Who is our best Outfield Player?

[Jimmy smith]

Given that John Ruddy is probably our best player all things considered, i find it a tough call to state the answer to who our best outfield player is.

There is undoubtable quality right around the side and when somoeone asks the simple question "Who is Norwich's best player" my simple answer is "John Ruddy" but I just don't really know from the outfield lot who is best.

Factors like "most promising" would see Redmond up there, "best reputation" would be Olsson, Hooper, most exciting would have Wes up there, most consistent perhaps Johnson and Martin would be there and most important perhaps Tettey, Turner up there.

 

[GJP]

Howson. Best all round player at the club.

Though I'm also a massive fan of Tettey.

 

[Lake District Canary]

I voted for Tettey on what he has done this season so far.    Would expect Odidja-Oefo to emerge as the player of the season though........

 

[The Great Mass Debater]

I have voted for Olsson. Most consistent player last year, rarely has a bad game, no real weaknesses in his position. Left backs dont win you games so he wont get the attention he deserves or grab the headlines, but holding onto him this window was a major achievement. Based on last season wouldnt look out of place at a top club in my opinion. Think Garrido did a good job before him, but would pick Olsson ahead of him every time now

 

[Canaryboy]

Best all round player is probably Howson, but best at their job is much more difficult to answer. Our best centre defender is probably Michael Turner, our best full back Martin Olsson, whilst our best striker is still up for debate.

The fact that we don't really have a star man is testament to the quality of our squad at the moment, we have plenty of players who would be a big fish in a small pond at any mid-table Championship team, but who are just another member of an excellent squad at Norwich. In this division we have lots of big fish in a big pond. 

Cameron Jerome could have gone to Ipswich and been the first name on their teamsheet, at Norwich it remains to be seen whether he can force his way into the starting lineup! 

 

[cityoldboy]

Wes.

The one player who does things that other players cannot do

at our or most other championship clubs. 

 

[GazzaTCC]

Wes.

The one player who does things that other players cannot do

at our or most other championship clubs.

What's that exactly, turn round in circles, beat his man three times, then lose the ball? ;-)

 

[KeiranShikari]

i optimistically put Vadis. 

 

[Canaryboy]

Wes.

The one player who does things that other players cannot do

at our or most other championship clubs. 

If only he scored more goals..... 

That's the one problem with Wes, one goal last season.

Three in the league the year before, just not enough for a player who plays so high up the pitch. Lack of goals was a problem for the our past two Premier League season, and it isn't all down to the strikers - we were so ineffective in the final third under Hughton.

In fact if Howson or this Vadis bloke can get amongst the goals, then that puts Wes's place at risk in my opinion - need goals from your midfield to get out of this division.

 

[Din]

I voted for Howson, as I think his all round game is the best. It was between him and Hoolahan for me.

 

[cityoldboy]

What's that exactly, turn round in circles, beat his man three times, then lose the ball? ;-)

No look up and hoof the ball into touch !!!

 

[Dandy Mountfarto]

If Wes scored more goals and gave the ball away less he'd essentially be David Silva and certainly wouldn't be playing for us. How many clubs of a similar stature to us have a playmaker better than him? I can't think of any off the top of my head.

Also giving the ball away is always going to be an occupational hazard for someone tasked with playing the final ball

 

[Canaryboy]

How many clubs of a similar stature to us have a playmaker better than him? 

Hoolahan is a joy to watch when at the top of his game, but actually most teams who get out of this division possess a great playmaker.

When we went up under Lambert we had Hoolahan, and QPR had Taarabt. 

Leicester had Anthony Knockheart, who plays out wide but most of their play went through him. Derby who narrowly missed out on promotion have Will Hughes. Forest who are top of the league have Henri Lansbury. 

Southampton had Lallana. 

All different types of player, but all massively talented. No point in me saying that I'd swap Wes for any of them apart, because that would be stating the obvious (because of age differences), but any of the above mentioned players would make a huge difference to our squad. I wouldn't have Taarabt mind you for attitude reasons, we already have our own sulky Frenchman. 

 

[KeiranShikari]

That Blackburn guy that scored the blooter at Carrow Road is pretty Wes like in his play.

 

[Din]

That Blackburn guy that scored the blooter at Carrow Road is pretty Wes like in his play.

Tom Cairney? He's a great player but I'd say he's more like Howson than Hoolahan in his play personally.

 

[Dandy Mountfarto]

Hoolahan is a joy to watch when at the top of his game, but actually most teams who get out of this division possess a great playmaker.

When we went up under Lambert we had Hoolahan, and QPR had Taarabt. 

Leicester had Anthony Knockheart, who plays out wide but most of their play went through him. Derby who narrowly missed out on promotion have Will Hughes. Forest who are top of the league have Henri Lansbury. 

Southampton had Lallana. 

All different types of player, but all massively talented. No point in me saying that I'd swap Wes for any of them apart, because that would be stating the obvious (because of age differences), but any of the above mentioned players would make a huge difference to our squad. I wouldn't have Taarabt mind you for attitude reasons, we already have our own sulky Frenchman. 

Lallana aside (who no longer plays for a club of a similar stature to us), all of those players could have the same criticisms levelled at them that Hoolahan gets.

Taarabt doesn't score significantly more than Wes despite shooting everytime he gets the ball, and is utterly woeful when not on his game. Knockaert, Hughes and Lansbury all score less than Wes. Same goes for Ruiz, Sessegnon and every other similar player at a similar standard of club.

Norwich fans seem to hold Hoolahan up to a standard that simply doesn't exist for clubs of our size.

 

[KeiranShikari]

Tom Cairney? He's a great player but I'd say he's more like Howson than Hoolahan in his play personally.

Maybe you're right. I haven't seen a lot of him I must say. Just remember how much he favoured his left foot, great in a tight area and his natural ability to find space.

 

[Canaryboy]

Lallana aside (who no longer plays for a club of a similar stature to us), all of those players could have the same criticisms levelled at them that Hoolahan gets.

Taarabt doesn't score significantly more than Wes despite shooting everytime he gets the ball, and is utterly woeful when not on his game. Knockaert, Hughes and Lansbury all score less than Wes. Same goes for Ruiz, Sessegnon and every other similar player at a similar standard of club.

Norwich fans seem to hold Hoolahan up to a standard that simply doesn't exist for clubs of our size.

 
Well if Hoolahan can match the 10 that he scored in our last Championship season then I'd be delighted and we can all consider this a non-issue. Lansbury's 7 last season came in 29 appearances, so just as prolific as Wes was that year. 

All I'm saying is that we need at least 7 or 8 goals from Wes if he is to be starting every week, what he managed in 2010-11 matters little, it was a long time ago. He has only scored 6 or 7 in the past three seasons combined. 

Promoted teams typically score 80+ goals, so not unreasonable at all to expect 10% of them from our main attacking midfielder. 

Wes has real competition for his place just like everybody else if we avoid major injury problems. *touch wood*. 

 

[Yellow Fever]

IMO, it's the measure of our squad to see just how difficult that decision is to make.

 

[Mercurial]

If it was how son, then he would be a dead cert for starting 11. When fit, would he come in? Probably not. Can't see who you would leave out that he would do a better job than. Therefore if he isn't nailed on for the first 11 I don't think he can be our best player.