CANARY captain Mark Fotheringham has echoed the words of Bryan Gunn and agrees that passion is a vital element to City's chances of climbing their way back up the table.
Gunn will take control of first team activities this week as they meet Barnsley at Carrow Road, and asked whether he too believed passion was a key part of success within the team, Fotheringham was clear about his feelings.
"Of course it's important," he said. "You have got to show passion - the players are all trying as hard as they can but it's right what Gunny says, we do need to show more passion and we do need to show more fight.
"I've heard a few reports from outside the Club which don't help saying that the players weren't playing for the manager. Some players have problems with their managers and it happens at all clubs but I can assure you the players were trying for the manager on the pitch. You don't go out and beat teams like Ipswich or draw against Birmingham, or beat Sheffield United at home if you're not playing for your manager."
He continued: "The results don't lie, the table doesn't lie but there are 19 games to go and there are a lot of games coming up which we think we're more than capable of winning. Whoever comes in will have their own ideas about what they need to do to strenghen the squad and they need to do it quickly."
The Norwich City board terminated Glenn Roeder's contract as manager on Wednesday, a decision which the City captain was philosophical about.
"It's never nice when someone loses their job, not only did Glenn go but Paul Stephenson and Adam Sadler went as well. It's never nice but the most important thing is the Football Club and the board has made their decision, so what we're concentrating on now is Barnsley.
"Each and everyone of us hasn't done well enough this season, there is quality within the squad and we have to start showing it more on the pitch. I think we need to start fighting for each other, we're in a battle now and we need to start fighting a lot harder than what we are at the moment. This is a great Club and the fans aren't happy and rightly so - we are at the bottom end of the table and it's not good enough.
"It doesn't mean to say you need players who are shouting all over the pitch and smashing into tackles; bravery is now the biggest thing. Bravery can be shown by lads getting on the ball and making things happen. You've got guys like Wes Hoolahan who will never shy from taking the ball, Sammy Clingan's the same. Gary Doherty and Lee Croft as well, and then you've got Adam Drury and Darel Russell who have got good experience between them."
Fotheringham added: "The big thing this season has been injuries to guys like Dejan Stefanovic. You look at lads like Elliot Omozusi, at the young age of 19 who is having to play at centre-back for maybe four or five games this year and that's not ideal.
"When you're coming up against really good, experienced strikers in the Championship that are big, strong boys, for lads who are young and inexperienced that's a hard proposition."
Tickets are available for today's Championship clash against Barnsley at Carrow Road, for more details or to book your seat call the Ticket Office on 0844 826 1902.
