CHAMPIONSHIP ANALYSIS | Rejuvenated Canaries

After winning only five league games last season and finishing 13 points adrift at the bottom of the Premier League table, there were plenty of questions surrounding Norwich City going into the new Championship season. Could the Canaries bounce back? How many key players would leave? Was Farke the right man for the job?

Although it’s too early on in the season to give definitive answers, things do seem to be on the up once more in Norfolk. Despite sticking with the same manager and most of the same team, Playmaker writer Tad Chenery believes the 2020/21 vintage - now unbeaten in seven - look a completely different side to the beleaguered basement boys that finished the last campaign and this article outlines three key areas, in which the Canaries are currently excelling. 

A stronger defensive unit

One of the key problems for Norwich last season was their inability to defend. They conceded 75 Premier League goals at an average of just under two goals a game, which makes winning any game a massive struggle. Having lost Ben Godfrey, Jamal Lewis and Tim Klose, who were all key players at the back for the Canaries during their relegation campaign, a re-shuffle was needed.

However, rather than sign an abundance of defensive reinforcements, a slight tweak in system has seen the defence become less exposed with Oliver Skipp, on loan from Spurs, being a big factor in this. Skipp's dynamism and tactical prowess has allowed the side to remain on the front foot after losing the ball, which has resulted in Norwich having the third highest number of possessions won back in the final 3rd (52) in 2020/21, only one behind Preston and Blackburn who are joint top (53). Farke’s new look outfit now only concede 0.7 goals per game giving them a strong foundation to do what they do best, attack.

📈Highest average possession %s (Championship; 2020/21):

5⃣8⃣%: 💥NORWICH💥
5⃣6⃣%: Huddersfield
5⃣5⃣%: Blackburn, Bournemouth
5⃣3⃣%: Brentford, Reading
5⃣2⃣%: Forest, Watford#NCFC @NorwichCityFC pic.twitter.com/ibt1lZo5Sd

— playmakerstats (@playmaker_EN) November 12, 2020

Outstanding attacking output

Playing on the front foot and dominating games is clearly one of Norwich’s major strengths, which could be why they struggled so much in the Premier League, where it proved much harder for the Canaries to impose themselves.

So far this season, they are completing over 100 more passes per game (458.8) than they were last season, with centre-back Ben Gibson, who joined the club on loan from Burnley in the summer, leading the Championship for most passes completed per game (70).

To complete this amount of passes you have to control possession, which is what Farke’s side are doing, topping the Championship’s possession table with an average of 58% possession per game and pass completion of 83%, also the best in the division.

It’s no use having the ball though, if you’re going to do nothing with it. The Canaries have averaged the second highest amount of shots on target so far this season in the Championship (60) and have created the third highest amount of ‘big chances’ (15). If Norwich can keep this level of attacking output up for the rest of the season then they might take some stopping as they look to return to the Premier League at the first time of asking.

📈 Most key passes (Championship; 2020/21):

3⃣2⃣: 🔑EMILIANO BUENDÍA🔑
2⃣4⃣: Gustavo Hamer
2⃣3⃣: Jamie Paterson
2⃣2⃣: Connor Roberts, Jed Wallace, Joe Jacobson#NCFC @NorwichCityFC pic.twitter.com/SlUekrWaPE

— playmakerstats (@playmaker_EN) November 12, 2020

The brilliance of Buendia

Emi Buendia was the major shining light that fans could take from last season. Although he was linked with multiple clubs over the summer, a move did not materialise, meaning that the Argentine would remain in Norfolk for at least another season.

Despite only scoring one goal, the 23-year-old created 90 chances, contributed seven assists and completed 102 dribbles with a 72% success rate, which is impressive for someone’s debut season in the top flight for a struggling side.

The wily forward seems to have kicked on since then and has been outstanding so far this season. During the first 11 league games of the season, in which he’s only featured in eight, Buendia has already scored one goal and provided three assists.

He also leads the Championship for key passes (32) averaging four per game. If the Argentine can find start to find the net as frequently as he did when he last played at this level, when he scored eight goals, a move similar to Said Benrahma’s Brentford - West Ham switch could be on the cards.