It was plain enough for virtually the whole of last season; namely that the Canaries simply didn't have a good enough squad to achieve the consistency and standards required to give themselves an opportunity of challenging for one of those coveted top six places in the table.
On paper though, and assuming that Peter Grant was able to field his strongest XI, City should have had more than enough talent to have given any team in the Coca-Cola Championship a run for its money.
But as we were to painfully witness, the opportunities whereby the City boss found himself in the fortunate position of actually being able to do so were to become as rare as a Peter Thorne goal.
And even when Norwich were able to deploy a impressive-looking staring line-up, too many players on duty invariably failed to deliver.
Therefore not long after the Canaries had just suffered their 21st defeat of the season on the final day of the campaign up at Hillsborough back in May, Grant's promise to bring in five or six new signings during the close season was at least something that we could all to look forward to over the summer, providing that is, that he wasn't about to squander any money made available to him in the manner of one of his predecessors who immediately springs to mind!
So with the Canaries about to get their teeth into some pre-season fixtures, what is the general consensus of opinion on the ? so far – six new additions to the ranks?
Only time will tell of course – and I immediately acknowledge that hopes and aspirations spring eternal for every City supporter when a new signing is announced, in that he could be the one that acts as a catalyst to propel the Canaries to unimaginable glories, only for a sinking feeling to dawn not long afterwards when reality ultimately hits home ? but these fresh half dozen faces not only make sense from a positional point of view, but they also provide us with the initial impression that they too will actually be able to add something to the team.
The goalkeeping state of affairs at Norwich has needed to be addressed for too long now, as the situation of having half-a-dozen or more 'keepers between the sticks over the last year has been farcical.
David Marshall is a top class stopper from what we've already seen during his short time on loan here at Carrow Road, and with Matty Gilks now in place to provide competition for the number one jersey, so much the better for all concerned.
Likewise at right-back.
Full credit to Andy Hughes for stepping into the breach and delivering what were certainly credible performances in that position in general. But any team harbouring hopes of success simply has to have a specialist ? so to speak ? in every position at this level.
Jurgen Colin had more than his fair share of opportunities to nail down the position as his own, but while he acquitted himself decently enough from a defensive viewpoint, his contribution in attack down that right flank was tantamount to nothing.
So to hear Jon Otsemobor describing himself as a “very attack-minded full-back,” as well as him arriving with glowing references of possessing all the other necessary attributes, it should be music to every Canary fan's ears.
In midfield, what will more than likely eventually be a partnership of Dickson Etuhu and Julien Brellier will certainly make an impact if the pair play to their capabilities.
The enigma that is Etuhu was to prove so frustrating at times last season. Get him firing on all cylinders and ? as was clear – you've got an unstoppable force at times.
The flipside to that though as we were equally only too aware, is someone who barely figured in a game.
But with Brellier now in place to provide defensive cover, it should free up Etuhu to use his undoubted energy to maximum effect in the opposition half of the pitch, which in turn will hopefully provide him with the confidence that he clearly needs to convince himself exactly how good a player he can actually be.
A new strikeforce always whets the appetite. And while no-one would have wanted to see top scorer Rob Earnshaw depart for pastures new, what's done is done.
But there's no reason why David Strihavka and Jamie Cureton shouldn't be able deliver goals by the sackfull this season providing they gel well together.
Huckerby, as we know, will provide plenty of ammunition from the left flank, and if Lee Croft or Luke Chadwick get their act together and can manage to provide something similar from the right, City's new front pairing will think that it's Christmas every Saturday!
Strihavka isn't exactly someone who is well known on these shores, but at 6' 3″ tall and with several other high level clubs also keen to sign him before Peter Grant nipped in and secured his services, he could prove to be a steal.
Cureton has simply scored goals wherever he's been, and in a team of this sort of potential, there's no reason why anything should change on that front at all.
So as always, it promises to be an interesting season ahead, but perhaps the familiar feeling that surfaces around this time of the year in that City could be in with a genuine chance might just be warranted for once, seeing as the Canaries are set to embark on a campaign with what amounts to virtually half a new team.
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