Classy Cordoba proves he was worth the wait for Norwich City

A late pre-season return owing to his involvement in Copa America, injury, and then the form of others prevented him from making a Championship start for his new side until game week number six. 

There has been an impatience in some quarters, including from Cordoba, to be unleashed on the second tier, but Johannes Hoff Thorup has adopted a more forbearing approach to his introduction as explained in private meetings between the pair. 

City have long tracked the imposing defender. The fact he was the first signing of the Thorup era speaks volumes about the level of involvement that Thorup and Ben Knapper foresaw alongside his strong compatibility with the Dane's desired game model. 

He has shown his ball-carrying and athletic qualities in flashes off the bench and is a different profile from those currently in the building at Colney—his natural left-footedness provides a welcome balance. 

Given Watford's physicality, coupled with the desire to shift the structure, this did feel like the opportune moment to drop Cordoba into the backline. His impressive performance, which saw him named as man of the match inside Carrow Road, proved that patient strategy was the right one. 

One of Cordoba's strengths is his ability to defend large spaces, which he did throughout Saturday's encounter. 

That offers Norwich the opportunity to be more aggressive with the positioning of their backline in the knowledge that the Panamanian is able to deploy sweeper-like qualities should the ball be placed into those spaces behind their backline. 

Cordoba made three ball recoveries and four clearances and won a key tackle in a display that saw him dominate the Canaries' own third despite facing highly rated offensive players within Watford's ranks. 

Jose Cordoba has injected physicality into Norwich City's side. (Image: Paul Chesterton/Focus Images Ltd) His comfort in possession allowed Thorup to push Callum Doyle into the left-back role initially devised for the Manchester City loanee and saw City build-up with a 2-3 structure. Those structural backline alterations saw Marcelino Nunez and Oscar Schwartau hold more advanced positions to aid their attacking productivity. 

Given Thorup's commitment to deep phases of possession, Cordoba's quality and composure on the ball was a key attractor to Norwich in the first place. Despite taking the ball into tight areas, he was never flustered even when pressed with intensity. 

Only Doyle completed more passes and nobody had more touches of the ball inside their defensive third. Cordoba's actions were progress - either through carries or passes - with his carrying and passing distance the highest of anyone on the Carrow Road turf. 

But there was also a spring of adventure to step into midfield and join spells of possession further up the pitch when the opportunity presented, as was documented when he surged out of defence on one occasion to combine passes with Doyle before seeing a cross from the left held by Watford keeper Jonathan Bond. 

There is a real athleticism with Cordoba that should make that acclimatisation to Championship football seamless. 

Norwich's team favours technical proficiency, so there is a need to balance that with physicality—something Cordoba and defensive partner Shane Duffy bring in abundance. They inject a threat in both boxes when it comes to set pieces. 

The only blight on a day of statement from Cordoba was the ease with which Rocco Vata turned him in the build-up to Watford's equaliser. It was perhaps the only occasion throughout the afternoon when one of his counterparts was able to outfox him. 

Cordoba produced an impressive performance on his first Canaries start. (Image: Paul Chesterton/Focus Images Ltd) But otherwise, it was one that showcased why Norwich fought so hard to beat a host of clubs to his signature over the summer. 

Perhaps the tone for Cordoba's afternoon was set two minutes in when he effortlessly shrugged Daniel Jebbison off the ball before completing a stepover and playing the ball forward. 

Those characteristics are the ones that Thorup will hope can elevate Norwich's game model under him to another level that will allow them to marry performances and results with a greater consistency. 

If Norwich can get Cordoba's development right, then as a left-sided defender, he would become a significant asset pretty rapidly given his skill set and athletic build. It is up to Thorup and his coaching team to push him to another level.

Duffy and Cordoba were composed for the bulk of the afternoon in City's 4-1 win. (Image: Paul Chesterton/Focus Images Ltd) As introductions go, this was an impressive first step for Cordoba. After weeks of waiting in the wings, it does feel like he will become a key performer for the Canaries. 

VERDICT: Proved he was worth the wait with an exemplary first start for his new employers. Combined physicality with composure in possession and displayed why he could play a key role in Thorup's new era at Norwich. The mission now is to find consistency. 

RATING: 8 out of 10