The summer so far: Norwich City

by James Shiplee

August 13^th is finally upon us and Norwich City’s Premier League Survival Push 2012 is all set to get underway at the DW Stadium on Saturday. All that’s left to do is to take a look at the summer activity of the club and what this means for the coming season.

City Manager Paul Lambert, will of course again be integral this campaign. Regarded by many as the best young manager in the country, it’s hard to disagree looking at his achievements in the past couple of seasons. His decisions over the last two years have been great and having made a lot of game changing subs, he has demonstrated he knows how to affect a game from the touchline. His focus on fitness levels, confidence and playing until the last minute showed last year and it will be important to keep this going into the Premier League. His use of the diamond to best suit Wes Hoolahan was incredible, but he has said himself that there may need to be changes in the formation this season, which he’s backed up by buying two wingers in Pilkington and Bennett. Lambert’s job is almost guaranteed at the moment after successive promotion seasons. After turning down the chance to join West Ham, Burnley and his old club Celtic, he’s shown loyalty to the club but you have to worry what happens if the worst does happen and the club gets relegated.

City and Lambert have strengthened well this summer, bringing in a number of new faces, ahead of the quest for survival:

James Vaughan – Top prospect. Vaughan began his career with a lot of promise and I hope he starts to show why in his time here. He will be a big part of this season and will hopefully find his scoring boots under Lambert.

Steve Morison – His rise through the leagues has been amazing and Morison will be out to prove to everyone why. He should be able to get a few goals but will have competition on his hands with the other strikers.

Elliott Bennett – The most exciting player brought in this summer for me and I think he may end up being the main playmaker. Comes with rave reviews and I can’t wait to see him play. He’ll work wonders wherever he plays.

Ritchie De Laet – Good loan signing from Manchester United who has shown a lot in pre-season. Will give us versatility across the back four if needed, but will be pushing for a starting spot at centre half.

Bradley Johnson – Solid central midfielder signed from Leeds and will certainly be involved from the start. Fairly defensive, though he scored a cracker for Leeds against Arsenal last term. He should also provide the main competition for Andrew Crofts and David Fox.

Anthony Pilkington – Like Bennett, he’s arrived amid great reports and I can’t wait to see him play. He seems to be getting over his leg injury well and once he’s fully fit he’ll be pushing for a starting place and will help to get a lot of goals. A very exciting signing.

Kyle Naughton – Good young defender on loan from Spurs who will provide cover at left and right back. Will push Russell Martin and is more than capable to step in when needed.

These additions have really strengthened the squad who superbly secured automatic promotion last season. Three players in particular I think will have the most impact on the season are:

Grant Holt – As he has been for the last two seasons, he will be massive. I don’t think he’ll get up to 20 goals this season but I think he’ll certainly get a fair few. His goals aren’t the only reason the team needs him; his leadership and work-rate are integral to the team pushing on and he can keep them going right to the final minute.

Leon Barnett – Great centre half who I think will be solid at the back, breaking down attacks and keeping the likes of Rooney, Torres and co. at bay.

Elliott Bennett – A pacy winger who can play behind the top two, can take players on, will get plenty of balls in and is capable of chipping in with goals himself. How can he not end up being one of the top performers this year? I think he’ll be vital to survival. 

A dream season for the Canaries, fairly simply – and I think most fans would agree – would result in survival! Anything more than that would be amazing but survival is the only thing we should be aiming for. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying 17^th is all we should be aiming for, but there shouldn’t be too many high expectations of 13^th or above.

The opposite outcome, the ‘Nightmare Scenario’ for the season would of course be relegation. It wouldn’t be the end of the world as we’re ahead in the board’s seven year plan but it would mean returning to an ever strengthening Championship, and none of us wants that. The only thing that could be worse would be losing Paul Lambert.

In an ultimately tough campaign, my prediction is that survival will be accomplished. It’ll be good to see a comfortable finish but anything 17^th or above is great. I do think that we will be the top-placed promoted team and that we’ll get a few points and goals on the board. Of the top teams I think scalps of Arsenal, Chelsea and Tottenham will be achieved.

Obviously going into the new season, you want to win all the games possible. There are some teams however who you just want to beat that little bit more than anyone else. With Ipswich not in the Promised Land (as you’d expect!) the teams I want to see the Canaries beat more than the rest are;

Manchester United – A team I dislike just as much as Ipswich. Arrogant players, an arrogant manager and arrogant ‘fans’. Beating them again would be fantastic. A rocking Carrow Road in February after upsetting Wayne Rooney would be the icing on the cake of for this season.

Wolves – As the song goes “We only hate Wolves and Ipswich”. Although they’re not the only teams to beat for some of us, they’re a team that we have a good history against in recent years and another thumping of them would please everyone.

QPR – What ended up as a petty fine by the FA over the 3^rd party transfer ownership of Alejandro Faurlin last season was seen by many – myself included – as a farce. However, an even bigger reason to beat them is not only did they beat us to the title – by not very much in the end – but it also gives the chance to get one over on Neil Warnock. A great manager in my opinion, but he is so easy to wind up and so funny when he has been. Will be a great match again and I can see a Norwich win with all the unrest there at the moment.

It certainly promises to be a riveting journey through to May 2012 and what is sure is that Carrow Road won’t lack for excitement and drama over the next nine months. The Premier League is closing in and after a long summer I think we’re ready. All that’s left to do now is kick the first ball.

In Lambert We Trust. OTBC!

James is an upcoming football coach and one of the ‘Top 100 Young Leaders’ in the country. He is currently studying Football Development and Coaching at University and is a lifelong Norwich City fan. You can follow him on twitter @james_shiplee