Promoted Teams Analysis: Norwich
Looking at Norwich as Fantasy Prospects for the New Season
Norwich City’s promotion to the Premier League almost felt destined to happen as the later weeks of the Championship season came by. The Canaries only lost six fixtures last season and won the most games with 27 victories in the second-tier. They will be a welcome addition to the Premier League next season, and there will be anticipation to see some of their star performers and how they can transition to life in the top flight.
Many will be aware of the qualities that the Canaries have but will also be well aware that they will naturally also be among the favourites to be relegated. However, there is no doubting that they are a proven Championship team, and it will be fascinating to see how they adjust to the Premier League. Their scoring record was impressive, as they netted 93 goals in the Championship last season. However, there will be question marks defensively as they conceded 57 goals last season; which was the worst of all the top three teams in the division. This youthful side will continue to improve, but it will be interesting to see whether they can continue to excel in the face of fierce competition when the stakes are the highest.
How Norwich will likely line up
Daniel Farke has proven to be an inspired managerial appointment by the club, and after overcoming a difficult start to the season, he settled on a 4-2-3-1 formation. The two holding midfielders offered insurance to let their flair players express themselves without worrying too much about their defensive duties. While the back four ahead of Premier League veteran Tim Krul will certainly excite Norwich fans as they are only getting better the more they play. Right-back Max Aarons and central defender Ben Godfrey have been revelations since joining the club and could be potential stars of the season. Club captain Christoph Zimmermann partners Godfrey in the defence and their partnership will be crucial.
The forward areas are where the club excelled last season, and the relationship between Marco Stiepermann behind Teemu Pukki flourished last season. Meanwhile, left-winger Onel Hernandez will be looking for another productive season in terms of assists. New signing Patrick Roberts could take up the right-winger position after Farke consistently rotated players in that area throughout the season.
Difficult Start…
Fantasy players would be quick to notice the difficulty level of the opening five games for the Canaries. In the opening weeks of the season they travel to Liverpool and West Ham United, and also welcome Newcastle United, Chelsea and Manchester City to Carrow Road. According to Compare Your Odds, Norwich are 18/1 to beat Liverpool at Anfield, and this shows how unlikely it is that they will get a positive result against the European champions. That is the highest price for any team on the opening weekend of the season, and as Liverpool look to better their second-place finish last term you wouldn’t expect them to get the win.
The same can be said of their fixtures against Chelsea and Manchester City; with the current champions only having lost once in 2019. However, the Canaries will already be looking forward to their first home game against Newcastle, and this could present them with an excellent chance to get their first win of the season.
Norwich Players To Look At;
Marco Stiepermann – 5.5m
(Photo by Shaun Brooks/Action Plus via Getty Images)
His importance was clear for all to see as the club drew the three games in which he didn’t play, while they lost to Leeds United and West Bromwich Albion when he started on the bench. He could be a shrewd choice for a fantasy player as he is only valued at £5.5 million and consistently provides chances for Pukki. Also, he is a guaranteed starter in the Canaries line-up due to his work rate for the team and the club have made no new signings in the number ten position. Yet.
Max Aarons – 4.5m
(Photo by Chloe Knott – Danehouse/Getty Images)
If he can seamlessly adjust to life in the Premier League, then there is no reason why he won’t excel and become comparable to last season’s Matt Doherty. Every season there is a 4.5m diamond in the rough, and Max Aarons could certainly be that man. He has all the tools that are needed to be a first-class full-back in the modern game as he is as comfortable attacking as he is in defensive areas. This is shown by the fact that he has had 24 shots on goal in the Championship last season, while he also created 31 chances for teammates. His ability to get up and down and adding width to the Canaries side will be crucial in how they attack against opposing sides in the Premier League. His aerial ability also isn’t bad as he win an average of 0.6 duels in the air per match. As a young player this quality is undoubtedly going to improve in the Premier League.
Teemu Pukki – 6.5m
(Photo by James Baylis – AMA/Getty Images)
Whether he will match his goal-scoring from last season remains in doubt, but 7.3% of players have taken a chance on him exceeding all expectations once again. At a price of £6.5 million he could a bit of a gamble considering there are other more proven strikers around the 6.5m mark such as Josh King (6.5m), or Diogo Jota (6.5m). There’s no doubt he has the capability to become a good fantasy pick, but at his price range, it’s probably best to assess Norwich and his performances in the first few game weeks. He’s currently 100/1 to finish the season as the top goalscorer, and if Norwich are to stay up Pukki will need to be the man putting the ball in the back of the net.
Thanks for reading Promoted Teams Analysis – Norwich. This article was written by James Hirlehey
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Evening all
How is everyone?
How’s your team coming along?
This is what I’ve currently got, suspect there there will be a few key changes over the coming weeks.
Tielemans hasn’t been mentioned before. That’s an interesting choice
Also I think probably move Mili to an enabler because your 3 bench defenders Kelly, Balb, Lund don’t rotate particularly well so try and find a few quid for perhaps Coleman or similar?
Im a big fan of him! Leicester have the look of a top 4 team this season!
Looks fine. I don’t really get the Allison pick personally with VVD, TAA and Robbo as options.
I think it was just the double pool defence that was appealing
I just prefer the defenders to the keeper
Good team. I would avoid two attackers from the same team at the start. I would only pick one of Vardy or Tielmans.
Fixtures are not the easiest for Leicester to start either
While VVD is in no way a bad pick I think the .5 upgrade to Robbo/TAA is worth it.
I currently have both of the blighters in my side.
Laporte seems wise until we get some sort of clear message, which I know we won’t. Or you could get Ederson and think an Everton defender.
This could be the first time I’ve felt comfortable having two premium defenders from the same team. I think the big three Liverpool defenders are such good value.
This is what I’m currently at
I would try and keep the bench value to 17m and use the funds elsewhere.
+1
yes
Here is me then currently. 6 million options a bit of a concern. Hudson-Odoi is pending fitness
Have you thought about 4 at the back – 6m options dilemma solved pretty quickly.
I can see where you’re coming with on the Chic front.
Don’t fancy Fraser (can be swapped to Chelsea if need be after a couple of GW) or Siggy / Rich?
Sterling v Kane is a battle in my side that the former’s currently winning (with a secret hope I can swap Sterling for KdB if the latter’s looking good).
Yeah my last draft had four at the back with Mendy. Four at the back is a very strong possibility especially with the dodgy 6 million picks and can see me starting with that formation. I don’t see tons of options though Laporte yeah and if it looks like iMendy will start definitely. But rumours circulating he might be out and three LBs there now.
Fraser no I don’t think so I’ll have King and that’s enough Bournemouth for me.
I do prefer Sterling to Kane but it’s the extra million which allows me to squeeze KDB in as well. I think KDB could get very close to Sterling while no one at Spurs will get close to Kane.
I had some flirtatious thoughts about Moura but went for Fraser instead. All can and will change I’m sure. Would be nice if that 4.5m WHU striker got some minutes.
I can’t decide between 4/3/3 or 4/4/2. For now.
I’ve switched to Pope from Ryan, mainly based on some half-rumour I heard about Heaton leaving. But Ryan could get the gig back. Or Ederson. Arghh.
Yeah Moura is just a transfer waiting to happen. Will be good for GW1 but that’s it. Yeah I can see where you are coming from on the formation thing.
Yeah if Heaton goes to Villa that will make the Burnley keeper thing a lot simpler. And I’d much prefer one of them to Ryan
This is the 4-4-2 version I think
I like it. Obviously a couple of question marks about starters but hopefully the fog will lift a bit.
And I think it illustrates how a tactically brave manager could set up the side for GW1 with 5 at the back (assuming Kelly starts). You could easily, and fairly logically, play 5/3/2 with that (keeping the Chelsea dude in situ for GW3 and beyond). Then move it round to 4/4/2 or whatever to suit fixtures / form.
Maybe Digne to Coleman and Hudson-Odi to Tielmans / Brooks.
Yeah that’s one of the options. Same with BSilva to Zaha and Robbo in for VVD and Odoi to Tielemans who I think is a decent option.
After some sound advice yesterday here is my v0.1 team.
Actually I swapped Hanley to Aarons. But this is what I got for now.
I see a couple of massive problems with Torreira and Success. Downgrade one and upgrade the other. Downgrade Aaron’s to a 4 million defender as you won’t need him. Morgan prob won’t change a switch to a West Ham defender who will rotate ok with Taylor will work.
Cheers Frog and all. Actually I expected Rosco or Smash to make that comment first! My bench is currently at 17 (just preferred Lascelles to Coleman for wk1) At the moment I quite like having a Villa mid as a differential but McGinn, Jorginho could easily change in the next four weeks.
Ha ha yeah I love a cheap bench