There has been a debate amongst my fellow Norwich supporter friends the last few weeks, as our team have dillied and dallied around the play-off places in the Championship. 

Do we really want to get promoted at all this season? An unexpected win at fellow playoff chasers Blackburn gave us renewed hope of a top six finish, followed by an underwhelming goalless draw against Rotherham that left many less convinced. 

So all eyes turned to Teeside on Friday night to see how we fared against one of the best sides in the division. This would be a true test of our standing in the league. 

Once again, a host of wasted chances from the Canaries, whilst the opposition were clinical in the box, sent us home with a loss. The result proved to be a definitive answer to all but the most optimistic of fans. That rainy evening at the Riverside Stadium dampened more than just the spirits of supporters. 

The gap in points may not seem insurmountable over the remaining four games, but there is a chasm in form on the pitch. The new manager bounce we experienced under Wagner has rebounded us all the way back to 10th place. We seem a team wholly unprepared for another shot at the big time, or even the pressure of a play-off tournament we’d need to win to get there. 

The argument for getting promoted is fairly one-sided: money. 

The guaranteed influx of cash obtained by a season in the Premier League is not something any Championship club would turn down; let alone one with a self-funded model like ours. 

Some would also say Norwich should relish the chance to visit the biggest stadiums and play against the best players in the top flight. However, when two of the last four seasons you have travelled to said stadiums to see those star players thrash your team to one humiliating defeat after another, somehow the proposition is less appetising. Maybe it’s worth taking the financial hit to avoid more of that suffering.

However, could there be some benefits to staying amongst the relative poor relations of the second division for another year? 

Our new head coach has struggled to keep any momentum amongst the squad, not helped by a rush of injuries in recent weeks. 

The Pink Un: David Wagner has plenty of work to do this summer whatever division City find themselves in next seasonDavid Wagner has plenty of work to do this summer whatever division City find themselves in next season (Image: Focus Images)

If we “avoid” the lottery of the play-offs, our season finishes on May 8 - giving the club three extra weeks to plan and rebuild for the next campaign. 

We already know that one of our biggest names, Teemu Pukki, will be leaving this summer, and there are likely to be other key departures. The work of Stuart Webber and Neil Adams will be crucial in ensuring we recruit well to replace them, and the starting line up on the opening day of next season is likely to herald a new era. 

This year has been a mix of frustrations and disappointment, with just a few moments of jubilation to be cherished in between. 

With the poor performance from the men’s team this weekend, it was nice to sit amongst the crowd at Carrow Road on Sunday to watch the women’s side make their league debut on the hallowed turf. 

Interest in the match exceeded expectations, with the kick off delayed to allow extra time for fans to get through the turnstiles. 

Our patience was rewarded with an entertaining eight-goal thriller, as both teams relished the opportunity to play in front of over 7,000 supporters. Alice Parker put in a star performance, scoring two goals, and Canary keeper Bryony Williams brilliantly saved a penalty. It was heartwarming to see so many happy young faces at the end of the match. 

Some of the players stayed out to thank the crowd until the stadium had emptied, as if they never wanted to leave. It was a timely reminder about the joy football can bring, and we all headed home with a spring in our step.