Norwich City: Analysis of Tim Krul’s 2022-23 season and future

The Norwich City goalkeeper walked slightly separately from his team-mates, waving and clapping to each stand with an apologetic poise.

There was the odd smile as his young daughter darted around with him and his wife interacted with their even younger son, but the overwhelming feeling was one of wonder as to whether this was goodbye.

It may just have been a sense of contrition for his role in the Canaries’ miserable 2022-23 season, but his limited involvement calls that into question.

That lack of involvement is also why many City supporters are questioning whether they’ve seen the last of the Dutch penalty killer, and why it feels possible that he moves on.

He played 17 games throughout the season, his least since arriving by a considerable distance. But the truth is that things have been on the wane for some time, with each campaign he’s spent in NR1 bringing fewer appearances.

Injuries have played an increasing part in his availability, and inconsistency is a trait growing in the Dutchman's footballing lexicon.

At 35 that may be no surprise, but 39-year-old Michael McGovern’s assertion that he’ll keep playing after departing this summer highlights the longevity of goalkeepers’ ambitions as well as careers.

It appears an early flurry of appearances under Dean Smith helped quiet those ambitions early on in the season, but an Angus Gunn exit appears to be Krul’s only guarantee of game time next term.

That situation represents quite the rapid fall for a man guaranteed to start two years ago, but it’s easy to see why the younger man was preferred after a series of Krul errors at the start of the season. Even on the first day he could be questioned for allowing Romaine Sawyers' strike to cross the line.

There was then a ghastly moment when he palmed Troy Parrott’s deflected shot into his own net, that error proving the final straw for Smith and the door opener for Gunn.

Once the number 28 was in there was no letting up, with his performances stellar in even a woeful Norwich outfit. He remained in post until Smith didn’t, and David Wagner’s appointment provided new hope.

Krul was regularly beaten to the goalkeeper jersey by Angus Gunn. (Image: PA)

Most of all he did that for Krul, who was almost inexplicably reinstated to his starting berth in a 1-0 FA Cup loss to Blackburn Rovers. 

Wagner's explanation after he subsequently retained his place was particularly glowing in his evaluation of the department, saying: "Sometimes you can't really explain in detail why [a player is picked].

"Sometimes it's more a gut feeling, from everything you've seen and the emotions you feel.

"At the end of the day, I think we can be very, very happy that we have two good goalkeepers in our football club."

It wasn’t long, however, before the errors crept back in, most notably when he passed directly to Anass Zaroury for Burnley’s opener in a February 3-0 mauling. That defeat was followed by an admission from Wagner that “Tim has made some mistakes”, and the writing appeared to be on the wall.

Krul was dropped again after a mistake in the 3-0 loss to Burnley. (Image: Paul Chesterton/Focus Images Ltd)

And so it was, with Gunn returned to the line-up and Krul occupying the bench as City’s promotion dreams collapsed in front of him.

Another season of sitting out in the second division is presumably unappealing to a man with World Cup appearances and three promotions under his belt, and that will be the worry for fans keen to keep him in Norfolk.

But with a rebuild planned and a refresh needed, the loss of his hefty wages could be a boost as City attempt to fund those objectives.

The departure of another modern legend and league title winner would dent the sentimental side of Carrow Road but, in truth, 2022-23 was already a window into life without Tim Krul.