nat_canaries

If he was to be sacked, which I see as very unlikely, the two candidates I could see the board choosing are Gary Holt or Russell Martin as player manager, and neither of those install any confidence. Whoever is in charge next season in whatever division we are in needs to make a serious overhaul of the squad and hopefully use a youthful squad with a few elder quality players and build from there.

Leerdammer, there''s holes all over the place

I''d go for -----------Ruddy; Martin, Klose, Bassong, Brady; -------Howson, Tettey; Redmond, Hoolahan, Naismith; -------------Jerome. I know everyone says Brady''s better at left wing but at the start of the season when we looked good he was playing left back overlapping Howson or dorrans. I feel Jerome is a better choice to Mbokani as he stretches defences more making them sit back due to his pace in behind and gives the attacking 3 space to play whereas when Mbokani plays his lack of pace means the opposing defence can push up and stifles our attack.

No width in that side at all (well other than Brady). Looks rather defensive, maybe we''re trying for 0-0 until attest half time. Rather disappointed with that side but hopefully I''ll be proven wrong. OTBC

I''ve had a feeling all week that we''lol win 3-1 so I''ll stick with that and as long as he starts I''ll say Redmond first goal to. I just think we''ve got to go back to how we were at the start of the season and go for it and press from the front which did us relatively well until the ''castle game.

I think we should go for a similar set up to when we play Sunderland and the start of the season when we where attacking well and closing down from the front and when we seemingly only conceded through single individual mistakes and not total defensive collapses so I''m going to go for: Ruddy; Pinto, Klose, Bassong, Brady; O''Neil, Howson; Redmond, Hoolahan, Naismith; Jerome. I feel that when Jerome plays he harasses the CB who make mistakes and with the 3 in behind them we could make the most of those mistakes and with the full backs bombing forward there could be 4 players in the box to take advantage of them. I see our best attribute being our attacking play so we should make the most of it, especially against a side like Aston villa who have struggled the whole season, and a win would totally finish any lingering hope for them. (In turn this could help us a if they had no pressure on them they could even take points off of other teams around us, as has been the case with other seemingly relegated teams)

Although never going to happen I wouldn''t mind this: Rudd; Pinto, Bennett, Klose, Brady; O''neil; Howson, Dorrans; Hoolahan, Redmond; Naismith. In a 4-1-2-2-1 formation with Hoolahan drifting in from the right in a free role with pinto to overlap and Howson to cover and Redmond driving forward cutting onto his rightfoot on the left with Brady on the overlap and dorrans covering that side and also playing balls forward on the counter with O''neil sitting in front of the CB almost playing a back three when we are attacking so to still have enough if Villa counter.

It''s a shame he was bought to replace Dean Ashton and not play with him, that would have been one hell of a strike force!!!

Knowing Alex Neil it may not even be a 4-2-3-1 we start with, I am going to have a stab in the dark with a 3-4-2-1; Rudd; Martin, Bennett, Bassong; Pinto, Tettey, Howson, Brady; Naismith, Hoolahan; Mbokani Subs: Ruddy, Klose, Olsson, Mulumbu, Odija, Redmond, Jerome.

It''s always good to see ex players recommend the club and having GG as an agent may benefit us again in the future. I remember Nedergaard use to convince Scandinavians about us but we seem to of stopped buying them since the worthy days, apart from Tettey and he was from Rennes. I wonder what other ex players are out there who could recommend players to join in the future??

As his preferred position in LCB it should be Bassong he replaces in theory but in reality who knows, but my hunch is when Klose and Pinto are up to speed we will play; Pinto, Martin, Klose, Brady. I just don''t see Martin being dropped permanently due to being captain and i don''t remember him not playing when available if my memory is correct.

Where will we be playing football then?? The UEA, the new bypass?? ;P

I wouldn''t be against signing Green as our no. 2 if ruddy was to leave. Much like the role Crichton gave to green in his early career he would be a good role model for Rudd and would pass on a lot of valuable experience and I''m sure he would be more accepting of a back up role than ruddy. Only obstacle may be wages but with his age and Norwich routes he may take a decent cut to come back ''home''. And of course would count as home-grown if we ever have that for consideration.

Has played 17 games this season (all starts), with two goals and two assists. Has played mostly at CM (10 games). Has only played four games in the role behind the striker but scored both of his goals and one assist in those 4 games. His team are currently 10th in an 18 team league with 22points from 17 games.

Was actually thinking of this yesterday whilst playing FM (and signing him in game). Would be a great signing if he were on our radar and could actually be a viable option.

If we fail with all of the countless CB we have been linked with, which is a realistic possibility, what are our options? Dipping into the championship and gambling on a younger CB (Lewis dunk?) or offering a young CB from a top 4 team first team football??( none come to mind) Or the seemingly Norwich option of trying to sign a foreign, end of contract player whose never heard of Norfolk?? Joel Matip would be a great signing but hugely unlikely, unless he''s best friends with Bassong as he is yet again a Cameroon international. I think the main problem is that there are not many top quality CB around currently, seen by Man Utd not being able to improve on smalling and Jones, so with the level we are at maybe Bassong and Bennett is the best we can realistically hope for!?!

Just had a look at his ''attributes'' on sofifa as a rough guide and doesn''t seem a typical Alex Neil striker at all. A small, quick player who like to dribble and take long shots. Looks somewhat similar to alexi Sanchez in style of play (so may have to fill in the camera holes) and can play upfront, behind a main striker or on the left. Would be a good signing if we could pull it off, giving us a few options across the front 4.

I agree that we need to have a settled 11 as much as possible as I believe it will give the players greater confidence as they seem so scared of making a mistake and loosing there spot in the team that they don''t try anything risky, especially Redmond. I wouldn''t mind seeing Rudd; Wisdom, Bennet, Bassong, Olsson; Tettey; Mulumbu, Hoolahan; Redmond, Brady; M''Bokani. Playing a 4-3-3 rather than a 4-2-3-1 with Hoolahan in a more centre mid position which he almost plays at times dropping deep to get the ball anyway and with tettey and Mulumbu around him there should be enough strength to outway his lack of size and means he should always be available to relieve the ball and set one of the front three away.

I don''t see the games being shown anytime soon as there will always be the argument that lower league clubs attendances will suffer. I see it far more likely that the premier league will just stop playing at 3 (as most weekends its lucky if 5 games are on at that time anyway) and will instead play mostly on Sunday''s so all games can be covered on a match choice type systems with an early and late game either side. This will mean people can still see their local sides on the Saturday whilst glory hunting on the Sunday.

Depending on how many players are tested for the champions league we could have a slight chance. Hopefully if sanche is rested and replaced with Gibbs, which I see as likely even if for the first hour then I''d go for this: Ruddy; Wisdom, Bennett, Bassong, Brady; Redmond, Tettey, Mulumbu, Howson; Hoolahan; Jerome. I know Howson isn''t great out wide but the right side of Arsenal in bellerin and Campbell is very attacking so will need someone to track back and also cover for Brady when he gets a chance to go forward, if not possibly o''neil or dorrans could be used in that role. And with fingers crossed a left side of Monreal and Gibbs we could let Redmond run at them (hopefully in play off mode) and could well have some success.

He''s starting today, be good for both parties of he scores a few as can come back in form or sell on for a bit extra.

To an extent we had that balance last season as when whitts went forward Martin went over and tettey could fill the gap at CB. And when Olsson went forward Johnson could track back. This season with the two wingers we seem to lack the cover down either side so maybe sacrificing one of the wingers and having at cm out wide would help the defence again. (Like the start of this season when we only seemed to concede from set plays). The only problem is we now lack a left footed cm so for balance it makes more sense for Redmond to make way.

I think everyone is agreed that we do need to improve our defensive player but who do we think is out there who would improve the squad at a realistic price? Our supposed summer target Nkoulou from Marseille is out of contract in the summer so could be available cheap so to not lose him for nout. Being a Cameroon international along with Bassong means they should have a good understanding but he is only 5''11 which may be a problem in the Prem. And if Wisdom is seen not viable to replace whitts then maybe sending him back to enable us to bring in another prem loan. Callum chamber may be looking for first team football to try to get in the England squad for the euros but would most likely have other suitors. Trying to think of others but there does seem to be a lack of quality cb presently, highlighted by the fact that even man Utd could not find replacements for smalling and jones so maybe it will be a case of working on team shape and movement with the current bunch than getting replacements.

Sadly I don''t see them doing it for us, seem only to do it for the top 7 teams, although if they were to id say they would swap shirts with Johnson on the back.

If any of the Wolfpack are whining for there spiritual leader, his first game is live on SS4 @21:30 against David Moyes'' Real Sociedad. could be a good game once the boxings over after a few minutes.