Norwich will not get relegated this season

Norwich boss Chris Hughton has made some impressive signings this summer, but could the Canaries be relegated?

I have read some crazy claims in my time as a fan and a writer, but pundits suggesting that Norwich will relegated this season must need their heads testing.

One certain ex-Liverpool midfielder on Sky Sports has claimed that the Canaries will go down this season.

Justification

That certain pundit is ex-Liverpool midfielder Jamie Redknapp, who quite frankly I think walks around with his head in the clouds sometimes.

Redknapp gave no justification for the claim that the Canaries will go down, just that they would have a difficult season.

I do not see any sense in the fact that the team from Norfolk would struggle this season.

Norwich have finished midtable in the last two Premier League seasons and barring losing Grant Holt, they have not lost any other players you would describe as key to their team.

Signings

In fact, it could be argued that the Canaries have done the best business of the transfer window of any of the Premier League clubs. Norwich boss Chris Hughton has made some very shrewd signings.

One of Norwich’s problems last season was scoring goals and they seem to have rectified that situation with the acquisition of prolific strikers Ricky van Wolfswinkel from Sporting Lisbon and Gary Hooper from Celtic. Both players have been prolific for their clubs in recent seasons.

They both may have played in lesser standard European leagues than the Premier League, but they still had to find the net. The pair also has experience of playing in European competitions with their respective clubs.

Van Wolfswinkel and Hooper are definitely an improvement of last season’s pairing of Simeon Jackson and Grant Holt. I know which pair I would rather have in my team, if I had the choice.

Then there is the Canaries new central midfielder Leroy Fer, who joined from FC Twente. The young Holland international is highly-rated and came close to joining Everton in January, only for a problem with his medical to scupper the deal.

However, he has not shown any problems since that medical and could be one of the signings of the summer. I know a lot of Everton fans who are disappointed that the Toffees have missed out on signing the 23-year-old.

Sweden international Martin Olsson has also arrived from Blackburn, to add versatility and pace to the squad. The full-back/winger should be a very useful asset to the Canaries and definitely offer his boss another option in both defence and midfield.

One of the most impressive signings that the Canaries have made is youngster Nathan Redmond from Birmingham. The England under-21 international had been tracked by the likes of Chelsea and Liverpool, prior to joining the Canaries.

Redmond was one of England’s better player’s at this summer’s under-21 European Championship. The winger looks to have a bright future in the game.

Searching

Norwich boss Chris Hughton is believed to be still searching for new additions to his squad for the new season. The likes of PSV’s Sweden international Ola Toivonen and Juventus forward Fabio Quagliarella have been linked with moves to Carrow Road this summer.

Hughton seems to be determined to make his squad the strongest he possibility can ahead of the big kick-off.

Top-ten

The Norwich squad is really starting to look impressive. The new players added to an already decent squad seem to have created the very decent squad of players, which looks in no way ready to be relegated to the second tier of English football this season.

I think a place in the top-ten this season is not out of the realms of possibility. That is far more likely than a bottom three finish in the Premier League this season. Maybe Mr Redknapp needs to realise that there are more teams in the top-flight than the top four and Liverpool.

Surprised

I would be very surprised to see Norwich in the bottom three of the Premier League come next May. If they are then I will issue a full apology to Jamie and proclaim him an expert pundit, but till that day I will stick to my guns that Norwich will not go down this season.

Will Norwich be relegated this season?