The latest edition of the Pinkun podcast wrapped up Norwich City’s Belgian tour, with some eventful incidents on and off the park.
Host Connor Southwell was joined by Adam Harvey and Paddy Davitt to reflect on their trip covering the Canaries during a week-long stay, and the friendlies against Club Brugge and Standard Liege, for episode 594.
From press room misunderstandings to malfunctioning lifts, and far more importantly the chance for Johannes Hoff Thorup to assess which players, young and old, are putting their hand up for the Championship countdown to Oxford on August 10.
Here is a flavour of the hour-long discussion below.
PD: I’m not quite sure where Johannes is when he looks at the midfield three just yet. We’ve seen Gabby Sara in there this pre-season, we’ve seen Kellen Fisher. Now we’ve seen Kenny McLean, Marcelino Nunez and Liam Gibbs in the second half at Liege.
We know the situation on the left-hand side of the defence at present, in terms of a lack of options. In the middle of the defence, you’ve got Jose Cordoba, and you would feasibly think he’ll come in and maybe it will be a Grant Hanley, Shane Duffy, maybe even Brad Hills pushing from underneath.
So I can see that taking shape, but that midfield three is such a key area for Thorup in getting the ball from back to the front, because I think if you can get the ball through those areas of the pitch and you have Adam Idah, Jon Rowe, Borja Sainz, Abu Kamara that is a forward line who can do some damage in the Championship, whatever way he perms those players.
As Johannes said, Brugge was the level they aspire to be. Liege was probably the level they are at in terms of development under him. That is some aspiration because they are one of the better sides in Europe, and certainly domestically would seem to be one of, if not the strongest side in Belgium.
For me, now it is about moving forward to Magdeburg on Friday and seeing a little more of his thinking in the centre of the park.
CS: I think what we’ve learned particularly over the Belgian trip, and we saw a little bit of at Northampton as well, is a real clarity now in terms of the way that they want to play. If you ever watched a Thorup side at Nordsjælland you’ll have seen it pretty clearly. The left back tucks in and they create a back three in possession which allows Jack Stacey to push really high.
You then have the right winger, who last Saturday was Jon Rowe, tucking in and they create almost a box midfield. Then the width from the left is provided from a left winger so you get almost an asymmetrical type of shape. That’s all very, very clear.
That mean you have to move the ball quickly so there is a little bit of the lateral side to side stuff but only to displace and create space for attacking players. When that space is there, and there is a chance to progress the ball, then you have to play quickly.
Because if you play quickly, and whilst your opponent I guess is in that state of flux, that is when you do feed off the creativity and you will get chances.
AH: Liam Gibbs is someone that we want to see to probably try and push his claims a bit more this year after a disappointing 12 months, probably even the last 18 months really, comparatively to his performances under Dean Smith at the start of the last Championship campaign.
And I think that’s probably where some of this debate may lie about the midfield. Do you want to give someone like him more of an opportunity, or do you go down the route of sticking with a Kenny McLean? It’s going to be an interesting summer, because despite what he said in his post-match interview about his commitment to the club I still think these rumours will rumble.
Certainly as we get to the later stages of pre-season and moving on towards Oxford it will probably become a little bit clearer as to what role Kenny might play the season – whether that is in the starting XI or maybe not. Then does it end up best for all parties if they try and find a solution.
But whether he could get the same type of deal he has at Norwich is up for discussion. Plus from the club’s point of view they could make a little bit of money on him but is that worth it for a player who’s been through it all, and could be a positive influence on this young group?
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