Paddy's Pointers: Five observations from the Canaries' abject 3-0 Premier League defeat against Newcastle United

1. Shambles

When the Newcastle fans are able to sit back in the sunshine and break out the mocking ‘Ole’ chants with 55 minutes on the clock, you know things are bleak. By that stage Norwich were down and out.

When trying to avoid finishing plumb last, in a race to the bottom with Watford, is the only tangible element now left in their grasp over the remaining five league games, you know things are bleak.

When defenders are unable to track a runner in their box, or midfielders even show any intensity to go and press, as they failed to do for the opening two Newcastle goals, you know things are bleak.

But maybe the biggest signal was the reaction to another cheap goal dismissively lobbed over Tim Krul from Bruno Guimaraes for the Magpies’ match-sealing effort.

The Brazilian was alive to the possibilities, as the former Newcastle keeper tried a high tariff short pass into Kenny McLean.

The Scot just stood and stared back at Krul as the ball hit the home net, who in turn raised an arm but held McLean’s stare. There was more animation shown by Dean Smith, who clasped hands to his head with an anguished look on his features.

There was no confrontation between Krul or McLean. Or the threat of one. No aggression, no visible anger. Just resignation.

It was as if they could not even muster a verbal barb or two. The fight has gone, the enduring vulnerability across this group at this highest level back again after three games that suggested the worst may be over.

A tenth Premier League win since Christmas underlined Newcastle are the top flight’s form horses. But this must rank as their easiest three points of the season.

2. Have a look in the mirror

A basic lack of confidence? Or something deeper? Even if privately those Norwich players already felt the game was up, in terms of Premier League survival, where was the fight or the heart or the character when a genuinely bright opening quarter dissolved into a procession for Newcastle? Or even just some personal professional pride.

That must be one of the most disheartening aspects for Smith.

This is a team now cast in his image, even if the personnel were inherited from Daniel Farke and Stuart Webber. Who dominated the pre-match headlines with an ill-timed national media interview that poured petrol not soothing balm on the embers of this campaign.

Mathias Normann looked in the mood in that opening salvo. But after what appeared a rap on the top of his right boot in some close quarters action he disappeared into the shadows. With him went any semblance of anything approaching parity across that midfield area.

Underlined by how easily Normann and pals were played around for a second Newcastle goal which, admittedly, owed a huge amount to a fortunate ricochet from Grant Hanley’s last-ditch attempt at a tackle on Jacob Murphy that spiralled towards Joelinton.

It did not require the gift lavished on Guimaraes shortly after the interval to feel the game was already up.

That in itself is an indictment of this Norwich collective. They managed it against an equally brittle Manchester United squad the previous weekend. Before Norwich succumbed again.

Smith will know the rebuild is not only about sourcing quality, but desire and a will to resist and handle adversity.

3. Get them in now, Deano

The sight of Jonny Rowe running at Newcastle defenders before slipping in passes for Teemu Pukki in the second half now needs to become the norm between here and the end of another wretched Premier League tour.

Likewise, Christos Tzolis got more top flight minutes. A pair of young, inexperienced but one suspects fearless youngsters who want their chance. This season has gone, Smith needs to accelerate his planning for the next one.

In Rowe and Tzolis he at least possesses two attacking options who may be raw, who may be naive but who will bring an energy and an enthusiasm to this tired and lifeless offering.

In all probability it may risk the pursuit of a positive result or two in what remains, but this is surely now about the bigger picture. Not just in terms of what happens on the park, but more importantly off it.

The smattering of boos at full-time were lacking any venom. Why should City fans show any passion when it was lacking from those in green and yellow. There is an end of era feel around the football club. That will take some shifting.

4. Shot-shy

For a brace against both Burnley and Manchester United, albeit the latter in a losing effort, to constitute a major spike in the Canaries’ attacking productivity tells you how anaemic the goalscoring output has been this season.

City have mustered 22 in 33 Premier League games. That is a dreadful tally which would be considerably poorer but for the goalscoring instincts of Pukki.

Kieran Dowell had two chances before the floodgates opened you would expect a player of his technical ability to at least hit the target.

Granted, Pukki’s cutback for the second one was slightly behind him. It was Dowell who came closest to a home goal with a curling 20-yard free kick Martin Dubravka had to claw out, as it arrowed towards his top corner. That was as busy as it got for the Magpies’ stopper.

At the other end, Joelinton match his season tally of two goals inside the space of six minutes. Smith at his pre-match press call talked about getting into better shooting positions. He also highlighted the goal tally of Milot Rashica, who scored his solitary strike against Liverpool.

The Kosovan international was anonymous in this latest woeful attacking offering from the Canaries. For all the pace and direct thrust he has routinely failed to deliver the goods in the final third. In that he is not alone.

News of a 12 month option taken up on Pukki during the week was a positive symbol. There still remains a summer transfer window to navigate, given the Finn’s double figure league tally will surely alert potential suitors.

But it will take more than relying on the main man for another Championship haul to get this squad firing.

5. A work in progress?

Dimi Giannoulis merited his place in the starting line up ahead of Brandon Williams after a trio of encouraging Premier League displays.

But it was enlightening again to hear Smith on Friday focus not on the attacking dimension that appears to come so naturally to the Greek international. Smith opted to highlight the defensive improvement, and the on going work at Colney to improve the general decision-making of City’s defenders, and Giannoulis in particular.

That vulnerability has been evident for the majority of his Carrow Road career. It was evident again in a damaging first half against the Magpies.

There was an early warning seven minutes in, when he totally lost Murphy who latched onto Guimaraes’ raking crossfield ball and with Krul committed guided his volley wide of the far post.

That lack of defensive awareness was at the heart of the visitors’ opener. Murphy again veered around the back of Giannoulis to shovel on to Alain Saint-Maximin who squared for Joelinton to finish into the top corner. It was a clinical strike but a cheap concession.

Giannoulis is an interesting case study for what comes next. When Williams was in possession of the shirt, you would have got long odds on him staying on board for a Championship return.

Revealing also Smith was at QPR on Easter Monday to run the rule over Sam McCallum. But should Giannoulis remain in the building there is clearly plenty of work to do to supplement his impressive attacking intent.