As the long pursuit of Hull’s Robbie Brady finally draws to a close after months of speculation, the Republic of Ireland international has chosen The Canaries as his new destination for their first season back in the top flight. Here are 5 things Norwich fans will see from the former Manchester United academy player.
1) GOOD SET PIECES. Brady regularly takes free kicks and penalty kicks for club and country and will often make good use of them. His free kicks may come in handy for Norwich and might earn us a few more valuable points over the course of the season. As for penalties, I think that he is equally as good as the likes of Wes Hoolahan and Gary Hooper; and if he is ever given the chance of taking one, I have every faith that he can score, gaining confidence and trust in the process.
2) EXPERIENCE. Brady will bring ample experience having played for Hull at Championship and Premier League level. Also, he was managed by a quality manager in Steve Bruce for five years, allowing the young Irishman to grow into a top player. During his time with the Tigers he has gained promotion to the Premier League and reached the FA Cup Final. It could be this crucial experience that gives us the edge in a possible relegation scrap.
3) MULTIPLE POSITIONS. Brady can play in a variety of positions. His preferred position is in the left midfielder role, allowing him to join on attacks. We have needed another outside mid for a while so I think he will fit in perfectly. If he is played here we could possibly see the Irishman get on the scoresheet. He can also play as an attacking mid, playing behind the striker(s). If played here for Norwich, we could see him create chances for the team and may even be a long term replacement for City legend Hoolahan in this position. Again, with improvement needed in this department, he could fit the bill well. For a while last season he even played at left-back for Hull, with Steve Bruce favouring a five at the back formation. Playing here for Norwich would allow him to provide support for the midfield and attack and join in when we move forward with the ball.
4) DIFFERENT MANAGERIAL TACTICS. Brady has been managed by two very good and experienced managers in Steve Bruce and Martin O’Neill. These two managers are often very good at getting the best out of their players, and I personally believe they have nurtured Brady into the player that he is today. He was originally brought to Humberside under the management of Nick Barmby, but it was under Bruce where he flourished, with Hull gaining promotion to the Premier League in Bruce’s first season at the helm. When Martin O’Neill took over as manager of the Republic of Ireland he brought with him experience from managing in the Premier League and gave the players belief that they could succeed at the international level. He has got the best out of Brady for the Republic of Ireland and has given him a regular international spot, which will also come in handy for his development. With his move to Norwich he can use some of these skills he has learnt from these brilliant managers to help improve his overall game and make him a better player in general.
5) AGE. The thought process behind the signing of Robbie Brady could have been that with his age he could go on to grow and develop into a better player whilst already being a key feature in Norwich’s starting XI. Brady is only 23-years-old and should be able to reach his peak whilst playing for the Yellows. During his time at Norwich he will be able to grow and potentially establish himself a place in the Norwich team so that when he does eventually move on we will make a profit, selling him for significantly more than we brought him for.
Overall I am excited about the signing of Robbie Brady as he brings bags of experience and potential with him. I will look forward to seeing his development in a yellow and green shirt and I’m sure he will enjoy many successful seasons playing for us.
