Analysis of Callum Doyle's Norwich City debut at Oxford

On Saturday, he was thrown in at the deep end as part of Norwich City's opening-day 2-0 defeat to Oxford United in the Championship. 

If there is any need for evidence as to how quickly football can change and evolve, it is the last fortnight of Doyle's life. That in itself probably provides some mitigation for a flat debut for City at the Kassam Stadium. 

Doyle was only unveiled as a City signing on Tuesday, weeks after an initial loan signing was agreed, and was the only new face in a City starting line-up that didn't turn the dial as much as supporters would have liked in their new era. 

The identification of the Man City youngster from the Canaries recruitment team was meticulous—much work was done to find a player best suited to operating in that inverted left-back role that Johannes Hoff Thorup hopes to implement. 

Doyle emerged as the best possible target. They fought off interest from a host of Championship teams to land him. It was a pursuit that required patience. 

That word has been spoonfed to everyone with a yellow and green persuasion as Thorup seeks to implement his desired playing style whilst altering the culture within the first-team playing group. This performance provided a test of that mettle. 

There was a moment during the first half of this clash that perhaps graphically illustrated that tussle between old and new as Doyle stood in acres of space on the left flank, waiting for the ball to be played to him. That led to increasingly frustrated gesticulating and, when the ball was played by Shane Duffy, ironic cheering from the away end. 

Callum Doyle was part of a disappointing Norwich City performance against Oxford United. (Image: Paul Chesterton/Focus Images Ltd)

Norwich's lack of control of the ball meant Doyle spent the majority of time on the backfoot in defensive positions instead of utilising his quality with the ball. 

There were a handful of passes that offered a window into Doyle's strengths, but they were few and far between. His success at City will be dictated by how successfully they manage to build Thorup's style. 

No Norwich player made more progressive passes than Doyle's seven. Only Duffy attempted more during the 90 minutes of City's Championship opener - that shows there were signs of promise from the Manchester City loanee. 

But Norwich more widely need to establish more control to get on the ball more frequently and with more structure than was the case during the opening day of the campaign. Thorup will be acutely aware of that trade-off. 

Due to City's struggles, Doyle was often left in big spaces and required to defend against pace and overloads. That isn't a strength of the 20-year-old, and saw Oxford switch the play effectively and dangerously throughout the contest. Tyler Goodrham gave the defender difficulties all afternoon.  

Doyle's struggles on debut speak to City's structural issues in possession. He was specifically recruited to tuck inside and create a back three, but that wasn't a regular sight throughout this clash owing to their inability to progress the ball consistently. 

Doyle cut a frustrated figure during portions of his Norwich City debut. (Image: Paul Chesterton/Focus Images Ltd)

The hope is that, in a defensive line-up that includes the injured Jose Cordoba, Doyle will be able to find the positions best suited to extract the line-breaking qualities Norwich recruited him for. 

Time will dictate whether that initial plan blossoms in the way City hope, or whether Doyle will be better utilised as a left-sided central defensive option. Ben Chrisene's slight back issue prevented that combination from being achieved. 

Doyle's physical profile and qualities do feel suited to that role, but Thorup will be keen to use the youngster as he attempts to embed his style. 

The bulk of City's possession was inside their own half and between their central defenders - Thorup's system, and thus Doyle's role within it, will hinge heavily on the success of getting that structure correct. 

Doyle, after a disjointed pre-season with Pep Guardiola's side, did look to be physically struggling towards the end of this clash. That sharpness will return when exposed to further Championship matches. Thankfully, City have a congested calendar both of training and games to help progress his fitness. 

Tyler Goodrham gave Callum Doyle a difficult afternoon. (Image: Paul Chesterton/Focus Images Ltd)

It wasn't his best personal showing, but there is plenty of mitigation to offer as a case for the defence. 

On a poor day for Norwich as a collective, Doyle was not the biggest cause of concern and, in the long run, he will form part of the solution for Thorup. 

VERDICT: A flat first display for Norwich in a different team performance in their Championship opener. Requires time to adapt to teammates and the demands - but there was a glimpse of his passing qualities. 

RATING: 5 out of 10