonderful problem to have.
Interesting – and quite right – to see there’s no room for Ivo Pinto, Nelson Oliveira or (and he’s still technically ours) Steven Naismith.
Spending money unwisely produces nothing as Farke has proved.
I agree, the Stieperdude has to play. I will go one step further and go all out attack since we will almost always score more goals than our opposition on any given game.
So Klose is in instead of Godfrey since he is a better ball player (after Zimbo’s ball at the weekend he is in too), Super Tom is out (poor lad, he is sooo good at the moment) and Vrancic is in – his game against Leeds showed he does it all and is more killer going forward that Super T. Leitner aka God, in. The front 4 then is Onel, EMI, Pukki and Stieperdude. Guaranteed to let a foo in but oh so much fun going forward.
I think that will be the majority view Martin, but it’s as tough on Mario as mine is Marco!
Yup, Stiepermann is a shoe-in and it has to be either Vrancic or Leitner. Sad for them but that is our strongest team.
The second string would have a good chance of getting a top six place. Happy days!
Strange that you say Stiepermann is better than Maddison yet you then leave him out! Would Maddison seriously not get in your team?
But it’s too hard to pick a best XI. It’s like picking your top 5 albums or films – depends what mood you’re in. At the moment, my first XI are the ones in possession.
If really pushed, then Leitner for Maclean – just to take the penalties.
I didn’t actually say that Stiepermann is better than James Maddison! That’s quite a leap. If he was here I’d have him in above Vrancic or Stiepermann.
Picking Vrancic or Stiepermann was the one I found most difficult and chnaged my mins many times leading up to writing this and since writing it.
A difficult choice, but one when all are fit rthat Farke has to make.
Both the A and B teams are good enough to gain promotion from this league.
I think that at the end of the season with Pinto, Naismith, Passlack, Mcgovern all certain to leave and Rhodes going back to Wednesday Webber and Farke will need to rebuild the back up team, Klose could stay if promoted and will Tettey be up for the challenge of a season or 2 in the Premiership.
Happy days
I’m not as confident of that as you are, let’s see if they gain promoition as a unit first! I hope so, not nailed on though.
I think that’s arse about face, Webber won’t be building the back up team he’ll be building and improving the starting eleven. We’re a really good top end championship side but very few would walk into anything but bottom end PL sides. We are a side greater than the some if the parts, but Farke can make that sum even stronger with the right better parts.
Bah!
All have a right to our opinions but my opinion was that what ever we need for the first team will de decided on who leaves, who he rrusts to be first teamers next season.
We gave good back ups at present and a few will be leaving some forced out others due to contracts and then those that will be sold for a profit.
Yes we trust Webber and Farke have the plans for where ever we are next season but the unexpected can happen and the best way to success is to hace a good back up squad
I think that GM’s point was that – at the pint that you describe in your reply- Webber and Farke will seek to upgrade the first choice options rather than to simply backfill the wholes left by second string departures. Only in that way will the squad as a whole AND the team be improved.
If he were to improve only the ‘backfill’ then only the squad would improve.
Suspect a bit of cross-purposes.
Thanks tes I agree.
Some of the B team just might be more first team next season so hopefully all departures wether forced or out of contract will already be noted
Stiepermann has to stay in the team as he is the only one with the strength needed to hold the ball up front. He has often been a useful outlet when other teams have applied pressure.
Leitner and Trybull are in my opinion our best central midfield pairing.
Godfrey deserves to keep his place on performance. He also has the best ball skills of our central defenders which means he is comfortable bringing the ball out and retaining possession.
In short Saturdays team with Leitner replacing McLean.