Paddy Davitt delivers his St Pauli verdict after Norwich City’s Carrow Road pre-season finale.

1. Damp squib

Three goals adrift at the interval and Norwich City players departing to a smattering of boos. It was a throwback to some of the bad old days under Dean Smith or David Wagner.

But this is pre-season, and this is still very much Johannes Hoff Thorup sifting through the players he inherited, in order to settle on a set who can implement his desired style for the rather more meaningful Championship tussles to come.

But another weak set piece concession and two costly turnovers from full backs left more questions than answers as the curtain fell on pre-season.

Thorup has not had a smooth introduction. Be it the untimely injury absence of summer signing Jose Cordoba, the impending departure of Gabby Sara or the circus around Adam Idah.

Another burst of boos greeted his arrival in the 67th minute after joining up late with the group in Austria amid the relentless march of Celtic transfer speculation.

There has been some genuinely encouraging passages of play and performance from Northampton to St Pauli, the signs of a dial tilting more towards youth than tried and trusted, but too much evidence in the opposite side of the ledger to feel this remains anything other than a slow burner.

But as his assistant, Glen Riddersholm made clear during that Austrian tour week, the Championship season is long and there is plenty of time for the Dane’s exciting brand of football to emerge.

But patience would seem the order of the day inside and outside the camp while Thorup settles on his side, playing his way.

2. So long Sara

Sara sat out his farewell, after Galatasaray officials flew into Norfolk on Friday to seal a deal that could rise to £23m for Norwich.

Plus a considerable wage hike for the 25-year-old himself, who was one of the Championship stand outs last season after producing 25 goal contributions in 46 league appearances.

A brace of clubs from both the Premier League and Serie A had also shown interest this summer, but it was Galatasaray who made their move to entice Sara to Istanbul as their record signing.

Quite a badge of honour, and a level of expectation to handle for the former Sao Paulo product. Sara’s craving to earn a call up to the Brazilian national team is a key motivation, not the stratospheric uplift to his salary.

The midfielder repeated that wish many times since arriving in England. In an ideal world Norwich plotted a path through the play-offs last season, and Sara could have basked in the full exposure of a Premier League stage.

That could still come later in his club career, if he can make the most of competing for prizes in Turkey and duelling in the Champions League. For Norwich, it marks the conclusion of the ‘big value’ exit that underpinned their transfer activity this summer.

Should others now come for the likes of Idah, Jon Rowe or Josh Sargent, there is an added degree of reassurance City can trade on their terms.

Johannes Hoff Thorup was not happy with Norwich City's first half defending in the pre-season finale against St Pauli (Image: Paul Chesterton/Focus Images Ltd)

3. Incomings

One thing you can be sure of is Thorup and sporting director Ben Knapper will not be going back into market weighed down with the thick end of £20m plus in their back pockets, minus any cut due to Sara’s first club.

There will be no extravagant spending to plug the rather sizeable hole the Brazilian will leave in the Canaries’ creative unit.

But there will be additions. Subject to Callum Doyle safely returning to England after Manchester City complete their US tour later on Saturday against Chelsea, the 20-year-old is earmarked as that second left-sided addition Thorup reiterated is still the aim after the Hoffenheim draw, and the debut of Ben Chrisene.

Now the focus will inevitably shift to higher up the pitch. The Dane is believed to want players with the versatility to operate in multiple positions within his very clearly defined playing style. A number eight who could feasibly operate as an attacking 10. Maybe even a wide player who can come inside.

Although much of what unfolds from here still hinges in large part on any further exits to frontline personnel. Clear too now with the absence of Ken Aboh in the second part of pre-season he looks set for a Football League loan. Archie Mair too.

Hard to see where Jonathan Tomkinson, Finley Welch or Tony Springett fit into this mix. Christian Fassnacht has left little impression on this pre-season. Abu Kamara continues to be linked with interest from clubs at home and abroad. So many strands.

Sara’s pending exit might just be the start of a flurry of activity, in both directions, in the coming few weeks to run parallel alongside the league kick-off.     

4. Concern for Cordoba

No sign again of Cordoba. A pre-season that ran to all of 15 minutes or so as a late substitute against FC Magdeburg. The Panamanian international sat out the Hoffenheim warm up in Austria with what Thorup afterwards labelled some muscle tightness.

No risks to be taken. But roll it on a few days and the 23-year-old left-sided centre back was again absent from the St Pauli matchday squad.

Cordoba is now set for scans to provide a clearer picture of the issue, but it was not the scenario Thorup or Knapper envisaged when he was enticed to Carrow Road at the start of the summer.

In the immediate term it thrusts the spotlight on City’s centre back pairing for Oxford next weekend. Jacob Sorensen got another turn to show what he can do on the ball in this system, but defensively City looked brittle as a backline.

Grant Hanley and Shane Duffy offer experience, Brad Hills and Jaden Warner freshness and youth. Thorup had seen enough at the interval, with Duffy introduced alongside Hanley and Sorensen moved into midfield.

Later Chrisene made way for Kellen Fisher to swap to the left, and Warner deployed at right back. Before Fisher himself had to depart in the act of blocking a shot, following an assessment on the pitch to his right knee.

More headaches to contend with for Thorup. At least the potential of a successful conclusion early next week to the Doyle pursuit offers another card to drop into the mix.

But the Dane seemingly faces a defensive dilemma, and an early test of his coaching credentials, with three points, not pre-season fitness, at stake next weekend.

Jacob Sorensen partnered Grant Hanley at centre back for Norwich City against St Pauli (Image: Paul Chesterton/Focus Images Ltd)