Team Focus: Norwich Profit From Neil's Bold Decisions & Organisation

The hectic winter schedule can often prove to be a make or break period in any Premier League side’s season. For Aston Villa their last four results in particular have all but forced them to prepare for life in the Championship, while a number of teams have made significant strides to ensure their top-flight status.

One such club is Norwich, who, while far from out of the woods, moved six points clear of the bottom three with victory over Southampton at the weekend. Alex Neil’s men were among the favourites for relegation at the start of the campaign and while such a fate is still not out of the question, the Canaries find themselves in a strong position.

It’s often theorised that any promoted side hoping to keep afloat in the Premier League must make their home advantage count. In each of the last five Premier League seasons the 10 promoted sides to beat the drop have all picked up 25 points or more at home. The fact that Neil’s side have amassed 15 points from 10 matches at Carrow Road already suggests that they are well on course to surpass that figure, despite hosting some unenviably fixtures at home this year.

Indeed, only the current top 6 in the division have a better home record than Norwich, who are unbeaten in five at their stomping ground having conceded just twice in that spell. It’s their defensive resolve that has provided the platform for Norwich’s success thus far, with only Arsenal, Spurs, Manchester United and Stoke shipping fewer goals on home soil this season (10).

Such organisation should come as little shock either, with Norwich very much a sum of their parts rather than carrying any individuals. Following Alex Neil’s appointment this time last year the East Anglian outfit boasted the best record in the Championship, picking up 49 points from 22 games having conceded the fewest goals (19) in the division in that time. Prior to the young manager’s arrival the side had conceded 29 times in 24 matches, the eighth best record in the league by comparison.

It’s also no surprise then that Norwich’s top four players this season by WhoScored rating have played in defence or between the posts. That Declan Rudd (6.97 rating) is the goalkeeper in question and not the more experienced John Ruddy shows that Neil has not been scared to make big decisions. The England international was out of form - earning a meagre rating of 6.48 this season - and the manager was bold enough to make a change where many others wouldn’t.

It’s paid off, with 24-year old Rudd - who failed to play a single minute last season having served as his near-namesake’s understudy for a number of years - keeping 3 clean sheets in 6 games. Only Jack Butland (23) has produced more saves of all goalkeepers in the league since the former Norwich reserve keeper was called into first team action (22).

Elsewhere the decision to promote Ryan Bennett to the starting line-up - initially enforced with captain Russell Martin switching back to the right due to injuries to Whittaker and Wisdom - has also been key to Norwich’s defensive improvements. The 25-year old and centre-back partner Sebastien Bassong are the club’s third and fourth highest rated players respectively.

Summer signing Robbie Brady has arguably been the star of the show, and along with Bassong is one of only two players to start every game for the club. His rating of 7.29 is by far the best at the club despite starting in as many as four different positions this season. The Irishman has currently managed the quite remarkable feat of leading the way for Norwich for both tackles (3.1) and shots (1.6) per game, as well as dribbles (1.7).

Brady is given the license to support attacks whether he’s fielded on the wing or at full-back, safe in the knowledge that his pace and commitment will ensure that he isn’t caught out of position. That he is averaging more shots than any teammate despite starting 11 matches in the back four highlights the fact that while Norwich are lacking real quality up front, they’ve managed to cope to this point.

Further proof that the manager is willing to make bold decisions have also come in attacking positions. Nathan Redmond, who many would consider to be the real jewel and indeed top scorer in the Norwich side (with a modest 4), is often sacrificed to try and solidify the midfield. So too is Wes Hoolahan, who leads the team in assists (6), with both players left out of the starting line-up on 6 occasions each this season.

When those two do play Norwich do have a spark in the final third, while the more unsung players in the squad such as Jonny Howson and Alex Tettey provide the sort of graft that is crucial to any team hoping to stave off the threat of relegation.

The case remains that this Canaries outfit is probably a striker capable of hitting double figures short of beating the drop comfortably. In 2013/14 - the ill-fated Ricky van Wolfswinkel season - they finished three points adrift of safety due to the fact that they were the league’s lowest scorers (28 goals).

However, while Norwich still lack a consistent goal threat at this level, Alex Neil’s willingness to make changes without impacting upon the impressive organisation of his team is giving them a great chance of staying up regardless.

BUABOOK TRADE TIP

Hoolahan has started every home game this season, so with two away games up next in the league, before hosting Liverpool and Tottenham, one can expect his value to plateau off in the coming weeks. As I result I will be selling shares in upcoming match markets north of £0.15.

You can trade the values on a number of Norwich players with Buabook, the first player trading exchange based on detailed statistics