I’ve been a little busy lately with my real job, folks, so sorry for the lack of content over the last couple of days but here’s a quick roundup.
The biggest news of the last few days concerns Tim Krul signing a new three year deal with the Canaries.
Tim Krul has signed a new three-year deal with us! ✍
Read more ⬇️ #ncfc
— Norwich City FC (@NorwichCityFC) June 3, 2019
An ever-present in the league last season, Krul became the club’s number one after Daniel Farke and Stuart Webber had given Remi Matthews a shot at the number one shirt in pre-season.
They collectively decided that they needed a new number one and Krul joined on a free transfer after being released by Brighton. He did suffer a little bit at the start of the season with ring rust but soon recovered his form and ended up being described by Stuart Webber as the club’s best signing last summer. Not just for his saves but for his leadership on and off the field.
There’s been a bit of speculation in some quarters that Norwich are looking to sign a new goalkeeper this summer with the most recent name linked being that of Simon Sluga of Croatian side, HNK Rijeka.
As we know, there isn’t a huge amount of money available for signings and so, in my opinion, there will definitely not be a Joe Hart or Simon Mignolet coming through the door, so will anybody else?
I remember Michael Bailey writing that he expected a new keeper to be signed but the fact that Tim has signed a new three-year deal suggests to me that he’s certainly going to start the season as the club’s number one and rightly so.
Then you’ve got Michael McGovern’s new deal to consider. If he’s re-signed to be the club’s number three keeper then that’s a bit of a surprise to me. Aston Oxborough looks ripe for a loan deal to gain some league experience so another keeper will be needed but I guess I just figure that McGovern is a little too good to never ever play.
Wouldn’t you say? Whatever happens, the goalkeeping situation is going to be very interesting.
In other news, a Norwich City Striker has finally converted a penalty and not just one either. Adam Idah converted two penalties for the Republic of Ireland in the ROI’s opening game of the U21 Toulon Tournament.
The 18-year-old City Striker looks to have a big future ahead of him, having been a regular scorer at youth level and he now has four goals in two games at U21 level.
He scored the third and fourth goals in a 4-1 over China.
⚽ Goal #3 for Rep of Ireland!
Adam Idah clinically dispatches the penalty, after Zach Elbouzedi's cross was stopped by a Chinese hand!
🇮🇪 Rep of Ireland 3-1 China 🇨🇳 #IRLU21 | @FAIreland pic.twitter.com/TRuuHXfIMC
— FreeSports 📺 (@FreeSports_TV) June 3, 2019
⚽ Goal #4 for Rep of Ireland! 🇮🇪
Another perfect penalty from Adam Idah gives Republic of Ireland a 3 goal cushion!
🇮🇪 Rep of Ireland 4-1 China 🇨🇳 #IRLU21 | @FAIreland pic.twitter.com/LrjW2cKtAh
— FreeSports 📺 (@FreeSports_TV) June 3, 2019
Surely he has to start pre-season with the City first team squad, doesn’t he?
Having said that though, Adam doesn’t have any league football experience yet and you can’t expect a lad in his position and at such a young age to suddenly become a starter in the Premier League.
Being a substitute isn’t going to do him as much good as playing regularly either and I see him being ready for a loan spell somewhere. That’s so that he can get that valuable experience of playing men’s football against some grizzled veteran defenders. That’s where he’ll learn his trade.
Another young Canary, Simon Power was also a late substitute for the Republic.
In other news, reported Norwich target, Rekeem Harper is being linked heavily with Celtic by the Birmingham Mail.
Harper is out of contract with West Bromwich Albion and is yet to sign a new contract with the Baggies as he, no doubt, assesses all the options available to him.
One of those was reported as being Norwich City a few weeks ago but the Birmingham Mail reckon that Celtic are winning the battle for the 19-year-old defensive midfielder’s signature.
A defensive midfielder is highly likely to be on Stuart Webber’s shopping list this summer as Alex Tettey only has one year left on his contract and at 33, age is against him signing another.
Tom Trybull will most likely be the first pick at defensive mid with Tettey backing him up. Both players suffered from injuries this season though, at various times, and another younger option seems a must.
Whether or not it’s Harper remains to be seen.
OTBC