KwAcKy's Konfessional |
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Nothing of interest; just mindless links to bikes Birmingham City Football Club and useless junk  
  
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14 September 2003
Blues v Fulham It was a Sunday afternoon and the air was heavy with the smell of stale beer and tales of last nights exploits. Many recalled reports from the News of the World whilst others listened, smoking their way out of a hangover and hoping the peak on their Burberry cap would stop the sun from shining in their bloodshot eyes. Sunday football is the same all over the country; players with a point to prove hack their way for 2 hours to gain bragging rights in the bar. The crowd, the cameras, the badges on the players sleeves all suggested this was Premiership Football. The style of play, the players and the referee all proved how wrong those assumptions were. Blues looked like they had al been round to Bruce's mum's house for Sunday Lunch. Those extra yorkshire puddings took their toll. We kicked off, they scored. 3 points gone in under 60 seconds. Fulham soon rocked St Andrews by scoring in 38 seconds. The crowd went quite. As did the team. We tried to get something going but our midfield frailities showed and Coleman's squad bossed and bullied their way to possession whilst bypassing Savage, rendering him wholly ineffective. Dunn looked out of place and Purse looked out of sorts. Upson clearly had no understanding with the player the Bluenoses once reckoned would play for last seasons second place premier outfit. Clapham and Clemence both forgot how to play and their passes (if they won the ball) went out of their way to find the feet of a Fulham footballer. Stern and Forssell soon struck a chord and with Dunn pushing forward we applied pressure but it came to nothing without midfield support. This was not the Birmingham we had come to see. The football was disjointed and irritating. The crowd had nothing to sing about. But, somehow, we got the equaliser before the break. In the second half Teiliby, replacing Kenna, started to push forward and encouraged a more attacking game which seems to suit us. So, it was only a matter of minutes before Fulham went back into the lead with what looked like a blatant barge on Taylor. The goal stood. The ref saw nothing wrong with out goalie being pushed aside. We did draw level but Purse decided to dampen spirits by showing the England XV how to bring down a Wallaby or Springbok. Robbie went walkabout, Purse stole centre stage, Taylor will be accused of match fixing and the ref forgot which set of rules applied - a barge on the goalie is permissable, as is showing your studs in a 2 footed tackle. Blues v Fulham is never going to be a game for the romantics and today showed why. Nore yellows than a canary fanciers convention and less guile than a fat ninja in a pair of ski boots. We could have won. We should have won, but we cetainly didn't deserve a win. Let's hope Bruce tears up Mr Purse's contract, that the Blue faithful realise that Robbie is already out of date and that we need to think about safety before success. In the next game I would prefer to see Stan on the left thus freeing Dunn to support the lone forward. Teiliby looks very good going forward and could be a decent replacement for DJ who is far too defensive. As for Purse........ Team scores: Taylor - unlucky and unprotected 6 Kenna - out of the game 6 Upson - looked solid but missed Cunningham 7 Purse - twat 5 Clapham - did someone spike his drink? 6 Tellytubby - better going forward and some nice passes 7 Clemence - so stealthy his absence wasn't missed until the second half 6 Savage - the game passed him by until the last 15 minutes 6 Dunn - quality shines through but his position isnt left midfield 8 DJ - a better right back than right winger 6 Lazaridis - when the team finally realised he was on the pitch he looked quite good 7 John - he not be Horsfield but he's got some nice touches 7 Forssell - when can we buy him? 8 Morrisson - he came on did he? 6 |
