Going into a three-game week, with back-to-back away games, probably makes Johannes Hoff Thorup wonder if the English Championship is all it is cracked up to be.  

While managers/head coaches (delete as applicable) from outside of English football will know the stories and be informed about the rigours of the fixtures calendar in the EFL, it is probably not until they experience it first-hand that the difficulties it brings become truly understood.  

Jurgen Klopp has spoken about having to change the training patterns he had used for years in Germany after his first season in the Premier League as it was burning out and injuring his players.  

When the Bundesliga has a three-game week it is known as an ‘English week’ given the regularity it happens in the EPL and EFL. Klopp’s countryman Daniel Farke came into Norwich and much noise was made about the intensity of training and the regular double sessions. Cameron Jerome was vocal in his criticism of the extra work after leaving the club.  

However, in Farke’s second season at Norwich he apparently reduced the intensity, and the double sessions became less frequent. Like Klopp he had seemingly found he was breaking his players a little too often. 

I do hope Thorup and Riddersholm, both new to the league, are not falling into this trap as well. The game against Stoke saw no changes to the outfield players to the previous one against Hull, despite Marcelino Nunez and Jose Cordoba both carrying knocks that saw them unable to participate in games for their country. It seems it was too early for a return for Nunez who aggravated his hamstring injury and hopefully will not be out for too many games given his excellent recent form.  

Marcelino Nunez limps off against Stoke CityMarcelino Nunez limps off against Stoke City (Image: Paul Chesterton)

In the build-up to the Leeds game, Farke commented on how Norwich were topping the charts for both distance covered by players and the intensity at which their players worked on the pitch. While many will be glad to hear Norwich are working harder than anyone else in the league, it does bring the risk of injury. Given Norwich’s slim squad in some areas of the pitch this could have a significantly detrimental impact on their hopes of achieving sixth place or above.  

A successful manager/head coach is usually one who can adapt quickly, Pep Guardiola has successfully altered and evolved his approach season on season to remain one step ahead of his opponents.  

While at the other end of the table, Russell Martin is finding life a bit of struggle as he rigidly remains fixed in his approach.  

Given how assuredly Throup has started his life at Norwich, it is easy to forget he is still a relatively inexperienced head coach, the challenge of adapting to these ‘English weeks’ is going to be one he needs to master quickly if he wants success in what is one of the most gruelling leagues in Europe.