So… ready for another ten months of stress, agony, disappointment and potential heartbreak?
While the end of last season was most welcome and, at the time, football felt like the last thing any of us wanted to discuss, time is indeed a great healer. So here we are… discussing football.
While there is still bruising and scarring evident from last season’s rotten attempt at Premier League survival, it really is now time to look ahead.
At MFW, we’ll be here to bring all the peaks and troughs of season 2022-23, and to kick it all off, the team have each been asked five questions about the summer window and the upcoming campaign. To save you from one very long read, I’ll be posting it in three parts.
Part one incoming…
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- How will Dean Smith and Shakey manage the Premier League hangover (as Daniel Farke did so brilliantly in the summer of 2020)?
Mike Ward: Having met and listened to Dean and Craig at our fans forum on July 21st, I am more confident that we are in the right hands.
Stewart Lewis: I’m optimistic (no one will be surprised to hear!). We have enough new blood with a positive mindset; experienced pros with the right attitude (Krul, Hanley, McLean, Hugill); enthusiastic youngsters coming through. A good start will obviously help.
Martin Penney: S&S are totally different characters to Daniel Farke. So far we have lost four loanees and gained two incomers but in terms of curing the hangover, I reckon the return of the often ebullient Jordan Hugill might be key – regardless of game time.
Mick Dennis: Webber led the recovery from relegation, telling players: “I am going to assemble a squad to win the Championship. Go away on holiday, and then come back ready to be part of that squad.” But, as in 2018, the campaign which was to build an irresistible momentum began unimpressively. Literally, nobody knows how we’ll do this time, but we know we shouldn’t judge the campaign prematurely.
Freddie Humphry-Wakefield: Make sure to limit the outgoings at the club. Players like Rashica and Sargent could prove vital when that little bit of quality is required.
Andy Head: With flexible, pragmatic football that will be effective without reaching the aesthetic heights of Farkeball. With no Emi to unpick the opposition, I’m anticipating a lot of Hugill appearances for the last 20 minutes to blow the doors off.
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- What have you made of the ins and out of the summer so far? (clearly, there will be more).
Mike: I don’t think that we need many more incomings because we have loan players back, players back from injury, and hopefully a firing Todd Cantwell.
Stewart: A lot of question marks, of course, but some reasons for excitement. Above all, this is Dean Smith’s first chance to assemble a Norwich squad of his choosing.
Martin: I was glad to see all the loanees go, with the exception of Brandon Williams. The exits of both Zimbo and PLM surprised me and I’ve yet to be convinced by Stuart Webber signing players with existing injuries. That’s a no-no for me.
Mick: If we’d signed Todd, Hugill and Argos as new players from other clubs, we’d all be excited. Also, Andrew Omobamidele has the potential to be the best of all the kids who’ve come through our academy.
Freddie: Definitely pleased – excited to see what Gabriel Sara can bring and like the defensive stability Isaac Hayden provides. Fair do’s to PLM for leaving, plus we haven’t lost any money so not too bothered.
Andy: Hayden is a perfect signing for need. Sara is a massive risk but a sexy signing. We’re still short of creation. The outs all make sense although Zimbo hurts.
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- Does this squad, even without more significant incomings, have enough to repeat the heroics of 2020-21?
Mike: I don’t honestly think there is a stronger squad in the league and, let’s face it, they have a lot to do to win back the fans’ trust.
Stewart: In quality and depth, yes. Don’t forget some of our rivals, such as Burnley, have had the heart ripped out of their team.
Martin: There’s no Emi, no Zimbo and no Stieperdude this time around – all three were great characters upon which foundations such successes are achieved. Heart says “I hope so”, head says “I doubt it”.
Mick: Webber has constructed three squads who won promotion from the Championship (one at Huddersfield). He must think what we’ll have this time is sufficient. But if an injection of something is needed in the second transfer window (as it was in 2004) it looks to me that there is wriggle room to make adjustments then.
Freddie: No doubt in my mind. Except for having Emi Buendia, I think it’s a better side than the 2020-21 team.
Andy: Not in terms of heroics. I think DS can find ways to win with this squad but it will be more of a battle.
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- Who, in particular, do you expect to shine this season?
Stewart: Andrew Omobamidele, Josh Sargent, potentially Milot Rashica and/or Adam Idah. With my true optimist’s hat on, Todd Cantwell.
Martin: We know what we’ll get from Tim Krul, Grant Hanley, Teemu Pukki – and Max Aarons if he’s still here. Out of the rest, I’m going for Andrew Omobamidele, who looks the complete deal and he’s only very recently turned 20.
Mick: I expect to be wrong. Again. I am, after all, the hack who kicked off his own career by scoffing at Ray Kennedy switching from striker to midfield – before he won every domestic honour. But I can’t help thinking Omobamidele is quality.
Freddie: Jordan Hugill. He’s been sensational in pre-season and offers a good backup option to Pukki when needed.
Andy: I honestly think Giannoulis is going to be incredible this season. The level of composure on the ball and not having to face world-class wingers who exploit his defensive weaknesses will see him shine going forward.
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- Where will City finish?
Mike: I think we will win the league. There, said it! Lend me your tin hat, Gary!
Stewart: Top two.
Martin: How long is a piece of string?
Mick: In my former life, a reader asked about the Pools expert on my staff. How good was he? I replied: “He still has to come to work.” None of us has a Scooby how this season will unfold. Realistically, it is highly unlikely that we will romp to another title. But we have enough to finish in the top six. Don’t we?
Freddie: First place. There’s not a single team in the league I consider better than us – but definitely, sides that will provide a challenge and keep us on our toes.
Andy: Second.
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Part two will be posted later today…
anyone believing this squad is anywhere near up to the 2020/21 is dreaming, city had Buendia and Skipp who brought players like Cantwell and pukki into games made them look and play better than they actually were. City have still got the same old defensive hacks running around like headless chooks, they have the same old problems with the same old players. The club will struggle to make the six and with Smith and Shakey they won’t but I fully expect the caneries will be looking for new head coaches long before the end of season………….I hope so anyway
Nice to see some optimism amongst the team, there are just too many little things that can go wrong injuries, suspensions etc. But there are also many things that can go right staying injury free will be a big one, as that is out of anyone’s control. The odd dip in form can be counteracted by having the players step up. A season or two ago when we lost Emi to a silly red card, the games without him we only drew the next four games. We relied far too much on one player, it was said no Buendia no Norwich. Now, with Cantwell, Sinai and Sara, we have more options for who can play in the role.
I am still concerned a tad by the apparent lack of a defining formation, but then on the other hand I think Smithy will soon make the changes needed, if not working, something Farke got stick for not doing quick enough. I wonder how long will be given before the axe falls again on the manager’s neck? I honestly do not think the club can stand another season in this league, given the model
I’ll go for a play-off spot as per Smith’s one promotion
Quality and Sargent in the same sentence?What is needed is another midfielder who has championship experience and leadership and being hard as nails might help,without that type of player i think we could struggle for a top 6 finish.But whats the point in getting promoted anyway,we’ll only embarrass ourselves again.
I do fear that all the noises of us seeking to go straight back up is slight over confidence – this league is a tough one to get out of!! Every time we have been promoted we have had some special squads with a few unbelievable players spearheading us to glory…
Lambert – momentum from league 1 triumph, holty and wes and the diamond.
Alex Neil – Howson the best midfielder in the league, wes still a genius and B.Johnson on fire.
Farke 18/19 – Momentum at its finest, a well oiled style and Pukki’s insane movement and goals.
Farke 20/21 – no crowds so less chance of underdog victory, delightful Emi and Skipp holding it all together. We were the best by miles in that season.
The hangover of this last prem season just gone could be enormous, as we were so bad. Although defensively I think we will be ok, and Pukki will bail us out regularly with his quality – the prospect of top 2 is tricky to imagine for me for these reasons (which were so important in previous successes)…
No well oiled style of play or settled formation
Lack of creativity
Genuine lack of inspirational midfielder (at present)
Lack of momentum from last season
The wonder of a new season in football is that all of these could change, and quickly: I trust Deano with his man management and experience of promotion before; Sara, Sinani’s return and Todd’s reintegration could be exactly what we need in the middle and for creating chances; Hugill (maybe Sargent too) will finally score some goals for Norwich as we play with a proper winger who puts crosses in; It is all about momentum in the championship – let’s see what a few wins will do…
I’m excited!
Hi Gary and Gang
A good read and predictions my question is why does Webber sign players with extremely poor injury records Sara is young and his first major injury so no problem their but Hayden has completed a season in 4 years so is going to be the next Jarvis, Byram who spends more time on the table than the pitch.
We don’t have the squad or money to take huge gambles on players with long term injury problems so can we see 10 20 games from him not sure if his knee needed an op after a clash in training what can we expect from a full on challenge in the heat of battle only time will tell.
Interesting comments – thanks for all of them.
No doubt we’ll file this away to be reviewed at the end of the season!
The bookies have city favourites for promotion , and odds on for a play off spot. These boys get it right more times than I do .
To me this squad looks bloated and in many areas, average compared to our last promotion push. Of course we still have quality in Cantwell, Pukki, Krul and Aarons. But we still have no Buendia or Skipp replacements (IMHO) and we know how we’ve performed without them previously.
I see a lot of optimism for players based off a handful of performances, or simply those whose reputation’s have grown through absence. There is no evidence-based reason to believe the likes of Idah, Sargent, Hugill, or Hernandez will make a huge impact.
If Pukki is firing on all cylinders we could win promotion. If he’s not, I could see us anywhere from 3rd to 16th. Keep that man fit and healthy.