How many of you would be happy if....

[Terminally Yellow 2,614]

Sargent left and Idah was the guy promoted to be our new leading striker? 

I personally would like to see him sold - but I do worry about the general lack of strikers, lack of finances and ability to get a player in who'd be better? 

[KeiranShikari 1,524]

Not even sure Idah would be happy with that.

[Monty13 2,736]

Not on the last seasons evidence no.

I like Idah a lot, but he’s failed to nail down a starting place even given multiple opportunities including at Celtic.

If Sargent goes it’s a big hole that I don’t think Idah can fill personally unless Thorup sees a way to make him that no9 in his system.

[TheGunnShow 7,377]

Depends on who we get in. Idah works hard but he's not got the same nuisance value Sargent has - and whilst Idah is a willing trier, Sargent's got a couple of notches on him in this regard.

On top of that, for a big lad, Idah's not exactly outstanding in the air but he's probably better at the "fox in the box" stuff or pouncing on loose stuff.

I'd love to be proven wrong, especially with our own youth teamers coming up, but when comparing the two, I don't quite see how Idah fits.

[SwearyCanary 1,340]

I’d cry a bit. Idah has a dreadful touch and I just do not rate him. He is the best back up that you can expect at our level and finances for sure, but absolutely not a main striker in my book. He wasn’t for Celtic either and I feel their level is not too high above ours (admittedly difficult to tell)

[Ulfotto 800]

Ask yourself if we sold Sargent for 18 million let’s say and we bought a tall powerful, quick striker who last season netted 19 goals, is a full international and still only 23 year old for 8 million as his replacement. You would be excited until someone says it’s Adam Idah.

[SwearyCanary 1,340]

1 minute ago, Ulfotto said:

Ask yourself if we sold Sargent for 18 million let’s say and we bought a tall powerful, quick striker who last season netted 19 goals, is a full international and still only 23 year old for 8 million as his replacement. You would be excited until someone says it’s Adam Idah.

This. Which sounds so crazy out loud. But seeing him play I’d be genuinely disappointed. 

[Wacky Waving Inflatable Arm Flailing Tube Man 4,620]

I'm a big Idah fan and always have been, but no. If we sell Sargent for £15-20m then I'd like a decent wedge of it spent on a top replacement who can compete for the shirt with Idah.

[Bethnal Yellow and Green 2,424]

Depends on how Thorup sets up.

Idah is a better box striker than most in the league. Maybe even better Sargent. 

He needs the creative players around him to get opportunities though. If Norwich are going to go for a more patient build up approach (which is pretty certain) I think it could suit Idah if he is played as a 9 who is expected to pin the centre backs in place.

Sargent was excellent with Wagner as he has the skill set, and experience, of working in a team that focuses on transitions and a high press. Thorup isn’t so focused on that and it could impact Sargent’s game negatively. He has a lot of good qualities but he isn’t brilliant at finding a yard of space in the box. 

At Nordsjaelland, Thorup’s preferred striker Ibrahim Osman was a converted winger who used his pace and movement to get on the end of chances. As well as dropping deep and getting involved in the build up play to allow the two wide forwards to come more central. Whether that is Throup’s preferred style, or him making the most of his two most talented players is hard to know. Norwich certainly don’t have a striker like that currently on the books. 

Idah can be a really good Championship striker in the right system. 

[PurpleCanary 6,386]

Unhappy.

[All the Germans 1,239]

Be careful what you wish for. "New" is not always better. Idah is a known quantity, he has always been decent, but not amazing, despite what people overly negative thought last season(s) and overly positive a few years ago after a cup game where he scored a hatrick. 

[JonnyJonnyRowe 973]

2 hours ago, Terminally Yellow said:

Sargent left and Idah was the guy promoted to be our new leading striker? 

I personally would like to see him sold - but I do worry about the general lack of strikers, lack of finances and ability to get a player in who'd be better? 

Its a really difficult question.

Ideally we'd be taking the £6m plus sell on % or whatever we can get and buying a new striker with greater potential, Brentford seem to get it right about 3 times in a row with Maupay>Watkins>Toney, making a huge profit at each step.

Also have to remember that Idah has been injury ridden for most of his 5 or 6 years here, and Dean Smith said that he was joint compromised (if true, that never goes away), so either he's now being managed with fewer training sessions like Ledley King or something, which might put an upper limit on how good he can really progress and how long he can really continue at a high level, or he's had a flukey season fitness wise and will revert back to frequent injuries next season?

But with Knapper's only signing so far being Pierre VanHoojdonkey, I'm a bit worried about whether we could get that reinvestment right. 

I wonder how much Fulham would want for Jay Stansfield? He's got some serious potential.

[Robert N. LiM 6,297]

8 hours ago, Bethnal Yellow and Green said:

Sargent was excellent with Wagner as he has the skill set, and experience, of working in a team that focuses on transitions and a high press. Thorup isn’t so focused on that and it could impact Sargent’s game negatively. He has a lot of good qualities but he isn’t brilliant at finding a yard of space in the box. 

Pushing this to its logical conclusion: we should cash in on Josh now... would you go that far?

[ZLF 335]

I think wenger would usebthe phrase fox in the box;  if he can stay onside a very  tidy finisher of chances around 12 yards out.   If you can set up to service that then maybe.   It puts a lot of pressure on the other  outfield players as the rest of his play his pretty poor

[Bethnal Yellow and Green 2,424]

31 minutes ago, Robert N. LiM said:

Pushing this to its logical conclusion: we should cash in on Josh now... would you go that far?

Hard to say without knowing how Thorup wants to set up. Sargent has shown that he is better than the Championship, so is definitely a player you could build a system around. He is also an intelligent player, so should be able to adjust to a different tactic as well. 

Possession based teams are returning to using target man type strikers so I don’t think there is a great need to replace Josh. It does though mean there might be more demand for a striker like him. 

I’d sell if someone offers £17m plus as that would be his top value in the current market. 

[BobLoz3 609]

9 hours ago, Bethnal Yellow and Green said:

Depends on how Thorup sets up.

Idah is a better box striker than most in the league. Maybe even better Sargent. 

He needs the creative players around him to get opportunities though. If Norwich are going to go for a more patient build up approach (which is pretty certain) I think it could suit Idah if he is played as a 9 who is expected to pin the centre backs in place.

Sargent was excellent with Wagner as he has the skill set, and experience, of working in a team that focuses on transitions and a high press. Thorup isn’t so focused on that and it could impact Sargent’s game negatively. He has a lot of good qualities but he isn’t brilliant at finding a yard of space in the box. 

At Nordsjaelland, Thorup’s preferred striker Ibrahim Osman was a converted winger who used his pace and movement to get on the end of chances. As well as dropping deep and getting involved in the build up play to allow the two wide forwards to come more central. Whether that is Throup’s preferred style, or him making the most of his two most talented players is hard to know. Norwich certainly don’t have a striker like that currently on the books. 

Idah can be a really good Championship striker in the right system. 

This is excellent analysis but there is literally no point in trying to convince many in here about Idah's potential 😂

Which is a shame. 

[S_81 1,102]

IMO, Idah is not an adequate replacement for Sarge. Idah is a decent bench option, and cover. Celtic have also used him similarly. If Sarge left we would need a starting no9 to replace him. 

[S_81 1,102]

9 hours ago, JonnyJonnyRowe said:

Its a really difficult question.

Ideally we'd be taking the £6m plus sell on % or whatever we can get and buying a new striker with greater potential, Brentford seem to get it right about 3 times in a row with Maupay>Watkins>Toney, making a huge profit at each step.

Also have to remember that Idah has been injury ridden for most of his 5 or 6 years here, and Dean Smith said that he was joint compromised (if true, that never goes away), so either he's now being managed with fewer training sessions like Ledley King or something, which might put an upper limit on how good he can really progress and how long he can really continue at a high level, or he's had a flukey season fitness wise and will revert back to frequent injuries next season?

But with Knapper's only signing so far being Pierre VanHoojdonkey, I'm a bit worried about whether we could get that reinvestment right. 

I wonder how much Fulham would want for Jay Stansfield? He's got some serious potential.

Stansfield would be an excellent signing for us. Whether Sarge stays or not. 

[Petriix 3,219]

Presumably we're going to play a coherent formation next season so the type of striker required might be quite different to the football we're used to. I wouldn't be particularly sad to lose both Sargent and Idah, as long as we sign the next Pukki on a free. 

I'm far more interested in the midfield. This sort of thing gives me hope: https://totalfootballanalysis.com/article/nordsaelland-202324-how-they-attack-and-why-scout-report-tactical-analysis-tactics

[Capt. Pants 5,013]

Be careful what you wish for. Some on here thought you could replace Idah with a tree and were delighted when we swapped him for SVH. The latter scored for fun in Holland, what could possibly go wrong? Well it did and he showed just how difficult it can be to deal with the pace and physicality of the Championship. 

If we were to sell Sargent the rather huge issue is would we spend it mostly on another striker, or buy 2 or 3 in other positions?

Sargent, Idah, Kamara, Barnes = happy

Barnes and Kamara plus cheapo new signing = hugely worrying

[Mello Yello 2,572]

I'm so pleased for Adam as he's struck a good run of form....Personally I can see him continuing to ply his trade in Ecosse....

There must be a decent replacement striker we can bring to the fold as competition or 1st choice....whether he be from the lower or equivalent leagues - or maybe slightly further afield...We must be an attractive proposition half decent salary and us being a top 26 club?....

Don't think Sarge is likely to go anywhere else for the moment.....

[Dr Greenthumb 794]

Keep both and get Barnes off the books 

[Robert N. LiM 6,297]

1 hour ago, Petriix said:

as long as we sign the next Pukki on a free. 

haha, no pressure Knapper

[Robert N. LiM 6,297]

1 hour ago, Petriix said:

I'm far more interested in the midfield. This sort of thing gives me hope: https://totalfootballanalysis.com/article/nordsaelland-202324-how-they-attack-and-why-scout-report-tactical-analysis-tactics

This looks interesting, thanks. I'm sure this bit in particular will go down well with the 'just gerrid forward' crowd.

Quote

 

Coaches such as Fernando Diniz and Rhulani Mokwena have been heralded recently online for their approach to the game, with their brand of football dubbed as relationism. This style of football deviates from the positional nature that has cascaded throughout Europe and much of the world. 

However, Thorup’s Nordsjælland provides an example of how these two concepts are not necessarily separate ideas or the antithesis of one another but instead how they can be used on a spectrum in different phases of possession to progress the ball and create chances consistently. This goes back to the essence of the game, which is solving problems individually, in groups, and as a team. 

 

 

[GodlyOtsemobor 2,830]

No, if sarge is off, we need a new leading striker, idah has proven (with us and Celtic) that he can't start games and make a decent impact, he's a player best coming off the bench, much like Solskjear was, the quicker Idah realises this too the better. 

My suspicion though is that Sarge stays, idah goes and aboh is told he will be back up to sarge with Barnes, therefore signing a new deal with guaranteed more game time. 

[GodlyOtsemobor 2,830]

11 hours ago, JonnyJonnyRowe said:

 

I wonder how much Fulham would want for Jay Stansfield? He's got some serious potential.

Oooooh yes please! 

Loan with option if we get promoted would do nicely. 

However I have a feeling they'll be loaning him to a side with greater potential to be a top 2 Club (Burnley, Leeds, Sheff U etc.) 

Or a newly promoted side, don't be too surprised to see him pop up at IT. They were linked with him back in Jan. 

[Bethnal Yellow and Green 2,424]

6 minutes ago, GodlyOtsemobor said:

No, if sarge is off, we need a new leading striker, idah has proven (with us and Celtic) that he can't start games and make a decent impact, he's a player best coming off the bench, much like Solskjear was, the quicker Idah realises this too the better. 

My suspicion though is that Sarge stays, idah goes and aboh is told he will be back up to sarge with Barnes, therefore signing a new deal with guaranteed more game time. 

Idah is easily good enough to be a starter, it is just at Norwich and Celtic they have established strikers who are ahead of him, Sargent and Furuhashi. I imagine there are numerous clubs in the Championship who would happily have him as their first choice striker.

If Aboh signs the deal he'll almost certainly go out on loan. Norwich will be left looking for a back-up striker - which is one of the hardest roles to fill at any club. 

[Wacky Waving Inflatable Arm Flailing Tube Man 4,620]

11 minutes ago, GodlyOtsemobor said:

No, if sarge is off, we need a new leading striker, idah has proven (with us and Celtic) that he can't start games and make a decent impact, he's a player best coming off the bench, much like Solskjear was, the quicker Idah realises this too the better. 

He's 23. By the same age, Carlton Morris had 'proven' that he was no more than a bang average League One striker.

[GodlyOtsemobor 2,830]

12 minutes ago, Wacky Waving Inflatable Arm Flailing Tube Man said:

He's 23. By the same age, Carlton Morris had 'proven' that he was no more than a bang average League One striker.

So we sit on a player for another 5 years in the hopes he can make an impact from the off not just from the bench? 

Sorry but that's ludicrous.

 

How anyone can think he's anything more than an impact sub is beyond me, he started numerous games for us last season and went missing in every single one, yet coming off the bench he's an absolute weapon!

And that's my point, he's a great option OFF THE BENCH when chasing a game or wanting to extend or sure up a lead, but a leading striker he is NOT! and if he could knuckle down, forget the ego driven "wanting to be first choice" and concentrate on the TEAM and help from the bench when called apon then fantastic! 

Once he'd gone to Celtic, How many times did we all say look at our bench there's absolutely nothing there to change a game. That's what we need, players who can make an impact and help the team from the bench! The bench doesn't mean your not valuable or not good enough, your there to make a difference when called apon! A much needed asset! He needs to realise this imo. 

But if sarge leaves, we must find a new leading forward.

 

Oh and @Bethnal Yellow and Green i understand what your saying about recruitment for a back up is more difficult, however my argument there is, that's the people at the clubs job, to sell the club to a player, to sell the vision and plan to a player, to make that player WANT to contribute to this club in any way they can even if thats off the bench and then if they really impress, they can dislodge sarges starting place. 

 

I'm sorry I just can't get behind the thought of Adam idah being the main striker at any top end championship club, and I really think he would quickly find himself back on the bench for any of them. 

 

Edited June 5 by GodlyOtsemobor

[Ulfotto 800]

What is interesting to me is that I’m sure I’ve read somewhere that Idah and Sargent are close friends to me Idah wanting to leave might be an indication that Sargent is committed to. Norwich until the next World Cup as he has assurances from the USA (remember it is in the US) manager that the Championship is a level what won’t count against him.

Idah is a tricky one consider Chuka Apom someone who was admired as a youth team player playing regularly for the England age groups basically career was going nowhere until one good season with Middlesbrough. Ellis Sims at Coventry was bought for 5 million was a pretty much ever present for Coventry but only managed 13 goals in the championship.

I guess as a striker it’s a hard position to be average in.