I’m reluctant to say it, but Max Aarons will soon be shooting off to bigger and better. How well he has done in just shy of two seasons in the first team?
14th August 2018: the day the club’s academy staff had been waiting for, to see how one of their star talents would perform in the first-team for the first time (against Stevenage in the Carabao Cup). This star talent – like Jamal Lewis the year before – had been earmarked by Daniel Farke as soon as he had started looking at the new academy he had to work with.
Aarons was solid and unfazed playing at left-back, keeping the play simple and efficient. I was at the game and while I thought he played well and looked a good player, I didn’t foresee his upcoming meteoric rise.
With Felix Passlack and Ben Marshall seen as the right-back options for that season, Aarons did not feature in the next three league games. But the former Luton graduate took his next opportunity in the Carabao Cup game with a brilliant display, becoming the first Norwich City player born this millennium to score in the first-team, as City comfortably beat then Premier League Cardiff 3-1.
Five days later, Farke pulled a huge surprise by starting the full-back for his league debut in the ferocious atmosphere of the Old Farm Derby. Aarons again looked unfazed, and put in a solid display as the game ended 1-1. Incredibly he then went on to start 40 Championship games in a row, finishing the 90 minutes in all bar one – the home fixture against Wigan Athletic.
Aarons scored two league goals last season, and both were vital. His first, bringing City back into the Cardiff game in which they would go on to win 3-1; the second goal earned a big point away at Bristol City, after a great ball in from Onel Hernandez.
A home fixture with Nottingham Forest would prove a massive insight into the character of the England Under-21 international. With Aarons now first-choice right-back and consistently performing to a high standard, almost for the first time he made an error leading to a goal. He was trying to dribble out of the box but was tackled by Matty Cash, who whipped the ball past Tim Krul.
The Hammersmith-born player responded and helped City come from three goals down to claim an unlikely draw. For the rest of the season, Aarons didn’t put a foot wrong and proved himself to be a key outlet in City’s style of play, providing much-needed width on the right-hand side with Emi Buendia floating around the pitch.
With promotion secured, many City fans believed Aarons would be able to take the Premier League by storm. City’s number 2, like the rest of the team, did take time to adjust to the league’s intensity and pace, being caught out for Chelsea’s opening goal by not being tight to Tammy Abraham.
The 20-year-old injured himself on international duty with the England Under-21s after a heroic block and missed Norwich’s best victory of the season, the 3-2 win over Manchester City. Since coming back from that ankle injury, Aarons has improved game-by-game and now looks accustomed to this league, showing his raw talent and containing the best wingers in the country.
His improvement was shown recently away at Tottenham Hotspur, looking defensively sound against Spurs’ young talented full-back/winger Ryan Sessegnon, who later went onto the foul Aarons in the box for Teemu Pukki’s penalty reply.
At the start of the season, I was sure that Max would be able to make the step up after looking so good in his first season in the first-team. The thing I like about his performances is that it doesn’t matter if it’s Stevenage or Spurs, Aarons plays the same way, keeping it simple and not trying over-complicate his game.
Like the rest of the young defence, initially, he was caught out and targeted for his lack of height and occasionally being caught out being too far forward on the counter, but he has really grown into this season as it has progressed.
In a one-on-one, he is very solid against most wingers. Recently he kept Allan Saint-Maximin of Newcastle fairly quiet and I thought he was fantastic against Liverpool’s Andy Robertson, who plays as more of a wing-back with the amount of possession his side have.
The only doubt I have, personally, is that I feel he jockeys his winger too much at times, giving them time to get an effort away, but his ability to spring a block out of nowhere is fantastic.
Unfortunately, I felt I had to do this article now as I don’t feel like we are going to be having our star man down the right for too much longer. Even in the summer, Aarons’ personal football coach claimed the youngster was ‘receiving calls every day’ from Premier League clubs.
It’s easy to forget he is just 20-years-old and hasn’t yet had two full years of senior football under his belt, but that’s testament to the week in, week out performances and I feel like this young man is going to go very far in the game.
Devil’s advocate: Some might look back on this season as one of failure, failure to stay in the top flight, barring a miracle, and failure to retain our star players, not me. In recent years promotion from the second to the first tier has inevitably resulted in relegation within all to short a space of time. It smarts and to add insult to injury we have to see the family split up long before we’d like to, so let’s embrace it.
In terms of the disappointing results on the pitch, we have four prodigies that are getting ready to leave the nest, a veritable Mozart string quartet that would grace any concert hall. I can’t remember a year in which the club has been so productive and Max is definitely up there with the other 3, so give the man his stradivarius and wish him well, standing in his way or that of Cantwell, Godfrey and probably Buendia would be tantamount to neglect. In terms of retention, our best asset is Stuart Webber. In Norfolk we do different, let that be our trajectory, onward and upward in our own way, climbing Jacob’s ladder as it were. Thanks to all concerned. OTBC
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Hi Dave, thanks for reading the piece and commenting. I think when we look back in years to come it will be even more remarkable how SW and DF have combined to produce a team with so many young players. I hope we continue to be competitive this season, rebuild in the summer and go again!
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Interesting article Jacob and whilst I tend to agree with you, my only hope is that we don’t lose more than say 3 or 4 of our current squad.
There was an excellent interview that Paddy did with SW yesterday where SW was saying that if bigger clubs want our rising stars, then they are going to have to pay a fair price, as for the first time in many years, we don’t HAVE to sell anyone!!!!
Aarons in particular has been particularly impressive with his attacking runs and crosses. I was fortunate to be in the crowd at the King Power and early in the game, Pukki was inches/millimetres away from getting a touch on one of his crosses.
Definitely a player for the future.
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Hi Ed, thank you for reading the piece and commenting. Yes Aarons was very good against Leicester in ANOTHER game where we were so close to picking up more points from a game.
Yes I watched interview with SW, very interesting with his bullish approach on who stays and leaves. If I’m being honest I think interest in Aarons is most concrete as there are a few ‘bigger’ clubs who need a full back currently and he would fit the bill. I back SW to get it right and give us a good chance of competing again next season.
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Hi Ed,
That SW interview showed just how refreshing it is to have a man who not only listens to the question but also answers it honestly and in depth.
I wish we could persuade him to stay forever! I look forward to part two of the interview.
Hope you are keeping well!
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Hi Jacob.
A very good assessment of Max.
To me he kind of falls into the Madders category. Okay we were desperate to realise the £20m we got for him but nonetheless very few of us really begrudged him the opportunity to spread his wings and fly, fly fly.
I feel the same about Max tbh. And Ben Godfrey too for what that’s worth.
They have both proved they are too good for the Championship and have served us unfailingly well so in my mind they deserve to be “set free” at the end of the season.
It’s regrettable that the fees we will inevitably receive for them will not be reinvested on the pitch but there’s nothing we as supporters can do about that.
Shame.
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Hi Martin,
Thank you for the kind words on the article. Yeah I agree that Max and Ben are probably the most certain to leave due to interest and those associated (Rio Ferdinand in the Godfrey camp). It will be difficult but I would say Webber has been planning for their departures and has more than a suitable enough plan to replace them and whoever else leaves in the summer.
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In contrast to our league position we are arguably in a commanding position on this issue. While no one would want to stand in the way of seeing our stars move on and progress, the situation bears none of the ‘desparation’ that Stuart Webber refers to in the PD article re Maddison and while we wouldn’t want to rest on our laurels we could be in a position to dictate terms and play the suitors off against one another to see who is willing to cough up the most dosh for his/their services. We could find ourselves on the receiving end of 100 mill for the fab four and that before we even get to Teemu. Ok, I understand to some extent that Delia and co, will want to drain off the fund in the same way that the west country would like to see their water levels drop and their flood defences be improved but, if there is that much money in the bank, the pressure from fans will be relentless as regards the need to spend and invest. It would put Webber and Farke in the driving seat. No longer would they be content to collude with the status quo and already there must be tempting offers for both of them, particularly Webber. The response from Delia would see her dig in her heels with the kind of determination that even her greatest allies would baulk at but if she refuses to relent she could easily find herself increasingly isolated from her own pals. So far she has had an excuse to resist, namely the will to build on and maintain financial safety, born of altruism and sincerity to give her the benefit of dubious doubt, nonetheless, should she continue to pursue what some might regard as an obsession, her own defences might start to crack. For the time being she has to a large extent, the goodwill of the people but that tide could turn, would she really want to become our enemy, would she want to be remembered as a latterday Robert Chase? She’s stubborn, stubborn as a damn ox, but even oxen can change. Is she beyond reach ? I have no idea though I do think she might need some help from the fans. Food for thought maybe
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That is the big fear Martin. If a selling spree takes place and there is no significant reinvestment of the funds then that will prove once and for all its time for a sea change at the club.
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Hi Chris.
I really feel Max and Ben deserve to head for the bright lights. TC I’m less sure about but if some big noise wants him that much he’ll be off too.
Stuart Webber knows this and his version of hardball will be to get the best possible prices for these individuals that he can. With plenty of add-ons too.
But if we guess at £70 million for all three of them, substantially much less than 10% of that will be reinvested on the pitch and I’m afraid that’s recognised truth that some folks still refuse to assimilate.
We have become so dependent on pinpoint recruitment from age levels 16-23 it is frightening. Don’t get me wrong it’s a noble concept that I admire in some ways but is equally set up to fail.
Dave B (2) correctly says above “She [Delia]’s stubborn, stubborn as a damn ox, but even oxen can change. Is she beyond reach?”
I fear that she is. £70million in the bank plus this season’s TV money, other revenues and parachute payments to come will keep her in situ for the next few years at least.
We don’t stand a chance of establishing ourselves in the PL with her at the helm.
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Hello Martin, I fear this is only the start.
We can lok forward to many similar articles discussing exits for various players in the coming weeks.
The recent Webber interview seems to be setting us up for more austerity this summer.
Webber himself is in an unenviable position. He is responsible for a club with premier league level supporter base and is given a Rotherham united style budget to lavish on it. I suspect he isn’t quite as happy with this situation as some seem to think.
The expectations will be high this summer that money will finally be invested in the squad. Particularly if Delia puts up the for sale signs.
Having spent nothing this season, with parachute payments to come and the proceeds of yet another asset strip the familiar old tale about poverty will not cut it.
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The club is in a funny predicament. They could be relegated, sell a number of players and find themselves flush with cash.
Which then begs the question, what to do with it? Spend it on players, or keep it for a rainy day?
Delia always used to say that all cash from player sales would be pumped back into the team. However, we know that isn’t true. Her statement should have included the caveat “unless there’s a financial hole to fill”. As we saw recently. So I’m not confident selling players will result in an equivalent value of players purchased.
Alternatively we could of course keep the players and target re-promotion, which is probably our best bet. But failure could also end in devalued players.
There’s going to be some interesting decisions to be made, that’s for sure.
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If it is true that just 3 of our players are worth £70m what the heck are we doing at the bottom of the league?
I think folks might be in for a shock when their realistic values become apparent. Whilst Webber will undoubtedly negotiate hard he admitted that IF one of the biggest clubs want one of our players they’ll get them on their terms, if only by whispering princely sums into their agents’ ears such that the players’ heads are turned. Stories are already being planted around Aarons, Cantwell, Godfrey and Lewis, and it’s not hard to imagine Buendia getting in a strop if he doesn’t get a big move soon.
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I agree that we tend to over-value our own players, probably because we’re more invested in them as people. When you think Madders was in the 20M ballpark, I don’t think any of the players in the squad are Madders level.
The three young defenders are good players, but the stats don’t lie either, we don’t have a good defense. Buendia could potentially match Madders for skill and value, but there’s a temperament there that could stop buyers. Then there’s Pukki, who could have earned a big money move had it not been for his toe injury. As things stand his moment may have passed.
The way Webber made it sound was that if one of the big clubs wanted our players, they could have poached them. So the question is, do they not want our players and is it all paper talk?
I still think we could raise a good amount of cash from players, but some of the numbers thrown around are astronomical.
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Both Keith and David make very valid points about the values of players.
My guesstimate of £70m was made up of £30m for Godfrey and £20m each for TC and Max.
However I have seen Ben quoted at £50m, TC at £30m and Max at £35m in the nationals which would mean an eyewatering total of £115m!
Of course they’ll be worth exactly what somebody is prepared to pay for them and that may well be less than some of the figures that are being bandied about.
We’ll see:-)
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