- From relegation fears to mid-table safety, Clement has transformed City.
- Looming East Anglian Derby offers a vital chance to reclaim local bragging rights.
- Carrow Road preps for a high-stakes showdown as injured stars finally return.
It’s been a rollercoaster of a season even by Norwich City’s standards, but with just seven games left we’re now firmly approaching the ‘business end’ of the campaign.
Having accumulated the most points in the league since the turn of the year, the Canaries have hauled themselves clear of the relegation zone and into 10th spot.
I’m pretty confident in saying that 99.9% of fans would have signed up for that during early November, when City had just nine points from 15 games after a disastrous Liam Manning tenure.
But with Philippe Clement’s side now destined for a mid-table finish, there is little materially riding on the final few games of the season.
Events on Saturday, April 11, however, will be an exception to that rule.
In under two weeks, Carrow Road will host its first East Anglian Derby for more than two years, with fans from far and wide currently scrambling to secure their seats for the mouthwatering fixture.
Players, staff and supporters alike will be looking to right the wrongs of last October when the blue half of East Anglia claimed its first victory in more than 16 years.
A fascinating afternoon awaits on Saturday week, and the nerves and excitement are already building.
Here are five thoughts, feelings and concerns I have with less than two weeks to go until derby day.
Nunez: The Rematch
Marcelino Nunez may have scored the winner in Norwich’s last derby win, but it’s fair to assume that he won’t be given a hero’s welcome on April 11.
I do not doubt that those in the Snakepit and Lower Barclay are already preparing their vocal cords in preparation for an afternoon of abuse-hurling.
The Nunez sub-plot adds extra spice to a fixture that is never usually lacking any bite, and it’ll be fascinating to see how it all unfolds.
The cavalry returning
With more than a dozen first-team injuries, the March international break came at a welcome time for Clement.
The Belgian said previously that the likes of Mo Toure, Oscar Schwartau and Jack Stacey will return for the run-in, and you’d hope that they’d be fit and firing for the derby.
Schwartau already has a derby goal to his name after equalising (briefly) last October, so here’s to hoping he or one of the other returnees has a bit of magic up their sleeve on April 11.
All to play for
Both sides have two games to play before the derby, and at this time of the season a lot can happen during a six-point swing.
The Canaries faint play-off hopes may be dwindling, but their East Anglian rivals remain well in the hunt for automatic promotion.
Two losses could send them into the derby in panic mode, while two wins could see them arrive in Norfolk brimming with confidence.
Prepared for the cauldron
It’s no secret that Clement didn’t have a glowing Old Firm record during his time managing Rangers, but those experiences will leave him in no doubt surrounding the intensity of a British derby.
With Ipswich on more of an even keel with Norwich now compared to the 2010s, recent derbies have carried an extra edge because of that competitiveness.
The ‘synergy’ Clement so often calls for between players and fans will need to play its part on April 11.
Time for new heroes
Last October’s derby less was arguably City’s lowest point since the 7-1 hammering by Colchester United in 2009.
But since then the phoenix has risen from the ashes, and Clement looks to be building something special.
Who can put their hand up and cement their place in yellow and green folklore?
Last October provided a line in the sand for more reasons than one. Time for new heroes.
