Fao Blue in the Face

[emjayblue]

Following the success of speculating we would go in hard for Josh Murphy on that thread the other week, thought I would give you my thoughts on a highly likely loan move for your specialist area of goalkeeper!

Following Villa's non promotion, I think it is highly likely that one of our major loan deals will involve Sam Johnston of Man Utd. It will no doubt irritate Warnock that he will lose the services of Etheridge in January and I feel we are nailed on to make a loan move for him. I get the feeling Jose may feel he has the potential someday to be United's number one and won't sell but would be open to a loan deal that will see his goalkeeper stepping up from the Championship for on the face of it is likely to be a busy season for whoever is between the sticks for us! Lost count of the number of interview's on ifollow last season where Warnock waxed lyrical about him.

We may however wait until the fixtures are released tomorrow, as if we're due to play United in January, we may have to play Dibble in goal come January!

My other punt is left field at best! I see Danny Gabiddon on social media recently hinting at an imminent deal and yesterday again stipulating it was in addition to Cunningham. I am more than likely putting 2 and 2 together and making 5 here, but I have a gut feeling that it could be his good mate the Ginger Monster! A position where we are well served and a player at the tail end of his career will no doubt get a mixed reaction at best! However, as free transfer's go, an experienced premier league centre back in the mould our manager loves, it would come as no surprise to me whatsoever!

[Blue in the Face]

Emjay, thanks for the post. Yes I remember us championing Murphy. What makes him a smart buy for me is that his assets are things I don't think you can teach and perhaps the lesser parts of his game you can train. As others have said, a player likely to do well and stay with us if we're back in the champ.

I'm certainly no expert on keepers! Yes the Johnstone rumours seemed to have something to them. I wonder what the thinking would be if it were a loan though? Perhaps he is due to renew his contract at United, but I thought that he only had a year left to go? Maybe it's a case of all parties keeping their options open down the line? The was a tabloid/clickbait website saying that Fulham were after him also.

I wonder if one of the loans (if WOL are even right on that front) might be Snodgrass after all, with a view of playing him as a no.10? Though I'm being hyperbolic about tabloid hyperbole there.

I'm not sure about signing Ginge mate. If we are going to add in that department, I would rather us look for a young "project", someone who will be ready to replace Sol when he starts to wind down. Though we have one or two English lads who fit that perhaps even at DVP level anyway? That said, maybe Neil will intend to play a lot of three at the back in parts of games so you could be onto something.

[emjayblue]

Some well made points there fella. With regards Murphy, I think it was TOBW who added a You Tube video of his goals which was revealing in as much as he appeared to raise his game against the Premier teams scoring against both Everton and Arsenal. Inconsistency was something a lot of Norwich fans mentioned, however perhaps the Premier stage will be the making of him. We can but hope!

I don't see a move for Snodgrass now though with Murphy equally at home on the left or the right or where I would like to see him in a central role off the striker. Feel sure we'll go 4.4.1.1. often next season.

Have raised the possibility of Ginge previously and it's true to say it doesn't appeal to many! I see mention made that Cunningham is able to play to the left of a three in another thread, certainly not a position Bamba has looked comfy in on the occasions we deployed it last season, so it appears I am likely to be way off the mark on this one! Maybe Gabbs was hinting at Hennassey and my Johnstone hunch is just as bad too!

[Blue in the Face]

Oddly I watched that Arsenal game in a boozer in Lisbon and randomly ended up chatting to a diehard Norwich fan who was adamant that Josh had a little more than Jacob. Murphy was excellent that night for sure.

Yes Cunningham can play CB. In a two as well even. If we keep Jazz, then we will have enough numbers for the left hand side you would think and therefore Cunningham might just as easily be considered for CB too.

We'll have to see what the squad looks like come the end of the window. There may be as many to move on as there will be to bring in.

[thehumblegringo]

I would love to see us loan Ampadu

[emjayblue]

Cracking shout Gringo, he would be ideal for the holding midfield role even at his age he has all the attributes to thrive in this position.

[Pedro de la Rosa]

If Gabbidon is hinting, I bet it's someone at New Era, the agency he works for.

https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/new-...a/berater/4603

Tom Smith is a very good right back, Huddersfield captain but was in an out. Maybe he's an option. I'd imagine they'll have a few more players but he's one that stands out for me. Jack Hunt, despite his unfortunate name is another decent right back, and Gunter. I suppose King could be an option in CM but I don't massively rate him.