Norwich are great value to post a top-10 Premier League finish
Published:After a rough start to their 2012/13 campaign many were attaching the writing to the wall on Norwich’s season by mid-autumn, but then Chris Hughton steadied the ship and very nearly sailed the Canaries into top-half waters to finish 11th.
Fast-forward to the present and with four points posted from their opening three games the Canaries are sitting ninth ahead of their trip to Tottenham.
And following a summer of investment the outlook is already looking decidedly more rosy than it was 12 months ago, making the 7/2 being offered by Ladbrokes to break into the top-10, the absolute pick of the odds.
Norwich have a new hero in the form of £8.5m striker Ricky van Wolfswinkel, who netted on his Premier League debut, as well as capturing highly-rated fellow Dutchman Leroy Fer, whom Everton tried to sign in January.
Added to this, Hughton also secured the services of one of England’s brightest talents in U21 winger Nathan Redmond and Celtic’s top scorer of the last three seasons Gary Hooper, so the squad is very much stronger than it was 12 months ago.
Following the departure of their double-promotion winning boss Paul Lambert after he guided Norwich to 12th in their first season back in the Premier League, it was always going to be a tough gig for the incoming Hughton.
The viewpoint that Lambert had overachieved on that maiden voyage to the top-flight, with many players that had come up with the Scot through the leagues, was unanimous.
Therefore, that summer’s transfer business proceeding Lambert’s departure raised more than a few concerns as most of the personnel were again being brought in from the Championship.
Nevertheless, players such as Robert Snodgrass of Leeds eventually found their feet and gradually the results started to follow as the team spirit remained extremely good at Carrow Road.
The gamble paid off with Norwich finishing one place higher than under Lambert and now, with their Premier League status sufficiently solidified, some big names have finally arrived to take them to the next level.
All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing.
Fancy a flutter? Sign up today to claim three £10 free bets when you bet £10
