2006–07 Norwich City F.C. season
Introduction The '''2006–07 season''' was '''Norwich City''''s second consecutive year in the Football League Championship after failing to gain promotion back to the Premier League at the first attempt. This article shows statistics and lists all matches that Norwich City played in the season.
Season overview ===End of the Worthington era===Following the departure of key players Robert Green and Leon McKenzie to West Ham United and Coventry City respectively, Norwich's lack of activity in the summer transfer window was somewhat surprising. Indeed, only one player - Lee Croft, from Manchester City, for a fee in the region of £600,000 - came into the club on a permanent basis. However, despite this and an opening day defeat, the club enjoyed a relatively good start to the season, with three consecutive home wins in the league and progress in the League Cup. This form did not last - having collected just one point from a possible twelve during September, pressure was mounting on manager Nigel Worthington. Following the 3–1 defeat at Plymouth Argyle on 23 September, joint majority shareholders Delia Smith and Michael Wynn-Jones issued a public ultimatum stating that performances must immediately improve.In their next match on 1 October, Norwich slumped to a 4–1 defeat against Burnley at Carrow Road - a game which was televised by Sky Sports. The club announced they had parted company with Worthington just hours after the final whistle.===Grant appointed===Martin Hunter was appointed caretaker manager going into the October international break. His side came out 3–0 winners in a friendly match at King's Lynn, specially arranged for former Norwich midfielder Shaun Carey who had suffered a double fracture of his leg. During the week leading up to the meeting with Queens Park Rangers on 14 October, it emerged that former City player and West Ham coach Peter Grant was to be appointed new manager of ''the Canaries''. He watched from the stands as his new side - still under the guidance of Hunter - drew 3–3 with QPR, conceding a stoppage-time equaliser by Martin Rowlands.Grant's start was encouraging, winning four of his first six matches in full charge. This included beating all three sides relegated from the Premier League the previous season, as well as then league leaders, Cardiff City. However, defeat to local rivals Ipswich Town followed by a run of six defeats in nine through December and January left the club languishing in 17th, with no realistic hopes of reaching the play-offs and just four points above the relegation zone.A key point in the season came on 27 February, in a match against Luton Town at Kenilworth Road. Norwich were behind twice in the game and defeat would have left them in real relegation danger. However, equalisers from emerging striker Chris Martin and defender Jason Shackell, followed by a vital stoppage-time winning free-kick from new signing Simon Lappin lifted City to the relative safety of 16th.Norwich's form in the latter part of the season was very inconsistent, often winning one then losing one. The main bright spot was arguably the emergence of young striker Martin, who scored in four consecutive league games through February and March, reportedly attracting interest from Manchester United. The return of top scorer Robert Earnshaw from injury could not stop a run of three defeats from the last four games, which left City ending an overall disappointing campaign in 16th place and hoping for much better in 2007–08.
Matches ===League=== Round 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 Result0–12–03–20–05–10–33–30–11–31–43–31–01–00–51–11–01–01–31–13–10–11–21–2 Position1910762451014171915111716139121312151516 Round 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 Result2–20–01–01–31–30–12–11–21–13–23–21–20–11–01–00–32–11–22–10–31–10–12–3 Position1517151717171618181616171715151613161515151616====August========September========October========November========December========January========February========March========April========May=======FA Cup=== Round 3 4 4(R) 5 Result4–11–13–20–4===League Cup===
Transfers ===Summer=======In==== Name  Price  FromLee Croft  £600,000  Manchester City====Out==== Name  Price  ToSimon Charlton  Free  Oldham AthleticRobert Green   £2 million  West Ham UnitedLeon McKenzie  £1 million  Coventry City===Winter=======In==== Name  Price  FromLuke Chadwick  Undisclosed  Stoke CityChris Brown  Undisclosed  SunderlandDavid Marshall  Loan  CelticMark Fotheringham  Free  UnattachedSimon Lappin  £100,000  St Mirren====Out==== Name  Price  ToIan Henderson  Loan  Rotherham UnitedCraig Fleming   Free  Rotherham United
Players ===First team squad===:''Squad at end of season. ''===Left club during season===
Board and staff members ===Board members=== Position  Name  NationalityChairman  Roger Munby   Vice Chairman   Barry Skipper   Joint Majority Shareholder  Delia Smith   Joint Majority Shareholder  Michael Wynn-Jones   Director  Michael Foulger   Chief Executive  Neil Doncaster   ===Coaching staff===
League table
Notes
References