The Table Never Lies!
Dec 4th, 2009 | By KevB8ll | Category: Articles by Dale Moon, Blues NewsI’m pleased to introduce a new contributor to Joys and Sorrows.
Dale Moon is a broadcast journalism student from Birmingham currently studying at Nottingham Trent. He approached me to offer his services – so here is his 1st article. Enjoy, and give him some encouragement!
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Five games, three wins, two draws and the table NEVER lies!
Sitting in a cosy eleventh place heading into December, Alex McLeish seems to have reignited the Birmingham Spirit of old. The likes of Savage, Aliou Cisse and “The Horse” have since been replaced by players of equal grit and maybe just maybe with an extra dose of quality. Ferguson, Bowyer and the colossus that is Roger Johnson, seem to have mastered the art of winning ugly.
Ferguson supplies, Bowyer fires and Roger . . . well isn’t it obvious, he defends his goal like it’s a fortress built by his bare hands! How refreshing that after 5 years, the St. Andrew’s faithful are seeing the exact mentality that once convincingly defeated the old enemy on a bitter Monday night!
Make no mistake about it, this is not about them! McLeish has slowly but surely assembled a team worthy of competing in the unforgiving Premier League! Isn’t that all a blues fan wants?
Ok so now we have Carson Yeung on board but it is worth remembering that is wasn’t too long ago that the championship was our daily workplace! For all the riches that come with the Hong Kong businessman I for one would be happy to see how the current side would perform all season. However I, like most Blues fans, would jump at 40 million pounds to bring in new faces.
For all their endeavour and blistering pace, the double act of Jerome and Benitez just does not score enough goals. The likeability of both players needs to be discredited. This is a cut throat business where goals win you games and Blues simply do not score enough.
Jerome similar to Emile Heskey will scare defenders, make them panic, but scare tactics don’t move you up the table. His pace will cause defenders problems at all levels but his job, as a striker, is to score. Setting aside the thunderbolt at Anfield he has not caused opposition goalkeepers too many problems. Can you see him being a 15 goal a season striker?
Christian Benitez is different. With all the hype and expectation, is taking a while for the Ecuadorian to settle in. It can be seen in his game. Coming from a league where defenders are almost a different species to that of John Terry and Rio Ferdinand, Benitez conquered above all. Notching up 35 goals in 66 appearances for his Club Side (Santos Laguna) he inevitably would turn European heads. Since joining the blues, he seems to have a “head down and run” mentality.
Being the star of the show in a Mexican play is not enough to earn a lead role in a West End Musical. But nobody has told Benitez. On numerous instances during his 13 games has “Chucho” had the opportunity to pick a simple pass that would create a chance for the likes of Jerome, Bowyer and McFadden. But all too often chooses to opt alone, running around like a headless chicken until eventually scuffing a shot wide or being dispossessed by a combination of dizziness and simple defending.
There needs to be signs of improvement and these signs come in one form and one form only. Goals. If not, then the likes of the lovable pair of Jerome and Benitez may well be part of the dugout furniture.
As the January transfer window nears, Sammy Yu and Alex McLeish have both stressed the importance of obtaining the positive spirit currently in abundance around the club. The same spirit that has started to emerge as the trademark of this Blues side. Resilience, Determination and sheer heroics from Scott Dann and Roger Johnson has got us this far but scoring is a problem. With Wigan, West Ham and Blackburn as the next three games, McLeish will believe they can take points from each. Jerome and Benitez need to contribute. If not, we may see a different strike force come the turn of the year!
Dale Moon
Nicely put!! I too fear for both jerome and chucho, however I have hopes that chucho will find goals… Jerome has promised lots, he has everything.. Pace and strength, allied with the right attitude… And if he could find the net on a regular basis…?? Well he wouldn’t be at blues would he.. Tottenham Fulham Man City would have bought him by now…??!! Chucho has the excitement factor at present.. What will he do next… Skill and pace in abundance… Again the x factor is missing.. Will he be able to find the net in a regular basis… And… If he does… Will we be able to keep hold of him??
Jerome has had enough time. He cannot score a goal. He wants to score at a hundred miles an hour, where the simple strike is enough. So long as it goes over the line, that should be enough for him. He is a good player to have on the bench. Will never make it in the Premier. Benitez could end up leaving if he also doesn’t score. He looks great but we need goals. A top striker is a priority. We are going in the right direction though. Keep it up.
I thought your article was very well written until your comments on Benitez. Its widely accepted that he doesn’t score goals but certainly creates them? I think he is one of the best players we have seen at St Andrews for a long time and he has the tenacity to run the ball into that final third which we always seem to struggle with. He undeniably gets dispossessed far to easy and does need to look up more instead of running out of pitch but the boy is only 23 and plying his trade in a different country in what is widely regarded as the best league in the world. He wants to impress the fans and i agree he feels pressure to deliver. I think a couple of new signings taking the pressure off him will only serve to help and i must say i see him more as a right winger who can provide and score, dare i say a Christiano Ronaldo role.
As for Jerome, why do we give this guy so much adulation and respect for his footballing ability? He is position for position quite possibly one of the worst players on the team and yet week after week the media quote him as being a threat? I am bewildered as to why. If we replaced him with Dwayne Chambers no one would notice, he is all speed and no skill. The guy can’t take a ball out the air, he never wins headers, rarely takes anyone on and wins and is idle, how often do you find yourself shouting chase it Jerome because he ignores a loose ball only to saunter back to his favored position……offside?
Anyway if my opinion counts, on the whole a great article, best of luck with your future pieces.
I think the attack on Jerome’s willingness to chase the ball down is most unfair. His harrying of the opposition is one of his strongest points (after his pace), though I agree that he doesn’t score enough goals. Clearly we need 2 strikers who can each reach double figures, but until that time comes Jerome will continue to give his all for the cause & will certainly get my support.
you’ve got a great future in media ahead of you kid.
Kev what next interviews with a fews players at the training ground?