After all the focus on Norwich City’s revolving door of transfer business this summer, retaining Kenny McLean might turn out to be one of their best moves.

Throughout the early stages of the window, there was feverish conjecture tying him to the Rangers, as is customary every summer. Norwich kept him. Now it appears that he might play as important a role as ever.

McLean would have been the greatest player in Rangers’ midfield, which has not been as fluid as they would have wanted. They have signed Connor Barron and Mohamed Diomande, but he is ahead of them.

Perhaps he would have had his head turned slightly, but it was critical that he showed up in pre-season and committed to Norwich. In the coming weeks and months, we may look back on it as a pivotal point in the season.

Within the confines of Carrow Road and the dressing room, he is respected. If he were removed from this team, there is no comparable substitute that could provide the same level of consistency. On that basis, Norwich were really fortunate to keep him.

It’s not only his effect on the pitch, but with the club’s new attitude, McLean’s job has become even more important in recent weeks.

Norwich’s approach of promoting from within and lowering the average age is a positive long-term strategy.

However, there is also place for veteran players like McLean, who will play an important role in tying everything together on and off the field.

Norwich will want consistency in the center of the park, as well as the ability to take the ball in tough situations, particularly given the nature of ‘Hoffball’.

McLean have both the bravery and the talent to do so, as seen by two excellent passes in the buildup to Borja Sainz’s and Marcelino Nunez’s goals on Saturday. Thorup’s leadership and skills have made him a valuable member of his team.

I recall seeing McLean play at Aberdeen, and I always believed his finest position was number 10. At Norwich, he shown his ability to adapt to varied tasks. He has a highly intelligent football brain, which is valued by every coach who has worked with him at Carrow Road.

It’s OK to fill the club with new players; there’s nothing wrong with that, and I appreciate that they’ve put a line in the sand, but while others adjust, McLean remains a constant who maintains standards and provides stability.

No one should underestimate McLean’s present position on that team. Norwich City’s head coach is still learning the ropes in the Championship, thus they aren’t bringing in experienced players.

After the shift, it’s crucial to have someone who understands the club, its values, and maintains high standards. I’ve met him several times; he’s friendly, but he also has a strong desire to succeed.

Norwich’s challenge is to keep him healthy. McLean and Marcelino Nunez are important aspects of the strategy because they allow the ball to get through to their attacking players.

My first piece this season was about the lack of excitement for the new season amidst all of the transfer sagas and a lack of new energy around the club, but that has altered dramatically in recent weeks.

I was as delighted as everyone else when Norwich defeated Coventry. I knew my old City teammate Mark Robins’ reputation as a manager, so it seemed like a huge deal. Then Swansea was frustrating; the Championship demonstrates how brutal it can be as a league.

But the weekend seemed like a big deal. It felt like the first time ‘Hoffball’ had really taken off.

In the big scheme of things, it is a minor stage and component of the process. Did I believe Norwich would move up to the automatic slots this season? Not a chance. Did I believe Norwich would finish in the play-off spots? I would have declared ‘not a chance’ at the start of the season.

There is something now, and maybe it’s just me getting carried away, that suggests greater positivity. It’s only a start, but there are early indications that this may thrive under Thorup.

With youthful players and a new style of play, there may be inconsistency. However, Thorup is self-sufficient, and even the departure of two coaches did not significantly impact the team’s performance.

The supporters deserve a lot of credit for their perseverance, despite a rocky start in terms of results and off-field upheaval. After Covid, the past several seasons have been challenging and have tested patience.

This does seem like a new beginning for everyone. I like where Norwich is right now. It is a direction of travel that seems both sustainable and interesting, which is something we haven’t said in a long time.

This is only the beginning of this road, and it will be a slow one, but Thorup has already earned a lot of respect and trust due to his clear playing style, communication skills, and tactical understanding.

Similarly, there have been significant gains. After failing to attack against Swansea, they improved in training, resulting in a victory over Watford this weekend.

Thorup is adhering to his convictions and firearms; long may this continue.