From Denmark with Hope: Hoff Thorup's Norwich City Revolution
After a tumultuous season, Norwich City embarks on a fresh chapter under the guidance of Johannes Hoff Thorup, aiming to reclaim their Premier League status with an exciting brand of football.
Written by: Eirik Aase (Twitter/X)
Norwich City has just wrapped up one of the strangest seasons I can remember in all my years following the Championship. They kicked off the season with a bang, delivering impressive results and dazzling attacking play in the early rounds. But then, the Canaries hit a wall. From September to early November, they lost eight out of eleven matches, and the performances in many of these games were simply abysmal. David Wagner's tactical approach came under fire from Norwich's loyal supporters, and it all came to a head one early day in November.
Blackburn Rovers visited Carrow Road and easily snatched three points against a lackluster home team. The visitors played almost half the match with ten men but still won 3-1 in the end. Throughout the game, Norwich struggled to create anything going forward, and their first shots on goal were met with mocking cheers from their own supporters. At that point, "Project Wagner" died in my eyes, and it seemed like many Norwich fans shared the same sentiment.
Despite Wagner managing to right the ship and deliver strong results for the rest of the season, it didn't seem like he was going to win back the fans' trust. From the loss against Blackburn Rovers until the end of the season, Norwich put up an impressive 16-8-7 record in the following 31 matches, enough to secure a somewhat surprising playoff spot. Still, it didn't seem like the fans had changed their minds about Wagner's future at the club.
Norwich lost in the playoff semi-final against Leeds United, and Wagner subsequently left the club. It was a decision that was best for everyone and not surprising despite the strong finish to the season. The club's new sporting director, Ben Knapper, had probably been considering it since taking over the job before Christmas, but the team's good form forced him to wait until after the season.
This summer, Knapper has put his stamp on the Norwich team by appointing a new head coach and making his first forays into the transfer market. It will be exciting to see if he can achieve as much success as his predecessor, Stuart Webber, did in his first years on the job.
Coach
There's a new face on the Norwich City bench this season. Sporting director Ben Knapper turned his gaze towards Scandinavia in his search for a coach, and his eyes fell upon Johannes Hoff Thorup. The 35-year-old Dane is likely an unknown quantity for most who don't follow Danish football closely, and that's not surprising. Hoff Thorup never made his mark as a player himself. After playing youth football, he chose to focus on coaching instead of playing senior football. He worked his way up through the youth academies at both AB and FC Nordsjælland before landing the assistant coach job for the latter's first team back in 2021.
When Flemming Pedersen left the club in January last year, Hoff Thorup was given the reins as head coach. In one and a half seasons as the top dog at the Danish club, Hoff Thorup delivered good results both domestically and in Europe. He achieved this through offensive football, often deploying his team in a 4-3-3 variant that often morphed into a 3-2-5 formation when his team had the ball. Offensive football in a 4-3-3 is something Norwich fans are eager to see this season. Hoff Thorup has brought along Glen Riddersholm as his assistant. The towering 52-year-old has ample experience as a head coach for several clubs in both Swedish and Danish football.
The Squad
In goal, Angus Gunn is the first choice for Norwich City. After a few years on the south coast with Southampton and on loan at Stoke City, Gunn finally returned home to Carrow Road three years ago. He has been the first-choice goalkeeper for the Canaries for the past two seasons, delivering outstanding performances last season. If he can maintain that form this season, Norwich will have one of the league's best goalkeepers. Behind Gunn in the pecking order, Norwich has both George Long and Archie Mair. The 30-year-old Long has been in the Championship for several seasons and has tried his hand as a first-choice keeper for both Hull City and Millwall at this level.
In central defense, I'm eagerly anticipating seeing Panama international Jose Cordoba in action. The duel-strong defender was brought in from Bulgarian football this summer and has been on the wish list of several clubs across the continent in recent seasons. Cordoba should have the physical attributes to succeed in the Championship, while Grant Hanley and Shane Duffy have consistently delivered at this level for years. Academy product Brad Hills might get some playing time this season, while Jaden Warner and Jonathan Tomkinson are still in the squad as of now. Callum Doyle has had two successful loan spells in the Championship, and he is expected to return on loan from Manchester City this summer. However, the deal hasn't been officially confirmed yet. If/when he arrives, he will likely occupy a role at left-back, where he can tuck into central defense when Norwich has the ball.
At right-back, Jack Stacey started almost every match last season, and he will likely be important this season as well. Kellen Fisher is ready to deputize or challenge Stacey and has even tried his hand in midfield during this summer's pre-season. This summer, we've also seen Stacey move into central defense, similar to Doyle's expected role. It will be interesting to see if he does that when the season kicks off, but it's unlikely to happen if Doyle is on the pitch simultaneously. On the left side, Ben Chrisene has arrived from Aston Villa. The physically strong full-back was on loan at Blackburn Rovers in the spring. There, he showed he has what it takes at this level and is an exciting player to watch. He lacked that extra something both defensively and offensively for Rovers, but maybe things will click now that he has joined Norwich permanently. Behind Chrisene, we find Guilherme Montoia and Waylon Renecke, but I'm unsure if they will contribute in the Championship this season.
In central midfield, Norwich has lost Gabriel Sara. The fantastic midfielder was one of the Championship's best players last season. For a long time, it was quiet around Sara this summer, but one week before the season started, he was sold to Turkish football. Marcelino Nunez has settled in well after his move to English football and seems to be improving with every match he plays in the Championship. Liam Gibbs is good at this level but has struggled with injuries. He could get a fresh start when the new season kicks off. Additionally, Norwich has the experienced Kenny McLean and Jacob Sørensen in their ranks. McLean was named Player of the Year last season, which, in my opinion, was an odd decision considering Sara's performances, among others. Nevertheless, it speaks volumes about how good he can be. Academy product Uriah Djedje is a name to watch, but his breakthrough might not come this season.
Jonathan Rowe was one of the biggest rising stars in the Championship last season. Not many had heard of Rowe before last season, but the 21-year-old took the league by storm. He was adept at finding dangerous positions in the box and showed he could score goals in all sorts of ways. Unfortunately, he suffered an injury that disrupted his progress, but perhaps that injury has actually allowed Norwich to keep him at the club longer. I think many big clubs would have had Rowe high on their wish list this summer if he had maintained his stellar form throughout last season.
Rowe could still be sold this summer, but Norwich has several strong alternatives in attack. Abu Kamara is back after a fantastic loan spell at Portsmouth in League One. He could quickly become a hit in the Championship this season, while Borja Sainz showed flashes of brilliance last season. Christian Fassnacht, Tony Springett, and Onel Hernandez are other options in the forward line, but I'm unsure if they will play a significant role for the Canaries this season.
Up top, I'm looking forward to seeing Josh Sargent deliver the goods from the start of the season. Injuries hampered the first half of his last season, but after his comeback, he was one of the league's best attackers. Sargent scored 16 goals in just 28 matches last season and will be a strong contender for the top scorer title this season if he continues in the same vein and stays injury-free. The experienced Ashley Barnes is on hand to serve as a backup when needed, while Adam Idah's future is uncertain. Additionally, Norwich has youngster Ken Aboh, who might get some playing time.
What Do I Think?
The good vibes are back at Carrow Road. Last season was an absurd spectacle with good results but disappointing football and a head coach who was essentially living on borrowed time. Now, the new sporting director, Ben Knapper, has finally put his mark on the team, and the initial signs are overwhelmingly positive.
In Johannes Hoff Thorup, Norwich has secured an exciting and modern head coach who seems to favor precisely the style of play that Norwich fans want to see. I can easily envision the Dane becoming a popular figure at Carrow Road, but that naturally depends on whether the results are good enough. However, I believe Norwich supporters will be patient if it takes some time for the team to play the way Hoff Thorup wants them to.
The squad itself looks very strong, with quality, experience, and X-factor in all areas. Angus Gunn is one of the league's best goalkeepers, while they have plenty of quality and experience in central defense. The central midfield looked very good until Gabriel Sara was sold, but a strong replacement will likely arrive.
In attack, Jonathan Rowe, Borja Sainz, and Abu Kamara are players who can find the back of the net in all sorts of ways. Additionally, the Canaries have one of the league's hottest favorites for the top scorer title in Josh Sargent.
The big question is whether several of these key players will end up being sold before the transfer window closes and whether Hoff Thorup will get the team to function as he desires. It's hard to say at this point, but there's little doubt that Norwich has all the ingredients needed for a good season. Therefore, I'm placing the Canaries in the thick of the playoff battle in this year's table prediction. They would have been among the top six in the prediction with Gabriel Sara, but they will likely be in the playoff fight regardless.
Prediction: 7th