“Analysing everything” will be the key to picking Dean Smith’s first City team, according to the Canaries’ new head coach.
Smith’s first Colney training session came on Thursday, and with a crucial match against Southampton coming up tomorrow he’s been left with little time to draft a starting XI. He is comfortable in this scenario, however, having taken the reigns at Brentford and Aston Villa mid-season.
So how will Smith go about his first selection?
“Just examining them every day on the training ground … watching the little behaviours they’ve got, looking at the quality, the technical abilities.
“Over the last week or so the sports science team have been passing me the numbers so I can have a look at their physical output as well. We’re analysing everything all the time to find out what’s our best team.”
It’s been a hectic week for the 50-year-old, who only recently flew back to the UK from New York before being introduced to the club’s staff, as well as an unveiling to the press on Wednesday afternoon.
The new City boss is focused on the Saints, however, and recognised the tough opposition they’ll provide in his first game in charge.
“We know there are big problems,” said Smith. “We need to create more chances. We know how difficult it is at this level, especially against a Southampton team who aren’t conceding many at all.
“We want to make Carrow Road a hard place to come for the opposition and we can start that on Saturday, although I’m very respectful of Ralph (Hasenhüttl) and his team; they’re in a good run of form and they’re a tough team to play against.
“My abiding memory [of Carrow Road] is that the supporters are very welcoming. I want them to be welcoming to Norwich City on Saturday, but not so much to Southampton.”
Roll on tomorrow do the talking on the pitch predicting a 10 win on the ball 😄
Southampton haven’t conceded many of late, and I doubt Dean Smith will have had much time to do anything other than work on being compact behind the ball, especially with the likes of Redmond and co to deal with on the break. So 10/1 for a goalless draw seems reasonable odds. Also apparently the ball has been in play for less time in Villa games than any other club so far this season. It seems this is partly down to them taking a lot of time over set pieces.