Right then, who should we sign?

[KeiranShikari]

A great example of this is that 2 years ago I suggested we sign Firmino and Ogbonna, they've both signed for prem teams this season, yet we could have got them for probably half of what they paid if we'd gone for them at the time. I'll also point out that I suggested Bony before he went to Swansea and look how that turned out.

I'm pretty sure Ogbonna joined Juventus 2 seasons ago having made appearances for the Italian national team and when was the last time a talented young Brazilian player joined a lower/midtable prem side? A lot of people suggested Bony but I still think his fee was out of our league, although I guess in retrospect he would have made us a lot more than we've lost on RVW.

 

[Yellow Fever]

At least we know that AN shares our frustrations:

“We’re in dialogue with different clubs but I am frustrated as anybody else, I can assure you of that,” he said. “We are waiting on things to happen. I would rather know if they are not going to come here then we can move onto the next one, and that is the frustration. We are chasing things and waiting for either a yes or no answer from players we have identified.”

The good news from Germany is that Olsson is making good progress. May be touch and go for the Palace game, but not likely to miss more than that. Our interest in Marcos is a very good way to say to Hull that we're ready to move on if they don't accept our final bid. Also, if Brady wants to come, that puts pressure on Hull. I like the look of Marcos, a LB who can also play CB or LM. At 24 he has experience of English football and the flexibility that AN is looking for. I'd be happy with that.

 

[KeiranShikari]

That would mean we have fees agreed with clubs and players that won't simply jump at the Premier League, they believe they can get a bigger club than Norwich. Annoying but it does show we're not going after easy targets. I'll stay optimistic and say they'll join.

Would have been great to get them in early but I guess that doesn't mean everything, Jerome was a late one.

 

[Indy_Bones]

I'm pretty sure Ogbonna joined Juventus 2 seasons ago having made appearances for the Italian national team and when was the last time a talented young Brazilian player joined a lower/midtable prem side? A lot of people suggested Bony but I still think his fee was out of our league, although I guess in retrospect he would have made us a lot more than we've lost on RVW.

Ogbonna joined Juve in the summer, yet I suggested Ogbonna in the April of that same year - nearly 3 months earlier. Whether or not he'd have been interested in coming we simply don't know, but a strong early offer from a well placed prem level team would surely be more attractive than another season at Torino wouldn't it?

As for a young brazilian coming to a low/midtable prem side - why not? We had already had 2 good seasons in the prem finishing 11th and 12th, were financially sound and with a great level of support, with a top ground and facilities, so what's not to like???

In regards to Bony, he cost approx 12mil for Swansea, which is only 3.5mil more than we paid for RvW, so I don't think he was out of our league in the slightest.

 

[KeiranShikari]

We had 1 good season finishing 12th and then a weird one where we weren't good for large spells but then got a few wins near the end and ended up finishing 11th. On paper 11th is great but load of the season was horrible.

Why not? Why would a young flair player leave a league which suits his style more and a team that are probably stronger than ours? I love Norwich but our support and facilities can get matched and beaten by loads of clubs.

Swansea had a better squad than us and European football when Bony joined them. They'd have beaten us even if we'd have matched their bid.

 

[Indy_Bones]

We had 1 good season finishing 12th and then a weird one where we weren't good for large spells but then got a few wins near the end and ended up finishing 11th. On paper 11th is great but load of the season was horrible.

Why not? Why would a young flair player leave a league which suits his style more and a team that are probably stronger than ours? I love Norwich but our support and facilities can get matched and beaten by loads of clubs.

Swansea had a better squad than us and European football when Bony joined them. They'd have beaten us even if we'd have matched their bid.

But look at this from an outside players perspective. Chances are that players like Ogbonna or Firmino had watched ZERO of our games during that period and would likely have simply been looking at stats, taking advice from agents/friends/fellow players and also having a look at the club and seeing what we could offer financially.

The reality of the prem is that outside of the top 8 or so teams, the squads and quality are pretty much of a muchness, and for many players there's little to choose between a Sunderland, a Norwich or a West Brom, so players move based on the strength/reputation of the league, how likely they are to play and in what role, and the financial recompense for doing so will be.

Other clubs may well be able to offer similar facilities (although many also do not), but very few outside of the likes of Man Utd and Chelsea etc, get such regular and strong support from their fan base like we do. If West Brom or Swansea went down, I very much doubt they'd be racking up 25k attendance a game in the champs, never mind league one, and this sort of support is a great incentive to a potential new signing.

As for Bony, he may well have chosen Swansea over us (if fact, I'd argue that he almost certainly would have done), but there's a big difference between being beaten by a club with maybe more to offer to the player at that stage, than not making a bid at all or claiming we couldn't afford it. Bony didn't go to Swansea because we couldn't afford him, he went because we didn't make an offer and they gave him what he was looking for, simple as that.

I hate the 'little old Norwich' phrase, but sometimes I think our fans don't realise how attractive a club we can be to many players, and whilst they may not have really worked out for us, the signing of players like RvW and Fer clearly shows we can attract good talent from overseas - even if it's not the very cream of the european elite.

 

[The Great Mass Debater]

That would mean we have fees agreed with clubs and players that won't simply jump at the Premier League, they believe they can get a bigger club than Norwich. Annoying but it does show we're not going after easy targets. I'll stay optimistic and say they'll join.

Would have been great to get them in early but I guess that doesn't mean everything, Jerome was a late one.

This was kind of the situation we had last time with Quagliarella, Toivonen, (Biglia) and Alderweireld. We hung on too long for players who only had lukewarm interest in us and ultimately we ended up with Elmander as a panic-buy. Which of course went spectacularly well.

Id have hoped we'd learn from those situations. There is being ambitious, and then there is being unrealistic (though perhaps not of venky's proportions) and leaving yourself up the creek

Brady seemed a realistic target, but Bruce has unrealistic expectations of his own

 

[KeiranShikari]

If the players aren't caring about style of play used in recent seasons then they sure aren't caring about what attendances the clubs would get in the Championship, or in the premier league for that matter. Only Bournemouth will be playing in front of loads less than us next season anyway, would think about 15 clubs will be ahead of us in that regard. We have a relativity small player budget and now a board that are not willing to take risks on imports. I don't like the ''little old Norwich'' mentality but that kind of fits, if you don't know about foreign markets then learn. I'm sure they are, right?  

I've never said we can't attract talent from overseas, especially after a year or two in the Premier League. I just think a majority of your suggestions are in another ballpark altogether.

If we're ever going to start regularly signing talent from abroad I think we'll have to be on the lookout for youngsters before they sign for the relativity decent European sides. 

 

[Boyerboy]

We shouldn't lose sight of the need for foreign players to put themselves in the window.   Many will be willing to play for a lower Prem team in the hope that they will succeed and catch the eye of a top team.   That is what Bony and Benteke have done so well.  Perhaps Fer came into that group also.

The upside is obvious but the downside is a lack of loyalty with buy out clauses etc..

Many City fan would struggle with us being a "step up" club as we have always reacted badly to players who want to move on. I still haven't forgiven Steve Bruce.   As Danny Mills and Andy Townsend illustrate, it doesn't always get gratitude from players either.

It is a fact of life and something we have to accept more.

At least Neil is used to it from Hamilton.

 

[The Great Mass Debater]

We shouldn't lose sight of the need for foreign players to put themselves in the window.   Many will be willing to play for a lower Prem team in the hope that they will succeed and catch the eye of a top team.   That is what Bony and Benteke have done so well.  Perhaps Fer came into that group also.

The upside is obvious but the downside is a lack of loyalty with buy out clauses etc..

Many City fan would struggle with us being a "step up" club as we have always reacted badly to players who want to move on. I still haven't forgiven Steve Bruce.   As Danny Mills and Andy Townsend illustrate, it doesn't always get gratitude from players either.

It is a fact of life and something we have to accept more.

At least Neil is used to it from Hamilton.

Agreed, and I think most sensible fans will acknowledge the motivations behind playing for a club like ours. Compared to our Premier League rivals all we can offer is the prospect of regular football. You're more likely to get into our starting line up than other clubs. Excel like Bony and Michu before him then the top English clubs have shown they are not unwilling to splash the cash for someone proven in the league.

Premiership pedigree is no guarantee of success, there have been some disastrous intra-premier league transfers, but on the whole if you prove yourself in the league you're considered less of a risk.

Norwich are a great team to put yourself in the shop window - and this should be mutually beneficial. We are never going to challenge for the league and European competition we might qualify for isnt really wanted by the board. We're also a terrible cup team, so players arent likely to have much to play for in our team.

We should make our peace with being a stepping stone. Van Wolfswinkel is a perfect example. Had he had a blinder for us in our first season , chances are we'd be selling him for £20m.

We are likely to become a good proving ground for foreign players. RvW didnt work out because for every Bony there's a Ricky. But thats why Bony now plays for Man City and we cant give RvW away

 

[Din]

According to Paddy Davitt, Neil is after 3/4 players, including a keeper, left back and striker. I imagine that's on top of getting Brady.

I really don't understand why we don't want another centre back assuming that that's true. The prospect of having Whittaker and Elliott Bennett as our options at right-back also worry me a little. 

 

[KeiranShikari]

I suppose Neil has seen enough of Turner, Bennett and Miquel to belive they can do enough. Presumably he wouldn't want to play them with our team pushing on but perhaps we can sit back and play on the counter with them.

Was pretty sure Turner was off and we'd be in the market for a good cb. Oh well.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               

 

[The Great Mass Debater]

It seemed the general concensus was that Turer would be off. I wonder where he is in the pecking order. Surely he was loaned out because we felt we didnt need him?

Fulham have had 12m for Patrick Roberts, so maybe they might want him?

 

[KeiranShikari]

Could just be a strategy thing. We knew we would be going out to attack in every game so we wouldn't need the guy that would require us to set up the midfield more defensively.He has plenty of Premier League experience, might not be an awful player to keep around. I mean Bournemouth went out and got Distin.

I think that if he stays fit Ryan Bennett might be 3rd choice. 

 

[KeiranShikari]

He did say 3-4 more players and only give 3 positions. Might well be a case of if the right player at the right price comes along.

 

[The Great Mass Debater]

Could just be a strategy thing. We knew we would be going out to attack in every game so we wouldn't need the guy that would require us to set up the midfield more defensively.He has plenty of Premier League experience, might not be an awful player to keep around. I mean Bournemouth went out and got Distin.

I think that if he stays fit Ryan Bennett might be 3rd choice. 

Theres some logic to that. If we expect to be defending a lot deeper this season Turner could well be valued a lot more. Though I still feel that if you were a senior player and then you're loaned out its a pretty big sign the manager doesnt think you're very necessary 

 

[Yellow Fever]

Turner didn't seem that keen when AN arrived and that may be why he was shipped out. Perhaps they've both moved on since then with a 'wee chat' having sorted things out.

 

[kirku]

Been linked with Nagamoto, a LB from Inter. Seems like we'd be punching above our weight with that one and he'd presumably replace Olsson. Would rather we strengthened the other side..

 

[KeiranShikari]

He's comfortable on both sides so I'd imagine he'd replace Whittaker.

 

[Indy_Bones]

Latest suggestion for you all to laugh off as being completely unrealistic is Vincent Aboubakar from Porto.

Strong, quick, able to play as a target man or run the lines and with massive development potential to boot.

Probably would cost a new record fee to sign him, but if we want a striker of genuine talent and re-sale value, look no further IMHO.

Chances are that a bigger club would beat us to the signing if we went in, but I'd rather try than not bother and settle for someone like Larrivey or Mbokani.