It’s safe to say Adam Idah was one of the few positives in a sorrowful season for Norwich City.
Despite a lack of goals and assists, the Irish international proved why he deserves more minutes for the first team before his major knee injury.
With his return to the first team fast approaching, and a vital pre-season ahead, there isn’t a better opportunity than this upcoming season for the 21-year-old to make his breakthrough and solidify himself as a regular starter under Dean Smith.
In his last Championship campaign, Idah was mainly used as an impact sub by Daniel Farke, making 16 appearances off the bench and scoring three goals.
But after his brief success in the 4-4-2 shape under Smith alongside Teemu Pukki, he will be desperate to prove himself and display his evident quality to not only his manager but Norwich fans, many of who are still unconvinced by the young Irishman.
What helps Idah is the club’s lack of involvement in the transfer market so far. The reason for this inaction is most likely the need to ship some players before anyone can be brought in, but if we do not sign another striker this window, that only leaves Pukki higher than Idah in the pecking order.
But, then again, considering our long list of attacking options, is there any point in bringing in anyone else?
Idah will definitely be hoping so – the fewer options ahead of him, the better, as far as he’s concerned.
But even the Finnish striker’s future at the club is uncertain following comments by his agent, Teemu Turunen, yesterday:
“Teemu has a desire to play as high as possible.”
That is the news no Norwich fan wanted to hear. To not have Pukki at the club would be like having Ant without Dec, Morecambe without Wise, Laurel without Hardy… you get my point.
If the GOAT is to leave us, I can’t say I blame him. His legendary status at the club certainly won’t be tarnished. If anything he deserves to play at a higher level after managing 11 goals last season despite having so little service and quality behind him.
So if this rumour does end up being true, Idah couldn’t have asked for a better opportunity to become City’s main man in a season where punters will be expecting a third promotion in five seasons following that dismal relegation.
Realistically, if Idah is to achieve the expectations set on him by many, the time is now.
It also helps that he’s been given plenty of opportunities on the international stage by Ireland boss, Stephen Kenny. Idah has played 13 times for his country but is yet to score his first international goal.
Alongside this, Idah has only scored four goals in 46 games for City.
I believe those numbers are so low due to a lack of confidence, as was evident in his first appearance in the Premier League away at Old Trafford. He almost looked like he had won a competition to play with the first team.
Despite his evident strength and pace, Idah was bullied by the United back line and barely touched the ball. But then again, surely that is expected for a young player with so little first-team experience.
Plus it seemed like Farke wanted to only use him as an impact player off the bench. Not someone who could gain vital minutes in order to prove himself and warrant a shout in the starting eleven.
However, once Idah got that run of starts against West Ham, Everton and Watford he looked a different player. Those qualities all of a sudden became very clear. Just look at his highlights against Everton.
In so many instances he uses his strength to hold off defenders, and his pace to get past the man
and find a teammate in space.
It’s evident he has talent – he wouldn’t have been added to the long list of academy graduates if he didn’t – but what is the best way to utilise the 21-year-old?
In some ways, I think Smith has already cracked that code. Using Idah in a two-striker formation allowed him to link up with Pukki and not be isolated and waiting to receive the ball every once in a while. It also helped that Idah naturally likes to drift out wide and support the wingers.
By doing this, he also allows his strike partner, or the winger, to make runs into the space and receive the ball while looking for an option in the box.
But no matter what the plan is for Idah ahead of another Championship season, he needs to prove why he belongs here or even why he should stay at this football club.
There is only so long a period where a player is branded as ‘having potential’ and now is the time for him to exploit that opportunity. Otherwise, it may be a huge chance squandered for the 21-year-old.
If he ends up mainly on the bench for this season, then it may be time to move on. He needs to kickstart his career and I sincerely hope it’s at this football club.
If we see anything remotely similar to what we saw near the start of this year, Idah could yet set the
Championship alight.
Great article, I’m just so apprehensive of having Idah as a lone striker.
This Pukki transfer thing has very little to do with his agent. His agents job is to do how Teemu Pukki wishes and wants and makes those things happen. I have told a long time ago that Teemu wants to leave and especially he does not want to play in the Championship another season. No matter how much possible value promotion back to the premier league has, it cant be counted as an indicator of the transfer value of Teemu. It has nothing to do with player transfers, because its pure theoretical speculation if Norwich gets promoted again. Its also a fact that forcing unwilling player to stay is huge risk to a club, stupid one. Maybe the best solution is transfer where Teemus new club makes a deal which includes a player loan or transfer as a part of a deal if normal deal seems so difficult to make.
Im very surprised if Norwich does not at least loan a new striker. Im not interested in speculating about the situation between Idah and Sargeant, but I would put my money on Sargeant.
For once I agree with you, if only about Sergent over Idah!
Great article Freddie.
Worrying indeed. However I thought Teemu’s agent was really just stating the obvious, that Teemu would like to play at the top level for as long as possible but a move away maybe beyond it financially for any likely suitors
What I do not want to hear in the coming weeks from SW if a bid does come in, is that the offer of £ 5-10-15-25 whatever million was just too much to turn down due to Teemu being 32 and in the last year of his contract.
You can’t have it both ways Stuart. You say it is all down to money for this club right ? well the “reward” for promotion to the EPL next year will be worth nearly £ 150 million to the club.
So you equate that Stuart, a pittance now or a big reward possibly down the road ?
It is a no brainer. And even the biggest optimist in the Norwich fan base ( i’m looking at you Marty) would doubt our chances of promotion without Teemu.
So does selling Teemu Pukki make any kind of sense, even with £30 million could we get another Pukki ? In no way is that a certainty.
As for Adam Idah it is his big season. I know it is easy to say but he must stay injury free for the vast majority of games and help Teemu. I feel the two of them could do a lot of damage in this league.
£30M for Pukki? No way, he’s 32 and in his final contract year. We’re a selling club and so far we’ve sold no one for any meaningful dosh. Hanging onto him doesn’t automatically bring promotion, hate to see him go but such is life, and good luck to the Goat he’s done us proud.
That is the whole point Herr Cutz. No one will pay £ 15-30 million for Teemu.
So the most we could get would be around £10 million and that would have to be turned down flat. With that amount we could get another Sargent ?
No way.
If the club sell Teemu for that amount the poisonous atmosphere at Carrow Road of last season will intensify beyond all imagination.
Norwich City have a player under contract for another year on EPL wages, Teemu Pukki is not Todd Cantwell. His own agent says if Teemu doesn’t get a move he will knuckle down and work hard for the team
Personally I would like to see him offered another 2 year contract. As I have said before Teemu doesn’t rely on pace, he is cleverer than that.
He may not be first choice in year two of that contract but he would be one hell of an asset coming off the bench.
SW and Delia say it is all about the money for us at Norwich City FC so how in anyone’s mind can £5-10 million for Teemu be regarded as good financial sense with that £ 150 EPL pot possibly there at the end of last season ?
I do not believe we have any chance of promotion without Pukki.
The list of money for all premiership clubs showed city received in total for last season £103.5m, Watford was £2m more and Burnley £4m more so to reach £150m+ you need t9 count in the money we will receive from parachute payments
I think Idah works best in a 4-4-2 system, which begs the question who partners him if Pukki does leave? I’m not sure it would be Hugil, possibly Sargent? Dowell doesn’t really fit the role of an out and out striker. We would still need to buy another striker, anyway, as we all know what happens when you try to run with just a bare minimum for a role – centre halves in recent years, for example.
Freddie, you commented that we’re inactive in the transfer market, but there’s still a long way to go in this window, and who knows what we’re doing without shouting about it from the roof tops. We don’t usually do our business in public.
Farke used him in a wide position,when he is played in the centre he has shown what he can do,but always causes problems for defenders. It’s going be exciting to have a striker whos good in the air and on the ground. He was compared to Ibrahimovic in his early days,were not going to be able to replace Pukki, but Idah gives us more options and is a way ahead of Sargent in my estimation.
His stats unfortunately say otherwise, he should have gone on loan to a championship side last year to see what he could do. We cannot afford to have him learning his trade this season.
Idah has the potential to do well but you can’t rely on him as he is just too injury prone . Been so frustrating for him and us . Year on year he has only managed a few games then out for weeks. If pukki goes we must buy.
If we have to rely on Hugill and Sargent for goals then no way will we make the top six,Idah needs a good striker with him,whether thats Pukki or not we will have to see.
IF Pukki wants away the sell him for whatever we can get . I do not understand the calls to make him stay by refusing to do business. If he is unhappy do you really think we will get his best?
Adam Idah. First choice striker. Oh er missus, you cannot be serious.