A narrow survival beckons for Norwich City, according to our predictions.
Where will your side finish in 2012-13? With the season just one week away, our pundits have put our heads together to give you a comprehensive set of predictions.
Opinions and analysis on all 20 Premier League clubs are given here by 12 of our writers and pundits here at HITC Sport. On the basis of the predictions from our ‘daring dozen’ we have calculated how the table will look come next May.
How does it work? All the predictions are totalled together, the team with the lowest score will finish 1st, and the highest will finish 20th. Here are the predictions for your club.
Verdict – Norwich City will finish in: 17th
Highest prediction: 10th , Lowest prediction: 20th
Dan Coombs: 20th; Norwich’s momentum has taken a hit with Paul Lambert quitting, and their second season could be a tough one. They have a really tough run of opening fixtures, and as Bolton found out last season, a bad start can be hard to overcome. Chris Hughton has a big reputation, but it may suffer this season should the Canaries plummet down to the Championship.
Vic Daniels: 18th; Second season syndrome strikes again.
Mathew Nash: 18th; Star Player – John Ruddy. Top Scorer – Grant Holt. After losing their manager, reports of internal strife and a lack of summer additions I just can’t see Norwich staying up. Grant Holt will need to continue his scoring form whilst John Ruddy needs Another impressive season at Carrow Road if they are to stay up. Again, relegation is going to be close this year so could easily finish much higher up the table, but for me it’s the trapdoor for The Canaries.
Tomo Taka: 19th; Finished 12th last season in their first season back in Premier League but new manager Chris Hughton might struggle. He did well at Newcastle before being undeservedly sacked but Norwich might find it difficult to adjust to new manager after success of Paul Lambert last season. Grant Holt will again be star player but will he able to score as many goals as last season? Norwich’s biggest concern, like many clubs with new managers, will be how the team respond to the managerial change. Norwich, particularly with a managerial change, could be a club afflicted with second season syndrome as drop back into the Championship.
Jake Lane: 19th; Second season-syndrome plus loss of an inspirational manager will result in disaster for Norwich. Chris Hughton is a good manager but he will not be able to pick up where Paul Lambert left off so expect some unrest in the Canaries’ camp this term. Grant Holt handed in a transfer request before finally signing an extension to his contract so his commitment to the cause could be questioned if things don’t go their way.
Nigel Owen: 10th; Norwich and Swansea surprised everyone last season, and only goal difference separated them in the final standings. Johnny Howson was a sensible addition to the Canaries squad in January, and I expect Robert Snodgrass, Steven Whittaker, and particularly the talented Jacob Butterfield to slot straight in to Chris Hughton’s line-up, and possibly sneak into a top half finish. I don’t expect much to change from Paul Lambert to Chris Hughton, as both like to play football. Grant Holt will be important to the Norwich cause again, and Robert Snodgrass will want to start repaying his £3m price tag as soon as possible, but the key to both their successes could be how quickly Jacob Butterfield adapts to the Premier League. He has an old head on his shoulders, though, and impressed all who saw him in the Championship, so I expect him to step up, and be the driving force behind Norwich’s second season consolidation.
Surya Solanki: 16th; Chris Hughton was handed the reigns after the departure of Paul Lambert to Aston Villa. Realistically the club’s goal is to survive in the division, considering the financial benefits to be enjoyed as a Premier League side the following year, and I personally see them reaching this objective. The team is solid with numerous versatile and exciting players and it would be hard to see them getting relegated this term.
Paul Moore: 14th; This is a big job for Chris Houghton and by that I mean carrying on from Paul Lambert. Ruddy is a good keeper who will get the Canaries a few points. Keeping Holt is a must or there is real trouble.
John Aggrey: 12th; Hughton is relatively new to the job too after Lambert had to move to Aston Villa. Life may not be really exciting at the Canaries but with a properly disciplined side that Paul Lambert made and just a little adjustments here and there in the defense, a 12th place finish shouldn’t be hard coming. Their star man should be; I would take no second thinking this over, it’s Holt for me any day. Did he deserve a call up for the Euro’s? Sure I think so. 15 goals to his name in his first season in the EPL, he’s got nothing to prove, he just needs to maintain. Biggest Challenge; Life after Lambert who became so synonymous with the style of play at the Canaries.
Naveenan Thanendra: 18th; To say Norwich exceeded all expectations last year would not be an understatement and credit must go to Paul Lambert and the Norwich squad for this. However, with Paul Lambert now at Aston Villa and a lack of top quality additions to the squad, Norwich could find themselves in a lot of trouble, in a league which has significantly improved their squads. The additions of Steven Whittaker and Michael Turner will be key. If they are able to put in some inspirational performances in the back; there is a possibility that Norwich could just about survive another season in the league, but it could be asking too much from a completely new centre back pairing.
Keval Shah: 18th; Many newly promoted clubs suffer the ‘second season syndrome’ in the Premier League and I feel this will be the case for Norwich. Hughton will have a tough task in his first season in charge, where Norwich will once again have to rely on Grant Holt to score the goals, however with his future uncertain, who knows whether they will even be able to hold on to him.
Khiam Barry: 18th; Paul Lambert leaving for Villa won’t help Norwich. Grant Holt needs to score as many goals as he did last season otherwise I fear for them.
Connor Jipps: 18th; Norwich City are one of the many clubs to have had to replace their manager this summer as a result of the managerial merry go round and new boss Chris Hughton will find he has a tough job on his hands to keep the Canaries up. Last season Norwich’s performances drew plenty of deserved acclaim for their never say die attitude and willingness to attack the big sides. Under Paul Lambert they showed passion for the shirt and probably played beyond their abilities, which is an indicator of Villa’s gain and Norwich’s loss. Chris Hughton has already lost Kyle Naughton, one of Norwich’s best defenders last year, as he returns from his loan spell to Tottenham, but has moved quickly to snap up full back Steven Whittaker as a replacement. Robert Snodgrass and Michael Turner are both signings that have potential to do well at Carrow Road but do not inspire confidence in a team at risk from second season syndrome. If Hughton is able to encourage the players to play to the standards of last season, Norwich have a chance of staying up, but only just. Sadly for the exciting Canaries, I feel it may prove to be too much of an uphill battle and with an away trip to Man City last game I think their relegation will be effectively confirmed.
Full predicted table: (1) Manchester City, (2) Manchester United, (3) Chelsea, (4) Arsenal, (5) Tottenham, (6) Liverpool, (7) Newcastle, (8) Everton, (9) Fulham, (10) Sunderland, (11) Aston Villa, (12) Stoke, (13) QPR, (14) Swansea, (15) West Ham, (16) West Brom, (17) Norwich, (18) Reading, (19) Wigan, (20) Southampton.
Where do you believe Norwich City will finish next season?
image: © pittaya
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