Chris Sutton: Why Hoffball has me excited about Norwich City

It is hard not to watch 'Hoffball', as it has been christened, and enjoy its contents. Some of the goals and passages of play that Norwich are creating are brilliant. But it's the wider impact of the recent weeks that have been so impressive. 

The supporters now see an identity, a way of playing, and a club with a bit of vision that is moving forward in the right direction. 

If you go back to Oxford, everyone probably came through that game thinking about the size of the job that Thorup had on his hands with all the change, unwanted transfer sagas and a slow pre-season. 

But contrast that with where they are now, albeit it is still very early, and it's hard not to be both excited and impressed by what Thorup has done so far. 

It's more than the results. It's about performance levels and the way that Norwich are playing. There are plenty of variations in their play, but it's fun to watch, pleasing on the eye and is proving effective in terms of taking points. 

Having to endure all those setbacks, with key players departing, to begin to see the whole thing start to click is a testament to Thorup's coaching capabilities. 

I'm really encouraged by everything currently being produced on the pitch. It's lovely to have that feeling as someone associated with Norwich City again.

It was only this year that they played Southampton at Carrow Road and surrendered so much possession, territory and didn't even resemble a Norwich City side that I was familiar with. That was something that should never have happened. 

You always look back with rose-tinted glasses and think that it was all great at the club when I was playing, but it wasn't, but there is no doubt that the club had lost their way after Daniel Farke's sacking. There are so many reasons for that but the erosion of identity was at the core of the problem. 

They now have someone in place who is in keeping with the club's traditions and the way that supporters see their football club. 

It has been about getting the right process in place. Ben Knapper looks like he has done that. He's had to take a fair bit of flak for what was perceived to be an indecision on David Wagner's position, but he looks to have built a strong structure.

He didn't have an easy start to life at Norwich, and I was critical that he didn't come out and lay out his master plan earlier. Then, he made a left-field appointment and made some bold recruitment decisions—but at this early stage, it looks calculated and clever. 

At least now there is no ambiguity about the direction the club want to move in. They want to lower the average age, bring young players in to develop them and there seems to be a real patience within the fanbase towards that. 

The fans deserve huge credit. After Oxford, they could have turned. Norwich didn't win until four weeks into the Championship campaign. Everything is so knee-jerk in football, but they've been brilliantly supportive and have shown great patience. 

The support has been angry for a while, and there are many reasons for that. There has been a bit of a cloud over everything for a number of seasons at Norwich. At this moment in time, there are signs of blue skies coming through. There is finally positivity that this is a club that is moving in the right direction. 

It has been an unhappy club. One that has been split. Nothing is fixed overnight, but there is a togetherness and wide-reaching belief in what Thorup and Knapper are creating. 

Thorup has his principles of play and wants to build up from the back, but if that option isn't available, they're happy to go direct and clip the ball into Ante Crnac or even exploit the space in behind, as they have done in games against Watford and Hull. 

A huge part of Norwich's season will be about keeping Josh Sargent fit. I don't think he's hit his goal-scoring stride yet, but he's the outstanding striker in the Championship. He is the key this season. 

It's great to have Erling Haaland, who can score 50 goals every season, but it's also great to have all-rounders who contribute with goals but are also more involved in general play. 

The way Sargent links up with his teammates can be taken for granted, but he has great variation in his play. Every season, he impresses me more and more. The level of his performance and consistency will undoubtedly mean that other teams looking at him. 

Everywhere else in the team they have cover, but with Ashley Barnes sidelined and Crnac yet to really spark since his move, it is a worry about Norwich's options should Sargent pick up an unwanted injury. 

I saw a bit of Emiliano Marcondes during his spell at Hibs, and he is a talented player. That could be a very astute bit of business, provided they can get him up to speed quickly. What it does allow them to do is ease Sargent's load. They need to wrap him in cotton wool. 

Injuries to Angus Gunn and Marcelino Nunez serve as a reminder that unwanted challenges lay ahead and Hoffball will have to clear those hurdles before there is any tangible proof that excitement can be turned into belief of promotion. 

Nothing is cracked yet, and nobody should get too carried away, but with a new head coach in, a new identity and young players brought in, there is a lot to be excited about. 

I still think promotion will be a stretch - but we all say that what we’re seeing is exciting. 

Kellen Fisher’s performances have impressed for Norwich City. (Image: Paul Chesterton/Focus Images Ltd) SUTTON EXTRA

One of the real feel good stories so far this season has been Kellen Fisher’s breakthrough in Norwich City’s right back position. 

The fact that Fisher has been able to displace Jack Stacey in the team is a testament to his qualities and the consistency that he has performed with since Johannes Hoff Thorup threw him into the side. 

If you would have asked most Norwich supporters where they thought the safest position in the team was during pre-season, Stacey’s place at right-back would have polled highly. 

It’s interesting how Thorup has used Fisher as an inverted option and the youngster has adapted to that with real aplomb. If you play in that role, you need to have an awareness. It’s a totally different game when you’re playing inside the pitch. 

Stacey doesn’t have the same awareness as Fisher and is a different profile of full back. Right now, the youngster suits Thorup‘s system better than his team mate. 

Fisher fits the role better than Stacey. After trialling him as a midfielder in pre-season, Thorup has done well to carve this position out for him. Few would have expected the consistency and quality he has offered. He has become a key part of their deep build up. 

That doesn’t make Stacey a dud and, if anything, it’s a luxury for Thorup to have two different options. When he’s come on, often as a wing back, he has played well and given Norwich pace and power late in matches. 

Norwich will still need him at different stages of this season. With so many games, I’m certain Stacey will be called upon and still has a big role to play in this Championship campaign. 

He will have to be professional and continue to work tirelessly in training, but he has responded in the right way. He is experienced and will also be a key player in the dressing room alongside the likes of Kenny McLean, Ashley Barnes and Shane Duffy. 

Thorup has built up in a back three with Stacey’s vertical running used an outlet - that will be a structure Norwich return to at some point I suspect. 

Fisher’s tenacity and aggression in the tackle will make him a crowd favourite. It’s a brilliant story to see him come from Bromley to thriving into the Championship.