Life in the Premier League is looking rather bleak for Norwich City at the moment. Since being promoted from the Championship they have been dealt a tough set of opening fixtures and failed to get those first points on the board yet — with consecutive defeats to Liverpool and Manchester City without scoring a goal.
They look a far cry from the side which was promoted under Daniel Farke, with the old guard and new additions failing to establish any chemistry so far at Carrow Road.
How Can Norwich Save Themselves This Season?
The Canaries have always been a side which has struggled with identity. Regarded as a ‘yo-yo’ club between the top flight and the Championship, having been relegated in 2019-20 but coming back up on first ask. Football betting sites all have Norwich to struggle this season but a 6-0 EFL Cup win against Bournemouth will boost confidence when morale must have been at an all-time low. Farke must rally around his side and prepare them for a tough few months — here is how we think they can avoid the drop this season.
New signings must start well
Although they boasted the strongest side in the Championship last season, the Canaries delved into the transfer market in an attempt to bolster their ranks. Josh Sargent arrived for £8 million from Werder Bremen and got his goal tally started in the League Cup. The 21-year-old has to hit the ground running, having already tasted relegation last season in Germany.
On top of this, Brandon Williams completed a loan move from Manchester United until the end of the season. The full-back provides competition to the back line with his versatility and the experience of playing more regular first team football will not only help the Canaries with strength in depth but also put his name in the shop window for a permanent move if he is in fact deemed surplus to requirements at Old Trafford.
Finding the back of the net
The midweek trip south to the Vitality demonstrated Norwich’s goalscoring capability — now their task is to replicate their midweek success through their league form. Granted they have been given a difficult set of fixtures, and football betting tips still have them poised to struggle in front of goal.
During their last Premier League stint, they managed just 26 goals, a return that will need to be improved to ensure they can escape the bottom of the table. If they are unable to score the pressure lies on their defence to keep clean sheets, and judging by how they have started this campaign, it looks unlikely that this inexperienced back four will have enough quality to keep the Canaries up alone.
Optimising Cantwell
While an over-reliance on individuals has hindered newly promoted sides in the past, building the side around the creativity and ingenuity of Todd Cantwell could be Farke’s best bet of survival. The wide man has already demonstrated he is capable of playing at the top level, having been linked with an immediate return to the top flight upon Norwich’s initial relegation.
However, the 23-year-old remained at Carrow Road, acting as a catalyst in his side’s promotion with 12 goal contributions. If he can rekindle his partnership with Teemu Pukki and new boy Sargent, he could stand in good stead to help seal a potential great escape come the end of the season.