5 players that Norwich City need to get rid of this summer

Following relegation, Norwich City’s attentions have now turned to preparing for life in the Championship. Having experienced many a relegation before, Norwich fans know better than most that it usually comes with a mass exodus of players. Whether it be losing our key players for big money, or willingly offloading our deadwood, a large overhaul of personnel is inevitable. Ultimately, it will be down to Alex Neil to decide who fits into this ‘deadwood’ category, and here are 5 players I hope he seeks to shift:

Sebastien Bassong

Sebastien Bassong has had a strange Norwich career. Player of the season in 2012/13, he played a crucial role in leading City to their highest league position in recent years. He was also an important figure in 2014/15’s promotion - it was his return to the side, along with the capture of Alex Neil, that triggered a huge, mid-season change of fortunes. However, at the same time, he has also contributed to two Premier League relegations, with our most recent one being characterised by his ineptitude. With this in mind, I think it is probably best for both parties that he moves on, despite him being, on his day, a more than capable Championship defender. During our final game of the season at Everton, his entrance as a second-half substitute was jeered by the traveling City supporters, whilst every completed pass was greeted with sarcastic cheers. When the relationship with the fans reaches such a stage I feel that there is only one way to go: the exit door.

Youssouf Mulumbu

Ah, Youssouf Mulumbu. The disappointment of the season. When he joined City on a free transfer in the summer, I, and many other Norwich fans, genuinely believed that he would prove to be one of the bargains on the season. West Brom fans had nothing but good things to say about him and by all accounts he was going to effectively be an Alex Tettey upgrade. As it turned out, however, we couldn’t have been more wrong. Making just 5 Premier League appearances it is perhaps harsh to judge, but his display at Aston Villa in our woeful 2-0 defeat was one of the worst I have ever seen from a City player (and he has a lot of competition!). Completely off the pace, uninterested and seemingly incapable of passing to a yellow shirt - it was no surprise that he has not featured again since. Reports suggest that he is one of our highest earners and, with this in mind, the sooner we can shift his services, the better.

Tony Andreu

The man, the myth, the legend. Ask Norwich City fans, “Who is Tony Andreu?” and the majority would be stumped for an answer. The ‘Fabregas’ of the SPL followed Alex Neil from Hamilton in early 2015 and has, but for 6 cameo appearances, barely been seen since. But for one very brief appearance in the Capital One Cup tie at Rotherham in August, he’s not featured for City in over a year and when he has he has showed absolutely nothing to suggest that he has anything to offer to the side - whether it be in the Premier League or the Championship. A return to the doldrums of Scottish football awaits for the Frenchman.

Ricky van Wolfswinkel

Rather unbelievably, infamous flop Ricky van Wolfswinkel is still at the club - despite playing just once for City in the last 2 years. The majority of Norwich fans will admit a liking to Ricky and his dashing looks, whilst the romantic inside me can still envisage him banging in the goals and becoming a Canary hero but, being honest, it really is time for him to move on. Alex Neil has already run the rule over Ricky when he shipped him out to Real Betis at the beginning of last season and I doubt that one La Liga goal in 17 appearances has changed the Scots view. However emotional the final goodbye may be, the time has surely come to accept a huge loss and say goodbye to the Wolf.

Kyle Lafferty

Kyle Lafferty - the player who has managed to hugely benefit from never, ever playing. In what I now call the ‘Luciano Becchio effect’, Lafferty’s consistent omission over the past year has resulted in fans clamouring for his selection with the belief that he will be some sort of goal-scoring saviour. The reality is that, at the end of the day, he is still Kyle Lafferty. The same Kyle Lafferty who scored just one goal in 19 appearances during our last season in the Championship, and, who has proven on numerous occasions throughout his career to, quite simply, not be a very good footballer. And no, a few goals against the likes of the Faroe Islands does not change that. Get rid.