I HAD A LONG, LONG DREAM . . . A 1964 TO 2009 KIND OF DREAM

  Just as it says on the box, yep, I had a dream and it was a doozy [how is that spelt anyway?]. Before I start though I'll pour a cuppa and grab a few Digestives . . .

OK then, it all started back in 1964 . . . you know, that proverbial 'stormy night when the curtains were drawn but the furniture was real'.

I nodded off and soon found myself on the Tilton for the very first time. It was quite a scene with 130,000 Blues fans baying for Chelsea blood, OK, say 19,000, but it was the Blues that bled to the tune of a 6-1 reversal that dark November day. However, this was a dream, and if I could just stay asleep things would get better. Right?

As I snoozed the Blues went though relegations and promotions, y'know, three relegations for every promotion, and then the Almighty Go . . . erm, Trevor Francis shows up . . . and Kenny Burns, and Bob Latchford, and Freddie Goodwin et al. Surely now my dreams would all come true!

Hagn on, I just dorpepd some Diesgtvie crubms on the kybeoard . . .

As you know, some dreams eventually turn into nightmares as when Trevor and co. left for greener pastures, much greener. Still, I dreamt on with the thought that in the next ten minutes, or the next game, even the next season things would change for the better. They never did. The dreams were great, but it got to where I hated waking up to face the reality of Birmingham City.

Just getting some more tea . . .

Dreaming on as one does, there were various glimmers of hope in the 70's, 80's and 90's, but also a first ever trip into the depths of the old Third Division. But get this! I'm not dreaming when I tell you that the club actually made two trips to Wembley in the 90's and it wasn't in the guise of British Road Services to deliver stuff! We won there twice in what are considered by those that don't dream like I do as 'Mickey Mouse' Cups. Bloody cheek! [I have several Mickey Mouse mugs that I drink tea and coffee from each every day]

Then all of a sudden am I still dreaming? . . . the Almighty Go . . . yeh, Trev again, came back and got us playing good footy but never quite making it to the promised land. Still I kept on dreaming, and dreaming and dreaming.

Then Steve Bruce took most of Trev's team and got them into the Prem at long, long last. Now the serious dreaming really started! . . . but soon it was wake-up time down at St. Andys again, and I retreated to my warm cotton sheets for comfort. All I got from my dreams were two more relegations and one promotion, no, two promotions!

The tea is all gone so just hold for a mo while I go and get a glass of Cab. [Did I mention I'm real slow when it comes to this stuff?] . . .

I've just checked the calendar and that second promotion means that we're now up to this season in this story. Sorry, I meant dream.

So there I am dreaming that we'd be a Prem team for a few seasons, and not daring to ask for more. At least I'd be able to get all the games on either my TV or laptop. But, beyond that selfish motive is the boyhood dream of a successful Birmingham City measured by where the fan sitting next to you is from. Nechells? Malvern? London? Germany? China? Hey, if it works for Manchester United, just maybe the Blues can be just as superficial? Well, that's not my dream, but you know what I mean perhaps?

Mmmmmm, this Cab is good . . .

So as I dream away and we're sitting at 6th in the Premiership for a day, I continue to dream. I dream that January comes around and Big Eck brings in some midfield creativity, cover for various positions, and unearths a predator around the box who is able to convert 50% of his chances, not 10% as we've become accustomed to. Don't get me wrong, I want our incumbents to succeed but we're talking decades of broken dreams here, and I'd like at least one dream to come true before I wake up dead.

Or am I still dreaming?

'UNDER NEW MANAGEMENT'

  Has the tide turned?  Will the Bull Ring be torn down and rebuilt for the third time in my life?  Are Birmingham City Football Club going to win a major trophy in the next 10 years?

Yes, no and yes!

The number 1875 doesn't represent 7:15 pm, but the year in which our our beloved Birmingham City, nee Small Heath Alliance, was invented, formed, or maybe just started to exist. On the face of things, existing is all we've done since then, and my mates at that first game in 1875 will attest to that. OK, that last bit was a fib . . . I have no mates young or ancient.

We've been pretty much complete failures during those 134 years, i.e. lots of sorrows, but along the way enjoying joys too when we've taken on the 'big boys' and won. As we're supporters of a team that is trophy-less no-one can accuse any of us of being glory hunters now can they? We just keep right on to the end of the road and all that, but I ask, where is the end of the bloody road?!

There have been many false dawns since my heart became solid blue in 1964, but this one is very different I'm glad to say.

The last owners not only 'got us sorted', but also stunted our growth, and 15 years on it's a relief to see them gone. Yeung and company are a breathe of fresh air, and are doing everything right thus far. Not bad for a group of people who as far from the Brummie culture as caviar is from mushy peas.

McLeish has got the team playing for their futures these last three games with a win against Sunderland, and creditable draws against the illustrious Premiership opposition of Manchester City and Liverpool. Yeh, OK, we 'won' at Liverpool in a moral sense there is no doubt.

Crisp passing, an attacking line-up, players closing the opposition down and stepping things up just to make sure they are still a part of things come the end of January. I ask them however, where were you August to October?

I give a huge warm welcome to our new owners. They are businessmen first, but appear to share the blue mist before our eyes. Should the end of the road end up at the Great Wall of China via a few trophies, then I will applaud and say 谢谢您 [thank you!].

We'll probably be joined by more than a few thousand Chinese folk, so be prepared to to say good bye to St. Andrews and hello to a new stadium and some very exciting times.

Keep right on!  保持正确的！

HULL CITY 0  BIRMINGHAM CITY 1

  . . . and the season so far.

Against Hull, and perhaps for the first time this season, the Blues looked like an attacking force, not just a defensive one.

A WIN IS A WIN
Admittedly this is Hull we're talking about, who look as if their slippery slope is getting greasier by the week, but the Blue boys still had to get out there and get the job done.

Perhaps 1-0 doesn't sound too convincing to some, so may I direct your attention to the string of brilliant saves made by the hull keeper Myhill? OK, now you have the picture.

This is [almost] the same team that struggled to put together a decent performance all of last season, and the pre-season didn't look too convincing either. But, here we are a few weeks into the season and the three 1-0 defeats were against the league's better teams during which we played some good constructive football. Let's not go into the Villa details though, eh?!

THE SQUAD
Looking at the team from the back, Maik Taylor was pretty much aged to perfection, but it was time to bring in a new big cheese, Joe Hart. Some juries are still out on Joe, but he's one for the future and hasn't let us down thus far.

The back four is suddenly one of the strongest in the league due to Big Eck's transfer diligence and speed. Johnson, Vignal and Dann are all excellent acquisitions with Espinoza yet to get his real chance. He might not as there is competition from the excellent if slow Le Frankie, the evergreen Carr, Parnaby, and the returning Ridgewell. Some can't see past the Ridge's Villa connections, but he's an excellent defender that doesn't shirk his duties.

Bringing in Ferguson to boss the midfield was an obvious choice, but he has been well supported by Fahey, Tainio, Larsson and the excellent Bowyer.

FRANCIS, DUGARRY and now . . .
Up front we've lacked a cutting edge for some time, but it looks as if it's now emerging in the form of one Christian Benitez, nay 'Chucho'

We'd all have liked to have seen him get 90 minutes sooner, but he wasn't 100% fit early on, and there are some adjustments to the Premiership to be made. You can see him 'adjusting' by the minute, as he learns how to avoid being pushed around.

I do hope we can get the ball to Chucho on the ground, because when he can turn and face a defender with the ball at his feet, they are in a heap of trouble. For instance, only great saves by Myhill on Saturday prevented a couple of Chucho goals.

ATTACKING OPTIONS
So who will provide the nod downs for him, O'Connor or Jerome? I'd prefer to see more attempts at slide rule passes from Fahey and Larsson to Chucho's feet, so either way the remainder of this season is gonna be interesting.

I felt we should have sold McSheffrey, but looking at his sharpness and near misses around the penalty area is a reminder that he has been wasted out on the left all these years. Let him free to do what he did for Coventry, and he'll come good. But will he get the chance.

Ditto with McFadden. Put him up behind the strikers instead of wide left and he'll hold up the ball intelligently, and thereby creating space for others. He has the guile and ability to knock in surprise goals. Let's hope he's played in his best position then.

So, from a lousy and somewhat lucky championship team to a Premiership outfit looking like it could go places. Well done Big Eck and company.

DECEMBER 13th, 2008

PRESTON NORTH END 1  BIRMINGHAM CITY 0

  Tactics, tactics, tactics. For 89 minutes McLeish got it right, but then . . . . well, I'll come back to that later.

THE LINE-UP
It looked 'practical' to me, and it was good to see the inclusion of Quincy again because when he has the ball he's moving it up-field, and the opposition is left to chase. McLeish said as much during the week, so all was well when we kicked off.

FIRST HALF
Perhaps it was the first [and only?] rendition of 'Keep Right On' as early as the 3rd minute that did the trick, but our team was in there competing, winning 50-50 tackles, and making Preston work harder than they're used to.
We were a threat going forward which is always good to see, but ya' gotta put the ball in the net to win games. Just ask Plymouth Argyle.

I rate Murphy as a defender, but when he was put through on the keeper he skewed his shot onto the promenade in distant Blackpool. Overall though we looked sharper, passed well, and looked the better team.
Ridgewell was booked going in for a 50-50, and which looked far worse than it was, but when he was hacked down by a Preston man . . . nothing. Fans everywhere ask for consistency with refereeing decisions nothing more. TV replays wouldn't go amiss either, and then I can catch up on all those episodes of 'Crossroads' I missed.

Oh talking of Ridgewell, some see him as 'agent' Ridgewell because of his association with the Villa and his mistakes. Tell me though, who doesn't make mistakes?, but tell me too, who gets involved in our defence more than Ridgewell?

SECOND HALF
We began to ask [more] questions of the Preston defence, but with Jerome on to add power and pace to the attack it was Philips who did everything right with a near post header only to be denied by an agile save by the Preston keeper.

It was end to end stuff with Blues putting multiple passes together in crisp fashion, while Taylor had to be alert to smother the ball at substitute Parkin's feet.

But, as the game wore on so did the groans as free kicks and corners failed to reach their intended recipients . . . which is a flowery way of saying they were totally crap deliveries from professionals who spend all week practicing these things.

THE FINALE
Then in something like the 89th minute, and a point looking like just rewards against a difficult team, Big Eck put on Agustien. Let me fill you in with the fact that my American woman was watching her first full English league footy game, so I explained that the it looked like Big Eck was going after 3 points and would probably take off someone such as Murphy, and throw on another attacker.

However, the unlucky short-straw-puller turned out to be our most effective ball carrier, Quincy. Oh, so what the hell is this I thinks to mesen?! Thoughts running through my head at that moment were . . .

1 Quincy asked to come off as he was tired.
2 The substitution burns time off the clock [ooh, I'm sounding Yankee now!]
3 I need a beer.
4 Why is she asking so many damn questions?
5 Big Eck is shoring up the middle of the park to keep the point we have, and . . .
6 Why not keep Quincy on and go after 3 points?!

We all know what happened next . . . Agustien fluffed and had his confidence knocked into next season, Ridgewell turned out to be 2 inches shorter than what we needed when the cross floated over his head [leave it], and Preston's 'Beast' poked the ball home. In the words of Pete Townshend it was time to 'say goodbye to the brilliant Blues.'

Next time the Blues are on TV over here in Yankee land I'm gonna watch 4 episodes of 'Crossroads' from my DVD collection instead. Bugger!

BIRMINGHAM CITY 1  NEWCASTLE UNITED 1

  The point won moves us up the table, and although we started well, it was all very tense in the end. Here's my perspectives from this game as provided by the my Black and Decker TV, a signal bouncing off a piece of foil on Neptune, and Arthur Baldwin pushing buttons on Goonhilly Down in Cornwall.

THE LINE-UP
McFadden's missus wasn't up to having more kiddie-poos over the weekend, so back into the starting line-up went he, with Zarate moving to the bench.

JUST AS WE HAD HOPED
The first half went as we had all hoped it would, with Blues controlling the game and going in front via an astute piece of left peg work by McFadden.

What a terrific signing McFadden is. He was head and shoulders above the other 21 players on the field in the first half, oozed class, was cool under pressure, and gave the Newcastle defence a torrid time. His goal made Faye look decidedly pathetic. Some think he is anyway.

JUST AS WE HAD FEARED
So there we were on cruise control and likely to score a second at any time, when Larsson got crocked . . . by Nicky Butthead I believe. Seb didn't return for the second half and we lost our shape.

We went from "Coursing with desire" to coursing with fear. Well kinda anyway.

A TALE OF TWO HALVES
If we won the first half, then it was Newcastle who won the second. Yes, we're a much better football team these days, and can spray it around a bit, but you could see Aitken and McLeish on the touchline trying to come up with a formula to put the fire back in blue hearts.

Personally I was sorta hoping that Zarate would replace Seb, but McLeish knows better and played 'safe' with the introduction of Parnaby. Jerome came on got the crowd back in it, then Zarate joined the fray. I seem to recall he only had the ball on the floor once, and although beating defenders easily, shot wide from distance.

PLAYERS THAT CLOCKED IN FOR WORK
Pretty much all of them with the exception of McSheffrey on the face of it. He tried hard, but didn't get the rub of the green tonight . . . he needed that little bit of Irish luck to make an impact.

Of particular note were the back four of Kelly, Jaidi, Ridgewell and Murphy. They do need to anticipate a rebound from Maik Taylor when opposing forwards get a shot in though. The same happened against Portsmouth, so just keep moving boys! The Newcastle goal was somewhat opportunistic, and no one player can be singled out as having given Owen an easy route to goal.

Johnson plugged away industriously in midfield as always, but it would be nice to see Nafti given the opportunity of filling that role now and again. I suggest this as the Tunisian seems to have more of an eye for a defence splitting pass. Something we've lacked since the loss of Dunn and Kilkenny.

Forssell to my mind looked off the pace tonight, but he'll be back. Perhaps Zarate could have have replaced him earlier in the game?

IT COULD HAVE BEEN WORSE
On the face of it, if the Geordie kit designer had have gotten rid of those cumbersome black stripes, things might have been much worse for us.

The points we lost tonight will be re-gained at Reading on the weekend, so all will be well in our blue world!

John Baker, Boise, Idaho

Got comments, thoughts, suggestions or abuse? Please e-mail me.

PORTSMOUTH 4  BIRMINGHAM CITY 2

  Lost 4-2?! . . . yer havin' a laff. The team continues to improve, but we won't be home and dry for a while. Here's what I thought of what transpired via my magic picture box. . .

THE LINE-UP
Zarate was in as McFadden had just had a baby. Must say his figure is still good from what I saw when he came on loike. OK, so now we'd see what Zarate is capable of for a sustained period of time as he obviously is a great talent.

PRE MATCH
I watched closely as 'appy 'Arry handed out brown paper parcels near the Blues dugout, and Big Mac appeared to be admiring a new Rolex at the end of the game. 'Ere! Do you think there's a connection?!

THE NUMBER 8 BUS TO OBLIVION?
So, two down in the first 10 minutes and we're about to be sent into oblivion. Thing is, this is not a Steve Bruce team any more thank goodness.

If I've noticed one thing about these players of late, it's their increase in self confidence. McLeish has publicly stated that that is where it starts. Look at McSheffrey. He's starting to get involved like we knew he could, and before long he's going to knock in a goal or two.

THE PENALTY
Referees either have to penalise every conceivable handball in the penalty area, including all of those made all the Villa keepers, or discern between ball to hand, and hand to ball. Murphy's was ball to hand. So was the Portsmouth defender's in the second half which the ref missed. Portsmouth should have had another when Ridge took out Baros anyway.

THE SECOND GOAL
From where I was sitting I thought our defence enjoyed watching the save Taylor made from Muntari. So, I changed chairs, replayed the action in slow mo, and it still looked that way . . . none of our defenders anticipated a parried shot, and the Pompey player who did showed us how it's done. 2-0.

THE COMEBACK
The Blues showed great character in getting back into the game, and it's something we've not seen much of in recent years. Was it the coaching I wonder? Well done to Muamba for your first Blues goal, and to that little blonde blue-hearted machine Larsson.

THE THIRD GOAL
What's all this crap about it being Ridgewell's fault? He had players in front of him who unexpectedly missed the ball, and thus it hit him on the thigh. Lucky bounce for a Portsmouth forward and it's 3-2. In any case, it should have been Taylor's ball. Is Nigel Spink coaching at Blues again?

THE FOURTH GOAL
Jaidi was a monster for most of the game, and I mean that in the nicest possible way, but it was he who passed to a player in cover, and he who didn't track Kanu on the blind side. Oh well, one could always blame Ridgewell.
Talking of Ridgewell and his apparent blunders, he'll stay in the team because I reckon that McLeish sees things in a balanced light and doesn't listen to the skewed opinions of the few. Those folk do Birmingham City Football Club and players no favours at all.

ZARATE . . . I HAVE A DASTARDLY, BUT LOGICAL, PLAN!
He's far more talented than most, but as yet he's not a team player, and it shows. But, have you noticed how he can bring the ball out of defence to the opposition box with defenders afraid to tackle in case he gives them the slip? You have?! OK, we're talking a very good ATTACKING MIDFIELDER here.

'Dear Big Mac, I have an idea . . . why not try Zarate in an attacking midfield role? Thanks for listening. Love, John [and 50,000 other Blues fans I suppose]

JOHNSON'S TACKLE
Oh dear, it was bad to be honest, and probably a lot less 'innocent' than Tiny's misjudgment. Without a break involved it doesn't warrant more media attention as they want glitz. Dear oh dear.

THE SECOND HALF PERFORMANCE
Not that the first was bad, but we pretty much controlled Pompey the probable FA Cup winners. Please note that we've also done a nice number on the current League Cup winners, wink, wink, know wot I mean guvnor! What was that geezer's name again? Steve Brown or somebody or other?

The players looked fit, capable, tenacious and confident. What more does one need besides goals? Well done Alex McLeish for a job well done thus far.

The number 8 bus doesn't go to oblivion anyway. It just keeps coming back at ya'!

John Baker, Boise, Idaho

Got comments, thoughts, suggestions or abuse? Please e-mail me.

BIRMINGHAM CITY 4  TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR 1

  Here's what I observed through my big telescope this week as we put a 7th goal past the England Goalkeeper this season . . .

A PREMIERSHIP TEAM
We looked like a decent team for most of the match, and despite our lowly league position looked more like a mid to upper-mid position Prem team for much of the match. We're now unbeaten in 4, so that sounds about right.

THE STATISTICS DON'T LIE
Along with that 4 game unbeaten run, we've also prevented Arsenal from taking an additional 4 points of late, and done the double over the League Cup winners.

OK, so before I start wetting mesen, let's work from the back . . .

DA KEEPER
Taylor did little or nothing wrong between the sticks. It seems that a change of keeper coach has really improved Taylor's game as he now picks more crosses out of the air than I'm used to seeing from him.

Talking of conspiracies, that ex Aston Vile keeper and coach, Nigel Stink, must have been on an Aston Villa salary until he left recently. I think we were being conned.

THE BACK LINE
Kelly and Murphy, just awesome - sorry about the Americanism - plus Jaidi and Ridgewell also shone. OK, so the Ridge gave the ball away just over the half way line, but that's hardly a defensive blunder. At the back he is cultured, and is a 'little giant' as he frequently wins balls in the air. He also had a hand in our first goal from McSheffrey's corner by the way.

MIDFIELD
Johnson motored and motored, Muamba motored and gave the ball away too often, McSheffrey was improvement on his Prem self, and Larsson did all the things we expect of him and more. Oh yeh, right, he also scored a beauty of a free kick.

Muamba is in his first Prem season, so he will only get better in terms of composure on the ball, and Johnson, as his seasons wane, almost repeated his goal against Robinson when getting our first Prem win in 2002. McSheff I can only hope is on his way back. I think he's become a bit of an enigma, but I'll let you know about that once I've looked up the word in the dictionary.

UP FRONT
Oh my giddy [Aunt]! We, ahem, McLeish could be on to something here! As much as I'd like to see Deridder and Zarate used more, I thought that McFadden and the Forss worked well together. We as a Club and set of fans are possibly about to be rewarded with the Forss of old it seems. What's that? He's signing for Stoke City in the summer you say?!

SUPER SUBS
Parnaby acquitted himself well as did Jerome, but that Zarate fella, well, he's a bloody genius! His value has been estimated at 20 million quid, so I can only assume that Big Mac prefers to work mostly with the players he knows he WILL have come next mid-August. But my McFriend, Zarate has stated that he appreciates the Premiership chance given to him by Birmingham City, and would love to give the Club fist dibs when the season is over. That said, should we go after him, can we afford him, and where would he slot into the scheme of things? He's too damn talented to leave on the bench every week! Zárate, por favor no te vayas!

THE MANAGER/COACH
Having my Welsh inclinations [leave it], I was pleased to see the tartan one wearing a Daffodil during the game. In case you hadn't realised, it was St. David's Day on Saturday!

In my opinion Big Mac is the signing of the season, and if we can keep him, I can see us doing very nicely next season thank you very much!

McFADDEN
Tell me, when the ball breaks from defence, have you noticed how comfortable he is on the ball, how infrequently he loses it, and how the opposing defenders stand off him? This guy is a class act, a canny laddie, and is starting to fill the role that McLeish had him earmarked for. I don't care what anybody says, he's worth every penny of the transfer fee, plus a can of Irn Bru and Scotch Pie and beans. Mmmmm.

By the way, if anyone disagrees I'll break yer legs Jumma! [phrase copyright of Roger Hynd, circa 1972]

THE BANANA CUSTARD CREW [Tottenham]
Playing in their away strip of all yellow - see the connection now? - they were dominated by the boys in blue. I rate Berbatov, but no team wants to carry a prima donna who sucks his thumb at the slightest adversity. Thing is though, we contributed greatly in making Spurs look very juvenile is so many ways on Saturday, and I'm sure I'm only one voice to say, long may it continue.

John Baker, Boise, Idaho

Got comments, thoughts, suggestions or abuse? Please e-mail me.

BIRMINGHAM CITY 2  ARSENAL 2

  Here's what I observed through my big telescope . . .

THAT TACKLE
Mistimed but NOT malicious.

McFADDEN
If you think he doesn't add something to this team then you're wrong, and I'm not talking about his goals yesterday. He's skillful, holds the ball up while the midfield catches up, wins free kicks, and is likely to score from anywhere. Too many misplaced passes at times though.

JOHNSON or NAFTI?
It has to be Nafti now as he's quicker, has more of an eye for a defence splitting pass, and is able to harass more than Jonty.

MUAMBA
His 'on the job training' is starting to show dividends. He's not the finished article, but he has youth on his side, and we've needed that kind of midfield speed for several seasons now.

FORSSELL or ZARATE?
I've long been in Mikael's camp [leave it], but Zarate offers more options, and is likely to score some point winning goals before the season is done . . . or at least create them. He's also a useful free kick taker.
It was unfortunate that Mikael had to come off when we went down to ten men, but what was with those bags under his eyes? Had he just come straight from Tesco?

JEROME
Has taken a lot of stick on in some quarters for not scoring more frequently, but he has good control, and tires the defence . . . . theirs not ours. Will he be back d'ya think?

AMUSING
That Arsenal fella at right back with the fancy lampshade on his head.

ANNOYING
Flamini's pontifications, and Senderos' cheating. Arsene Wenger is renamed Arsene Wanger for his comments about Taylor. He has since retracted them, but as we all know had Taylor done that as an Arsenal player Wanger would have commented, "I didn't see it." Wanger = Monsieur le Toss grande.

MURPHY
Getting better all the time.

FOUR
That's how many points we've denied Arsenal in the last 6 weeks. How many Clubs can say that?

TEN
The number of Blues players Arsenal couldn't get past over 90 minutes. A sterling display by Birmingham City!

SO WHAT OF THE REMAINDER OF OUR SEASON?
Surely the players have gained confidence with both Arsenal results, and the point at West ham etcetera. Can we kick on and pull away from the drop zone?

YES, I believe we can, and McLeish is just the man to guide us onwards.

John Baker, Boise, Idaho

Got comments, thoughts, suggestions or abuse? Please e-mail me.