It's too early for predictions but fun factor is back at Norwich City 

Most spoke of needing patience, as this was a period of rebuilding, a transitional chapter, and agreed that constant expectation of promotion was unrealistic. 

This has been my attitude. I was just hoping to see some good football as I watch young players progress and the squad slowly fall into shape. And then we go and convincingly beat one of the highly rated sides in the division at the weekend, and people are talking about us reaching the play-offs.  

It had been a long wait for the return to Carrow Road on Saturday, with the fixture list and an international break keeping the first team away for nearly a month.

Since that last home match, a slightly disappointing draw against Sheffield United that still had showed signs of promise, results have been a mixed bag. So we went more in hope than expectation, and yet within four minutes we were ahead, and by the last 20 we were in complete control. 

One swallow does not a summer make, but the confidence with which the Norwich team were pinging the ball across the park implies that they have now found their stride.

The new recruits seem to have settled in and are beginning to forge that instinctive understanding of where to pass the ball so their colleagues will find it at their feet. The sun was shining, the opposition faltering, and Hoffball was in full flow. 

A sign of how good the performance was is that there were debates amongst my friends and family about who the player of the match was.

Several of the squad had their best showing of the season so far; Marcelino Núñez was magnificent in midfield, Kenny McLean superb setting up play, Callum Doyle scoring and assisting goals, Jose Cordoba cool and calm in defence, and Kellen Fisher getting rave reviews from the support. But can we be sure all problems have been resolved? 

Change was needed at Colney last summer, after two years of papering over the cracks had left us with a team who could often get results but who were nowhere near ready for promotion or the test of the Premier League.

Both behind the scenes and on the pitch, transformation was necessary, followed by a period of adjustment - not least for myself, as I struggle to recognise the player and squad number when a substitution takes place.  

City fans celebrate Marcelino Nunez's strike against Watford (Image: Paul Chesterton/Focus Images Ltd)

With just six league games played and a mixture of results, the latest victory over Watford at Carrow Road on Saturday doesn’t mean the project is complete. The visiting team were forced to make two early substitutions, which upset their game plan, and certainly helped Norwich to take control. 

But the Canaries played some beautiful football which, if can be replicated over the coming weeks, bodes well for the club’s short-term future and will get packed crowds excited again. 

However, it is in the nature of football fans to get carried away - a disappointing defeat can leave some questioning the tactics of the head coach just as a good win brings talk of promotion. Whilst the victory on Saturday was very enjoyable and encouraging, we must allow this new squad time.

Youngsters may have a bad game, which will knock their confidence. A strong opposition could exploit a weakness or force errors. If the next match doesn’t go to plan, we mustn’t give up hope but trust the process, as the cliche goes. 

It’s far too early in the season to make any grand predictions of how it will end, but there was obvious joy on the faces of the Carrow Road crowd, with even failed attempts in attack bringing rousing applause.  

A summer of change and departures seems to have finally settled down, and the club - and their supporters - can concentrate on the football.  

The Johannes Hoff Thorup era has arrived.