Barclays Premiership
Arsenal v Birmingham City
4th December 2004 at 15:00
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Steve Bruce thinks it is unfair of Blues fans to boo the team after games such as Norwich. Opinion over this display of unrest is pretty much divided. There are always some dimwits with sloping foreheads who will abuse the team regardless of the score (see Dullard Fan Watch). They sit behind all of us at every match. There are those who state that they have paid their money and are entitled to air their disapproval. The majority are blue through and through and whilst they get disappointed and frustrated understand that verbally abusing the team is not going to boost confidence and certainly is not going to affect the score line.
But before Bruce labels us as overambitious and questions our memories regarding our status only a few years ago he should consider the efforts of some of our fans to view the fare on offer by his troops. My nephew has a season ticket in the seat next to me (bad enough already I hear you cry!). He lives in Billericay near Southend and doesn’t drive. For home matches he leaves his house early Saturday morning to catch a train into London and board a connection to Birmingham. The trip home is just as tortuous with him finally getting through his front door past midnight. We all hear about the reliability and comfort of public transport, he has to endure it. He surrenders his whole Saturday to travel and watch the Blues play and so do many others. Imagine you had been travelling for eight hours to watch your team play for just forty five minutes and after the disappointment had another eight hours trip home to ponder on what else you could have done with your day off. The cost alone would be prohibitive to all but the most dedicated. So next time you stand up and criticise think of the guy next to you who has given up a lot more than you to be there. And Brucie the next time your players perform for half their wages perhaps you could introduce them to some of these fans and they can offer their own excuses.
The Blackburn and Norwich draws have been talked to death by now and hopefully the four lost points won’t turn out to be crucial. Sitting back on leads rarely works in Premiership football as the opposition are all of a good quality with players capable of turning games. Surely everyone knows that when you go in at half time in the lead not only is your own manager going to expect more of the same but the opposing boss is going to rally his troops with a war cry and demand extra effort. It is futile afterwards to congratulate Hughes and Worthington for rousing their team when this is precisely what is expected of them. There was no earth shattering tactical switch just plain, simple instructions to go out and start playing with more gusto. The defining moment for me was when we were still 1-0 ahead in the second period and the ball went out of play near the Norwich corner flag for a throw in. The rejuvenated Morrison sprinted to box in the Norwich defence and turned to discover he was the only Birmingham player in the Canary half! Not one other player bothered to break out from their defensive duties, they were all prepared to sit on the edge of our box and wait for the next attack despite Morrison’s frantic waving.
I have no idea what tactic Bruce will employ against Arsenal. Defending for ninety minutes is not an option and neither is all out attack. Both will result in certain defeat. The boys in blue have to play for all ninety minutes and accept the consequences. No one seriously thinks we will win but as long as the team try for the whole of the match then the fans will be supportive. We aren’t stupid, we might be ambitious, even overambitious but we know the realities of football. After all we spend a lot of our hard earned cash watching it. Arsenal to win by a few goals and the boys to put some effort in, please.
Keep Right On.