2012/2013: 11th
Transfer(s) In: Gary Hooper (Celtic, £5 Million), Martin Olsson (Blackburn Rovers, Undisc), Nathan Redmond (Birmingham City, Undisc), Ricky van Wolfswinkel (Sporting Lisbon, £7.5 Million), Javier Garrido (Lazio, Undisc), Leroy Fer (FC Twente, Free), Carlo Nash (Stoke, Free), Johan Elmander (Galatasaray, Loan)
Transfer(s) Out: Grant Holt (Wigan, £2 Million), Leon Barnett (Wigan, Undisc), James Vaughan (Huddersfield, Undisc), Andrew Surman (Bournemouth, Loan), Declan Rudd (Preston North End, Loan), Chris Martin (Derby County, Free), Simeon Jackson, Lee Camp, Elliot Ward (All Released)
Transfers Review:
Norwich have been one of the most active teams in the transfer market this summer, making no fewer than 7 signings, and letting 9 first team members leave. This can have a detrimental effect on the team in the forthcoming season, as having a revolving door transfer policy tends to throw up a team that finds it difficult to gel. However, the signings that Chris Hughton has made seem to be more experienced than their current squad, with some even having continental experience. Once the initial settling-in period has passed, one would expect them to perform well in the league.
If we look at who has been signed, we see a wide range of positions across the field, concentrated mostly on bringing in a striker who has the potential to score 15 goals a season. The signings of Gary Hooper and Ricky van Wolfswinkel have attempted to rectify this problem, as the Canaries found it difficult to score last campaign. Both have had Champions League and Europa League experience, and are proven goalscorers in their previous countries. Forging a partnership should be the only challenge for this pair, as I am certain they will both score goals. In the midfield, Leroy Fer has been brought in to provide a bit of strength and defensive ability, and Nathan Redmond, who was looked upon as one of the hottest prospects during his time at Birmingham, will add pace and creativity on the wing. After a successful loan period, ex-Manchester City defender Javier Garrido has been signed on a permanent deal to bolster their defensive options, with Martin Olsson also brought in to give a wing-back option to attacking from defence. In goal, Carlo Nash has been enlisted. The veteran goalkeeper has presumably been signed mostly for his ability to teach the younger goalkeepers rather than as first team cover, as he has not managed to play top flight football for some time. If we look at my predictions in my Norwich season review post, we can see that I suggested that a winger would be most useful for the Canaries this campaign. In Nathan Redmond, they have a gem, and one that they can build into their squad for many years to come.
Whilst they have made a significant amount of signings, they have also let several first-team players go. They have managed to hang onto the likes of Robert Snodgrass, John Ruddy and Anthony Pilkington, all players that have played an integral part of their Premier League adventure, which is obviously positive. However, allowing players like Grant Holt and Leon Barnett to leave will leave the squad short on depth, though the fact that they have replaced them minimises the damage. The rest of the departees are mostly utility players, on the fringes of the Norwich team, so most Canaries fans will not be too sorry to see them leave. Overall, Norwich have been one of the more successful sides in the transfer market, and after they have settled, I expect most of the new signings to be successes at Carrow Road.
Pre-Season:
Norwich began their pre-season tour with a trip to America, where they played two exhibition matches.The first one was against Club Dorados de Sinoloa in Sacramento. Goals from Luciano Becchio, Anthony Pilkington and Josh Murphy sealed a superb 3-0 win to open their preparations. They followed this up with a narrow 1-0 defeat to the San Jose Earthquakes, before returning to English soil.
The Canaries continued their pre-season tour with a brief set of fixtures against English lower league clubs. Games against Brighton and Cambridge did not really indicate much about Norwich's form, but it did prepare them nicely for their final pre-season friendly, at home to Greek side Panathinaikos. An encouraging 2-0 win followed over the Greeks, but the more worrying news came in the shape of a potentially serious injury to new striker Gary Hooper. If he were to miss a large chunk of the start to the season, Norwich may be in trouble as he struggles to regain fitness and chemistry. Luckily for the Canaries, reports suggest that the injury is not as serious as intially feared, meaning that Hooper may well be available for Norwich's early season matches.
Key Players:
Whilst Norwich's signings are all good prospects, it is a midfield stalwart that may prove the linchpin in any success that the Norfolk side have this campaign. Bradley Johnson, one of three ex-Leeds United players currently plying their trade at Carrow Road, is arguably the most important of them. The defensive midfielder has improved year on year, and is relied upon heavily to break up the play in the centre of midfield, enabling Norwich to get back on the attack. He will need to continue this rate of progression if Norwich are going to steer clear of the relegation battle this time around.
Of all of their new recruits, Ricky van Wolfswinkel is arguably the most impressive. The former Sporting Lisbon man is a born goalscorer, and has good European pedigree, having taken part in both the Europa and Champions League. What he lacks in strength, he more than makes up for in agility, pace and finishing, meaning that Norwich now have a front line that many envy.
Key Fixture Dates:
24/08/2013: Hull vs Norwich
29/09/2013: Stoke vs Norwich
26/10/2013: Norwich vs Cardiff
30/11/2013: Norwich vs Crystal Palace
01/01/2014: Crystal Palace vs Norwich
18/01/2014: Norwich vs Hull
01/02/2014: Cardiff vs Norwich
08/03/2014: Norwich vs Stoke
Top Goalscorer:
This season, assuming that he recovers quickly from his injury, I expect Gary Hooper to win the race for the top goalscorer's accolade at Norwich this season. Ricky van Wolfswinkel will score several goals this season, but he will take time to adjust the pace and physicality of the English league. Hooper, on the other hand, has hand experience in the leagues both north and south of the border. With previous stints at Celtic and Scunthorpe United, he has the goalscoring ability to win matches for the Canaries this term.
Prediction:
With all of their signings, Norwich have the basis for a very successful team in the near future. However, with any major overhaul of a squad, it will take time to gel this group of individuals together. Chris Hughton is an excellent manager, but even he will take a while to get all 7 working to potential into the squad. As a result, I am expecting the Norfolk team to be involved in another relegation scrap this season. Should they survive, which I expect them to, I think that they will perform much better next campaign.
Norwich City 2013/2014: 17th
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