Management style
Definitely more carrot than stick, although those players who have crossed a line with the 50-year-old can vouch for the fact that Dean Smith can produce hairdryer moments as and when required.
He has always had an open-door policy and likes to think of himself as an approachable manager, one who prioritises developing good relationships with his squad, especially the senior, more influential characters in the dressing room.
Tactical hallmarks
Smith likes to send out high-pressing, tactically fluid teams, and while that all sounds very modern, he also likes a bit of the old school when it comes to his unstinting focus – defensively and offensively – on set-pieces.
Corners and free-kicks can bring you “cheap wins or cheap defeats”, and in the short time spent on the training ground with his new charges he has concentrated to a great extent on just that. What price a goal from a set-piece in his first game at home to Southampton on Saturday?
Players who could benefit
Smith took the tried and tested clean-slate approach at his unveiling press conference, and one player who could certainly benefit from the departure of Daniel Farke is Todd Cantwell.
The 23-year-old midfielder’s stock plummeted under the German, who questioned his fitness and desire after jettisoning him from his first-team plans from September onwards.
Smith is keeping a close eye on a clearly talented individual who, when fully motivated and up to speed, has the capability of making his mark in the top flight.
Unprompted, at his Friday morning press briefing, the new manager name-checked teenage English striker Abu Kamara as having impressed in training.
One thing to change asap
His new side’s losing mentality in the top flight. Norwich have developed a reputation in recent seasons of being the classic flat-track bully in the Championship, who have then been unable or unwilling to handle the next step to the Premier League.
They have bashed up second tier opponents in their last two promotion processions, but went down with a whimper in 2020.
Things have been going the same way this time, but Smith at least arrives on the back of a rare Premier League win, 2-1 at Brentford before the international break, to boost morale in this latest struggle to survive.
January transfer target
Smith will no doubt be keeping a close eye on his old club Aston Villa to see if any of the players who thrived under his guidance fall out of favour under Steven Gerrard and might fancy following him to East Anglia.
He will be hindered in his hopes of strengthening by Norwich having been, relatively speaking at least, big spenders in the summer.
That will limit them largely to loans or players who command modest transfer fees. Anything more substantial than that will have to be funded by sales.
from Football – inews.co.uk https://ift.tt/3kRMPRY
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