SM
West Ham vs. Liverpool: 8 hrs 49 mins
Upcoming predictions and previews
Collect News Data

Norwich City

How can Norwich ensure Premier League survival next season?

:Headline: How can Norwich ensure Premier League survival next season?:
The Canaries were relegated from the top-flight last term.
Sports Mole

Norwich have won promotion back to the Premier League at the first time of asking.

Here, the PA news agency takes a look at what the Norfolk club, who finished rock bottom in 2019/20, must do next to stay in the top flight.

Don't cash in on crown jewels

Retaining the likes of playmaker Emi Buendia and full-back Max Aarons (right) will be key (Nigel French/PA)

While defenders Ben Godfrey and Jamal Lewis were sold for a tidy sum following relegation, there was no mass exodus from Carrow Road.

Norwich stood their ground to fend off interest in full-back Max Aarons, subject of a potential switch to Barcelona, and England Under-21 midfielder Todd Cantwell, while playmaker Emi Buendia also knuckled down once it became clear he would not be leaving Norfolk any time soon.

All three men were key to Norwich's promotion campaign, fuelled by 25 goals so far in the Sky Bet Championship from Teemu Pukki.

Retaining their services for another crack at the Premier League will be vital if the club is to progress.

Shrewd summer recruitment

Norwich sporting director Stuart Webber knows decisions off the field this summer will be as important as performances delivered on it next season.

Lessons will have been learned from the last Premier League recruitment drive, which saw the likes of Swiss striker Josip Drmic, veteran goalkeeper Ralf Fahrmann, defensive midfielder Ibrahim Amadou and Manchester City loanee Patrick Roberts – who made only four appearances – produce minimal impact.

Permanent deals for Greek full-back Dimitris Giannoulis and defender Ben Gibson are set to be completed following promotion.

Continuing to improve the spine of the team is crucial – and as Webber himself said after the January transfer window: "It is about adding players who ultimately make the group a lot better."

Get streetwise

Norwich were the only one of the three promoted sides not to stay up two seasons ago (Molly Darlington/NMC Pool/PA)

Norwich brought plenty of colour to the Premier League last time out, but apart from a memorable 3-2 win over then champions Manchester City in September 2019, they offered little real substance.

Too often players tried to rely on the showreel tricks which had lifted them from the Championship, but without taking into account the step up in class of opposition who punished every mistake or stray pass.

Games which should have been seen out ended in draws or, more often than not, costly defeats – while Daniel Farke's gung-ho tactics and lack of telling substitutions at decisive movements were called into question on a regular basis.

Expect a much more game-hardened approach this time, with everyone at the club left in no doubt of what is required to pick up points week in, week out rather than just enjoying the ride.

Banish away-day blues

Norwich managed just four points on the road during 2019/2020, their only away victory coming at Everton in late November.

The Canaries were beaten at both Aston Villa and Sheffield United, failing to make the same improvements as the teams which had come up behind them.

The 1-0 win at Derby last weekend saw Farke's men chalk up a 14th victory on their travels, the best record in the Championship.

It will, though, again prove no easy ride away from Norfolk next season – but nevertheless those 19 tough journeys must produce more of a return for their collective efforts.

In Farke-ball we trust

German head coach Daniel Farke has Norwich playing a high-intensity game (Joe Giddens/PA)

It was very much a case of "Daniel who?" when the unheralded German was announced as the Canaries' new head coach during the summer of 2017 – and the jury remained very much out following a 14th-placed finish in his first season.

However, roll the clock on to May 2019 and Farke was given the freedom of the city after masterminding a swashbuckling campaign which delivered the Championship title in style.

That goodwill saw the many shortcomings of an interrupted Premier League campaign somewhat overlooked, as Norwich dropped straight back down with just 21 points and nine successive defeats after Project Restart.

However, former Borussia Dortmund II boss Farke never deviated from his own version of 'Gegenpressing' – and nor did the board's faith in its man waiver.

Farke's team have also now added a bit of steely determination this season, very much a case of grinding out results rather than sweeping teams aside as they did with the 7-0 demolition of Huddersfield.

More of the same will be needed when up against the elite once more next term – but this time the German will be that bit wiser as to the challenges ahead.

body check tags ::

amp_article__443584 : Collect and Make Data not in DataBase  : 
last updated article - 2021-04-17 13:49:57:
html db last update - 2021-04-17 13:46:15 :

ex - 7200 : read : write cache and make html
Share this article now:
MA
Read Next:
Everton to rival Man United for £30m Max Aarons?
>


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
AL
Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!
Read more about Daniel Farke Emiliano Buendia Stuart Webber Max Aarons Todd Cantwell Teemu Pukki Ben Godfrey Jamal Lewis Emi Buendia Football
Follow @SportsMole for the latest breaking news stories, and follow @sm_headlines to get every headline from Sports Mole
Recommended Next on SM
Everton to rival Man United for £30m Max Aarons?
Liverpool reach agreement with Feyenoord over Arne Slot fee

Page options

Premier League Table
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
2Leeds UnitedLeeds45279980413990
3Ipswich TownIpswich432611685533289
4Southampton442591085612484
5West Bromwich AlbionWest Brom4420121267442372
6Norwich CityNorwich442191477611672
7Hull City441912136556969
8Coventry CityCoventry4317121468551363
9Middlesbrough44189176460463
10Preston North EndPreston44189175661-563
11Cardiff CityCardiff44195205061-1162
12Bristol City441611175147459
13Sunderland44168205251156
14Swansea CitySwansea441511185762-556
15Watford441217155958153
16Queens Park RangersQPR451411204557-1253
17Millwall441411194355-1253
18Stoke CityStoke441311204460-1650
19Blackburn RoversBlackburn441310215874-1649
20Plymouth ArgylePlymouth441212205869-1148
21Sheffield WednesdaySheff Weds44138233968-2947
22Birmingham CityBirmingham441210224864-1646
23Huddersfield TownHuddersfield44917184774-2744
RRotherham UnitedRotherham44412283285-5324
Scroll for more - Tap for full version


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
AL
Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!

Loading ...

Failed to load data.

history www

This weekend's permutations: Who can be crowned champions, win promotion or suffer relegation?

1

TW

Chelsea 'join race for in-demand manager after Liverpool snub'

2

C'

Preview: PSG vs. Lyon - prediction, team news, lineups

3

PP

Preview: PEC Zwolle vs. Heracles - prediction, team news, lineups

4

PP

Spurs to test Brentford resolve with £45m offer for in-demand star?

5

ST

Arsenal 'open contract talks with key defender'

6

A'

Preview: Spurs vs. Arsenal - prediction, team news, lineups

7

PS

Spurs vs. Arsenal: Head-to-head record and past meetings

8

SV

Liverpool reach agreement with Feyenoord over Arne Slot fee

9

LR

Ten Hag explains where Man Utd can improve moving forward

10

TH


. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .