The 2015/16 Premier League season gets underway tomorrow of course and so, ahead of the new campaign, now seems the perfect time to get the thoughts, hopes, fears and predictions of the MyFootballWriter team :
Steve Cook
If we approach this season as we did the last time we were promoted (rather than the year we went down) I’ll be happy. Realistically we’re in the ‘mini-league’ of 12 to 14 clubs whose target is to simply stay up. Our opening fixtures should allow us to pick up early points and momentum could be key. Our strength in midfield has to compensate for potential weaknesses up front and in defence by weighing in with goals and protecting the back four. Prediction – Alex Neil effect steers us to 14th.
Russell Saunders
I’m hoping to see pace, passion and goals with 45+ points by season end (preferably well before). One or two ‘big scalps’ taken would be pleasant. Good cup run is long overdue. Oh, and no booing at home games. I’m fearing key injuries, dodgy ref decisions and online fan meltdown at every missed shot or bad pass. Prediction – Norwich to finish 14th. Watford, Leicester and Sunderland to go down. Don’t care which ‘glamour’ club wins it.
Mick Dennis
Watford and Bournemouth both have wealthier owners than Norwich and should survive. So finding three clubs we can expect to finish below our City is tough. But we’ve got Alex Neil. I expect us to play 4-2-3-1, to pick up goals and points on the counter attack away from home — and to finish above 18th. I worry about lack of pace at the back but altogether now: “Three shirts one football team, two colours yellow and green, one city strong, and we’ll march on…”
Andrew Lawn
I am confident we will survive, without necessarily flourishing, which given the fine margins between the Premier League’s cannon fodder, could mean finishing anywhere from 9th – 17th. Every year I hope for a proper FA Cup run and every year I am disappointed, but of all the managers we have had Alex Neil, does appear able to get a performance on the biggest occasions. My main hope though is far less quantifiable and it is simply that come May my love for the club hasn’t been killed off by another soul-less season characterised by corporate greed.
Chris Young
It’ll be a huge challenge to safeguard our hard won place in the Premier League. Last season will seem like a stroll in the park. Alex Neil is the right man to motivate the squad. But can the muppets on the message boards and the boo boys be trusted to stay loyal when the going gets tough? As it will. I’d happily settle for 15th.
Chris Reeve
I have really high hopes for Norwich City’s return to the Premier League. My only fear for this season, is how the players are going to mentally deal with and react to a few losses on the spin. I personally believe we will exceed a lot of expectation because of our close-knit squad and of course, the main man, Alex Neil. Finishing place: 14th.
Duncan Edwards
Alex Neil has earned and deserved every plaudit bestowed upon him thus far and we enter the new season once again looking at the horizon rather than nervously over our shoulders. That, welcome as it is, represents my biggest fear in that we might just expect TOO much. That said, if we really did have the best squad in the Championship (we did), it won’t be the worst in the Prem and I reckon we’ll be okay. Prediction: 47 points, 12th.
Stewart Lewis
Concerns: The simple truth: we have a low-budget squad and an inexperienced manager.
Reasons to be cheerful: Our manager is a quick learner and an exceptional motivator; the squad has good experience and character.
Keys: Making home a fortress; Redmond; saving something for the January transfer window.
Forecast: A few tonkings, horrible goal difference, but safety with something to spare. 14th-15th.
Ed Couzens-Lake
Alex Neil has spoken of going into this season showing no fear, no matter who the opposition is. I hope and believe that his players can translate and demonstrate just that in every single game and share his belief that we can give other teams reason to worry about us rather than over-concerning ourselves about the seemingly infinite qualities of our opponents. My major fear is that the teams’ progress this season might not match the expectations of some sections of the clubs support, resulting in early and potentially morale sapping criticism of the club’s owners and pressure on both the players and manager.
Craig Daniels
I hope it’s not over confidence but I am so bought into Alex Neil that I believe he can achieve almost anything. I think we’ll be just fine. Yes, the towering, strong, pacey, athletic centre-back that we all crave hasn’t arrived yet (and most likely won’t) and I’m not 100% sure where the goals are coming from (although I’ve said all summer that Lewis Grabban will surprise a few people next term) but I’m confident that Neil can lift this squad and get the best out of them, making up for our perceived lack of quality. Prediction: 15th and a cup run.
Gary Field
The personal anticipation of this Premier League campaign just feels completely different to previous promotions to me. No sense of fear or dread of heavy defeats, although I’m sure there will be a few. For me it’s the “Alex Neil factor” that’s likely to be the key difference this time. Hard work, commitment and a desire to ask awkward questions of the opposition, all point towards an exciting season and a comfortable twelfth place finish. Bring it on!
Sam Jermy
My only hope for this season is that we play to our maximum potential and show no fear when going toe to toe with the Manchester United and Arsenals of this world. Two years ago we didn’t play anywhere near our maximum, and it is disappointing when you sit there in May knowing that it all could have been avoided. Just ask Hull. In Alex Neil though, we have a manager who won’t waste his resources and we’ll be less fearful of the opposition and attack more this time around. I’m looking forward to another season, discussing every nuance with my Twitter friends along the way, and getting to as many games up and down the country I can. Prediction: 14th
Thomas Markham-Uden
Much has been made of our relative lack of transfer activity; where our main priority should still be a centre back. If one fails to materialise, then I have real concerns about our defensive frailties; particularly against pace and from set pieces. Scoring goals shouldn’t be as much of an issue as our last Premier League campaign, though, and whatever happens, Alex Neil’s approach should ensure that we approach the season positively and play some exciting football. Prediction: 16th.
Gary Gowers
It’s a battle between heart and head and I find myself fluctuating wildly between unbridled optimism and doom-laden pessimism. Minus a new centre-back I’ve accepted that at times it’s going to get ugly but hope that between the lows there will be a commensurate number of highs. Much depends on the ‘Alex Neil factor’ and his ability to tap into the same vein that took the Accies up to third in the SPL. I think we hunker down, pull the coaches in close and use the pundit/media negativity to our advantage. Prediction: 16th.
For what they’re worth, those are our thoughts. Let us know your prediction.
Whilst the national media experts may be badly informed and universally automatically picking us for relegation, I wish I could share the optimism of 14 MFW columnists not one of whom predicts us for relegation.
I think many optimists are pinning their hopes on the Alex Neil effect but he can only work with the players he has got and he has limited influence when our defenders are prone to lapse in concentration and mistakes or Grabban misses another one-on-one.
Comparisons are made with our previous season in the premier, and whilst Alex Neil is an infinately better manager than Hughton we do not have the quality of Snodgrass or Fer this time.
I am not expecting us to impress, but am of course hopeful the declining clubs such as Sunderland, Villa and fraught Leicester end up in falling through the trap door.
One factor I think works for us, especially at the start, is we will be underestimated. A good start is really important, get that and we’ll do well. If we find ourselves adrift early it’ll be a big problem.
So my personal view of the season is that the start is going to define everything. My hope is that the first half dozen games sees us do ourselves justice.
By the end I see us safe- just. Like the last few seasons I think the bottom five or six will be separated by only a handful of points.
OTBC
Mick D – owner wealth surely is no guarantee of survival? e.g. Tony Fernandes.
Ed C-L – what about predictions?
Stewart L. – “horrible goal difference”? It may dip into the negative but horrible is a bit doom-laden.
Many fans seem despondent already because we haven’t bought in as many as the other two promoted sides. Personally, I’m happier with a stable squad, gentle evolution and not wholesale revolution.
I just don’t see an Alex Neil-led side being relegated.
Top 10 after a solid start. This will be best season since 92/93. Ahh, hold on is that the time, I’ve overslept, must have been dreaming!
I will make two predictions. 18th without the additional CB and striker, 13th or thereabouts with them.
I don’t believe that Michael Turner will be in the final squad, and also can’t believe that AN would go into this campaign with only Ryan Bennett (and I suppose Andre Wisdom) as CB back up, so I still assume there will be another CB added. We need a striker too, but a CB that is better than who we have now is absolutely essential – we have not added any quality in this position now for what, 3-4 years now, since Bassong’s original arrival!!
I am very excited this time around.
We have a very new Manager in Alex ,but I know he has many
“Helpers”to give him their words of wisdom,if he needs them.
The guy I believe is destined to be one of the “greats”.
Whether he does it with US remains to be seen!
However I would love us to upset a few biggies this season.
Which I know doubt think we can!
My only hope is that when the going gets tuff!the nay sayers
Don’t add to the despair the guys feel at times by rubbishing all & sundry on F/B or TWITTER.
If you can’t say anything encouraging SAY NOTHING!!!!
The guys are fully aware that they may have fallen short at timesX
#NCFC
The main factor most of the correspondents seem to be relying on is the Alex Neil factor. While I would not distract from what he achieved last season he did it with the best squad / team in the division. This season he has one of the lesser squads in the division.
Initially I was looking forward to this season expecting a good season and for us to stay up comfortably.
But looking at how just about all the existing Premier league teams have strengthened, they seem to be spending next years increase in Premier league monies this year I feel there is a big gap between us (and Watford and Bournemouth) and the rest of the league.
Just looking at tomorrows match. When the fixtures came out I thought it was a good start and a good chance to start picking up some points. Looking at how they have strengthened I now feel it is going to be very difficult to get anything from tomorrows game.
My thoughts at the moment is that we will be back in the Championship next year with Watford and Bournemouth – Hope I have got this completely wrong.
Top 10 after a solid start. This will be best season since 92/93. Plus another Wembley visit in league cup final. Ahh, hold on is that the time, I’ve overslept, must have been dreaming!Dreams do come true.
I’m sure fans of other clubs – as well as some of our own – will question our faith in the Alex Neil factor. But don’t forget it’s not just what he did at Norwich last season.
He came to prominence (in Scotland at least) through his remarkable record at Hamilton – not just getting them into the top division, but then taking them to third place in it. His team achieved far more than they theoretically should have been able to.
Cosmo (3): yes, I reckon our goal difference to be pretty awful. Unlike some of my fellow contributors, I don’t put that down to our quality at centre-back. I just see AN’s positive approach – which will ultimately help us survive – coming unstuck in a number of games. AN learnt from setbacks last year (esp the home defeats by Brentford, Wigan and Boro) and will do so again.
One other point where I disagree with some MFW colleagues. Yes, a Cup run would be a nice change – but I don’t care THAT much about it. I want to see the league as our clear priority.
17th on goal difference.
Good positive stuff from the columnists on the whole – let’s see where we are after a dozen games before writitng off the current squad as a number of fans seem to be.
Colin M(4&8) – that’s some recurring dream! Most are having nightmares by the sound of it.
Stewart (9) – how awful is awful? -5, -10, -20, – 20+? We finished on -14 in 2011/12 and still came 12th.
Ben K (10) – nuff said.
..I think there are a number of worse teams than us including Newcastle who are an accident waiting to happen under McClaren, Villa, Sunderland, Leicester, Watford and West Ham who are being massively overhyped. I’d rather we were under-hyped, under-reported and under the radar.
There seems to be a lot of hysterical concerns because City ( the board are getting the stick) haven’t been throwing the Sky money around. If you look at the likes of the Leeds , QPR ,Bolton , Blackburn, Wolves & the ‘ boys in blue ‘ down the road & where they have finished up I think the board ( D . Mc in particular) should be applauded. Of course if AN identifies a player he wants ,&THE PLAYER WANTS TO COME , then yes the board should do everything they can to bring him to the club. Unfortunately ‘Greed is God ‘ in the promised land of the premiership & things are not that simple. Also I believe the days of the premiership swimming with TV money are numbered. It’s only a matter of time before the ‘ Big Clubs ‘ get even greedier & more desperate for success that they either form an elite European Lge or demand their own individual TV deals , leaving the likes of Norwich as even poorer relations.
Better that we are ambitious but realistic than to gamble everything to satisfy those who demand instant ” success ”
As a trained chef ( Norwich City Catering College) I know it’s not just expensive ingredients that make a great dish. The BLEND of those ingredients , & the skill of the chef are more important . In AN we all agree we have a manager that can produce that blend and serve us a very satisfying season.
Good points, Victor (12). It’s hot in the kitchen, but AN can stand it.
Cambridge Don (11) – It’s 2011-12 I was thinking of. We finished mid-table under Paul Lambert, with a goal difference far worse than most around us. His positive approach was the basis of our success, but also led to scorelines against Man City of 1-5 and 1-6. I wouldn’t be surprised at something similar this time round.
Make no mistake the season will be a rollercoaster.Whilst we have confidence in city acquitting themselves well,when you look at clubs who more than likely will be fighting for their lives, haven’t wasted time in bringing in enough players to fill two squads.Alex Neil in his latest interview is saying he still needs players yet for whatever reasons they are are not forthcoming.New players have to integrate and this takes time,and it’s so crucial to do this at the earliest.