Nail Biting Blues!
Filed under: Blues News, General Football, Kev's Ramblings, Matches
We have another article from Sporting Intelligence. Originally posted here.
Read below:
Wenger an Easy Rider as Blues take Cup break from Premier League dramas
By Brian Sears 5 March 2010
If we define a nail-biting game as one in which the result could be changed with the last kick of the match, then they’re becoming rarer in the Premier League. Never before this season has the percentage of nail-biters been as low as this campaign.
In the first season of the Premier League, as many as 67.3 per cent of top-flight league games were nail biters, with just one goal at most separating the teams at the final whistle.
That rose to 68.2 per cent in 1993-94 and has settled at pretty much the mid-60s in percentage terms in every season since, with lows of 61.6 per cent in 2005-06 then 61.3 per cent on 2007-08. This season? Just 59 per cent of games have been nail-biters.
Arsenal are the least nail-biting team; just nine of their 28 games (or 32 per cent) would have seen a different result with a last-kick goal. Burnley have seen fewer nail-biters than most clubs (48 per cent), but whereas Arsenal’s games are not nail-biters because they normally win so easily, Burnley’s aren’t nail-biters because they lose so heavily.
That’s why today’s match between Arsenal and Burnley at The Emirates is as unlikely to be a nail-biter as any game we’ve seen so far this season, statistically speaking. Arsene Wenger should be one easy rider this afternoon, watching his men speed past the clarets from Lancashire.
At the other end of the nail-biting spectrum, Birmingham really know how to put their fans through the mill: 24 of their 27 league games this season have been nail-biters, or 89 per cent, a whopping percentage that makes them by far the most nerve-racking side to follow.
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Thankfully their fans get a break from the league nerves this weekend as Birmingham play at Portsmouth in the FA Cup (see ‘Omens’ below). The pair last met in the FA Cup in 1977, and Brum won, 1-0. Personally, we’ll be keeping a close eye on Reading v Aston Villa on Sunday. If Villa win, as they did the last time these sides met in the Cup, then it’s ‘Hurt Locker’ for Best Picture at the Oscars, we say.
McLeish Left Craven for a Win in the Capital
Filed under: Articles by Dale Moon, Blues News, Match reports, Matches
Here is Dale’s take on yesterday.
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As the heat is turned up at the business end of the championship, many of the premier league hopefuls should take note of the fine margins between victory and defeat that make the country’s top division such an unforgiving place. A trip to Craven Cottage was always going to be a tough ask for a blues side that haven’t recorded a point away at any of the London teams this year. Fulham were in form and off the back of an impressive win against Shakhtar Donetsk in the Europa League. The game was a real battle and to many pundits surprise, somewhat more entertaining than predicted.
And when after 3 minutes Chris Baird planted a textbook header past the helpless Mark Schwartzer and into his own net, Blues had something to hold onto and as we have seen throughout the season, they certainly have the capacity to have done so. Fulham huffed and puffed and pulled off a point blank save from Joe Hart after Simon Davies crept in behind the blues backline. Bobby Zamora looked threatening throughout and had transformed into what looked like a player full of confidence and ability overnight. It was not so long ago that the banks of the river Thames were mocking the striker who seems to have proved his critics wrong. That said, Danns and Johnson dealt with most things fairly well and confined Fulham to a few half chances from Davies and Zamora. Having got to half time with a slender lead, McLeish would have been encouraged by his team’s performances, resolute rather than remarkable.
Then on the hour mark Damien Duff rolled back the years to produce a goal out of nothing. He received the ball just inside the blues half in a wide right position and after going on a mazy run he cut inside onto his favoured left foot and unleashed a precise strike off the inside of the post and into the back of the net. Being critical you could have questioned whether any of the line of players Duff seemed to evade should have took responsibility and make a challenge rather than pass him on to the next man but take nothing away from the finish from the ex-Chelsea winger. Blues to their credit rallied and if it was not for the slightest of touches off Mark Scwartzer, McFadden’s 25 yard rocket would have put blues ahead for a second time in the game. Instead, the underside of the bar diverted the ball onto the line and spun out. The game opened up and as you would expect from the home team Fulham pushed for the winner.
90 Minutes were on the clock and the ball had bounced on the edge of the box when the usually Mr. Reliable Stephen Carr came rushing across and body checked Zoltan Gera. It was one of those moments you see coming but couldn’t stop as the right back committed to the challenge and gave away a dangerous free kick on the edge of the box. To me, it was obvious that the free kick was too close to the goal for the Beckham-esque curler over the wall and so Joe Hart should have occupied his side knowing there was a real possibility that the free kick taker would strike the ball that side of the goal. Bobby Zamora stepped up and crashed a shot that Hart could only get fingertips to as it nestled in the top corner of the blues goal. And with that the game was over. Questions over Joe Hart’s positioning but again a great strike after a silly free kick from a Blues perspective.
On Reflection, a point would have been a fairer result and Blues played their part in a highly contested game. But yet again we come away from the capital with no points and add Fulham to the list of West Ham, Tottenham, Arsenal and Chelsea for away losses. Lessons to be learnt? Well nobody can deny Duff’s strike but Stephen Carr’s rush of blood to the head cost us dearly, the wise Irishman will know himself that on another day would have used his experience to see out the game. Blues now welcome Wigan to St.Andrews and will look to take all 3 points from the strugglers but Blues being the Blues I know, never make it that simple.
Dale Moon
Cesc’ Fab but Fragile Arsenal Facing
Here is Dale’s latest article.
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Arsenal’s artistic style of football has striking similarities to Van Gough, a genius at what they do but a product of their own downfall. The gunners are yet to see silverware since 2002 and there’s only so many “end of the seasons” that Wenger can be judged on. As a manager, it is admirable that he has taken the moral stance on financing the team but how longer does he have before the North London faithful start jetting out of the Emirates. There are 2 departments to the Arsenal team that have to be addressed if they have any realistic ambitions of reaching the heights of the “invincibles”.
Goals and Power. Fernando Torres, Didier Drogba and Wayne Rooney. Frequently found in every tabloid readers fantasy football team at the start of the season (to the expense of having a Titus Bramble-esque defence as a large amount of the £50m was gobbled up by the front 3). They cost money but they score goals. The correlation is simple yet too complex for Arsene Wenger “the talent spotter” to digest.
Goals. Wenger prides himself on producing the best young, exciting and talented players to ever grace the premier league and beyond. Snapping up players for a fraction of their worth and selling them on for tens of millions of pounds. His uncanny ability to develop players is unmatched by anyone in the business since Ferguson’s Beckham, Neville, Scholes and Giggs era. However Wenger MUST break the bank and sign a proven world class goal scorer to compete with the superstars strikers of Rooney, Drogba and Torres. Van Persie looked to fill that void until getting injured on international duty during Holland’s friendly against Italy back In November. Wenger should have addressed the problem during the transfer window with Marouane Chamakh the obvious signing. Instead he has chosen to wait for the summer to sign the Moroccan hit man as his contract expires allowing him to join on a free. In doing so he has kissed goodbye to any hopes of winning their first premier league title for 7 years. Two successive defeats against United and Chelsea made sure of this.
Power. Arsenals visit to Stamford Bridge was a demonstration of how power is everything in the toughest league in the world. Down the spine of the Chelsea machine stood Terry, Ballack and Drogba. Three powerful, commanding and authoritative figures up against the tipy-tapy trio of Gallas, Denilson and Nasri. The appropriate and yet tired cliché of boys against men has seldom being demonstrated with as much evidence. Arsenal were not without their own spell of pressure and had enough possession without reward. The difference in the two teams, on the day was the physique and clout in a Chelsea side that simply bullied Arsenal off the park. It seems Wenger has developed a seemingly dismissive approach to a vital element of the English game, disrespecting it almost. As a neural it would give me great pleasure in seeing an Arsenal team as talented and skilful as the current one lifting the evasive premier league title. Yet there are no points earned for style of football and for this reason the best opportunity Arsenal had for the past few seasons is slipping from their grasp.
Until Wenger learns that pretty football is simply not enough to win a title, Arsenal will be part of a cycle that starts with anticipation and promise but ultimately ends with disappointment and failure.
Dale Moon
Alex the Great
Here’s another article by Dale.
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Three games they said we would lose, three games we have not only taken a point from but threatened enough to have pondered on what could have been. Chelsea and Manchester United were faced with one of our typically resilient displays and with the pace of Jerome and Benitez we may have nicked either game. The trip to Liverpool was no less frustrating as it was captivating. Jerome set the game alight with his screamer from 30 yards; Benitez got his long awaited first goal in a Blues shirt and then David Ngog went and dramatically performed a triple pike, double tuck inward twisting somersault over Lee Carsley to earn 6.5 points from the judges and a point for the home side. Upon reflection of our twelve game unbeaten run, Alex McLeish has assembled a squad that are not only capable of competing against the big 4 but seem to be disappointed with a point. Us! Blues!
Disappointed with a point against the two superpowers of Utd and Chelsea and a Liverpool side who give away next to nothing at Anfield! This is proof at how far we have come. In hindsight, McLeish’s job was dependant on promotion and effectively the finale away at Reading. But rewind to late September and after losing to Sunderland, Bolton and Burnley, Blues fans were geared up for the usual dogfight at the depths of the Premier League.
We then go to Arsenal and get what we all expected. A defeat. But what was to come none of us could have honestly anticipated. An unbeaten run that has lasted nearly three months and a team that has faced every challenge with grit, determination and spirit. At the helm is a man who once was questioned by home supporters (including myself) in the way of 4-5-1. A man who was 90 minutes from losing his job at the Majeski Stadium. Yet now, he seems to ooze with confidence, pride and knowledge, always looking in control of what questions the media prowlers throw at him. His honesty after games has also earned him plaudits, always admitting defeat and acknowledging when his team were below par.
McLeish has grown as a manger since joining Blues. He has disposed of the dead wood left for him by managers gone by and implemented a style, structure and spirit within his team. Prior to the Manchester United game, Sir Alex Ferguson commented on how well McLeish has done in his two years at Blues:
“’Alex McLeish has done a fantastic job. He only had a small amount of money to budget with when they came into the Premier League. ‘It tells you that Birmingham had to improve as a team from last season. They have done that remarkably well”
A sure-fire case of the master and pupil served up a highly contested 1-1 draw and prolonged Blues remarkable run to twelve games, beating a club record dating back to February 1908! This does not happen by luck. During the twelve games there have been times when Blues could and perhaps should have conceded but to go twelve games without losing is an achievement any club would be proud to pose. The new addition of Michel looks to be a long term coup with McLeish urging fans to give him time to adapt to the rough and tumble of the premier league.
I for one have no doubts that McLeish deserves to be acknowledged as a man who held it together when the pressure seemed unbearable and now has given Blues a platform, along with the new owners, to establish themselves as a premier league side and finally dispose the “Yo-yo club” label that so many branded in years gone by!
Dale Moon
Home is Where the Hart Is
Here is an article by Dale.
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Charles Joseph John “Joe” Hart has most certainly arrived. After securing his services on a season long loan, Birmingham City has prospered from the money machine in Manchester. Man City have arguably the best goal keeper in the premier league in Shay Given and could afford to let their young second keeper go out and gain some valuable first team experience. Since arriving at the blues, Joe Hart has shown outstanding ability to deny some of the league’s elite. A regular run of games for the young former England U21 goal keeper has given him stability and confidence, something which Man City could not.
At 6 foot 3, Hart is one of the most agile keepers in the league and his shot stopping ability is next to none. Upon joining blues, there was debate over whether Maik Taylor would be left out to pave the way for the fresh faced Hart but very few could predict the way he has exploded on the scene at St Andrews. In the most recent games, Joe Hart has been nothing short of outstanding. Stoke and Chelsea both were frustrated by the inform keeper as Hart’s heroics earned blues another valuable 4 points. Hart has another element to his game that very few young keepers can emulate. He has one hell of a gob. The back four are constantly assured by their keeper with a series of bellows and roars. It is an element to his game that many young players lack the confidence to do which only cements the thoughts that he is a very confident player.
Since making his first professional debut at 15 years young, Joe Hart has been catching the eye of premier league scouts. Everton, Chelsea and Arsenal were said to be keeping tabs on the young keeper but it was only when he joined Man City was the premier league properly introduced to Joe Hart. With 50 Man City caps to his name, he was allowed to join Tranmere Rovers and Blackpool on loan but it has been his short opening spout for Blues that has really captured the pundit’s attention. Such attention that has linked him with a place in the England squad for their quest for World Cup Glory in South Africa. Currently there are very few English keepers who have shown the consistency that Hart has. Week after week he pulls off saves that look certain to nestle in the back of the net and with this kind of form he looks certain to join the three lions this summer.
As for blues, McLeish has tested the water with Man City but was given a resounding “No” as to signing Joe Hart in the January transfer window. No doubt when his loan expires McLeish would love to make Hart a permanent player at St Andrews but the decision lies with his employers in Manchester. That’s not to say Hart has no say in the matter. He has been pretty vocal in expressing his enjoyment at Blues which is encouraging to hear and the more he performs well and enjoys the best spell of form in his career then it bodes well for a summer signing.
Dale Moon
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