How ‘unselectable’ Buendia has fired Norwich’s revival
Farke was critical of his attitude in September but the Argentine playmaker has inspired promotion charge
Norwich City’s passage to the Premier League has appeared so smooth in recent months that it is easy to forget the initial path they charted was more North Sea than Norfolk Broads.
It was in September, following a 1-0 defeat by Bournemouth, that Daniel Farke was asked why Emiliano Buendia had been unexpectedly left out of the match-day squad. His early-season injuries had cleared and the midfielder was available but nowhere to be seen.
The manager did not hold back: “I’d rather play our kit man than players who are not disciplined or don’t know their responsibility to our supporters. I didn’t have the feeling with Emi or Todd [Cantwell] this week that they were willing to show their desire to defend this yellow shirt or concentrate in training.”
Buendia had been longing for a Premier League move in the wake of Norwich’s dismal relegation last season. Not for the first time, transfer speculation had proved problematic. But fast forward six months and Buendia is on the cusp of having his top-flight wish granted without having to look beyond Carrow Road.
On a 13-game unbeaten streak and top of the Championship, Norwich are a Premier League side in all but name. Promotion could be confirmed this afternoon if Brentford and Swansea fail to win. If their rivals do not comply then Farke’s side can take matters into their own hands with victory against Bournemouth tonight.
It has been a remarkable turnaround for a club who were relegated with just 21 points last season. And at the heart of the great revival is Buendia, the Argentine who has undergone his own transformation from unselectable wantaway to the league’s standout player.
When Buendia came second in a magazine poll of the Championship’s best players, he was understood to be put out at finishing behind Brentford’s Ivan Toney – and he had a point. While Toney’s 29-goal haul has been impressive, Buendia’s own numbers are staggering. He tops the Championship list for chances created from open play with 87. To put that into context, second-placed Blackburn’s Harvey Elliott has 57.
With a brief stint at Real Madrid’s academy under Buendia’s belt in his pre-teenage years, Norwich had hoped to unearth a gem when they plucked him from the Spanish second tier for £1.5million in 2018. Now, aged 24, there is a sense that something has truly clicked.
“Double figures in goals, double figures in assists, fantastic in his workload, fantastic mentality, works his socks off for the team,” Farke told The Daily Telegraph when asked how important Buendia had been this campaign. “He’s still young but he’s grown in terms of his maturity. He plays an influential role and is a key part of this success.”
Far from a lone figure in Norwich’s success this season, Buendia has formed lethal combinations with Teemu Pukki in front of goal and Max Aarons – who came close to a surprise move to Barcelona last autumn – on the right flank as Farke has fine-tuned his desired shortpassing style.
Not only have his side had more possession and attempted over 100 shots more than any other Championship team, they have done so in eye-catching fashion. Their 542 occasions of stringing 10 or more passes together eclipses the next best of 387. Their long-ball tally is also the lowest in the league. In the recent 7-0 win over Huddersfield, they played 63 consecutive passes before the chance of a shot was squandered at the final opportunity.
Perhaps time will again expose them as a team simply too good for the Championship but not quite up to the Premier League challenge. Regardless, bouncing back in such style is some achievement.
“Everyone wants to be part of the best league in the world,” Farke said. “We didn’t come down with a Premier League team – we were allowed to play one season at that level. We didn’t spend an unbelievable amount to get back. We had to earn money with the impact of Covid. To finish in the top two would be a great achievement and one we can all be proud of.”