Norwich stats

Sky Sports picks out some key stats for Norwich fans to consider ahead of the new season.

While Manchester City and Chelsea can usually be relied upon for entertaining transfer business in the summer window, few outside of Norwich would have tipped the Canaries to be whetting the appetite of the neutral ahead of the 2013/14 season. But Chris Hughton looks to have made some shrewd purchases already. Of course, Norwich supporters will be sad to see talismanic forward Grant Holt leave Carrow Road for a move to Championship side Wigan Athletic and the powerful striker will be missed on and off-the field. However, after netting 15 goals in the 2011/12 season, Holt managed just eight last season with three of those coming in May. In fact, Holt's season was statistically more remarkable for his record of conceding more fouls than any other Premier League player.

Fouls conceded - PL 2012/13
Player	Team	Fouls conceded
Grant Holt	Norwich	82
Marouane Fellaini	Everton	80
Mikel Arteta	Arsenal	74
Bradley Johnson	Norwich	69

Ricky van Wolfswinkel is likely to be the man to inherit Holt's role in the side and there must be doubts as to whether the Dutchman can replicate the physical threat of his predecessor. Given that the danger Norwich pose from set-pieces was an important weapon for Hughton's side last season - with only Manchester United scoring more from dead-ball situations - that is not an asset to be dismissed lightly.

Set-piece goals - PL 2012/13
Team	Set-piece goals
Man Utd	22
Norwich	17
Stoke	15
Chelsea	15

But Van Wolfswinkel can surely help the team improve in other areas. His goal record is impressive, having scored 45 goals in 87 games in two seasons for Sporting in Portugal. The signing of Nathan Redmond from Hughton's former club Birmingham is also likely to bring other qualities to the Canaries in an attacking sense. Redmond's acquisition hints at a renewed commitment to 4-3-3 despite Hughton's stated preference for 4-4-2 at the start of last season. The Norwich boss appears to have been convinced of the merits of a lone striker when it became clear that he had to find a way to accommodate Wes Hoolahan in midfield. Although reports of interest in Fabio Quagiarella could further complicate matters before the summer is out, expect to see the team line-up in a similar fashion for the forthcoming season with Redmond adding much needed pace from the wide positions as a player more suited to an attacking role on the flank.