Well that was an interesting few days wasn’t it? The announcement that the other odious Welsh wasp was potentially coming to St Andrews caused great excitement. I think I speak for everyone regarding this transfer when I compare it to the attempted capture of Nicky Butt. The ultimate failure in persuading them to play for the Blues is disappointing but more importantly it demonstrates the ability and desire of the board to pay the required amount in order to improve the team. 
The fact that he has gone to play with the Jocks is highly amusing and I wish the little runt all the best when he is playing away at Kilmarnock in the snow and ice being abused by Rab C Nesbitt and his scabby mongrel, wee Jimmy Krankie.
As with the Scabbage issue it is very important that we put the events of the past few weeks behind us and support the current crop of players. Our faith in Bruce means that we are somehow going to have to think of songs to accommodate Walter (Wally) ‘The Rifle’ Pandiani, Mehdi Nafti, Salif Diao, and Njazi Kuqi. Great scores in Scrabble but not exactly rolling off the lyrical tongues of the Tilton.
Pandiani was booked to join Fiorentina for 4.5 million. It remains to be seen if that fee was in pounds, euros or lira. The disappointment at losing out to Villa over Djemba Djemba was devastating, I don’t think I will ever be able to recover and the Manchester United fans are still rejoicing.
So we move on. A new crop of players and further interesting days. We could do with one of them having the influence of Dugarry, one of Savage (on a good day) one of Mark Ward and one of Trevor Francis (player, not manager!). The chauffeur offered to Scabbage looks like he will be retained now that Pennant has avoided partnering Lee Hughes.
We were never going to beat Chelsea. They were always playing within themselves and cantering. We had some good possession and played some neat football but without ever really looking like scoring. Any success by the Blues would only have resulted in Chelsea moving up a few gears and disposing of us at ease.
The first goal was, strictly speaking, a foul. Very rarely will I commend foul play but Terry’s block in American Football style was neat, devious and successful. Poor old Martin Taylor looked shell shocked. In fact he looked shelled. It was one of those occasions where you know everyone has asked him if he feels alright and, despite him nodding, you know his brain is mush.
The team did well to stay with the mighty Chelsea but the second goal was always on the cards and the array of talent on the bench meant no respite for the brave Brummie soldiers. Once again the defence left the danger man, this time John Terry, and again a long range header flew past Taylor. In a way it was a relief. A bit like an old dog keeling over of its own volition rather than the expensive trip to the canal!
Let’s hope the day out in cockney ville was as fruitful behind the scenes as usual. So far Chelsea have benefited us greatly by sorting out Forssell, Gronkjaer (?), Melchiot and Carlton Cole. Hopefully the Board have organised some more top talent to exit the Bridge at the end of the season.
Time to realign our support in the FA Cup and who could be more deserving than little old Burnley. Cute Championship side from up north, I wonder who they have got in the next round?
Tonight we entertain Southampton. On current performances I use the word ‘entertain’ in its loosest possible sense. Mind you they could always start with Peter Crouch. Actually although he looks as well balanced as Cliff Richard after a pint of vodka and red bull he has a decent touch. This won’t stop me from laughing at him though.
They have added to their squad with a bunch of players we didn’t want. Camara from Wolves? I bet the rancid disloyal gimp nets against us now I’ve dismissed him. Knowing my luck Camara and Crouch, the comedy duo, will net a brace apiece!
It’s a bit cold and I haven’t quite shaken off my bout of ManFlu so the gloves will be out. I apologise now for hacking all through the game, now I know how Tebily feels! It’s going to be interesting to see what team Bruce puts out for tonight. The guys that played against Chelsea certainly don’t deserve to lose their places but on the whole we have not been good enough recently and it may be time to have a freshen up.
There have been problems in the past with blooding too many new players at the same time and we had to suffer the inability of the team to ‘gel’ earlier this season. Time is running out and there are some big games taking place this week. The clubs at the bottom have all made some ground up on us and one more defeat for us allied to success for the bottom four and we are well and truly sucked into the dogfight.
Keep Right On and ‘honi soit qui mal y pense’ (excluding Blackburn)!