Dublin: Norwich will need to be smarter to secure PL survival
Norwich must learn the lessons of their past Premier League shortcomings and get more streetwise to stay up this season, according to former striker Dion Dublin.
The Canaries made a swift return to the top flight after winning the Sky Bet Championship for the second time in three years.
Having finished bottom at the end of the 2019/2020 Premier League campaign, the only way is up for Daniel Farke’s squad.
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While key playmaker Emi Buendia was sold for a club-record fee to Aston Villa earlier in the summer window, Scotland midfielder Billy Gilmour has arrived on a season loan from Chelsea to bolster the ranks.
Dublin feels game management from players being brave on the field will be crucial as Norwich prepare to host Liverpool at Carrow Road on August 14.
“I would be very, very disappointed if they hadn’t learned from last time,” Dublin told the PA news agency.
“I believe Daniel will have taken on what happened last time and thought ‘right, we can do this, but we can’t do that’.
“He will start making decisions, like on playing out from the back, forcing it, which for me was their biggest downfall.
“They are good enough to do it, but at certain times, you have also got to know when not to do it and I think that is what he will change.”
Former England striker Dublin added: “A lot of it is down to players being brave enough to take that decision themselves. The gaffer will be saying ‘play out from the back’.
“But when the full press is on, like with Manchester City, waiting to squeeze, then you as a player, as a captain, at centre-half I am going to be saying ‘right get up the pitch. Leave it, don’t try it now. Let’s get the ball as far away from our goal as possible’.
“When you are winning 1-0, it will be – ‘just squeeze up, don’t worry about it’.”
Dublin, 52, started his career with Norwich, although he never made a senior appearance, and later returned for two seasons ahead of retirement in May 2008.
The former England international – who broke through with Cambridge before joining Manchester United then went on to spells at Coventry, Aston Villa, Leicester and Celtic – feels the Norfolk club remain on a very solid footing as they look to punch above their weight next season.