After a record-breaking promotion back to the Premier League after going down with a whimper in the 2019/2020 season, Norwich City have yet again come to terms that the Premier League is a significant difference in quality to the Championship, where they played the likes of Wycombe Wanderers and Rotherham United.
After the first 11 games of the Premier League season, Norwich sit 20th in the league with five points, and five goals scored, with 25 conceded. Even the 2007/08 Derby County side who finished with 11 points after 38 games managed to have a better start than that, as they conceded 24 and scored five goals after 11 games, which emphasises how substandard The Canaries have been this season. To some assets of the media, they have been seen as nothing short of a disgrace to England’s top flight.
As a Norwich City fan, and season ticket holder myself, I can comfortably say this season has been the worst I’ve experienced so far. It’s been nothing short of an embarrassment. It looks as if any side, even on an off day, could get a result against us. However, after the win against Brentford and a new manager imminent, my positivity has gone through the roof. I have to get excited about something eventually, right?
So, let’s dive into the stats. With the 2019-20 relegation season and the 2021/22 season combined, the Canaries have conceded 101 goals in 49 matches, and have the worst points-per-game ratio, the lowest win ratio and the lowest goals-per-game ratio of any side who have had more than one season in the Premier League. Not very suprising when you have a record five relegations.
Building upon that, Norwich had not scored more than once in any of their past 28 top-flight matches before beating Brentford 2-1 away last weekend, and have lost their past 33 Premier League matches when conceding first. Norwich have only won one of their last 21 top-flight matches. Also, the win against Brentford was their first away win in the Premier League since 23rd November 2019 against Everton, where they won 0-2 at Goodison Park.
It’s no doubt Norwich had a horrendous run of fixtures at the start of the season. Now ex-manager Daniel Farke emphasised how his former side had to play Chelsea, Manchester City and Liverpool which resulted in 0 points. But disregarding these fixtures Norwich only gained five points against Brentford, Leicester, Watford, Burnley, Brighton, Arsenal, Everton and Leeds in their 8 other matches.
Speaking of Daniel Farke, he was given the biggest financial backing of any Norwich manager – supported by how Norwich’s chief executive Stuart Webber pointed out Norwich were the league’s 11th biggest spenders during the transfer window this season, against the backdrop of a club that is self-sufficient, receives zero funding from a benefactor and has come close to financial disaster in the past. But now, Daniel Farke is gone, he was sacked just hours after getting Norwich thier first win of the Premier League this season. Definitely strange timing by The Canaries, but a decision that is ultimately the correct one if they are to stay in the division. Farke simply wasn’t the right man to keep them in the Premier League.
The main question now on Norwich City fans lips ahead of this international break, is who’s next?
Frank Lampard seems to be the early favourite from the majority of gambling websites, such as Paddy Power and Sky Bet. The current FK Bodø/Glimt manager Kjetil Knutsen is also a highly regarded candidate, following his side’s tactitional masterclasses against Jose Mourinho’s Roma in the Europa Conference League group stage. Regardless of who gets the job, it’s going to be nothing short of a challenge.
Norwich City now look ahead to Southampton at home after the international break, a must-win game if they are to stay in the division, and the perfect chance to build upon the win against Brentford.
So, who do you think will take the helm at The Canaries? Do you think they can stay up?
I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comment section!
For more football content click here.
For more sport content click here.
