Norwich season preview: If big money strikers fire, the top ten is in reach

Emily Ward previews one of the summer’s most impressive transfer operators Norwich, to see if they can make the move from 11th to the top half.

Can Norwich up the ante compared to the previous season?

Last Season

11th. A successful, yet nerve-wracking season for Norwich who finished the season in style against West Brom and Manchester City, to finish a place higher than the previous season (12th).

They had an incredible 10-match unbeaten run which ended just before Christmas and what then followed, bizarrely, were 9 matches without a win. A home defeat to non-league Luton in the FA Cup and the 4-1 home defeat to Villa in the League Cup were rare lows.

Off-season report

The most notable sale from Norwich was club captain and legend Grant Holt, to Wigan, who was a main part of the club’s successive promotions.

The Canaries couldn’t have asked for a better transfer window with some very clever business from manager Chris Hughton; seven new players in and a couple more expected. The three main signings are Ricky van Wolfswinkel, Gary Hooper and Leroy Fer, all whom had interest from other ‘bigger’ clubs.

Season objectives

The focus for Norwich will lie on remaining stable in the middle of the Premier League table. However, they must improve in attack if they want to continue their slow but steady progression up the table. There may also be a push for a trophy with this younger and stronger squad. A season similar to Swansea last season would be the dream for Norwich fans.

Manager

Chris Hughton will be entering his second season as Norwich manager. He is passionate in wanting to improve his players and this so-called ‘Hughton factor’ may have been a reason Norwich have seen a few big names joining the club, over other clubs. He is known for his defensive football and last season he successfully developed a solid back four.

Strengths

Defence. With John Ruddy back in goal again and Michael Tuner and Sebastien Bassong dominating the central defence, Norwich have no worries defensively which enables them to focus on the areas up front that need improving.

Weaknesses

Scoring goals was a major problem for Norwich last season, with their main striker Grant Holt netting only 9 goals, and as it stands they do not have a single striker on their books who has scored a PL goal.

Although the new signings are proven goal-scorers, they can only work with what they are given, so it is vital that the rest of the team create chances for Hooper and van Wolfswinkel. The large number of new players leaves the team slightly vulnerable and the new combination of players might take time to gel and work.

Key Player

Sebastien Bassong is the main man and the leader of the Norwich back four. He was a vital part of Norwich’s success last season and for the few matches he didn’t play, the difference in the team was noticeable.

A big presence on the field, he isn’t afraid to get stuck in and there are few players he cannot handle. Rather worryingly for Norwich fans, he is unlikely to be fit for the start of the season. With captain Holt gone, they are in need of a new captain and Bassong would seem the likely candidate.

It’s a big season for

Ricky van Wolfswinkel

The pressure on Ricky van Wolfswinkel’s shoulders is enormous. He is a record breaking signing for Norwich at £8.5 million and he has to prove his worth and he has to prove this quickly. The big question surrounding him is whether he can he adapt to the PL?

Emerging star

Norwich has a fantastic academy and it would not be surprising if a few of their players make a breakthrough to the first team. The most likely player is striker Jamar Dunga. However this is unlikely to be on a regular basis.

The youngest signing of the summer is home-grown 19-year-old Nathan Redmond who has impressed during pre-season friendlies with his pace and ability to cross the perfect ball. He also isn’t afraid of taking a shot; something Norwich are in desperate need of.

Prediction

Top Ten. If the new signings fall into place successfully for Norwich, then they have a new, versatile and determined team who should be much more attacking than last season.

Hughton has, bar the defence, almost got two strong players for each position which suggests he may be pushing for a cup, and is definitely taking it more seriously than the teams fielded last year during the cup matches. It is unlikely that Norwich will win a cup but a semi-final place would keep the club happy.

Overall, it will be a different but exciting season for Norwich who will be challenging and pushing themselves to build on the success of last season.

You can read more from Emily at her blog A Female Perspective or follow her on Twitter @emilyward1990