Ante Crnac Backed to Succeed at Norwich Despite Mixed Start
Ante Crnac has been tipped to make a strong impact at Norwich City despite experiencing an inconsistent start to life at Carrow Road.
There was plenty of excitement among supporters when the Canaries secured the 21-year-old forward’s signature, agreeing to an £8.5m deal plus add-ons with Polish club Rakow.
While the high-profile departures of Gabriel Sara, Adam Idah, and Jonathan Rowe helped finance the move, the fee was still a major investment for Norwich, meaning expectations were high for Crnac.
A Long-Term Investment
Fans have witnessed glimpses of Crnac’s undeniable talent, with the forward contributing five goals and four assists in 31 appearances. However, he has yet to fully convince, struggling to cement a regular spot in the starting XI. Many of his appearances have come from a wide position, with Josh Sargent preferred as the team’s main striker.
Asked by FLW whether Crnac has proven to be good value for money, fan pundit Zeke acknowledged the Croatian has yet to meet expectations but remained optimistic about his future.
“It’s obviously a big investment in a player who hasn’t achieved much in his career yet,” he admitted.
“There’s an argument that we overpaid, but there’s a reason for that. He has shown positive signs, but his goal and assist numbers haven’t been high enough, and it’s still unclear whether he’s a striker or a winger.
“My assumption is that he’s a striker and the long-term successor to Sargent. But, like Sargent before him when Teemu Pukki was at the club, he has been deployed on the wing, making it hard to define his role.
“I believe Crnac, along with others, will find their best form next season. Right now, he hasn’t justified the price tag, but he is a long-term investment.”
Norwich Must Be Patient
Most would agree that Crnac was signed with the future in mind, making it premature to judge him as a Norwich player.
At just 21, he is still adapting to a new country and a league known for its high intensity, so a settling-in period was always expected. Despite his inconsistency, he has shown clear ability and will remain an important figure as Johannes Hoff Thorup’s squad pushes for a play-off spot.
Thorup himself has faced challenges in his early days in England, following the departure of key players and the arrival of new signings the club hopes will shape Norwich’s future.
Crnac certainly fits that mold, and it will be fascinating to see how his career at Carrow Road unfolds.
