David Hannant: Sense of early Farke deja vu at Norwich City

A high-scoring victory in the cup where attacking promise is slightly offset by defensive frailty. 

Does anybody feel like they've seen this film before?

I was actually quite encouraged by what I saw on Saturday, even if the end result was neither what we expected or, in my eyes, deserved.

But the biggest sense I have had in the early stages of Johannes Hoff Thorup's tenure so far is deja vu.

Plenty of what I've seen so far has reminded me of the earlier stages of Daniel Farke's run at the helm.

In an overall sense, I'm talking about what I've seen unfold on the pitch.

Just like there was in Farke's early days, it feels clear what the plan is, but also clear it is not quite in fruition yet.

To me, it is easy to see what the Dane is trying to achieve and how he wants the team to play.

It is clear he wants a team that is efficient in the way it moves the ball, controls possession and plays an attractive brand of football.

But equally, it still feels like we're in a bedding-in period where the players are gradually coming around to his way of thinking.

It is exactly what happened in Daniel Farke's maiden season - Farkeball as we came to know it was very much in its infancy.

There were always flashes of it, but it really never came into its own until the following season and once it clicked, it really, really clicked.

We're already seeing flashes of 'Hoffball' - two great examples of this being Onel Hernandez's opener against Stevenage and when Borja Sainz put us ahead on Saturday.

On both occasions, the ball was moved purposefully from front to back with intelligent movement and quick passing.

These flashes are what have given me the encouraging sense of early Farke deja vu.

Make no mistake, if there is one manager I want to see Thorup emulate, it's Farke.

It is also the biggest difference between Farke and the two bosses sandwiched between him and Thorup.

Dean Smith in particular, I never really got any sense or understanding of what he was. 

In his year in charge, I never once really got what he was trying to achieve, what he was trying to instil in players and what his sense of footballing identity was. 

With Wagner, while there was a lot more to like about him on a personal level than Dean Smith - he didn't ever say he was glad to be playing away from home for example - there also seemed to be much of a sense of identity.

Thorup though, I can absolutely see what he is trying to achieve, and that is greatly encouraging.

However, it is more than just this which has got my thinking back to the early days of Daniel Farke.

Behind the scenes, it is clear that Thorup is in the process of putting his stamp on the squad and dictating the culture he wants in the squad - much in the same way Farke did.

The clearest example of this is the way he handled the opening day drama with Jonny Rowe - much like the way Farke did with Nelson Oliveira after his own first-day misdemeanour. 

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For those that have forgotten, in Farke's very first game, the Portuguese striker came off the bench to score a late equaliser before promptly taking off his shirt and waving it in his new head coach's face and pointing at his name.

After the game, Farke addressed this in the most eloquent of ways.

I'm paraphrasing, but it was something along the lines of pointing out that it is the badge on the front and not the name on the back that matters.

Thorup has gone on to make similar comments following Rowe's no-show against Oxford.

"We have to build a strong culture - build an environment based on players who have a desire to perform for Norwich."

This is exactly the kind of thing I want to be hearing from a coach - and gives a clear picture of what Thorup is aiming to achieve.

In his handling of the Rowe situation, Thorup has made his expectations crystal clear to his squad and shown that he means business and won't be walked over.

It is this that gives me confidence that he is the right sort of man to lead - in a similar way to his predecessor's predecessor's predecessor.

Farke was always going to be a tough act to follow given all he achieved, but neither Dean Smith nor David Wagner ever really gave off the same vibes.

But in Thorup, I have confidence that, with time, he will be able to make the role his own in the same way Farke did.

We gave Farke time and were patient with him and were rewarded for that.

While we have been stung by the uninspiring spells under Smith and Wagner, this time things feel different.

But it's so important that we are patient and trust the process - because this time there actually feels like there is one.