Yes I know I promised that I wouldn't mention shopping again but with transfer deadline day a very recent memory I suppose you'll let me off this once!My dad, who is a lovely man (and I definitely wouldn't say that if not true!), has received more than his fair share of calls from me in the early part of this week with most of them beginning something like this: “Have we bought anyone yet?” followed by “I really rang to see if you are all right, of course!”Now my dad's hearing is not quite what it once was so I suppose I shouldn't have been too surprised when he answered, “I did my weekly shop yesterday and they had those nice steak pies I lik

Yes I know I promised that I wouldn't mention shopping again but with transfer deadline day a very recent memory I suppose you'll let me off this once!

My dad, who is a lovely man (and I definitely wouldn't say that if not true!), has received more than his fair share of calls from me in the early part of this week with most of them beginning something like this: “Have we bought anyone yet?” followed by “I really rang to see if you are all right, of course!”

Now my dad's hearing is not quite what it once was so I suppose I shouldn't have been too surprised when he answered, “I did my weekly shop yesterday and they had those nice steak pies I like on offer so I stocked up on those. My freezer is now pretty full!”

Looking back on January's open transfer window the Carrow Road freezer now has the sum total of a crocked Luke Chadwick, David Marshall (on loan), one Simon Lappin, a Fozzy and a fair few pasties and pies in it, and not a lot else. Amongst those we've had a nibble at count one Tony Capaldi (Plymouth winger) but he apparently didn't fancy the state of the roads or rail networks from the deepest southwest to the lumpy bit that sticks out on the side just above London! Judging by my experiences of travelling a mere 78 miles for each home game I can't say I blame him if I'm honest! As for the new boys we bid them a warm welcome and hope their stay is both good for them and fruitful for us all.

Yes it's appears a tad disappointing for some overall but that's not to say that every effort has been made to lure those on the 'Wanted' list here, just that little happened at a time when we need it to so badly for City are like a bunch of students flagging at 2 a.m. with an essay deadline at 9 a.m.; desperately in need of some caffeine tablets just to see them through so that the 'sorry, but my dog was ill and couldn't get outside to go to the toilet quick enough' excuse doesn't have to be rolled out for the umpteenth time if the worst should ultimately happen.

Looking back on FA Cup weekend I guess it's more a case that we should be thankful we can return to Norfolk to fight another day, especially after losing Chris Brown to the second yellow as he suddenly imagined himself on court playing basketball against the Lancashire Tangerines!

With an away trip to Stamford Bridge and an outing against the current Premiership Champions Chelsea the reward for winning at home in a couple of weeks I just hope we can go out there, play as we have shown only glimpses of during this season (Barnsley at home for example) and remind all watching who is in the higher division at this moment in time. Trouble is, these sorts of occasion have the habit of biting even the mildly complacent on the proverbial buttocks so there will be no taking anything for granted in this house, nor at Canary HQ if there's any sense!

And so onwards to the visit of Leeds. This won't be for the faint-hearted to be sure but if we stand up to them, earn the right to play (you haven't heard that before somewhere have you?) and give it our all we might just manage to hammer the nail a bit deeper into their coffin whilst pulling our own nail out towards the light a little bit.

Not that I'm superstitious or anything but it makes me feel uneasy hearing players and former players muttering, “City are too good to go down” in the public domain. If they think and believe it privately then all well and good, but any sign of it in print brings me out in a cold sweat. (I shall be the one at Carrow Road this weekend wearing a thick sweater while the sun beats down!)

Finally this week I just have to send all good wishes to the departing Craig Fleming, a player who all City fans would say always gave of his best in the Canary cause and was a great representative of the club both on and off the field over many many years. He will be sadly missed indeed.