Norwich City: Why the Canaries Must Rediscover Their Belief

It was a summer of optimism at Carrow Road. A series of new multi-million pound signings had raised expectancy levels around the club to an unprecedented high. Everything looked in place for Norwich City to really kick on and lead an assault on the top 10.

However, it hasn't worked out that way. After spending much of last season battling relegation, the Canaries once again look set for a campaign of struggle having suffered six defeats from their opening 10 games.

Last weekend's flattering 7-0 defeat at the hands of Manchester City (flattering for Norwich City that is) was the final straw for many fans, who have become increasingly frustrated at a desperate run of form since the turn of the year.

Several tame defeats and even tamer performances in 2013 have seen the pressure cranked up on Chris Hughton, and there is little doubt that patience is wearing very thin in Norfolk.

It's hard to understand why arguably one of the best squad's on paper ever assembled by a Norwich City manager is finding life so difficult, but a lack of belief could be the best explanation.

Much has been made of Chris Hughton's negativity on the pitch with his willingness to persist with one up front, but there is also an air of negativity off the pitch with the vast majority of his press conferences tending to focus on the strengths of the opposition rather than what his own team are capable of.

Of course, the Premier League is an unforgiving environment, and Hughton is absolutely correct to be wary of the quality that other team's possess, but as a leader it is vitally important to install a belief into your players that anything is possible.

Such a vast change in psychology and approach has proved to be a tough adjustment for Norwich City, with Paul Lambert's reign centred completely around extracting the absolute maximum out of the players at his disposal.

The Scot would continually drill into his men that they had "earned the right" to rub shoulders with the best in world and that courage was reflected in the team's performances.

In terms of ability, there is no comparison between the current group and the class of 2011/12, but Lambert managed to convince his players that they belonged in the Premier League despite many having previously lived nomadic existences.

Speaking to The Daily Mail, ex-Canaries striker Steve Morison summed up the difference in mentality between the two managers:

"

Paul Lambert makes you feel like you’re untouchable. You end up wanting to win for him more than for yourself. That first season was great and the fact we played with no fear came from him.

When Chris Hughton came in you could see from day one he was going to play with a lone striker and Grant Holt would be it. It was incredibly boring, incredibly frustrating.

"

Obviously Chris Hughton and Paul Lambert are two completely different characters, but Lambert really showed just how much can be achieved when everyone is pulling in the same direction.

It's a similar trait that Hull City appear to be showing in this year's Premier League with the Tigers continuing to get results without possessing the names or the quality of many of their opponents. Despite this, you can sense the unity between the players and the management staff at the KC Stadium, and that has been enough to lead them to an impressive start to the season.

If Norwich City could somehow recapture a similar attitude that previously served them so well, then results will inevitably come because there are undoubtedly some very talented players in the Canaries squad.

Whether Chris Hughton is the man to inspire that change is questionable, but he must take heart in the fact that Norwich are not yet cut adrift and there is time to turn things around.

Nonetheless, he will only do this by showing more faith in his players, and he must allow them the chance to express themselves.

The fact that Norwich's three summer striker arrivals in the shape of Ricky van Wolfswinkel, Gary Hooper and Johan Elmander have only managed six shots on target between them all season is a frightening statistic and shows exactly why the Canaries need to be more adventurous.

Failure to do so and both Hughton and his team could be set for the bleakest of winters.

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