Football based emotions can be, and invariably are, as fickle as the fans dealing with them.
Two weeks ago all things were looking fairly rosy in the St Andrews garden. A good win at home to Coventry had given us renewed hope that automatic promotion was surely just around the corner. Three goals in a game had led us to believe that maybe the ineptitude in front of goal that 2007 had so far brought us, was now damned into the annuals of history. How wrong we were!
A week later, with an Easter weekend programme that should have yielded 6 valuable promotion points, we got nothing - not even a single, solitary goal. Thousands of Blues fans travelled back from Barnsley scratching their heads asking the same - age old question…. "Where did it all go wrong?"
I couldn't bring myself to comment on my return from Barnsley, I was far too grief-stricken. And anyway, my Mother once told me that if I can't think of something nice to say - then I really shouldn't say anything at all. This is advice that I have rarely taken in the past (as many who know me will testify to) but on this occasion it was advice worth taking.
With Sunderland seemingly unstoppable, our only hope now is that Derby might just slip up. After all they managed just the 2 points from their Easter weekend, 2 more than us I know, but certainly they would have expected more as well.
I watched Man Utd destroy Roma in midweek (what a performance that was!) and felt like ringing my dad, who's supported Blues all his life, and asking him why on earth he allowed me to be a Blues fan. Just what had I done as a child to warrant this lifetime of suffering that he must have known I was going to face? Why oh why didn't he buy me a Man U shirt all those years ago? Actually… if I think about it… it wouldn't have suited me, red's not my colour and Blue matches my eyes! Apart from that I have a funny feeling that Blues fans are just born to be Blues fans!!
A scout around the numerous Blues messageboards that frequent the internet echoed my own dismay. Whilst I don't agree with many of the views held by some fans, I'm of the belief that every fan of every club is entitled to their opinion. Many people have a real dislike of the management team at St Andrews, still begrudging the manager his chance to put things right after last seasons fall from the top flight with a whimper. The dismissal of Chris Coleman from Fulham prompted some heated debates as to why, if other clubs aren't afraid to change the manager at this stage of the season, are Blues still persisting with Steve Bruce? In truth it's not a view I share. I see no benefit in changing things with 4 games to go. But again it's an opinion that is valid only to those who believe in it. Personally I think the blame for our lack of form and goals has to be shared out amongst more than just Steve Bruce and Eric Black. The players have a responsibility to perform out on the pitch, and they don't need me to tell them that's not been happening. We missed a hat-full of chances in the 2nd half against Barnsley, is that really Steve and Eric's fault? I think not.
You should take a look at some of the threads on these boards though, it's seriously entertaining stuff at times. The bitterness and argumentative style in which debates are strung out goes to prove one thing if nothing else, that there is still fire and passion in the bellies of this clubs supporters, even if at times it appears a little misguided.
(Small side issue* I read this sites messageboard on a daily basis. I don't post because I express my views in my article, but I do read it. I'm pleased to learn that people read my articles and I appreciate that some felt sympathy with me last week, whilst I also agree with the comment made that I'm no more deserving of sympathy than any other Blues fan. But to compare my name to that of a widely used adult toy? Really! How Rude!! My wife would disagree anyway, as the aforementioned toy is probably more effective!!)
As I mentioned before, being a Bluenose is like being on a rollercoaster, and so it proved once again on Saturday. The visit of Southampton had the promise of a very difficult game and still suffering the depression of the Burnley and Barnsley debacles, I set off for the ground to work on Saturday morning with my stomach churning full of dread and fear.
One of my duties as the Sponsors Lounge MC is to interview the man of the match after the game - a task that can be extremely difficult in the face of defeat. I'd faced that difficult moment a week before after the Burnley game with Rowan Vine, (who I have to say was very professional although visibly upset with the loss), I really didn't want to go through it again.
The atmosphere in the commercial office before our pre-match briefing was unusually subdued. It's not normally a place for the easily offended. It's a place where the banter can be sharp and the put-downs even sharper. But even the more vocal members of staff, (Vinny, Ben, Russ... in fact all of them, apart from Buckers of course who always has plenty to say!), were going about their business quietly, each of us dealing with our own thoughts and uncertainties for the vital, must-win game ahead.
Everything was ready for us to face the day, and I started to wonder how I'd cope if we got beat. My boss, Adrian Wright, was probably the most confident of all of us about getting a result but I wasn't so sure. Then news filtered through from the dressing room (via Ben) that Andrew Cole was starting, as well as Stephen Clemence. That cheered me up no end. For me Clem is the run away contender for Player of the Season, we missed him badly when he was out of the team and knowing he was back lifted my spirits. When kick off came around I started to feel a little more confident that Blues had the Bouncebackability factor that was needed to get back on track in this topsy-turvy promotion race.
The game went by in a flash. Southampton were a threat a times, no doubt about that, but we looked better, we created chances and controlled the midfield. Clemence and Muamba complimented each other and worked their socks off all game, Cole and Bendtner went together like sausage and mash and Jaidi was a rock at the back. Colin Doyle rarely looked troubled and the 2-1 result was well earned. The nerves jangled a little near the end after Southampton pulled one back but the final whistle eventually came and sighs of relief could be heard across the City. All eyes then turned to Sky Sports. The news had filtered through to everyone that Ipswich had scored a last minute goal against Derby to put them 2-1 up and we all waited patiently for it to be a final score. After what felt like a lifetime, finally it was finished at Portman road. Things had changed, our game in hand could once again put us above Derby and the bitter Easter weekend memories started to fade.
I was delighted to chat to Fab Muamba after the game and when I questioned him on the possibility of him making his move to Blues a permanent one in the summer, he told me it was unlikely he would be returning to Arsenal and rated his chances of a Blues move 50/50. This, in my opinion, is great news, although would certainly be dependant on us going up.
So the rollercoaster that is The Blues comes to a rest once more. The sickness it brings has subsided just a little but no doubt it will return on Tuesday night at Leicester. After a week of misery and upset, the Blues have once again put a smile on my face, what a difference a win makes.
I love football. (Sometimes)
Keep Right On.
Dax
(PS. Can anyone explain to me what Gary McSheffrey's hair cut is all about?)
(PPS. Message to Russell and Adrian, if you're going to set me a challenge, at least make it challenging! Easy, easy, easy!!!)