Friday 6 April 2018 15:42, UK
Norwich were among the favourites for promotion at the start of the season but are currently 14th in the Sky Bet Championship table.
Ahead of their clash with Aston Villa on Saturday - live on Sky Sports Football - we asked David Freezer, a Norwich City correspondent for the Eastern Daily Press, to assess Daniel Farke's debut season at the club...
After such a big turnover of players last summer it was always expected that this would be a transitional season, with the club attempting to lay foundations for a brighter future, within their self-funding model. However, supporters were not expecting to spend so much of the campaign in the bottom half of the table and one win in 10 games has clearly started to test the patience of some, with home results particularly disappointing, winning just six of 20 games.
Injuries have been damaging throughout the season but with Farke's style of play still not proving successful there are worries for some, although most fans seem willing to wait until next season before judging his progress too harshly.
The biggest change has been in playing personnel, with sporting director Stuart Webber arriving from Huddersfield late last season after Alex Neil was sacked and a new structure was put in place. Webber appointed Farke and they have brought across the likes of Mario Vrancic, Tom Trybull, Moritz Leitner and Onel Hernandez from Germany.
The influx of players and coaching staff from Germany has offered glimpses of a continental style but has also seen Norwich struggle to deal with more direct and physical teams in the Championship. Webber previously appointed David Wagner at Huddersfield, who is in the Jurgen Klopp high-pressing mould, but Farke's style is more possession-based and it's felt like he hasn't yet got the squad he needs to execute his plans successfully.
It should be remembered that Farke is the head coach, so the new structure put Webber in control of football operations at the club. They work in tandem on transfers and it is Farke's job to get the best out of the team. Had the club not been going through such big changes in the transfer market and financially, he would have been under a lot more pressure.
Most fans realise that the club is still recovering from falling out of the Premier League and missing a fine opportunity to become established in the top flight, with last season under Neil being what has led to so much change. I predicted eighth this season though, so I would still say this year has been one of underachievement, when just a few goals in disappointing home draws would have made such a big difference.
No. Most supporters felt Alex should have gone at Christmas last season and plenty felt he should have gone after relegation from the Premier League. The general consensus is that the club's hierarchy retained too much faith in the experienced players after that relegation, when the squad and club needed freshening up to get straight back up at the first attempt.
That being said, Neil's first six months are fondly remembered for bringing play-off glory at Wembley and few fans would begrudge his progress at Preston. It was always felt he had a bright future but the Premier League perhaps came too soon for him.
Top two seems unlikely, unless the summer transfer window is hugely successful, but supporters will be expecting a play-off chase once the squad is settled and more to Farke's liking.
Premier League parachute payments end this season so financially the club needs to get back to the top flight as soon as possible, although it seems the cuts made in the last 12 months and the expected big-money sale of James Maddison this summer will ensure their finances are in reasonable shape.
Manchester City loanee Angus Gunn, a local lad and son of club legend Bryan, has been very consistent considering this is his first season in competitive football and fans would love to have him back next season if possible.
Grant Hanley has proved worth the £3.5million spent to bring him from Newcastle towards the end of the transfer window. The Scot is the best defender and many fans feel he should be captain next season. Tom Trybull has looked good in midfield but been disrupted by injuries.
It seems very unlikely. With 13 goals and seven assists in the league, he looks too good for the Championship already and few fans would begrudge him a big move this summer - with the faint hope of a loan return also in the mix.
Norwich need the money but with so many clubs interested it could become something of an auction, with talk of a deal worth as much as £25m. He is a special talent with huge ambition but a good head on his shoulders. If he continues to progress at the rate he has this season I can see him going on to become an England international and being worth a lot more than £25m.
Don't miss the Sky Bet Championship clash between Norwich and Aston Villa on Saturday, live on Sky Sports Football from 5.15pm
