City kicked off their first international preseason friendlies Monday night, losing 0-1 to Maccabi Haifa. Here are five things we learnt:
Norwich City needed a win
Norwich needed a win today. Not just because it’s another result in the right direction before the Premier League kicks off. But it could’ve been a moral booster when the supporters desperately needed one. Another quiet day rolled on where City failed to sign any players. Even the third kit announcement, which was supposed to be an exciting time, was a stab with sticks into an onlooker’s eye.
Granted it was hot…
A chilling 38 degrees is hardly the ideal condition to point out squad problems. As the club’s Twitter feed read, it was a ‘useful workout against a good level of opposition’. So let’s treat it that way. A poor first half was swapped with an up tempo second half, which should’ve seen the Canaries snatch a goal or two against the Israeli Premier League side.
Creating unnecessary problems
I know we don’t have another left-back after Martin Olsson. Harry Toffolo shows some promise, but not at the level Norwich’s league competitions will be. Putting Bradley Johnson in the back doesn’t help anything either, taking away from our forward game to make up for the back isn’t a solution to problems. If anything, it presents more challenges. A new left-back should be a priority at the club. We’ve already seen how valuable Olsson is.
Squeeze out the bank account
Dear David McNally, I understand the need to hold on to cash when capable, but a relegation scare should be enough for City to purchase more talent. McNally said fans can expect five to six signings. We’ve seen two. Hull’s Robbie Brady could be the third if City spend enough for Tigers boss Steve Bruce to be pleased. So spend it. If it keeps the club in the Premier League without any sort of fear or looming danger, spend it.
Closing in on the Premier League
Sadly, today’s main event wasn’t the match. It was the lack of rumours and the vomit stained kits. Hopefully tomorrow will have a little more promise. David McNally once said relegation would be ‘worse than death’. Then the Canaries became a phoenix and recovered. Let’s not die again. We’re not the Black Cats after all.
