EPL Season Preview 2011-12: Norwich City- Will The Canaries Manage to Stay in the Premier League?

If Paul Lambert was a sorcerer,he has taken up Norwich City from League One to the Premiership using all the spells in his book. The apprentices, who have a grand total of zero international caps among them have achieved back to back promotions from nowhere .Lambert’s pixie dust has made a group of individuals believe that they are worth it when the only world-class player is Lambert himself.

The man behind the success

Last Season

Norwich began their Championship football season as projected mid-table dwellers but their resolve against Swansea in August, where keeper Ruddy saved a penalty, saw Norwich come away with a 2-0 win. They were fifth going into Christmas and in 2011, Grant Holt sprung into action ending up with 21 goals and 14 assisits for the season. Norwich City finished 2nd behind QPR showing good form that saw them managing easy victories.

Formations

Norwich aren’t a team of superstars,so they make up the lack of talent by using unique tactics to down their opponents. The diamond in midfield has served them well in the championship and Lambert has vowed to keep his system despite losing influential Gunner Henri Lansbury.

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Expected starting XI versus Wigan

Former Everton Keeper John Ruddy starts as No1 keeper who is in good form after securing a clean sheet against Parma. ‘Norfolk Cafu’ Anthony Martin is injured so Kyle Naughton starts at right back. The diamond midfield will see Hoolahan at the tip with Surman and Bennett on the wings. Championship tormentors Holt and Simeone Jackson continues up front because record recruit James Vaughan is injured.

Talisman

Wes Hoolahan plays second fiddle to Grant Holt for Norwich but he is the true shepherd of Norwich’s attacking pact. Playing behind the two strikers, Irishman Hoolahan has quick feet and ability to generate Messi-esque impact on a game. Along with Andrew Surman and Elliott Bennett; Hoolahan forms a trio of attack minded mid-fielders key to assisting hit-man Holt to bury the ball in the back of the net

Midfield Chief Wes Hoolahan

Transfers

Ritchie De Laet , Kyle Naughton — On Loan

Elliott Bennett [RM] £1.5m

James Vaughan [F] £1.5m

Steve Morison [F] £2m

Anthony Plikington [M] £2m

Lambert has added two strikers in form of Vaughan and Morison.Vaughan, the youngest EPL goal scorer ever at 16 will miss the opening month due to injury. Liverpool‘s Daniel Ayala is a transfer target for the canaries and could be signed for 850k.

Pre Season

Crystal Palace 1-0 Norwich

Norwich 3-0 Coventry City

Norwich 1-1 Real Zaragoza

Norwich 3-0 Parma

Canaries ended their pre-season work by comprehensively beating Parma ant Carrow Road.Grant Holt scored once and assisted once to Andrew Surman’s brace.

Season’s Ambition

Norwich would win the league if it were up to team work and dedication. In real life terms, they will find it hard to contain teams like Man City or even Stoke City causing Norwich City to linger at the bottom-half of the ‘points’ table for the better part of the season.

Check out our other Season Previews:

Arsenal: Will The Gunners Finally Fire?

Manchester United: All set for a Treble

Tottenham Hotspur: Champions League Football to Return to the Lane?

Valencia CF: Time to Return to Old Glory?

Manchester City: A Dynasty to be Feared?

Liverpool FC: Will They Walk Alone?

QPR: Underdogs or a Real Deal?

Chelsea: Special Expectations on the New ‘Special One’

Sunderland: Can the Black Cats catch the European Flight?