Dean Coneys boots

Drmic is better than Hugill when he can be bothered - which he wasn’t when here And as much as I am accused of not factoring in improvements - many forget that - at the time- we thought Leitner and Amadou were going to be mustard etc… Bottom line - better overall squad but not a better overall team. And that is concerning

Be fair - I was the one who pointed out that the squad is a bit better overall but was also pointing out that we haven’t, in fact, improved the starting XI very much. And anyone who is impartial would agree / not least when skipp is factored in. Now given that we failed so woefully last time/ setting all sorts of horrid records- that should ring a few alarm bells.

much improved? I agree a bit more depth in the squad but Let’s look at the starting xi then and now Gk: krull v krull - the same LB: Lewis v gianoulis - the same CB: Hanley v Hanley - the same CB: Godfrey v Gibson - about the same RB: Aarons v Aarons- the same CDM: Amadou/Tettey v Sorenson - worse CM: McLean v Gilmour - improvement LM: Todd v Todd - the same CAM: Duda v Dowell - small improvement RM: Emi v Rashica - small decline CF: Pukki v Pukki - the same

You need yellow tinted glasses to think we are massively improved from last season and/or last time in the premiership. New signings look decent but before they add a thing we have to factor in the massive loss of both Skipp and Buendia. And we have also signed quick players on wings not the positions where our weakness is obvious - CB and CDM. unless four or five new faces arrive - which our some real grit and steel into our midfield than the chances are we will - again- be bullied off it in the middle of the park and see a fair few results like Newcastle all season

How much of Pukki’s success was down to the perfect passes of Emi? Can he consistently score without the other half of the partnership? And if he cannot / what is plan B?

Perhaps we could ask the FA to give points for least debt rather than wins?

It’s odd but nobody I know who supports other sides is remotely interested in self funding models and thinks we are fairly quaint and naive for doing it…

That could be it - although I would have thought we might buy one and hold out for skipp - as we are very short in terms of that position

So you think the answers to our defensive issue is Rashica and Cantwell? Hmmm let me think…

Generally ok? At premiership level. Could you give some evidence for that claim? I would argue we are some way short of being able to state that

Actually it isn’t depth but improvements we need - at CB and especially CDM or it’s going to be a miserable season once again

Problem is that we are mainly signing young attacking players when what we clearly need is physicality in defence and the middle. Having bagged Tzolis and Rashica - not sure why Sargent comes before the CB and CDM we are crying out for. without skipp we are much weaker defensively than last season which isn’t very encouraging with Liverpool up next…gulp

Well there will be two camps 1) see I told you we need x, y and z 2) you can’t tell anything from pre season (unless it is positive) With Liverpool and Man City rolling up next I lean towards concern not optimism at present - we head into a season weaker defensively if with a few more attacking options

£10m is yesterday’s 5 - it really is the starting point for strikers these days

Which only effected Norwich?

Being signed as number three striker to develop when hugill goes is my guess

Agree with that. The next two weeks are crucial as to whether we navigate it or fall at the first hurdle - but at least things are starting to move now

Our spend was due to selling our star player, Buendia, having already lost our best player from last season in skipp. So let’s at least acknowledge the loss of our best ball winner and chance creator - neither of which have yet been replaced - before patting ourselves on the back for being more ambitious than Chelsea?!!! Honestly you couldn’t make it up!!

I struggle to accept that fully/ given that the hit happened to all clubs so did not disadvantage us unfairly compared to others Interesting article here that shows my views are not quite as rare and unwarranted as many on this forum imagine https://norwichcity.myfootballwriter.com/2021/08/03/no-panic-stations-yet-but-lets-not-kid-ourselves-the-prep-has-gone-as-planned/?fbclid=IwAR2N_P08R64EBNwMg4n90tE_8eNTgYd8uVKycdbUmnwhq-FWb163QKLTVTo

Oh I am full of huge appreciation for what Farke and Webber have done/ they have worked miracles truth be told. I would just love to send them into the fight with a gun and see how far they could take us if their hands were not perpetually tied on promotion

At the same level as those departing or not as good?

No - there is a chance we will over perform and stay up. But certainly our wage structure and transfer budget and investment level is much lower than all the other teams. So it certainly won’t be easy and we will have to box clever the difference, I guess, between keeping Buendia and adding our summer signings on top - as opposed to having had to sell him in order to fund them.

Or in the sensible world - it is empirical evidence that the glass ceiling with this funding model/investment level is top of the championship without being able to kick on

Really? We seem to be struggling to sign just one at present

The good: He is playing so well and that overhead set up was awesome. the bad: it’s a preseason friendly against League One opposition. The diving, petulance when they took their free kick, etc - isn’t a good look I almost want him to get a short term non serious injury- to keep him here beyond the window mind- he really does add a bit of sparkle