In the summer, Norwich City lured Liam Manning from Bristol City, partly due to insufficient support at the Robins. At Norwich, Manning has received significant backing, with the club signing young talents like Pelle Mattsson (24), Jacob Wright (19), Papa Diallo (21), Mathias Kvistgaarden (23), and Javon Makama (21) to strengthen the squad.
However, results have been disappointing, with Norwich winning only two of their seven league matches, leaving them stuck in mid-table after a recent 1-1 draw at Stoke City. Former EFL player Darren Huckerby has criticized the team’s lack of creativity and dynamism, arguing that the significant investment in young players means they should be ready to perform in the Championship immediately, not in the distant future. Huckerby emphasized on X that Manning needs these players to deliver consistently now, stating, “We’ve paid substantial money for some of our younger players, that doesn’t give them a pass not to be physically or mentally ready to play Championship football. No manager can afford to wait months to see if they come good, he needs his best players now, week in week out!” Norwich’s form has been poor, with just one win in their last six games across all competitions, including an EFL Cup exit to Southampton. Tough fixtures lie ahead, with West Brom at home, a derby against Ipswich Town away, and a match against Manning’s former club, Bristol City, after the October international break.