Squad strength and depth

[Yellow Wal 315]

Much has happened in a short time.

We may have only signed two players but our squad had improved greatly.

We have lost Normann, Kabak, Williams and Gilmour but we have added Hayden and Sara. We have also gained, back from injury Omobamidele and Idah, a re-juvinated Cantwell, back from loan Hernandez, McCullum, Sinani and Hugil.

That's a net gain of five. We also have some promising youngsters coming through.

We have good cover in all positions, the only problem is that it will be difficult to keep everybody happy and there must be some who leave. 

It is going to mean some difficult decisions will have to be made but I am convinced the squad we have will easily be good enough to challenge for the top places and not, as some have suggested, battling relegation.

Things have looked good so far, and I am sure they will get better.

 

 

[Gordon Bennett 911]

The proof of the pudding will be in the eating of course but assuming we don't lose too many the squad looks both strong and deep on paper and by what some of these players have achieved at this level in the past.

[Ulfotto 793]

I see we have lots of “good” players but do we have any great players? Players who can really be match winners a lot I think is riding on Rashica and Cantwell staying and really delivering by this I mean ten goals and assists each.

[TheBaldOne66 768]

I love the fact people are raving about Sara, when the truth is nobody, fan wise, really has a clue! It’s great to see the optimism but I think people need to reign in the praise just a bit before he’s actually wearing a shirt for us!

I truly hope he’s as good, if not better than the last South American we signed but he could just as easily be another Sargent, Kabak or Tzolis! 

[TheGunnShow 7,371]

We do look good in terms of depth, but I'd say that if depth is our strength, it will not be apparent in the first games of the season. It'll come into play 15 games in or more when a few injuries and suspensions start to hurt teams.

[Yobocop 1,439]

29 minutes ago, TheGunnShow said:

We do look good in terms of depth, but I'd say that if depth is our strength, it will not be apparent in the first games of the season. It'll come into play 15 games in or more when a few injuries and suspensions start to hurt teams.

When you have 5 subs I think it might become apparent sooner than that but I get your point 

[Terminally Yellow 2,614]

4 hours ago, Yellow Wal said:

We may have only signed two players but our squad had improved greatly

This is a bold statement. I don't necessarily agree.

My big worry is how are we going to be setting up Pukki. He has succeeded by through balls played through for him to run onto. The friendlies so far have been all about the crosses. Dowell and Cantwell are going to have to step it up and start offering that sort of supply if we're going to get the sorts of numbers out of Pukki we saw in his last two Championship outings. 

Edited July 17, 2022 by Terminally Yellow

[Indy 3,471]

16 minutes ago, Terminally Yellow said:

This is a bold statement. I don't necessarily agree.

My big worry is how are we going to be setting up Pukki. He has succeeded by through balls played through for him to run onto. The friendlies so far have been all about the crosses. Dowell and Cantwell are going to have to step it up and start offering that sort of supply if we're going to get the sorts of numbers out of Pukki we saw in his last two Championship outings. 

Indeed, as last summer some are getting over confident given one signing is crocked the other from Brazil might take time to settle, we have four championship loanees back and the rest flopped big time! I think I’ll wait till we have our first competitive game against Cardiff to see where we are! It’s less than two weeks and all those calling for time to let Smith build his squad will probably end up seeing a starting 11 from Farkes time!🤔

[norfolkngood 1,174]

Squad is strong but i would like a few move upgrades done 

Hope Hayden will come good i have my doubts as he had a bad injury now a small op will he be the player we all hope for and was good enough in the PL ?  if Fit very good 

Sara looks great on the clips i have seen and reports seem good another diamond or Expensive flop ?

little concerned by lack of interest by other higher league clubs you would of thought if he was that good but then again we got Emi under everyone's noses so it might happen again 

[Nuff Said 5,950]

5 hours ago, Ulfotto said:

I see we have lots of “good” players but do we have any great players? Players who can really be match winners a lot I think is riding on Rashica and Cantwell staying and really delivering by this I mean ten goals and assists each.

 

Nuff said

Edited July 17, 2022 by Nuff Said

[Pyro Pete 2,350]

We know Pukki can score loads at this level, given the right supply.

Trouble is, it was Buendia who was the main supply line.

Can our current midfield provide the creativity we need?

[Boris 62]

squad is good for this level without doubt but the key is how many will be unhappy to play for Norwich one more season!

probably Pukki,Aarons,Giannoulis,Tzolis,Rashica,Cantwell or at least some of them !?

last time after relegation and until window was closed we was poor and many players was not focused!

Without doubt group at moment is too large and some players will be sold or send on loan.

[Canaries north 155]

As discussed many times before Pukki staying fit will be key for me. We have a big squad but if Pukki gets injured we have to change our whole style of play. Again yes it's near on impossible to get another player anywhere near as good as Pukki who will be happy being on the bench this season but even someone young who plays in a similar way (off the shoulder) who next season could step into his shoes. If we are going to try to play a way that works for Pukki then we need someone or are we changing everything if he gets injured or rested. 

[Midlands Yellow 4,682]

Squad is looking very strong now at this level. Honestly can’t see a better one, top 6 would be a disappointment. 

[hogesar 10,734]

3 hours ago, Indy said:

Indeed, as last summer some are getting over confident given one signing is crocked the other from Brazil might take time to settle, we have four championship loanees back and the rest flopped big time! I think I’ll wait till we have our first competitive game against Cardiff to see where we are! It’s less than two weeks and all those calling for time to let Smith build his squad will probably end up seeing a starting 11 from Farkes time!🤔

1) I've not seen any over confidence beyond "We have a good squad for this level

2) There were just as many 2 seasons ago stating how impossible it was going to be to get promoted from the Championship again, it would be twice as hard this time round, Webber got lucky first time, Skipp is a risk we have no idea if he's any good or not etc etc.

3) I doubt it anyway, but again giving smith time with his own squad didn't mean changing all eleven players at a level where we had an abundance of proven players. The fact we're likely to see the likes of Sinani, Cantwell, Hernandez, Idah, Hugill, McCallum, Sara in either the starting 11 or 18 suggests a team quite a bit different to Farkes last teams anyway...

[Terminally Yellow 2,614]

Not on this list; PLM, Tzolis, Rowe and Springett, Hugill, Liam Gibbs.

I'm happy with this depth. I suspect if you offered this to most Championship clubs they'd snap your hands off too. 

[KeiranShikari 1,524]

22 minutes ago, Canaries north said:

As discussed many times before Pukki staying fit will be key for me. We have a big squad but if Pukki gets injured we have to change our whole style of play. Again yes it's near on impossible to get another player anywhere near as good as Pukki who will be happy being on the bench this season but even someone young who plays in a similar way (off the shoulder) who next season could step into his shoes. If we are going to try to play a way that works for Pukki then we need someone or are we changing everything if he gets injured or rested. 

You could say that about how we set up tactically under Farke but certainly not this pre season under Smith. There will obviously be tweaks for how the wingers and midfielders deliver the ball depending on who's up top this tactic is not designed around getting 30 goals out of Pukki.

[chicken 3,081]

3 hours ago, Terminally Yellow said:

This is a bold statement. I don't necessarily agree.

My big worry is how are we going to be setting up Pukki. He has succeeded by through balls played through for him to run onto. The friendlies so far have been all about the crosses. Dowell and Cantwell are going to have to step it up and start offering that sort of supply if we're going to get the sorts of numbers out of Pukki we saw in his last two Championship outings. 

This was a statement made of last season too, yet he scored as many goals last season as the first season in the premier league when he had Buendia supplying him. It's also worth noting that he has scored in our pre-season games so our approach play clearly isn't one dimensional.

And for me, that has to be one of the key points to look at from our friendlies so far. Sorensen's striker seemed to be something worked on in training. There was no thought, just a very well hit, very well placed shot with swerve and power. No fluke, but equally, did not see enough of those last season.

Balls were played through as well, but Marseille certainly seemed to handle those better defensively than the crosses that Hugill got on the end of. Could be personnel or could just be the switch up and substitutions impacted the 2nd half a bit more than the more focused less disturbed 1st.

[canarybubbles 2,199]

5 hours ago, chicken said:

This was a statement made of last season too, yet he scored as many goals last season as the first season in the premier league when he had Buendia supplying him. It's also worth noting that he has scored in our pre-season games so our approach play clearly isn't one dimensional.

And for me, that has to be one of the key points to look at from our friendlies so far. Sorensen's striker seemed to be something worked on in training. There was no thought, just a very well hit, very well placed shot with swerve and power. No fluke, but equally, did not see enough of those last season.

Balls were played through as well, but Marseille certainly seemed to handle those better defensively than the crosses that Hugill got on the end of. Could be personnel or could just be the switch up and substitutions impacted the 2nd half a bit more than the more focused less disturbed 1st.

Does anyone on here watch Ligue 1? If so, could it be that Marseille were less used to that kind of high cross to a good header of the ball? Are Championship defences likely to be much better at dealing with an aerial bombardment?

[Nuff Said 5,950]

9 hours ago, hogesar said:

1) I've not seen any over confidence beyond "We have a good squad for this level

2) There were just as many 2 seasons ago stating how impossible it was going to be to get promoted from the Championship again, it would be twice as hard this time round, Webber got lucky first time, Skipp is a risk we have no idea if he's any good or not etc etc.

3) I doubt it anyway, but again giving smith time with his own squad didn't mean changing all eleven players at a level where we had an abundance of proven players. The fact we're likely to see the likes of Sinani, Cantwell, Hernandez, Idah, Hugill, McCallum, Sara in either the starting 11 or 18 suggests a team quite a bit different to Farkes last teams anyway...

There were also lots of posts around the end of the season just gone that we were more likely to be relegated to League One than promoted again. Those seem to have dried up now. 🤔

[hertfordyellow 462]

I personally think it is healthier to have a generally better group of players than rely on 3-4 top players. In a parallel universe 2 of Buendia, Skipp, Pukki get bad injuries or long covid and we don't make the play offs last time round. If Rashica and Cantwell get injured then there are many more options. Love Farkeball but I think Smith will be a lot more adaptive in games and he has such a varied squad he can do that with ease.

[Indy 3,471]

10 hours ago, hogesar said:

1) I've not seen any over confidence beyond "We have a good squad for this level

2) There were just as many 2 seasons ago stating how impossible it was going to be to get promoted from the Championship again, it would be twice as hard this time round, Webber got lucky first time, Skipp is a risk we have no idea if he's any good or not etc etc.

3) I doubt it anyway, but again giving smith time with his own squad didn't mean changing all eleven players at a level where we had an abundance of proven players. The fact we're likely to see the likes of Sinani, Cantwell, Hernandez, Idah, Hugill, McCallum, Sara in either the starting 11 or 18 suggests a team quite a bit different to Farkes last teams anyway...

Really Hoggy, there’s loads of over confidence in a number of posts even this one said our squad is stronger! Really, time will tell. There weren’t many 2 seasons ago saying how impossible it would be, Farke proved this squad was good enough to walk the league in the end, something Smith has never done. How much was that down to Buendia & Skipp?

Last all back end of the season it was **** poor performances and everyone defending smith calling out the squad as utter dross! We add a few older loan players returning suddenly it’s not the squad……really.

Never mind like I said we have some great youngsters with bags of potential, if these guys step it up I’m sure we’ll be ok for the top 6. Hayden once fit might be the best signing we’ve made in a few seasons as he’s the real deal for the premiership if he can gain full fitness and match sharpness.

I’m certainly not confident as there’s a real challenge with twelve teams all capable of taking a top six spot…..

Edited July 18, 2022 by Indy

[hogesar 10,734]

10 minutes ago, Indy said:

Really Hoggy, there’s loads of over confidence in a number of posts even this one said our squad is stronger! Really, time will tell. There weren’t many 2 seasons ago saying how impossible it would be, Farke proved this squad was good enough to walk the league in the end, something Smith has never done. How much was that down to Buendia & Skipp?

Last all back end of the season it was **** poor performances and everyone defending smith calling out the squad as utter dross! We add a few older loan players returning suddenly it’s not the squad……really.

Never mind like I said we have some great youngsters with bags of potential, if these guys step it up I’m sure we’ll be ok for the top 6. Hayden once fit might be the best signing we’ve made in a few seasons as he’s the real deal for the premiership if he can gain full fitness and match sharpness.

I’m certainly not confident as there’s a real challenge with twelve teams all capable of taking a top six spot…..

Not sure what forum you were reading but there were plenty speculating at the time that Ipswich would end up above us.....

[Michael Starr 571]

This is going to sound insane but if the right price comes in for Pukki, we should consider it. I know I know but all roads seem to be leading to a different style of play, where heavy focus is now on set pieces, delivery of crosses, attacking the ball in the box etc. This isn't really compatible with Pukki's strengths. I can see us bringing in a Holt type striker, whilst holding onto Idah and Hugil. I genuinely believe this is going to be Idah's season. You'll laugh... but I feel like Idah may hit double numbers minimum this season. Pukki is the clubs highest earner also alongside Krul and I feel we can cope without both this season, as fantastic as they both are. Perhaps use that saving to bring in a target man... perhaps a young up and comer from a lower league.

Edited July 18, 2022 by Michael Starr

[AJ 1,357]

Now we've added a bit more meat to our midfield, I'd say the biggest issue is replacing Pukki - perhaps they believe Sargent is that player but from what I've seen I'm not convinced, nor by Idah. I'd rather we spend any remaining money we have on getting another top striker on the books 

[chicken 3,081]

9 hours ago, canarybubbles said:

Does anyone on here watch Ligue 1? If so, could it be that Marseille were less used to that kind of high cross to a good header of the ball? Are Championship defences likely to be much better at dealing with an aerial bombardment?

I think if Ligue 1 were as so poor to not even try crossing into the box, a manager like Pulis would have gone there and won back to back Championships by now... 

[chicken 3,081]

1 hour ago, AJ said:

Now we've added a bit more meat to our midfield, I'd say the biggest issue is replacing Pukki - perhaps they believe Sargent is that player but from what I've seen I'm not convinced, nor by Idah. I'd rather we spend any remaining money we have on getting another top striker on the books 

You'd need the sort of money we've spent on Sara already.

Tony cost £5m rising to £10m upon promotion. And in relative terms, he was a gamble. Armstrong is supposedly available on a loan, again, he cost £15m rising to £20m.

Those prices aren't unusual either. Jordan Rhodes, Assombalonga, Afobe... all strikers that looked good at Championship level, and that would have fit that "top striker" bracket, all around the £10m mark or more, and not always to premier league sides. You could probably throw in McCormack as well.

The key is finding a lower league striker or a player no one has yet understood how good they are either from the UK or from abroad - who we could also get through the permit points system.

And there in lies the problem. Players from lower down the English leagues cost a premium. Players in Europe that have enough points to sail through the points system are unlikely to be relative unknowns. That is why we have turned our gaze to South America. 

[Canaries north 155]

15 hours ago, KeiranShikari said:

You could say that about how we set up tactically under Farke but certainly not this pre season under Smith. There will obviously be tweaks for how the wingers and midfielders deliver the ball depending on who's up top this tactic is not designed around getting 30 goals out of Pukki.

I agree but I still only see Pukki as the player who will get the goals this season. I don't see another natural goalscorer in the team. No one else has a record of more than 4 or 5 goals a season in the last number of years. Hopefully we will get a few more from midfield but i still think a lot this season depends on Pukki staying fit. 

[Yellow Wal 315]

5 hours ago, Michael Starr said:

This is going to sound insane but if the right price comes in for Pukki, we should consider it. I know I know but all roads seem to be leading to a different style of play, where heavy focus is now on set pieces, delivery of crosses, attacking the ball in the box etc. This isn't really compatible with Pukki's strengths. I can see us bringing in a Holt type striker, whilst holding onto Idah and Hugil. I genuinely believe this is going to be Idah's season. You'll laugh... but I feel like Idah may hit double numbers minimum this season. Pukki is the clubs highest earner also alongside Krul and I feel we can cope without both this season, as fantastic as they both are. Perhaps use that saving to bring in a target man... perhaps a young up and comer from a lower league.

I agree with much of what you say but would suggest a slightly different role for Pukki. Before Idah's injury last season, he and Pukki were looking very good together, with Idah becoming that target man. We may be going to adopt a similar formation to Leicester (when Shakey was there) when they won the league. Pukki could easily operate in the Vardy role with Idah in the pivotal role making it happen. We will certainly have the attacking full backs and the hard working wide men. Much depends on how our new midfield pair fit in but we do have options there.

This is just one of many options that we now have the players for,

[KeiranShikari 1,524]

33 minutes ago, Canaries north said:

I agree but I still only see Pukki as the player who will get the goals this season. I don't see another natural goalscorer in the team. No one else has a record of more than 4 or 5 goals a season in the last number of years. Hopefully we will get a few more from midfield but i still think a lot this season depends on Pukki staying fit. 

I'm not particularly worried. A couple of years ago we were set up around 2 amazing players, it wasn't as if our other strikers/creative players were playing regularly and spurning chance after chance. When Dowell was on the pitch he was scoring. When Hugill was starting he was scoring. 

Rashica scored at a decent clip in the Bundesliga. I'd imagine we're expecting goals from Sara and a motivated Cantwell is a bonus I don't think many of us were expecting..

I'd imagine having a more physical side and a speciality set piece coach will give us more output there as well.