Christmas squad assessment

[Libbra Lives in Dubai 0]

Tom Adeyemi - good prospect, currently just outside the first team. Should be good next year and valuable squad player.

Jens Berthel Askou - I think he could operate at Championship level. Strong in the air and in the tackle. Could work on his distribution.

Jamie Cureton - very poor last season and this season. Time he left the club. He is slow and his work rate is low. Also he cant his a cows a*se with a banjo

Luke Daley - Pace and that''s about it. Why dont we buy someone else with pace who is actually any good. Surplus to requirements for me.

Josh Dawkin - nowhere near ready for the first team. Looked ok from what I''ve seen of him so a little unfair to judge him yet.

Gary Doherty - we need him in our squad. On his day our best defender and a leader for the younger players. Yes he can make mistakes, but for me he should feature, and remain a squad player after we sign a stronger CB to play with Askou.

Adam Drury - consistently good, and able to play higher - but a low level Championship player in reality.

Dario Dumic - looks strong, give him game time to get that vital experience he needs.

Fraser Forster - I like him a lot. I think he will come to play in the prem.

George Francomb - I thought he was weak when I saw him. His positioning was off and looked a little lightweight, but has a good touch and may come good - in the reserves.

Matthew Gill - havent seen anything to convince me that he is a good player. Our weakest CM for me.

Sam Habergham - dont know enough about him to comment

Grant Holt - keeping him is absoutely vital to any push for promotion. I think he could be a top Championship striker under Lambert

Wes Hoolahan - again, has the potential to play top Championship level now that he has settled.

Stephen Hughes - we should use him more. An excellent eye for a pass and strong in the tackle. Needs to be played with a more attacking minded midfielder.

Danny Kelly - dont know enough about him to comment

Simon Lappin - has done well on the left. Not sure he can cut it in the Champ.

Damon Lathrope - poor, I''ve seen enough.

Chris Martin - a great prospect and should do well continuing his development in the Champ

Russell Martin - looks like a better bet than Semi for me. Might struggle in the Champ.

Cody McDonald - I rate him. Not yet ready but only out of the first team because of the form of Martin and Holt. Good champ squad player and impact sub.

Anthony McNamee - dunno yet

Paul McVeigh - looked good early on but realistically we need to move him on.

Michael Nelson - poor L1 squad player at best. We need a new CB

Jon Otsemobor - keep him in the squad if his wages arent to high, otherwise offload if

Russell Martin signs.

Kris Renton - get rid. Lightweight.

Declan Rudd - looks to have potential.

Darel Russell - strong player and capable at Champ level.

Korey Smith - coming on nicely at this level, unsure of his credentials any higher just now.

Michael Spillane - good utility man - not sure he will ever break into the first team.

David Stephens - really impressed from what I''ve seen. Give him some bench time.

Michael Theoklitos - yes... well

Owain Tudur Jones - not too bad but not too good. Squad player

Simon Whaley - cant see him playing for Norwich again.

Rhoys Wiggins - looked strong when Ive seen him. Squad player

Ins

GK

CB

LW

RW

CF

Outs

Theo

Cureton

Whaley

Mcveigh

Gill

Nelson

[DOGGER 0]

[quote user="Libbra Lives"]Tom Adeyemi - good prospect, currently just outside the first team. Should be good next year and valuable squad player. Jens Berthel Askou - I think he could operate at Championship level. Strong in the air and in the tackle. Could work on his distribution. Jamie Cureton - very poor last season and this season. Time he left the club. He is slow and his work rate is low. Also he cant his a cows a*se with a banjo Luke Daley - Pace and that''s about it. Why dont we buy someone else with pace who is actually any good. Surplus to requirements for me. Josh Dawkin - nowhere near ready for the first team. Looked ok from what I''ve seen of him so a little unfair to judge him yet. Gary Doherty - we need him in our squad. On his day our best defender and a leader for the younger players. Yes he can make mistakes, but for me he should feature, and remain a squad player after we sign a stronger CB to play with Askou. Adam Drury - consistently good, and able to play higher - but a low level Championship player in reality. Dario Dumic - looks strong, give him game time to get that vital experience he needs. Fraser Forster - I like him a lot. I think he will come to play in the prem. George Francomb - I thought he was weak when I saw him. His positioning was off and looked a little lightweight, but has a good touch and may come good - in the reserves. Matthew Gill - havent seen anything to convince me that he is a good player. Our weakest CM for me. Sam Habergham - dont know enough about him to comment Grant Holt - keeping him is absoutely vital to any push for promotion. I think he could be a top Championship striker under Lambert Wes Hoolahan - again, has the potential to play top Championship level now that he has settled. Stephen Hughes - we should use him more. An excellent eye for a pass and strong in the tackle. Needs to be played with a more attacking minded midfielder. Danny Kelly - dont know enough about him to comment Simon Lappin - has done well on the left. Not sure he can cut it in the Champ. Damon Lathrope - poor, I''ve seen enough. Chris Martin - a great prospect and should do well continuing his development in the Champ Russell Martin - looks like a better bet than Semi for me. Might struggle in the Champ. Cody McDonald - I rate him. Not yet ready but only out of the first team because of the form of Martin and Holt. Good champ squad player and impact sub. Anthony McNamee - dunno yet Paul McVeigh - looked good early on but realistically we need to move him on. Michael Nelson - poor L1 squad player at best. We need a new CB Jon Otsemobor - keep him in the squad if his wages arent to high, otherwise offload if Russell Martin signs. Kris Renton - get rid. Lightweight. Declan Rudd - looks to have potential. Darel Russell - strong player and capable at Champ level. Korey Smith - coming on nicely at this level, unsure of his credentials any higher just now. Michael Spillane - good utility man - not sure he will ever break into the first team. David Stephens - really impressed from what I''ve seen. Give him some bench time. Michael Theoklitos - yes... well Owain Tudur Jones - not too bad but not too good. Squad player Simon Whaley - cant see him playing for Norwich again. Rhoys Wiggins - looked strong when Ive seen him. Squad player Ins GK CB LW RW CF Outs Theo Cureton Whaley Mcveigh Gill Nelson[/quote]

Think his problem is he''s overweight[;)]

[John 0]

Can''t say there is much to disagree with in all of that, though i feel we shouldn''t make light of the potential that both Declan Rudd and Jed Steer possess. Had International duty and injury not been so cruel to Rudd this season, i wholeheartedly believe that he''d of kept his vest and been a regular in the side. He''s young and has much to develop, but ''for his age'' he''s certainly a mature and talented player, and could more than hold his own in the higher reaches of this division already, and he''s most definitely on course to be able to make that ''step up'' into a Championship standard player within the next 1 or 2 years i reckon.And who knows, had we played him against Southampton, theres every chance we may of won the shoot-out? Without meaning to undermine yet another outstanding performance from Forster, he''s got a notably good record in shoot-outs (and he''s certainly not shy of putting one away himself either).

[Damo 0]

I agree with a majority of that, maybe with the exception of Spillane. I thought he was beginning to show some real form before he got injured, and he would easily keep Semmy out of the team. He put in some great performances and personally I think he could solve our right-back issue if he can keep fit.

[Gingerpele 0]

Spillane had broken into the first team....but then he got injured.... :S

[BobbyLo 0]

Agree with most of what has been said, however you must have not seen Spillane play at right back because when he''s been fit, he''s been outstanding. When was the last time you saw a Norwich right back do a few step overs, cut in from the right touchline and score a cracking left footed curling effort??? I''ll tell you. When Spillane did it against Leyton Orient. He was utterly fantastic that night and has performed consistently when played in that position.

[GJP 79]

I agree with the opening poster, I don''t think Spillane is there yet and I''m not sure if we ever will be good enough to be more than utility backup.

A couple of decent games at right back against average sides that never really did a lot. Best not to get too carried away...

[John 0]

[quote user="GJP"]

I agree with the opening poster, I don''t think Spillane is there yet and I''m not sure if we ever will be good enough to be more than utility backup.

A couple of decent games at right back against average sides that never really did a lot. Best not to get too carried away...

[/quote]Actually, that is another major point i didn''t agree on with the original poster.Spillane, without drawing much attention from Norwich fans, has already achieved a fair amount in the game. He was recently named the Republic of Islands ''U19 Player Of The Year'', and captained the U18''s to winning a tournament in Portugal, scoring at a fairly prolific rate at that level. What he achieved at Luton led the majority of their fans to believe that, should he fulfill his potential, he without doubt has the ability to one day perform at Premier League level, and Mick Harford felt just as much of him. Ask Luton fans and they''d more than likely say he was their best player in their last season in the league, and at that, their most consistent performer.In all of his recent oppertunities in our side at right back, i''d say he has justified these sort of claims. And should he sustain his ascendancy in his level of footballing ability, and leave nothing to deter him from it, i have no doubt he will achieve a lot in his career, and will come to impress most of the doubters on here.

[GJP 79]

[quote user="Big Bad John"][quote user="GJP"]

 Best not to get too carried away...

[/quote]

he without doubt has the ability to one day perform at Premier League level,
[/quote]

Lol.

[John 0]

[quote user="GJP"][quote user="Big Bad John"][quote user="GJP"]

 Best not to get too carried away...

[/quote]he without doubt has the ability to one day perform at Premier League level,[/quote]

Lol.

[/quote]It''s called a ''Straw Man'' argument, and you clearly do it well sir.[Y]

[GJP 79]

[quote user="Big Bad John"][quote user="GJP"][quote user="Big Bad John"][quote user="GJP"]

 Best not to get too carried away...

[/quote]

he without doubt has the ability to one day perform at Premier League level,
[/quote]

Lol.

[/quote]

It''s called a ''Straw Man'' argument, and you clearly do it well sir.[Y]
[/quote]

Thanks. It wasn''t easy but I did the best I could.

[jeagle 0]

[quote user="Big Bad John"][quote user="GJP"][quote user="Big Bad John"][quote user="GJP"]

 Best not to get too carried away...

[/quote]

he without doubt has the ability to one day perform at Premier League level,
[/quote]

Lol.

[/quote]

It''s called a ''Straw Man'' argument, and you clearly do it well sir.[Y]
[/quote]

Surely having the ability to do something and actually doing it are two completely different things?

[John 0]

[quote user="eagle"][quote user="Big Bad John"][quote user="GJP"][quote user="Big Bad John"][quote user="GJP"]

 Best not to get too carried away...

[/quote]he without doubt has the ability to one day perform at Premier League level,[/quote]

Lol.

[/quote]It''s called a ''Straw Man'' argument, and you clearly do it well sir.[Y][/quote]

Surely having the ability to do something and actually doing it are two completely different things?

[/quote]Indeed they are. But i would ask that you read my comment, not GJP''s quote.

[Allez17 0]

Saying ''lol'' is not a straw man argument.

[GJP 79]

Here''s how I see it...

Spillane has played a season in League 2, a few games for the Irish youth (which, in the grand scheme of things, doesn''t count for much) and a handful of games for our first team.

He''s a competitive type of player but there''s still a lot missing from his game. Aside from his obvious lack of pace his positioning isn''t great, neither are his touch and control and his passing is sloppy (although he is a decent crosser of the ball).

He''s got a chance of doing ok at Norwich (especially while we''re in League 1) but above that, in the Championship and moreso in the Premier League, the quality of the football and individual player ability is just way above where he is at and where we are as a club. When you consider the speed and quality of the game at that kind of level he''s a very long way off.

Very ordinary type of player.

[John 0]

[quote user="Allez17"]Saying ''lol'' is not a straw man argument. [/quote]No, but constructing my argument in such a frail way without accounting for the entirity of what i was forwarding in this debate is.

[Allez17 0]

I''m not entirely sure why you place prestige on his Ireland youth career, given we''ve seen numerous times how very, very average players play for National youth sides - see the Jarvis brothers for a case in point. As for his performances with Luton - he was a good player at a sinking ship. I''ve no doubt he can perform well at League 2, and good at League 1. To say he will become a good Premiership player is, well, optimistic.

[John 0]

[quote user="GJP"]

Here''s how I see it...

Spillane has played a season in League 2, a few games for the Irish youth (which, in the grand scheme of things, doesn''t count for much) and a handful of games for our first team.

He''s a competitive type of player but there''s still a lot missing from his game. Aside from his obvious lack of pace his positioning isn''t great, neither are his touch and control and his passing is sloppy (although he is a decent crosser of the ball).

He''s got a chance of doing ok at Norwich (especially while we''re in League 1) but above that, in the Championship and moreso in the Premier League, the quality of the football and individual player ability is just way above where he is at and where we are as a club. When you consider the speed and quality of the game at that kind of level he''s a very long way off.

Very ordinary type of player.

[/quote]I can see what your saying, but i myself don''t entirely agree.I feel he has a reasonable amount of pace, without raising any eyebrows, yet neither leaving him with the inability to chase a player, or make a decent forward run into the oppositions half. I think our impressions of him in terms of his control and distribution of the ball vastly differ. I see him to be more than competent when he has the ball at his feet personally.As far as his positioning goes, i can relate to what your saying however. It''s partly why i believe he couldn''t fulfill his promise at centre back, and taking this into account, i don''t feel he should be played here, unless desperate circumstances were to permit such a thing. But, i also feel it is worth noting that he is only of the age of about 20, and given the fact that he can, and has, played in almost every position on the park during his time in football, gives reason to believe he has not been able to nurture and develop this side of his game. Settle him in a single position for a couple of years, do as little as possible to disturb him, and i reckon this side of his game will vastly improve.This is how i see him as a right back : I think he has the amount of pace that allows him to play without having players run rings around him. He''s generally classy with the ball at his feet, and he only lets himself down in this department when he does one step over too many, though with maturity i reckon he''ll have a better understanding of how he is to play out this aspect of his game. Defensively, he''s strong and fairly tall, and as a right back he wins more headers and tussles in either boxes than he should as a player in such a position. He also has the ability to make strong and effective tackles, and i feel this is a department he is very solid in. As for an attackng right back, he can provide a decent cross, has the ability to get past his marker, and as he has shown on a number of occasions (though admitedly not always with us) he can chip in with a few decent goals.Overall, the only real aspects of his game that need improvement, i believe, are the ones that will come to improve with maturity and understanding of the game. Notably, he does also lack pace to an extent, but that is not always the make or break of a full-back at any level, and i believe he has the talent at his disposable to more than make up for that as he ages.He''s a good prospect, but like every player he will have his off days. I would hope that we don''t cut him off from first team football should he happen to fall short in his performances on a couple of games, regardless of how low esteem some may hold him in. He can go far in the game, but we''ll need the patience to allow him to develop his own in the process.(Thankyou for putting a point forward this time by the way GJP)

[John 0]

[quote user="Allez17"]I''m not entirely sure why you place prestige on his Ireland youth career, given we''ve seen numerous times how very, very average players play for National youth sides - see the Jarvis brothers for a case in point. As for his performances with Luton - he was a good player at a sinking ship. I''ve no doubt he can perform well at League 2, and good at League 1. To say he will become a good Premiership player is, well, optimistic. [/quote]Didn''t say ''good'' Premiership player, but i believe he will be at a standard of which may lead to him finding himself at a Premier League club in his career.As to how good a player of that particular standard he''ll be when he gets there i couldn''t say. But i do believe the foundations are there for a good football player to come of him, that will be able to hold his own at most levels.

[GJP 79]

I''d be amazed if Spillane made the Premier League (unless of course we had a couple of quick promotions while he was under contract...)

Every club is going to have a player (or several) like him - an average young defender who isn''t an especially good centreback or fullback.

You''d only have to look at when Sunderland were here for the Carling Cup game to notice the difference in class and ability. How quickly they get the ball under control, their movement off the ball and just the general speed and accuracy of everything they do (and let''s face it, they weren''t pushing themselves 100%)

 

[Libbra Lives in Dubai 0]

[quote user="GJP"]

I''d be amazed if Spillane made the Premier League (unless of course we had a couple of quick promotions while he was under contract...)

Every club is going to have a player (or several) like him - an average young defender who isn''t an especially good centreback or fullback.

You''d only have to look at when Sunderland were here for the Carling Cup game to notice the difference in class and ability. How quickly they get the ball under control, their movement off the ball and just the general speed and accuracy of everything they do (and let''s face it, they weren''t pushing themselves 100%)

 

[/quote]

I''d be even more amazed then!