How good it is to see the team show the grit and determination that we last saw in our 2003-2004 promotion season. Just like that season the current team refuses to roll over and accept defeat with another point winning goal from Doherty at Yeovil.

By Tony Springall, NCISA

How good it is to see the team show the grit and determination that we last saw in our 2003-2004 promotion season.

Just like that season the current team refuses to roll over and accept defeat with another point winning goal from Doherty at Yeovil.

As a consequence the team has won nine and drawn two of the last 12 league games. This has been achieved under the superb leadership of Lambert and his management team.

While achieving that impressive run of results the team has entertained the fans. This in turn has helped excite the fan base at home and away. A further 650 half-season-ticket holders have boosted the big and loyal support and hopefully by Christmas the club will have some more sold. So I expect attendances at Carrow Road to exceed 24,000 during the second half of the season.

This shows how well supported Norwich City are when you consider Ipswich Town have struggled to achieve 20,000 during the first half of this season despite playing at a higher level.

However, the good support can also be seen at away grounds where you rarely see less than a thousand present. The vocal support for the team away from Carrow Road often exceeds the noise made by the home supporters and must be a boost to the City team.

Which brings me to Mr Cowling (Chairman of Colchester United FC.) who is showing a distinct lack of Christmas spirit towards the Norwich fans despite saying: “I am sorry if this decision goes down badly with the Norwich fans, who I personally have no gripe with.”

Well, I don't think our fans will be so understanding! Furthermore I can't imagine that Lambert and the team needed any motivation for the away game at Colchester anyway. All Mr Cowling has done is to boost the motivation by another notch.

Moving to a different subject, how refreshing it was for our Chief Executive David McNally to express, upon his appointment, a positive aim for the club, i.e., promotion not consolidation.

Moreover Mr McNally has also expressed longer-term objectives in terms of promotion to the Premier League and ground expansion. In addition the club appears to be taking action to address some of the key financial issues such as the cost base and the longer term debts which are a challenge for this club.

Despite the tight finances, let's hope the board can find the resources to complete the transfers of McNamee and Martin. In addition we could do with the signing of Seabourne and an experienced (in terms of games played rather than age) striker.

On the departure front it looks like Cureton will be leaving given his absence from the bench and it wouldn't surprise me if Whaley, Theoklitos and McVeigh found new clubs during the January window.

Finally may I wish you a Merry Xmas and a promotion winning 2010!