Norwich City: 10 Reasons Teams Should Be Scared of the Canaries

Norwich City have adapted well to life in the Premier League and people from outside Norfolk are starting to take notice. Norwich have had a remarkable rise in recent seasons from League One and some people may fear that the Premier League challenge has come too soon for them.

However, the Canaries have a lot going for them. When the Premier League began, Norwich City were a significant force. Once finishing third in the league, they ruffled some feathers in Europe by beating Bayern Munich.

Outsiders may be comparing Norwich to Blackpool and believing they will be relegated at the end of the season. However, Norwich City supporters believe they are just back at their rightful place. So checkout this slideshow on 10 reasons Premier League teams should fear the Canaries.    

Team Spirit

Team spirit has played a big part in the success that Norwich City have enjoyed over recent seasons and is likely to play a big part in any success they will enjoy in the Premier League. Last season Norwich scored a lot of late goals. Last week, they showed they can do it in the Premier League as well with their thrilling comeback against Blackburn—snatching a 3-3 draw from a game they were down 3-1 in at one point.

The togetherness of the players and the attitude of the players to get results when they haven't played their best is something that promises to stand the team in excellent stead this season. At times they will be up against it this season, so it will be very important.

Fans/Carrow Road

There are not many clubs in England that back their team as much as Norwich City. Their 27,000 seat stadium is sold out for most home games and fans travel to away games in significant numbers. Carrow Road may not be the biggest stadium in the Premier League, but the facility is of a very high standard. The pitch is also in superb condition.

The fans were certainly in fine voice during the last home game and the atmosphere helped inspire the players to come back to draw the game against Blackburn from two goals down. The bottom line is when the players need to be backed, the fans will be there to do it. The fans have a big part to play for Norwich City this season.

Paul Lambert

Paul Lambert is one of the most talented young managers out there and Norwich will be hoping he remains their manager for a long time.

The man is a winner and everything he has done at Norwich City has gone right. People that knew Paul Lambert as a player believed him to be one of the special ones, he has certainly continued that with his management. Make no mistake: Paul Lambert thinks he can do something special with Norwich in the Premier League this season and he is not about to be disappointed on that count.

Away Record

Many outsiders probably believe that Norwich City will prove to be a soft touch on the road this season. However, Norwich are actual pretty capable on the road and have had some of their best results away from home in recent seasons. Many Norwich City fans would say that the team look impressive away and sometimes flatters to deceive at home.

Of course, this is the Premier League and winning away at this level in quite tough. But Norwich City have already proved their quality on the road with impressive performances against Manchester United and Chelsea. However, it isn't just about performances, because they have also recorded draws at Wigan and Liverpool, the team also recorded a win at Bolton. Norwich City are all set to record more credible results on the road for the remainder of the season.

Norwich Are Not Blackpool in Disguise

Some people have suggested that Norwich are just like Blackpool. Blackpool gained a lot of plaudits and fans for the way they played in the Premier League last season. However, to be fair it was a modern-day football miracle that Blackpool ever reached the top flight in the first place.

Blackpool were also a bit reckless in the way they approached the Premier League. The free-flowing attacking style was pleasing to the eye, but a lack of stability at the back was always going to lead to problems. It's quite possible that Blackpool could have done something to try and stop that, but they didn't because they just wanted to play their game.

If Paul Lambert was a stubborn manager then Norwich City could have easily have gone the same way. However, Lambert will change things if they aren't right. He dropped his previously preferred formation and certain players. Loan signing Ritchie De Laet was quickly dropped, as was goal-scoring hero Grant Holt. Lambert sees the bigger picture that perhaps Blackpool couldn't.

It should also be noted that Blackpool lost a lot of points last season by conceding goals when they were winning or drawing. Norwich have already shown this season that they can come back into games and gain points that could easily have been lost.  

Norwich Don't Fear Anyone

In case you haven't noticed yet Norwich don't fear anyone in this league. There are some big clubs in this league and some smaller clubs may be content to shut up shop. But that just isn't Paul Lambert's or Norwich City's way. It doesn't matter who the opposition is, it's 11 vs. 11 and there is an opportunity to get three points.

Norwich have shown that they are not afraid to attack against Manchester United or against Chelsea, but have proved that they are learning with the recent draw against Liverpool. But what Norwich won't do is play for a point when there is an opportunity to win a game of football.

The Canaries Plan on Being a Permanent Feature

Norwich may have reached the Premier League ahead of schedule, but it was always part of the plan. Now that Norwich have reached the Premier League they will do everything to stay there. Staying in the Premier League is very much part of any future success. Norwich City are not on holiday; they are planning towards the future. 

Adaptable Team

Paul Lambert made some clever moves in the summer transfer market by making sure his team can play in different ways. Last season, the team may have been somewhat one dimensional in their approach with Wes Hoolahan being the main attacking threat. This season that is not so much the case with Anthony Pilkington and Elliott Bennett carrying equal threat.

Recently, Paul Lambert has come up with a formation that allows him to use Wes Hoolahan, Anthony Pilkington and Elliott Bennett in the same team. But the ability to change the system has been vital in gaining the results against Liverpool and Blackburn. 

It's a Results Business

Paul Lambert has learned quickly in the Premier League and he knows all to well that his team must get results and not just play well. Recently results have picked up and Norwich are starting to get the hang of the Premier League. At the moment it seems like Norwich has a good chance of picking up points from whoever they are playing against.

Players Are Better Than They Are Given Credit for

Outsiders may not believe that the players are up to much. However, Paul Lambert has carefully picked players, from League One and the Championship, who are capable of playing Premier League football. These are not players that are only capable of playing at the lower leagues.

Star performers like Marc Tierney, John Ruddy and Bradley Johnson are already believed watched by international managers. By the end of the season a lot more of Norwich's players will be talked about.

Norwich City are here to stay, so write them off at your peril.

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