Tom Haylett

He brought the pride back to Carrow Road after the relegation to League One and that 7-1 horror show against Colchester. It’s been some ride and that’s how we should remember Paul Lambert – for bringing the good times back to Norfolk.

Transfer deadline day, where the Sky Sports News crew look like they’re about to have kittens when their ‘sources’ reveal that Rochdale are about to sign someone on a Bosman, has a feel of desperation about it if you ask me.

With tomorrow’s first showpiece friendly on the horizon with Newcastle United coming to town, you would expect the City boss to start testing out his preferred team, injuries permitting. With seven additions to the squad this summer, the Scot has plenty of options.

Now I can understand why Askou couldn’t force his way back in; after all, Messrs Doherty and Nelson were performing well, with Zak Whitbread waiting in the wings. But for me, he’d be a decent bet even in the Championship – the lad can play.

After the additions of Elliott Ward, Andrew Crofts, Steve Smith, Andrew Surman and David Fox, the defence and midfield numbers will give Lambert plenty of options come August 6 and that Friday night TV date with Malky Mackay’s Hornets.

While, for me, Paul Lambert has the been the single most important factor in driving City back to the Championship, most of these ‘awards’ are for the players, who have also been a credit to the football club in 2009/10.

Delia Smith, Michael Wynn Jones and Michael Foulger continue, much to their credit, to put their money where their mouth is and the business acumen of the board’s newest recruits means that Norwich City appears to be in safe hands, despite the financial crisis currently engulfing football.

For me, there are three stand-out contenders and a host of others who could also be in the running. And the fact that there are so many worthy candidates shows how well the Canaries have performed in 2009/10.

The bravery in his decision making has been one of the standout qualities so far and the match that shines brightest in the memory is that 1-0 win over Brentford. With Grant Holt sent off just before the break, the Canaries boss opted for a 3-4-2 formation; the rest, as they say, is history.

It’s fair to say that by the 28th, with those three promotion showdowns done and dusted, we should have a fair idea of whether City will be as good as up, or fighting hard with a host of other teams for those coveted two spots.

Millwall look a racing certainly for the play-offs at least and as many predicted, they are having an extremely strong second half of the season, so there is no shame in losing at the New Den.

It’s not just the turnaround that has been remarkable – doesn’t that 7-1 defeat to Colchester seem an age ago? – it’s the speed at which Paul Lambert has transformed Norwich from a club in crisis into promotion favourites in a matter of months.

It’s Millwall next up for City on Boxing Day and another chance to rack up another three points and an eighth successive home win. The Londoners will, however, be in good spirits after earning a 4-4 draw at The Valley and I expect Kenny Jackett’s men to be strong during the second half of the season.

They would have had no problem selling 3,000 tickets – which is what Leeds got I’m told – for League One’s East Anglian derby, but obviously that is now not going to be the case.

Paul Lambert admitted that ‘the fans would probably burn the place down’ if he was a sell a prized asset and even though the red tops will have a snippet or two containing the words Holt or Hoolahan, both players seem happy to stay in Norfolk.

It’s the automatic promotion places which will be concerning the Canary nation – and if they keep heading north at the current rate, Norfolk may well be celebrating a return to the Championship at the first time of asking.