Former Ipswich Town captain Matt Holland has been impressed with Norwich City’s Premier League performances this season, but believes the Canaries will be relegated.
Daniel Farke’s side resume their season at home to Southampton Friday night but are currently bottom of the pile, six points from safety with nine games remaining.
Holland has seen plenty of the Blues’ big rivals this season due to his work in the media and has been impressed with Farke’s side, even if those performances haven’t translated into results.
He expects them to be relegated back to the Championship, though.
“Put this on record, I’ve got sympathy for Norwich because I’ve watched them so many times and have been impressed with them,” Holland told talkSPORT’s Gameday Podcast.
“I was at Carrow Road to watch them beat Man City (3-2 in September). Man City press you, press you, press you and you’ve got to be good to play through that press. Norwich played through that press and deservedly beat them.
“Norwich are a talented side and have a lot of young players who are going to be courted by other teams in the Premier League if they do go down. There’s Max Aarons, Todd Cantwell, (Emi) Buendia... the list goes on. Jamal Lewis, too.
“I’ve been really impressed with them but here’s the caveat, they’re going down. They’ve won five all season and have to win five of the last nine games. The first two against Southampton and Everton at Carrow Road are absolutely vital to give themselves a fighting chance.
“For them to win five out of the last nine is a tall order and highly unlikely, so I’ve got Norwich going down.”
Holland faced Norwich eight times as an Ipswich player, winning twice, drawing three times and losing the other three. His first victory, in 1998, saw the Blues hammer their Norfolk rivals 5-0 at Portman Road.
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