Under Radar January Signing Edging Norwich Klose to Survival
When Timm Klose was unveiled as a Norwich player, it caught some fans off guard. Much of the January transfer gossip linked Steven Naismith with a move to Carrow Road, with Klose’s arrival flying somewhat under the radar. The Switzerland international penned personal terms on a three-and-a-half year deal the day before Naismith’s signing was confirmed.
With Ivo Pinto also signing for the Canaries in January, Alex Neil’s first port of call was clearly a defence that has, at the time of writing, shipped 54 goals in 31 Premier League fixtures this season. Compared to Newcastle, who spent January failing to address their lacklustre backline, Neil’s decision to invest in the defence could prove to be the defining factor in the business end of the campaign, particularly with Sunderland doing similar with the captures of Lamine Kone and Jan Kirchhoff.
Klose initially struggled to adjust to the rigours of English football, but his recent outings suggest he could well prove to be one of January’s best signings. The 27-year-old has been awarded the WhoScored man of the match award in each of his last three Premier League outings - only Southampton’s Virgil van Dijk (4) has won more of these accolades in England’s top tier in 2016 - with Norwich looking a much more solid side defensively with Klose now performing to the required standard.
Of the five clean sheets Norwich have kept this season, two have come in their last two fixtures as the Canaries secured a vital four points against an underperforming Manchester City and a then-in-form West Brom. Klose’s average rating in the last three league matches is a hugely commendable 8.35; only Van Dijk (8.39) and Harry Kane (8.79) have gained better in that run.
It’s a vast improvement on his opening five appearances for Norwich, where his rating was a lowly 6.47. That, though, comes as little shock, with the Swiss defender needing time to adjust to his new surroundings and teammates. However, with the initial settling in period now over, Klose is beginning to prove why Neil convinced the board to part ways with a rumoured £9m for his services.
It was a hefty sum to spend on any player, particularly one who was struggling to force his way into the Wolfsburg set up, but that fee will look a pittance if he helps keep Norwich up. The stats in fact speak for themselves, with all his defensive numbers improving from the opening five games to the recent three league outings. Tackles (1 to 2.7), interceptions (1.8 to 4), clearances (8.2 to 14.3), shots blocked (1 to 1.7) and aerial duels won per game (3.6 to 5.3) have all increased in that period.
What’s all the more impressive, however, is that in his last three league outings, Klose has played alongside three different centre-backs partners in Russell Martin, Elliott Bennett and Sebastien Bassong. Not only does this point to Klose’s impressive leadership qualities, but a commendable ability to take responsibility for his actions in helping alleviate the danger on the Norwich goal.
With the average number of times possession has been won in the defensive third also increasing (2.2 to 5.3), Klose is maximising the proactive side of his game in order to help the team, with this facet improving following a tricky start to life in England. While his distribution has left a lot to be desired - despite seeing more of the ball, Klose’s accurate passes per game have dropped from 20.4 to 14.3 - the effectiveness of his ability to clear the lines means Norwich goalkeeper John Ruddy has been forced to pick the ball out of his net fewer times with the January arrival in the side.
Indeed, Norwich are conceding fewer goals per game with Klose (1.38) than without (1.87), which further highlights the club’s improved solidity following his arrival from Germany. Any January signing, no matter their ability, can struggle to make to make an immediate impact in the Premier League, particularly a player arriving from a foreign league. Klose was no different, but he has quickly turned a corner a can now be considered of the first names on Neil’s team sheet, such have been his recent outings.
If the Canaries are to stave off relegation, which after their win at West Brom last week is all the more possible, Klose has a vital role to play at the heart of the defence. With their relegation six-pointer with Newcastle on Saturday, the Swiss defender has another chance to prove just how pivotal a player he has quickly become at Carrow Road. If he and his teammates can shut out the Newcastle attack this weekend, then Klose will have once more had a big part to play in dragging Norwich one step closer to Premier League safety.
Has Klose begun to live up to the hefty fee Norwich paid to secure his services? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below
