Norwich City suffered defeat on their Premier League return on the opening weekend, Daniel Farke’s side were beaten 3-0 by Liverpool at Carrow Road.
While there is no shame in losing to the 2019/20 Premier League champions, many elements of the match itself were reminiscent of the Canaries’ last spell in the top-flight. That campaign ended in relegation, and questions have been asked as to whether Norwich are prepared to fare any better this time around.
Can Norwich City Learn From Past Mistakes to Survive in the Premier League?
Championship Winners Could Struggle to Step Up Again
Norwich City supporters need no reminding of their previous stay in the Premier League. Although the Carrow Road crowd witnessed a number of promising performances – and the occasional thrilling victory such as the pulsating win over defending champions Manchester City – encouraging results were achieved all too infrequently. The final outcome was a last-placed finish and only 21 points.
Their opening day loss will therefore have felt all too familiar to returning supporters. Norwich played well in spells against their illustrious opponents, and were the better side in the opening 25 minutes. However, as was a common theme in that 2019/20 season, they failed to score the goals to show for it and were eventually overrun by Liverpool.
Despite having led his side straight back to the top-flight in impressive fashion in another Championship-winning campaign last season, Daniel Farke may worry that a repeat of the previous relegation is on the cards.
To avoid it, striker Teemu Pukki will need to hit the ground running in the Premier League in terms of goals once again. This time, he will need to sustain it for the duration of a full season if Norwich are to stand a chance. Keeping hold of creative midfielder Todd Cantwell – a previous reported target for Aston Villa as they looked for a Jack Grealish replacement – could be crucial to achieving this. The duo once again appear to be the Canaries’ primary threats to Premier League opposition.
Fresh Faces to Play a Part in Attempted Premier League Survival
Norwich were dealt a huge blow in the current transfer market when Aston Villa came calling for Argentina winger Emiliano Buendia. The 24-year-old was sensational in the Championship last season, winning the league’s player of the season award as Norwich powered to the title.
Keeping hold of Buendia – who was used sparingly in the top-flight in 2019/20 but now looks ready to take the league by storm – would have somewhat eased the burden on Cantwell and Pukki. However, Farke is not relying on the same familiar faces as his team aims to do better than it did two years ago.
The Canaries have raided German second-division side Werder Bremen for right-winger Milot Rashica and American forward Josh Sargent. Both were involved against Liverpool, and will help to add goals and assists between them as the season progresses.
Two signings were also made from Greek side PAOK. Young winger Christos Tzolis will hope to make an impact on his favoured left-hand side, while left-back Dimitrios Giannoulis – who has singed permanently after a previous loan spell – started against Jurgen Klopp’s Reds and will hope to cement his position in the side once again.
Chelsea’s hugely talented midfielder Billy Gilmour has also arrived at the club on loan. He will receive valuable game time in Norwich yellow, and the impact he makes could be absolutely critical alongside Pierre Lees Melou, a summer signing from Ligue 1 side Nice.
28-year-old defender Ben Gibson has also joined Daniel Farke’s side on a permanent basis this summer, and the former Burnley man’s Premier League experience could add a crucial element to the side’s latest assault on the top-flight.
Norwich’s activity in the transfer market puts paid to the suggestion some have made that the team looks too similar to the one that floundered so badly last time out in the Premier League. Farke will hope his new signings can provide the necessary injection of quality to keep the team above the dreaded drop zone over the course of the coming 37 league games.
Similar but Different – Will it Be Enough for Norwich City?
Assessing Norwich’s hopes after their first league game back – against a title-hopeful no less – is certainly not enough to paint a picture of how this side will do over the whole campaign.
However, in comparison to how they fared in their previous ill-fated top-flight season, the team certainly carries a ‘similar but different’ feel this time around. Daniel Farke is hoping this equates to the formula he needs to keep the Canaries afloat.
A number of new signings have been added to the tried-and-trusted players responsible for two successful Championship seasons, and who are now being given another crack at the Premier League. More new faces may still be necessary before the window closes later this month, especially if Aston Villa do decide to try and prise Cantwell away from his boyhood club.
Only time will tell if Daniel Farke’s Norwich City can do enough to avoid another quick expulsion from English football’s top table. As was the case in 2019/20, what we know already is they will give it their very best shot.
Main Photo
Embed from Getty Images
