Hi guys, I run an online football magazine and we're doing in-depth club by club previews for the new season. We've got influential bloggers filling in a short questionnaire for each club that will form part of a larger article, but are struggling to get someone for Norwich. Would anyone on the forum be up for filling it in? We're after a real fans perspective. Here's the questions - anyone can have a stab and we'll publish the best response on the site: How did you feel about last season? Who was your hero last season? Last seasonâs villain? Most exciting young player? Who do you expect to make an impact this season? How do you feel about the owner? How do you feel about the manager? Are you happy with your clubâs summer transfer dealings? Prediction for next season? Cheers!
i'll have a crack at it How did you feel about last season? When you consider we finished 11th, bettering the previous seasons 12th place finish, you'd have thought we'd be a happy camp but there was a definite divide between fans - most felt the manager had done a great job of steadying a wobbly ship following Paul Lambert's decision to move on, but there were many who were unhappy with the level of performance the team showed, especially in the 2nd half of the season. It's certainly true Hughton shifted the emphasis from attack to a more cautious approach, but he achieved some notable results against the top teams and made us more solid. Who was your hero last season? 'Hero' might be too strong a word, but certainly Sebastien Bassong had an excellent season and was crowned player of the year. He was a calming influence on a previously panicky back line. It's probably better to look at the games he didn't play in which resulted in 16 goals being conceded in just 4 games! He's probably become, along with John Ruddy, our most important player. Last season’s villain? Probably Hughton in some fans eyes but certainly not in mine. It would have to be Paul Lambert who left us to try and turn around the fortunes of the flailing Aston Villa. I think all Norwich fans expected him to leave for bigger and better things at some point, but it was a bit of a shock that he dropped us for a side who were considerably poorer than ourselves based on the previous year, albeit, a bigger club. Combined with our talisman Grant Holt handing in a transfer request at the same time, it was a turbulent time for the club but we came through the other end a much stronger club. Most exciting young player? Having lifted the FA Youth Cup last season, there's plenty to choose from! The two who get most of the headlines are the Murphy twins, Joshua and Jacob, who combine flair with electric pace and an eye for goal from wide areas. There's little doubt that if they progress well and are nurtured correctly, there's two outstanding English players about to come through into the first team, but that may still be a year or two away. Who do you expect to make an impact this season? We've made a number of key signings, especially in attacking areas. Ricky van Wolfswinkel was the marquee signing but Dutch compatriot midfielder Leroy Fer is a beast! I think he'll be an important player but we struggled to score goals last season so the impact from 'Wolf' and fellow new-boy Gary Hooper will be crucial if we are to have a good season. How do you feel about the owner? Delia, or should that be 'Saint Delia', the woman who saved our club. She might not have the 'big bucks' but she's got a big heart and without her, the club would have folded. She's made many mistakes during her tenure but the most important decision she and her husband have ever made was employing our current chief executive, David McNally, who has transformed the club since arriving in 2009, turning us from a debt-ridden League One club into a stable, debt-free, money-making Premier League machine. How do you feel about the manager? As stated earlier, he divides opinion. I do think he gets a rough ride from a section of our support who put entertainment above staying in the division. Ultimately, our board are delighted with his performances and they won't be in any hurry to change the manager, even if results dip as they did last year. He is a long-term appointment and has been heavily backed in the market. He'll be given plenty of time to carry out his master plan and I'm delighted that's the case. The club needs stability. Are you happy with your club’s summer transfer dealings? Absolutely over the moon so far! We've addressed most of our weaknesses and have bought young, talented players. We still lack a little creative spark in the centre of the park so it would be good to bring in a couple more players. Prediction for next season? Similar to last season I expect. The top 7 will be out of reach but anywhere between 8th and 16th is likely as everyone is so closely matched. I'll plump for 10th.
The only things I'd probably add would be Snoddy as last year's hero and either Redmond or Ryan Bennett as our exciting young players/ones who could make an impact - but I guess that's just me being picky.
agree about giving a nod to the snod, but other than that its a great write up of how the world looks through canary eyes
Some great responses, thanks guys. Particular thanks go out to Batterseacanary - I got in touch with norwichcity.myfootballwriter.com and they filled it in so we went with that. Here it is live Norwich Season Preview - FBO
