After the curtain fell on Norwich City's pre-season campaign, Connor Southwell delivers six things you might have missed from Carrow Road as the Canaries beat Olympiacos 2-0.
1) Caveats
Bryan Gunn. 2009. An unbeaten friendly schedule. It's a Norwich City tale as old as time now, but often used by supporters as a reason not to be seduced by the events of pre-season.
Everyone knows how the next chapter unfolded.
Perhaps filed in a similar category in time will be City's 3-0 victory over Marseille under Dean Smith last season. Pre-season is one of football's greatest illusionists and is often successful at casting a spell over supporters, players and coaches.
That is why results are often difficult to untangle. Performances and aspects of the game can be considered and then developed further as the season grows old.
Speak to David Wagner or any of City's players and they feel this pre-season has been a success. They're fitter, stronger and functioning better as a collective.
There is a cautious optimism that has emerged, as always is the case, from supporters who are desperately clinging onto any sinew of positivity after the manner in which last season unravelled.
Is there work to do? Absolutely. But Norwich have shown signs of improvement over the last month. How much supporters want to read into that will depend on the individual.
2) Positive omens?
A recurring trend throughout Norwich City's pre-season campaign has been a newfound defensive structure that has been tirelessly worked on during training camps.
New coach Narcis Pelach has led a portion of the sessions on solidifying the team following a series of meek performances at the end of last season where individual errors were a consistent part of their game. Shane Duffy has had a major impact.
Norwich end pre-season having just conceded three goals - that is fewest in a full, non-Covid affected preparation campaign since the 2011-12 season.
Paul Lambert was City boss - Norwich were preparing for life in the Premier League after back-to-back promotions. It was a different world compared to the current day.
That pre-season did contain a 1-0 defeat to Crystal Palace and a 1-1 draw with Spanish outfit Real Zaragoza at Carrow Road as well as victories over Parma, Coventry and Gorleston.
Norwich went on to stay up in the top-flight. They will be hoping that serves as a positive omen ahead of the new Championship campaign.
Given the ease at which they leaked goals last season, the defensive improvement has been a welcome addition to their make-up.
3) Experimentation
Any supporters who enjoy a flutter will have received high odds on Norwich City ending this game against Olympiacos with a back four of Kellen Fisher, Andrew Omobamidele, Sam McCallum and Przymeslaw Placheta - an average age of just over 21.
David Wagner took the Placheta left-back experiment into its second game after testing the idea in Austria during a midweek victory against Toulouse. Those seeking to cast aspersions may conclude there is still uncertainty about that role in his side moving forward.
Without Jaden Warner on the bench and Jon Tomkinson sidelined, Wagner also sought to assess McCallum in a central role - a position he played briefly for QPR during his loan spell whilst they chased matches.
Whether either have convinced they can add that string to their bow remains to be seen - but it shows that there is still learning to be done for City's boss as the side moves into the new Championship campaign.
Few have surprised more than Fisher, 19, who has grasped his opportunity and is now a member of City's first-team squad after impressing in the friendly matches.
Whilst there has been an emphasis on experience this summer - it displays there is still a young core to the defensive part of their squad.
4) City's fishing exercise
Perhaps the most pressing question of pre-season has centred around creativity and how Norwich City will break down teams on a consistent basis - especially at Carrow Road.
That is why this game served as such an interesting case study. Those in attendance will have left slightly more optimistic but maybe not fully convinced by the answers provided.
It took just 10 minutes for Shane Duffy to seemingly pause with the ball at his feet, attempting to incite a press from Olympiacos to allow Norwich to create an almost transitional opportunity that Wagner is determined for his team to construct. It, in theory, should open more space for them to attack.
If a press from the opposition isn't forthcoming, then Norwich have built their side suitably and it would mean opposition allowing them to pepper crosses into the box where the aerially commanding Ashley Barnes, Josh Sargent and Christian Fassnacht will be waiting.
This approach is markedly different from what supporters became used to under Daniel Farke where patience was the order of the day and space was created through intelligent movement and combinations.
It may take some adaptation and will see Norwich be more direct at points - but if it means Carrow Road is a place where more wins are forthcoming, then fans will support it.
5) Battles ongoing
Many expect that the starting XI for this dress rehearsal against Olympiacos will be close, if not exactly, the team David Wagner will select for Norwich City's league opener against Hull last weekend.
That was news to Jon Rowe, who impressed in the second half to put himself in firm contention for his first City start following an injury-hit campaign last season.
The winger is competing with Onel Hernandez for that starting spot on the left with Borja Sainz sidelined until October and was unlucky that the offside flag robbed him of a goal in this friendly.
Rowe has seemingly bulked up and looks unleashed after a year of setbacks. Hernandez is arguably the safer bet after a positive end to the Championship campaign under Wagner, though.
Likewise, Andrew Omobamidele will be hoping he can force his way into City's backline but Wagner seems set with an experienced pairing of Shane Duffy and Ben Gibson, who have helped solidify their defence throughout pre-season.
The only other point of contention is at left-back, where Dimi Giannoulis looks set to see off the challenge of Sam McCallum and Przymeslaw Placheta for next week's game.
Wagner may well have a curveball up his sleeve - but the battles within their squad are ongoing ahead of the new campaign.
6) So it begins again...
There will be no room for any false start from Norwich City next season - David Wagner understands that more than most.
After one win in 11 matches, no home league goal since February and anger intensifying towards the hierarchy at the club at the end of last season, those in positions of power know the importance of showing a page has been turned.
Pre-season has shown cautious signs of improvement, but until they are displayed on the Championship stage, will supporters allow themselves to think more positively.
A failure to show improvement will merely pour petrol on the flames that began last season. Norwich cannot afford a slow start. Wagner's future may well depend on it.
With a fixture list that looks favourable on paper coupled with a home game to start, there is an opportunity to change the mood and inject some positive feeling into their fanbase. That feels critical should this season end in success.
Norwich feel they have the characters now in Ashley Barnes, Shane Duffy, Jack Stacey and Kenny McLean to be able to run towards adversity when many felt some hid when it appeared last term.
Let the real stuff begin. Happy new season.
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