Klose to sign.

[ZLF]

Comments from him and others suggest he is fit and raring to go. 4 days working with squad, perfect.  German commentator confirms fit but likely to improve for a few games.  Get him in,  can't acclimatise much from the bench.

 

[morty]

l like him already.

http://www.canaries.co.uk/news/article/timm-klose-norwich-city-interview-2909222.aspx

 

[morty]

And he appears to have magic powers, look how he is levitating this ball, with the power of his mind.

 

[dj161]

“But when I came here and saw the training ground, the stadium, and everything – it was fantastic. This place smells like football, and that’s how I want to play".

I know all players say things like this when they sign for a new club, but you've got to love that

also for those mentioned above that he wasnt a regular for Wolfsburg you have to remember that they finished 2nd in the Bundesliga behind Bayern and won the German Cup, so Wolfsburg are a big big club, not playing for them every week is no different than not playing every week for Arsenal or Man City, I'm really happy with the signing, just be interested to see who he plays alongside, would hope its with Bennett, but wouldn't be surprised to see him alongside Martin with Pinto coming it at right back

 

[Canaryboy]

Has anybody else noticed that he looks a little bit like Michael Turner? They've got the same long but squashed centre backs nose. 

Hey, if he can do for us what Turner did for us a few years ago and do it for 3 or 4 years rather than for 18 months, then I'd take that right now. 

I don't think the left footed thing is too much of a barrier to playing alongside Bassong to be honest, plenty of teams play two right footed centre backs without major issue so can't see why we can't play two left footed centre backs. 

If anybody wants a good example then Morgan and Huth at Leicester, both right footed. 

I've got a feeling Bassong doesn't want to be here long term anyway, he signed a one year extension to his deal this season to 2017. He's only 29 which is young for a centre back so suspect they'd have been at least another year, possibly two years, on the table. When he signed that extension I did wonder whether he fancied a big final payday somewhere on a bosman (MLS, Russia, Qatar?). 

 

[dj161]

I don't think the left footed thing is too much of a barrier to playing alongside Bassong to be honest, plenty of teams play two right footed centre backs without major issue so can't see why we can't play two left footed centre backs. 

I'm pretty sure he's right footed but generally plays as the left sided centre back, much like John Terry

 

[Canaryboy]

Looks like Alex Neil has put the issue to bed anyway... 

'As a player, he's got good technical ability and he's solid in the air. He can also play at either right centre-back or left centre-back"

I think it will be him and Bassong. 

 

[Scott]

His nose is absolutely battered, I love seeing that in a center half haha. 

 

[lyb]

I know all players say things like this when they sign for a new club, but you've got to love that

also for those mentioned above that he wasnt a regular for Wolfsburg you have to remember that they finished 2nd in the Bundesliga behind Bayern and won the German Cup, so Wolfsburg are a big big club, not playing for them every week is no different than not playing every week for Arsenal or Man City, I'm really happy with the signing, just be interested to see who he plays alongside, would hope its with Bennett, but wouldn't be surprised to see him alongside Martin with Pinto coming it at right back

He was a regular last year apparently, just not this year as they signed someone who has taken his spot. 

Update: Had a look on transfermarkt.co.uk and apparently his last game was a full 90 on the 19th December, so he's only been a month since a full game. 7 starts in the last 17 games. 

Link to player match data.

 

[It's Character Forming]

Personally I hope we start him with Bennett - I think Bennett is better defensively that Basso overall, better at playing long balls out of defence, and also being less experienced, has more scope to progress.  Basso I think is as good as he's ever going to get.

Either way, if as I hope and expect, Klose is a step up on both of them, it improves the area of key weakness in our team and ticks the essential box for this transfer window.

 

[Killiecanary]

I can't wait to see him against Spurs!  I would love to know his thoughts as he sat on then bench watching that lunacy unfold??

i think he may need another quality new signing beside him too by then I hope!

 

[Dubai Mark]

I think he will be relishing the challenge, and looking forward to playing next to Bassong.

 

[Killiecanary]

I think I would rather see him paired with Bennett tbh.  Bassong flatters to deceive for me and too often tries to be clever.  Bennett plays to his limitations better and takes fewer chances.  I think Klose is a ball playing, more cultured CB...someone like that with Bassong is likely to give me heart failure several times a week!

 

[GJP]

I think I would rather see him paired with Bennett tbh.  Bassong flatters to deceive for me and too often tries to be clever.  Bennett plays to his limitations better and takes fewer chances.  I think Klose is a ball playing, more cultured CB...someone like that with Bassong is likely to give me heart failure several times a week!

"Tries to be clever".

I think, actually, what Bassong tries to do is keep possession but also play a forward pass. Often you see he is desperately looking for movement infront of but there isn't any. This causes him to hold onto the ball and I often hear people criticising him for that time he's on the ball but actually that's because they don't realise he hasn't got a pass on. 

Bennett hasn't got that in his locker. He either passes it square to Bassong (who then has to deal with it in the above type situation) or hoofs it upfield.

Bassong with and without the ball is better than Bennett.

 

[Killiecanary]

I actually meant defensively not when in possession.  I like that he tries to,pass it our from the back but sometimes you have to just be safe and too often for me he tries to find or play a pass that simply isn't on.  What worries me more is times when he tries to control the ball in areas where he should just clear his lines and even more frustratingly, when he lets the ball bounce I a dangerous area.  I'm not saying Bennett is a better footballer, but I do think he is a more reliable defender.   

 

[GJP]

I don't think that's a particularly big problem for us. The number of times Bennett loses his man is more of a problem.

 

[Killiecanary]

I'm not thrilled by any of them to be fair. My absolute preference would be for another CB to arrive and they become our cover...and Russ is th cover for the cover.  An new LB would also be nice...we could let Brady play where he is at his best then instead of covering yet another defensive gap.  

We look encouraging going forward again and Naismith helps here.  But don't have any competition for places in the back line really.