So, we’ve seen out May, got through June and now we’re in July, about to start friendlies with a month to go before we kick off again.
Project Rebuild has so far seen Ashley Barnes brought in to replace Teemu Pukki, Borja Sainz in for Kieron Dowell, Jack Stacey for Sam Byram, and Shane Duffy to cover for the long-term absence of Grant Hanley.
All things considered, I think it’s been some good business. Free transfers are always a competitive market and I think we’ve performed really well with four players who will all compete immediately for starting positions.
However, without wishing to downplay the good work thus far, getting players out of contract through the door is relatively easy compared to then trying to improve the squad, particularly when you have no money. This is where the squad building becomes much more difficult.
We might assume that Milot Rashica will likely end up at Galatasaray, but if they continue to try and low-ball with a repayment plan that would have made Wonga look like a bargain, then we’re stuck with a choice between taking a below-value offer now, or holding onto him in the hopes that a different buyer comes forth.
Likewise, we can put Max Aarons and Andrew Omobamidele in the shop window but despite the odd vague rumour nobody seems to be bashing our door down with significant interest in either.
Yes, that may well change, particularly as bigger teams are now back in training and their recruitment plans are starting to take shape, but it does mean that until such time as we receive a fee, we won’t be able to do any more surgery to a squad in desperate need of some fresh blood.
And the longer the window continues, the more viable transfer options come off the board while we twiddle our fingers waiting for the phone to ring.
While I’m sure the club would actively promote the “don’t panic, other teams have done less than us at this stage” line, which is of course true, I think even Stuart Webber had more movement, both in and out, planned when he suggested that 80 per cent of our business would be done by now.
Hopefully, over the next couple of weeks we’ll be awash with interest in the three aforementioned players and collect a king’s ransom which we will be able to invest in the missing links to make this squad click.
But there doesn’t appear to be much of any substance on the horizon at this stage.
Regarding where we needed to most improve last season, for me there were three areas, two tactical, and one psychological.
The latter has definitely improved. Ashley Barnes and Shane Duffy are massively experienced leaders and will hopefully act as cultural architects. Jack Stacey is also an experienced player with a Championship promotion under his belt.
The tactical areas are where we still have work to do.
David Wagner is committed to playing the ball out from the back and playing through any press that the opposition puts us under. Commendable, and I’m not for a second advocating a change to hoofball, but anyone who doesn’t think we need to improve our execution of this skill obviously didn’t watch us @rse it up completely for the last two years.
While Angus Gunn is not without the odd error he is pretty good with the ball at his feet, as has been Aarons and Omobamidele, all of whom at least look after the ball and tend not to give it away too cheaply.
However, that’s where the good news ends.
Players like Dimi Giannoulis, Sam McCallum, Kenny McLean and Liam Gibbs are all good technical ball players but who have had regular catastrophic errors of judgement when passing around at the back, and given the opposition press numerous opportunities to take advantage.
Grant Hanley, while he hasn’t made too many actual errors in this regard, looks as comfortable as a TV executive whose PA says Philip Schofield’s agent is on line one.
And Ben Gibson, who was great at progressing the ball through the thirds when we were last promoted, appears to now have the reaction time of a nursing home patient whenever a forward appears near him and panics accordingly.
We obviously can’t comment on whether Duffy and Stacey will improve that situation until we’ve seen them try, although having not endured a confidence-destroying 24 months failing at it will certainly help.
Another positive is that close control has always been one of Bali Mumba’s more impressive attributes and his return will hopefully be as refreshing as it is necessary for a unit that looks weary.
However, the lack of an additional defensive midfielder to not only get involved with building from the back, but to also know when enough is enough and get rid, has to be key.
It’s painful in the extreme to watch Oli Skipp being shopped by Spurs and be so far away from being a viable home for him, because his skill set is exactly what we’re lacking.
And while a Skipp return can be filed under “pipe dream”, a poor man’s version has to be acquired. If not the same problems defensively, particularly against the press, will continue to undermine any other progress we may make.
But to get that guy, we’ll need funds.
If building from the back against the press has been one of our major problems, creating chances at the other end has been equally, if not more, troublesome.
Borja Sainz seems like an intelligent throw of the dice, and a great acquisition on a free, but like any import new to British football, the chances are he will take a while to settle and we shouldn’t expect any great output from him soon. All of this leaves Onel Hernandez as our only proven wide option, which makes us terribly predictable once more.
Barnes playing as a foil and focal point off Josh Sargent, as appears likely, will certainly be a big change from trying to play through-balls into the path of Teemu Pukki, and sometimes a change can be as good as a rest in that regard.
However, getting it to those guys is going to be the key. Gabriel Sara will play a part, as will a finally-rested Marcelino Nunez, and both will have benefitted from a first full year in England.
But beyond them? Again, we need reinforcements. And creative players cost.
Let’s hope the sales can be made soon.
July is a very big month for the recruitment department if we’re going to hit the Championship season refreshed and ready.
June was nicely done. But the hardest work starts now.
Usually a glass half full kinda guy with all aspects of the club………Struggling with that somewhat for next season, if you take the whole picture into account at the mo, especially current squad and recruitment – mid table mediocrity looms large!
I can’t read it because it is behind a pay wall but there is an article that says our midfield solution is already in the house. Here is one more vote for Sorensen (who would be entirely justified in leaving having been used to plug so many holes but never given an extended run in his best position.) One memory I have is of him subbing on after CR injured Grant Hanley out of the game and Sorensen then proceeded to school both Ronaldo and Rashford. A home Premier League defeat I left feeling lifted.
Sit Sorensen in front of our back four feeding Gibbs/Nunez/Sara. Simples.
100% This. Without a Dowell replacement and a Skipp clone it’s very much in the hit and hope regions. If Nunez and Sorensen can step up and do it for a full season without injury or backup we “might” not be as bad as last year. If I believed in odd like that I’d have spent my money on lottery tickets not a season ticket.
Hi Andy
An excellent summary of the teams recruitment so far.
Sorensen has to be tried as the CDM in all the upcoming friendlies, and before I get jumped on yes they will not be at the same tendency as league games but like the other new lads it’s a bedding in process.
The whole comical situation is when city get an investor he doesn’t invest money in the areas that need it to make the club successful and it’s stated he want to learn from Smith and Jones the original cheapskates who have openly admitted on numerous occasions they know nothing about football.
This whole investment situation is more like a carry on film but less believable and anyone with their eyes wide open coming into a business that has a £60m plus blackhole would know prior to getting involved what needs doing to make the club successful.
1 ) Team Investment to strength the squad
2) Ground Investment greater capacity
3) Supporter Investment strengthen the ties with the club
4) Media Investment get the local papers involved to help No3
And maybe taking full control of the club and not learning the bad habits of a 28 year reign that hasn’t shown any or very little ambition.
I’m sorry if this upsets the happy clappers and those mesmerised but our current owners but take your own advise know when you’re past your sell but date and throw it out bin the self-funding and get an investor that want to take the club forward not stagnate into mediocrity or are we already reached that point.
Lastly send Webber on his happy way to the West Yorkshire City of Leeds the sooner the better, just then we mind get those recruits that we need.
Hi Alex, your words are like a breath of fresh air. It’s amazing how no one can see it, the success our club has had has been down to a few exceptionally talented players gelling with the also-rans and the luck of having a competent manager.
The investor who doesn’t want to invest. You could NOT make this stuff up.
Again I’m mightily embarrassed to be a Norwich fan, and this is now a regular theme.
Why oh why can’t Delia and Michael see that they are slowly killing the thing they are reported to love.
And don’t get me started on the business practice of an SD working his notice while talking to another club in the same league as us.
Let’s hope one of the new players turns out to be another Emi Buendia, or Pukki, or anyone who will light up CR and make us look forward to going to watch again.
Good comment, Jane.
As I’ve mentioned before, there’s an MFW column on here with your name on it if you ever fancy it.
Hi Jane.
Thanks for the kind words.
Slowly but surely the happy clappers must come to the conclusion that big changes need to happen and the first is the ownership followed by the so-called share issue.
Maybe the club could come up with a paywall to share what’s happening to garner a few more sheckles out of the supporters at these trying times.
Mark Attanasio and his group need to open up and explain what their aims are, not let an employee announce they are on board with how things are progressing.
Carry on Regardless seems to be the mantra of City’s ownership or, maybe, that should be Carry on and Disregard what everyone and his Canary says.
It’s frustrating of course – but while the new share purchase is still in the hands (more accurately, the bureaucracy) of the financial authorities, no-one is at liberty to talk about it or further steps beyond.
All we know for now is that Delia & Michael, off their own bat, authorised a new share issue which would end their majority ownership. Mark Attanasio is the assumed purchaser (the structure of the deal, bringing his holding up to a par with Delia & Michael, was clearly formulated with him); as and when it’s rubber-stamped, it will put £10m into the Club’s coffers.
Hi Jane, Stew and Alex
*As and when it’s rubber-stamped, it [the deal with the Attanasio’s] will put £10m into the Club’s coffers.*
Given that Mark Attanasio seems to have a track record for investing in the long-term, particularly infrastructure – and why not, it’s his money after all 🙂 – I am still left wondering how far we can stretch this £10 million when it comes into the coffers?
Even if it were destined to improve the squad, factor in wages for the length of a three-year contract and it buys very little.
I never thought I’d see the day when I was faced with the fact that £10 million buys so little in football but that’s 2023 for you.
*And don’t get me started on the business practice of an SD working his notice while talking to another club in the same league as us.*
A sound comment there Jane .
And a good article that offers an excellent *state of the nation*, Andy.
Phew! 🙂
Stewart
I still don’t understand that Attanasio will buy 195k of share and be on equal footing as Smith and Jones so with nephew Tim and his wife small share holding they still hold the high ground.
A question for the experts, if I may.
Do you really believe it would have benefited the club, at this time, for Stuart Webber to walk out the door and leave the club with NO Sporting Director during the transfer window?
Hi Andy,
Perhaps a bit late for replying to this thread, but how about buying;
Dion Charles – 28 years old, plays for Bolton who narrowly missed the play-off promotion to the Championship, 21 goals plus one assist this last season, Northern Ireland international, a grafter,
or,
Jonson Clarke-Harris – 29 years old, plays for Peterborough, again missed promotion to the Championship via the play-offs, 5 assists, and 33 goals including for Jamaica.
Both these players must be gutted about missing promotion!