After a sluggish start to the season, Norwich City will probably try to strengthen its roster as the January transfer window approaches.
The Canaries are stuck in mid-table, seven points shy of the play-off spots, and haven’t won since their thrilling 4-0 victory over Hull City in early October as the final international break of 2024 approaches.
Recruitment will be crucial for the Canaries as they attempt to return to the Premier League following their humiliation at the hands of Leeds United in the previous season’s play-offs, as well as the unexpected promotion of fierce rivals Ipswich Town.
Fans nationwide are accustomed to the football story of signing a player with a tonne of promise who falls short of expectations, and Norfolk is no exception.
Football League World continues to remind Canaries supporters that the team would want to steer clear of such deals in the future by naming five players who failed at Carrow Road.
Becchio Luciano
When he switched from white to yellow on Deadline Day in 2013, the Argentine striker was adored by the Elland Road supporters. He signed a three-and-a-half-year contract that included Steve Morrison leaving.
He played a pivotal role in a club that was revitalised after years of deterioration on and off the pitch after joining the Whites after they failed to exit League One on their first try in 2008. He made 213 games and scored 84 goals when he was at Yorkshire. He was a member of the notorious 2010 squad that defeated Manchester United in the FA Cup at Old Trafford and was promoted back to the Championship.
But before being loaned to Rotherham United in 2014, where he scored twice in five games, he made just 16 appearances for the Canaries and failed to score. After Norwich was promoted to the Premier League the following year, Becchio was let go.
Walsh, Steve
After 14 years at Leicester City, Walsh, who mostly played centre-back but also occasionally played up front, moved to Carrow Road in September 2000. He joined the Foxes from Wigan Athletic in 1986 and made over 400 appearances. He was working for then-Norwich manager Bryan Hamilton for the third time.
Although there were great hopes for the seasoned defender, the Canaries lost 4-0 on the road against Southampton in his debut. Even though he only made three more club appearances, it was obvious that his finest days were over. After four months, his contract was terminated due to injuries, and Norwich ended the (then) Division One season in 15th place.
Theo Michael
Despite only ever playing one game for the team, the Australian goalkeeper is notorious among the Carrow Road supporters for having abbreviated his Theoklitos surname by deed poll in 2012. He joined the Canaries from his hometown Melbourne Victory in 2009, just as the team was reeling from relegation to League One. On the first day of the season, Norwich lost to their East Anglian rivals Colchester United 7-1 at home after he gave up five goals before halftime.
Bryan Gunn, who had supported Theo in spite of the opening-day outcome, lost popularity with the players once Paul Lambert was brought in to take his place in the dugout. When he did not show up for a Johnstone’s Paint Trophy match against Gillingham, his destiny was virtually decided. Eventually, in March 2010, Theo left Norfolk.
Van Wolfswinkel, Ricky
The Carrow Road supporters had every right to celebrate when van Wolfswinkel, a then-record signing, broke through the Everton defence to head in an equaliser on his debut.
Prior to the 2013–14 season, the Canaries declared in March 2013 that they had acquired the Dutch international from Sporting Lisbon for an estimated £8.5 million. With 45 goals in 88 appearances, he had made an impression in the Portuguese capital. Van Wolfswinkel’s move to Norfolk was suggested by fellow countryman Robin Van Persie, who was then at Manchester United. Chris Hughton, the club’s manager at the time, called him the “perfect fit” for the team.
But he never really fulfilled his original pledge. Despite making 28 appearances in three years, he only managed to score one more goal for the team before leaving in 2016 after a few loan stints.
Van Wolfswinkel’s role in Leroy Fer’s contentious disallowed goal in an October 2013 goalless draw with Cardiff City is likely what people remember him for the most. He promptly took a throw-in after Fer converted it after Bluebirds keeper David Marshall had savagely kicked the ball out for a Norwich player to be treated. Before referee Michael Jones disallowed the goal, an angry Marshall rounded on the Dutch pair.
Butterfield, Jacob
The Barnsley midfielder’s extraordinary run of play at the beginning of the 2011–12 season garnered a lot of attention, and many praised the Canaries for signing him the following summer. He scored five goals in a season that also won him a call-up to the England U21 squad, making him one of the Tykes’ youngest-ever captains at age 21. Before his season ended prematurely at Elland Road on New Year’s Eve, he was the focus of significant speculation about his future, with many Premier League clubs supposedly keeping an eye on him.
Nevertheless, after his Barnsley contract ended in the summer of 2012, he signed a four-year deal with the Canaries. Despite being benched for games against Everton and Manchester City, he made three appearances in the Capital One and FA Cups during his time at Carrow Road, which was a far cry from his time at Oakwell.
In the summer of 2013, Butterfield left Norwich for Middlesborough for an estimated £600,000 after playing on loan at Bolton Wanderers and Crystal Palace.
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