Leaderboard

Anyway, for me I think the squad needs: - a right back that can push Aaron’s hard - a DM - a player in the Buendia/hernandez mould - a forward to compete with Pukki. thats my four, and I genuinely don’t think we need anymore so long as there are no leavers.

Fulham spend £100 and messed up, Wolves spend £100m and got 7th. It’s almost as if it isn’t the large amount of money that is the problem, but the plan and due diligence that is used when spending that money. Fulham relied too heavily on data and didn’t do their homework on character and personality. They also got a bit giddy with who they could attract and went for some names, rather than getting the balance they needed across the team. Wolves had a plan and spent money targeted and wisely. Fulham went crazy. Which way do you think Webber would go? (Not that Norwich have £100m to spend).

Dear oh dear. I used to respect her, but this has lowered my opinion of her 100%. Lazy, uninformed, pushing the financial angle - the bottom line is that richer clubs HATE the idea that success can be had without spending multi-millions. I really hope we do succeed well next season, if only to prove money is not the be all and end all.....after all we proved it this season, so why not next?

You are fickle, please don't make the mistake that you speak for the fans.

I want to finish in front of Brighton's Tony "you won't get another sniff of the PL with your owners" Bloom! I think underneath it all these people are scared because success for us brings them under an uncomfortable spotlight.

The OP lost all credibility and sensibly stayed away. Now he's back sniffing the possibility of a downturn. Will the others return?

can see where you are coming from but do not wholly agree. We have massively over achieved this season and honestly I do not expect much from the Prem next season. Consider it this way: if we ended up where Middlesbrough did this season (with our style of play not theirs) I think most would agree this would have meant great progress on last season. Then if the following season we made playoffs but didnt get promoted, most would agree this represents more progress. Finally, the season after we win promotion either through the playoffs or automatically, most would agree this would be fulfillment of the project with clear progression over time. We just smashed that and I see this shot at the Prem as a bit of a freebie in the scheme of things. Even if we go down then plan properly we can go straight back up in far better shape both financially and in terms of club structure and team culture without missing a beat on the above timeline. Webber has already said that this promotion will finance facility upgrades and finish paying off the mistakes of the past (Wildschut, Jarvis, Naismith, Oliviera, the depressingly long list goes on). I am on board and while I hope we can make a good fist of it in the prem, i feel that this is a much longer term project with better to come on the horizon.

Not sure this thread is going to age too well.

I still have a lot of respect for McNally he did what he needed to when he came in, I now have huge respect for Webber again did what he needed to and most of all I have found more respect to Delia and co for twice recognising things had to change, making those changes and getting the deserved success!

I disagree almost totally with the op. To start with, the premier league is not "a huge step up" - it is hyped by the media as such, but in reality it is just another football league at a higher standard than the one we are leaving. Making too much of that is just trying to build the drama of it. I would rather see the present players having a good go and would even accept not getting anyone in, although we are certain to get some in to replace those that are surplus to requirements....but they will not cost a huge amount. People seem to think the team as it is will not be up to the job, yet we have dominated this division with the way we play. Yes, we can and need to improve, but the players we have can improve and develop. You look all through the team/squad and you see players who are of the highest quality - Buendia, Aarons, Vrancic, Pukki, Leitner, Lewis, Godfrey, Zimmermann who has a huge effect on the team, Klose, Stiepermann who will imo surprise everyone again next season, Krul who made crucial saves, particularly towards the end of the season, Hernandez will be a thorn in premier league defences, Trybull who is underated by some, but who has been candiaite for motm several times this season, Mclean who has kept out Vrancic and Leitner for goodness sakes etc etc. Yes they will need back up and support, so it's there we will need to build the squad, Heisse is there already, along with those that have contributed this season. Will we spend big? No, it just isn't going to happen. We will spend a small amount on squad building.....but I am looking forwards to the first game next season and seeing 11 players who have played for us this season, preferably with Vrancic as the first name on the teamsheet. He out of all of them has shown he has big match mentality. Oh - and if it means we get relegated, so be it. Best we go into the premier league not panicking or being desperate to stay there - we need to go there to play football and enjoy it. That has been the mantra this season and will be next - no worries or concerns and simply continue the same as we have this season, only better.

Maybe we should get the taxpayer to give us a near purpose built 60K seater stadium for £4m rent a year where we can earn £80m+ off the tickets sales for said arena. That doesn't include the £100m that get from the EPL and the extra didlos they sell in the Ann Summers club shop. Typical Tory maths from the despicable **** Brady, forgetting the stuff she's syphoning off the people. I used to have a tiny lil soft spot for Wet Sham (Bond(s)/Brown/Neighbour/etc) until the latest regime took over.

"Yes, Bournemouth managed it four years ago, magnificently in the light of average attendances. But in Eddie Howe, they had a manager of remarkable ability who had no other way than to build gradually and hope for the best". "Yes, Bournemouth have stayed up on a relatively small budget while Fulham spent £113million last summer after coming up and lasted a season" I find all this a bit contradictory. WTF has it got to do with her anyway. "West Ham have done well because we have rich Hammers supporters as owners and a 60,000 capacity stadium. That is roughly twice what Carrow Road or Bramall Lane can hold." Only because you got it on the cheap darling.

But they didn't play Farkeball! Some of the Liverpool -Barca play last night was nearly as good as ours .

I'm still of the opinion that Timm is our best CB when fit - so this is great news.

I wouldn’t say the Klose money was blown, had he not have got injured I suspect the history books on the club would have read slightly differently.

He’s only been left behind because of the form of Zimbo and Godfrey. Would Barbet be an upgrade on Hanley (doubt it), does Hanley seem like the kind of guy that Webber and Farke refer to wanting (yes) so although it’s not beyond the realms of possibility, I’d personally be surprised to see Hanley go and replaced by someone else. I suspect if Klose signs again we will get a RB and that will be in defensively (other than outs, ie Pinto and Passlack).

Clearly there will be a lot of extra money to spend, but from the reports that have come out a fair chunk will go on doubling the salaries for a lot of existing player contracts. That makes complete sense especially if the contracts are that the young players who have come through and are attracting interest from other clubs. Spending extra needs to be balanced against the risk that you get in new players who are only in it for the money, who don't fit with the ethos of putting the club first, and also the risk is you bring in new players on high wages and that disrupts the feeling in the squad for the existing players. So it should not be assumed that City should automatically spend 100% of the available money in an attempt to stay up. Instead they should spend extra, but be very clearly focused on trying to strengthen the squad selectively in a way that doesn't disrupt the squad and which stays true to the approach which brought us promotion. If the money is not spent wisely, it can actually be counter-productive. There are plenty of examples to show this. This is my view, but more importantly from interviews it seems to be Webber's view. I am sure Webber will keep his cards close to his chest on how much will be left over at the end of the season, but I'm pretty sure there will be a sizeable chunk that he will keep back for next season - regardless of which division we're then in.

It's Suarez I feel sorry for fancy having your teeth blown for offside..... twice

Phew that was rather good P.S Anyone ever seen Jamal Lewis and Trent Alexander-Arnold in the same room?

I forgot to run it through Google Pedant before posting...😉

According to the EDP this morning, and as they play things pretty safe, I think it’s fair to say that Timm will be with us next season. Very happy with this news! 🏆

Ajax are great to watch just like another team we all know😀

25k corporate tickets is just wrong

A very good evening to you Nutty and Congratulations to Wazzy and Diane. For Wazzy a HOME WIN for ATALANTA v Genoa. For Diane a HOME WIN for BURNLEY v Arsenal. P.S. Diane i have an extensive back catalogue of speeches if you want one. 😂

The trouble is that nobody thinks that they are spending badly at the time! Owners don't spend 20 million on a player if they think that it's a bad buy! Our best time with PL promotion came in the Lambert years, when we used loads of the money to repay debt and bought "young and keen." Spending within our means may result in relegation - as may over-spending. However, the difference is that if we spend within our means, we have every chance of being competitive going forwards. If we overspend it may take years to recover. The Championship and League one is littered with examples of this.

Buy who you like but a team will always triumph. The trick is to have a team of quality players. Next is a playing style, a method. Look at dysfunctional ManU full of top players. Look at successful sides with few stars. I used to respect West Ham but they are now Chav Utd who have forgotten their roots. The previous taxpayer comments are spot on. Give Brady credit for screwing that biscuit. The London Stadium is one of the places I fancy us at too. This is why I can't get as worked up over 1p5wich as these arrogant EPL sides. I just don't want to see DF's naivety comment too much next season. Cheap goals against from the likes of West Ham. We have the ability as shown in cup games against EPL sides to play tighter and in Buendia we have a lock picker with Pukki finishing a high percentage of chances. It has begun.

Aye; it's all about astute investment investment; spending the resources you have in the right places and utilising them effectively. It has been seen time and time again that spending 3x the amount on any given player does not bring you 3x the quality. In fact, a big price tag can bring as many negatives as positives (pressure to perform, dressing room disharmony, a player incentivised solely by his wage packet rather than his longer-term future). I can't wait to see how Webber and Farke approach things... I have to admit I vacillate on an almost daily basis between believing we have a good chance of having a successful first season back in the Premier League vs fearing that we might fall short. But as long as we give it a damn good go I will be as proud of my team this time next year as I am now.

Well these people can say what they like but the man that matters, Stuart Webber, has already said we will be the division's lowest spenders. One City strong so bring it on 🙃💛💚💪

She's a Sun columnist, it's not like they employed Katie Hopkins for intelligent and accurate insight, but as a lurid shock jock to embrace controversy. Brady's not in that category, but it's still a trash tier paper.

Sometimes I wonder what imagonnado.... So, c'mon everybody.. Let's take three steps to Heaven............ Step one: you leave the league you're in. Step two: the binners leave it too. Step three: you look back at the table. That sure feels like Heaven to me. 🤪

Seems the owners found a cure for the summertime blues..

After the gem that is Buendia and the find that is Pukki ... do you think Webber will be spending without a plan???? seriously? The planning up until now has been excellent (I forgot Krul)

Not sure West Ham is the best role model for success in the Premier League. Huge amounts of money spent, very little progress in the way of moving up the Premier League. A stadium heavily subsidised by tax-payers money, that the fans hate.

Good old plucky Bournemouth with their Russian billionaire owner...

Apparently he's close to saying yes.

I wouldn't write him off just yet WWIAFTM. We signed him up on a new year four year deal (plus option of a further years extension) as recently as October 2018. Obviously there has to be a big question mark over him because of his terrible run of injuries, but if we've learnt one thing over the last season it's that Farke and Webber know a good player when they see one. https://www.pinkun.com/norwich-city/it-is-a-sign-of-how-much-we-believe-in-him-thompson-bounces-back-from-injuries-to-sign-new-city-contract-1-5731123

Agree, a 3 of Zimbo, Godfrey and Klose with wing backs could work.

Very pleased with this! Gives us the option of playing three at the back, which we might use more often in the Prem, as well as having cover for whoever gets the nod next year.

part 1 part 2

I like this quote: Klopp said that he had told his team to attack with everything at their disposal and defend with whatever came to hand. He asked them to be “cheeky” when they could and by a thousand audacious, confident acts they turned the tide in their favour. That could be our motto for next season

A momentary lapse in concentration, I'm sure. I'm just taking a leaf out of Webber & Farke's book. No room for complacency or lackadaisically written posts here.

If you look at their figures for merchandising/drink sales etc they don't amount to that much in the grand scheme of things, so any extra there will hardly add much. General maintenance on the stadium and pitch seesm to be getting deferred year on year which suggests Evans is not investing for the long term but merely keeping the club's head (just) above water And given that the talk is off maybe a couple of players coming in to perhaps add 'muscle' to the youngsters expected to be the mainstay I would doubt if their attendances will hold if they are not around the top four. Their budget is projected as being almost half of what it was the season just ended. And they do not have the £8m or so (?) transfer income they had last summer from the sale of three players. They will need to cut back drastically to cover the loss of up to £9m in income. The dimwitted farmhands don;t seem to have grasped the magnitude of the plight...imagining that with a few ST's sold they will now achieve success, at last, by storming L1. As a betting man I would put my money on old mother hubbard rustling up a three course meal from her cupboard then I would the paupers getting promoted next season

FECKINAMAZIN What a match, Jesus H Christ never seen a comeback like that. they'd never get four against us though😀

I just can’t see how people doubt whether Tim Krul “has the quality for the premier league”!!!!! 1) he’s played the majority of his career there. 2) he’s a Dutch international that has World Cup appearances to his name. i don’t get it. Yes he’s dropped one or two clangers but have you seen de Gea this season? its a shame the errors stick in people’s memories but the top drawer saves don’t.

It's going to be a tricky summer trying to get the players (especially Kenny McLean) back and sober from their epic, alcohol-fuled bender. I hear they have a 6 week rehab program scheduled for June/July but they are not hopeful about locating all of the players in time; some of them were last spotted entering a yellow submarine by Carrow Bridge after the game on [Monday].

New front brakes for my bike.🚴‍♂️

None of the above. You're making the common mistake of dismantling what we have and what has got us this far. Trust in Webber & Farke to do the right hting but don't expect the obvious.

£5 for every place we finish above Ipswich and £5 for every goal scored by Jordan Rhodes.