Il Pirata

An on-song Buendia, yes. Cantwell.. not enough for me. We need more from deeper. Off the ball Cantwell and Buendia are passengers, and I can't see us being able to hold the ball well today. That's what a Vrancic can give you, plus he can get the ball to Buendia in the right areas with passing accuracy. Not something Tettey or Mclean do well. I'd have bought Steipermann back in too.

Without Vrancic and Trybull, we struggle to keep the ball. Mclean and Tettey will hurried and will then rush possession - and Cantwell and Buendia are too naïve on the ball. My prediction is we'll see very little of sustained possession today.

No pace, power, athleticism and very little creativity. Plus a raft of changes again, so expect another disjointed performance. I don't hide the fact I'm not a huge Cantwell fan, but Hernandez should be starting instead. I also don't like playing with both Buendia and Cantwell on the pitch.. its one or the other for me.

Just my opinion. I'm sure you probably said the same about the Murphy's too. He gets into useful advanced positions which can result in goals (still scored very few) and assists (not many of them either). The thing is, my argument has always been that statistically he may look good - but he doesn't impact on the team fantastically well. He gives the ball away a lot, and off the ball, particularly in a defensive manor, he's pretty woeful. Much like Buendia, but Todd isn't on Buendia's technical ability. Cantwell cannot turn a game for us, like an on song Buendia or Vrancic can. It was the same for the Murphy's. They could score some brilliant goals, but often the team dynamic didn't seem right when they played. Josh in particular. Statistics' overshadow some pretty glaring flaws if you watch and analyse a player closely. And as a last point, Todd struggled to get into the team last season. So perhaps he's League One standard? Just because he's starting in the EPL for a bottom placed team, doesn't mean he's EPL standard, in the same way not playing last season didn't mean he wasn't Championship standard.

Good shout, forgot about him. I think he has the attributes to be a real classy player, but with a bit of bite and energy.

Do agree with that. Vrancic should've absolutely played more. Over the last 2 season's our best results seem to coincide with him playing. He finished last season strong too, that free kick against Sheff Wed, the rocket against Blackburn, really feel we've missed out by not playing him. Appreciate he's had injury niggles.. but he can turn it on and can be hugely effective and influential. That first half against Spurs a prime example. Take a Cantwell as a comparison. Looks busier, seems to put more in, gets into advanced positions, but is he actually influential on the teams overall play? Certainly not to a Vrancic level. I mention Cantwell, but Duda as you mention, and Mclean could easily be used in a similar comparison. Its the main thing that frustrates with Farke. I believed he was fearless and would continue to play our own 'brand' of football. But this season he seems to have been a bit anxious with team selection, and tried to play safe. The problem is our safe system still results in defeats.. and therefore leaves Farke open for justified criticism. Hernandez is another one. I know we've had injuries, but I wish Farke stuck to the midfield below when available. After all, no-one as come in to replace them and nail the position. Vrancic Trybull / Tettey Hernandez Steipermann Buendia Pukki This lot clicked, and had almost telepathic understating at times last season. Very frustrated we didn't line up like this more often. I think we'd have scored and won more, especially at home.

Rupp could be a really useful player I the championship and would not be sold for me. We need to retain some experienced players. Duda will return to Germany, Leitner will probably follow. Although I still cling onto hope he'll get another chance and take it. He has undoubted ability and still relatively young. As for Cantwell, I can't see him leaving. I think he's hugely overrated, and maintain his level is still championship, for now at least. But I wouldn't be at all disappointed if we sold him. Very much in the Jacob / Josh Murphy bracket, than James Maddison in terms of overall ability. Bali Mumba looks another astute signing. Factor in Sinani, McCallum, and Sitti, we have some very exciting prospects ready to come into Farke's side. These signings make me think Webber and Farke are still very much committed to the cause. Relegation is not the end of the world, and it looks as though we'll be better positioned than in any other previous relegation. Of course we need to maintain some continuity, and that'll be a tough balancing act. But I feel like there's a plan, and that's reassuring - to me at least. There's always a risk we slip into insignificant Norwich of the mid 90s, or an Ipswich Town style malaise, but we really are miles off that currently.

Projects of such scale take many months and even years of planning, consenting, and agreement will all relevant stakeholders. That's without considering the finance structure for the project. You can't impulsively decide to have a new football stand, like you might a new car, or a new pair of jeans, just because the time appears right.

Couple of nearly moments... Pukki and Buendia showed glimpses of their link up play.. Buendia should have put his foot through that chance rather than knock it past Pickford. Vrancic definitely knits things together better. With the right team out we're not a million miles off... but Farke doesn't play his strongest team and it's miles too late. Injuries wrecked our promotion bounce... who'd have thought it could've been this bad after that brilliant win against Newcastle back in August.

I'm sure the fact it's 28 degrees out there has more to do with any lack of desire you might think your witnessing. I don't think Farke has lost it at all.

I don't got the wholesale changes, two was probably enough. Vrancic and Hernandez in for Cantwell and Drmic or something would've seemed more sensible. Wholesale changes just disrupts any sort of rhythm or understanding between the players. That's just common sense..

Sorry, but that sort of valuation is over the top. He's not proven much at this level, albeit in a poor side. He's a star championship player, that's all that's certain at the minute. Still has potential and has shown flashes this season, but given the performances of the team and his own, and the current economic climate, his value is much closer to £20 million than £40 million, IMO.

Another one from Farke which baffles me to be honest. Tried him in the number 10 role behind Pukki, and was a bit of revelation. Everton away springs to mind. But then isn't really tried there again. He's not effective enough in the deeper role. Before Norwich, he always played more of an attacking role. A midfield four of Trybul, Mclean, Cantwell and Buendia is so disjointed. Number tens playing on the wing and in defensive roles... Too many square pegs in round holes. Why doesn't Farke just revert back to the championship winning team? He should never have broken that up so much. Vrancic Tettey (or Trybull) Buendia Mclean Henrnandez Pukki And utilise Rupp and Duda…. That midfield and attack is much more dynamic and better balanced than the one Farke put out against Saints. Hernandez is such a waste on the bench, and brings much more to the team as a whole than Cantwell. Next season, Hernandez and Mclean will very important players. I hope they'll both still be here. I worry Hernandez maybe a bit miffed off.

Farke does himself no favours. It's such a poor starting line up.. So weak and lacking in any real 'x factor' Hernandez and Vrancic have shortfalls, but they can also do the exceptional and win games. Kenny, Trybull, Cantwell... so predictable and easy to play against.

We've heard that before, many times in fact! Leeds are perpetual 'bottlers' as far as seeing a season out is concerned. Promotion and relegation is influenced greatly by mental and human factors, something a statistical solution such as PPG cannot replicate. Leeds have consistently proven over the last decade or so that they finish seasons in poor form. Until its won, it isn't. For me it's clear, null and void is the fairest way to end the season without football being played. Nobody has lost anything they had or owned possession of. Leeds may 'hold' a promotion place but they do not own it. The season cannot be cut short either. I think play will resume behind closed doors, but the sporting integrity will be brought into question, with clubs potentially losing competitive home advantage etc. Plus the interaction of relegation and promotion between the EPL and EFL. Again, null and voiding the season, would be the cleanest cut available IMO. Legal battles? Yes. But much less complex than any of the other potential options. As a final point, I've lost interest how it ends to be quite honest. For me the season is over. I don't particularly care what division or what football format Norwich return to play in, so long as they do so with fans and it's competitive!

I didn't realise that Italy had that depth of professional teams. I always though England had the most.

Hi Mason, no not accurate. more like 28 days!!

Having recently taken advantage of the lockdown sale, I can confirm the quality of Errea products is shocking. The material feels cheap, thin, and prime to pulls and nicks. In fact, one of the shirts for my daughter had a large pulled thread in it when it arrived... but given she's two and the shirt cost £8 I'll live with it! Would be nice to find another kit supplier. Not mainstream Nike, Adidas or Puma though. Someone like Kappa maybe, I always think the Leeds kits look nice! I suppose something about them has to... Macron another, Lazio's kits are very nice too.

I think the point was more that no other country has as many fully professional layers as the English league does.

Ah, some welcome relief on here! We really have had some brilliant moments.. especially when you consider Ipswich have literally had nothing for 15 odd years! The amount of last minute goals which gained vital points is incredible... For me, in no particular order; 1. 2002 Play off semi-final - Norwich 3-1 Wolves. A turning point season which ended 7 depressing seasons of nothingness (imagine 15 of those) 2. Simeon Jackson - Last minute against Derby. Utter scenes! 3. 2015 Playoff semi-final - Norwich 3-1 Ipswich. Beating your bitter rivals to reach Wembley in the game dubbed the richest in the world.. it doesn't get better than that, surely? That's proper once in a lifetime stuff.

Good point regarding Fox. I think a diamond with Vrancic at the base could be the way to go for the rest of the season. Something like; Vrancic Rupp Mclean Buendia Pukki Drmic Nothing to lose now.

No, but that's easy to say. On paper he's very much a Farke type of player, and has shown that in glimpses. Its just the whole dynamic of the team isn't quite right. Summer was a huge failure in terms of our transfer business.

We miss Hernandez too.

A bit like Pukki and Buendia and Drmic and Vrancic and Cantwell.....and basically our whole bloody squad!

I think he's very much a confidence player. When the teams on top he shines, and has the quality to execute a killer ball or produce a moment of magic. When the team isn't on top and has to fight and scrap, Duda isn't your man.