Transfer gossip.

[ZLF]

Whits best going forward poor and too slow coming back.   Great championship player but just not good enough in prem.  Just like martin

Can't see whits playing ahead of Russ again.   with wisdom sensible for him to play

 

[Number 9]

Being reported that Hoops is gone.

 

[Din]

Shame really, clearly a quality striker just doesn't have the work ethic to fit into the way we play. A fantastic finisher and it's not hard to see why we's doing so well at Sheffield Wednesday. 

Whittaker just isn't good enough defensively. He's decent going forward and was alright throughout the Hughton years though rightly 2nd choice to Martin, and then in the first half of last season he was dreadful. Neil though came in and he was superb for the rest of that season, but it was clear on the opening day against Palace he wasn't good enough, he got tore a new one by Zaha, and he hasn't done anything since to suggest he's a Premier League full back, and is now 4th choice. May as well get rid.

 

[KeiranShikari]

He's changed his twitter pic and description back to Norwich stuff. Clearly staying. 

 

[GJP]

Shame really, clearly a quality striker just doesn't have the work ethic to fit into the way we play. A fantastic finisher and it's not hard to see why we's doing so well at Sheffield Wednesday. 

Whittaker just isn't good enough defensively. He's decent going forward and was alright throughout the Hughton years though rightly 2nd choice to Martin, and then in the first half of last season he was dreadful. Neil though came in and he was superb for the rest of that season, but it was clear on the opening day against Palace he wasn't good enough, he got tore a new one by Zaha, and he hasn't done anything since to suggest he's a Premier League full back, and is now 4th choice. May as well get rid.

I find it a bit bizarre how you can be kind of complimentary of Hooper but then pretty critical of Whittaker.

 

[Din]

I find it a bit bizarre how you can be kind of complimentary of Hooper but then pretty critical of Whittaker.

Hooper, despite barely starting last season got into double figures goals-wise and was also our top scorer in Hughton's final season. It's always been relatively clear that he's not somebody who can play up front by himself, hence why it hasn't worked for him here, as the 3 managers he's played under like to play with 1 up top with Wes in behind. Now he's playing alongside Forestieri at Wednesday he's scoring goals and it's clear to see he's a talented player.

Whittaker however is now 4th choice right back here. As I said he's good going forward, but defensively isn't good enough for the Premier League. Have you genuinely seen anything that disproves this? Our manager clearly doesn't as there are 3 players ahead of him in the pecking order.

 

[GJP]

I always thought our defence needed improving. I just wouldn't say Russell Martin is a better right back, he's been shown up again since he's been moved back there just as he was last time in the Prem - particularly in the relegation season.

You can argue that Hooper is better in a certain setup with certain players around him. Well perhaps Whittaker would be better alongside a better right centreback and a more defensively minded right mid. Fair is fair.

 

[Canaryboy]

I always thought our defence needed improving. I just wouldn't say Russell Martin is a better right back, he's been shown up again since he's been moved back there just as he was last time in the Prem - particularly in the relegation season.

I've been saying since the start of the season that there is little point arguing over which of our three Championship standard right backs is marginally better than the other two.

Whittaker, Martin, Wisdom.... none of them Premier League quality in my opinion. I think Wisdom could be with more experience but wouldn't surprise me at all if ended up in the Championship like so many highly rated kids who simply stand still and don't develop as hoped. 

 

[KeiranShikari]

Whitts is better than Russ and Wisdom though. 

 

[Scott]

£3million for Hooper apparently. I always liked the lad, solid championship player - probably not good enough for prem in my opinion though!

 

[KeiranShikari]

That doesn't seem like much as he still technically has 18 months on his contract. Guess we want him off our wage bill more than Wendnesday want him on theirs.

 

[Gaffer]

Seems cheap considering Afode knocks in 22 goals in 46 Championship games and suddenly he's worth £10 million, while Hooper knocks in 6 in 6 and is only worth £3 million.

 

[Canaryboy]

The problem with Hooper is that all of the lesser Prem sides are all looking for big strong mobile strikers who can do a bit of everything, the "complete striker" if you like, because they all play 4-5-1. 

Hooper is a poacher or a fox in the box, and there just isn't much room in football for them these days. 

Even Jermaine Defoe who is basically a superior version of Hooper has struggled to get regular football in this league at times, Allardyce has walked into Sunderland and stated that he is going to build his team around Defoe and that is working out nicely for them. 

But Defoe is their only decent striker, Sunderland don't appear to have a spare £10m to drop on an alternative, and Hooper isn't good enough to justify building a team around like Defoe is.

15 to 20 years ago Hooper would have got a lot further in football I think, especially when everybody played 4-4-2 and you'd play a big man with a little man (e.g. Sutton and Robins). And I bet Robbie Fowler would have achieved a lot less if he was starting his career now.

But I do think that Hooper is under rated by a lot of Norwich fans. He had a good start here but then lost confidence like every other striker under Hughton, and didn't get enough starts last season to ever really reach peak form or fitness yet scored goals regardless. 

He does often seem a little lazy but I'm not so sure that he is, just think he's one of those out and out goalscorers who is 100% focused on getting into goal scoring positions, rather than running 30 meters to close down a full back in the corner. That's precisely why he isn't what Alex Neil wants I guess, because using energy closing down defenders and chasing lost balls is what he seems to want from the likes of Jerome. 

I can't think of many better signings for an aspirational Championship side to be honest, £3m for Hooper is a bargain, he's a 20 goal Championship striker who might grab them a few in this league if he can help them up. 

 

[Gaffer]

Well now we definitely need to sign a striker unless Lafferty is given a chance.

 

[Beauseant]

Well now we definitely need to sign a striker unless Lafferty is given a chance.

Lafferty is on the way out. He's nowhere near Premier League standard and is a total loose cannon. Hooper is a great finisher but as Canaryboy points out, that's no longer enough in today's Prem where most teams play just the one striker. He's simply not mobile enough.

 

[ZLF]

For the last couple of seasons the bulk of hoopers goals have only come against lower league championship sides.   His record against better side is not great and he seems to have found his level;   a decent finisher who can link play but is workshy and lacking enough to compete against better defenders;  

The fee reflects his high wages, length of his remaining contract,  that he is currently playing in the champs and the fact that he is unlikely to improve from this level. 

His wages are disproportionate to what he can contribute to us, particularly, and most pertinently, in the manager eyes.   I wish him well and think this is a good move for all concerned.

Lafferty is not as good as hooper - but without the same wage drain - as with hooper I shall be pleased to see him restart his career elsewhere as again he will do nothing to help our cause this season 

 

[Canaryboy]

Lafferty is on the way out. He's nowhere near Premier League standard.

Agreed, he's mid-table Championship.

 

[Canaryboy]

Now that we have space for a new striker we could hijack Rotherham's move for Becchio? 

 

[splutcho]

Now that we have space for a new striker we could hijack Rotherham's move for Becchio? 

Surprised he's gone to Championship relegation fodder. I remember when he would have single handedly saved our season and was definitely better than what we had and the manager was stupid and the fans knew best.

 

[Beauseant]

Surprised he's gone to Championship relegation fodder. I remember when he would have single handedly saved our season and was definitely better than what we had and the manager was stupid and the fans knew best.

Sarcasm is the lowest form of wit

It was hilarious how he got better every time he  didn't play although, of course, we are seeing exactly the same process with Lafferty. The crowd reaction when he came on in the FA Cup match was cringeworthy.