Il Pirata

Just a general observation, that's all. Often I notice in posts you seem motivated by supporting opposite or minority views, or trying to buck the trend of a thread. You kind of did the same here, it's all positive regarding Steipermann, then you post negatively. Not that I disagree with what you posted, he was poor at times on Saturday. Anyway, a good forum needs different kinds of personalities and perspectives to form meaningful debate. Hope I haven't offended!

Your posts do amuse me sometimes. I'm sure if the proceeding posts we're criticising Steipermann for 'an awful 20 minute period' you'd have countered the negativity with a positive facet of his play. Just an observation and not intending to offend, but you do like to support the minority view, and counter the trend of a post.

Scores, creates and positively effects games. No showboating, always looks to turn and play forward and directly, and crucially is the best foil we have for Pukki.

Looks like the type of 'winger' Placheta is supposed to be, and one we've been crying out for for a while. Wonder where he'll end up playing. Sounds like he can play pretty much anywhere.

Brilliant result! Great change from Farke too. Steipermann again.. Todd who?😉

Indeed.

Think this could be heading for a 0-1. Need a change, Vrancic on.

Chicken, you clearly have issue's dealing with debate. I never said your stats are rubbish, that's a lie. I never said my opinion is more reliable than pundits, only that some of the national media have embarrassingly little knowledge of Norwich. Another lie. I've presented statistics as you wished, but surprise, they're not 'right' or 'reliable' statistics. Go on this seasons stats then.. Steipermann and Vrancic have both outperformed Cantwell so far. Anyway, it's pointless. Your not balanced enough to consider other peoples views. Perhaps the campaign has got in to you.

Which kind of proves my point, statistics are not the be all or end all and neither do they give an opinion the gold seal of approval.

I think Swansea might, and I can see Cardiff doing well. Brentford are strong, and I have a feeling Stoke will be up there. So add those four to Norwich, Bournemouth and Watford and I think you have your contenders.

Hugill will come good. He needs to start games to have an affect, not a super sub for me. Confidence player who needs a run of games to find form - which he hasn't had yet. So seems far too early to cast judgement. With the games coming thick and fast I expect him to start again soon. Pukki needs to be kept fresh. Having said that, I wouldn't have minded Toney instead of Hugill.

Ok Chicken, my stats are the 2018/19 season. Vrancic = 10 goals, 7 assists - 36 appearances. Steipermann = 9 goals, 6 assists - 40 appearances. Cantwell = 1 goal, 2 assists - 24 appearances. Source, whoscored.com. So as we are a championship club again, and considering the last time was only 18 months ago, I'd rather see Vrancic and Steipermann play ahead of Cantwell. Personally I think your wrong to suggest you must back up an opinion with stats. There are other dynamics at play with a team performance that are hard to measure. For example, the telepathic understanding Steipermann and Pukki have, or the way Vrancic can turn defensive into attack with one pass. Off the ball positioning, something neither of the three above do that well, but is often perfected by Tettey. How is that 'skill' accurately measured by statistics? Interceptions possibly - but there's more to it, it isn't clearly identifiable but has a huge impact on a teams dynamic. Do you understand what I mean? For me, we're a better side at this level with Vrancic and Steipermann than Cantwell. And that's considering Cantwell has likely improved, although I've seen nothing so far to suggest he's much better than last time at this level. Early days of course. And fully expect many to disagree. Your going to say that Cantwell plays more on the left, not number 10. Fair enough. But to accomodate Vrancic or Steipermann you need a pacy player. If not Hernandez, then Placheta. And I won't entertain the idea of Cantwell for Buendia, because the players are levels apart.

This is what I find frustrating. I do bang on a bit about Mario Vrancic, but these are exactly the games he should be starting. Games where teams sit back, give us time on the ball, and require something very creative and special to break them down. Brentford away, is not an ideal game for Vrancic to start. A team that will press and put us on the back foot. That's where Mario struggles with his mobility.

Thought Farke should have been a little more strategic with his subs. Vrancic on around the hour mark would have been a sensible move IMO. Easy to say in hindsight, but the triple substitution seemed unnecessarily gung ho, and at that late stage gave us no time to re-settle. Still, unbeaten run continues.

Vrancic?

Chicken, with respect, your trying to rubbish my opinion like you own conclusive stats.. you simply don't, so please stop. You've expressed some very pro-Cantwell opinions and provided some stats that support them - but they're not conclusive. Stats can just as easily mislead. I could also find many that would support my opinion that Vrancic and Steipermann are more effective team players than Cantwell. There's no right or wrong here, Chicken. No matter how hard you try.

All about opinions, and that's football. I don't think it's clear Cantwell is capable performing consistently at EPL level. 6 goals is all he has to show, which isn't bad, but doesn't prove that much either. He made virtually no assists and his chance creation was low. For a creative player that doesn't bode well. But he's young, so can improve on the talent he has. Steipermann wasn't given a proper chance to show form.. How many games did he play at the start of last season? By your own admission, not enough to be classed as 'form.' Technical ability (touch etc) clearly Cantwell is better than Steipermann. But goals, assists, chance creation, and critically the ability to get Pukki firing... It's Steipermann for me. And there's plenty of statistics to back that up.

Come off it Chicken, there's some appalling punditry out there and you know it! I'm not saying it's all, far from it, but most on the BBC are useless.

But as you've already pointed out, Steipermann is more effective. Which is my point. Out of interest, on what scale if Cantwell 5 x the player Steipermann is? Keepy uppies? I'd agree with that.

Like you and the majority on here, I've watched Cantwell play more than most national pundits, particularly those two mentioned. Every time we're in the EPL its staggering just how little pundits and commentators know about Norwich. It's embarrassing really. Unless its MB, PD, DF or CG, you can't rely on it.

What like Ian Wright, Alan Shearer and co... must be true then. You do realise that most of the time they just analyse a highlight real don't you? I guess we'll wait and see how the season pans out. But feel free to bring this thread back up in a few months time. I'll happily be proven wrong, but currently stick to my prediction he'll get no where near 10 goals or 10 assists this season. Whereas others, such as Buendia, will.

He scored more goals, yes. Didn't do a lot more with far more opportunity to do so. Like I said before, we were heading for draws until Vrancic showed against Birmingham and Wycombe, and Steipermann showed what he brings to the game on Saturday. Both start ahead of Todd for me.

Not at all. I have no set agenda against Cantwell, and actually it does seem to me there's an overwhelming opinion on this message board that Cantwell will thrive in this division. And that he is one of the reasons we should walk this league. Cantwell scored 6 goals last season. Impressive. How many assists did he get, or chances did he create? Also, how many goals has he scored in this calendar year? Regarding form I take your point. But to my point above, Cantwell has shown a distinct lack of it for an very long time now.

Really, you actually think that? Remind yourself of the 18/19 season and check the stats (you like them) of Pukki, Buendia, Vrancic and Hernndez. Look at there goals and assists. I would say they were (and still are) a bit better than players "tough to play against." Also, you cant just say "you would have to put Cantwell in there too" because he hasn't done it. The stats back that up.

So many Norwich fans used to go crazy about the talent of the Murphys. I can't prove it, but I always felt they were never good enough to make the step up to EPL and be consistent and regularly put my view across in conversation. I saw them as decent Championship players. My view of Cantwell is the same. My view of Maddison was very different, as is my view of Buendia. Cantwell has a pleasing on the eye style, and will always look good on a highlights reel. So I'm not surprised people bring him up to you. It happens to me too, but interestingly never with Buendia. And we (Norwich fans) all know Buendia is a class apart, don't we? Cantwells goals against Man City and Chelsea certainly elevated him with fans and media outside of Norwich.