The Great Mass Debater

As a recent first time poster and 10 year lurker, I had always been put off commenting by the numerous threads that descended into squabbles and the territorial domination of the board by certain posters and general aggression to be found on the board. However what caused me to post for the first time was the combination of boredom, living on my own in a new house for a few weeks and getting drunk one night! I was pleased that since joining I havent had any negative experiences so have continued to post :)

Watched the Youtube link posted earlier in the thread. One word came to my mind ''Driving''. Very much looking forward to seeing him do his thing :D

Squad balancing up nicely now. Another striker, another CM and perhaps a CB for me. Would get by with simply another striker though. Think we have enough in the wide areas. A Quagliarella type and an Alderweireld type and think we could feel like the squad re-shaping was complete

Looking for a Fer factfile I found this. Worth a look for a smug giggle... http://hereisthecity.com/2013/01/28/mn-ten-facts-about-everton-new-boy-leroy-fer/

[quote user="Alan_Grey"]Various Everton fans doing their nut on twitter :) A mix of hate against Fer and disbelief that we dared to sign him.[/quote] Good to know :)

Played first half against Liverpool. Conceded two goals, one a penalty. Think he did well from the report

Great news. Wonder who his centre mid partner will be? Someone new or an existing player? If so, whom?

What is interesting about this for me is what it implies about our scouting network (if anything). Will he be classed as being signed for the academy? Is this a direct result of academy 1 status or nothing to do with it? OT but I also thought Simeon Jacksons move to Germany was odd. Cant think he''s been scouted so must be agent or contacts?

[quote user="kdncfc"]Who are the other 5? I only make it 3 so far - RVW, Redmond and Garrido who was already here anyway.[/quote] Nash and Olsson

Acoording to Teamtalk article: Alderweireld''s agent, Soren Lerby, rejected suggestions that it was Norwich''s standing in the game that persuaded the 24-year-old to reject their overtures. "The problem was not that Norwich didn''t fit Toby''s ambitions, but we simply failed to agree terms," Lerby told Algemeen Dagblad. I wonder if this means the deal is completely dead in the water or maybe there might be a stand-off? Doesnt sound from this quote like he has looked down his nose at us in the way Toivonen did. Sounds like it simply is about money. If thats the case, could be that after a little thought or sweating, either side might concede a little. Surely just wishful thinking but its nice to hope!

To me, world class means they would walk into most other national teams (or you could even extend that to clubs) first XI. Take the Spanish national team for instance. I think the vast majority of their Euro/World Cup squad (not XI) would walk into the England team. By contrast, how many of our players would walk into theirs? Rooney is always touted as being World Class. But would you pick him above any of the Spanish alternatives? I wouldnt. Gerrard in his prime was truly world class, a player any national team would be desperate to plonk in their XI

Think he would be a good shout. Certainly not going to be a Harry Kane considering what he achieved in Holland. cant see him getting much game time at Man City even if Pellegrini is an admirer. Would be an excellent signing if we were to pursue him

Im not from Norfolk, so I have no perspective on local rivalries, I simply ask the question, ''Is it not a bit sad to still be interested in Ipswich?'' I simply say, because I went to University with a guy from Reading who was a Royals fan. I went with him to watch a cup game once, and the whole section of the Reading support were singing on about how much they hated Swindon. Swindon were either League One or Two and Reading were a Premier League side. As a neutral I just thought what a bunch of sad barstewards they were, still harping on about small town rivalries when the clubs were operating on completely different levels. I think the rivalry when in the same division is very relevant, but when the clubs are operating on completely different levels it just seems a bit sad from an outsiders perspective. Not slagging anyone off, as I say, Im not from Norwich so I have no real perspective, I just wonder if it isnt time the club found a more relevant rival?

We probably could pay him what he''s on at Ajax, or more (if he needed an incentive to move) but have probably chosen not to, which is very sensible. We have to be ambitious, but learn the lessons from other clubs before us who have been reckless with the finances. We have a wage structure and arent willing rather than arent capable of breaking it. I think the new TV deal means Premier League clubs can probably compete with most european sides in terms of funds, thats how outrageous the money has become

[quote user="crabbycanary"]Wow TGMD - you don''t want for much! ;) BJ does the simple things well now. Breaks up play, passes to a yellow shirt. After that, I agree his game needs improving, but when you have a Howson/Hoolahan to pass to and create, then he''s doing alright by me, and can fit in our current team. There is nothing wrong in looking to upgrade either on what we have btw. I am NOT saying BJ is the next Paul Scholes (Scholes can shoot for a start!) but he did used to do a similar (upgraded) job for Man U. There are not too many Paul Scholes/Steven Gerrards around as we know.[/quote] But thats my point - the more limited a player, the more other players you need to play alongside them to fill in for their inadequacies. BJ wins the ball, but then needs to give it to Fox or Hoolahan in order for there to be an effective pass. Wouldnt it be great if we had a player who could win the ball and then pass himself and then not have to give it to someone else? Wouldnt it be great if we could combine Hoolahans inventiveness and BJs muscle in one player rather than having to play both of them (ie one player instead of two). We had to play two defensive midfielders and Hoolahan to get that mix last season, which meant we had to play Holt on his own. Or we had to drop Hoolahan to play a second striker, but that proved ineffective because then we had no invention. If we could find a play who could tackle and pass instead of one or the other - we might actually be able to play with two strikers! All of our midfielder seem to have a singular strength. We need central midfielders who can do more than one thing. I had hoped this was Tettey last season, but Iv been very disappointed with how one dimensional he has been. If the Fer signing is confirmed, hopefully this is the answer to this problem, but feel he''d need a partner (although maybe this would release Howson a bit)

Shame but I can see this being the situation for quite a few players this season. Again we have to ask why this calibre of player would come to Norwich? In the cases of Quagliarella and Alderweireld and Toivonen they''d be giving up European football and would be moving to a smaller club. All we really offer is regular Premiership football and thats unlikely to be a lure for this type of player. Fer and RVW both want to make a name for themselves, others probably feel they are there already. RVW is leaving a sinking ship (at least financially) so a different dynamic. Credit to the board for showing ambition (and dare I say it some prudence), and hopefully we might be able to convince one or two, something which will get easier with each signing we make. Onwards and upwards

Agree with all mentioned beforehand. Always loved Dennis Bergkamp personally (even though he did score THAT goal). Always used to say that if you played ME next to Dennis Bergkamp I would get 10 goals a season - Dennis Bergkamp was that good. Also have to give a special mention to Matt Le Tissier though. Truly special player. Just a shame he''s become a bit of a knob as a pundit!

Hang on. Haven''t Crystal Palace just spent £8.5m on Dwight Gayle? A player who scored 13 goals in 29 appearances in the second tier? Seems to put a lot of this into perspective don''t you think?

[quote user="Excited Canary"]Morris didn''t go on the trip to Austria whilst the Murphy''s and Toffolo did so I would suggest Morris isn''t in Hughton''s plans yet; but the others are. Maybe a short term loan deal for them?[/quote] Thats interesting, thanks for that info, I wondered about that. Wonder who''ll be going to the USA?

Butterfield is definitely an interesting one. Initially I thought he was a Hughton signing, but many on here believe the wheels were in motion when Lambert left, and so probably represents a Lambert signing - hard to know. Certainly would seem dead wood based on last season, but perhaps last season was always written off in the coaches mind due to the injury and their plans are much more long term with him. In answer to the Hoolahan question, I think Hughton might be seeking to resolve the ''Hoolahan Conundrum''. At present he is our most creative and dynamic player, and although his defensive efforts and work rate are highly admirable, Wes is an unbalanced player, Playing him is always a double edged sword and we have always had to limit the team in some areas in order to accomodate him, which has generally worked in our favour - I think we''re much better with Wes than without, but I think if Hughton is looking at Toivonen and Quagliarella, he is looking to move beyond Wes

Whats the best way for them to develop though? I thought Morris would be best served by going out on loan to a Championship Club, with the Murphy twins as they are still boys and not built like Morris, they''re probably best developed at the club til they''re older. But what is better? Regular football at a lower division, learning skills needed for that level (ie Grant Holt style grappling and foul drawing) or a few minutes here and there at the level you hope they will develop at? You couuld argue the case for both. I think Morris would do a good job in the Championship simply due to his physique

My question with Surman is where do you play him? As he doesnt seem to fit in thats why I would consider him dead wood. He doesnt have the pace to be a winger, he doesnt have the defensive qualities to play left midfield in this league (ie to provide protection to the full back rather than offering an attacking outlet - think this might be Olssons role inthe side more often that not like we used to use Ryan Bertrand in front of Drury). He doesnt have the strength to play central midfield. He would probably be best used behind the striker in the Lallana role, but have we ever actually seen him play there. Surman seemed to fit in very well as the left side of the diamond in the wingless wonders system. The team and the tactics have changed and I dont see how best to utilise Surmans talents. For that reason I consider him deadwood

[quote user="Joanna Grey"]One goal to change a scoreline on the last day of the season to push you up the table can be worth millions.[/quote] Indeed, wasnt Howson''s goal against Man City supposed to be worth about 3 million?

Found it interesting in the interviews with Grant Holt, talking about his time at Norwich, that he said "The club is moving in a new direction now, they''re trying to invest in youth and get to the next level" Iv not seen anyone else comment on that yet hence the reason for the post. Now him mentioning youth could simply be a reference to having Academy 1 status, but I wondered if it might have anything to do with the youth team. Im not getting carried away, but anyone who watched the youth team on the TV would have been struck by how repeatedly (I think it was mainly Clarke Carlisle) hailed Carlton Morris as being very much in the Grant Holt mould. He played as a lone striker, and although only 17, he looks built like a man physically already. Ipswich blooded Connor Wickham at that age and we all know how much he was sold for. Perhaps Hughton sees a role for him this season? The precarioiusness of the table when he came to prominence last season meant he couldnt be given any first team exposure, and of course the youth team were also doing well, but... Fresh season and as things stand only two players (if you dont count Loza) ahead of him. Perhaps Hughton felt he could get Grants physical presence (the defensive forwards role) from Morris, whilst at the same time giving him the chance to develop? Im not suggesting Hughton would give him any more than a few minutes at the end of games when the result was a foregone conclusion, but could the same have also been said about his plans for Grant Holt had he have stayed?

A rather harsh title to the post but lets be honest. Hughton has got rid of a lot of what he obviously considered dead wood since taking over as manager. Nevertheless, we still have a few players whom you would probably also consider dead wood. What now for the futures of David Fox, Leon Barnett, Andrew Surman? Out have gone the strikers, and players like Lappin, Tierney and Korey. Hughton has shown no signs he favours Fox, Barney or Surman, yet they remain. Why do we think this is so? Is he uncecided yet, does he think they are good squad players, with perhaps the right attitude to not kick up a fuss about lack of games? Do they refuse to move on? Are we waiting on interest or the right move? Barney seemed odds on to be moving to Cardiff not too long ago, not really sure what happened there. Hughton has been pretty ruthless wielding the axe, despite his nice guy act, so I am surprised these three remain. Only a matter of time or does he have a role for them?