Picking a Norwich City Starting 11 to Take on Southampton

Christopher Lee/Getty Images

Norwich City will be looking to get back to winning ways on Saturday afternoon in the Premier League, as they entertain Southampton.

The Canaries were humbled by Manchester United last weekend in a routine 4-0 defeat, but there is no shame in losing to such a quality side in a game that was essentially a free hit.

Now, Chris Hughton's men face a far more important game against Southampton and will be fully aware that three points here could take them within touching distance of safety.

The away side will also see the fixture at Carrow Road as an opportunity to claw themselves away from the drop-zone, which means that the stage is set for a tense encounter.

There has been much debate about whether the Norwich manager will opt for a 4-4-2 or 4-2-3-1 formation, and here is an example of a starting 11 that could take to the field against the Saints....

GK: Mark Bunn

Jamie McDonald/Getty Images

Mark Bunn's form has been a major positive for Norwich City in recent weeks with the shot-stopper putting in a number of solid displays. 

The January arrival of Lee Camp appears to have been the extra incentive needed for Bunn to step up his own level of performance and the 'keeper has responded well to people who had previously doubted him.

It would come as a great surprise if the former Blackburn Rovers man wasn't given the nod between the sticks once more against Southampton as the Canaries look to remain solid at the back (Manchester United score-line aside). 

RB: Russell Martin

Paul Gilham/Getty Images

Russell Martin is another player who has done nothing wrong lately and the fact that he is currently keeping out a player with the quality of Steven Whittaker speaks volumes of the Scot's contribution.

Martin is also a natural leader on and off the pitch, and characters like that can make a difference in tense encounters. 

With Norwich City only five points ahead of Saturday's opponents, this fixture certainly falls into the big game category and Martin's offensive and defensive influence could prove crucial. 

CB: Michael Turner

Michael Regan/Getty Images

It looked for all the world like Norwich City had been dealt a dud when Michael Turner first pulled on the yellow shirt, but ever since being partnered with Sébastien Bassong, the former Sunderland man has been excellent.

The way in which Turner has bounced back from those early displays should be admired and he will have played a massive part if the Canaries do go on to secure Premier League safety.

He may not be the most cultured defender in the division at the moment, but he certainly knows how to defend (despite what a lot of Norwich fans thought after Turner's shocking début against Fulham) and has priceless experience of top flight football—something that the club certainly lacked in the last season's campaign. 

CB: Sebastien Bassong

Jamie McDonald/Getty Images

When Sébastien Bassong is fit, Sébastien Bassong will play.

It's really as simple as that for Chris Hughton, and rightly so, because when Bassong isn't in the team the Canaries have a worrying tendency to capitulate.

The Cameroonian has been a colossal figure for the club in his début season at Carrow Road and much of City's survival hopes rest on his form and leadership at the heart of the Norwich defence.

He is as close as you will get to an automatic pick in this Norwich City side and will certainly have to be at his very best to combat the threat of Southampton's prolific Rickie Lambert on Saturday afternoon. 

LB: Javier Garrido

Jamie McDonald/Getty Images

There is clearly a lack of competition at left-back with Marc Tierney evidently light years away from selection and for that reason, Javier Garrido should start once again against the Saints.

Garrido's job first and foremost is, of course, to defend well, but he could offer more in an attacking sense. 

Garrido offers a nice balance on the left-hand side and can provide quality delivery if he is brave enough to provide an offensive option. 

With Steven Whittaker unable to displace Russell Martin at right-back, an opportunity could exist to oust Garrido on the opposite flank, but I do not envision a change happening any time soon. 

RM: Robert Snodgrass

Jamie McDonald/Getty Images

Like Sébastien Bassong, Robert Snodgrass has enjoyed a superb season since joining the Canaries in the summer and has made the transition to the Premier League look effortless.

He's consistently created chances, both from set-pieces and open play, in addition to more than holding his own defensively by providing superb protection to Russell Martin.

Against Southampton, Norwich City will be hoping to be the team taking the game toward its opponents and that will mean Snodgrass will once again be expected to offer an attacking threat.

If the Scot is firing on all cylinders once more, the Canaries will have a far better chance of unlocking the visitor's fragile back line. 

CM: Jonny Howson

Shaun Botterill/Getty Images

This is where things start to get a bit more interesting because Jonny Howson is a player who has struggled to find any real consistency this season.

He has the pedigree and ability to become the player that many think that he should be, but he's really found it tough during this campaign after a superb start to life at Carrow Road in 2011/12.

Unfortunately for the Canaries, there aren't really a lot of other options available to Chris Hughton in the middle of the park following the injury to Alex Tettey and the continued spell in the wilderness for David Fox and so Howson will probably be the man selected to partner Bradley Johnson.

I am personally of the opinion that Howson is a quality player on his day, we just haven't seen enough of those days this season, and hopefully he can grab his opportunity against the Saints. 

CM: Bradley Johnson

Jan Kruger/Getty Images

Making up the final installment in the former Leeds United midfield trio is Bradley Johnson, and it would come as a great shock if he isn't named in the starting eleven at Carrow Road on Saturday.

Johnson will have a big part to play against Southampton, with the emphasis being very much on stopping the away team's impressive playmaker Morgan Schneiderlin whilst Gastón Ramírez will also have to be closely watched in advanced areas. 

Having said that, Johnson will also have a responsibility to supply Norwich's more creative players with as much ball as possible, which is why he is such an integral part of City's current team. 

LM: Anthony Pilkington

Jamie McDonald/Getty Images

Saints' right-back Nathaniel Clyne is a very talented prospect going forward, but defensively he still has a lot to learn about the game and Norwich could get a fair bit of joy if it is able to get the ball out to the flanks early.

As I've suggested before, I would love to see Javier Garrido get forward more to provide an overlap to get in behind Clyne because getting in plenty of crosses could make all the difference.

Sometimes in football, it's the correct approach to go back to basics and it would be great to see the Canaries playing with lots of width and intensity.

Anthony Pilkington is arguably the most natural winger available to Chris Hughton and he has the ability to cause the visitors a whole host of problems if given enough service. 

ST: Grant Holt

Jamie McDonald/Getty Images

It will be really interesting to see if it is Grant Holt or Rickie Lambert who has the biggest influence on this game, with both talismanic strikers going head-to-head.

The pair actually played together at Rochdale in a partnership that is still bound to send a shiver down many a lower league defender's spine!

The duo has since gone on to bang in the goals at every level that they've played at, and whoever performs best at Carrow Road will go a long way to deciding the result.

Holt may not have been as effective as he was last season, but has still managed to lead the club's goal-scoring charts this time out, and Chris Hughton will once again primarily be looking at him to provide the finishing touch. 

ST: Kei Kamara

Jamie McDonald/Getty Images

Deciding who plays alongside Grant Holt will perhaps be Chris Hughton's most difficult decision before settling on his starting 11, but Kei Kamara is likely to be in contention after some superb displays from the bench.

The Sierra Leone star is only in Norfolk until May before he jets back to Kansas City to join his parents' club's MLS campaign and now could be the time to unleash a still largely unknown quantity from the outset. 

Of course, Kamara could turn out to be nothing more than a "super sub" but we will never know until he is given a chance from the start and so for that reason I'd be tempted to give him a chance to shine. 

Alternatively, Luciano Becchio could be the preferred option to partner Holt and the Argentine will be hopeful of breaking his goal scoring duck as soon as possible. 

If Hughton opts for a 4-2-3-1 formation, then Wes Hoolahan is the obvious choice to come into the side in the attacking midfield position and that may be the route the Canaries' boss decides to go down.

However, I would like to hope that Hughton doesn't once again play Hoolahan out on the left if a 4-4-2 formation is adopted because it is not beneficial for both the Irishman and the team.

Due to the fact that Norwich City are the home team, it would be great to see them really go at Southampton. That's why playing with two strikers could be a good avenue to go down. 

Prediction

Christopher Lee/Getty Images

This is a game that could produce a lot of goals as both teams will fancy their chances of grabbing all three points on offer. 

Southampton are very reminiscent of Norwich City last season, in that they offer a great attacking threat, but are susceptible at the back.

Although the Canaries are now more assured as a defensive unit under Chris Hughton, it will be a big task to stop the likes of Rickie Lambert, Adam Lallana and Gastón Ramírez causing havoc, and for that reason I cannot see the Saints not scoring.

On the flip side, Norwich also has the potential to get a lot of joy out of the visiting defence, and being the home team, the onus is on them to attack.

It's a game of significance for both clubs, but I expect this to eventually end in a high-scoring stalemate, which wouldn't be a disastrous result for either side. 

 

Prediction: Norwich City 2-2 Southampton

 

What Team would YOU pick to face Southampton? Please leave your comments below.

 

Follow Andy Ward on Twitter