Six things you might have missed from City 4-0 Hull

1 - Motoring

Since the return to Championship action following the September international break, Norwich City have taken 10 points from a possible 15.

In their last three home matches, the Canaries have taken seven points and scored on nine occasions. Their expected goals rate against Hull was the highest in any game since a 7-0 victory over Huddersfield in 2021 – 149 games ago.

Only Sunderland have scored more times than City since the beginning of the campaign and in the last six matches, only Sheffield United have taken more points than the 13 achieved by Johannes Hoff Thorup’s side.

This block of games has sparked a major uplift in points, but also in performances. City’s slick possession-based game is helping build a powerful togetherness between players and supporters.

Thorup’s ability to bind it together as quickly as has been achieved is impressive. This is a team looking well-coached and capable of achieving points against a high calibre of opposition.

In their opening nine games, City have only played two teams currently in the bottom half of the division. Hull were another who bounced into this contest having won three on the spin.

The table is yet to be fully formed, but it proves City are capable of keeping stride with the early pacesetters.

2 - Lift Hoff

Johannes Hoff Thorup was unknown to most on these shores prior to his appointment as Norwich City head coach back in May.

It ended months of behind-the-scenes conversations with Ben Knapper and Neil Adams who had identified the Dane as their top target to eventually succeed David Wagner owing to his style of play, development of young players and coaching capabilities.

The 35-year-old has already managed in the Europa League whilst at Nordsjaelland and coached them in eyebrow raising victories including a 6-1 triumph over Fenerbahce in November 2023 and a 7-1 victory over Ludogorets a month earlier.

Perhaps that body of evidence should be enough to prove that Thorup could, tactically, pit his wits in the Championship.

But reputation and achievements elsewhere don’t automatically translate to success in the second tier.

It is too early to say with any certainly whether or not Thorup will be successful at Carrow Road, but at this stage of the season – the speed at which City have an identifiable playing style that looks cohesive is eye-catching.

It’s not just about aesthetics – it’s about efficiency. It wasn’t long ago that Wagner’s side were refusing to engage with Southampton on their own turf.

That substance is why Norwich fans are enthused about their new era. It isn’t just about winning, it’s about connection and relating to what is being delivered on the pitch. Positive football, young talent and entertainment is what has them believing again.

3 - Harsh knocks

For Abu Kamara, a first return to Carrow Road just weeks after the transfer saga that saw him depart Norwich City to join Hull was always going to be testing.

The attacker spent 11-years of his development with the Canaries and opted to hand in a transfer request owing to historical unhappiness at the club and a pursuit for an increased amount of game time.

As he emerged to warm up, there were boos and chants that included ‘Abu, what’s the score?’, ‘Norwich reject’ and ‘Oh Abu Kamara, it could have been you’.

There were two expletives thrown at him. One beginning with W and the other beginning with C. It will be down to individuals to decide whether they feel that crossed a line. Similar conversations aren’t regularly held when match officials received similar on a weekly basis.

In some quarters, that reaction has been conflated with City’s mental health initiatives during the game day that included the first minute’s unsilenced to provoke conversations between supporters to discuss their emotions and the charity Samaritans adorning the front of their shirt.

To weaponise the reaction Kamara received with such initiatives is taking that debate down a very dangerous road. Football is tribal and supporters emotive. That doesn’t make abuse acceptable – but it was not something Thorup deemed to be over the line in his post-match analysis.

Perhaps the irony is that Kamara performed well when he entered the fray for Hull. He even clapped the home supporters at the end of the contest.

It was a difficult day for the winger. But that was always going to be the case after the events around his exit.

Kellen Fisher impressed again against Hull City. (Image: Paul Chesterton/Focus Images Ltd) 4 - Fantastic Fisher

Kellen Fisher’s emergence as a key Norwich City player has been a bright sub-plot in a fine few weeks for Johannes Hoff Thorup’s men.

It will be the ability to invert and his comfort on the ball that attracts praise, but Fisher’s aggression and ability to perform the conventional aspects of defending is just as impressive.

Inside Carrow Road, he was named player of the match for his contribution. Hull’s Liam Millar became increasingly irate at his inability to beat him as the contest grew older.

Fisher won four challenges throughout the contest, more than any City player, completed two blocks and made one interception. He was an immovable object throughout the contest on Saturday afternoon.

At 4-0 and deep into stoppage time, Fisher made a perfectly-timed crunching tackle on Hull striker Joao Pedro to secure the clean sheet and celebrated it as though he’d tucked a shot into the bottom corner in front of the Barclay.

The 20-year-old is showing a consistency beyond his years and seems to thriving in Thorup’s tactical system.

Be it against highly-rated opponents, positional changes or increased tactical information, Fisher is standing up to the task with aplomb and assurance.

After a year of possessing an older squad, Fisher encapsulates the turning of the page at Carrow Road and the willingness to let younger talent off the leash.

The Barclay and Snakepit taunted Hull’s players with a chant of ‘he’s just too good for you.’ It’s hard to disagree on the current evidence.

Kaide Gordon has impressed in his last two Norwich City outings. (Image: Dan Hanbury/Focus Images Ltd)5 - Kaide's knocking

Kaide Gordon’s arrival at Norwich City came in the frenetic few final hours of deadline day after Abu Kamara reached an agreement with Hull.

The irony won’t have been lost on many that it was the Liverpool loanee who provided the killer third goal whilst Kamara watched on from the sidelines in pursuit of more game time after handing in a transfer request at Carrow Road.

Gordon has been forced to show patience since arriving from Anfield with the positive words of Jurgen Klopp and Wayne Rooney ringing in his ears, but his last two cameos have pushed him closer to a first Championship start after the international break.

His impact on Tuesday helped City wrestle control of the momentum against promotion favourites Leeds through his tenacity and ability to win physical duels.

This performance was more about technical quality – showcased for the third goal he converted after getting Norwich out of trouble with an excellent pass to Borja Sainz before busting a gut to join the attack.

His tenacity was rewarded with his first league goal when he won the ball in the area before finishing past Ivor Pandur. Gordon is advancing his claim for a starting berth against Stoke.

On the day he celebrated his 20th birthday, referee Tom Nield joined the list of those handing him a card after a robust challenge on Lewis Coyle.

Norwich City will now pause for two weeks owing to the international break. (Image: Paul Chesterton/Focus Images Ltd) 6 - Press pause

After just nine games and 22 days since the Championship return from the September international break, pause has been pressed on the campaign for another fortnight.

The previous break came after City’s 1-0 victory over Coventry and did seem to squash their momentum as they headed to Swansea in a frustrating afternoon where they squandered big chances.

But the performances have improved drastically over the last few weeks and the international break does feel like an unwelcome hiatus for the Canaries.

City will assess the likes of Angus Gunn and Jose Cordoba over their fitness ahead of joining up with Scotland and Panama respectively. Fingers will crossed on Josh Sargent, Kenny McLean, Marcelino Nunez and the others away representing their countries.

Thorup will utilise the break to analyse, work and hold meetings. Such is his desire for further improvement, he won’t rest on the uplift of previous weeks.

For supporters who have enjoyed the last few weeks, the pause is unwelcome, especially with another around the corner in November. It feels like the season is yet to really kick into life.

It is a frustration – but the Championship roars back into life with trips away to Stoke and Preston before a mouth-watering Carrow Road clash against Middlesbrough.