Something felt incredibly right during the post-match celebrations at the Coventry Building Society Arena last Saturday afternoon.
The yellow and green army didn’t just have smiles, but beaming ones. This felt like the start of something special.
‘Since I was young’ was sung in harmony as the players approached the travelling fans, and the only frowns that could be seen were coated in sky blue.
The performances against Blackburn Rovers and Sheffield United suggested that Norwich were edging closer to their first three points of the season.
Securing that win against Coventry just before the international break could prove crucial for Johannes Hoff Thorup and his side.
This result not only lifts the team's confidence but also provides a foundation to build on as they regroup and refocus for the challenges ahead.
With a virtually fully fit squad to work with during the international break, Thorup can aim to make even greater strides. This opportunity for uninterrupted training and focus on further implementing the Dane’s style should help the team build further momentum for the upcoming September fixtures against Swansea City, Watford and Derby County.
Thorup's vision is clearly taking shape, as Norwich have completed the most short passes in the division, showcasing their appetite for a possession-based game.
Impressively, the next closest team, Leeds United, have completed 50 fewer passes, highlighting our new style. It's not just the sheer number of passes that stands out for Norwich City this season, but the quality and fluidity of our play across the last three games.
The slick, sharp passing and constant off-the-ball movement could hopefully become a hallmark of this team's style, making them increasingly enjoyable to watch.
One area for focus would certainly be how we start games; across the opening four league games, only Josh Sargent can claim a first-half goal. In addition, it is only the aforementioned USA forward and Borja Sainz that have found the back of the net this term.
Norwich City’s promotion campaigns from the Championship have all started with a familiar pattern: every time we have gone on to secure promotion to the Premier League, we have either lost or drawn the opening game of the season.
Despite the slow starts, the team has consistently built momentum throughout the campaign, eventually earning their place in the top flight. In the 2020-21 season, which ended with us lifting the Championship trophy, we opened with a frustrating 1-0 defeat to Luton Town.
Despite the early setback, Daniel Farke’s side quickly recovered and went on to dominate the league, showcasing resilience and consistency that belied their opening-day struggles. Similarly, in the 2018-19 Championship season, Norwich’s promotion campaign began with a 2-2 draw against Birmingham City. While we failed to secure all three points, this was the beginning of an exciting season where we became known for our attacking football and late-game heroics. By the end of the campaign, they had surged to the top of the league and secured automatic promotion.
Going further back to the 2010-11 season under Paul Lambert, we began the campaign with a 3-2 loss to Watford.
Despite the defeat, the Canaries quickly bounced back and went on to secure promotion with a second-place finish on that wonderful day at Fratton Park. Early draws and losses haven’t defined previous campaigns, as the fans and players have shown the ability to grow in confidence and consistency, ultimately achieving their goal of promotion to the Premier League.
At the start of the season, I was fully prepared for a year of transition — patience, steady progress, maybe a mid-table finish while we regrouped. But after just one win, I’m already planning the promotion parade!
It’s funny how a single victory can make you forget the rough patches and start dreaming of Premier League glory again. Suddenly, I’m looking at the table, calculating how many points we need for automatic promotion, as if it’s a foregone conclusion.
Who needs a “season of transition” when we’ve got this momentum? It’s amazing what one good game can do for the imagination!
Obviously, my pre-season instinct is much more likely.
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