On Saturday they become the latest Premier League team to try and end the unbeaten start of Manchester City - but is there any hope they can actually win?
City have won all six home games this season and are just 2/11 with the bookies to make that seven straight wins.
I'm sure Paul Lambert won't be reading this blog looking for tactical inspiration, but, based on Norwich's three defeats at the hands of big guns Chelsea, Man United and Arsenal, here are three tactics we could deploy in an attempt to get something from a game that nobody gives us a chance of winning.
1. Play with wing backs
Manchester City spread the play out wide and many of their goals come from wide angles. Micah Richards has been outstanding on the right this season and had so much time and space on the ball in City's last win at home in the top flight, against Newcastle, scoring one and winning a penalty. With James Milner, Adam Johnson and David Silva possibly on the pitch too Man City will seek to exlpoit the flanks.
The answer could be a back five, which Paul Lambert deployed at Chelsea in August. I'd suggest it consists of Russell Martin, Leon Barnett and Kyle Naughton in the middle unless Zak Whitbread or Daniel Ayala are rushed back after their appearances against Dereham in the Norfolk Senior Cup. I'd put Marc Tierney on the left to have a go at Micah Richards and play Elliott Bennett on the right - he's quick and has impressed me more in his defensive work than any other aspect of his game.
WHERE WE'VE SEEN THIS WORK: Chelsea away. Sure we were 1-0 down after five minutes, but we got back on level terms and matched Chelsea stride for stride while both sides had 11 players on the pitch.
2. Keep five across the middle
The answer could be a back five, which Paul Lambert deployed at Chelsea in August. I'd suggest it consists of Russell Martin, Leon Barnett and Kyle Naughton in the middle unless Zak Whitbread or Daniel Ayala are rushed back after their appearances against Dereham in the Norfolk Senior Cup. I'd put Marc Tierney on the left to have a go at Micah Richards and play Elliott Bennett on the right - he's quick and has impressed me more in his defensive work than any other aspect of his game.
WHERE WE'VE SEEN THIS WORK: Chelsea away. Sure we were 1-0 down after five minutes, but we got back on level terms and matched Chelsea stride for stride while both sides had 11 players on the pitch.
2. Keep five across the middle
While wing backs would give The Canaries extra width, another option is to pack the midfield and, to coin a footballing phrase, park the bus. I can't see Wes Hoolahan not playing against Man City if we hope to get anything out of the game, but would think Fox, Johnson, Crofts and even someone like Simon Lappin could form a fairly solid, if unspectacular midfield in front of the back four. Five across midfield was deployed at Old Trafford where Steve Morison found little joy in the first half, yet it contributed to a superb defensive performance.
I don't think we'll see both Anthony Pilkington and Hoolahan start against the league leaders - in my view they are both luxury players in this sort of game.
WHERE WE'VE SEEN THIS WORK: Arsenal at home. We were never really in the game once Arsenal equalised, but restricted their midfield movement with five across the middle. When Wes Hoolahan was taken off and replaced by Grant Holt, we lost our shape and our four in the middle handed The Gunners a big advantage with more space to operate.
WHERE WE'VE SEEN THIS WORK: Arsenal at home. We were never really in the game once Arsenal equalised, but restricted their midfield movement with five across the middle. When Wes Hoolahan was taken off and replaced by Grant Holt, we lost our shape and our four in the middle handed The Gunners a big advantage with more space to operate.
3. Play with no striker
Not starting with an out-and-out striker is unlikely, but a combination of plans one and two is to play four at the back, three defensive midfielders and three players in front of them. Morison did his best work at Old Trafford out on the right and rather than having him miles up front chasing knock downs that may end up with the ball simply back in Manchester City's possession, it might be an idea to play him as an attacking midfielder on the right with, say, Hoolahan in the middle and a pacey outlet in Simeon Jackson on the left.That way we might win more corners, which is out most likely source of a goal on Saturday in my opinion. Norwich have scored a high percentage of goals from headers this season and the leaders tend to leak a goal a game at the moment.
WHERE WE'VE SEEN THIS WORK: Manchester United away. We didn't do much in the first half at Old Trafford with Morison chasing elusive knockdowns, but could have taken the lead in the second half when he moved to the right. A similar approach against Man City might be our best hope of both frustrating the hosts and nicking something on the break.
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