The Black Death in the 14th century killed almost half the population of Britain. If Bird Flu can achieve anything like that then the structure of society will collapse. There is no way they would be able to finish off this Premiership season. However, civilisation would in time re-establish itself and football will pick up where it left off – hopefully however starting a new season, but with the current members of the Premiership. It is a long shot, but it is currently our best hope. So do your bit for your club today: go out and buy a French chicken.
When you’re down and out, a trip to St Andrews is just the extra kick in the dangly bits you could do without out. Neewhere for away supporters to drink near the ground (we drank at New Street Station), a miserable journey and an unwelcoming bunch of supporters. I thought this was going to be an extremely poor turnout but in fact it wasn’t too bad at all – and a fair amount of vocal encouragement was given for the lads. Personally I think most of this lot are going to form the backbone of our Championship side. One of the biggest worries is how confidence sapping this long drawn out pointless season is going to be – so we might as well do what we can to support them if we intend being around next year (which by definition most of those making the trip to St Andrews will be.
Birmingham are a poor side and will fit in well in the Championship if they come down with us. However, they do have loadsamoney and the players they can bring in at regular intervals (for Steve Bruce to convert to poo) are the difference between them and us. Like at West Brom a couple of weeks ago the difference between the two side ended up being one incident. At the Hawthorns it went our way; here it went Birmingham’s..
The first half was fairly even. We had a couple of long range shots (we seem to be doing that more – which is good), they had nothing. Then they got a free kick just in front of us – about ten yards in from our right side corner flag. The Birmingham player was undoubtably looking to get a free kick but there was no need for Nyron to oblige him (quite why it was a booking mind is beyond me – unless stupidity has become a bookable offence). Pennant sent in a good free kick as accurately as he can wrap a lamp post around the bumper of a car after ten pints. However, it was straight across the six yard box. Heskey rose to it right in front of goal and that was it. Now Collins (who I assume was marking him?) may have been fouled (certainly he ended up sprawled out as the ball came over), Breen and Kyle might have been static. But a ball In that position must be the goalkeeper’s. We are not talking about the penalty spot – six bliddy yards. Not all keepers can command their 18 yard box like a Schmeichel but surely we are entitled to ask our goalkeeper to command his 6 yard box. For god’s sake, he is allowed to use his arms. That must give him some advantage.
Second half we took the game to them as they looked to hang on and possibly nick a second from a break. But we lacked a cutting edge and again long range efforts were really our only attempts on goal.
Generally the team were a curate’s egg. Davis actually had a good second half making a couple fo superb saves. However, good shot stopping is going to count for much if you haven’t got the confidence to get out as far as the six yard line from set pieces. Nosworthy again got the “one of the better palyers despite a complete inability to play football” award. Breen got substituted. Hurrah! I cannot believe he is blithering on about being Premiership class and needing a Premiership club. Please someone take him. Collins, his landing on his arse bit excepted, was OK – clearly not up to this level but might be alright in the CCC. Hoyte was shocking. I hope we don’t need to play him much more. Canny as he was at the start, he is now just an embarrassment and must be damaging any chance he had of making it at Arsenal. I suspect he’ll be sold or on loan again next season. Lawrence fell over a lot. Lawrence is typical of the damage this season could have. I never rated him as highly as some but I do think he’d stepped up to the CCC OK – not great, but OK. That is a long way off being Prem class. Whitehead had a better game than he has had for some time and was looking closer to being the player we all rated. Leadbitter to me was not up to much – just looked like a young lad stuck in the middle of the park. He might make it in the CCC but I don’t think you can tell from him having to deal with this predicament. Arca was quite stunningly awful. Probably the worst game he has played in a red and white shirt. Except for one second half shot from distance, he managed to do the wrong thing on every occasion. I almost hope he gets a minor injury that keeps him out to the end of the season. He has given us a lot of pleasure and if, as I think he should, he goes to Spain in the summer, I want to remember him for the good times, not for displays like this. Fact is, entertaining as he is, he just doesn’t have the ability to make it in the Prem. Kyle and Murphy huffed and puffed. Miller had his usual game.
The two bright spots were Elliott and Delap. Elliott looked sharp and hungry and could control a ball. Good to see him back (needs to get into goal poaching mode again mind). Delap looked very sharp coming in from the right and could be a good addition.
I was in the back row and the lad in front of me had a St George’s Cross flag, which we hung up at the back. It had a Sunderland badge and “SAFC” in black letters. Across the middle red strip it had: “till I die”. “Till” has a number of meanings. The one that involves back-breaking labour across the land might actually be an apt description of being a Sunderland supporter.