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Unlike Aston Villa and Wigan, Norwich stayed well clear of last season’s relegation battle, and new manager Chris Hughton will be as eager as counterparts Paul Lambert and Roberto Martínez to avoid any relegation trouble during this campaign. Summer squad strengthening has seen the Canaries sign Leeds’ Robert Snodgrass, Wigan take on Iván Ramis from Mallorca and Villa secure Feyenoord defender Ron Vlaar (pictured). But will these players enhance their new clubs’ chances of success? The Life’s a Pitch team takes a look.

“It’s an interesting signing,” starts the Daily Telegraph’s Jason Burt on Villa’s move for Vlaar. ”He’s a big guy, he’s also a big character and not short in coming forward. The problem is that he’s had an awful lot of injuries: two cruciates in the last few years. But he’s the right sort of age to come over here and do well. It will be interesting to see how he works with Richard Dunne. I wouldn’t be surprised if Vlaar eventually becomes the captain of Aston Villa. It depends on his fitness, but I’d say he’ll be a hit.”

The Sunday Mirror’s David Walker is even more confident that Snodgrass will prove to be a shrewd signing for Norwich. ”I think for £3m-ish it’s a really good buy. He’s had about four years at Leeds and he only cost them £150,000 from Livingstone, so he’s been a great signing for Leeds. Neil Warnock was desperate to keep him. Snodgrass’s great skill is that he can play on either flank: he is left-footed but he can play on the right. He can go past people, he can deliver a cross and he can take a set-piece. He’s not of the top Premier League standard yet, but I think for £3m, he’s a very good signing for Norwich. Definite hit.”

But new Wigan defender Ramis doesn’t convince the People’s Tom Hopkinson. ”What worries is the whole reason he’s chosen Wigan above West Ham is because Roberto Martínez can speak better Spanish than Sam Allardyce. Now, if that’s my reason for joining a football club… I’m not convinced that is exactly the reason you should be going to a new club. I do think in Gary Caldwell they’ve got a good old-fashioned centre-half who knows the Premier League inside out. And if he can ease Ramis into it then he could do alright. But I’m not convinced and I’m erring on the side of a miss.”

Watch the full video discussion by clicking on the play button in the image above. 

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