e-Spurs Preview: Spurs v Norwich City

Article by Nathan Durec

The first meeting of the season with the Canaries offers Spurs another test at home. While it’s too early to be looking at positions at the top of the table with any sort of accuracy, three points would provide the club with much needed confidence as they head into their first Group Stage meeting in the Europa League. The Spurs will have also had a full two weeks to ponder the loss in the North London Derby and figure out how to better link up their new strength in the middle of the pitch with their attacking frontman, Soldado.

Norwich City had better fortunes in their last match, winning narrowly at Carrow Road over last year’s relegation battle survivors, Southampton.

Tottenham Hotspur

The Spurs (2W-0D-1L) lost out on their first meeting against Arsenal in their last match. They have brought in key improvements in the midfield and attacking parts of the pitch. However, it is easy to see that there simply has not been enough time for the squad to gel.

In the three matches so far, there have been good spells of possession and control. What are lacking are quality chances. The only two goals in BPL play so far have come from penalty kicks. There have been no open play goals. Much of this is due to the ratio of Shots on Target compared to Shots on Goal. In the first match against Crystal Palace, Tottenham managed 17 shots with only 2 hitting the net, including the winning penalty. Against Swansea, they fared slightly better with 5 shots on target of a total 19 shots. However, it has to be noted that Swansea managed the same number of shots on net with only a total of seven shots.

If Spurs are going to make a confident challenge in this season, they will need to find cohesiveness quickly. Anytime there is a mass of signings in a transfer window, there is a period of getting to know one another on and off the pitch. We are seeing this now and should now be worried…yet.

Norwich City

Norwich City (1W-1D-1L) sits two points behind Tottenham in the table after three matches. They had a commendable summer transfer window, adding some quality firepower. Johan Elmander coming on a season-long loan from Galatasaray and Gary Hooper in from a career-making season with Celtic can cause problems for any defensive line. Nathan Redmond in the midfield has already opened up his campaign with the winning goal in last game. In all, £25 million in new additions have entered the club, fairly decent for a mid-table club.

John Ruddy also is coming off one of his better matches as goalkeeping. Twice denying Southampton new signing Dani Osvaldo, he managed his first clean sheet of the season.

Head-to-Head

Tottenham has struggled against Norwich City over the past few meetings between the two clubs. Last season saw them meet three times, twice in league play and once in the League Cup. Both league matches ended in 1–1 draws, but the League Cup match had the Canaries eliminate Spurs from contention. In fact, Tottenham would have to look back five matches to December 27, 2011 for their last win against Norwich City in an away match at Carrow Road.

The defensive line for Tottenham should have more than enough ability to quell any attack from a travelling Norwich City. Lloris is also on form as well and will mop up whatever is left over. This true battle will be in the midfield. Will the new additions be able to penetrate the Canaries who are, by and large, a midfield that already knows how to play with one another? If Spurs are able to turn possession into quality chances and balls to attacking positions, then there is a strong possibility of Soldado showing us why he can do the ball during open play. Hopefully, they have begun to understand one another and can create these types of linking plays.

Next Up

This should not be confused with an easy match for Spurs. However, a win could push the boys into a decent run. September looks like it could be a month to grab some needed points with upcoming matches against Cardiff and Aston Villa. The month culminates at White Heart Lane against Chelsea and our first look at the second coming of Mourinho.

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