The 2014/15 fixture sheet is out. Sure, it’s only 17 June, but we might as well break down the upcoming Norwich City campaign with educated/uneducated predictions. Usually it’s five things learnt from a match; today it’s five things learnt for the new matches.
And exhale…
City got lucky with their new schedule. Not only do the club play Crystal Palace at Carrow Road to kick off the season, they have a manageable August with Sunderland (away), Stoke (home) and Southampton (away). If past seasons in the Premier League have shown anything, it’s crucial to have a strong start, relieving pressure come April and May. That start is obtainable.
Big club, little club
Probably the best thing about the new pairings is how spread out the competitive levels are. While Arsenal (away), Manchester United (home) and Everton (away) at the end of the year is frightening, it’s promising to know the Canaries won’t have month-long stints where they can easily find themselves winless and falling in the table.
Snuffing out the danger
Other than the campaign’s conclusion, the most difficult run-in for Norwich will be a spell from Halloween to early December (eerily similar to last season). The pairings read Manchester City (away), Swansea (home), Chelsea (away) and Arsenal (home). The Canaries will grind out results, and hopefully a win or two, but this is the most difficult month of the schedule.
Drawing blood
The best chance to build/make up ground will be January and February. Other than Southampton, Liverpool and Tottenham, City will have a go with Stoke (away), Bournemouth (away), Aston Villa (away), West Ham (home), and Leicester (away). This doesn’t read off as win-after-win, but it doesn’t sound like a New Year nightmare.
Keeping confidence
Norwich return to the Premier League with a stronger side than they had in their last Premier League stint. They have confidence in a manager with a proven record of researching opposition and playing to the club’s strengths. As more transfers come in, expect excitement levels to rise as well—as they should. If there were ever a script for a good start, it’d read like this one.
