Norwich City Season Preview

Key Player: Graham Holt
In: Manager Chris Hughton, Robert Snodgrass, Steven Whittaker, Jacob Butterfield, Michael Turner
Out: Manager Paul Lambert, Zack Whitbread, Adam Drury

I wouldn’t want to be Chris Hughton. Talk about being invited to a party only to discover that the guest of honor isn’t coming. Last season’s Norwich dream season had much to do with departed manager Paul Lambert’s ability — and willingness — to take on the challenge of Premier League football by carrying the attack to the opposition. Canaries’ supporters loved every minute of it — is there a more interesting bunch on Twitter? — but it will be an amazingly tough act to follow for Hughton.

Fortunately, the new manager still has Graham Holt available after an at-times public dispute over new signing terms suggested that City’s super-scorer might depart. They’ve also added Steven Whittaker from Rangers and midfielder Robert Snodgrass from Leeds, but neither is exactly going to make any Premier League defender lose sleep. And speaking of sleep, it could be that Norwich City lived a dream season in 2011-12 … waking up with much the same roster, a different manager and maybe not the same touch of good fortune could turn this campaign into a worrisome one at Carrow Road.