Norwich City: Inside Canaries' Carrow Road training session

Ben Knapper challenged his competitor, who responded first with shock before reluctantly agreeing to take part. Three of the four journalists in attendance glanced across in disbelief. There was a steely look of determination in both contenders' eyes, as Carrow Road stood still and witnessed the meeting of two great champions.

It's not very often Norwich City's sporting director starts a thumb war with a member of the Pink Un team, but in context it almost made sense.

It'll come as a surprise to few that he was explaining tactical concepts, discussing the provocative pro-activity of Johannes Hoff Thorup's system and breaking down its strengths. It was, there was the sense, the sort of conversation had at the Lotus Training Centre every day.

It encapsulated the culture that's taking over at Norwich, the very same one dictating the training session Thorup was leading over his colleague's shoulder. Hundreds of fans in the South Stand made it a slightly different prospect to usual, but the session was unyieldingly intricate.

Johannes Hoff Thorup oversaw a tactical session (Image: Denise Bradley/Newsquest)

There were no illusions of goal-heavy minigames or family-friendly entertainment; the focus, as ever, remained on getting City up to speed.

First it was in the form of rondos, or something closely resembling them, with players firing short passes to each other and looking for space in a narrow rectangle. The dulcet tones of former radio commentator Neil Adams soundtracked the task, his explanation of Barcelona's famous rondos booming over the PA system as he was interviewed. 

Then came perhaps the most complex drill of the morning, conducted in one half but with 22 players and in formation. The focus appeared to be for one side on breaking quickly and accurately, while the other attempted to find gaps in a deep-sitting line-up.

The make-up of one defence was particularly interesting, with Jacob Sorensen at centre-back and Kellen Fisher on the left. New signing Jose Cordoba partnered Shane Duffy on the opposite side.

The Canaries' new signing Jose Cordoba featured (Image: Denise Bradley/Newsquest)

The Panamanian's presence was maybe the biggest talking point among the young audience, his physical dimensions prepotent and his technique more slick in person. Fellow new boy Neil Stanley was also on display for the first time, but with his proverbial firs-team coach hat on rather than his set-piece coach one. 

 Josh Sargent wasn't part of the session to the disappointment of many, but he watched on from the sidelines. Joining him were Angus Gunn, Liam Gibbs, Christian Fassnacht and Grant Hanley, as the outfield group split into two for the final phase.

For the attackers that consisted of a slower drill with mannequins as opposition, while the more defensive players worked with assistant head coach Glen Riddersholm. Around midday the training was over, but the work wasn't near done for the players.

They headed over to the huge mass of fans waiting eagerly for their autographs, steeped in anticipation and cautiously optimistic about their team's chances this season. "I'm quite excited," one told The Pink Un. "I hope that we're really, really attacking." "I feel really excited," said another. "I'm going to enjoy the season."

Plenty of young fans watched on from the South Stand (Image: Denise Bradley/Newsquest)

That positivity is common at this stage of pre-season, and predictions are often made in hope rather than expectation. But after years of inconsistency and misery in NR1, perhaps hope is exactly what's needed.

As the players returned from their signing duties there was a feeling it had infected them as well; Onel Hernandez, Liam Gibbs, Marcelino Nunez and more all passed through with messages of excitement in one form or another.

It now feels like their emotions reflect those of the supporters, and this open training session was the latest in a series of events aimed to bring them closer together.

It may take someone with the analytical skills of Knapper to determine whether those tactical drills had the desired effect, but the vibe-checker was looking good as everyone departed.