Media View: Expert insight on Norwich

The Cherries triumphed 3-1 against the runaway Championship winners in April, one of only three teams to leave the Norfolk venue with maximum points last season.

David Brooks’s double and goals from Dominic Solanke, Phil Billing and Christian Saydee saw Scott Parker’s team brush aside MK Dons 5-0 in their Southern Section opener at the end of last month.

The Canaries, League Cup winners in 1962 and 1985, finished six points clear of Watford to win promotion to the Premier League for the third time in seven years in 2020/21.

Daniel Farke’s team have faced the top-flight winners from the past two seasons in their opening two games, losing 3-0 at home to Liverpool and 5-0 at Manchester City on Saturday.

The Cherries knocked out the Canaries on their way to reaching the quarter-finals in 2018/19, while Norwich prevailed 2-1 on aggregate in a two-legged first-round encounter in 2000/01.

Ahead of the clash, afcb.co.uk caught up with Michael Bailey who covers the fortunes of the Canaries for The Athletic.

NORWICH IN PROFILE

Ground: Carrow Road

Nickname: The Canaries

Head coach: Daniel Farke (appointed May 2017)

Club captain: Grant Hanley (pictured above)

Current league position: 20^th in Premier League

Last season’s finishing position: First in Championship

Leading goalscorer 2020/21: Teemu Pukki (26 in Championship)

Last game: Manchester City 5-0 Norwich City (Premier League)

League Cup best: Winners 1962, 1985

League Cup 2020/21: Luton Town 3-1 Norwich City (first round)

afcb.co.uk: Results apart, how have Norwich looked in their first two games?

MB: I thought there were some encouraging signs in the first half against Liverpool when there was also a lot of mitigation, given they had such a disjointed pre-season with a Covid outbreak and two friendlies being cancelled.

Liverpool, the 2020 champions, had a very good pre-season and only had one player making a debut, someone they signed 12 months earlier.

The game got away from Norwich in the second half which you could probably mitigate to them being tired.

I am struggling for any positives from the Manchester City game because I thought they looked miles off it.

Even when you are playing a team as good as them, there is still probably a way to lose and I don’t think that was how Norwich lost it.

This is a big week for them and this game probably immediately becomes a bit more important on the back of it.

afcb.co.uk: How does Daniel Farke (pictured above) tend to approach Carabao Cup games in terms of selection?

MB: He’s always adamant he takes these games seriously. They have done that in the Carabao Cup and have had some good results.

They didn’t have a good result losing to Luton last season but it was the first game and Norwich had about 15 players away on international duty which isn’t a normal situation for a competitive game so you could probably ignore that one.

Generally, he likes these games but that doesn’t mean he doesn’t make changes. He tends to make quite a lot.

He will make sure it’s not a gimme, he will want them to take it seriously and is pretty good at making his team play like that as well, as was the case when Norwich played at Bournemouth a few years ago. That was a really good game.

I expect there will be changes but they will treat it properly and Daniel won’t let them take it as a non-event.

afcb.co.uk: Who has been the pick of Norwich’s new signings?

MB: In pre-season, Pierre Lees-Melou looked very good but I don’t really like judging things on pre-season.

He hasn’t made much of an impact in the first two Premier League games but there are definitely signs of what he can deliver. Norwich won’t play Liverpool and Manchester City every week so I think he could be a good signing.

There has been encouragement from Milot Rashica (pictured below), a winger they signed from Werder Bremen.

He’s still catching up on fitness but I would say he’s the one I’m most encouraged by.

Josh Sargent has been physical and he’s only had two cameos. I think we might get to see him from the start against Bournemouth and he will be an interesting one to watch.

afcb.co.uk: What’s your take on Premier League clubs fielding much-changed teams in this competition considering no team from outside the top flight has won it for 30 years?

MB: To me, I don’t really have a problem with any club picking a team that’s not their Premier League starting XI.

To me, it’s up to the club, especially in a cup competition. If you don’t win, you’re out.

There are no integrity issues, it’s down to each individual club’s decision. Premier League squads are so big and they can name nine substitutes now.

There are players who need games and they will feature in cup games.

Norwich have been one of those teams who have changed it up and they have also been one of those EFL teams having to come up against it. It’s just the way it is now.

afcb.co.uk: If Daniel Farke decides to ring the changes for this fixture, which young player could be one to watch?

MB: I would say there are two.

At centre-back, there’s Andrew Omobamidele who is a Republic of Ireland under-21 international.

He’s hugely promising and had a very good end to last season. He had tonsillitis ahead of the Liverpool game but I think there’s a chance he might start against Bournemouth. He looks good and has a lot of potential.

We haven’t seen Christos Tzolis (pictured below) yet but Norwich spent £10m on him from PAOK Salonika in Greece.

According to some, he is the future of Greek football so there’s a lot of excitement surrounding him.

He’s only 19 but he’s one I’m definitely looking forward to getting a chance to see.

afcb.co.uk: Are any key players either suspended or injured against the Cherries?

MB: Sam Byram has been out for a while and won't feature.

Christoph Zimmermann was ill before the Manchester City game but could return.

Przemyslaw Placheta remains unavailable as he continues his recovery from the symptoms of Covid but new loan signing Brandon Williams could feature.

afcb.co.uk: What’s your score prediction?

MB: Norwich probably need to win so let’s say 2-1.

You can follow Michael on Twitter – @michaeljbailey

Officials: Charles Breakspear (referee), Garry Maskell (assistant), Darren Blunden (assistant), Paul Howard (fourth official).