It wasn’t depressing; nor was it disgruntling or concerning. Instead, Saturday’s 1-1 draw with Stoke offered a lot of positives stemming from Norwich’s creativity on the ball. Per usual, here are three thoughts to take away from Carra.
Watering down the venom
The goals are coming. But they should’ve come Saturday. Cameron Jerome had a blinding chance poked wide. Nathan Redmond almost had this third goal of the season. Wes Hoolahan nearly buried a header—a header! Graham Dorrans was just as deadly with curling efforts. But none of these were goals.
Jerome is a quality forward, but he can’t be relied on every match to cause problems the full 90 minutes. Saturday was the perfect example. With the drink breaks, clearly the heat was a factor in the match. Yet manager Alex Neil didn’t sub his forward. That’s because he doesn’t have someone to fall back on. Lewis Grabban will occasionally get his chance, but not deserving enough to come in around the 70th minute and alter momentum.
Norwich will invest in another forward. At this point, it’s just a matter of whom. Names have been tossed around, such as Charlie Austin, but City need to invest in a proven player, regardless of an inflated price. If it means a comfortable campaign, it’s necessary. CEO David McNally can’t hold tight to the pennies when it’s preventing millions at the end of 2015-16.
Brady was fantastic
Robbie Brady’s stint as a makeshift left-back has been fantastic these first three matches. But the Stoke match was perhaps his shining moment. For playing out of his natural position, the Ireland international kept Xherdan Shaqiri quiet in his Premier League debut. He cut off the line and funneled the visiting attacks into the middle. For brief moments, Glen Johnson was more dangerous than the former Bayern Munich and Inter Milan player.
Moving up the pitch, Brady consistently whipped balls into the area. Had Stoke goalkeeper Jack Butland not played the match of his life—despite a broken finger—the Canaries would’ve had their first Premier League win at home under manager Alex Neil.
Bossing the midfield
Alex Tettey puts in industrial performances on a weekly basis. But today he had a few mental lapses, of course leading to the visitor’s goal. With three yellow cards already, the center mid will have to be careful, especially with Youssouf Mulumbu still injured. That said the midfield was quality collectively. Dorrans provided chances, Jonny Howson provided chances, Redmond provided chances. Hoolahan packed all the quality from the previous match into the draw as well.
The biggest takeaway from City’s first 21 days in the Premier League is the midfielder’s powerful presence. The Canaries are causing problems. Against Crystal Palace, Sunderland and now Stoke, it’s proven. A few chances have different outcomes and City could have nine points.
