Norwich City are back in the Premier League. Is this a one off, or the start of something special moving forward. The writers at Read Norwich have teamed up to bring you their predictions for the 2015-16 campaign. It’s top flight football. Que sera sera…
Charlie Hatch, Read Norwich writer
16th – All the media pundits have Norwich getting relegated. It’s the same team as the 2013-14 collapse, with a few fresh faces. City would be relegated, if they didn’t have Alex Neil as manager. “The little Scotsman who’s guided them to big things.’ It’s going to be a scrap until May—goals will be scarce—but they will arrive. Some of that might rest on an eventual signing… Keep the faith, don’t lose hope and enjoy the Premier League, Yellows. We deserve it. For more than a few years at a time.
Dan Emery, Read Norwich writer
14th – I think we will have a strong start to the season then drop off a little with some inconsistent results, as most bottom half teams do, and end up staying up comfortably. I believe in the talent in the squad and the management and that we are better than at least five other sides.
Jack Bryant, Read Norwich writer
16th – I think it’s going to be an incredibly tough season, but we’ll have enough experience to just get us over the line. We need to make sure we just beat the teams around us and I’ll be confident of staying up.
Harry James, Read Norwich writer
11th – If Hughton can do it, so can Neil. Especially with a better and more experienced squad. Some scalps will be picked up along the way but inconsistency will prevent us from breaking into the top half.
Vinny Mansi, Read Norwich writer
13th – I worry for us in two main areas. First defensively and second the ability to be clinical. This where most promoted teams struggle. They have a real good go but often get punished for not putting away their chances. Yes, many of our current side have played PL football but we must remember the league has already moved on in our short absence. Despite all this Alex Neil has a glint in his eye and clearly has faith in his current crop of players. I predict our usual slow start to acclimitise to the league, the fans panicking with heart resuscitators on standby but with everything being fine in the end and surprising a few along the way.
Jack Skevington, Read Norwich writer
15th – I think this will be a challenging season for the Canaries but we have enough to stay up, and be reasonably comfortable. I feel we will have a strong start, which could pick up most of our points. We need to pick up wins against sides that will finish in places similar to us and maybe odd wins against the big teams. With the squad we have, and potential other arrivals, we could have a good season. Redmond and Jerome will be key players for us and with Alex Neil and the management staff putting in their all, I believe we can do it.
Emma James, Read Norwich writer
13th – I could just be really positive – We need to beat the teams around us and if we can – like the odd match in previous years – beat those fighting at the top of the table, I’m sure the points will tally up. Norwich’s starting fixtures are the most optimistic in comparison to the last time we were in the Premier League, with the end of October and beginning of November where points become more unlikely. There’s a chance of being in a good place by the end of January 2016 and although the end of the season isn’t too great with Arsenal, Man United and Everton, there’s a real chance of picking up some crucial points against Albion, Newcastle, Palace, Sunderland and Watford just before. I’m optimistic and with the team we have, with our new signings and our current, there’s a proper chance of ensuring that the goals do hit the target in the limited opportunities and breaks we have against some teams. It’s going to be tough but we have the manager, we have the players who know the Premier League and we just need to ensure that Carrow Road is rather intimidating for clubs to come to.
Alan Cole, Read Norwich writer
16th – I know that this seems very negative, but I just don’t think we have enough to push up to midtable where the other writers see us finishing. Wisdom, Brady, and Mulumbu are good additions, but we are still missing goals. I don’t think that our current strike force will produce a lot of goals, and the defense is leaky. Ruddy was also prone to mistakes at times last season. That being said, Alex Neil is a great manager. He has instilled belief in the players, and that will help us massively. I think we are better than Watford, Bournemouth, Leicester, Aston Villa, and teams around us. As long as we win the games we should we should be safe, but I can’t see much more than that.
Henry Miller, Read Norwich writer
15th – I think the season will start well and then fade out into a scrap. However with Alex Neil in charge and the amount of experience within our squad we will comfortably cruse to safety.
Sean Galea-Pace, Read Norwich writer
14th – But only just. There will be a matter of a few points separating everyone come May I’m sure. There will be six or seven teams which will all be fighting for survival this season and I think our current group are all up for the fight with Alex Neil leading us. If we sign a decent striker who will net us 10-15 goals, this 14th place finish is a very achievable possibility. I just hope we hit that 40-point safe zone sooner rather than later and then everything else is a bonus.
