Norwich City: Paddy Davitt pointers after Hoffenheim

1. Who blinks first?

Adam Idah and Norwich City is turning into quite the summer saga. There was a fresh twist after Tuesday’s battling 2-2 draw against Hoffenheim in Austria when Johannes Hoff Thorup confirmed the Irishman’s absence from the squad was due to a disciplinary matter.

Or to put it another way, Idah’s failure to meet up with the rest of his City team mates to fly out to Austria on Sunday irked Thorup to the point he was not under consideration for this latest friendly.

The Dane also intimated there would be internal disciplinary measures. But all this melodrama is set against a transfer backdrop and persistent links to Celtic.

For the avoidance of doubt the Bhoys have yet to make any bid, formally or informally, that reaches a level City would be prepared to trade a young striker with a knack for scoring goals, and four years left on his Carrow Road deal.

Thorup’s harsh words were softened by his desire to integrate the Irishman back into the fold. You sense the City head coach sees in Idah the type of striker profile that could fit his very defined playing style.

But to achieve that it is not simply what Idah can do on the pitch, it is working on him off it to park the endless speculation touting him with a return to Parkhead, and focus on his parent club.

Idah’s eyecatching loan stint at such an iconic football brand would turn any head for a self-confessed boyhood Celtic fan. But if a desire to return to Glasgow was behind his lack of professionalism at missing a club flight to Austria, Idah and his advisors need to think again.

Thorup’s willingness to discuss the matter so publicly should be a clear signal City are prepared to dig their heels in.

2. Big Ben

A first sight of new signing, Ben Chrisene, as a late substitute just hours after his move from Aston Villa was confirmed.

There could have been a match-winning headline to grab as well for the 20-year-old left back, who saw his shot spiral away after Marcelino Nunez had struck a post.

City believe in Chrisene they have the type of raw material Thorup can mould to fit his system. Make no mistake this is a first team signing for the here and now but there also remains a momentum behind completing a loan deal for Manchester City’s Callum Doyle, when he returns from the Citizens’ current US trip.

But it was clear from Throup’s post-match soundbites Chrisene was a deal they had committed plenty of time and energy to engineer.

There were painstaking conversations with Champions League qualifiers Villa over a number of weeks, and a persuasive case to be made to convince an England Under-20 international who Villa were keen to tie down to a new deal.

It is a testament to the work of sporting director Ben Knapper and technical director Neil Adams they were able to convince such a highly-rated commodity to pitch up in Norfolk.

The 20-year-old’s signing for an undisclosed fee, that could rise north of £1m, and the four year contract into the bargain, underscore Chrisene is a player that excites the powerbrokers at Carrow Road.

Josh Sargent was back for Norwich City against Hoffenheim in an Austrian friendly (Image: Adam Harvey/Newsquest)

3. Safety first

Chrisene was the second, but Jose Cordoba was the first signing of the Thorup and Knapper era. The speed City concluded a deal for the Panamanian international was impressive in the very early days of the transfer window.

Since when the 23-year-old left-sided centre back was a key figure in his country’s surprise run to the Copa America quarter-finals. That inevitably delayed his arrival at his new club this summer.

A few minutes towards the end of Friday’s FC Magdeburg friendly offered home fans in attendance a tantalising glimpse of the authority and athleticism lacking at too many points last season. Hoffenheim was intended to be his first start alongside Grant Hanley, until he felt some tightness in his thigh.

Thorup has already adopted that safety first policy towards the likes of Shane Duffy and Christian Fassnacht this summer.

With a fair wind the defender will be back in the mix for Saturday's pre-season finale against St Pauli. But that feels precious little time to integrate Cordoba before the Championship kick-off at Oxford.

The season is a long one and there is going to be a lot of hype and expectation on his broad shoulders. Better for him to sit out a very competitive tour against a top class German side in conditions that sapped the energy levels.

It also gave the likes of Brad Hills and Jaden Warner another platform to convince Thorup, in all probability, which of the two stays in the building, or who departs on loan.

Brad Hills levelled for Norwich City against Hoffenheim in an Austrian friendly (Image: Adam Harvey/Newsquest)

4. Making waves

More first team exposure for Gab Forsyth that suggested the 17-year-old has really caught Thorup’s eye. There was almost a twinkle in the Dane’s when he was prompted to discuss what he likes in the young Scot.

One exquisite pass released Onel Hernandez for a late salvo of chances had Thorup almost salivating. But there was a warning attached the Scottish teenager needs time and space to fulfil his potential.

Nevertheless, more minutes in this type of senior environment while the likes of Jonathan Tomkinson, Finley Welch and Ken Aboh stayed at home indicate the midfielder has advanced his cause this summer.

With Thorup again wanting to look at the midfield axis of Nunez, Kenny McLean and Gabby Sara against Hoffenheim, it would point to Forsyth either returning to the development pool or perhaps embarking on a first loan in the coming weeks.

Thorup had labelled this week as ‘crunch time’ in his bid to sift the current roster into a squad who can all feasibly compete for a start against Oxford. But Forsyth has seemingly done enough to remain in the building in the months ahead.

The City chief clearly has no hang up about the age profile of his playing staff. Which might mean Forsyth gets to stake a first team claim in the months ahead.

That would mark quite the acceleration in the career of a player who only joined from Hamilton last summer.

- The Pink Un is providing full coverage of the Canaries' time in Austria, including Tuesday’s friendly against Hoffenheim, in partnership with Chips Away Norwich