Ben Knapper has revealed his master plan for recruiting at Norwich City in an effort to reduce the age range of the team.
During his first interview with the media on Wednesday morning, City’s sporting director placed a strong emphasis on recruitment.
At David Wagner’s request, Norwich decided to take a new approach last summer and signed older, more seasoned players. With Knapper permitting Adam Forshaw to go last month, efforts to reduce that have started.
Bologna brought in Sydney van Hooijdonk, and Adam Idah went on loan to Celtic. Przemyslaw Placheta, whose contract with Swansea expires in the summer, also left to sign a permanent agreement with the Championship rivals.
Here’s what he had to say about the main recruitment-related subjects, ranging from the recent January window to summer preparation.
Although it’s never easy to enter a window at the beginning, I was able to exert influence and begin to look at certain things that I want to do with the team in terms of some strategic ambitions. Normally, you’d work several months in advance.
“It’s all seen through the prism of the inherent difficulties in the January market. Usually, the market is focused on making an immediate impression, filling in gaps, or attempting to meet objectives. Although it is significant to us, I was wondering whether there were any chances for us to mould the group with the medium- to long-term in mind.
“With the transaction we conducted, we have begun to do that, and it will assist lay the foundation for us. Although it will take several windows to reshape the group the manner I would like, the work we accomplished in January has set the stage for that.”
It was something we had been talking about for a time. We all know Adam is incredibly gifted, but he was eager to try something new and push himself in a new situation.
It’s a worthwhile experience for a gamer to have it. Since he has been a professional, he has never been on loan and this is the only setting he has ever known.
We were always going to be open to testing Adam in an atmosphere that would allow us to learn more about him, if that was something that was on our minds.
It was a great chance for us to do something in Sydney on the way in. We’ve been watching this player for a while; he’s a pretty intriguing one.
“At 24 years old, he has a lot of experience under his belt, a great age profile, and real pedigree from his prolific goal-scoring career in Holland. He embodies many of the goals we have set for this group.”
“He fits in this league really well and has the ability to advance. We can’t wait to work with him in the upcoming months and possibly beyond.
Leave a Reply