2015-16 Premier League Season Preview: Norwich City
Welcome to theScore's 2015-16 preview of Norwich City. Transfer dealings, lineup projections, and everything else you need to know about the club's upcoming campaign.
Norwich City
Take note, Premier League, the Canaries are back!
Known for their penchant for song, Canaries were also once commonly used in mining as an early detection system for toxic gases, as the yellow-plumed birds would succumb to carbon monoxide and methane gases well before they would affect the miners.
Norwich City is back in the Premier League after a one-year hiatus, and with the top-flight experience and talent in its ranks, there's a good chance these Canaries will survive the drop.
2014-15 Season
| Record (Points) | Finish | Goals For | Goals Against | Top Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 25-11-10 (46) | 3rd | 88 | 48 | Gary Hooper (16) |
Trophies Won: None
Following a 2013-14 Premier League campaign that included great signs of promise - built on the previous two years when they finished 12th and 11th, respectively - the Canaries landed a disappointing 18th, and were relegated to the Championship alongside Cardiff City and Fulham.
Several of the club's bigger names, Robert Snodgrass, Anthony Pilkington, and Leroy Fer, who had performed admirably in the Premier League, were sold upon relegation, while a few others were loaned out for the 2014-15 season, most notably Sebastien Bassong and Ricky van Wolfswinkel.
While Cardiff and Fulham flirted with mid-table mediocrity and the results of losing several top players, late-charging Norwich City finished third in the Championship and won the promotion playoff final against Middlesbrough to pop right back up into the English top flight.
Key Arrivals
- Graham Dorrans (from West Brom)
- Youssouf Mulumbu (from West Brom)
In Mulumbu and Dorrans, manager Alex Neil and his squad are adding reliable, proven Premier League players. That's a nice way of saying that Mulumbu, who was signed on a free transfer, and Dorrans, who cost the club £3 million, are good enough to be here.
Bassong and Van Wolfswinkel also return from loan deals, with hopes that the latter can regain the form that saw him score 28 goals in 55 appearances for Sporting Lisbon prior to his sale to Norwich City in 2013.
Key Departures
None
Projected Starting Lineup (4-5-1)
John Ruddy; Martin Olsson, Sebastien Bassong, Russell Martin, Steven Whittaker; Alexander Tettey, Jonny Howson, Bradley Johnson, Wes Hoolahan, Nathan Redmond; Cameron Jerome
It remains to be seen what Neil opts for once the Premier League season kicks off, but it seems that he may initially go with a 4-5-1 or a 4-2-3-1, for those tactical pedantics out there. Two proven top-flight midfielders, Tettey and Howson, would play in the deeper roles behind Hoolahan, with Johnson and Redmond on the flanks.
Interchange Tetty for Mulumbu and Jerome for Gary Hooper - expect to see Dorrans and Van Wolfswinkel first to come off the bench - and what you have is a side with decent depth that Neil will require for the Premier League season and hopefully two drawn-out cup runs.
Johnson and Redmond, both of whom have top-flight experience, will look to attack from the wings and get early crosses in for Jerome and Hooper, whereas Van Wolfswinkel can drop a little deeper, perhaps as a late sub for the aforementioned, and act as an attacking midfielder if need be.
Player To Watch: Nathan Redmond
England Under-21 darling Redmond is poised for a breakout season. The speedy winger typically plays on the right wing but has switched to the left or a central role behind the striker. Redmond, 21, recorded 13 assists and six goals for the Canaries last season, most notably the two he scored for the club in the promotion playoffs.
Should Redmond have the campaign that many pundits expect of him, he could join the ranks of young English talents that have had breakthrough seasons for mid-to-lower table clubs before catapulting onto the world scene. Nathaniel Clyne, Danny Ings, Ryan Bertrand, and Charlie Austin know how that feels, and also what pressures are associated with it.
Keep One Eye On: Ricky Van Wolfswinkel (safe bet - Bradley Johnson)
Three Questions
- Can the likes of Jerome, Hooper, and Van Wolfswinkel score enough goals?
- Will the Canaries' fullbacks get destroyed on intricate, overlapping attacks?
- Is Norwich's third alternate jersey amazing or simply the best kit ever?
Trivial Matters
- Manager: Alex Neil
- Nickname: The Canaries
- Stadium: Carrow Road (Capacity: 27,244)