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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Hello all!
It’s almost back! Can’t wait. Good to see I’m not the only one already thinking/planning ;).
I feel quite content with this team although it’s the first time I’ve got for no premium striker…
Anything glaringly wrong thus far? No doubt it’ll change…
Looks really strong to me. All fairly safe players as well
Hi beno,
Yeah I agree with Smash. That looks fairly solid.
I’d monitor how Jota is used in the early rounds of the Europa League with Wolves but I suspect he’ll be a starter most league games.
Really nice!
Wow, looks a really strong team. R u looking to rotate players?
One thing I am concerned about is the bench! Which doesn’t offer much at all…
I don’t get too stressed about the bench. The cheaper the bench the better the first XI. As long as the first couple of subs are playing I don’t really mind. Dendoncker and Kelly (let’s hope the latter plays) is fine. I may even play Kelly in GW1 if it looks like he is going to start; depends on who my cheap strikers will be (I could be on one of the Everton ones if they don’t bring in anyone else).
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Anyone playing/thinking about playing this season?
IF I can play euro 21, Copa America and the women’s world cup, I could be talked into that.
Mito, don’t forget you’ll have fantasy Ashes!
I wasn’t talked into playing cricket, I am the one who originally brought it up.
I’ve just joined and drafted mine! I only had to wait ten minutes for my draft.
I’m in a league of eight and I think I’ve done OK in the draft but I’ll let you decide.
My draft:
Was it a snake draft? Looks like you got 1st or 2nd pick and then had to wait for a bit.
It was a snake draft yeah. I was first.
I took Salah first and then with my next two took VVD and Vardy. Amazingly Laporte and Digne were still there 14 picks later!
Some were on autopick as they took the full 90 seconds. I reckon four drafted in person and four were auto.
I did something for that not that long ago, maybe last season showing the differences between high ranked players in each position. Think forwards were the most valuable commodity, can’t remember what was next, think I came to the conclusion that you really shouldn’t bother with defenders until the end. In particular in a draft where not too many are playing because it means there will always be good defenders available for you to pick up. In some cases it is different if that defender is going to have double digit assists like the LFC boys did, but I do remember waiting until late. Think I actually went for a keeper first, believe I had Ederson also, because there was a bigger difference in having Ederson vs picking up a keeper from a lower placed team. I would consider backing up Ederson up with City’s back up, you want access to that defence all the time. Something happens to him and someone will quickly snatch his back up. Unless you really see a rotation there with him and Patricio.
That’s a good point actually.
Patricio just seemed the best of the rest. He was my last pick. Probably will use Ederson all the time.
Bravo is still available.
Always played it with mates, going to give it a go with some randoms! Drafting in 10 mins I’ll report back!!
Could have been better could have been worse!
That’s nice, no big time forwards, but other than that it looks like a very good team.
Reckon that’s fairly strong Rosco.
League of 8?
Where were you in the draft?
Yeah league of 8, seems a good spread of players for everyone! Quite like it!
Sorry, I was second hence sterling!
It is a good squad mate. Good luck.
If you don’t mind, stay in touch about it. Interested to see how your league goes. Any trades etc.
I played classic not head to head. You?
I came in to this article wondering if Max Aarons was worth the punt for a value back – and I’m convinced enough that he’ll be in my selection once I really start tinkering. But man alive, not a lot to like about this team in a fantasy sense.
Also, I realize that the conversation in the comments has moved on to several different things, but thought I’d still say my piece regardless. Good article, James. Appreciate it.
Good to see you Guy, hope you are well. The rare appearance makes me assume you are well up for up writing the Sheffield United jigsaw piece we are missing. There’s no massive rush on it btw, some time next week will be fine……..
The only thing I know about Sheffield United is that they aren’t the same as Sheffield Wednesday. But yeah, all good here. Keeping busy and all, but I’ll slot into some weekly articles for sure…just don’t make me start up a new FM save to learn all about Sheffield.
I’m not sure he’s worth a punt if you consider Norwich’s fixtures. On paper (and written in big letters on the wall) it’s a truly the stuff of nightmares.
But maybe he’ll be somewhere else. Would be handy if Bournemough signed him. Or Watford.
Looking forward to 2019/20 season. Hard to pick players but should be ready by the 1st of August. Wishing you all the best!
With no Hazard and no morata. Could giroud be an fpl option?
Could be great value if he plays right?
Yep certainly. Follow them towards the end of their pre-season to check.
Could be terrific value, in the same boat as many Chelsea and Man U players. Ones I will be watching rather than ones I will be risking. Chelsea have a nice couple of games in weeks 3 and 4.
Currently mixed on Aguero vs Sterling. Aguero is consistant but Sterling has more assist potential.
It’s likely they’ll both score hugely. Can you consider both?
That’s pretty big circle to square with Salah in the side as well – assuming our chum genericusername has Salah, of course. Salah/Kdb/Kun may be more achievable but still tricky.
Something for down the line maybe as/when cheaper (Man U/Chelsea/Arsenal etc) players start coming through (perhaps).
You can get any three you like Kralin!
(What the rest may look like, gawd knows!)
Well, of course. Just go cheap on defence.
In fact (and this is just playing with the idea of that trio, I’ll be hurriedly running back to the template safety blanket of Liverpool full backs and ah an Everton striker) – I’ve seen worse (drafts by myself):
Love it!
When I put the side back together again I left Cathcart and Ake in there (instead of hurying back to City or Everton defenders). That opens up Wilson instead of King for me.
Ake for GW 1 and 2 isn’t the worst of picks.