Scouting Report: Norwich City (A)

The manager

Norwich’s current manager is Daniel Farke. The 41 year-old has been in charge of the Canaries since the beginning of this season having replaced the sacked Alex Neil last summer. This is the German’s first job as manager of a English club.

Managerial history

Farke began his managerial career at SV Lippstadt where managed over 122 games during a six year spell between 2009 and 2015. Interestingly, before he became the SV Lippstadt manager, Farke had a role as sporting director at the club.

Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images

His next job saw him become the manager of Borussia Dortmund II, the reserve side of the German giants.

He managed over 56 games in a two year spell, before accepting the Norwich job.

Style of play

Farke likes to play either a 4-1-4-1, a 3-4-1-2, a 3-5-2 or a 4-2-3-1 formation. The German has incorporated the same philosophy that Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp and Huddersfield manager David Wagner use, which is fast, attacking possession football. However, when their opponents have the ball they press to win it back as soon as possible.

During the horror show at Wolves, Reading couldn't string two passes together. This meant they gave the ball away in midfield, which allowed their opponents to win possession back and launch another attack at the Royals goal.

If Jaap Stam’s men are not careful then they could face another repeat of what happened on Tuesday night.

Top goal-scorer

Norwich’s current leading scorer is James Maddison who has scored 12 goals in 35 appearances. He scored a wonderful free-kick in the reverse fixture as his side beat Reading 2-1 at the Madejski Stadium.

Club captain and current longest serving player

The Canaries’ current captain is Ivo Pinto. The Portuguese man has been at the club since completing a move from Croatian side Dinamo Zagreb in January 2016. He has made 82 appearances for Norwich, scoring two goals.

On the other hand, the current longest serving player for Norwich is Wes Hoolahan. The attacking midfielder has been at Carrow Road since completing a move from Blackpool in the summer of 2008. He has gone to make over 344 appearances, scoring 54 goals for the club.

Played for both

Chris Martin

Reading striker Chris Martin started his playing career at Norwich having come through the Canaries’ academy.

He made over 55 appearances for the club, scoring eight goals including one against Reading, when the sides drew 3-3 at the Madejski Stadium in the 2010/11 season.

Photo by Pete Norton/Getty Images

Martin was eventually sold to Derby, before completing a loan move to Fulham last season. After starting this current campaign at the Rams, the striker completed another loan move to Reading at the end of the January transfer window having been deemed surplus to requirements by Derby manager Gary Rowett.

Key man

The key man that Reading fans will need to keep an eye on is Nelson Oliveira. Oliveira will be a familiar name to Royals fans having been heavily linked with a move to RG2 over the summer. There were rumours that the Norwich board accepted an offer from Reading, before Daniel Farke blocked the move.

Oliveira has a fantastic goal-scoring record against the Royals having scored four goals in three appearances. Whenever he’s lined up against Reading, he's tended to find the net.

He has had an okay season goal-wise with eight goals in 29 appearances.

However, if given time and space Oliveira has the ability to get shots away on goal. He has so far averaged 3.3 shots per game which is the second best in Championship. Only Ollie Watkins of Brentford (3.5) has averaged more.

Likely line-up

Norwich manager Daniel Farke could make changes following his side's 1-1 draw at Barnsley.

Nelson Oliveira could return having missed the game in midweek, while Harrison Reed may return from injury to start the match.

Here’s how the Canaries could line up (3-5-2).

Angus Gunn (GK); Christoph Zimmermann, Grant Hanley, Timm Klose; Ivan Pinto, Mario Vrancic, James Maddison, Harrison Reed, James Husband; Nelson Oliveira, Josh Murphy.