FANS VERDICT: How did James Norwood fare on Ipswich debut?

Just over two months on from James Norwood’s involvement in Tranmere’s 1-0 play off final victory against Newport County, League Two’s top goalscorer and Player of the Year from last season made his debut for Ipswich Town last Saturday, playing his first League One match in 8 years. 

This article runs the rule over Norwood's summer recruitment, the soaring expectations that met with it and his victorious debut for the Tractor Boys at Burton Albion last weekend.

Great Blue Hope

The first time many Ipswich fans heard the name ‘James Norwood’ would have been back in March of this year when Andy Warren of the East Anglian Daily Times reported that Ipswich were ‘keen on Tranmere striker Norwood’. 

The story broke two days after Town had been involved in a third successive 1-1 draw and had failed to win in their last 11 matches. Whilst at the same time, the most recent permanent striker at the club to have scored was Freddie Sears who had, a month prior to the story, suffered an ACL injury against bitter rivals Norwich City (to add insult to injury, the Canaries have scored more league goals, 46, in 2019 than any top 4 tier team!). 

Goals were dry then and, throughout the entire 2018/19 season, Ipswich lacked a real focal point as they slipped into the third tier for the first time since 1957. A distant time before the football club became champions of England, FA Cup winners or UEFA Cup winners.

So, when rumour became reality and Norwood, joint-leading goalscorer in all four English leagues with 32 alongside Sergio Aguero, was pictured with his ageing hairline and immaculate white smile, a much needed optimism wafted over the club. The fans who had supported their team impressively right until the final day victory over Leeds at Portman Road finally had a reason to be hopeful. 

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An ability to thrive under pressure

Ipswich fought off serious Championship interest for the former Tranmere man, roughly tripling the wage offered in a new contract by his then current club, and it’s not hard to see why. 

The menacing striker had not only been part of the Superwhites side that won two successive promotions, he had been one of the main reasons why they had happened in the first place. Twenty three league goals in the 2017/18 season was followed by thirty league goals in 2018/19 to show not only how clinical he is, but that he was able to make a step up in division and actually improve under pressure. 

The 28-year-old views pressure as something to thrive under, and confidently believes that he can make the transition into League One football with Ipswich and gun for a third promotion in a row.

Club captain Luke Chambers spoke to local journalist Stuart Watson and had a lot of positive things to say about Norwood himself. Off the pitch James is seen as a joker, Chambers labels him as ‘a lively character’ which comes as no surprise when you see his social media presence, especially on Twitter where he frequently challenges the criticism of himself and joins in with jokes at the expense of himself, or his teammates. 

First impressions 

Fans got their first glimpse of the marquee signing in a pre-season trip to Germany as he played in a 45 minute game against Bundesliga side, and close friends, Fortuna Düsseldorf. It took only four of those 45 minutes for him to score his first goal in Ipswich Blue, as he tucked the ball into the far corner of the net from a long pass upfield. 

His goalscoring form continued in pre-season as he bagged a hat-trick in the 5-0 thrashing of Colchester United. The first, a penalty tucked beyond the reach of goalkeeper Dean Gerken, who Ipswich released this summer. The second, an improvised take down of the ball using his shoulder, followed by a left footed volley that left the crowd in awe. The third, a first timed poachers finish that gave Gerken no chance. 

His inspiring performance in the Colchester match may have come against a team that will be competing in the division below Ipswich this season, but leaving the Jobserve Community Stadium afterwards, fans couldn’t help but get excited for the future with Norwood. Could he be the answer to the lack of goals? Could he earn a third successive promotion? And could he prove why the bookies are all tipping him to be top scorer this season? 

With an impressive individual pre-season under his belt, Norwood - handed the number 10 jersey by boss Paul Lambert - would have been desperate to take the form onto the first game of the season away at Burton Albion, a solid team that had finished 10 points off the playoffs in ninth position last season.

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Fast start at the Pirelli

And to the delight of the 1,791 Ipswich fans that had travelled to the Pirelli stadium, it looked as though that form would continue as just a few minutes into his debut, he received the ball just inside the Burton Albion box then swivelled attempting to take it round the Brewers new summer signing John Joe O’Toole who made a good block to deny a goal scoring opportunity. 

Norwood certainly looked fired up for the game, spurred on perhaps by the away crowd in fine voice or maybe a desire to start the season in the same fashion he did the year before when he bagged a brace on the opening day. But if there is one thing that can be known for certain, he will put in 100% effort every game this season even when he doesn’t get on the score sheet.

On this occasion getting that debut goal wasn’t to be but he did play a major part in the victory by other means, terrorising the Burton defense, partly through his desire to press and be a general handful throughout the entire 90 minutes plus stoppage time.

Midway through the first half, Norwood’s constant pressing payed off as he snatched the ball off Burton’s number 7 Stephen Quinn who then proceeded to foul Ipswich’s number 10, resulting in a yellow card. This proved to be crucial in the match as the same player (Quinn) then brought down Everton loanee, and the match’s only goalscorer, Luke Garbutt in the 78th minute. A second yellow was given and therefore he was sent off. Going down to 10 men meant that Burton lost out on the firepower to try and get back level in the game as Ipswich ran out 0-1 winners. 

Making things happen

Norwood had a similar impact back in May, during the play off final, as he got Newport’s Mark O’Brien sent off when drawing a foul. It does seem, even if early on, that the forward could be too much to handle in many ways for a lot of teams in this division. 

Fans of all the other teams that were in league two last season will know only too well the type of player Norwood is. He bullies defenders off the ball, he screams in officials’ faces when decisions go against him and he causes things to happen for his teammates around him. 

Comparisons between Norwood and former Ipswich player Joe Garner have been made by many Tractor Boys and with good reason. They are both strikers that you would love to have on your team, but would absolutely despise playing against and this was proven to be the case by the Burton fans who were wound up by Norwood’s aggressive style of play. Especially when he received a yellow card in the 53rd minute and made his disagreement known to the referee. 

As the game ticked on, Norwood vs Burton fans became a sub-plot in the match. Some Town fans would argue that the loudest the Burton fans were all game was when they were booing Norwood which, as you would expect, happened a lot. 

A win...but no opening goal

The Eastbourne-born player’s most notable moment may have been when he received a throw from Town goalkeeper Tomas Holy in the first half. He drove into the Burton Albion half and then fed the ball out the right hand side to winger Danny Rowe who forced a good save from O’Hara. 

To his annoyance, the goal hungry forward didn’t get too many sniffs at goal during the game. His only really opportunity came from a stretched effort in the second half, just in front of the Ipswich fans behind the net who may have expected more from their star-signing.

Overall though, the number 10 did the dirty work fantastically, wearing Burton down as the game went on. He held play up well, contested for high balls against the experience of Jake Buxton and John Joe O’Toole as well as making a number of good passes, linking up well with the other Ipswich attackers. 

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A frontman to get behind

The expectation for the Ipswich frontman to produce this season is enormous. Ipswich fans haven’t had much to cheer about since the rare play off appearance in the 2014/15 season and many view Norwood as the piece of the puzzle that has been missing ever since Daryl Murphy left the club. However, this is the highest level that he has played at, as he has now done a full u-turn in his career having started out in League One with Exeter. He will be desperate to prove that he is now a serious threat in this division, rather than a lower league striker with one good season in the EFL to his name. 

Only time will tell whether he can be the hero that Ipswich fans crave, or if he will underwhelm and in turn prove his doubters right. But if his performance on the opening day of the season is anything to go by, then opposition defences should watch their backs whilst Ipswich fans will more than likely fall in love with him, if they haven’t already.

Tom Block was writing on behalf of Ipswich Town Bible - please give them both a follow for more fantastic insight on the Tractor Boys this season.