The Norwich City promotion has been coming for a while now. The Canaries have been far and away the best side in the division, with Emi Buendia and Teemu Pukki showing exactly why they belong at a higher level. Daniel Farke’s side have created the blueprint on how to bounce straight back from relegation. They stuck to a plan that other sides should follow.
They kept their manager and, therefore, principles and style of play. They kept hold of their star players and are on their way back to the Premier League as a result.
Now, the relegated Sheffield United should follow in Norwich City’s footsteps. The Blades must stick to their principles, keep star players and find stability within the management team.
Norwich City Promotion Should Show Sheffield United How to Bounce Back
Norwich City’s Trust Rewarded
When a side is relegated from the Premier League, the likelihood is that the manager will soon take his moment of leave. Yet, crucially, Norwich kept faith in Farke and his philosophy. Now, the Canaries have yet another crack at the top flight.
In truth, the manager earned the trust whilst in the big league. The football he had his side playing at times was a joy to watch. Defensively, the plan never came full circle as relegation occurred. But, on the offence, they were up there with the most entertaining sides, especially at the start of the season.
Norwich City were a breath of fresh air when promoted. We became so used to Championship sides arriving in the top flight before utilising low block and long ball systems. Instead of adopting this approach, Farke’s side took the fight to the opposition, securing wins against the likes of Manchester City.
Perhaps their system was not at fault, but their lack of experience. A season back in Premier League and a year of promotion in the Championship later, however, and they should have that added experience going into next season.
Pukki and Buendia Set for Take-Two in the Premier League
At the start of last season, Teemu Pukki took us all by surprise by revealing his goalscoring nature. Suddenly, everyone began to take note, started to believe that he had what it takes to keep Norwich in the Premier League. And then the goals stopped, as did Norwich’s hopes of survival.
Pukki, accompanied by his young teammates, came to a crashing halt. They faced a defying reality check. Pukki’s confidence was shot, as was his teammates’. But the quality never went away, as proven this season.
The Finland international has come alive once more in the second tier, scoring 25 goals and assisting a further four. With his confidence back in abundance to accompany his ability, Pukki could finally consistently take his chance in the Premier League next season.
The forward has been impressive, but the prized asset in the Norwich City promotion side, Emi Buendia, has had a season to remember. The midfielder was a wanted man in the summer, yet he stayed loyal and toyed with the Championship defenders. With a handful of games still yet to play, the midfielder has scored 13 goals and assisted a stunning 16- no player has more.
He, unlike Pukki, never failed to impress in the Premier League, never dropped his quality. He, more than most, has earned a second crack at the top flight.
Sheffield United Should Use Norwich City Promotion as Incentive
Bouncing straight back from relegation is no easy task, but if Sheffield United want any chance of doing so, they must use the blueprints left behind by the Canaries. They can cross keeping and trusting the manager off the list after Chris Wilder’s departure.
So, first things first, they must find balance in the technical area once more. Then, and only then, will they stand a chance at promotion from the depths of relegation. They possess the quality within their ranks. Now they must keep the most prized assets.
Sander Berge can take the second tier by storm, so could Ollie Norwood, as proven in the past. But perhaps it’s time for Rhian Brewster to take centre stage.
The former Liverpool youngster has been thrown into the deep end of a side scrapping for relegation this season. He has been starved of appearances and, when he does enter proceedings, he has been starved of opportunities. When on the pitch, his play often revolves around chasing aimless balls as the opposition play around the Sheffield United block.
He wasn’t ready for the Premier League. The Championship is a league he knows all too well, however. Last season, when on loan at Swansea City, Brewster netted ten goals in 20 appearances. Now, a season and added experience later, just imagine what he can do.
Norwich Ready for New Type of Premier League
As alluded to before, when the promotion of Norwich City occurred the first time around, their style of football was impressive but not fitting for a side fighting for relegation. This season has proved that the better football you play, the better chance you have of surviving.
And that will suit Norwich City down to the Carrow Road ground after promotion. The likes of Brighton, Leeds United and Southampton have all proved that the days of long balls and low blocks are coming to a close. Instead, the days of attempting to replicate the football of those at the top are upon us. And that’s how clubs are taking the fight to the Premier League.
Whilst Brighton’s good football looks likely to see them survive, West Bromwich Albion’s hoof ball looks set to find itself in the Championship once more next season.
Next season, more than ever, Norwich City will be ready to stay in the Premier League.
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