In the recently played match between Sunderland and Norwich, the stark contrast between the two teams was evident. Sunderland dominated possession, passes, shots, and expected goals, while Norwich struggled to generate controlled attacks and relied on luck to create chances. Sunderland displayed an aggressive press and fluidity within a clear structure, while Norwich’s new formation was passive and ineffective.
Norwich made a formation change for the match, but still transitioned into their usual deep build-up shape. However, they relied on going long to exploit the space created by Sunderland’s aggressive press, which made it difficult for them to generate controlled attacks. Sunderland, on the other hand, created a structured 4-2-4-1 shape in their deep build-up, with frequent positional interchanges and rotations that gave them advantages in terms of positioning and numbers.
While Sunderland displayed fluidity and a clear structure, Norwich’s passivity and lack of aggression in their press allowed the hosts to create multiple chances. Norwich’s inefficacy in possession and their passive press represented the latest installment of their negative game-plans under head coach David Wagner. This contrasted with Sunderland, who had a clear identity and a young starting eleven.
The issues at Norwich go beyond just Wagner, as there seems to be a disconnect between the team’s performance and the vision set by sporting director Stuart Webber. The match against Sunderland highlighted the shortcomings of Norwich’s approach and raises questions about the team’s direction. While Wagner may be responsible for the team’s struggles, there is also sympathy for him considering the challenges he faces.
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