Norwich City 6-1 Plymouth: Davitt Championship pointers

1. Impatience

“With the belief I have in the group of players here and the club it's just a matter of time. I'm not that patient. So I hope that time is against Plymouth.” Johannes Hoff Thorup’s pre-match words set the tone for another Carrow Road goal fest.

A hat-trick for Borja Sainz. A first home goal for Ante Crnac in his fourth recent outing as a central striker. A first set piece goal of the campaign. More ‘Hoffball’ to gorge upon for those home fans, who will now be counting the hours until they can watch it all again when Luton head to Norfolk this coming weekend.

After a testing pre-international swing, when City looked weary and riven by injuries and the debilitating suspension absence of Kenny McLean, this was the football that washed away Hull and Watford previously, and had many fans optimistically raising their sights. Such is the ebb and flow of Championship life.

But with Marcelino Nunez and Josh Sargent to add to this mix, and a greater strength in depth to the resource on the bench with the likes of Ashley Barnes and Onel Hernandez back in the fold, it will surely feel like those dark clouds have disappeared.

Only another injury blow for Liam Gibbs cast a shadow on a command performance against a compliant Plymouth.

2. Borja bangers

A second consecutive Championship hat-trick of the season for Sainz. A staggering 16 goal contributions in 17 league games.

Can there be a hotter attacker across Europe at present? Which means an inevitable swathe of speculation around the 23-year-old’s future for the lead up and duration of the January transfer window. Thorup pre-empted the line of questioning by stating he was not looking forward to answering the endless questions. 

Not that those who shape the direction of travel at Norwich will fret about that, given player trading remains a key part of the model. But Mark Attanasio himself made it clear at the recent annual meeting January would be a touch ‘too soon’ to look to cash in on their prized asset.

Much in the same vein as James Maddison or Emi Buendia, or maybe even Gabby Sara to bring this more up-to-date, Norwich fans should simply sit back and enjoy the havoc Sainz is wreaking on the English second tier.

Sporting director Ben Knapper revealed at that same recent shareholder gathering discussions are on-going with Sainz’s camp to explore all options for a player who is out of contract in 2026.

What unfolds from here is largely crystal ball gazing. What is not in doubt is Sainz, Thorup and his coaching staff have found common ground that has elevated the attacker’s output to a stratospheric level.

The big question after he had started this season in such fearsome form was whether he could maintain such a consistent seam of productivity? But if anything Sainz looks to be moving through the gears.

3. Free-flowing Emi

More evidence, if needed, Emi Marcondes looks an astute piece of business on a free transfer. After an excellent, improvised close range finish at West Brom, plus the sharp interplay with Sainz for the second at the Hawthorns, more entries at Carrow Road in the credit column.

Perhaps his role in the opener was a touch generous, given it was Victor Palsson’s errant pass after Marcondes and Crnac combined that set up Sainz.

But there was nothing incidental about the timing and weight of ball rolled through for the Spaniard to double his tally in the 17th minute. Add to that his deep corner delivery that brought Shane Duffy a goal, and City their first this season from a set piece.

Not forgetting the chip for Jack Stacey to advance and cut the ball back for Anis Ben Slimane. Oh, and the curling pass that Julio Pleguezuelo failed to deal with for Crnac’s to notch a sixth.

Thorup spoke at his pre-match media about where he sees Marcondes in this Norwich side; operating in those advanced midfield areas where he can profit from the space afforded by defenders attracted to forward players.

But you need the guile and the cleverness and game intelligence to find those pockets.

Given this was a player with Premier League pedigree from previous postings at Brentford and Bournemouth you could argue the only element of gamble was how quickly the 29-year-old would pick up the pace, without a pre-season of fitness work. But he already looks like a staple in Thorup’s starting line up.

4. Good to talk, Ante

Thorup’s style of football is pleasing on the eye. But the way he carries himself and his words are just as a compelling a watch.

The City chief speaks with a refreshing honesty and a common sense that clearly will chime with large swatches of his fan base. His pre-match dissection of Crnac’s struggles in those previous auditions for the injured Josh Sargent down the middle cut to the heart of the matter.

Yes, the 20-year-old is a young man in a new country trying to adapt to a very different footballing culture in the English Championship. But he also carries a weight of expectancy fuelled by the scale of the price tag that, in fairness, was not of his making.

Yet Thorup met that external debate head on, and admitted Crnac needs to deliver more than the one goal he had previously mustered so far at Stoke.

The Dane spoke about his positioning, the need to work on his first time finishing and to develop an aerial threat in keeping with his impressive physique. All wrapped around the unflinching conviction Crnac will become a key striker for this football club.

With the game long since decided all that was missing to complete the rout was a goal for the young Croatian. Especially after he had struck a post and headed at Daniel Grimshaw in that opening first half barrage.

It duly arrived in the 82nd minute, when he skipped past the stumbling Pleguezuelo before calmly rifling the ball past the Argyle keeper at his near post. The broad smile and the acclaim of his team mates said it all.

Given how astute the Dane is, and how well he carries himself, those pre-match words will have been directed for Crnac’s own ears as much as the Norwich fan base.