In previous seasons, supporters would have been quite critical of three points from three games in a week.
Alongside the setback, there would have been complaints over the quantity of goals given up.
On paper, and based only on the statistics, Johannes Hoff Thorup’s rule would likely be described as steady to begin.
With four victories and 18 points from 12 games, eighth place in the Championship table.
David Wagner’s team has one fewer goal, six more goals given up, and one fewer point from the first 12 games at this point last year.
As we approach another pivotal week, I remember that the mood among the yellow and green fan base was a little different twelve months ago.
Last season, City had four victories to open the season, but they also lost badly to Plymouth 6-2 and to Leeds 3-2 at home after leading by two goals.
After that Leeds loss, I recall sulking as I walked back up Rouen Road.
Everyone around me felt the same way.
Even though the 2023–04 campaign ended with a spot in the playoffs, there was a lack of faith and a basis for the unease that supported it.
What, then, has changed since last fall?
There are certainly a number of variables to consider, but in my opinion, there are three letters that are the primary cause of our joy and a boost in our spirits.
JHT.
A fan is lying if they say they knew a lot about Johannes Hoff Thorup before he entered the building in the summer.
For a long time, I had trouble even spelling his name, much less knowing his entire family history.
However, the incredibly endearing Dane, who has a distinct tough side beneath his seemingly laid-back exterior, is having a significant impact on NR1.
He has already made us fans happy in his relatively brief term, something has been lacking in recent years.
The thrilling comeback against Middlesbrough on Sunday had one of the finest atmospheres at Carrow Road in a long time.
We were happy to be there and loving the spirit shown by the players.
The way Borja Sainz is playing is little short of extraordinary.
Every goal he scores appears to be a contender for goal of the season.
The boss has granted him permission to excite, and he is doing it expertly.
We have also been offered hope by Thorup.
Is the team performing flawlessly? No.
Are they making mistakes? Indeed.
Is there anything that needs to be improved? Indeed.
Is there a chance that these good times will be followed by even better ones? Of course.
And he and his coaching staff are trusted by everyone I talk to. It’s becoming clear that the players also have faith in him.
At 8pm last Tuesday when City were 2-0 down at Preston, it would have been easy to panic.
In years gone by, those type of away trips would have turned into a depressing drubbing.
Similarly on Sunday, things could have gone badly wrong once Michael Carrick’s men stamped their mark on the game.
I’ve mentioned the impact the new management has had on Sainz.
Look at the way Shane Duffy has developed this season. When has a defender scored a better goal than the one he bagged at Preston?!
Kellen Fisher has established himself as one of the first names on the team sheet – a quite remarkable progression for a lad playing non league football last year.
There’s no doubt that we are missing Angus Gunn, who I consider the Championship’s best keeper.
George Long has faced plenty of criticism since coming into the team. I’m not wholly convinced by him.
However, Hoff has really backed him.
That penalty save on Sunday – followed by one of the best fist pumps I’ve witnessed for years – changed the game.
In time we may see the full significance of it in terms of Long’s career and City’s season.
Thanks to tweets from the ever brilliant NCFC Numbers account on X, we know that City are now the second top scorers in the Championship.
In the last seven games the Canaries have scored six more than any other team.
Borja has outscored 11 of the other 23 sides.
Thanks, Delia and Michael
I’m giving away how long I’ve been in journalism when I say that I wrote the first story for our newspapers when Delia Smith and Michael Wynn Jones threw themselves into our club.
Ah-Ed of the game!
I want to highlight two of my personal heroes from Sunday’s Boro game, which had many heroes on the field and in the technical area.
Due to a variety of rail and bus problems, his friend Ed, who is a more recent addition to the City loyal, and he had to go to and from Carra for around eighteen hours.
After the game, we quickly caught up, and Ed told us a fantastic anecdote.
He predicted it at around 10 a.m. on one of their shuttle hikes—yes, it was going to be a 3-3 tie!
What odds would Ed have had on it, I wonder?
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