Oh my God I can’t believe it the Birmingham Chiefs picked up a much unexpected point so far away from home. I was in a crowded bookmakers on Saturday morning placing my usual cheeky ten pence each way on a horse destined to be destroyed at the second fence, as per usual, when I bumped into a mate who had just bet on Birmingham to win at Chelsea at odds of 9/1. For a fleeting moment I considered joining him and wasting a further ten pence but realised that tragically I would have been falling into the classical addiction pattern of gambling more at even greater odds in an attempt to win back what had been lost.
Last week’s article by yours truly bemoaned the omission of Nafti and wondered if he would be given a full ninety minutes to show everyone whether he was worth keeping. Steve Bruce, an avid reader of this column, maybe, clearly agreed and threw him in to do the spoiling job in midfield. Proving himself against the best team in Europe has certainly done Nafti’s chances of securing a long term contract the world of good and, more importantly for the short term, has provided the Blues with an extra option in midfield.
Chelsea were showing the fatigue of a hugely draining match against Bayern Munich and with so many attacks on trophies the summer break cannot come quick enough for them now providing they win some additional silverware. The Premiership is surely theirs and no one can deny that they have performed magnificently well and thoroughly deserve their first title in fifty years. The Champions League is still a tough trophy to win regardless of the much vaunted argument that it’s been devalued since teams who are not even ‘champions’ are allowed to enter. Chelsea might not like to admit it but their exit from the FA Cup to Newcastle has probably enhanced their capability to win the Champions League.
And we drew with them! At Stamford Bridge! So by my playground calculations that makes us better than Bayern Munich and Barcelona! Oh if only it were true! And if it wasn’t for that pesky Drogba ….
Blues did what Blues do best. In our Premiership infancy, and determined to retain our foothold in the top division, we have developed an all battling all action resolute style of obstructing teams and preventing them from settling whilst using the pace of the wings to hit hard on the break. It’s not going to win a FIFA award for beautiful football but it does mean that we can slowly build a team capable of climbing the ladder whilst entertaining us on the odd occasion. I’m not moaning, I love being in this division, but sometimes it’s for the art and effortless beauty provided by our opponents.
The acquisition of Pennant and possibly Parker or even the return of Dunny will give us the players able to display the sexy side of football. Dugarry gave us an insight into the joys and sorrows of what a footballer blessed with an inordinate amount of talent can manifest on the pitch. I had better not mention any other players who we would like to sign or else O’Leary will contact the FA and have me up on a ‘tapping’ charge. Just how deluded can one man be?
There is a huge difference between naming a player who we would be interested in signing and covertly trying to secure his services. If you look at the sports pages of the Sunday papers there are about two pages in each devoted to which player may be moving to which club. Most of the time it is complete testicles but occasionally, if you spread enough excrement, some sticks.
I heard off my brother’s wife, who was talking to this woman in the butchers that her friend was in the travel agents the other day and overheard this man say that his uncle had just come back from a holiday in Spain and a local man told him that Ronaldinho plays football on the beach wearing a Birmingham City penguin kit and wants to come and join us when his career is over! And when this happens I can claim to have told you first.
The joy of taking the lead at the Bridge was dangerous. My head swam; I went giddy and for a few moments wondered if it could get better than this. How empty must your life be if that is the pinnacle? What the hell can you do for the rest of your life if you have already had the best moment?
Upson did tremendously well to head the emancipated Pennant’s over long free kick back into the path of El Rifle and his volley was so powerful that even the very butch Terry could only palm it into the roof of the net. The Uruguayan hitman has resembled Johnny English rather than 007 lately so it was great to see him notch and now let’s hope he can go on to get plenty before unwrapping his road map of the world and deciding his next destination.
I think there are a load of goals in Pandiani judging by his intelligent runs and his willingness to shoot regardless of the distance. Whatever Brucie and the mighty albino Forssell decide to do I would still like El Rifle in the gun rack. Even if his first name is Walter!
There were lots of rumblings about Chelsea’s equaliser but noticeably very few from the players themselves. Anyone who thinks Chelsea should kick the ball out of play because one of our players is injured, especially when they are on the edge of our box and one down at home, is sadly in single figures on the IQ count.
It was a shame we couldn’t beat them but we would all have taken a point before the game as opposed to trying to calculate how many they would bang past a shell shocked Taylor. Just be grateful we didn’t sign Kezman who at the moment would be out of his depth in a car park puddle. And also try and imagine how many goals the Forsse would be on now playing up front with that lot?
Pompey at home can only mean one thing. The bloody tattooed freak and his infuriating bell! The first time his campanology was heard it was a hoot, well a clang actually, but now it’s just an irritant. I hate watching Pompey on the box and hearing that guy repeatedly ringing his dumb bell (if only!) surrounded by cross eyed interbred locals who still think it’s novel and hilarious! It’s a bell. Get over it. He looks a marvellous character I just wish he would play something else, like the kazoo!
An unbeaten run of three is a good comeback and victory over the sailor boys would secure another season in the top flight. This would be good news for all of us including all my fans. So a quick mention for both of you, Trev and Jimmy Toon, thanks for your words of support, and criticism. Much appreciated.
Keep Right On and remember, never adopt a retarded dwarf. It’s not big and it’s not clever.