Norwich City: 4 Reasons That Malky Mackay Should Be the Club's New Manager

I think it is fair to say that Paul Lambert is as good as gone and will become the new Aston Villa manager. The club statement released suggests that they have fought hard, but in the end accepted defeat in their quest to keep him at Norwich City.

Now, it is down to the club to make the right decision and find the right man to replace Lambert. This is a very important appointment, but I think we need to look at a manager that is employed elsewhere and doing a good job. A young manager that has had success, not someone that has had a mixed career.

For example, I don't see a Steve Bruce or Mick McCarthy as the right choice for Norwich City right now. That said, I am sure the club always has an idea on who would be the club's next manager. Some time ago that man would have been Martin O'Neill, but he is clearly unavailable.

So, instead I think David McNally will go after Malky Mackay. And as I will detail in this slideshow, he will be a very good fit for Norwich, although Ian Holloway, Gus Poyet, Chris Hughton, Lee Clark and other managers of a similar type should be considered.

Mackay and Lambert Aren't so Different

So, here is another young manager that has enjoyed a good career in management so far. Amazingly, the Cardiff City boss is also Scottish, has played for Celtic and only a bit younger than Lambert at age 40. Therefore, he should settle in rather well in Norfolk.

We have seen in Sir Alex Ferguson, David Moyes and Paul Lambert that Scottish managers can be very successful in the Premier League. But there are exceptions to this with Alex McLeish and Steve Kean.

But there is no reason why Malky can't be one of the good ones.

Malky Has the Right Level of Experience

Some people may like to point out that Malky has no Premier League management experience, but remember the level of experience that Lambert had when he was appointed. He has gained some top-quality experience with Watford and Cardiff in the Championship.

This sort of experience could prove to be very useful in managing a squad made up of players that have been recruited from the lower leagues. Mackay should also have a fairly good idea on the top players in the Championship, a route that Norwich may want to go down to recruit players in the summer.

The Norwich City Connection

It is not very hard to find a reason why Malky has been linked with the job at Norwich. He played for the club from 1998-2004, and he was a favorite with the fans during that time. So, I'm sure he would be a popular choice with the majority of people.

Now, having a manager that once played for the club has its pros and cons, but he would, perhaps, have a level of loyalty that Paul Lambert understandably doesn't have. Mackay may see the Norwich job as dream come true rather than a mere stepping stone.

He Just Fits the Criteria

Any new managerial appointment comes with its risks. We don't really know how any manager will get on, but instincts tell you that Mackay would be a success in the Premier League.

He had a fine season with Cardiff City reaching a League Cup final and finishing in the play-offs. Securing promotion would have capped things off nicely, but had that happened, it is unlikely he would be available to Norwich City.

Sometimes in life, it is necessary to take a gamble. Norwich City did that when they appointed Lambert, and Malky is worth another gamble. I don't feel that the Championship represents the maximum of his ability.

I think like so many of Norwich City's recent signings, he is someone that can grow and perform at Premier League level.

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