So, who is out of the door?

[The Great Mass Debater]

Both Hooper and RvW looked shadows of their former selves at the end of Hughton's season. When they first came into the club they looked sharp and keen, by the middle of the season they looked beleagured.

Both have gone backwards from where they were when they joined us and I think we as a club have to take some responsibility for that. Moreso with Hooper as he looked the business when he first came in. Throw in some exasperation and some loss of confidence and suddenly your strikers not as good as the one you bought.

I hope Alex Neil can use him properly because I think there is a really good striker in there. Im more convinced of Hooper's worth than RvWs - but I want them both to get the same chance to undo the damage in a positive set-up

 

[SussexYellow]

In the Premier League you get fewer chances so you can not afford to waste them. Too much of a risk of RvW doing just that. Plus even under Hughton he had enough chances to get more goals than he did. Also whilst it is said that he offers something different, is it that different to what Grabban offers just not as good. But and it is a big but....

If Hooper does actually want out, and he may well do as he is unlikely to be a starter, and we need to sell to afford an upgrade well at least we would get a fee for Hooper. Nobody wants Ricky we need to accept that. So if that helps us bring in another quality (by quality I mean relative to our financial means) striker then possibly it will be Hooper that could go, whilst we accept Ricky as number 4 striker.

 

[ZLF]

Who is due to be out of the door?   For me its Turner, Andreu probably VOO (given the he needs to do more when he doesnt have the ball comments from AN today), possibly ONeil given the dorrans brady and mulumbu arrivals, Lafferty, Hooper and RvW.

For RvW AN hasnt yet really seen him, he has lafferty.  Liekwise Hooper and despite his goals last season was clearly 3rd choice of 3;   repeatedly dropped when he gets a start says that his ability to score against lower championship teams isnt enough for AN.

 

[Indy_Bones]

Got to agree with ZLF in regards to Hooper. AN had plenty of chances to play Hooper more regularly, but he was consistently 3rd choice behind Jerome and Grabban and much like RvW, he doesn't really suit the system that AN wants to play.

Personally I don't think Grabban is going to be good enough for this level and will end up being the next Cinnamon, RvW will probably be used sparingly to cover injuries or to get a run in cup games, with Jerome first choice at present (unless we sign a top striker in the next week or so) and possibly a move elsewhere for Hooper.

 

[Dubai Mark]

Now I am not sticking up for Hoooton, BUT there really is a lot of truth in the fact that there are fewer chances in the EPL, many fewer for the lesser sides in particular. For me, that's why I would definitely keep Hooper, and why I am shocked by the recent comments by AN re RVW as I really do not rate him and think we should just get shot and spend good money on a new addition. Happy to be proven wrong, but we need class to add to Jerome & Hooper really, and I too am not so sure about how many goals Grabban will weigh in at this level. Still.....I trust AN still based on his record to date.

 

[Paul Handscombe]

One strike will leave, we are not going to play with 2 up top so with CJ, LG, GH and RVW 3 are going to be pissed off they aren't playing and at least one won't even get on the bench

 

[ZLF]

given our preference for a 451 formation I would have thought our seniors squad will want to be shaped something like 3xGK, 8xDEF, 10xMID & 4 STR and my preferences are

GK  - 3

Ruddy,  Rudd, +1(Kean)

DEF- 8

Whiitaker, Wisdom, Martin, Bassong,RBennett, Olsson, +1LB? +1CB/Turner  (Toffolo)

MID 9

Brady, Mulumbu, Dorrans, Tettey Howson, BJ, Wessi, + 3 from {O'Neill, Voo, EBennett, Andreu)   (Redmond, MGrandles, Thompson, Murphy x2)

STR 4

+1, Jerome, Grabban + 1 from {RvW, Hooper,Lafferty}                             (Loza)

Its clear that we will need to move on 2 strikers (or not name them in the squad and pay them :-s) and possibly a cm if we sign both a striker and a cb.

Going to be an interesting 9 days.

 

[The Great Mass Debater]

http://www.edp24.co.uk/sport/norwich-city/striker_cull_not_on_alex_neil_s_agenda_at_norwich_city_1_4179811?utm_medium=twitter&utm_source=twitterfeed

An interesting piece. Language suggests Jerome and Grabban clearly the two first choices, with Hooper very much considered a fringe player and RvW and Lafferty with a lot to prove.

Yet it sounds like he wants to keep them. If Mbokani is coming in, that would be 6 strikers. Room for that in a 25 man squad when generally you play with one striker?

Something doesnt add up

 

[ZLF]

I think thats my assessment & ties in with a rather bit of info I have heard;  jerome and grabban are wanted,  the rest are not,  yet we still have to try and keep them motivated while they are with us in case they are used,  hence the comments.       I do not see us naming all 5 in the 25 man squad unless we dont have enough to fill the list.

 

[The Great Mass Debater]

Unless of course this is why Neil is looking at versitility, so he can accomodate 6 strikers. Grabban might have to consider other positions too

 

[Canaryboy]

I also sense that Jerome, Grabban + one other would be Neil's preferred strikeforce.

Whilst we've been debating whether we should keep RVW or Hooper, I've got a feeling that both are available for transfer. 

Lafferty almost certainly is. 

I think it would be a shame to lose Hooper, he offers something different and he links up very well with Hoolahan. 

 

[The Great Mass Debater]

I just wonder whether we might be writing Lafferty off a little soon. He has never been the prolific striker we needed for the Championship, but I wonder whether, facing a different challenge, we need a different tool for the job. Whilst I wouldnt consider starting him, he might be a useful player to turn to in his central striking position in a plan B scenario, or when we're needing to defend a lead. he's no Grant Holt, but Wilbrahimovic was undervalued in his non-goalscoring contribution, and in the same way, I wonder whether someone with Lafferty's attributes might be a useful option to have from the bench

 

[Scott]

Unless of course this is why Neil is looking at versitility, so he can accomodate 6 strikers. Grabban might have to consider other positions too

Grabban played in the Wes position for a bit against Brentford

 

[Yellow Fever]

We're currently one player over the 25 man limit with the signing of Kean (and not counting Redmond and the others who still count as under 21). With AN talking about a possible 2 more, that would mean 3 players leaving. If, as suspected, a striker and a CB come in, then the 3 would probably come from Turner, Lafferty, RvW or O'Neil, though I think O'Neil will stay for his ability to come in and see games out, even more so with the Mulumbu injury.

 

[The Great Mass Debater]

Grabban played in the Wes position for a bit against Brentford

Think I would prefer Hooper, Howson or Dorrans there myself. Possibly Andreu or even VOO before Id think about Grabban. Alledgedly can play on the wing but ahead of Redmond or Bennett?

 

[The Great Mass Debater]

We're currently one player over the 25 man limit with the signing of Kean (and not counting Redmond and the others who still count as under 21). With AN talking about a possible 2 more, that would mean 3 players leaving. If, as suspected, a striker and a CB come in, then the 3 would probably come from Turner, Lafferty, RvW or O'Neil, though I think O'Neil will stay for his ability to come in and see games out, even more so with the Mulumbu injury.

Might Mulumbu not be named in the initial 25 man squad? Presumably it can be changed up until the window shuts. Dont name him for first 4 weeks then name him when the window shuts. Opens up a space for the first few weeks for someone?

 

[Indy_Bones]

Think I would prefer Hooper, Howson or Dorrans there myself. Possibly Andreu or even VOO before Id think about Grabban. Alledgedly can play on the wing but ahead of Redmond or Bennett?

I'd rather play RvW in that position than Grabban, but he'd still probably be behind Howson, Dorrans, Andreu and VOO....

 

[GJP]

I think Grabban could play behind the striker. His awareness is good, he protects the ball and links up play. He also offers mobility and the threat to run in behind the opposition.

 

[Yellow Fever]

Might Mulumbu not be named in the initial 25 man squad? Presumably it can be changed up until the window shuts. Dont name him for first 4 weeks then name him when the window shuts. Opens up a space for the first few weeks for someone?

The 25 man squad doesn't have to be named until after the window closes, so that isn't an issue.