I spent Wednesday morning with the song Son of a Gun knocking round my head. Yes, the jaunty singalong from 90s keyboard hide-behinder JX. No prizes for guessing why, with the confirmation that Angus ‘Son of Bryan’ Gunn is returning to Carrow Road on a more permanent basis.
However, I suspect my lightness of spirit has more to do with the week’s other transfer dispatches. Principally, the announcement of Milot Rashica. Aside from one or two keen Bundesliga followers, anyone who denies their initial reaction was “Who?” is clearly lying. But in no time at all, evidence was building that Kosovan Werder Bremen attacker Rashica is much more than just a continental obscurity.
Rather, it looks as if Stuart Webber has once again pulled off an audacious swoop, netting a player with both an excellent track record and huge potential, but at a fraction of the price that might have been demanded at a different time.
I don’t know about you but I picture Webber heading off on his shopping trips to Germany and other foreign parts like a Victorian plant collector embarking for the Hindu Kush. And the success rate of getting these acquisitions to blossom in Norfolk is testament to his eye for a good prospect. (That’s probably enough of the botanical metaphors.)
Added to the Rashica news came word that Norwich are leading the charge to sign Billy Gilmour on a season loan. This also looks like excellent business, with Gilmour’s profile having rocketed since his fine performance for Scotland against England. Norwich’s ability to pick the best blooms at the Chelsea Flower Show (oh come on) could be a benefit of Daniel Farke’s previous working relationship with Thomas Tuchel at Dortmund. And apparently there’s a good chance of giant Norwegian defender Kristoffer Ajer arriving from Celtic.
It’s likely that the bulk of the summer’s transfer activity will take place once the Euros are done and dusted (and for that matter, the Copa America) but Norwich seem to be making some early moves and there’s already a sense of the disappointment over Buendia’s exit beginning to be replaced by excitement at the new additions.
The arrival of Angus Gunn coincides with the departure of Orjan Nyland. We would be saying “Farewell Orjan, we hardly knew ye” were it not for his great gesture in giving his Championship winner’s medal to Teemu Pukki when they were handed out at the end of the season.
Clearly Orjan, like so many Webber signings, was built of the right stuff and made a good contribution behind the scenes. The same is obviously true of Michael McGovern, who now has a mentoring role among the goalkeepers and we know how much Norwich City means to Angus. What a perfect environment in which to develop for Daniel Barden. And that’s before we even mention Tim Krul, surely one of football’s nicest blokes.
Bryan Gunn is a club legend, whose contribution extends so far beyond his hugely notable achievements on the pitch. It’s fitting that after an episode that seriously tested Norwich’s ‘family club’ credentials, the son of the legend is now back. The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree. (That’s it, I’m out of here.)
Hi John
I enjoyed this read on a dull overcast morning in Blackpool.
Wary is the word I will use for Master Gunn he was a good prospect at ManC and show cased his abilities at Carrow Rd for a season.
His first permanent move to Southampton started OK but the the whole defence collapsed to a thumping from Leicester to the tune of 9.
Since then not much of a look in for his club and sadly he like most keepers took the blame not much stuck on the other defenders.
Fast forward to Stoke a few good performances but injury cut his season short.
So for our returning keeper a lot of rebuilding to do and also a possible change of heart on the international stage to far down the greasy pole for a recall to the England squad so just maybe take up the Scottish gauntlet like his dad.
Rashica well like many I had never heard of him I thought I miss heard and Sky said Yashica a Japanese camera.
Have we stolen a gem or are we getting played by the German press and Villa supporters and the fee 50% less than Villa agreed last summer and that failed due to wage demands so Villa have reported so have we a pig in the poke or a rough diamond only time will tell.
We still have an 18yr old coming in from our near neighbours Peterborough once his contract expires and the forgotten signing from Southend so 2 for the U23 academy to which I was expecting city to pick up a few rekeased from other premiership clubs.
But as with everything only time will tell and this morning Glasgow Rangers have asked for a Gilmore season loan his boyhood club and his home city and family Ties.
Rangers may have asked for Gilmour on loan, but if Teuchal wants to see him on an extended Premier League run, I think we are the more likely to get him, particularly given Farke’s relationship with him.
Rashica was in game squad 25 times last season, 14 times of those he was in starting lineup. He played most often as second striker, then as striker and then as left winger.
In bundesliga Bremen would have never ever get so high price what Norwich paid about him, not even close. If Norwich plan is that he would cover loss of Buendia in premier league, it does not look good.
Angus Gunn, who likely will be your second goalkeeper seems to be cost to Norwich about 10 million. In todays transfer prices this price seems madness. Both Rashica and Gunn seems longer time investments and players who might help Norwich to get promoted again to premier league. They know that Pukki and Krul are playing their last season in Norwich. Im sorry, but Norwich seems to not build a team to compete in premier league. My view is unbiased.
There are clearly some who disagree with you about Rashica: https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/norwich-city-transfer-rumours/exclusive-bundesliga-expert-claims-new-norwich-signing-rashica-should-be-playing-for-a-bigger-club-e84/
As for Gunn, he will be good short term cover for Krul and forms part of the longer term succession plan.
Player is very much in level how he played last season, he might play better but also might play worse. Rashicas stats are low and he should be able to cover loss of Buendia? Werder Bremen got relegated and truth is that he was not regular starter. Playing style in bundesliga is different, premier league is clearly more physical and its harder to score goals.
To me its strange that first Norwich fans are praising Buendia as god level and now you are accepting that your club is not even really trying to cover him. Money what you got by selling Buendia is gone to players which you could have got also free. Free transfer player market is huge and there is plenty of players who would be possible to buy very cheaply now. Several bundesliga clubs are struggling financially and 10 million to vice goalkeeper is something only financially top clubs are doing.
I think that you are missing a great deal – nobody is suggesting that he is a direct replacement for Buendia. His stats for last season are not so great, but not awful either, but for the two seasons previous (when he was not in and out injured) they are much, much better. Let’s not forget that Emi in the season that we were relegated scored only one goal. He looks like the perfect and typical profile of player for City and Webber/Farke – one that has a great deal of potential, has not quite realised and has plenty of room to improve and add value.
As for Gunn, the fee has been reported as being £2.5M up front, rising to £5M with performance related add-ons and potentially £10M with some very ambitious (for which read aspirational, in the realms of City winning the EPL).
Both fees are ‘undisclosed’ so any guess at nearly £10M for Rashica is just that, a guess.
Anyway, we clearly do not agree and experience suggests that trying to convince anyone on the internet is a waste of my time, energy and wisdom 😉 so let’s leave it at that!
Indeed, everything in the garden is rosier
There are some awful jokes in there John, but I’m sure you’re wholly re-pun-tant.
Just been looking at Milot Rashica on Youtube, very speedy and some fabulous goals, looks a good ‘un.for the Premier League.
Angus ‘Son of a Gunn’ is a great keeper, with him, Tim Krul and Michael McGovern we seem to have that position well covered, but what will happen with Dan Barden now?
OTBC !!
Yeah thanks Kev. They’re all carefully planted. 🙂
I would expect Barden to go on a season loan somewhere a couple of tiers down, with McGovern keeping a close eye on him. Or he can stay at Colney, hoovering up experience and tips from the senior folks. Either way, I think he’ll develop into a cracking keeper. I liked what I saw last season.
Sorry for this late one …
I don;t think I’d place Barden any lower than the Championship, he’s already ably shown he is capable of that standard of play, why force him to take a step backwards?
As for Mair there are several League 2 teams checking him out, a logical move after the Linnets?
Either way lets hope they both benefit from the experience. Would be nice to see these to lads actually play regularly for NCFC.
OTBC !!.
Krul has had injuries on and off in the last 2 seasons so a better option to McGovern as backup is essential. I’m not sure how good Gunn is. Whilst he’s still young enough to improve, how he is going to get sufficient game time to do that if Krul stays fit I don’t know. Let’s hope we have a good run in both cups!
Does Rashica’s arrival mean either Onel or Placheta could be surplus to requirements?
As for Gilmour, a friend of mind suggests that allowing him to head for the remote lands of Norfolk might be the easiest way to keep him socially distanced….
Presumably your reference to keeping Billy Gilmour socially-distanced relates to that activity favoured by most 20 year olds>
In which case sending him a YouTube video of the opportunities that abound on POWR might just close the deal for us!
We’ve always seemed to have been blessed with good goalkeepers.
Since my time supporting Norwich we’ve had the likes of;
Gunn (senior)
Andy Marshall
Green
Forster
Ruddy
Gunn (junior)
Krul
Even David Marshall came good in the end.
I wonder if other clubs feel the same way about their goalies, or whether we genuinely have had a decent crop.