There’s well under a month to go now before the curtain is raised on the EFL Championship season of 2023-24, surely one where the huge number of Norwich City supporters that consider themselves to occupy the middle ground of expectation probably aren’t anticipating the current squad to pull up too many trees.
Not for the first time on MFW I must declare that I believe in omens, and the one that appeared in the media on Saturday afternoon as soon as our squad to take on Kings Lynn at The Walks had been announced might well serve as a harbinger of doom or a kick in the nuts, depending on your choice of phraseology of course.***
Yes, I’m talking about the ankle ligament injury picked up in training by new Spanish wideman Borja Sainz on Friday.
It’s so ironic, this one. Sainz has yet to feature in a Yellow shirt and picks up a nasty one. In training. At Colney.
We’ve been here a few times during pre-season recently, have we not?
David Wagner confirmed that his charge will spend a significant spell on the sidelines, most likely until around Hallowe’en:
“Unfortunately it is a serious one. In the second session yesterday he [acquired] a serious ligament injury in his ankle. He will be out until October. The first serious injury of his career.
“It is a blow for all of us. Especially for him. He was very sad and we support him as good as we can. He really impressed in the first two days of training. Now we have to take it on the chin, work with it, and make sure we can support him to come back as strong as he can.”
Following Daniel Farke’s appointment as head coach at Leeds this time last week and the rumblings surrounding the future of Stuart Webber, it is no great surprise that Elland Road is MFW’s next port of call as much-respected keeper coach Ed Wootten is heading to Yorkshire to join the Mighty Whites [their oft-used terminology, not mine].
Our new recruit to replace Wootten is not officially in the house, but for what it’s worth Paul Clements, who once worked alongside David Wagner at Huddersfield Town, might as well be in the kitchen right now, making himself a cup of tea.
Wagner himself was coy, saying: “We have a replacement lined up [for Wootten] and I’m quite confident he will be with us when we go to Germany.”
That makes a pretty large contingent of ex-Terriers at Colney now, with Wagner’s number two Christoph Bühler, new first-team coach Narcis Pelach and established first-team coach Andrew Hughes all having strong Huddersfield connections to a man. As does Webber himself of course.
The departure of Wootten leaves assistant sporting director Neil Adams as the only senior member of the football department never to have been employed by the Terriers!
In case you’ve lost count – and I nearly did as I watched the unlikely pairing of Chris Woakes and Mark Wood get us over the line to keep The Ashes series alive at Headingly [yet another Leeds reference I’m afraid] the following will constitute the head honchos of our Football Department from an as yet undefined day later this week:
- Sporting Director: Stuart Webber, ex-Huddersfield Town;
- Assistant Sporting Director: Neil Adams, no management experience anywhere but Norwich City;
- Assistant Head Coach: Christoph Bühler, ex-Huddersfield Town;
- First-Team Coach: Narcis Pelach,ex-Huddersfield Town;
- First Team Coach: Andrew Hughes,ex-Huddersfield Town;
- Goalkeeping Coach: Paul Clements, ex-Huddersfield Town.
This led posse member Alex B to state on Gary’s article yesterday [thanks for all your kind comments by the way, we really appreciated them] that with Webber possibly about to join Leeds and all the to-ing and froing between us and Huddersfield that he has nightmares about Leigh Bromby becoming our next Sporting Director!
Let’s hope this is indeed the stuff of nightmares and doesn’t enter the world of reality, as a quick look at the reaction of Terriers fans to Bromby’s departure from their club last month on Yorkshire Live showed – the three that follow are representative of a large-ish selection:
- Yorkie Proud: “Useless lump.”
- Brinko: “He came across as a very arrogant figure who thought he was god’s gift to football“
- RR_: “I don’t think anyone could have come back from appointing Fotheringham in the situation we were in.”
Before we escape from Leeds for a while [no sniggering at the back please], Alex had a cameo in his nightmare of Angus Gunn rejoining Farke now and Webber later at Elland Road.
I believe there’s more chance of Bromby fetching up here than Angus at Leeds, although Scotland manager Steve Clarke might have borrowed a stepladder and whispered in the latter’s ear that all internationals should be in the Premier League and he might care to consider whether Leeds have a better chance of achieving promotion than we do. Intervention such as this is not always helpful, of course.
Some good news released by NCFC Official during the week concerned the Academy.
Waylon Renecke, Michael Reindorf, and Dubem Eze all signed professional contracts, while City also bolstered its Academy options with three new signings, as well as announcing players being signed as scholars for the 2023-24 season as Charlie Wilson arrives from Everton, Aidan Manning joins from Watford and goalkeeper Ellis Craven signs following his departure from Rochdale.
Academy goalkeepers Joe Rose and Jayden St Paul also signed extensions to remain at the club, which took on 12 scholars as well.
Next up is one I feel won’t amount to anything – Watford and Norwich City are both interested in signing Sporting Lisbon wideman Rafael Camacho this summer, claims Football League World‘s Chris Gallagher. Fair enough Chris, but it’s not gonna happen.
So now it’s quickly on to two of those players who left us during the close season.
MFW readers will not be surprised to discover that Teemu Pukki has been described as “the biggest signing in Minnesota United’s history” after being officially unveiled at the MLS club. No offence to his fellow Huuhkajat compatriot Robin Lod, that soubriquet belongs to our Teemu on merit!
And released Norwich City midfielder Danel Sinani has a new club after agreeing to join German second-tier side St. Pauli.
Danel joins a growing contingent of former City players in 2.Bundesliga including Dennis Srbeny, Marcel Franke, and Philip Heise.
A current City player enjoying a move, this time a season-long loan, is young keeper Archie Mair. The hero of Notts County’s play-off final win over Chesterfield that ensured the “other” Magpies’ promotion to EFL League Two returns to the Vanarama National League, this time with Gateshead.
Setting off on a vacation that is as overdue as it is thoroughly well-deserved is Young Lions hero Max Aarons as England Under-21 became EURO2023 Champions after an incident-packed 1-0 win over their Spanish counterparts in host nation Georgia’s Batumi Stadium on Saturday.
A goal from Liverpool’s Curtis Jones in the first half was enough to secure England victory, but James Trafford of Manchester City was the hero of the day, saving a penalty and its follow-up in he ninth minute of injury time!
Aarons helped his national side go all five games without conceding during the competition, ending with 26 caps which puts him equal with former City star Nathan Redmond. Only suspension from the semi-final kept him from surpassing Redmond.
This week’s Martin’s Close Season Quote of the Week is actually won by a media outlet this time around, courtesy of Tom Gott‘s preview of the very match that made our Max a hero. Take it away, Tom:
“England will seek to win their first European Under-21 Championship since 1984 when they butt heads with Spain, the most successful side in the tournament’s history, on Saturday.”
Terry Butcher and Miguel Nadal flicking the coin for ends would have got the game underway in a quite spectacular fashion back in the day.
*** City ran out easy winners at The Walks, with Ashley Barnes scoring a hat-trick and Josh Sargent, Tony Springett, and Sam McCallum finding the net as well. Some 2,397 supporters attended the match, which was a sweetener for Lynn in defeat.
The fully fit-again Jon Rowe said afterwards: “I worked really hard in the off-season, achieving targets I wanted to achieve. I wanted to come back in the best possible condition, especially after last season. Being healthy is the main thing.”
Wagner added “It was difficult circumstances, in terms of the pitch and the heat, but they took that on the chin and that was great to see for me. You have to do your work, and that’s what they did.”
To repay Mr Andrew Delf for his particularly appreciated comment on Gary’s piece yesterday, and as it describes exactly how Messrs Butcher and Nadal might have felt after their brief encounter, I offer you this.
Any readers who do not believe a Fender Stratocaster can fly, prepare to be converted:
Thanks Martin that’s made my morning. My favourite piece by the Floyd at arguably the greatest concert of all time. How I wish I was there.
Hi Andy
My friends Dave & Tina caught them on one of the nights and reckon it’s the best gig they’ve ever seen – and Dave has seen a few!
Sadly like you I missed out as well.
Cheers
Good news is the contribution of Placheta. If they can’t see the advantages of playing a left footed player as a left winger,( particularly with a centre forward) there’s no point in having any coaching staff. PP did well for Birmingham last season before his injury and has come back more determined.
Elliot Myles is another one we should be looking out for. 5 goals and 2 assists in 14 games for the U18s is good for a 16 year old midfielder who has played for Wales and England at youth level.
Hi Gil
Yes, Eustace had quite hugh hopes for Placheta at Brum, and if he had been tried by Farke as an inverted winger I probably missed it. Tbh I’ve seen very little of him at all.
On arrival he was heralded as a real speed merchant, but everything went quiet on that front as soon as he’d signed!
Elliot Myles sounds interesting to be sure. I know the name but not too much about the face behind it but I’m sure our Will grant will quickly put that right when he resues his weekly series of MFW columns keeping us all up to date with what is currently going on in the Academy.
Cheers
He has been used a couple of times as an inverted winger but the goals he created were because he didn’t have to check back onto his right foot – like Onel does- which gives the defence more time to recover. Noel is much better on the right for the same reason. I always think of wingers as the paint-on-their-boots, “Pip” Hinton, Clive Woods variety in a 4-4-2 formation.
Yes that makes sense – and you’re right about Onel checking back .
Onel played the last few games of last season while carrying an injury [can’t remember what] but before that he was looking good at laying the ball back for onrushing midfielders such as Sara and Nunez to exploit and this in an area we ought to find pretty interesting next season.
I haven’t heard the one about the winger with chalk on his boots in ages – thanks for reminding me of it 🙂
Hi Martin
Well, Phil Hay – the Athletic reporter for all things Leeds – says that Wootten’s move to the club will make life so much easier to get Gunn onboard.
Krul is still at the club and the new Chilean lad got a run out, so is Wagner planning for the possibility of a team with some ammunition but no GUNN – only time will tell.
On the Leigh Bromby front, his appointment of Forthingham was far worse than Smith’s but then he convinced Warnock to parachute in to save the club.
Would he be ranked with Hamilton, Roeder or Grant to name three from Delia’s recruitment of failures? Only time will tell.
I join you in offering congratulations to those new academy signings, and also those getting their first contracts. Now the hard work really starts.
Tony Fernández has left QPR saying he knows when it’s time to relinquish his majority shareholding control to someone with new ideas to take the club forward – if only our majority shareholder had the same sense.
The Tremelos must be a favourite band of the Happy Clappers brigade – all singing along to Silence is Golden. Not a doormouse squeak about a new SD, the shares resolution or if Paul Clements, who turned down joining City’s keepers team recently, has now joined.
Wagner expects more new arrivals but will we be the team built on freebies? And what a headline it would be if the impossible dream of promotion happened with no money spent! The self-financing model would reach a new level.
Hi Alex
Do you mean Phil Hay or Will Hay? 🙂
I hope the nightmare hasn’t returned – reading what Terriers’ fans thought about Leigh Bromby became very boring after a while as they all seem glad he’s gone.
The excitement level amongst those fortunate youngsters who have joined the Academy must be stupendously high. The more level headed they are now the more likely they are to be successful in the future I suppose.
I used to be pleased every time I was picked for the school team but can’t really imagine how proud of themselves these young lads will be.
We won’t be promoted with a team of freebies and they know that. It’s a ridiculous state of affairs but it’s now plain that we have to sell before we can buy and there’s nothing concrete anywhere.
Except you and your ruddy Angus Gunn rumour – I’ve starting to think it might have legs since this morning!
Cheers
Though I liked the Tremeloes version of Silence is Golden the original by Frankie Valley and the Four Seasons just edges it for me . it was the b side of Rag Doll .
I always thught that England’s 1966 Word Cup winning hero Alan Ball could have made a decent Franjie Valli impersonator, with the right training of course.
Luckily enough, I got to see Floyd at the Lads Club in April 1971?. still rates as one the best. if my grey matter serves me well (doubts) but they played for the first public hearing Echoes a 20 odd minute track from their soon (at the time) released album ” Meddle. ” O the memories. and City had a good side too.
I think if Webber leaves for Leeds, the board need to put a block on any transfers with them. perhaps now would be a better idea. Losing Gunn would in my view be a bad move, but nothing would surprise me unless the fee starts in double figures, none of this 2-3 million I have seen. We don’t ship a lad from across the pond for nothing …do we ?
Although I reckon a few of their followers would be reminding us of how we raided them for Howson,Johnson Becchio and Snottgrass . off to blow the dust of a few albums
Hi Lad
I was 14 when Meddle came out and it was one of the first half a dozen albums I bought. I can remember I bought it on cassette [dunno why!] and mostly listened to it on y little ITT mono. Listening these days it’s a completely different – and much better, obviously, album.
I think Webber should have left a week ago when Farke signed for Leeds but I don’t think there’s any law out there that says he can’t stay so here he remains.
I hope your misspell of Snoddy’s surname was a typo 🙂
Cheers
o dear fat fingers on tiny phone even grammerly didn’t warn me of that apologies to Mr Snoddgrass.
I’ve used the phone a couple of times on these replies – you can always tell when I haven’t got a proper QWERTY to work with!
Thanks as always, Martin. Just two quick comments:
. Under Farke (and largely under Smith), Angus was Number 2 to Tim Krul. David Wagner promoted him to Number 1. Would he really want to leave us, given that history on top of his emotional ties to City?
. Of course it’s understandable for fans’ expectations to be modest, if they imagine our squad at the end of the window to be as now minus Max Aarons, Milot Rashica and Andrew Omobamidele. But that’s not realistic. As and when we make those sales, a good chunk of the money will fund new arrivals for which we’ll be paying transfer fees. I’m guessing at least two will be clear options for the first XI.
There’s also the loan market, which we’ll certainly exploit and hopefully replicate our past successes rather than failures.
Let’s judge at the end of the window, shall we?
Hi Stew
Angus Gunn to Leeds comes from Alex B rather than myself and I kind of disassociate myself from it so I’m not in the frame for starting that one, and as I said to said to him [above] I hope it remains the stuff of nightmares – Gunny should be here for the long haul, fingers crossed.
I agree with you completely about our use of the loan market. I’ve heard no names mentioned at all thusfar, but then again I’m not surprised as such moves can lie dormant for ages before bursting into life extremely quickly.
I would imagine any news about exits [which will enable us to bring in a couple of players with modest-ish fees attached] is a little way off yet, as in Max and his belated holiday and as you say things will appear clearer then.
I strongly feel that a defensive cetral mid, dedicated to that role, is a must and I’m not too fussed if it’s a loan or a perm – as long as we get one, and hopefully a very good one, this time round.
Cheers
Marty, the mighty whites? Sounds like a loaf of bread. Being an old timer I remember them as Dirty Leeds and later as our feeder club and M W Whites is a local waste disposal business so I go with that. Very appropriate. It would be a pity if Gunn went but we‘ve enough Keepers to form a team. A management setup of ex Hudds is no bad thing they did gain promotion to the Prem. Back in the day when I worked in Yorkshire I was in Huddersfield at dawn, as the sun rose a colourful gent in flowing robes and with a large tomb of a book, raised his arms and began chanting at the new sun. So there‘s some powerful stuff in that part of the world. I was looking for a bacon butty for breakfast but I‘ll never forget the moment.
Hi Cutty
Trust you to get a slice of the action [I’ll get my coat].
We ALL know them as Dirty Leeds – that’s been passed down the age groups for over 60 years now I’d guess!
That poor old druidmust have been knackered after carryig all his mistletoe and that large tome from the yew groves of Ynys Mon to Huddersfield – are you sure it wasn’t a super saturation of Ghost Ship that cused said gent to manifest – in Huddersfield? 🙂
Marty, a link between the MW‘s and you, as kids my mates and I use to collect old newspapers, bundle them up, put em in an old pram and take them to MW Whites for a few bob before Bonfire night. We‘d buy Penny bangers. Little Demons and Cannons were our favourites.
I remember Little Demons too, Looking back I’m not proud to say that the noise they made when shoved through the letter box of some grumpy old git’s house could be heard for miles.
Where I grew up it was just a rite of passage, but a really rather stupid and potentially dangerous one in retrospect.
I must be talking mid-60s here and we call them threepenny bangers
Minnesota area governor nominate 7.7. as official Finnesota day, because of Teemus arriving. Teemus first game day was nominated as Pukki Party day by Minnesota United. I have seen only highlights of the game which ended to 1-4 loss against Austin. Interesting fact, Teemus ex-HJK team mate Alex Ring is captain of Austin, they played together in 2011. Ring was out injured as was Lod and Väisänen, so sadly that 2 vs 2 Finnesota didnt happen. Ring and Väisänen were regular central defenders for Austin before their injuries, so it would have been interesting to see how they would have handled that situation against each other. Based on Minnesota fans comments, they seemed quite pleased with how Teemu played his minutes. In Teemus presentation press conference he granted what we already knew that Robin Lod was the reason behind his transfer. In my opinion that felt somewhat disrespectful towards the club and to the whole area after nomination day by the governor. Hopefully he will start paying back soon by goals. I dont quite understand his obsession to play with Lod, Lod is ok as a player but not that special. Their fan favorite has been Reynoso (Argentina) who is attacking midfielder basically quite typical nr 10. We shall see if it is the start of the new Pukki-Buendia type of chemistry? Teemus transfer to mls should be a win for Minnesota and lose to the Finland national team.
Truth is that we would like to see more finnish players in english league football. Marcus Forss hopefully gets company for the coming season.
Hi 1×2
*Finnesota Day* – only in America and I love it 🙂
Yes Pukki’s remarks about Robin Lod could be perceived as slightly disrespectful but I can’t imagine that he meant anything bad by it, he’s just not that sort of guy.
I remember you saying before that Pukki going to the MLS would be a loss to the Huuhkajat but he will still have his ability. Okay he won’t be playing in the same pressure cooker environment that he has been for the last 10 years but a personal guess is that he will stay sharp and start to enjoy his football again.
The last two seasons have not been good for Norwich, and somebody like Teemu would have felt that as much as anybody.
Marcus Forss continues to blow a bit hot and cold but you can see that there is a decent frontman in there for sure.
Kiitos
Martin, jet lag is huge concern. It seems that european players who go playing outside Europe also give up playing in the national team because of that. Compared to playing in Europe its an easy place, fans are different and there are no relegation threats. Tactically Minnesota seems to be playing him much like Norwich did, I would play him like Finland now plays him. Norwich fans are claiming that he has lost his pace a little bit, in Minnesota they seemed to see him as a very fast player. His top speed is still at the same level with Englands second fastest player Marcus Rasford. Its possible that Teemu has been even faster before, but he is still 1 of the fastest players. In my opinion the balls passed to him in last season were often not enough quality. Passed balls were either too slow that he had to wait, or the ball was passed too far. I agree with Norwich fans that he should have scored more in the last season, but his assist stats should be way higher and the reason for that is other Norwich players quality lacking.
The question of Pukki’s speed came up quite often as a topic of discussion while he was here – and I think the consensus was that where he truly excelled was with his speed of thought, which is not something that can easily be measured.
I don’t think I ever heard anybody suggesting that he was as quick as Marcus Rashford, though 🙂
Martin, its from a speedometer. Kyle Walker was fastest in England squad and Rashford second fastest. Daniel Håkans was fastest in Finland squad, faster than Rashford, but Walker was faster than him. Pukki is second fastest and the result was the same with Rashford. just under 36 km/h. I suppose that has been the first time in the Finland squad in several years or even in a decade that someone has been faster than Pukki. I would have never thought that Kyle Walker could be so fast.
Fair enough!
I’m glad nobody mentioned Harry Kane and quick in the same sentence – but of course Kane has other attributes 🙂
Well at least Joshua Sargent should get the American Stars and Bars thingy. Our new Spanish lad is now On the Beach for three months.
Let’s hope the Old Ways of transfer business can be left behind for some dynamic wheeling and dealing . But it’ll be like going back a Decade with loanees appearing after the season starts ..
There’s a reason this time of year is called the silly season , rumours of rumours and the fans hoping that that the new guys have the right answer to the question , Are you Passionate.
Hi Bernie
That’s a nice poetic comment, so lyrical it could have been written by one of those singer/songwriters like Carole Kingor James Taylor or any of the good ones from the late 60s/early 70s!
The *silly season* was created by stories about people lost on beaches, finding wasps in unexpected places and stories about hosepipe bans but translates beautifully into the world of football.
Our loanees may well be late to the party but that can often happen as they tend to be the last deals finalised and often it is the club loaning out who drag their feet.
Not because they want to, but because the make-up of THEIR final squad for the season is quite rightly what takes priority.
Cheers
Er on a factual error. Wagner only promoted Angus Gunn to first choice after Krul gifted Burnley their first goal (a tap in) after eight minutes at Carrow Road. After which Krul became a quivering wreck. After a near miss due to faffing about (cleared by the sliding Grant Hanley IIRC I think on Ashley Barnes!) not a minute earlier, Krul directed the resulting goal kick across the penalty area towards Max Aarons at right back without looking (to fool the opposition presumably) not noticing that a young Burnley forward had advanced hopefully into the penalty area. After that there was only one team in it. Two more soft goals followed at the river end, classic near and far post corners converted without much ado. The only good thing to come out of that day (on Sky TV of course) was the set pieces back room staffie got quietly fired.
Hi Roger
Thanks for setting me straight on young Gunny’s route to No. One 🙂
Stew was most of the way there and you finished the job, albeit with your recollection of that truly awful Carrow Road display against Burnley.
I guess we must all hope for an improvement in our performance at set pieces defensively and offensively this time around. We’ve been awful at both ends of the pitch for far too long now.
Cheers
Has Webber already got a foot in two camps. How can he act in our true interest if he is Leeds bound. Either he wants to leave or not, clearly he does by very kindly giving many months notice. Would any other business except the one at Carrow Road allow this. If we feel an obligation to honour his contract, stick him on garden leave, and get a new sporting director in
Hi Ken
I honestly thought I’d escaped this time, as indeed I had until you appeared with what was nearly the last comment on this article, which I deliberately tried very hard to keep Webber-free 🙂
But, since you mention it, I believe Webber should have been shown the door the second Daniel Farke put pen to paper at Leeds.
And yes, you are right, it could only happen here at Norwich.
Cheers
“Steve Clarke might have borrowed a stepladder and whispered in [Gunn’s] ear that all internationals should be in the Premier League”.
Why would a goalkeeper need to play in the Premier League? Are the shots there somehow harder to save than in the Championship? The double lures for keepers in the PL are the status and extra money. The other goalkeepers in the current Scotland squad are Liam Kelly (Motherwell) and Zander Clark (Hearts), who play in the Scottish Premiership, which for the most part is below Championship standard.
Hi Alan
I don’t think keepers are necessarily a different species in this context – marshalling a PL defence over a Championship one [particularly a leaky one like ours has been recently] has to be more beneficial for a regular international, doesn’t it?
I fully realise that PL football is not a requisite for Steve Carke’s outfield players either, but surely he would rather pick from that level of player if he could.
And Tim Krul had a bit of a run-in with the Netherlands hierarchy on this very subject only a couple of years ago.
I’m npt saying you’re wrong as I can see both sides of this one and it’s certainly an interesting topic.
Cheers
Alan, you‘re right, where a players earns his living might be indicative of his skill but but It‘s no more than an indicator. A top class player shines where ever he plays. Gunn‘s distribution of the ball is better than Krul‘s and he may well be the best available for Scotland at this point in time but I doubt if many Prem clubs see him as their potential first team keeper. We definitely need a better Keeper Coach and maybe we‘ve got one, in the meantime if Gunn goes good luck to him, we are a selling club it‘s part of the self funding thingy.
*If Gunn goes good luck to him, we are a selling club it‘s part of the self funding thingy.*
You’re quite right there – that’s a recognised truth and could apply to every single one of our players.
It has always been the same and while Chase had different motivation to Delia the fact remains that I cannot remember a time when we were not a selling club.
Just a reminder, Gunn got picked for England squad for a good season in Championship and not a chance he will go to Leeds or anywhere else .
Hi Kev
I hope you’re right mate. If Gunny’s happy here he will stay, or at least that’s the impression I get.
Being No.1 for club and country there’s no real reason for him to instigate a move – if it hadn’t have been for Alex B sharing his nightmares I would never have mentioned it in the first place 🙂
Cheers
I’d say around 85 of the 92 clubs are ‘selling’ ones Martin. ‘Twas ever thus
Hi Dan.
Agreed.
Some do hold on to their rising starts a little bit longer than others of course – AND the whole world knows that we’re skint!
Cheers