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‘You can’t expect miracles’ - Norwich City chief on the road ahead
Marley Watkins was deployed in a striking role against Wolves. Picture: Paul Chesterton/Focus Images Ltd - Credit: Paul Chesterton/Focus Images Ltd
Daniel Farke is no miracle worker - but his Norwich City squad is on the right track.
Wolves were too good for the Canaries at Carrow Road, to inflict a second consecutive home defeat that has checked progress ahead of Saturday’s Championship trip to Bolton.
Farke admitted there was a gulf in quality against Wolves, yet is adamant he has the players to compete with the big spenders.
“I am pretty convinced of our style but when you try to develop young players you can’t expect miracles,” he said. “This is a normal process.
“There will be setbacks and 100pc I am convinced the day will come when you are able to play on the level of a team like Wolves.
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“We have good young players and that day I feel will be pretty soon. When you think about the ones we have had to do without - Nelson Oliveira, Alex Pritchard, Steven Naismith, Yanic Wildschut and Christoph Zimmermann felt sick and weak earlier in the day.
“He said it would not be a good idea to bring him on the pitch from the start.
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“I really believe we are not that far away from the best teams in this league but when there is a situation like this I can’t punish or accuse my lads.”
Marley Watkins’ midweek return give Cameron Jerome a breather.
“His red card at Reading was not good for him, in the sense with an international break he was out all in all for about five weeks without a game,” said Farke.
“Then he had some ankle problems when he was away with the national squad.
“Before he was in pretty good shape but right now he is struggling a bit. He is not there 100pc but at least he is back and he is a good option because he is a good character.”
Farke is in no doubt Wolves is the benchmark this season.
“They were the best team we’ve played,” he said. “There was a gap, we don’t have to discuss that but I am pretty sure with players fit and young lads developing, like James Maddison, Josh Murphy and Harrison Reed, we will improve over the course of the season because they have the quality.
“We can close the gap. How far can we close it? I don’t know.
“Whether we get to the same level or we close the gap and then go past these teams is difficult to predict because this is a process. You have to see what the potential is but we are doing everything we can.”
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