- Norwich City got their ninth win in 11 games against Preston North End on Saturday
- Ali Ahmed’s goal was his sixth goal involvement in his 11th appearance
- Competition for places in the team has increased with players coming back
City made it nine wins in 11 games in the Sky Bet Championship on Saturday afternoon against Preston North End at Carrow Road. But what can we as fans take away from the game?
1. This team keeps moving forward
It only took 10 or so minutes for Norwich to find their groove on Saturday, which was a stark contrast to what was quite a slow opening 15 against Sheffield United in midweek.
They pushed Preston back and cut them open with a clinical bit of finishing from Ali Ahmed and an unbelievable free kick from Kenny McLean which doubled thier lead in the first half.
The Norwich fans kept signing their newfound soundtrack to a season which is rather frustratingly in the final stages, with the Canaries finishing on the front foot. There is so much belief now, accompanied by lots of energy and ideas. Much like he said when he was first appointed, Philippe Clement will not just ask this from his players, but he will demand it, especially now with his side in the top half of the table.
Remarkable.
2. AA is A*
A sixth goal involvement in his 11th Championship game, and all for the price of just £1.4m from Vancouver Whitecaps in January. No matter what way you look at it, Ahmed looks an absolute steal for Norwich, who enticed him to come to Carrow Road.
In terms of his recent productivity, the numbers have taken a hit as of late, especially given his fantastic start to life in the Championship before his goals against Leicester and the opener on the weekend. But there was always going to be a period of adjustment with the relentless schedule of England’s second tier.
It’s also very easy to forget that his previous MLS season ran through all the way to December 2025. Ahmed himself stated that he only gave himself a week off before getting back up to speed to travel to Europe. Like many others under Clement’s reign, what Ahmed has already produced in his short time here can only whet the appetite for next season.
3. Everyone has a part to play
Given that Norwich were two goals to the good against Preston, you felt that the brief from Clement would’ve been about keeping it tight and getting the job done. But four of their last six league goals before Saturday were either scored or assisted by substitutes.
That could underline a bit of easing in what seems like a never-ending injury cycle, accompanied by the January business that added a bit more cutting-edge and competition. The arrival of Paris Maghoma, who is now competing with Anis Ben Slimane, or the now fit-again Amankwah Forson, for that place in the number 10 role, is so refreshing. That is a major contrast from Norwich’s labour before Clement’s arrival.
But more than anything, Saturday’s game suggested Clement has managed to get complete buy-in from not just his regular starters, but his occasional substitutes as well. Whether a player has a leading man role, or they are a bit-part player, the Belgian has forged a genuine togetherness we haven’t seen since the days of Daniel Farke at the helm. The proof is in the pudding every time they take to the pitch.
