Norwich City’s heavy opening night defeat at Anfield brought all manner of premature assumptions about their season to come, namely an assertion that the Canaries are in for a torrid ten months.On this perhaps it is wise to reserve our judgement given that it is hardly a disgrace to succumb to a mauling at the hands of Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool as plenty of other sides will and have, and in this regard the 4-1 loss was not a true litmus test for the recently promoted side.Watch Norwich City Live Streams With StreamFootball.tv Below
More so, having topped their ferociously competitive league last May with 93 goals scored, Daniel Farke’s men clearly have not only the fire-power and creative flair to trouble the bottom half of the Premier League but a mentality that will serve them well. There will surely be better days to come; it’s just a question of how many of them.
Another assumption – or, more accurately a summary – that arose from the East Anglian’s opening gambit was a direct response to how they decided to take on the European champions in such an open way; set up in the 4-2-3-1 that brought them such success last term and striving at every opportunity to play through their superior foe. On this Norwich were either ‘brave’ or ‘foolhardy’ depending on individual outlook.
This approach was anything but accidental and certainly not incidental. Prior to the game Norwich’s progressive coach Farke said this of the intimidating trip: “We want to be the protagonists, our approach will always be to attack, to be proactive. You won’t see us park the bus and pray for a twice-deflected set piece to score goals.â€
For all of those who believe that the strategy deployed by the rest of the Premier League when facing the top six is so often one of caution and negativity grounded in fear, such words will be music to the ears. Here is a side that plays aesthetically pleasing, adventurous football who are determined to retain their values all season long – win, lose or draw. Here is a side destined to win acclaim and respect as a consequence.
The video below remind exactly why we’ve missed Norwich fans in the top-flight…
Naturally, it goes without saying that ambitious Norwich are not baring their soul purely to win the hearts and minds of neutrals as welcome as the plaudits will be. It is in their best interest to continue the swashbuckling style that gained them the Championship title because that is clearly where their strength lies.
In affording their wonderful talent Emi Buendia time on the ball to carve out chances for last year’s Championship Player of the Year and Golden Boot winner Teemu Pukki. In encouraging foraging forward runs from their full-backs, like ÂMax Aarons. In adhering to the short, precise passes that saw them hold the fourth-most recorded possession in their league last term and the third-best rated for accuracy.
This is who Norwich are; what they are, and if the approach seldom lends itself to goal-less stalemates (last season they scored 93 goals and conceded 57 – a huge number for a title-winning side) that is just one more reason to love them.
It is far too early to make any considered assumptions about Norwich City’s campaign ahead but one: they will be watchable. They will be rooted for by the neutrals.