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Empty Mirror

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Everything posted by Empty Mirror

  1. I speak German and have read the Kicker article and a few more that came up in a google search. At the moment this is pure speculation. Kicker is a highly respected magazine, if they said it was happening I'd believe it, but the Kicker article that started this is just a "what if" article. The title probably gives the tone: "Warum nicht einer wie Farke?": "Why not someone like Farke?". The writer of the article reckons Dortmund need someone who knows the club, who can give the club a defined way of playing and implement that across the teams etc etc and then suggests that someone like Farke would fit the bill. There's not even a hint that this is about to happen. A couple of other articles pick the idea up, but conclude that Farke, who likes it in Norwich, wouldn't leave us mid season, and perhaps not until his contract is out in 2022. He seems to be viewed as honourable. Odd concept in football, that. I've always thought Farke will manage Dortmund one day. And his comments to us about his feelings for Norwich are carefully worded to leave open the possibility of joining Dortmund one day: "Norwich will always be my home in England" and "My heart is yellow". And I wouldn't begrudge him leaving, if that's what happens one day, he's done enough here. And, yes, articles like the Kicker one can develop a life of their own, but at the moment, there is no suggestion that I can see in the German media that this is remotely imminent.
  2. When Farke was introduced, Webber said something along the lines of our new model requiring a coach who could actually develop and improve players, since we didn't have the funds to go out and buy the finished article. Farke had been chosen partly for his ability to do just that. Looking at Todd, or plenty of others, that box has been well and truly ticked.
  3. I've heard it suggested that his transfer value is £8m, and if that's so, and if we've got a maximum of £15m to £20m to spend, we can't afford to spend that much on someone who hasn't even started in the Championship, however much he's good to have around.
  4. I think Leitner is one of our best, and will be crucial should we make the Prem. But last night proved he can't play in Emi's position. It was striking how much better he looked when Vrancic came on and we switched to 3-5-2, and he was able to go and play in his natural "quarterback"position, central, taking the ball of the back players. Vrancic too is class and could equally be crucial in the Prem. Farke's jobs for the Summer include working out how to play Mo and Mario together. A diamond, maybe, with a holding player behind, the two of them side by side, and Stiepers / Kenny up top, and Emi off Pukki up front, with Onel to come on if we need more width? But that's for the Summer. We need to get over the line now, and I suspect that means sticking with 4-2-3-1, and that in turn means there's only room for one of Mo / Mario / Kenny next to Trybull / Tettey. On the last couple of games you'd have to go for Mario.
  5. IMO Leitner is our best player. He could be even more important in the Prem, should we get there. And I'm worried that if he doesn't get game time soon, he'll want to be off: it's absurd that someone who was thought of as future German Nationalmannschaft player can't get into our team. Really want to see him play. But that doesn't mean we go without a defensive midfielder. One of Trybull and Tettey has to play.
  6. Not so. You may be thinking of Zimmermann? Before joining us, Vrancic played for Darmstadt in the Bundesliga 2015 to 2017. Leitner came from Augsburg (Bundesliga). His spells elsewhere have included Borussia Dortmund (Bundesliga) and Lazio (Serie A). Leitner has also played for the German under 21 side, which he captained. When we signed him, there were reports in the press that the other German players here were astonished that we had attracted someone of his stature. He continues to have a high profile in Germany, where he was thought to be heading for a career in the Nationalmannschaft. IMO he's our best player, and we'll need him in the Premier more than the Championship, should we get there. But, someone with his pedigree won't stay here if he's number 3 behind McClean and Vrancic.
  7. I'd like to see Leitner play because I think he's class, Vrancic too. Plus, if we get up, we'll need Leitner's control even more in the Prem. Can't give the ball away so much there. Leitner has a high profile in Germany still, where he was once considered "the next big thing" and I fear he may not be short of suitors if he's number three behind McClean and Vrancic here.
  8. Cantwell is a good prospect and has been great. May even be better in the Premier leagues, should we get there, as it's just that bit less physical. He does get pushed off the ball at this level. But striking how Leitner and Vrancic came on and we immediately had control in midfield. Ok, Wigan were tiring. But even so, why would we go into the final games with our two best midfielders on the bench?
  9. Stiepermann didn’t have his best day but wasn’t the main problem. I thought Cantwell looked lightweight. And McClean kept giving the ball away. He’s been great, and is certainly a top squad player at Championship level, but whether we can live with someone who gives the ball away so much should we make the Premiership is open to question. We have arguably the two best midfielders in the Championship sitting on the bench. Vrancic made an immediate impact when he came on. As for Leitner, we’ll need his calm and his passing skills if we make the Premier. But he won’t be here if the message to him is that he’s third choice. He's got a high profile in Germany still, and won't be short of suitors if he's the back up to the back up to Kenny McClean here.
  10. Interesting to note in the context of “we can’t be expected to compete with the likes of Norwich” that according to transfermarket.com our Summer spend was - (minus) £32,400,000 (i.e., a net income of that figure) whilst Birmingham’s was only - £2,500,000. But no, they can't expect to compete with us. What a job Farke and Webber have done.
  11. Strange though it may seem, to a German a finger moustache would not be a reference to a facist dictator who lived more than 50 years ago. That would be reading things into the gesture that Stiepermann could not have intended. He’s been great for us this season, and I thought Saturday was one of his very best performances. My MotM. But he always gives 100%.
  12. You could make a case for several. Pukki for his goals. Klose, for his work at both ends of the pitch. Buendia - on fire right now. Tettey. The two young full backs. Frankly, most of the team.. But, Mo Leitner for me. On the ball 90 or 100 times a game, he’s the man who knits it all together. If we’re to do anything this season - and I still can’t believe it - Mo needs to stay fit and in form.
  13. Whilst it’s hard to argue with the sponsors giving Mo Leitner MotM yesterday (what a player he is!) I’d have given it to Tettey, who I thought changed the game. Throughout the first half we couldn’t cope with their big number 19: big Zimm lost every aerial dual (haven’t seen that before!) and even Klose was outjumped on the one occasion he was marking him. Which gave them a ready made outlet: go long to 19, flick on, Norwich turning and under pressure. I think Farke (as the rap says: shrewd tactician) tweaked it at half time, because the first time they got the ball in the second half, up went the long clearance to 19, and who was on him but Tettey, who resisted the shove (no one shoves Tettey about!) and won the header. And every time after that Tettey was on 19, and every time he won the ball, and eventually they took 19 off. Well done that man Tettey! Well done all of them, actually, we made it difficult for ourselves, but the will to win was incredible.
  14. Vrancic impressed in that role in Sheffield, and I’m guessing may be the more creative option, long term. Against Millwall, one could see a case for Stiepermann’s more physical presence. The good news is that the team appears to be so cohesive that recently the choice of individual personnel has mattered less.
  15. Leitner is class. And we''ll get more out of him playing him in the number 10 position. He showed great attitude to play in a more defensive position last season, but number 10 is his natural position and I look forward to seeing him there. Great signing, if true.
  16. "Time for a big love in for Leitner against Leeds then. Convince him that he prefers being in England after all" Definitely. We spend time pronouncing on message boards, but there''s precious little we fans can actually do that might make a difference. However, persuading a player who might be unsure about staying that he''s appreciated here is one of the few things we can do. Mortiz Leitner, stay next year, stay next year, stay next year..... And if he plays as well as he did against Cardiff, can the sponsors make him MotM, please?
  17. “I forgot to mention that I thought Leitner and Reed were the pick of the bunch”. Agreed re Leitner’s performacne. He oozed class and created several chances, which mostly fell to Srbeny. Hoping Leitner can be persuaded to stay. We should show him some love at the last home game. Mortiz Leitner stay next year, stay next year, stay next year!
  18. Yes. We are now moving forward. Early in the season our concept of Farke’s possession based game consisted of passing the ball around our own half. We didn’t even create chances. The performance against Burton was one of the most sterile performances ever seen. Many posters here thought we were in a relegation scrap. Now, the defence (one bad game aside) is generally sorted, especially when Zimmerman is back and we can go to three at the back. We are capable of playing Farke’s possession based football in the opposition half for spells, and can create chances (which, granted, we can’t score). But against Bolton we could have gone in 4.-0 up at half time. I don’t think anyone who saw Burton and Bolton would say there’s been no progress, despite the same scoreline. No one thinks we’re getting relegated this season. So, yes, we are moving forward. Have we slipped back compared to this time last year? Obviously. But we’ve had to cut our cloth according to the new financial realities. Are we moving forward fast enough and far enough for the Webberloution to succeed? Don’t know. The mood on here will swing with each result. But, actually, what happens in the Summer will be far more significant. Granted, Madders will go, but on a best case scenario we get the right price, buy a decent striker or two, persuade Leitner to stay, without Madders he could become the main man, and manage to tempt Angus back, everything clicks, and we challenge at the top. And several pigs just flew past my window. On a worst case, Madders goes cheap, Leitner and Angus have had enough, the Madders money isn’t spent on a striker and Sir Bennie leads the line in a relegation battle.
  19. It was a long way off perfect, even in the first half. But we are a work in progress, and there is now progress to see. At the start of the season the defence was fragile, we struggled to play Farke’s possession based style and when we achieved the possession statistics he wants it was by playing the ball in our own half without any threat to the opposing goal. Now, the defence is hugely improved, away at Derby and Wolves as well as at home to Middlesborough and Bolton we dominated possession, in the opposing half too, and carved out plenty of scoring opportunities. Of course, there’s one big improvement to come. Actually, converting the chances. If we can’t do that, then ultimately the Webber / Farke experiment will fail. But, progress to see never the less, and they''ve earned time in my book.
  20. Farewell Big Guy. You gave us some good times and deserved Player of the Season. Most if not all sporting careers end either in outright failure or in a gradual waning of powers (think Wayne Rooney now) and maybe your powers waned a little at the end, and you didn’t get to play as much. But in the end, one remembers the good times. Thanks for the memories.
  21. Nothing strange about the timing if the Board’s decision taken last week as to a new structure was to bring in a Director of Football, amongst other things to take control of transfer strategy. Which would be no surprise as Neil’s greatest admired couldn’t say we’ve had value for money from Canos, Naismith and Pritchard. In which case, by using a press conference that was supposed to be about Blackburn to announce that he was the man to mastermind the Summer clear out, Neil was challenging the Board, making it a Back Me or Sack Me issue. And they didn’t back him…..
  22. We know the plan is for Nephew Tom to take over. Whatever one’s view of Nephew Tom, he doesn’t come with a background in football. The only sensible way for him to take over is in a different structure with a Director of Football to deal with the, er, football side. We know there were meetings about a new structure at Carrow Road last week, with an announcement to be made next week. If the decision were a Director of Football to come in, maybe Roy Hodgson, that would make a lot of sense from the Board’s point of view. A football man to run the football side for Tom, and someone to take the transfers off Neil. Neil’s greatest admirer would have to concede he made a string of poor buys, many of whom he then hardly played - Canos, Pritchard, Naismith etc. And more worryingly there were repeated instances of us losing out on players we wanted, of players talking to us but going elsewhere - a 35 year old Alex Neil presumably doesn’t have the clout to persuade players to come that, say, Roy Hodgson, would have. Wyatt''s article confirms Board disquiet at Neil''s transfer policy. If a new structure with a Director of Football was the decision taken last week - and we’ll know by early next week - then the Board may not have intended Neil to go at all. But Neil must have known the decision, and against that background his press conference - supposedly about the Blackburn game, remember - was a direct challenge to the decision - "I''m the man to handle transfer policy, not some Director of Football". And he left the Board with a stark choice: Back him, and abandon the long term plan for a new structure, or sack him. We know what happened then. And if he seriously thought his position was so strong that he could challenge the Board and Delia over a long held plan to bring in nephew Tom and create a structure that will allow that, then he seriously miscalculated. Speculation, but most of this we know, and the rest we’ll know when the new structure is announced.
  23. "What did Martin say?" Russell Martin said that the performance was unacceptable, humiliating and embarassing, that NCFC ought not to be losing 5-0 to Brighton, that there were players who gave up, players who seemingly don’t care and that if they don’t care they shouldn’t be here. Words were said in the dressing room. I have supported Alex Neil up to this point. I don’t think knee jerk reactions help, and tend to think that we should give managers longer. Brighton’s boss seems ok now! But when the club captain goes on the radio after a 5-0 defeat to state publicly that at least some of the team don’t care and are giving up, well, I don’t think the Board even has a decision to make.
  24. He is excellent in the air. He reads a game well, and has good positioning. He is decent on the ground and in the tackle. He is also a good leader, and is often to be seen bringing the other defenders out in a line to catch the opposition off side. He seriously lacks pace. Realistically, he is about as good as we could hope to have. If he had all of the above qualities plus blistering pace, he wouldn''t be at Norwich. So we should be glad we have him, but probably seek to pair him with someone quick.
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