The Local Lowdown: Norwich City

Norwich finished 13th last term after coming down from the Premier League the year before. How was the season perceived by the club and fans?

A failure. No other way to sugar-coat it. To be fair, that was acknowledged inside the club as much as within the fanbase. Both towards the end of the season in public words and messaging, and action during the close season. David Wagner inherited a difficult situation coming in midway through last season, in terms of a squad built by Dean Smith and trying to implement his new ideas, while striving to make up ground and win games of football in a league which is relentless. However, with Norwich looking in decent shape to make the play-offs around late March they won one of the last 11 in the league. Compounded by no goals and no wins in the last five games of the season at Carrow Road. That, for a club who began the season stating a third consecutive promotion at this level was the objective, ensured there was a lot of frustration expressed by many supporters.

What is the expectation of the team coming into a new campaign?

As much as pre-season is about fitness, and primarily a chance to get tactical ideas across and integrate new signings and refresh the squad generally, Wagner admitted himself it was a very good pre-season. They were unbeaten and conceded very few goals against some decent European level opposition. The German has brought in a degree of experience in players like Ashley Barnes, Shane Duffy and Jack Stacey to add that streetwise edge he felt the group needed. Allied to that they have some exciting young talent. Now the question is how well, and how quickly can they gel? Given the backdrop of last season’s frustration I think there is a holding pattern at present regarding what they can achieve. Wagner said before the first league game of the new season Norwich is one of ’10 to 12’ clubs who will feel promotion is realistic.

A late winner secured a 2-1 home victory over Hull on the opening day. How was the performance, and what sort of challenge should Saints expect to face this weekend?

Excellent. From the outside it might look like they were a touch fortunate to win the game with a 96th minute goal that was not without controversy in the build-up. However, they created 28 chances, played some excellent football, and apart from a poor goal conceded due to a defensive mix-up they looked solid out of possession. A marked improvement from what had gone before at Carrow Road this year. They will travel with optimism renewed, and while acknowledging Southampton are likely to be at the right end of the table come the end of this season, they will relish the challenge.

Russell Martin won three promotions with Norwich as a player. How is he remembered by the fans?

The first two under the management of Paul Lambert were a particularly memorable period when the whole club felt energised and on the up. His third promotion was when he captained the side to a Wembley play-off final win in front of 40,000, on a day many City fans would happily tell you was their best supporting the club. Funnily enough I remember seeing Russell with his lad at the team hotel the following morning and he told me he had slept with the play-off trophy beside him. Still a very popular figure, although he underlined there are no divided loyalties anymore when he brought Swansea to Carrow Road for the first time as a coach at the end of last season, and won 3-0.

How do you see the game going on Saturday?

2-2. Russell and Matty Gill will be keen to get off to a winning start at home in the league, and build on the Sheffield Wednesday result. I would expect Saints will dominate territory and possession, but this Norwich side under Wagner are better on the counter. If they defend properly, they will cause problems going the other way.