I woke up this morning with the intention of writing a piece in response to Delia’s interview in the Financial Times but, on reflection, thought better of it.
The usual suspects would probably come after me again – and I’ve had more than enough of that lately 🙂 – so I’ll, for once, allow others to draw their own conclusion on the content of said interview.
If you’ve not read it, it’s here.
What I want to talk about instead is something that I touched upon in Friday’s piece, and that’s the very limited churn we’ve seen so far in the squad.
We were expecting significant changes, both in and out, but so far the ins have constituted an ageing striker to replace an ageing striker – no disrespect intended to Ashley Barnes who’s had a good pre-season so far – a good right-back to replace a good right-back that we intend to sell, a centre-back to replace the stricken-until-2024 Grant Hanley, and a winger who was supposed to add competition but who is out until October.
While there is still plenty of time for future comings and goings – the window doesn’t close until September 1 – if the idea was that the bulk of the new squad would be in situ for the bulk of pre-season, that simply hasn’t happened.
That we’ve not spent a single penny on transfer fees so far is likely the result of Max Aarons, Andrew Omobamidele, and Milot Rashica still being in the house – I use the term very loosely in the case of Rashica – but, as mentioned on Friday, if there are no takers, or agreements reached, for any of those three, then in that regard we look to be a little bit stuffed.
Whether this situation has changed as a result of the serious ankle injury sustained by the unfortunate Jonathan Tompkinson in Kaiserslautern yesterday I’m not sure, but I don’t believe we should kid ourselves that a couple of promising performances in Germany are a sure sign that, in fact, this squad was good enough all along.
We mustn’t lose sight of the fact that by and large, this is the squad that concluded last season with a run of one win in 11. A Jack Stacey, an Ashley Barnes, and a Shane Duffy are not going to be enough alone to transform a squad that looked relegation-bound into one that’s ready to challenge.
I’d like to think that the tactical tweaks that have already been apparent will make this new team less exposed than the one that ended last season and, hopefully, more effective without the ball, but the addition of some fresh, dynamic players still looks a must, in my opinion, for when heading in a forward direction.
One area that I fear will leave a lot of City fans disappointed is the one now known as CDM, or holding/defensive midfielder to those of us of a certain age.
Not to put too fine a point on it, I’m not sure there will be a new one coming in – at least not one in the Tettey/Skipp mould that seems to be at the top of everyone’s wishlist.
I’m not convinced David Wagner wants one; preferring instead for his deepest-lying midfielder to be the one to drop between the centre-backs and, literally, start the ball rolling in possession.
Kenny McLean was the one to fulfil that role last season – at least until he got injured – but in reality it’s a role tailored-made for someone with the on-the-ball quality of, say, Moritz Leitner, as opposed to someone who will cover the ground, provides a shield in front of the two centre-backs, and who works like a Trojan.
(PS. I’m not suggesting for a second that we re-sign Leitner; just that he’s the type of player that Wagner likes in that role).
For many, including myself, who have bemoaned the lack of steel and physicality in that midfield for some time, that role looked to be the one where that steel could be added, but under this head coach and within this team shape, I’m no longer convinced it will happen.
I may be wrong. In fact, I hope I am.
But, as mentioned earlier, what is still desperately needed in this team is some athleticism and dynamism. Wagner has made some uncomfortable noises about Jon Rowe and Przemysław Płacheta being like “new signings” but I’d be disappointed if both are given a shot at the expense of bringing in players who will possess both of those qualities while also adding something new.
This team has been staid and stodgy for too long and badly needs some thunderous pace – the type, in fairness, possessed by Płacheta – but which can be harnessed to make us much more menacing and dangerous when we turnover possession.
We were just too easy to play against. Teams hosted Norwich City and came to Carrow Road knowing that if they applied pressure and hassled they would wilt. And they did.
So part of this summer’s reset needs to address the vulnerability of the mind in this squad. On the face of it, Barnes and Duffy should help, but individuals within that squad also need to develop some inner strength that will see them ride out the difficult moments in games without conceding goals.
All of the triple shifts in the world won’t help if that fragility is still there, so let’s hope no stone is being left unturned in making this group more rounded and resilient.
For now, hope is all we have but not too long before the phoney war ends.
Just 20 days.
Excellent points G, and I heartily agree. The squad overhaul that was promised by Webber just isn’t happening is it? We have the same players in the same mindsets that looked mentally scarred at the end of last season. Still time to pull rabbits out of hats if a couple of players leave soon but then you’ll be talking settling in periods etc. I’m not sure Wagner has that time to waste.
Your last line, in particular, is spot on, Andy. Wagner (for his own sake as much as ours) needs a really good start to the season.
We don’t know, of course – but I’d guess the jump some fans are making from lack of recents signings to “they obviously aren’t trying” is mistaken.
From Stuart Webber’s history when faced with the need to overhaul a Championship squad (whether at Huddersfield with Wagner or Norwich with Farke), my guess is there’s a great of work going on behind the scenes.
Time will tell how much, and how effective.
Player churn results from two factors, the first being obvious, someone else actually wants them.
The second, less so, affordability. No so much in terms of the transfer fee to be paid, although that’s also a factor, but also matching, or exceeding the player’s existing wages. I suspect that this is more of a problem than might be expected.
It sounds like the financial status of the club is akin to how my Granny would deal with her family budget during difficult times – make use of what you’ve got -darn those socks, reuse the bath water to water the vegetables and eat what you can produce yourself, don’t throw anything away, find a different use for it and if anything’s broken, Grandpa will bodge it back together again. You can draw your own analogies for the club.
West Ham were, allegedly , waiting for the Rice money , before spending. Now he’s a done deal will they firm up on Aarons in a few days.
Also should we sell AndyO we have effectively only 2 CB’s in the squad and that’s an area that should be addressed sooner rather than later .
And what is going on with Radish , do the Turks want him or not .
Morning Gary
Ta for the link to the Delia interview but I’m not disappearing behind the FT paywall any more than I am the Pink Un one!
I’ve seen it thanks to a mate on Facebook though:-)
Have you ever had that *shall I or shan’t I* feeling?
Sorry about that, mate. My bad.
I *think* this one works https://archive.is/gfbPn#selection-2577.0-2580.0
The much, and correctly, maligned Dean Smith at least made a DCM his first signing. Just a shame Hayden was yet another injury prone signing.
Without a new and healthy DCM our midfield will continue to part like the Red Sea the moment an opponent with pace attacks the soft underbelly. (Going for the maxed out cliche riddled sentence there!)
Presumably Sainz was supposed to add the flair……..
Gary I’m disappointed you’re not writing on the Delia article. I’ve read it courtesy of a link and all I can say is I’m not surprised. With Delia and Webber in charge what hope do we have. I feel sorry for David Wagner as he seems a throughly likeable guy caught up in the club’s downward spiral due to the overblown egos of the people in charge of NCFC.
Hi. For once, I opted to swerve the Delia interview (and my thoughts on it) as it’d guarantee to get me in trouble yet again. Have taken a fair bit of stick recently for supposedly single-handedly turning MFW into an unofficial arm of the anti-NCFC club (despite writing a piece in which I tried to explain that was far from the truth) and, to be honest, didn’t have the strength to go through another day of defending myself against those who are fiercely pro-Delia.
A shame… but it takes its toll when, despite putting my heart and soul into trying to make MFW the best it can be, it’s still not good enough for some.
Relax Gary! When the MOG tendency gets going, I get roused from my slumber…..but that doesn’t make me a Delia fanboy.
My glass is just naturally half full and I can’t see the point of raising blood pressure over things beyond our control.
You are doing a fine job. Nil carborundum etc.
Reasons to be cheerful as a ncfc fan ? I’m struggling to think of any. The fact that that there are those rubbing hands together and theorising why square pegs long since rejected are the perfect fit for the gaping round holes in the squad shows how heady the brew of football Stockholm syndrome remains. Still dreaming of a miracle.
Say what you believe, you are entitled to an opinion no matter what others think .
Plenty good enough for me and long may it continue.
Apologies folks for adding an FT link that was behind a paywall. I’ve now added an alternative link that I *think* works okay.
https://archive.is/gfbPn#selection-2577.0-2580.0
Thanks Gary. Leaving the content to one side, l admire Josh’s writing style. Unfortunately my own style remains stuck in writing dreary reports for formal purposes.
Hi Gary
The FT/ Pink-un article via Connor blows everything out of the water that we have been informed but total its all behind legal documentation so nothing can be revealed.
As for a CDM the much maligned Hayden was given a free transfer and said he was nearly back to full fitness could he be a surprise signing.
Just a teaser for the FT Article
Attanasio’s arrival marked the first time since 2007 that City have welcomed external investment into the club. It’s expected the American will increase that hold of the club in the coming months through newly created shares, with the legal process ongoing before they can be allocated.
Smith has revealed her commitment now is ensuring the club is handed over to the right person given the struggles that some football clubs have, but still plans to play an active role in City’s future.
“At the moment, we don’t know,” Smith told the Financial Times when asked if the American was the heir apparent. “He seems like a really good guy. We have no idea what the future will bring.
“We just have to wait and see. What we have to do now is hand over to people we think will be good caretakers. Football is full of terrible disasters. We won’t have a disaster. We’ll do it properly.
Who’s for a Deep Fried Jam Sandwich
Dear lord.
So we’re how far into dealings with the Attanasios and still horribly uncommitted.
Are you selling up or not Delia. The fans can know the plans, even if they can’t know the minutia.
This “we can’t say anything” is codswallop. You can indicate on planning to sell the club. It hasn’t been a legal problem elsewhere.
Absolutely David, the whole article talks about nothing really , reporter was more interested in food and drink. The only question of real note was, is he an Heir apparent. ? A don’t know, but seems a good guy hardly opens any secrets.
But really, I think we know this already or he would not have not got near the boardroom, nor would he if he threatened your place in that room.
Not retiring well this is bad news for those that want to see their club progress. There is plenty for you to do, try some other fillings in fried Sarnies. Like Bulls***e
‘Football is full of terrible disasters’ says Delia. Well it takes one to know one.
🤣
I’d be interested to read your take on Delia’s article.
As for the squad I agree with your suspicion Wagner doesn’t want a Defensive midfielder. I would.
We seem to be after wingers, despite owning a fair few. Can’t be great for their confidence.
Anybody happy with Webber’s recruitment so far this window?Personaly i think its p### poor!Didn’t he say the majority of it would be done by mid july?
So far, what I said at the end of last season is coming clearer. no money to spend, freebies would be the main part of any business. I agree Wagner deserves a go at a new season, but I am not convinced by him yet and also, I am not sure these are his choices as players, probably playing lip service to his mate. But looking at his past record both here, Germany and in Switzerland leaves a fair bit to be desired :
Played 419 Won 146 Drawen 109 Lost 164
I feel he had enough time to get more out of the squad than he did last season winning just 7 out of 21 games. I think we will find ourselves in very familiar territory, of how long do we give him ? Wait until Christmas and we could be too far behind to do much, except beat those down the road. After he has got the vast majority of that same squad.
I have this little feeling deep down in my gut, that we have a tendency to believe our players are better than exactly what they are. There are very few exceptions referring to players, that we have sold recently who have really set the world alight. I lost track of the teams supposedly interested in Aarons over the past seasons, yet the lad is still here. (I am not slagging Max off, I love his attitude and ability) he may just not be as highly thought of as we do. Max has to be sold this summer or he can walk away for nothing Cantwell, Dowell anyone. Big Andy not a rush, as his contract run until 2026.
Rashica are there talks going on ? or is it agent bull to drum up their client ? hope that gets sorted he hardly lived up to his billing.
That from my simple understanding is about the state we are in. There is a big fat chance not much will change. I hope I am wrong
An excellent read Gary and some good insights from contributors.
There would appear to be a fingers crossed approach to next season. We are hoping that a squad of players that have been underperforming for some time click into gear under the tutelage of Wagner and Pelach, and reach previous levels of performance.
Its a risky strategy and if it fails the club will be plunged into a crisis.
The signings, per se, are actually decent when the lack of price tag is taken into account. Duffy would appear capable of heading crosses to safety all day long. Barnes is clearly not here to take prisoners. Stacey seems an extremely shrewd acquisition.
However these players alone will not transform the shambles of a team from last season. Sainz perhaps, before his cruel blow, was a step towards improving our output but our luck as ever lets us down.
Whether Wagner will be able to reverse his personal losing streak and instigate a Huddersfield-like charge is a moot point.
In fairness, our four best performances last season came under his watch, all away from home. Recapture this on a consistent basis and Wagner can look forward to adorning the wall of the Fat Cat and Canary for the next few years but a continuance of the abysmal run in, particularly the 5 home games without registering a goal, and he will be toast by October and the club will be plunged into turmoil.
“this is the squad that concluded last season with a run of one win in 11.”
Squad, yes, team no – Hanley, Gibson and McLean were all crocked; 2 are back and Duffy should be at least an adequate replacement for Hanley, probably better. And Pukki was pretty toothless in the second half of the season so Barnes ought to be an upgrade, even if it’s only because he can hold the ball up when necessary. He can actually head a ball too, which must increase the options for creating chances.
We all want to see a CDM in the Gary Holt/Oliver Skipp mould, or even the Alex Tettey model (as above but available for about half the games). Oddly we seem to need one more at Carrow Road than on our travels. But nobody ever suggests who it could be , which I think is because there are actually very few out there.
But going forward really is the issue. Sainz and Sara, get well soon. I did get the feeling we were trying to keep the ball moving better against Darmstadt, certainly once we were up their end of the pitch. Last season we seemed to get a lot of crosses and shots blocked and it was on the subsequent counter attack we were so vulnerable. Make your own attacks effective and there isn’t a counter attack on!
Sorry Keith. I stand corrected….. again.
You have every right to challenge Delia and Michael over their governance of the club Gary.
When fair minded people like you stop doing what you think is correct then we play into the hands of the dictatorship.
And that is what we have. It is a dictatorship plain and simple.
It’s isn’t anything like Delia’s personal politics. Where she feels everybody’s opinion counts. Pure socialism.
Now if anyone dares to disagree with her they tend to disappear, not in the mafia sense than god, but more time “to spend with the family” or on to “a fresh challenge”
I find it so strange that a dye in the wool socialist behaves like a single minded tyrant when it comes to a football club.
She believes her mantra that “her way or no way” with all the vigour of a English female version of Donald Trump.
Now me, you Gary, Martin and my mate Marty maybe all wrong and the change in ownership may turn out to be a disaster.
But we have enough evidence now that the status quo isn’t an option. Don’t listen to me. Just listen to our own Saul on the Road to Damascus ….Stuart Webber when asked does self funding have to change?
Absolutely was his reply.
Now by my reckoning, sycophants excluded, most of Norwich City FC employee’s don’t believe this rubbish, so we are probably down to two or at most three who still believe in self funding.
Democratic ? I think not.
As for this season Gary.
I haven’t a scooby doo 😂
Top six possible but not probable. The same with relegation.
So it looks like mid table then?
I have hope Wagner’s improved fitness regime will bring some reward. But the promised squad revamp is as you say way behind schedule.
We are going into a new campaign where so many players have questions about them.
Some were thought surplus to requirement by Daniel Farke. That is worry.
Time will tell.
I’m open minded. No blind faith for previous achievements by our coach.
Look how that turned out with Smudger Smith 😱
We’ve got to develop our own players and have patience with them, that’s how we’ve always achieved success, with the right blend of youth and experience. It wouldn’t upset me to see Rowe and Placheta starting, we’ve just got to get the best out of them.
The sporting word of the moment is Baz ball. Contrary to what many think, this isn’t just playing mindless attacking shots no matter what the situation. A key element of Baz ball is backing the players to express themselves; if Joe Root gets out trying an outrageous scoop shot, instead of stony faces and scowls when he walks back into the pavilion, he is applauded for having the confidence to try it.
When Wagner came in, for a few games at least, we had Wag ball! The players were freed from the shackles of the previous regime and we looked like a new team. Until we had the first setback, and then the lack of mental resilience rose to the fore once again.
This, I believe, is what Wagner needs to unlock once again – Wag ball that is. He has bought in players who add not just physical toughness, but also mental toughness. Now he needs to instill a lack of fear into the final third of the pitch.
I caught some of the Kaiserslautern game. What I saw, in a familiar pattern, was City overplaying in the final third. No one willing to play that early ball into the danger area, to take a risk. Onel Hernandez typified this – cut inside, there was a simple early ball available that would have led to a shot on goal. Instead, he carried the ball, shaping for a shooting position before finally playing that ball wide. By now too wide for an effort on goal. Perhaps Wagner is responsible for this, not wanting to concede possession easily high up the pitch – possibly evidenced by his analysis that Nunez needed to cut out the mistakes.
I will not disagree. We need more pace and creativity up front. But we also need an atmosphere within the team that backs players when they have the belief and confidence to take that chance – even if it fails.
Placheta certainly has pace. But so did Usain Bolt, and the other factor common to both is the inability to produce an accurate cross or a telling final pass. But I absolutely agree that the glaring weaknesses in the current squad are the lack of a top-class striker and a high-quality defensive midfielder. If Sargent and Idah are to our main goalscoring hopes, I don’t see much prospect of finishing in the top six.
I agree re Placheta, Alan. Was a tad concerned by Wagner’s assertion that he’s like having a “new signing”.
Often new signings are sh*te.