There has been some discussion in the media recently comparing this season’s Norwich City with last season’s Blackpool. This comparison is unpopular in Norfolk, because Blackpool went down.
The logic of the comparison between the two clubs is in relation to two similarities. These are the courageous attacking football and the poor defensive record. However, Norwich City is no Blackpool and by the end of this season will have secured survival.
With that all in mind, here is a run-down detailing the differences between the two clubs. The bright start the Canaries have made is something to build on for the rest of the season. As far as relegation goes, there are clubs with far bigger problems than Norwich City.
1. Paul Lambert
Most supporters would agree that Norwich City’s biggest advantage is the manager Paul Lambert. The job he has done at Norwich City so far has been remarkable. Premier League football may be new to the Scotsman, but he is learning first.
Lambert is destined for success and certainly will not want a relegation on his CV. Norwich supporters will hope that their manager can continue to develop in Norfolk. This season Lambert has proved that he has an eye for a player that can play Premier League football.
2. Spending/signings
People often make the mistake of thinking that the level of ambition and transfer policy is the same between Norwich City and Blackpool. Over the course of the 2010-11 season that the Seasiders spent in the Premier League, the club spent less than £4million on transfers and famously refused to pay any player more than £10,000 per week.
The most significant purchases were DJ Campbell for £1.5million and Andy Reid for £1million. None of their remaining transfers cost over £1million. This level of spending did not strengthen the squad significantly enough to allow the team a reasonable chance of staying in the Premier League.
Norwich City’s transfer spending has already been considerably more ambitious than Blackpool’s and totals just shy of £9million in transfer fees. There has also been no official salary cap imposed like the £10,000 per week Blackpool had.
It should also be noted that the January transfer window is now open, and the club has confirmed they will be active again. The club could easily spend another £3-£4million in that window on two to three new players. Taking the season transfer spend to a possible £13million.
The key spending in the summer was spent on James Vaughan (£2.5million), Steve Morision (£2.8million), Anthony Pilkington (£2million), and Elliott Bennett (£1.5million). Although, the free signing of Bradley Johnson has also proved to be a key signing.
The reason why the transfer policy is often considered the same despite the differing figures is all about Premier League experience. There seems to be age-old knowledge that suggests that the only way to survive, or do well in the premier division is to buy players with years of experience playing at this level.
People do not like it when that belief is challenged. So it is easy to put in down to a bubble that is expected to burst. Blackpool tried to survive with minimal Premier League experience and failed, so surely the same will happen to Norwich City.
The Premier League is about to get a shock, and Paul Lambert is quickly ensuring that the squad will be strong enough to sustain their form for the rest of the season. Stoke was not offered a hope in hell when they arrived in the Premier League with their direct football. However, most people will now agree that they are an established top-flight team.
Who is to stay that Norwich City will not be the team to change the thinking on Premier League players and become an established Premier League side. For now, they can enjoy sitting in the top half of the table and outperforming their fellow newly promoted teams, Swansea and QPR.
3. Adaptability
Norwich City has already shown how adaptable they can be. Paul Lambert has been prepared to use and range of different formations/tactics and utilized his 25-man squad to the fullest extent. Getting players back from injury will feel like new signings.
Lambert is also prepared to be flexible with the style of play; he understands the importance of getting results over substance. If that means he needs to play a more direct game to get a result, he will do so.
This is flexibility that fellow newly promoted side Swansea does not have. The Welsh side is hell-bent on playing a short passing game. Equally, Blackpool was not prepared to sacrifice their fearless football.
There is a feeling in Norfolk that Paul Lambert will tinker with his team in order to strike the right balance between attack and defence. Lambert will know that Norwich must improve at the back, and the run of games without a clean sheet cannot continue.
The diamond formation is clearly Lambert’s preferred system. However, the manager has to feel it offers the perfect balance in the Premier League to continue with it. It was used at the start of the season, but left the team to open at the back.
The crucial point is that Lambert is willing to adjust the tactics to get results. This was something not seen in the Blackpool team, last season.
4. Vision/expectations
Paul Lambert may have been appointed with Norwich City as a League One club, but the direction of the club was clear. A seven-year plan to become an established Premier League was immediate put together. Paul Lambert was indentified as the man to execute the plan.
The fact that the Canaries have achieved promotion in a fraction of that time in a testimony to the management of Paul Lambert and the financial backing he has received. Although, it should be noted there is still plenty of work to be done until Norwich City can be considered an established Premier League outfit.
There are many different sides within the Championship, which can be considered to have a chance of promotion that is just the league it is. The season that Blackpool went up that could of certainly had been the case. However, it is debatable if promotion had been a true target before the season had begun. The money spent to establish a Championship squad and then the money spent once in the Premier League, suggests that the club were not targeting promotion.
5. Important players
This season Norwich has clearly incorporated a number of their signings into the squad, and they have now become key players. This is something that Paul Lambert is decidedly canny at, gradually transforming a squad without a mass clear out or recruitment of players.
One of the problems that Blackpool had is their key players in the Premier League would have been the same individuals in the Championship. Star players like David Vaughan and Charlie Adam were purchased for the Championship, just were able to step up to the Premier League. Some people may look at the signing of DJ Campbell, but in truth, he was never a consistent goal-scorer.
Campbell’s performance in last season’s Premier League was a flash in the pan, and his lack of goals for QPR this season is no surprise.
Critics will say that Paul Lambert has not exactly filled his squad with proven Premier League players. However, the players he has acquired have been purchased with the top-flight in mind. These are players that the Norwich City manager identified as capable to step up.
Yes, individuals like Grant Holt and Wes Hoolahan have been influential this season. However, new players Bradley Johnson, Kyle Naughton, Anthony Pilkington, Elliott Bennett, and Steven Morision are all fast becoming regulars.
James Kent is a Freelance Sports Journalist and has been following and covering Norwich City for many years. Follow all his latest updates on Twitter.