How do Norwich supporters view this weekend's game against Derby? Well we spoke with season ticket holder Gary Gowers from My Football Writer and Norwich Talk to find out how he views this weekends game at Carrow Road.
Norwich have won one, drawn one and lost one in their return to the Championship. How are they adjusting back to life in the Championship? Hhmm... still a little early to say I guess but we've been a tad underwhelming so far, even if there have been some mitigating factors. The simple answer to your question is that we haven't yet adjusted to life in the Championship; the football hasn't flowed, we look a little disjointed and the three teams we've played so far have all been able to fairly comfortably negate our strengths. But, early days. *crosses everything*.
How has the club coped with relegation? Are the finances and such in a good place?
In terms of finances, we appear to be in reasonably decent shape. I mean, we're never exactly flush - our owners being among the least-wealthy in the top two divisions - and as a self-funding club we're never going to be rolling in it (as they say), but we run a very tight ship and, as has been well documented, we were careful not to overstretch ourselves in order to stay in the Premier League. Having teetered on the brink of disaster before, sporting director Stuart Webber spent the PL money very carefully this time around and we were always favourites to go back down, but, I guess, for all the right reasons. In answer to the second part of your question, yes there is a plan in place but only time will tell if it's a good one.
What are the expectations for Norwich this season? Is it Premier League or bust? Hhmm (again). Well, for all the reasons stated above, it's not Premier League or bust I don't think, because the finances have been and are being managed carefully, but there's no question if we're going to get back up there (and let's be honest, it's bloody horrible when you're there), then we have to do it while we're still in receipt of parachute payments and the advantage they bring. A few weeks ago, I'd have argued we had one of the best-equipped squads in the division but I'm starting to wobble a bit on that one. Realistically, we should at least be looking at top six.
Jamal Lewis has been sold and Todd Cantwell and Emiliano Buendía have not been involved in recent weeks. Max Aarons is also a reported target for Barcelona. Do you expect these players to leave Carrow Road prior to the transfer window closing? Are there any other potential outgoings? It's conceivable that all three of those you mention could depart before the window closes, and you could also chuck Ben Godfrey into that little group. He's on plenty of radars along with the other three. We're told by the club that we don't need to sell any more players for financial reasons but we're realistic enough to accept that if a good offer came in, then they'll likely depart. There's also the curveball of Buendia and Cantwell reportedly not appearing fully committed in training and so being left out last Saturday against Bournemouth - neither has covered himself in glory and so there's the possibility that we may feel compelled to move them on before they become toxic influences in the dressing room. Lots of unknowns, so what I'm really saying is, I have no idea. 🙂 What are your thoughts on manager Daniel Farke?
My initial thought is that he's been brilliant for this football club and the team he created to win the Championship in 2018-19 was a thing of beauty. Given the miniscule transfer fund he was handed last summer, for him to have kept us up would have been a loaves-and-fishes type miracle but questions were rightly asked of him (and the players) after we flunked Project Restart. Honestly, it was horrific beyond words, but we're a weird bunch and no-one (apart from me) seemed particularly pissed off by it. That was proper weird. This season has been a slow-burner for team and manager, and he needs to step up in the same way the players have to. If we're not in or around the top six by, say, December then the pressure will definitely build. But, we're in the midst of a "project" and so, rightly or wrongly, he's probably less exposed than most Championship managers.
We can't ask about Norwich without a question on Delia Smith! Are you happy under her ownership? How does she tend to run the club?
You really can! It is possible to talk about us without mentioning Delia 🙂 But, as you did ask... we love Delia (and her husband Michael) for what they've done for the club and it's great that we have two genuine supporters in charge but, as I mentioned earlier, there's a glass ceiling beyond which we'll never ever progress while they are still in charge. It's certainly not their fault that they're, in Delia's words, "poor millionaires" but I do wonder sometimes if they enjoy being in control of the club just a little too much and don't ever consider if there are other potential, more wealthy owners out there who could help us lift that class ceiling a few places up the footballing ladder. I best sshhh now before some of Delia's loyalists start shouting at me... but you did ask!
Teemu Pukki's goals dried up last season. Can he regain is form back in the Championship? I hope so. The early signs are promising and against Preston at home (less so against Bournemouth) we saw signs of the 2018-19 vintage, when he was properly on fire. During Project Restart he looked like a player who'd never score a goal again, but thankfully he's off the mark this season and will hopefully now push on. Who are the danger men for the Canaries? You asking me this off the back of our first three games? If so, tricky one. Pukki, when he's playing in the Championship, definitely comes in that category, if only due to what he showed in 2018-19, but we don't look especially potent - and therefore dangerous - right now. We have added a bit of pace to the squad in the form of Polish winger Przemysław Płacheta (no, I can't either), so he's one to keep an eye on, but 2020-21's 'danger men' have yet to reveal themselves. What are the strengths and weaknesses of this Canaries side? Hhmm (thrice). The strengths of this group, like its danger men, are yet to be revealed but I'm tempted to say we'll be neat and tidy in possession and, hopefully, when the squad gets settled, we'll become a reasonably potent attacking force. The weaknesses are mainly defensive - not necessarily just the personnel but also around how we defend as a unit. Early signs are that lessons haven't been learned from our Premier League experience, and giving away daft goals is just something we do. Even when we won the Championship we conceded plenty of soft ones, and I see no sign of that particular trait being eradicated. How do you view Derby County? Any thoughts on the club? I always thought of you as a club of a similar size and stature to us - capable of getting to the "Promised Land" but, like us, currently challenged to stay there for a prolonged spell. We don't, of course, have the history you have. I'm not totally au fait with what's gone on behind the scenes over the last few seasons other than to say the book-keeping sounds a little unconventional and Phillip Cocu hasn't been backed in the way Frank Lampard was? Is that fair? The signing of Rooney was an interesting one and certainly gets you plenty of attention but if you persist with the young players I reckon you'll be fine this season Score prediction? Any thoughts on the match? I'm notoriously useless at this, so the fact I'm predicting a 2-1 win for City should be of great comfort to you. But, to counter that, we have this along come Norwich phrase which reflects how notoriously generous we are when it comes to ending the bad runs of teams and players. Three defeats on the bounce is probably the best preparation for a trip to Carrow Road if I'm honest.
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