Norwich City Championship Odds: Is Manning the man?

Norwich City are a club that have big aspirations to compete for promotion this season, having made a mangerial change this summer. With sporting director Ben Knapper overseeing things, they poached Liam Manning from Bristol City after the decision to part ways with Johannes Hoff Thorup at the back-end of last season. 

With new owners and some big sales, it feels like the Canaries finally have a bit of money to spend, and Manning will hope to garner a repeat of his 2024/25 season, which saw him take Bristol City into the play-offs. Below you can find the Norwich City Championship Odds, featuring team news and betting tips. 

It feels like the East Anglian club have finally transitioned away from the Delia Smith/Daniel Farke/Stuart Webber trifecta that have been associated with the club for so long. Norfolk Holdings completed their takeover of the club in March of this year, as Delia and her husband - who have been fine custodians of this club - stood down from the board. 

Farke and Webber were a wonderful duo that took the Canaries to the Premier League twice, but Knapper feels like a breath of fresh air that after a testing season last term, can finally drive the club onwards. I’m excited about the prospect of the upcoming campaign under Manning at Carrow Road.

Championship Odds

Transfer business

In: Mathias Kvistgaarden (£7.5m), Papa Amadou Diallo (£4.5m), Mirko Topic (£3m), Jacob Wright (£2.5m), Vladan Kovacevic (£2m), Jakov Medic (£1.5m), Jovon Makamba (£1m), Harry Darling, Jeffrey Schlupp, Louie Molden (all free). 

Out: Jon Rowe (£14m), Borja Sainz (£13m), Jacob Lungi Sorensen and Angus Gunn (free), Vincente Reyes (loan).

At the time of writing, Josh Sargent remains a Norwich City player. He is arguably the best striker in the Championship and is almost guaranteed to score 18+ goals if he can remain fit over the course of 40+ matches. 

With the money rolling in for Borja Sainz and Jon Rowe, Norwich have aggressively spent. Mathias Kvistgaarden looks like a really exciting forward who could step up if Sargent does depart, while they stole 21-year-old Papa Amadou Diallo from the clutches of Watford for a chunky fee. 

Jacob Wright could be a gem having done well on loan from Man City last term, while Harry Darling and Jeffrey Schlupp on frees are pretty solid additions, with great experience. Mirko Topic, Vladan Kovacevic and Jakov Medic are all unknown quantities but you have to trust Norwich’s recruitment to pick out a couple of gems. 

It’s all rather exciting, and Manning probably has enough on his CV to suggest Norwich will be in line for a play-off push. 

Key Player: Josh Sargent

It’s all about the American - if he stays at the club. Sargent has proven himself to be the finest finisher in the division in recent years, hitting 13, 16 and 15 league goals in his last three Championship campaigns. It feels as though his time at Carrow Road was coming to an end but as it stands, no offer has materialised for his services. 

His injury record may put suitors off, as he hasn’t managed more than 30 Championship appearances in either of the last two seasons, but perhaps Manning can manage his minutes more effectively, especially with the arrival of Kvistgaarden. He needs to be carefully rotated, and in recent years it feels like he has been used excessively by the Canaries because of his importance to the team. 

With a bit more care, if he stays around, the Golden Boot isn’t out of the question.

Prediction: 9th

Norwich are definitely play-off contenders this year and I’m expecting serious progress from the Canaries - but I just have them missing out. I believe the bar will be far higher than the 70 points we have seen over the last two seasons, and although Norwich might post a tally in that region, I just think there are some stronger sides above them.

Football Odds

I know Manning has done well at Bristol City and Oxford United, but I do think his stock has perhaps been inflated by the performance last season. Bristol City got in the play-offs for the first time in donkey’s years, but they only registered 68 points - and then they got hammered 6-0 by Sheffield United in the semi-final. 

He’s a good manager at this level, but I think coming into a new club is tough and the overhaul of this squad has been large. If things go well, mark Norwich down for a top-six finish, but I just have more faith in some of the teams above them this term. 

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