Well, in a few hours time we will have completed our first season back in the Premiership. Back, where we belong. It’s been a fantastic campaign which have exceeded expectations most certainly, now is a time to have a quick look back and give out a few awards before trotting off to Carrow Road to cheer the Canaries on.

AUGUST 2011, City began their Premiership campaign with 2 draws and a loss. The performances were promising for certain, with Norwich drawing 1-1 against Wigan and Stoke respectively before losing 3-1 at Stamford Bridge.

MOMENT OF THE MONTH, Grant Holt acrobatically drawing Norwich level at Stamford Bridge. Despite the rest of the match not going to plan, it was a great moment for City fans and felt like we were beginning to signal our arrival back in the big time.

PLAYER OF THE MONTH, John Ruddy took the title for SP with a series of fine saves in the game against Stoke including a memorable penalty stop from ex Ipswich striker Jon Walters. Aside from that he looked a more confident keeper to last season and thoroughly deserved the crown!

September 2011, despite losing 0-1 at home to West Brom in their first game of the 9th month of the year, Norwich fought back with back-to-back victories against Bolton Wanderers and Sunderland. It really helped them slot back nicely to Premiership life, providing a springboard for the months to come!

MOMENT OF THE MONTH, it has to be the 2-1 win at Bolton. We’d had a bit of a struggle to the season, but fought back and got our first 3 points. A scrappy Pilkington strike followed by a lovely Bradley Johnson header gave City the points, despite a second half Petrov penalty for the hosts. And, it was away from home! When do we win away in the Premiership?!?!? Well under Lambert now apparently…

PLAYER OF THE MONTH, Marc Tierney was proving a very useful left-back for the Canaries. The cart-wheeling defender had proved himself to be a very capable defender while excellent when going forwards, providing a lovely assist for Steve Morison’s first goal for Norwich v Sunderland.

October 2011, The Canaries were brave in defeat at Manchester United as the month kicked off. They bounced back immediately at home to Swansea, with Pilkington smashing home a double after missing a sitter at United. They fought to a 1-1 draw at Liverpool, with Grant Holt scoring and John Ruddy making some world-class saves before ending the month against Blackburn. Despite trailing 1-3 with 10 minutes to go, Norwich engaged in their ‘never-say-die’ heroics and equalised with a Grant Holt penalty in stoppage time.

MOMENT OF THE MONTH, Grant Holt thumping home that header at Anfield before celebrating in front of the Kop has to be the winner for me. It’s one of the iconic moments from this season, signalled City’s first points against one of the ‘big boys’ and really showed the league they weren’t here to make up the numbers.

PLAYER OF THE MONTH, Anthony Pilkington had, had a decent month. Despite missing ‘that’ chance at Old Trafford he’d played really well and bounced back with a lovely 2 goals against Swansea. He got a brilliant assist for Grant Holt’s header at Anfield, before helping drive the team onto a point against Blackburn.

November 2011, City only had 3 games in November beginning with a trip to Villa. They were beaten 3-2 despite a wonderful Pilkington free-kick. Next up was hosting Arsenal, despite Norwich taking the lead they were beaten 1-2. They ended the month with a battling 2-1 win over fellow promoted side QPR, with Grant Holt getting the winner!

MOMENT OF THE MONTH, Pilkington’s free-kick against Villa gets it for me. It was just total class against Shay Given, one of the best keepers in the league. It flew into the top corner, it’s only a shame it didn’t count for me.

PLAYER OF THE MONTH, Steve Morison was proving himself to be a valuable asset to his team. 2 goals and some excellent performances against QPR especially caught the eye. When you’re keeping Grant Holt out of the side, you must have something about you!

December 2011, The Christmas month opened in rather depressing style as City were thrashed 5-1 at Man City. Though, to be fair to them, it did flatter the hosts who were given a rough old ride by Lambert’s men. They bounced back immediately with a brilliant 4-2 win at home to Newcastle, before draws at Everton and Wolves. They were well beaten 2-0 at home to Spurs, before ending the year with a last minute Jackson header to level against Fulham.

MOMENT OF THE MONTH, Simeon Jackson’s thumping header against Fulham on 90+4 minutes takes it for me. Mainly as it just summed up the year we’d had, all those late goals! It was a fitting way to end 2011 for Norwich, who had, had one hell of a ride!

PLAYER OF THE MONTH, Grant Holt was looking back to his hassling best despite flickering in and out of the first team picture. He scored a double against the Toon, before a skilful leveller against Everton. It was a good month for Holt, who was clearly working hard to adapt to Premier League life!

January 2012, Norwich picked up their first clean-sheet of the season at home to Chelsea in front of the SKY TV cameras. They started the month with a 2-1 win at QPR, before a thumping 4-1 victory over Burnley in the FA Cup. They got another win away at West Brom 2-1, before that Chelsea game which was followed by another trip to West Brom in the FA Cup, where City again won 2-1.

MOMENT OF THE MONTH, Steve Morison thumping home the winner at QPR! You just felt it was a big, big win for the Canaries and it proved to be – setting up arguably their best month of the season results wise. They’d controlled the game for long periods but hadn’t found that goal, though Morison stepped up and did the damage.

PLAYER OF THE MONTH, John Ruddy was my man again. He made a cracking save away at QPR, before great performances against Chelsea and West Brom. He was really proving to be a valuable asset in goal and was winning City plenty of points along the way.

February 2012, Despite a disappointing 3-0 defeat to Sunderland, Norwich fought back with wins v Bolton and Swansea. Though things unravelled a tad with a poor 2-1 home loss to Leicester in the FA Cup, followed by a 2-1 defeat to Manchester United – though Norwich were brilliant and the last gasp Giggs goal was a killer.

MOMENT OF THE MONTH, I’m torn between Holt’s wonder strike against United and that 3-2 win over Swansea. The Swansea game is here due to all the media pundits going gaga over the Welsh side, whilst City were doing just as well. They outplayed their hosts and were truly brilliant – well worth the win!

PLAYER OF THE MONTH, Grant Holt was a worthy winner with some sterling displays. The big man had got himself back in the starting eleven now and a double against Swansea before that goal v United were highlights amongst some cracking performances.

March 2012, This was a difficult month for Norwich with the Canaries picking up 4 points from a possible 15. It started with an insomnia-curing 1-0 defeat to Stoke, before a 1-1 draw at home to Wigan. Next up was a trip to Newcastle where City went down 1-0 again, before they finished the month with a 2-1 home win to Wolves and 2-1 away defeat to Fulham.

MOMENT OF THE MONTH, Grant Holt’s messi-esque goal against Wolves was a cracker. If Peter Crouch hadn’t walloped in a wonder-strike against Man City that weekend, more would have been made of it for sure. He brilliantly lofted the ball over the keeper before nodding home, immediately after Wolves had taken the lead.

PLAYER OF THE MONTH, John Ruddy is probably a fair winner in terms of the month as a whole. New signing Jonny Howson impressed against Wolves, but Ruddy made some cracking saves against Stoke, Wigan, Newcastle and Fulham – all keeping the Canaries in the game at important points. He’d had a busy month but really flourished along the way.

April 2012, The month just gone started well with a terrific 2-2 draw at home to Everton with Howson grabbing his first goal. This was followed by a brilliant 2-1 win at Spurs, but things slumped as Norwich were thrashed 6-1 at home to Man City before defeats at Blackburn, 2-0, and at home to Liverpool, 3-0.

MOMENT OF THE MONTH, Elliott Bennett lashing home that super strike at Spurs to seal a 2-1 win. Norwich had been the better side but pegged back, denied some penalties but deservedly got the win as Bennett thumped that home. Like Holt’s Liverpool strike, it was one to remember and will be one of the stand-out moments from this campaign.

PLAYER OF THE MONTH, Elliott Bennett would take the title for working his socks off each game. He got his first goal against Spurs which was a cracker, but his overall approach to each game saw him really give it his all. He gave full-backs a torrid time but too, worked hard to get back and defend for his side.

May 2012, after a thrilling 3-3 draw against Arsenal, Norwich are set to complete their Premiership season at home to Aston Villa. All being well it’ll be a game to remember for all the right reasons and a fantastic way to end the campaign.

MOMENT OF THE MONTH, Steve Morison drilling home an 85th minute equaliser at the Emirates. This was after City had blown a 2-1 lead to trail 3-2! Howson’s cracking turn and delightful pass set up the City striker, who brilliantly found the far corner to silence his doubters.

PLAYER OF THE SEASON, John Ruddy takes the crown for me. He’s been immense for us all season, making some brilliant saves – Liverpool away, Everton away, Chelsea home and Arsenal away to name a few. The big man has commanded his area to great effect this campaign and really come on leaps and bounds from last season. He’s one of the best English keepers in the league and Roy Hodgson could do a lot worse than handing Ruddy a call-up for the Euros in the Summer.

And that will be that. Norwich City, 2011/2012, Norwich City, under Paul Lambert – put it whatever way you want, we just can’t get enough!

In: Cory Varney Thread By: Supermarket Prodigy [408 ] Posted: 375 days ago