Right then, who should we sign?

[Scott]

RB I probably think he could hold it, but I just don't like him or feel comfortable when he's at CB, from what I've seen from him he has had some solid games, but he has had a few nightmare games as well.. I think they'll keep him in there because he is a really good captain, but personally, I would look to strengthen

 

[ZLF]

To be honest I would love 2 new CBs - think out back 4 could be our achilles heel.

 

[Suffolk Canary]

The Sun saying today that we've got Mulumbu.  I can't see him being preferred to either Tettey or Howson, but It makes sense if he's there for cover. Premiership experience will be vital. Plus, it gives us more cash to blow on a striker and solid CB. 

 

[KeiranShikari]

DM is one of the key positions we needed to strengthen this summer with Johnson pretty much cementing himself on the left. Competition for Tettey. Would be a great signing.

 

[The Great Mass Debater]

Can anyone remember from previous seasons when transfer activity starts to get going? I remember Lambert getting his business done early. This is probably the first time Alex Neil has ever flexed his muscles in the transfer department so we really dont know what to expect in terms of his approach, how much will be the final say on club targets rather than his own list etc, but when do things start happening?

What about the football board? Is that structure still in place? Havent really heard it mentioned since Adams departed. Will we still be looking for a director of football like we briefly had with Joe Royle? Did we ever replace Ewan Chester?

 

[KeiranShikari]

“I would imagine there will be some activity in June but it won’t be complete and the transfer activity will continue into July. That is the nature of a lot of things, because the market at this moment is always in a quieter period.” - David McNally

 

[KeiranShikari]

As for a DoF, we never had one. Royle was supposed to be a guy Adams could go and bounce ideas off and ask questions.

I believe they will be bringing in transfers as a team but obviously the manager has quite a bit of say [Andreu].

 

[CanaryNath]

The Sun saying today that we've got Mulumbu. I can't see him being preferred to either Tettey or Howson, but It makes sense if he's there for cover. Premiership experience will be vital. Plus, it gives us more cash to blow on a striker and solid CB.

I would be delighted if this is the case. Wasn't it on a free??!

 

[KeiranShikari]

Yup. Although frees do usually come with a pretty nice bonus for the player and agent.

 

[Boyerboy]

As far as I know, the structure is still in place and appears to be doing what it was always intended to do which is support the manager, Parts of the manager's role have been hived off to enable the manager to concentrate on the first team.

There has been a lot of nonsense talked about the structure including by pundits.  The realty is that Lambert concentrated on the first team and neglected other parts of the club like the academy.   Hughton took a more holistic view but perhaps spread himself to thinly.  We have returned to Lambert like intense focus and made other responsible for ancillary functions like the academy, sports science and nutrition. 

A Premier league club is too broad and diverse a business for an old style manager.

Can anyone see Alex Neil's management being undermined by he current structure?

 

[The Great Mass Debater]

http://hereisthecity.com/en-gb/2015/06/11/report-celtic-miss-out-on-free-agent-youssouf-mulumbu-who-is-joi/

 

[derehamyella]

Bit more on the Mulumbu   lists the Sun as source   (sorry to duplicate .posting roughly the same time)

Celtic where after him as well

. The Bhoys were linked with a move for the player by The Press and Journal recently. They reported Celtic were keen on the Congolese international, as his free agent status made him a valuable commodity. Championship side Wolves were also said to be keen.

However, both teams appear to have lost out. According to The Sun, Mulumbu will play in the Premier League next season with newly promoted Norwich City.

They claim today that the deal is all set to be completed, with just dots and crosses set to finalise the deal.

Mulumbu, who played nearly 200 games for West Brom including over 130 games in the Premier League, will provide top level experience and quality to Alex Neil's recently promoted Canaires

 

[The Great Mass Debater]

Dorrans, Mulumbu - anyone else West Brom dont want?!

 

[derehamyella]

Chris Baird   is not being kept on ..cover for free ?   dont know a lot about him  perhaps too old at 33

 

[Suffolk Canary]

I've had an interesting response from WBA fans about Mulumbu. Although they didn't appreciate me calling him 'a poor man's Alex Tettey', they didn't think he was worth keeping.  Here's some: 

'excellent player but way past his best now. Which is why he's moving on.'

'if you want an honest opinion he's not the player he was. Great servant but gives away silly fouls and has cost us games.

I've heard other ncfc fans saying they use to laugh about him as he always made a huge mistake against us which let us score. Most of the complients I've seen about him have been about his loyalty and commitment, which is fine, but I've heard very little about what he does on the pitch. But if he's only being brought in to provide cover/competition for Tettey, then it doesn't really matter too much. 

 

[Canaryboy]

Is a bit strange that they are calling a 28 year old who has had no serious injuries "past his best", considering they are also saying that he was at his best just 18 to 24 months ago when he was being linked to top four teams. This signing could be a masterstroke. He should theoretically be at the peak of his physical abilities. 

If we conclude that he is unlikely to have declined physically and that any decline in form has been mental, possibly the simply need for a change in scenery and a bit of a kick up the backside (or the injection of a bit of confidence, if he's one of those that need an arm around his shoulder), then this could turn out to be an excellent signing. 

As for whether he is better than Tettey or not, is worth pointing out that Tettey is a bit fragile and will almost inevitably spend some time out injured next season, signing some competition in that position was crucial. We all know that Johnson isn't great in that deeper 'anchor' type role. 

 

[Yellow Fever]

Agree with CB here. I still look forward to the time fans say 'We're really going to miss him' when a player leaves. It doesn't happen. I have seen other opinions that he didn't fit into Pulis' plans. That's OK by me. Arsenal were interested in him 2 years ago. We need another DM and he's the one I'd have chosen - even better on a 'free'. Good business if it happens and it'd free up BJ to concentrate on his new role on the left. Speaking of that, I seem to recall that Mulumbu can play that role as well, so cover for two positions perhaps?

 

[UnderTheCosh]

Interesting Mulumbu discussion. My feeling would be that he is rather past it, but if his wages aren't huge then he's ok cover. While Dorrans has done well this season, he's never truly cut it in the Premiership - same with Jerome, so I'm a bit worried about both of them.

We just had the founder of Canadian Canaries write this season review and look ahead to next year. His thoughts were that the club needs a back up keeper, definitely more Premiership quality at the back, and possibly more depth up front. Here's the piece if anyone's interested. http://underthecoshblog.com/2015/06/11/norwich-city-will-the-canaries-soar/

Michael Dawson is apparently on a free. Would anyone take him?

 

[Yellow Fever]

IMO, AN's inclination towards players who can play more than one position suggests a more flexible squad structure where Brady, if he comes in, could be a defender as well as a midfielder (or 2). If Turner leaves, that would leave 7 defenders and space for a quality CB to come in. Should Miquel go out on loan, that would leave 6 defenders and space for another quality CB to come in, making 8 defenders in all (including Brady or someone similar and Toffolo who is under 21).

We seem to be looking at a five man midfield, so that means around 10 players in midfield (given that Redmond still counts as under 21). At the moment we have 11, so O'Neil is most likely to leave if Mulumbu or another comes in. Two keepers makes the squad up to 20 (the third, Remi Matthews still counts as under 21). That could allow for all 5 of our present strikers to make up 25, but I suspect at least one will leave and be replaced by either a striker or an AM/Striker, leaving us with a 25 player squad plus Loza and Morris, who both count as under 21.

So overall, 2 new quality CBs, Brady and Mulumbu (or similar players) and at least one striker and/or an AM/Striker) building on the strong squad we already have.

 

[KeiranShikari]

While Dorrans has done well this season, he's never truly cut it in the Premiership - same with Jerome, so I'm a bit worried about both of them.

Good one.