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Il Pirata

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Everything posted by Il Pirata

  1. Josh Martin, this season, is not the answer. The answer is getting Dowell and Hernandez up to to match fitness asap, playing Vrancic deeper, and keeping Buendia's toys in the pram!
  2. Our performances against the better sides (top 6) this season isn't great. We've lost away to Bournemouth, Watford and Swansea. We we're very fortunate to take a point against Brentford with a hugely deflected goal. We beat Reading away, but they were without several first team players including the two key forwards (I appreciate we've had our own adversity through injuries, but we had a strong side against them). Also beat Swansea at home, but that really could have gone either way and it was a late goal to win. Our record is W2-D1-L3, not horrendous. Particularly with more games played away. But it's the performances against them which have been a worry. Plus we tend to play better away! With the gulf in quality between the top 6 and the rest of the division, it really is key we win the majority of the remaining top 6 games.
  3. No Vrancic, No Buendia, Nothing from Cantwell. We win games when Vrancic plays without Buendia and Cantwell. We win games when Buendia plays without Vrancic and Cantwell. We don't win games when Cantwell plays without Vrancic and Buendia. I'll stick to my view earlier in the season, Cantwell does not effect games enough. And when he's without creative teammates he's largely ineffective. He can't take a game by the scruff of the neck and make it happen for us. Vrancic has had a slating over the last couple of games, but as soon as he's dropped we lose. Cantwell is great player, if conditions allow. But people overate him, and fail to recognise his limitations. The last two games we're so predictable as soon as Buendia was ruled out.
  4. Howson is still a very good player and IMO would get plenty of game time in this Norwich side currently. Farke would like him. One of my personal fave's actually. Gutted when he left.
  5. Agree with this. It's important the likes of Blackburn, Boro and Bristol City stay in touch of the playoffs, otherwise there will be a lot of 'on the beach sides to play.' I guess it all depends on how the fixtures fall.
  6. Very good player, thought we may have been in for him before his move to Wolves.
  7. Vrancic quality today, especially in the first half. Another example of us being better as a team when he plays. Really helping Cantwell out too, who was also excellent.
  8. Krul and Gibson back in, clean sheet. As many others have said, we need to be more clinical. For all the flair of Buendia and Cantwell we need a touch of pace and directness. Placheta and Hernandez will offer that, and once one returns to the side I think we'll open teams up more. I also think that'll help Pukki find space too, and hit the goal trail again. We're stuck in 3rd gear.. with the occasional shift to 4th, which produces game changing moments. It feels like we're really close to moving into top gear, but then again we've been saying that for a while now! Hernandez could be the missing piece.
  9. Agree, bar Reading. I don't think they're good enough for top 2. Hard to split the rest. Barnsley are a team to watch for a play off place! On a terrific run, could be the surprise package.
  10. Has to be Gibson and Hanley now. Zimbo has been brilliant for us, and I'm sure still has a lot to offer. But Gibson and Hanley looked very solid before Gibson's injury. I think it's the better pairing.
  11. I don't think we'll see any incomings, but if we did how about a couple of ready made loans from the Baggies; Karlan Grant - Only one goal in 12 since joining WBA. Doubtful, but a loan move until the end of season could work. Kamil Grosicki - 32 years old, not really the right age profile. But another loan opportunity like above? Brilliant at this level and very fit. Look at the way Hull nose dived immediately when he left with Bowen. Could be a good for Placheta too.
  12. True. But they've been operating sustainably. Look at the money they've received in transfer fees for the likes of Watkins, Benrahma, Neal Maupay, Scott Hogan, Harley Dean, Romain Sawyers, Jota, Chris Mepham, Konsa, Andre Gray, Ryan Woods and many more.... All players they've recruited for next to nothing. Very impressive, and glad to see Norwich now operating in a similar way, albeit with emphasis on an academy too.
  13. Yeah, I wouldn't be disappointed with that! My gut feeling though, is that Brentford will be joined by Bournemouth in the top two. Playoffs for us with Swansea, Watford, and one other. Not trying to be too negative about our chances, but the way we've snuck results recently can't go on for ever. We've definitely ridden our luck, which is probably deserved due to our rotten luck with injuries. Furthermore, I feel January could be a disruptive window for us again, especially with Max and Emi being heavily linked away. I think once we get (touch wood) Hernandez, Rupp and Placheta up to full fitness, we will improve again. But by that point we may be without the likes of Emi, and be into February.
  14. Possibly, but equally he could flourish. With better players around him, he will get more time on the ball. Having said that, Buendia seems to flourish in hectic, fast moving and tight spaces, where a flash of brilliance leaves a defender for dead. I guess it won't be too long until we're forced to find out. I consider Buendia as 'one of our own,' for some reason! Real affection for him.
  15. Been saying this for a while, but what Brentford have done over the last 5 seasons has been incredible. Knocked the academy on the head, and focused on a 'B' team and better player recruitment through innovative means. The result has seen them turn into a top Championship side, turning over a huge profit in player sales, whilst keeping the conveyor belt moving with near enough identical replacements, both in terms of ability and style. Very impressive, especially considering the size of club they are. They make the likes of Sheffield Wednesday and Nottingham Forest a laughing stock with their huge unsustainable player wage bill, and lazy, predictable signings. I think Brentford will win the league this year. I think our style is similar in many ways, but Brentford have the edge in terms of team balance. They've beaten four EPL sides this year, as well as Bournemouth and a recent draw with ten men away to Watford. It's form you can't really back against.
  16. I literally will cry.. What a pleasure it's been to watch him for City. Without him we'd look very ordinary.
  17. Pretty confident. In fact, I think he scores tonight. And I really doubt Farke has concluded he's 'no good.' He's back up to Pukki. Every striker at this level would be in the same position when Pukki is fit.
  18. Our squad is huge, and full of talent when fully fit. Webber and Farke have talked before about having a close knit squad. I'd say Farke has a tough job on his hands keeping everyone happy and motivated with a fully fit squad. I wouldn't be surprised to see no incomings, and a couple of outgoings. Perhaps a loan recall or two if possible.
  19. I can't believe some people would really think this. He's only had one start to date (from memory), and suffered an injury. Hugill hasn't got going yet, sure, but that does not mean he won't. His record at this level is good and proven. 99% more so than Idah, Soto and Omatoye! Absolutely no way we'll get rid of him in January.
  20. Long way to go. A timely wake up call to avoid complacency perhaps. Nothing really in it between Norwich, Swansea, Watford, Bournemouth and Brentford.
  21. I don't recall Cantwell playing much with Vrancic. I think Cantwell would excel and be more consistent with Vrancic playing with him, same for Buendia. It was disappointing to see Vrancic dropped for Dowell.
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