The Best Yet to Come
This is an article by Jay one of our forum regulars. It is an expansion on a post he made commentating on the recent positive comments we’ve been receiving from the national press.
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It’s been a very weird season for me as a Bluenose, for the first time in my lifetime anyway, we’re challenging on both major domestic fronts. In a season when ‘them’ from down the road have booked a trip to Wembley, it’s becoming a reality that the we might be booking our tickets too in a couple of months.
It seems this season, based on the league table anyway, that the gap in power is closing in the Midlands, 21 games into the season, Aston Villa sit 3 points above Birmingham City in the Premier League, and with Birmingham being the form side in England, that gap could soon be all gone.
It moves me onto the next 2 month’s at this football club, ever since Carson Yeung and his army came into St. Andrews, they changed the feel of the club, and since they officially took over the club, they’ve not witnessed a defeat, 15 games it’s spanned, but it seems the easy work is now done.
The games coming up are huge, Chelsea & Spurs, as we look to battle into the top seven of the Premier League, something McLeish will secretly have his eye on, although he won’t tell us and it’s something many Bluenoses are starting to look at, whispers of; “Clear your schedule mate.” “Renewed your passport?” Are all starting to creep into the minds of us Blues fans and it’s Febuary and March that are going to for me, define this incredible season.
Not only have we made amazing strides within the Premier League, causes some shocks, shut out the un-stoppable Chelsea, been robbed at Anfield, but quietly, carefully, we’ve came through two of the toughest FA Cup draws you could imagine. Away at Nottingham Forest, another one of the country’s form sides, poor performance in both ties, we come away with a win. Everton away, a team in form, a very classy performance = 5th Round. Next up on the road to Wembley, Derby County, the easiest draw on paper so far, it’s down to the character of this amazing squad to show their ambition, their belief in themselves and the sheer cheek to continue marching towards Wembley, can it be done? I think so, and I think they do too.
It just shows the change in perspective since the start of the season, a lot of grumbling fans, a board that wasn’t wanted, a lack of investment, the only bright light being the manager and even he was under-pressure due to a lack of good football. Now, January 2010, he’s a hero, a tactical mastermind, he’s moulded the best outfit I’ve ever possibly seen at St. Andrews and all that’s missing is Lé God scoring blinding free-kicks and back-heels.
It’s been an amazing season so far, and the next two games will show everybody what we’re made of, if we come out of those beaten, bruised, confidence down, I think we’ll yet again see that the spirit within this club, 8th, 10th, 12th, 17th is amazing and I think we should all be proud of every single person associated with this football club, including the fans.
KRO, here’s to Wembley!
Jay
Portsmouth v Birmingham City Preview
Today sees us return to Premier League action after our narrow win in the cup against Forest.
Alex McLeish said today on Sky Sports news that new boy Michel would be in the squad after getting clearance, although he probably won’t start. He gave a very strong indication that we will be unchanged again.
What of Pompey? I guess things couldn’t be any worse for them at the moment. They will be without their African Cup of Nations players with Nadir Belhadj, Hassan Yebda, Aruna Dindane and Kanu all absent.
Loan signing Jamie O’Hara was due to return to White Hart Lane on Friday, although it was hoped that the loan could be extended despite the transfer embargo.
Younes Kaboul, Steve Finnan, Tal Ben-Haim and Richard Hughes – may be available, as might David James who’s loan move to Stoke failed to happen.
So to the game. We played Portsmouth in our 1st home game of the season. A last minute McFadden penalty gave us all 3 points in what I gather was a pretty unforgettable game.
A lot has happened since then. Portsmouth have continued to struggle, although they haven’t necessarily played badly. Their big problem seems to be their defence. The defence, however, seems to be our strength with one of the meanest defences in the league thanks to the awesome partnership of Hart, Carr, Dann, Johnson and Ridgewell.
Both sides have struggled to score goals – although if you are defending well, you often only have to score 1 goal. Amazing that the last time we played there, there were 6 goals with Pompey beating us 4-2 despite us pegging them back to 2-2 at one point.
I believe that Portsmouth will struggle dealing with the pace of Jerome and Chucho. However this is the sort of game that we often struggle in and I could see us coming to the end of our run at Fratton Park. I doubt that any more than 1 goal will deal with it despite others more confident predictions.
I believe it’ll be a draw. I’ll go for 1-1.
A VIEW FROM THE SOUTH – BIRMINGHAM CITY vs NOTTINGHAM FOREST
Filed under: Blues News, Match reports, Matches, Reports By Bazza
Here is Bazza’s match report from last night.
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I had an offer of a lift back from this game from my mate, Will who was up in the Midlands anyway on business. It made sense therefore to travel up to Birmingham on the train from work especially as the local roads are still not great and yet more poor weather, forecast. I caught the train from Guildford to Reading for the connection to New Street. It was good to be able to read the paper at leisure and the journey went without a hitch. A hot sausage roll and taxi from the station followed. The surprising thing was that the taxi dropped me easily right outside the Kop entrance on the Coventry Road a mere 10 minutes before the kick off. It was all too easy but never fear readers, the turnstiles’ staff came up trumps by complicating the entry to the ground meaning that I got in a few minutes late. I don’t think I missed much from the evidence of what I saw in the first half.
Blues fielded a full strength side whilst Forest made seven changes from the side that crushed the Baggies at the Hawthorns on Friday. It was just as well since the East Midlands side looked lively with neat passing and high tempo combined with quick pressure on the ball when not in possession which wasn’t that often to be honest. Blues looked sluggish and lack-lustre and too many passes went astray resulting in most of the play concentrated in the home side’s half. Camp in the Forest goal was in danger of dying from hypothermia, so little did he have to do. Joe Hart in contrast had to make at least two excellent saves to keep out McGoldrick and Tyson who in reality should have buried both chances. Blues allowed Forest far too much room to play their football and even our rock solid defence was showing signs of sloppiness and an air of the tie being a bit of a chore.
The teams went in goalless at half-time but if the score had been 2 – 0 or 3 – 0 to the men in red no-one in the home dressing room could have complained as Forest were by far the better side. The only thing that did strike me however, was how much energy the visitors had put into the half and I suspected that should the game stay all square deep into the second period that Forest would run out of fuel and they would certainly have nothing left should heaven forbid extra time be required.
Blues were livelier after the break and the contest became a little more even. A crowd of only 9,399 were still not treated to classic fare on a bitterly cold night however and when you consider that 1,700 of the frozen throng were Forest fans, the 22,000 who stayed away compared to Saturday didn’t miss a thing! It took one moment of class to settle this encounter on 61 minutes. A poor clearance from the Forest defence was seized upon by Barry Ferguson whose slick one-two with Chucho, who otherwise had a poor game, was finished beautifully by the Scottish international from 18 yards. His first time side footed effort curled round Camp into the keeper’s right hand bottom corner for an undeserved lead. Forest started to fade after this as Blues took more control of the game. As expected, their energy levels dropped and they were unable to press as efficiently as they had done. This gave Blues more space and time and their superior quality began to build on the established bridgehead. Blues then proceeded to miss several good chances; Jerome beat Camp when one on one but failed to impart enough pace on his shot allowing a retreating defender to clear his effort off the line. Camp saved brilliantly from Roger Johnson’s powerful header from a corner that looked destined for the net. Chucho who had a disappointing night shot weakly at Camp when well placed and Phillips who replaced him late on also failed to get hold of a similar effort. There were one or two breakaways that were squandered as a tired Forest side tried valiantly to bombard the Birmingham box only to have their efforts easily cleared. In truth Blues could have run out 3 – 0 or 4 – 0 with better finishing but this would have been extremely harsh on Forest who came to St Andrews and had a go. This game was not a classic and we have to be relieved that we got through it relatively unscathed without the inconvenience of extra time. Whether the prospect of a tough tie away at Everton will be worth it remains to be seen. One thing is for sure: Birmingham will have to play immeasurably better at Goodison Park if they are to break a winless record there stretching back 50 years. It is unlikely that Blues can or will play as poorly as last night and the watching David Moyes will know that. He won’t be losing sleep at the prospect of our visit though I suspect.
KRO SOTV
Birmingham City: Joe Hart 8, Stephen Carr 6, Lee Bowyer 5 (Keith Fahey 5, 63), Liam Ridgewell 6, Seb Larsson 7, Cameron Jerome 5, Chucho 5 (Kevin Phillips 5, 68), Barry Ferguson 8, Roger Johnson 7, Scott Dann 7, James McFadden 6 (Damien Johnson 6, 76).
Subs not used: Maik Taylor, Martin Taylor, Gary McSheffrey, Franck Queudrue, Damien Johnson.
Bookings Bowyer (45 + 1)
Goals: Ferguson (61)
Nottingham Forest: Lee Camp, James Perch, Luke Chambers, Wes Morgan, Lewis McGugan, Dele Adebola, Nathan Tyson, Gareth McCleary ( Paul Anderson, 81), Chris Cohen, David McGoldrick (Joe Garner, 67), Guy Moussi (Chris Gunter 73).
Subs not used: Paul Smith, Paul Anderson, Joe Garner, Radoslaw Majewski, Joel Lynch, Brendan Moloney.
Bookings: David McGoldrick (66)
Referee: Kevin Friend (Leicestershire) 7
Assistant Referee (Tilton end) 5 Assistant Referee (Railway end) 7
Attendance: 9,399
Birmingham City v Nottingham Forest Brief Post Match Thoughts
We’re through, thanks Barry.
VIEW FROM THE SOUTH – NOTTINGHAM FOREST vs BIRMINGHAM CITY
Filed under: Blues News, Match reports, Matches, Reports By Bazza
Here is Bazza’s take on yesterdays game.
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The third round of the FA Cup still causes a flicker of excitement down my spine as the prospect of a Cup run is always there if a team can negotiate this round and get a favourable draw in the fourth round. I was accompanied by my youngest son for this one on the 145 miles journey north from home and we arrived at one of the park and walk areas about ten minutes from the ground. A bitterly cold afternoon greeted us and there was a thin covering of snow on the path along the river which made for difficult walking and I was beginning to wish that I’d remembered to bring warmer footwear as my shoes began to get wet as did my socks making my feet cold and uncomfortable.
We arrived at the ground in need of a drink and a hot pie. The food when we got it was fine but why oh why does the standard of catering service at most football grounds, including ours incidentally, have to be so shambolic? Thirty-five minutes fighting to get a drink and then had to join another queue to get a pie! This year I’m going to rate the standard of catering at various grounds in terms of quality of product; 6/10 Value for money; 5/10 Standard of service 1/10. For those Forest fans reading this I can assure you there are places far worse which speaks volumes for the abysmal attitude football clubs in general show towards their paying customers. Away fans particularly travel long distances sometimes and arrive at grounds in need of something to eat and drink. It is not unreasonable for those customers and guests, for that is what they are, to expect a reasonable standard of service at a reasonable price for a reasonable quality of product. Enough griping about the catering what about the game?
I was a little surprised that although there was a crowd of over 20,000, the City Ground was nowhere near full despite the allocation at our end had been largely taken up. It appears that the lack of interest was far worse elsewhere; look at the case of the all Premiership tie at Wigan for the visit of Hull where only 5,200 or so bothered to turn up. The game started brightly enough with Forest getting the better of the early exchanges. James Perch’s lofted pass found Dexter Blackstock, who turned and fired a shot into the side-netting from the right-hand side of the box. It would in all honesty have been very difficult to score from where he was and the response from the crowd to this chance was more bluster than substantial danger as Blues makeshift defence had all angles covered.
McCleish had made six changes to the side that had built up the recent unbeaten run of 11 games with the suspended Carr replaced by Parnaby, Scott Dann by Ridgewell who had moved across from left back to accommodate Vignal. Keith Fahey started in place of Larsson as did Carsley for the absent McFadden. DJ and Barry Ferguson made up the midfield quartet with Jerome and Phillips up front. This was still a pretty decent team on paper but the inclusions did not help the rhythm of the team and Birmingham’s play look disjointed and laboured although Jerome and Phillips did test Camp in the Forest goal with shots that the custodian dealt with easily. Forest have themselves put together an impressive run of 16 games unbeaten in the Championship and this has rewarded them with third place in a tough division which they clearly deserve. They showed a lot of slick passing and excellent movement helped by the patchwork quilt of a Birmingham side far too intent on giving the ball away too cheaply.
Forest for all their attractive play created very few clear cut chances and spent most of their effort playing in front of Blues who were for the most part content to let them do so. Forest’s best chance to score came just before the interval when Chambers’ glancing header from Radoslaw Majewski’s in-swinging corner bounced down in front of the line after striking the underside of the crossbar. This was a lucky escape for Blues who could not have complained had the hosts taken the lead. The second half was better and started with Blues on the front foot. Camp reacted quickly to beat Jerome to a loose ball inside the six-yard box but the ricochet did not favour the Birmingham striker. Cohen should have given Forest the lead after 52 minutes following a surging run from Blackstock who offloaded the ball to the midfielder inside the area. Unfortunately, for Cohen his shot was straight at Hart.
Forest were presented with the chance of the game to take the lead in the 62nd minute when Vignal inadvertently tripped Paul Anderson inside the area. Both players were running after the ball as it was running away from goal and the defender clipped the Forest man’s heels. It was an accident with no intent but the match was being refereed by none other than he who despises us, Steve Bennett whom I have never rated in any case. He pointed immediately to the spot and I suppose he had little choice in fairness. Enter stage left one Robert Earnshaw who nonchalantly, arrogantly and carelessly put the penalty kick over the crossbar thus squandering Forest’s best chance of progressing through to the next round. I doubt that Blues would have had the wherewithal to recover had the kick been converted.
The Wales international almost made amends three minutes later. Following a neat one-two with Blackstock, Earnshaw was through on goal but his low shot was brilliantly saved by the fingertips of Hart. Blues woke up at this point and started believing that the Reds had shot their bolt and it was time to steal the tie. Phillips struck the outside of a post with a stunning 30-yard effort on 67 minutes. The same player saw a one-on-one chance go begging midway through the second half.
Substitute Gary McSheffrey was causing the Forest defence problems by running at them with increasing confidence and from one such run he put Phillips in the clear on the left-hand side of the box but only a brilliant save by Camp denied the veteran striker. McSheffrey then put the rebound over the crossbar from 18 yards when a little care and attention to technique would surely have won the tie then and there. Camp was called into action again seven minutes from time, this time to turn Barry Ferguson’s header round a post after the Scot looked to have guided Damien Johnson’s cross into the bottom corner. The game petered out to a goalless draw from this point on.
Billy Davies said afterwards that he was disappointed to have not won the game. He is of course right to be disappointed and were football decided like a boxing match his side would undoubtedly have won narrowly on points. He said that the game should have been out of sight in the first half with his team two or three up. I don’t know where he gets this analysis from but the header against the bar was unfortunate and a 1 – 0 score line would not have been an unfair reflection of the game at that point. However, Blues had their moments and despite disruptions to the makeshift side caused by early injuries to the unlucky Parnaby and Carsley who were replaced by McSheffrey and Bowyer respectively dealt with most of what a good Forest side had to offer and could have stolen the tie quite easily in the last twenty minutes. In the end a draw was fair as Forest weren’t quite good enough to win it when it was there for the taking and Blues were happy to have a chance to complete the job at St Andrews in a few days time.
KRO SOTV
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