From the moment that Foster was so nearly beaten by a Mark Schwartzer clearance, I knew we were in trouble. Foster came out 10 yards and the ball nearly bounced over his head. What was he thinking? A goalkeeper being beaten by another goalkeeper from 90 yards away! From this he decides to not come out 3 yards for the resulting corner. I repeat what was he thinking? Then Bang, Thor the Horrible scores! Five minutes in and the game was over. Still I hung around for 90 more minutes of pain.
I remember being at St Andrews many many years ago and watching Birmingham taking apart a good Fulham side and leading 3-0 at half time. We then went on to to lose 4-3. I hoped against hope last night that we could come back in the second half. But if anything we were even worse. But look at our side. The youngest out fielder was Larrsson and he is the one we want to get rid of. Phillips, Ferguson and Bowyer have a hunded plus years between them. I could almost smell the dencorub from Brisbane.
But why am I surprised. Our season usually comes down to the final game of the season. For us B'ham City fans, hardly ever is the season over with a couple of weeks to go as per Man Utd, Chelski, Liverpool etc. We usually find ourselves at 5pm on the last day of the season watching three different games and hoping against hope that our loss isn't someone elses gain. I have been dreading this day since winning the league/milk/barclays/carling/tappers and shunters shield/trophy/cup thingy.
At B'ham City each ecstacy needs to be weighed against an equal measure of agony. First silverware in 46 years was the perfect predictor of a demotion. A demotion that could see us playing Doncaster one week and Juventus the next week. If you want to make a quick couple of hundred quid I suggest you buy a load of transistor radio's and sell them outside Tottenham on Saturday to the Blues Supporters. I use the word supporters because fans would a paint a peculiar picture of us all. If we were fans, we would all be dressed like extra's in a Madonna Video. Led to each game on a collar and lead by big eck dressed as a domanatrix. No one could seriously be a fan of this kind of agony. But whatever happens we will be there Sunday. Tuned in and waiting. Hoping that our loss to Tottenham is not bigger than Blackpools loss to Manchester Utd's reserves. Can't see Sir Alex risking much of his first team 6 days before the Champions League Final. Or hoping that Stoke don't see that they have nothing left to play for, mid-table and already qualified for Europa. I can only hope that they see some value in being the top placed midlands side!!
This season is nothing new and could equally have been true decades ago when Blackpool and Wigan were supplanted by Huddersfield and Sheffield Utd. And many, many, many seasons in-between. We are either going down or coming back up again. My grandad used to call us Berlei City. Because we are up and down like a pair of prostitutes knickers.
The only glee I can find in these days of gloom is that we have won more silverware this season than anyone outside of Manchester. And secondly with our last trip to North London to an almost certain defeat. Well that saw us beat Arsenal and come home very happy. I'm hoping for two blue moons in one year.