Four thousand bluenoses attended London Road yesterday afternoon. I was disappointed that I was unable to get a ticket for the game but that was partly due to lack of organisation on my part rather than there being lack of availability. The other reason I didn’t go was that I had half resolved to go to an old school reunion in north Wales. My old school have a listed cottage in Montgomeryshire near Llanidloes on a farm called Bryntail. We used to go camping there in the summer and for outdoor geography projects during the school year. It is a long way from me; just shy of 200 miles but I hadn’t been to the annual gathering for several years and I decided I would put it off no longer. Whilst it is a long journey, whenever I go I am always glad I’ve made the effort. The journey up takes in beautiful scenery through pretty Welsh villages and the countryside on arrival is still breathtaking and is just as I remember it over fifty years ago. It was good to meet up with so many old friends once more. I took a snap shot of the view from the cottage yesterday.
Some of my mates were asking why I hadn’t written many articles recently and the simple answer is that I hadn’t been to many matches but it was gratifying to hear that there are people out there who follow and read the drivel I write! I thought on reflection that despite not attending the game yesterday that I would pen some thoughts. On Wednesday, I had no chance of leaving work in time to get up to Birmingham in time for the game against Fulham but I was able to watch the match on SKY’s red button facility. I thought it would be an awkward game for us but with a full strength team it was going to be more competitive than our game in the League Cup against them. A 4-1 defeat was very disappointing with the only bright moment being an opening of Troy Deeney’s account from the penalty spot for Blues’ consolation goal. The score was emphatic but the result does not tell the true story and like many, I felt the team had played pretty well and deserved far more than what they got.
There was an article entitled; “Can Birmingham lose to Fulham 4-1 be considered unlucky?” https://eflanalysis.
Moving swiftly onto yesterday, I was confident that Blues would win at Peterborough who seem to concede goals for fun and were struggling on their return to Championship level. I spoke to Chris and Will on the way to Wales and they shared my view that we would likely as not win. Well it didn’t turn out that way did it? I managed to get Radio 5 Live on the wireless although the reception among the valleys and hill of central Wales on the way back was scratchy at times. The first goal anywhere of the afternoon’s three o’clock kick offs was at London Road and it was not good news. Still, I thought there was 89 minutes to turn things around. Unfortunately, as we all know, an inarguable penalty at the end of the first half and a third in the second half followed by Gary Gardner getting a straight red card meant we were going back to Birmingham with nothing. I did watch the high, or should I say, the lowlights later in the evening and there seemed little to cheer about.
How well Blues do this season is not going to depend on how we get on against the likes of Fulham, Bournemouth and the Baggies but it will be the case about how we fare against Peterborough United who are the sort of team we must be looking to beat. Whilst I didn’t go to the game,this was a poor result. However, Blues have performed this week and whatever the statistics say, Blues have conceded seven goals in two games and scored just one. Our healthy goal difference at the start of the week has been wiped out and we have been served a big dollop of reality. The much vaunted solidity of defence is in tatters. I intend going to next week’s home game, Extinction Rebellion protesters permitting and right now I’d settle for a clean sheet even if it means a scoreless encounter because the rot has to be stopped if our decent start to the season is not to be squandered. Rest, recover and prepare well Blues; eat your humble pie with dignity.
The Good: The beautiful countryside of Wales and the company of old friends.
The Bad: The result yesterday.
The Ugly: Gary Gardner’s tackle!
Always enjoy your writing Bazza and the added extra of the Wales trip certainly made it pleasurable. Your friends are quite correct- you should write more often. I know it’s hard at times but when people like your stuff then that’s the push you need. KRO