Yelloow Since 72

I'm pretty certain that the club has an option for another year and if so, that isn't going to happen.

Krul Kabak. Hanley. Gibson Aarons Giannoulis Gilmour Normann. McLean Sargent Pukki.

There were 4 other Scots players who scored higher than Gilmour on WhoScored. He seems to be the journos favourite, though. https://www.whoscored.com/Matches/1516182/Live/International-FIFA-World-Cup-2021-2022-Scotland-Israel

Brighton have had a less challenging first 7 matches with Leicester, Everton and Arsenal the only top teams they have faced. They managed 2 shots on target out of 21 chances at home against Arsenal in a 0-0 draw but seem fairly consistent in their play and will certainly start as favourites but my guess would be something like our game against Leicester, though we've improved since then.

The key to winning is to score first, which takes the pressure off us and puts it on to them and provides us with counter-attacking opportunities. Staying tight at the back helps make that possible. We've created a decent number of chances, we just need to start converting them. I see Normann as the key, playing as a DM when they have the ball then switching to playmaker when we win it back.

Which makes it a decent chance to put the Watford game behind us and build on the Burnley result. Normann's improvement in both fitness and adjustment to the PL will be a key factor. The same could be said for Kabak, but Brighton will be another test.

As for the 4-3-2-1 which worked so well in the Championship, we don't yet have the players who can make that work in the PL. We've improved, but the level is so much higher that we're left far too open at the back. The key to where we go from here is Normann, who is still adjusting and building match fitness - Burnley was his first full 90 minutes. If he can provide the DM cover and also be a deep playmaker and goal threat when we have the ball, then the new 3-5-2 can start producing goals as well.

What would get me about Burnley is the lack of a vision or apparent long-term plan. They aim to hang on again with an aging squad that has 9 players over 30 and a lot of fouls and gamesmanship. The endless bleating about penalties is pathetic, especially when most of the time they're looking to go down whether touched or not. With the Krul and Vydra incident Krul has every right to punch the ball just as Vydra has every right to try to head it. Had it been a collision of heads nothing would have been said.

Yes, it certainly makes a change from all of the doom based negativity, though that's less true of WhoScored.

It's early days but as Normann adjusts to the team and the PL he will remarkably provide both the DM cover for the defence and act as deep playmaker when we have the ball. This is David Freezer's view on that: "Normann is putting in the hard yards and working to provide defensive protection but is also the man the City players are regularly looking to in possession. Nick Pope made a decent save from the 25-year-old's free-kick after Kabak’s rampaging run but was left stranded as Normann pulled the trigger on a powerful, swerving shot from a tight angle - after a pirouette away from two markers - which clipped the crossbar. With a first 90 minutes in the tank, the Rostov loanee is swiftly finding form in England and pushing up the midfield standards."

Very thought provoking discussion coming out of Parma's op. My concerns are that Buendia didn't want to stay a year ago and a deal was done that if he helped us get promoted, he could move on. Also, Emi proved to be a very powerful weapon in the Championship (twice) but I'm not that convinced that he was as effective in the PL where he had good stats, but much lower actual output. This is hardly surprising, Pukki scored 29 goals in the Championship, but only 11 in the PL, just as Holt dropped from 28 goals to 14. The point has also been made that the weapon Buendia provided did not improve our defence or our squad depth, which became such a factor once the injuries, particularly to CBs, mounted. We didn't survive in the PL last time with Emi, why would his presence this time be guaranteed to make such a difference? He was, after all, ever present in that final run of 10 straight defeats. Instead of trying the same thing again Webber and Farke decided to improve all areas of the squad with quality players and they have done so, with the possible exception of Buendia and Skipp's positions though we have yet to see what difference the new players can make. Normann, for example, is not a like for like with Skipp, but he does offer far more in the weapon category progressing the ball forward and even shooting himself. Rashica, Sargent and Tzolis may not be Buendia clones, but they all have the potential to become weapons in the PL, but only time will tell on that, or on the difference the other five new players who have been added can have. Even Emi didn't become a weapon in his first six games.

WhoScored shows him on the right of an er, 4-4-2! Rafa must be over 60 then. I'd rather see Normann and McLean in midfield.

I think that if we keep our shape with a back 3 or midfield 3 and counterattack when the opportunity arises, we could pull a surprise like we did last time when Pukki sent Cantwell racing through for the opening goal. Much will depend on how Normann plays after a decent debut against Watford:https://www.edp24.co.uk/sport/norwich-city/canaries-ncfc-mathias-normann-player-watch-8336204If he stays solid in front of the defence and also plays the penetrating through balls to Pukki, Sargent and Rashica/Tzolis it could just catch Everton out.

That spending table is indicative really. We spent more than those around us but that means we now have more new players to integrate. That showed in the Watford game where the understanding between their players was so much better. The hope now is that as the new players assimilate the results will improve but we'll have to wait and see.

Of the 9 new players signed, 5 are experienced players at the highest level and the other 4 are younger players with some experience at the highest level. Skipp had played a handful of PL games when he arrived, but he left able to fill a starting role for Spurs. We have gained 9 new players for the loss of Buendia and Skipp. The last time in the PL, Buendia had good stats, but few goals or assists. Normann has already got one assist in his first 60 minutes. It's frustrating to suffer these losses, but the new players will develop from here and results will improve once they do.

Welcome PAOK fan. In addition to this message board, you might also like the other, which is 'Not 606 - Norwich' (just Google it). Another source of newspaper and blog articles is 'Newsnow Norwich City'. Our local sports newspaper is the 'Pinkun' which again you can just Google. Hope that helps.

I didn't do the poll, but I'd have gone for give him more time. What I feel annoyed about is the sudden need to rush new players into the starting lineup. We were reasonably solid and competitive against Leicester and Arsenal, but DF brought in Kabak and Normann after only a limited time in training. Buendia waited 4 or 5 weeks before starting. The cup game would have been a better place to start for Normann and Kabak without breaking up the team's coordination for such an important league match. As it was, they were both directly involved with conceding goals on their PL debut.

It's a good result for us with Leeds now having 3 points and Newcastle 2. A win tomorrow would put us right back into the mix.

For me, the performance is the key, but after the tough start we've had we need a result as well. We deserved a draw against Leicester but didn't get it. After 5 games (including the cup) and a full week of training, our new players should be settling in now. A win could turn around our season. OTBC!

I agree that "positive results are needed now", but that doesn't have to mean all out attack. Watford will be the first time where we will be at least even favourites for a result so we need to stay disciplined and choose the best chances. Watford have lost their last 3 matches, including a 2-0 loss at home to Wolves on Saturday. Our new players are beginning to gel now and we'll have Sargent back and Normann and Kabak as options as well. This isn't the time to chop and change formations. We need to build on the experience of the first four games and give the players a chance to make it work. The 3 midfielders will still have defensive responsibilities, but they should also be able to get forward more to support the attack when the time is right. DF has a virtually full squad to choose from so he'll have a very strong bench as well.

I take your point, but McLean, Normann and Lees-Melou are all big, physical players. I look forward to all 3 playing against the likes of Burnley or West Ham.

Rupp is a solid, reliable player on both sides of the ball, but will be behind Normann, Lees-Melou, McLean and Gilmour in selection. Had Normann had more time in training and proved his fitness, he would have started at the Emirates. Gilmour didn't play because DF thought he had too many minutes with Scotland. In future, they will both be ahead of Rupp.

The 4-3-3 formation has made us far more solid in midfield and also helped us play the ball out of defence more effectively. Our recruitment of Gilmour, Normann and Lees-Melou adds to that. The last two, like McLean and Rupp, can also play as a CAM when we have possession and then drop back when the ball is lost. IMO, this is a better balance than either a 4-2-3-1 or a 3-4-2-1. Against Watford it will allow us to deal with Sarr and their other attacking players more effectively while also creating an effective threat with the ball. We forced Arsenal into a lot of low percentage shots and blocked about a third of those, while managing 10 shots ourselves, with at least 3 of those being very decent chances. We should be able to at least double both those against Watford and contain their threat more effectively as well at CR.

This was Arsenal away and they beat us by a fluky two deflection goal that was questionable offside. There was much to praise in that performance as the commentators kept saying. We were in the match all the way and the midfield 3 were at the heart of that with Lees-Melou and McLean scoring 7.0 and 6.9 on WhoScored. Hanley and Omobamidele formed a good partnership and Williams had his best game yet. Had Normann been available instead of Rupp we could have had a result from that. Watford lost 2-0 at home to Wolves and the others at the bottom also lost and they'll all have to play these 4 top teams (Southampton travel up to ManCity next week). A win against Watford at CR and we're right back in the mix.

Well Max thinks we can win! https://www.justarsenal.com/max-aarons-believes-norwich-can-get-all-3-points-at-arsenal/290945 Go for it boys! OTBC!