Danny Batth, a former Sunderland defender who was named in the Championship’s team of the season last year, must have been frustrated as he watched his new team, Norwich City, struggle in a match against his former club. Batth joined Norwich City after being frozen out of the starting line-up at Sunderland due to contractual complications. Despite Norwich’s defensive troubles, Batth has yet to start for his new club, while Ben Gibson and Shane Duffy continue to make errors in the centre-back positions. Norwich City has conceded the joint-most goals in the division this season.
Batth had been given a hero’s welcome by Sunderland fans just hours before watching his new team’s disappointing performance. He had also turned down interest from Blackburn Rovers to join Norwich City. However, he may regret that decision if he continues to be passed over by manager David Wagner. There are concerns that Batth’s signing, along with other older players, has hindered the development of younger players like Jaden Warner.
Despite his lack of playing time, Batth was brought to Norwich City for a reason, potentially as a depth option for the defensive ranks. However, his underutilization sends a damaging message to the rest of the team, encouraging a culture of mistakes and a sense of protection. Wagner has admitted that Duffy was at fault for the goals conceded against Sunderland, but it remains to be seen if Batth will get a chance to prove himself in upcoming matches.
Batth still has a significant portion of his contract left, but it is increasingly unlikely that the club will trigger a 12-month option next summer. His signing has been criticized as misguided and under-utilized, although the fault may lie with Wagner rather than Batth himself. There is still time for Batth to turn his Norwich City career around, but doubts remain about whether he can do so under the current manager.
