City's salvation this season is likely to come in many shapes and sizes this season – one of whom might be the 6ft 1in frame of Middlesbrough's Jonathan Grounds.
That the Canaries need a fresh face – or three – at the heart of their defence is not in question.
Nor is the fact that they needed an extra few inches height-wise, either.
After conceding two more soft goals from the most bulk-standard of set-piece plays at Crystal Palace over Christmas, even Gary Doherty admitted as much.
City simply don't have the physical frames that you require to effectively defend in this division.
Not every team is as direct as a Stoke; there is more football being played than many a critic might give the Championship credit for.
But that all said, the division doesn't do small. It likes big.
Which is why when Norwich walked away with the title they had a Malky Mackay here, a Iwan Roberts there.
They also, memorably, had a Peter Crouch there for three months as well as a Matty Svensson and a Damien Francis.
Neither towered over anyone in a Crouch-like fashion, but both were still pretty solid six-foot units – the type that could do a job defending their own penalty area just as much as they could attacking someone else's.
And that's where, for me, this particular team suffers.
It's small. It lacks height and inches.
Particularly when it comes to
defending set-plays in your own penalty area, that's when you realise that a midfield comprising of Wes Hoolahan, Matty Pattison, Lee Croft and Mark Fotheringham isn't going to be scrapping it out in the air with anyone of a six-foot two variety.
Nor will a Jamie Cureton, an Arturo Lupoli or a Jon Otsemobor. Or, indeed, a Ryan Bertrand.
Sammy Clingan and Darel Russell have slightly more height to them, but they are not what you would deem 'marines' in Glenn Roeder's vision of the term.
Carl Cort fits that bill, just as Dickson Etuhu and Francis did; and just before anyone makes any comment about being 'colour-coded' on this, Frank Lampard is a marine – as too will be Jonjo Shelvey.
The kid's got all the ability in the world.
But, above all, he has the frame, the power and the physique to make the most of those God-given talents.
And that's why Grounds has got to be the start; Norwich have to grow up very quickly if they want to be sure of staying in this division. Walk tall and stand up and be counted.
Literally.
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