Pinto Signs!

[Canaryboy]

Though some of us would say Whittaker is a pretty good player. 

I'd say that Elliott Bennett and Gary Hooper are pretty good players but I don't see any Premier League sides making a move for them, and if Whittaker is released this summer he'll be in the Championship or back to Rangers. Slim chance that Hughton takes Brighton up and fancies him as a squad player I suppose. 

If we want to progress unfortunately people have to lose out. Whittaker would be a good signing for most Championship sides, because he's a 'pretty good player', but are there any sides in this division who would swap their right back for Whittaker?

The worst right back I can think of in this league getting regular football is Alan Hutton at Aston Villa. Guess who plays right back for Scotland? 

 

[GJP]

But also Whittaker will be 32 by the time next season starts.

We signed him as a Premier League club. So when we signed him back then wasn't really any different to us signing Pinto now.

 

[eatonparkboy]

I think too many players who are simply not really good enough have and continue to play International and CL football. Quite frankly I was amazed when Strachan and crew were so disappointed they didn't make it to the finals with a defence containing Martin, Whittaker, Hutton, Hanley and Greer (not all at once of course).

 

[Canaryboy]

Need to bear in mind that we will need to lose a lot of players this summer to accommodate new ones. 

If we include our two loan players, plus the players out on loan, plus Redmond and Loza needing to be in the 25 next season, we will finish this season with (I think) 31 players who would need to be in the 25 to play for us next season. 

If we assume no further transfers either in our out in this window, that means we'd have to select 10 players to say goodbye to just to make room for 4 new additions in the summer. 

Is much easier for fans to play at spending the clubs money, identifying who leaves to make way for all these quality new players much tougher. 

I don't want Gary O'Neil and Jamar Loza to be released in the summer, for example, but its probably going to happen. When selecting my 10 some of them are easy (Gafaiti, Lafferty, Wisdom back to Liverpool), but there isn't enough deadwood to choose 10 without having to make tougher decisions like saying goodbye to people like O'Neil and Whittaker who have done a good job for us. 

 

[Din]

Excited by this. As others have said we shouldn't get too excited by Youtube videos, but it's clear to see he has real pace, which none of our other right backs have. Looks good on the ball as well. Most important thing though is can he defend? As others have said for £2m it's worth finding out.

 

[GJP]

He does look to have a bit of natural flair too. And yeah, hopefully he can defend.

 

[GJP]

I don't want Gary O'Neil and Jamar Loza to be released in the summer, 

Surely Loza will be gone. He's miles away from this level.

 

[Canaryboy]

Surely Loza will be gone. He's miles away from this level.

Highly likely as he'll be an overaged player in the under 21's next year. 

 

[dj161]

Here's a view on Pinto from a Zagreb based football writer, a good honest opinion here, seems like he's very attack minded and that somewhat leaves to some capabilities in his defensive part of his game, also that his main reason to move to England is to further his international career

http://www.edp24.co.uk/sport/norwich-city/q_a_the_croatian_view_on_norwich_city_signing_ivo_pinto_1_4373232

 

[ZLF]

A right flank olsson by the sounds of it

 

[Fimbo]

Might not be straight into the team if this guy has called it right. But I'm sure Neil would not have wanted him if he lacks defensive ability.

 

[Fenway Frank]

Not exactly a glowing report, I know it's only the views of one person but he doesn't sound any better than what we already have , that description of Pinto could be used for Russ or Whitts 

 

[Number 9]

Surely being athletic and 'fast' puts him above Whits.

The common view of Whits is getting caught up field then not being able to catch an attacker, basically following them back towards his own goal & not being in a position to defend.

 

[Fenway Frank]

Ivo, Ivo, to right back you will go

You've got the lot , your wife is hot

Ivo, Ivo Ivo Ivo

I'll get my coat 

 

[bloodwagon]

Ill wait till i have seen him playing in a city shirt. Then see if hes as good or as bad as people say.