AFC Bournemouth
AFC Bournemouth will be hoping for a change in fortunes when they face Premier League rivals Norwich at Carrow Road on Saturday (3pm kick-off).
Eddie Howe’s team will be looking to register their first win in the top flight since triumphing 1-0 at Chelsea on December 14th.
The Canaries, promoted as winners of the Championship last season, are six points behind the Cherries having claimed just one win in their past 17 league games.
Daniel Farke’s team have replaced Watford at the foot of the table after taking eight points from those 17 games.
They have drawn their past two games at Carrow Road – 1-1 against Crystal Palace and 2-2 with Tottenham – and won two of their first three home games of the season – 3-1 against Newcastle and 3-2 against Manchester City.
Farke has bolstered his resources in the transfer window with the signings of midfielders Ondrej Duda, on loan from Hertha Berlin, and Lukas Rupp, a permanent addition from Hoffenheim.
Ahead of the clash, afcb.co.uk caught up with Michael Bailey, who covers the fortunes of the Canaries for The Athletic.
afcb.co.uk: Summarise Norwich’s season so far?
MB: It feels like it’s a shame how it’s panned out. There was so much hope at the start of the season for the group of players, the football they play and the model they were trying to implement.
I think everyone around the city hoped it would have a far better place in the Premier League than where they are now.
I don’t think anyone was in denial about how difficult it would be to try to compete in the Premier League without a Premier League budget.
But there’s probably a degree of frustration with how Norwich have played. They have picked up some brilliant results yet, against the teams they have needed to compete with, they have all too often fallen short.
afcb.co.uk: Are you anticipating a busy transfer window?
MB: Not as busy as some. I think January is a difficult month for Norwich to operate in given their budget and given they clearly want to stay in the Premier League. Their position in the table means their recruitment to do that is going to be very difficult.
Likewise, you don’t want to have to prepare for a season in the Championship six months before it actually may happen. I imagine people are quite torn.
They have done some business and they might do a little more but it’s clearly going to be with a view to building the club regardless of which level they are at next season.
They have signed Ondrej Duda (pictured above), on loan from Hertha Berlin, and Lukas Rupp has signed permanently from Hoffenheim. Both are midfielders.
Patrick Roberts’s loan from Manchester City has ended, while Dennis Srbeny has been sold to Paderborn and academy product Adam Idah is now in the first-team striker mix.
afcb.co.uk: Todd Cantwell has earned some rave reviews this season – what’s your opinion of him?
MB: Todd is probably the player who has surprised everyone the most with how well he’s done.
I think most people thought he could thrive in a more technical division than the Championship, but he didn’t really feature a huge amount in the Championship for Norwich last season. I think that’s made it remarkable just how well he’s done.
He’s really taken his career a huge step forward and he’s been as consistent as anyone. The way he’s combined with Teemu Pukki has been hugely impressive.
It’s hard not to think of him as one of Norwich’s most potent weapons going forward in the Premier League and I don’t think many people would have said that before this season. That includes some inside the football club.
afcb.co.uk: On current form, who is Norwich’s player to watch?
MB: Emi Buendia (pictured above). In a heartbeat.
Even if Norwich were to pull off a miraculous escape this season, I think they would still sell him to a big club for a lot of money.
He had a difficult start to the season which surprised me because he was so influential and had looked so talented last season.
But I would say since the end of November, he’s looked on a different level and has been one of the best players on the pitch in almost every Norwich game for a number of weeks. That includes the teams they have been playing.
afcb.co.uk: Are any first-choice players either injured or suspended against the Cherries?
MB: Teemu Pukki had a toe injury but they’ve been able to rest that because he tweaked his hamstring against Crystal Palace on New Year’s Day and that’s why he’s missed the past two games. But he is back in training and should be back for Saturday.
Ben Godfrey is back in training so he will be in consideration to come back after a knee ligament injury.
Josip Drmic, who came in as a free agent in the summer, has been missing with a hamstring tear but he’s almost back now.
afcb.co.uk: What’s your score prediction?
MB: I have to go for a Norwich win because they have no alternative.
Apart from against Manchester United at Old Trafford on Saturday, they have been playing really well.
They haven’t won at home since September, but have been good in a lot of ways and been in a lot of leads. I’ll go with a 2-1 win to Norwich.
You can follow Michael on Twitter – @michaeljbailey
Match officials: Paul Tierney (referee), Harry Lennard (assistant), Marc Perry (assistant), Gavin Ward (fourth official), Jonathan Moss (VAR), Gary Beswick (assistant VAR).
