Hughton’s men look strong after an influx of talent.
Manager’s job security: Chris Hughton was sacked – many believe unfairly – by Newcastle United, but now at Carrow Road the manager has been keeping his head down and doing good work. The money the club have spent should see them avoid relegation and Hughton will be hoping to push for top 10. The boss will be safe.
Captain: Russell Martin.
Last season: 11th..
Players in: Semi Ajayi (Charlton Athletic), Javier Garrido (Lazio, £1.3m), Ricky Van Wolfswinkel (Sporting Lisbon, £8.5m), Nathan Redmond (Birmingham City, £2m), Carlo Nash (Stoke City, free), Martin Olsson (Blackburn, £2.5m), Leroy Fer (FC Twente, £4.5m), Gary Hooper (Celtic, £5.5m).
Players out: Jed Steer (Aston Villa), Simeon Jackson (Eintracht Braunschweig, free), Lee Camp (released), Elliot Ward (Bouremouth, free), Marc Tierney (Bolton, free), George Francomb (AFC Wimbledon, free), Korey Smith (Oldham, free), Tom Adeyemi (Birmingham, free), Chris Martin (Derby County, free), James Vaughan (Huddersfield Town, £750,000), Grant Holt (Wigan, £2.5m), Leon Barnett (Wigan).
Aims: Avoiding relegation is the first target for the Canaries having been embroiled in the battle at the end of last season. With the likes of Van Wolfswinkel, Fer and Hooper being bought in however, a top 10 finish is not out of the question by any means.
Key player: Robert Snodgrass – The Scot made the step up to the top flight with ease after joining from Leeds United last summer, playing all but one of the Canaries’ league games – scoring six goals and providing eight assists.
Needs to improve: Javier Garrido – The former Manchester City left-back played almost every match for the team but will need to improve on last year’s efforts now Martin Olsson is at the club. Garrido clearly did enough to convince Hughton to sign the Spaniard on a permanent basis, but getting a regular place is another matter.
Big summer signing: Ricky Van Wolfswinkel – The big Dutchman has been acquired for one reason and that is to score goals. At £8.5m it is an expensive gamble for a club like Norwich, but the 24-year-old has proved that the striker can cut it in both the Netherlands and Portugal.
One to watch: Leroy Fer – The midfielder nearly joined Everton in January but a knee injury forced the move to be called off, but now at Carrow Road Fer should shine. The Netherlands international is from the new breed of box-to-box midfielders and will try and dominate the middle of the park.
What do they need? An attacking midfielder wouldn’t go amiss and possibly some new recruits at the back, with injuries to either Michael Turner or Sebastien Bassong leaving Norwich looking weak in defence.
That being said the squad looks a lot stronger than last year, with the deadwood being move on and some genuine top-class European talent being bought in.
fanatix prediction: 10th. A better season than last will see Norwich on the cusp of pushing on even further next year and possibly being regular contenders for Europe in the coming campaigns.
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