hepphep

Also he is at the moment top in assists in on going Euro qualifiers, so his creativity is sure to be missed in addition to goals. However, longer the last season went there was others to step up as well. Would not mind getting someone on wing who could also find target bit better.

No Buendia, but there is Robin Lod. Another player he has seemed to have like telepathic connection with in national team games, so maybe that actually also plays some part.

Pukki also actually leads in assists in whole Euro qualifiers at the moment (4). Maybe he has been thinking that its time for a new challenge and instead of scoring himself its time to try to win some top assists tables 😉

I'd bet for their promotion from league 2 for sure, with 3 Serie A players and 3 Bundesliga players in their team 😉

I'd correct a bit, if you allow. 😉 He has done extremely well for us and we have done pretty well for him (not getting in anyone to provide service and making him to stay this one last championship year when he would have wanted to play still on higher level lowers the "we've done well for him" meter quite a bit)

Hard to say exact club, but I'd think the league is either EPL or Bundesliga.

Cannot agree that he flopped. On his time in Spain, he was academy player who had one sub appearance before moving away for more minutes (and actually to play in european competitions). Year and a half from that and he was in Bundesliga top 5 club. On Bundesliga he did score around goal per 130 minutes ratio, which I would never call flop. Reason why he did not break through in Schalke was that they had Huntelaar on his prime as their main striker and they played with one forward. Therefore he moved after gametime to Celtic. Celtic period was awful, but it was not that he would not have had quality to play top leagues at that time already. Sometimes the team just plays in a way that does not suit for individual.

I agree that money is likely not deciding factor, but I'd expect he would still want to challenge him on top level. Either EPL, Bundesliga or La Liga. As free transfer, he will sure have demand in those

Or if he could be better finisher. He is so good in cutting in the middle and getting his foot open. Just bit of quality there and he would be scoring some big goals

Now he is 5th in goals and 4th in assists in whole league. If we can keep on playing ever near today, can see him still climbing to challenge top spot in both.

I think that it remains as valid question for longer term if he can find and maintain such form regularly. So far in his career for us and in Bundesliga he has scored 28 goals in 138 games. As big chunk of those is early this season, its interesting to see if he had silly streak or if it is that he has been able to step up to next level. In comparison, Idah has 9 in 62 which would make their career averages pretty same in start of the season when Idah was still injured and Sargent got his streak. And please do not read to this as saying Sargeant is bad player. He has really good qualities in his pressing and work rate. Still bit unsure if he can contribute to controlling game yet though and if he can keep on scoring regularly on high numbers.

It could also be that Sargent was massively overperforming for short period. But I agree that Sargeant likely can be best option if the style of play is just to try to drive towards goal and deliver ball there. However, I would rather see us to try to create chances as a team, as we should be very capable to do that.

Problem is though that in overall quality, we are still having mid-level championship forward vs epl level forward there, and therefore dropping Pukki for Sargent would be admitting that we give up for this season. Not 100% sure that Sargent will take that step in future either, as he seems to be lacking football brain. In that sense I actually still think Idah might be one to replace Pukki in future.

I often cannot but wonder if we really should play only one of Pukki or Sargent at any time as they seem to eat space from each others too often. I think that might apply to many players actually, as individuals they seem better than when working together. For example Aarons is shadow of his past level, but I really cannot think that he is regressed as individual. He just dont fit in with rest of the current team that well anymore. Also CM trio on last match tried play too similar with each others, nobody too aggressive role between others of midfield and forwards. As individuals, I think most of players in our last starting eleven could make it to starting eleven for nearly all teams in this league. As a team we are not even close to top teams. I think part of it is just bad coaching and we need some serious improvement on setting player roles. Part of it is surely shattered confidence. And part of it would be wrongly build team due to silly recruitments, having our best eleven made of too similar players so that we cannot fill all the required roles with them.

I dont know if I'm totally lost as I cannot join all the misery talk this time. I think it was excellent improvement in the quality of our game with real attitude to get the job done. Just no luck this time, but after a long time our players seemed like quality individuals. Also, gotta admit that today it was easy to see why managers keep on selecting McLean as he was outstanding. Unlucky to lose points, but otherwise really entertaining stuff!

So looks like offensive 4-3-3 with plenty of energy in middle (but also not defensively most solid) and lots of attack minded players. I might jinx it now, but I'm pretty confident that tjis one will not end 0-0...

Played half a season with Norwich so far. Very offensive 3-4-3 formation. Top of league atm. Pukki has already scored nearly 30 goals, Idah and Sargeant providing good support. Turned Aarons and Giannoulis as wingers, which is working better all the time. Starting eleven currently: Gunn, Gibson, Omobamidele, Hanley, Giannoulis, Sorensen, Nunez, Aarons, Idah, Pukki, Sargeant Looking now to buy extra forward to replace Hugill as sub and BWM to replace Sorensen

Platypus. With traits that are totally useless for football, like electricity sense or poison spike on heel.

I agree on most parts, but I think he is actually been pretty good in build-up on games where his role has allowed him to participate more. Creating chances for others is also something where he seems to be ahead from rest of the team, and being top of team's assists table (and 7th in league) tells something about that. But totally agree that he is not sort of complete forward, but more suitable on play where ball stays on ground and team keeps up good pace.

The problem with witch doctors is that there is always more powerful one who can place suitable counter hex. And with Mbappe's salary, you can (and should) hire quite a few!

In bit longer quote, Finnish national team coach said that it was due to Pukki's own request.

I think Byram was really good first half and it was good decision to start with him. We had Sara on that side to be the more offensive option and McCallum on other side as more offensive fullback. I think that Sara and Max sort of excludes each other from playing on same wing as they'd eat out each other's attacking options and Sara does not stand out as very good in defensive positioning, therefore not providing Max the required support defensively. Max is more aggressive offensively, but I think his offensive strength is not same that few years back when he was able to get into box more. Now he quite often cuts in earlier which can cause good chances but also takes space out of other forward players and therefore I think he'd likely taken off some of the attacking play we were playing there. In a way, I think he is bit like Hernandez on his attacking endeavors. He has good engine and pace and can create something out of thin air, valuable asset when trying to break the low defensive formation, but on the other hand not on his main strengths in the way we played first half.

I think Hayden was good in first half, balancing things. Being bit invisible is often good sign in that role. He clearly ran out of gas in around 50-60 minutes after which he became more visible because he was constantly a bit late. Think he should've been subbed at that point as it gave control of midfield to QPR. I think he will be improving every game as he gains the fitness.

Finally really entertaining start for match! And we finally seem to have found some attitude and creativity as well.

Really hard to see someone from Norwegian league (except old star player of EPL team) to be recruited as a manager/head coach of EPL team. I think the more common way would be through Scotland or Championship. Its not easy to get into EPL (and often not to Championship and SPL either) straight from smaller leagues and can only recall Solskjäer as single exception in near future. Or am I missing someone else? I think he'd instantly jump into a plane if he'd be asked for interview.