1 – Infamous
The history books make for grim reading when looking to compare this defeat with others that have gone before.
Norwich conceded six goals for the first time since that infamous 7-1 defeat to Colchester back in 2009 – a game that marked the beginning of the end for Bryan Gunn’s managerial tenure at the club and the start of real change.
That came in the third tier. You have to delve deeper into the history books for the last time they conceded six in the second division.
It was December 1996. Mike Walker was at City for his second stint in charge and the league had yet to be rebranded as the Championship. It was away at Port Vale during a run where Norwich were without a win in nine matches.
This defeat marks an unwelcome club for those Norwich players and David Wagner to be the latest members of – perhaps the unexpected nature of it is what has caught most off-guard.
After how last season imploded, this was the type of performance and result that Norwich were supposed to have left in the rearview mirror. When a team produces a display like that, it erodes trust with supporters.
This was an afternoon that caused nothing but concern after a largely positive start to the league campaign.
2 – Sour
David Wagner described it a loss of heads – but 10 first-half minutes saw this game move from disappointing to humiliating.
The tunnel was situated just to the right of City’s 1,600-strong away contingent, all of whom had committed money, time and many miles to those set of players over the weekend.
It was £92 for a match ticket and a seat on the club coach. No wonder they were feeling short-changed as their team trudged down the tunnel at half-time 4-0 down.
City’s fans, who sang throughout the afternoon, made their feelings known. Some rushed to the front of the stand to make their point whilst others simply stood with their arms outstretched asking ‘what was that?’.
More damning was the reaction from the away end as the players emerged from their half time discussion. They were booed as they re-entered the Home Park pitch. Seldom has there been a reaction like that.
They even failed in their attempt to win the second half – with Plymouth adding another two goals before the afternoon was through.
City’s faithful have been willing to turn the page and cultivate a positive atmosphere despite a dejecting conclusion to last season. It is not them who have to produce a response.
The full time reaction was tamer. The result had already been processed. But the anger was palpable.
3 – Ch-ch-changes
Quite a few eyebrows were raised when Steven Schumacher made seven changes to his side for their midweek defeat to Bristol City. More so when they were defeated 4-1.
But the Plymouth boss had one eye on Norwich’s visit to Home Park, knowing that their home form will be crucial to continuing their adaptation to life in the Championship.
It worked a treat. Plymouth were ruthless, energetic and powerful – Norwich’s defence failed to live with the likes of Ryan Hardie, Morgan Whittaker and Bali Mumba, all of whom were rested in midweek.
The same couldn’t be said for Norwich, who made just two changes and looked leggy. After their midweek defeat to Leicester, Shane Duffy said: “We have to rotate it now. We can’t keep using the same players or the energy levels will drop.”
So he was proved correct. Plymouth’s freshness was a stark contrast to Norwich’s laboured display.
There is mitigation in the form of injuries, but Norwich didn’t refresh their side enough and were brutally punished.
Norwich will make changes in midweek with one eye on that Carrow Road clash against Birmingham. After a full week, the result and performance will have to be drastically different.
4 – Revenge for Bali
It was a big afternoon for Bali Mumba who Norwich City disregarded in the summer as they pigeon-holed him into a right-back role.
The ex-Norwich man felt he had a point to prove and he put his best foot forward in an impressive display against his former club whilst proving he was capable of performing all aspects of the game.
Mumba played a key part in penning in City right-back Jack Stacey and caused countless problems with his pace in behind and tireless running.
This was an excellent all-round display from the 21-year-old. His delight at the final whistle was clear to see.
There was one moment where a rash tackle on Onel Hernandez led to City’s second half penalty that was converted by Adam Idah, but it was a performance that will have been sweet given how he was moved on from Norwich in the summer.
After the game, Mumba was engaging in conversation with Jonathan Rowe and Sam McCallum post-match as well as catching up with Andrew Hughes and Christoph Buhler.
Throughout, Mumba wore a big smile on his face. It felt like he was on a payback mission – and he came out on top.
5 – Structural repair
It may be a redundant point in the grand scheme of things, but there were the thinnest of straws to clutch onto amid the implosion that unfolded at Home Park.
Adam Idah netted twice on his first start since Norwich lost Ashley Barnes to a knee injury. The Irish international’s first strike was confident, even if little more than a consolation.
There has been plenty of debate around whether he can fill the goalscoring void – but he has the ability as documented by both of his finishes.
His penalty was emphatic. Both goals came after Wagner made a tactical tweak at half time that saw Hwang Ui-jo and Christian Fassnacht replaced by Adam Forshaw and Przemek Placheta.
Norwich pushed Gabriel Sara into a supporting role and Forshaw was deployed in a deeper-lying role alongside captain Kenny McLean. Beyond one misplaced pass that enabled Morgan Whittaker to secure his hat-trick, the ex-Leeds man offered a calm head and helped improve their structure.
Wagner teased in his press conference that unleashing Sara in a more advanced role may be a possibility now Forshaw is back up to match speed. It would be surprising if that wasn’t the formula deployed at Carrow Road next weekend.
6 – A response?
As the fall-out to this result continues, the conversation will shift onto the importance of an immediate response from David Wagner’s side.
City will have to go again in a few days with a Carabao Cup tie against Premier League Fulham – that was always going to be an occasion that was saved for senior debuts and heavy rotation. The outcome will likely be an exit from the competition.
Given the thin look to their squad and the importance of ending a run of three defeats in four matches, Wagner will make the Championship his priority. Borja Sainz will be handed a start, Jaden Warner and others are also in line to start.
All the focus must now be put on next weekend’s Carrow Road clash against Birmingham so Norwich can prove they are capable of answering the many questions that are being thrown in their direction after the capitulation of Saturday’s performance.
John Eustace’s side have also seen a bright start derail after three matches without a win. Most recently they drew 0-0 with QPR on Friday.
Birmingham have recruited well and are buoyed by new ownership that contains Tom Brady. Norwich will be on a mission to prevent a bad run of form from becoming a full blown crisis.
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