David Wagner only wishes to look forward from now, but a slide into a mid-table finish last season prompted more questions than answers whether this head coach could get City upwardly mobile.
But 13 points from 18, and progress into the third round of the League Cup, offers tangible evidence a corner has been turned.
Wagner views Leicester City’s visit to Carrow Road on Wednesday as barometer of his own’s squad’s ambitions over the coming months.
“We did a lot of things we wanted to do, after last season,” he said. “We wanted a good transfer window, if possible, where we wanted to get the right personnel, the right personality, the right players into the club, and early in the summer.
“Then we wanted to have a good pre-season with good games. And obviously, we wanted to have a good start as well in the league. So a lot of things we discussed behind the scenes, when we reflected and analysed last season, we put those together.
“The supporters also play a crucial part as well. Especially at home. After Hull, you could feel that desperation, and when Adam Idah scored so late, the relief that it could be different this year. Because a game like that at home last season we could only draw, or maybe even lose. Maybe this was the moment where it started.
“Then the boys backed it up at Southampton, scoring a lot of goals and looking a threat, then another home game. The players have done the first step, in terms of performances and results. And it’s like always, this has to click together, this has to connect with the fans and then you can push forward.”
Jack Stacey was one of those early transfer window additions, and the former Bournemouth full-back has been a revelation in replacing former right-back Max Aarons.
Stacey also underlined his attacking qualities with his sliding dart to seal the win at the weekend against Stoke City.
“Jackie is a top professional and feels a responsibility for both the defensive end and for the offensive end of our game as well,” said Wagner. “It’s great to have him. He’s quite a quiet person.
“Not the loudest, but he does his job from the first to the final second. Not only because of his goal (against Stoke) but he had a lot of good situations, good crosses and he was solid defensively. A top full back performance.
“Obviously if the attack is on the left side then we ask our full backs to be in certain positions, and that goal was one of them. I was very happy he behaved like a top striker, and was very calm in the situation. They get asked to play very high and, that defensively, they can be totally solid.
“You see how tight everything is in the Championship. Jack used his opportunity and Stoke had a similar chance 30 seconds before the final whistle. Obviously their player missed the situation, or didn’t hit the ball, and that could have gone in.”
In a season where success or failure may be measured in fine margins Wagner felt the manner of a slender hard-fought win over the Potters bodes well.
“Obviously emotionally, and from the stress level, you’d rather be 4-0 up after 80 minutes, but every game the players get asked questions,” he said. “In the second half the biggest question was, ‘Will we do the hard yards? Will we really dig in?
“Will they really put in the shift and the togetherness to get this result over the line?’ And they did, especially after what happened at Rotherham in the game before.
“First half, the question was a little bit different. Would we really put the energy on them, the pressure on them so that they don’t get a breather? Would we be strong in the counter press and play in the right areas? They did and they scored as well.
“This type of game helps us that we can get a result over the line if we need, and a clean sheet is always great. We haven’t played many at home this season so that was pleasing as well, and we are looking forward to being here again (for Leicester).”
Wagner reported no fresh fitness concerns from those on duty against Stoke. Dimi Giannoulis has trained after he was withdrawn with a quad issue in the second half.
Borja Sainz got his first minutes in a Norwich shirt on Tuesday in a development run out at Colney. Midfielder Jacob Sorensen is also back in light training after his pelvic-related problem.
Fellow midfielder Marcelino Nunez is expected to be in a protective boot for the next week, after injuring his left ankle recently on international duty with Chile.
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