What did we learn from City's friendly win over Northampton?

The beauty of pre-season is that it is unchained from expectations, pressure and pre-conceived ideas. That freshness is intoxicating, but it must always be put into context around who Norwich were playing and where both teams are in their respective preparation cycles. 

Given the way the game unfolded - Norwich deploying a first-team in the opening 45 minutes and handing academy players the chance in the second - 90 minutes didn't present enough evidence for thorough analysis or tangible takeaways on individuals despite some bright displays. 

Equally, singling out players who had or hadn't performed is pretty futile. But what can be extracted are trends, patterns, and evidence of what Johannes Hoff Thorup and his group have been working on over the last two weeks. 

Since the players' return to Colney to begin preparations ahead of the new campaign, their work has centred pretty exclusively around Thorup's wants with the ball. 

This fixture was a positive reflection of that graft in the last fortnight, with Norwich looking significantly different to the side that were heavily beaten at Leeds in the play-off second leg just two months ago. 

What those travelling City fans, and those watching at home via online stream, will have witnessed was a side dedicated to having the ball, controlling the game and centring their play around possession.

Some of the concepts were not new or alien - for example, Norwich created a back three in possession. But the way they executed that was different to the way it was done under David Wagner last year. 

The sight of Kenny McLean dropping in between Shane Duffy and Ben Gibson last term was a regular one. Thorup has a similar idea, but instead of a midfielder helping create it, Norwich used Guilherme Montoia, the left-back, in a hybrid role. 

That makes the profile of left back they are recruiting particularly interesting. Martin Frese was a target but held out for a top-five league. Norwich will need a specific option that is comfortable acting as a third central defender in possession rather than a Jack Stacey type. 

Guilherme Montoia played in a hybrid left back role. (Image: Martyn Haworth/Focus Images Ltd)

City's interest in Manchester City's Callum Doyle would make sense given the England youth international played in a similar hybrid role under Enzo Maresca at Leicester City last season. 

There are no right or wrong ways of executing that structure, but the pros of Thorup's approach are that it frees up a midfielder in the central area of the pitch and gets those with technical proficiency in areas that can help Norwich feed their creative operators and progress the ball. 

For example, it enabled Gabriel Sara to take up more advanced positions. Borja Sainz was able to drift into the half-space and combine with City's front three. Jacob Sorensen offered protection as a more defensively-positioned midfielder.  

It also allows Stacey to retain his aggressive position on the right whilst inviting Abu Kamara to come inside to create opportunities or combine with midfielders. The winger on the left, in this case Jon Rowe, provided the width. 

In possession, Norwich deployed a 3-2-5 shape geared at getting creative players in higher positions whilst that structure helps protect against counter-attacks and is utilised by many sides. 

At its core, the system is about control and ball retention, not for the sake of it but to disrupt the defensive side's shape and create overloads when opportunities to move the ball become clear. Thorup highlighted post-match that these occurred when that process happened quickly rather than with less pace. 

All of these elements are about controlling matches and being the protagonist. Norwich's structure is designed to get technical and creative players higher up the pitch but will need defenders and a goalkeeper with the ability to play progressively and with pace. 

Another pleasing element was the fluidity of City's front three throughout the contest - there was constant movement and a willingness to get on the ball, but also patience to keep it if spaces or options further up the pitch didn't progress. 

For City's third goal, there were 30 passes in the build-up to Ken Aboh tapping in after Gabe Forsyth met Finley Welch's cross. 

It is a skeleton of the way Thorup wants to play and a performance that illustrates the work already done in the last fortnight. The fact that possession has been put at the centre of the work shows its importance in the City boss' vision. 

Norwich City spent a lot of time in possession against Northampton on Saturday. (Image: Martyn Haworth/Focus Images Ltd)

Ground has not yet been covered on defensive structures or transitional work beyond the need for strong counterpressure or even set-pieces. In this context, it was a performance that will have encouraged supporters. 

There must be consideration for the fact that pre-season is like water, it can be deceptive. Northampton weren't at a high standard. The tests in Belgium will answer more questions about other aspects of City under Thorup. 

For supporters, there was a clear connection between the words Thorup has been speaking and the actions of his team on the pitch. That will do wonders for fan connection with the project of the pitch and major goodwill providing it can be sustained.  

It is just a step. It won't matter in the grand scheme of everything that unfolds from here, but those 800 City fans will have returned to Norfolk feeling optimistic and happy with their side's first outing and the new desired direction of travel whilst recognising there will be bumps in the road to come. 

Onto Belgium and the enticing challenges that await Thorup and his City squad.