Norwich City vs Middlesborough (Home) Saturday 15th Sept.

[Canaryboy]

good result today .... I was involved in Glenn's education (and was previously with a few pro players - inc. in a more limited way Adam Drury).

Glenn is a super lad, great attitude and ambitious ... it was a real shock he was let go - only the previous summer he was due to be on 1st team bench until Scotland call up - Richard Money highlighted him as the clubs best young prospect - rated above the Murphys, for example. He wanted to push for first team, not unreasonable as he was dominating Under 23 games at times as an 17 year old- It took Gerrard one pre season to promote him to 1st team and he has now played in a on old firm derby and scored as an 18 year old in front off 50000. Gerrad has publicly said that 'he has everything.'

If he kicks on he will be worth millions ...

& he would have gone out on loan without a problem - I know this because he told me.

Murty snapped him up and premier league options were open too.

Back in the day we released Dion Dublin - This will be up there, if not worse,

Thanks, pretty much my perception also, he's a genuine top prospect.

And yes, of course a loan would have made sense.... like Todd Cantwell at Fortuna Sittard, or Ben Godfrey at Shrewsbury.

Its just really odd.

Louis Ramsay playing for one of the best U23 sides in the country now as well

 

[Canaryboy]

Meh, if theres one thing we've done well its been integrating youth players under Farke and Webber.

Having seem Aarons settle quite well, Lewis before him, Maddison and Murphy before that and potentially Godfrey and Thomson as we move forwards through this season I wont be too bothered if we get one wrong.

Its true that we've done really well at bringing through and integrating Lewis and Aarons and they've settled in at an impressive speed as well.

Arguably the job was three quarters done with Maddison and Murphy.....

.... but Dion Dublin cited as a comparable above, and Dave Stringer got that one very wrong, yet it was Dave Stringer who put together the squad which finished 3rd in the inaugural Premier League season the year after he left and brought through players like Fox and Sutton.

 

[tjon]

agree lewis is class - otherwise jury is out ... Maddison was always going to shine and not really one of our home grown ... otherwise too soon to tell

 

[Dubai Mark]

Exactly hogesar, there will always be a stick to beat the club with, more recently I have found a few, but on this, all clubs have similar situations when it comes to releasing players.........all clubs....

 

[Canaryboy]

Exactly hogesar, there will always be a stick to beat the club with, more recently I have found a few, but on this, all clubs have similar situations when it comes to releasing players.........all clubs....

We've haven't had a huge one since Dion Dublin though, I don't think its all that common at Middleton's stage in his development when he had a ridiculous number of Scotland youth caps, its not somebody whose potential become apparent at a later stage.... all of British football knew how good he was, as we play in the Premier League 2 where he would often be the stand out player in fixtures.

More common that players get released and then work their way back slowly up the pyramid via a lower level. Bobby Zamora a good example of that, we released him for being too short at 15 and he ended up being a 6ft Premier League striker.

Middleton got snapped up by Rangers and swiftly promoted to their first team, where at 18 their gaffer has given him the number 12 squad number and used him in their biggest fixtures.... he's probably going to playing against Villarreal, Spartak Moscow and Rapid Wien in the coming months.

Plus we had 7 years of rubbing Ipswich's nose in it when Jordan Rhodes was prolific for Blackburn and Huddersfield after Roy Keane sold him for £350k.... this could be as bad, if not worse. Its a huge fuck up and genuinely makes me question the wider project to be honest.

 

[hogesar]

Its way, way too early to liken Middleton leaving to a player whos had a career the likes of Dion.

Dont know enough other than watching a few youth games to really judge the guy, looked good at youth level when I did see him. Wouldnt say exceptional.

 

[GJP]

Back on track, Tettey was great today. Thought Stiepermann did very well too, got stuck in and can do stuff with the ball. Emi showed some nice stuff. Leitner was industrious. Krul was excellent. And everyone else was good too. Everyone.

 

[OldRobert]

Excellent win and team performance today imo. Thought Tettey took the captain's role very well today, encouraging etc. Now let's see some consistency. OTBC.

 

[Ben]

https://canaryreport.wordpress.com/...ighly-fancied-boro-with-accomplished-display/

Can't fault any player after that. Tim Krul has had his doubters but excellent clean-sheet with vital saves vs Howson and Brathwaite. Aarons and Lewis playing with so much maturity and Tettey was superb with the added responsibility of being captain. Not going to miss Hanley if Zimbo carries on like that!

 

[Din]

Yeah fantastic performance. First half was good but the 2nd was arguably as well as we've played under Farke. Exactly what the doctor ordered and I really hope we can properly kick on from here.

So many contenders for man of the match, a special word for Krul though who I was absolutely loving towards the end of the game. At one point the ball went into the N&P and Krul sneakily indicated to the bloke that had it to chuck as far back in the stand as he could, which the guy duly obliged to when someone did throw it back as well Krul gave them a glare as if that person had just stepped on his hamster aha. In general as well he was getting really involved with the fans, but obviously most importantly he made a couple of very good saves. Pleased that those dodgy moments he had early on in the season seem to be further behind him with each game.

Could probably give a special mention to everyone to be fair, superb display. I actually wasn't sure about Pukki up front after the first half as he seemed to be constantly drawn towards the ball rather than getting into the box. Plus we didn't really have the option to go long to him seeing as Boro's back line must've had an average height of about 6"4, so he was never gonna win anything in the air. But 2nd half he popped up in the right place at the right time to get us the win, which is all you can ask from your striker really. Also thought Stiepermann probably had the best game I've seen him have, and Leitner put in exactly the type of peformance I'd expect from a player of his quality. Can't not mention Jamal Lewis' Maradona turn either. Outrageous.

Right then, Reading, QPR and Wigan next 3 games. A real opportunity to kick on now we have some momentum with us. 7 points from those 3 and we'll be looking in very good shape.

 

[Canaryboy]

Apologies for turning the match thread into something negative after a really good performance, wasn't really intentional and it was such a Pink'un thing to do.... because it was a very good performance and a clean sheet for Krul + the defense without the captain. and the goal was really well worked (who cares about the deflection). Plus thought Zimmermann coped really well with one of the leagues most dangerous strikers on the break. Hopefully we can try and put some sort of run of good results together and the attendances can creep back over 25k!

ps. Accelerating ahead of the scum now

 

[Din]

To be fair I thought that the atmosphere yesterday in the 2nd half yesterday was fantastic. As good as I've heard it in a long time. Even in the first half in general the fans didn't get impatient, which is great to see.

 

[dj161]

one thing that stood out to be was that it's the first time this season, and maybe last as well that we played two out and out wingers, it gives us so much more of an attacking threat that we've been missing,

passing the ball around the midfield is nice and all, but it was good seeing two players who just want to get the ball moving forward as quickly as possible, that being said I thought Buendia was quiet in the first half, not that he did much wrong just didn't get a huge amount of the ball, second half he was much more involved, and rather that everything going down Onel's side of the pitch it was much more balanced

Pukki looked good playing further up the pitch (he was playing well beforehand in the hole too),he's certainly brought the confidence back from the international break back with him

Lewis and Aarons both look good and are certainly looking like our long term full backs now, though that does leave questions over what Passlack maybe feeling about his loan spell right now, wouldn't be surprised to see him return to Germany in January if he doesn't get game time soon

before the game some people near me were saying about Steipermann and how no one seems to know what his position was, and that maybe it was a 'we'll try you here and if it doesn't work out you're off' approach, seems like he may of found his best role in driving the midfield forward from the centre

and as mentioned above Tettey was excellent and was good to see him getting forward more, with a bit more luck he could of had a goal or two

It's important now that we build some momentum from this, we need at least a point from Reading, but realistically if we go there and play like that we should be looking to take all three

OTBC