Often Partisan

Tis the Season To Be Jolly

Birmingham City comprehensively beat Barnsley at the weekend 3-0 thanks to goals from Paul Caddis (2) and Nikola Zigic. The result means Blues are unbeaten in 3 games – their longest unbeaten run since April and recorded their first back to back league away wins since April 2012.

As I have only seen the goals I cannot comment on individual performances within the game; however it has to be said the result is an excellent one and lifts some pressure off the team. Blues remain nineteenth, but they are now in a bunch of teams separated by six places and one point; more importantly the team’s goal difference is significantly better than many of the sides around them and only two teams in the bottom half have scored more goals than Blues.

From speaking to a Barnsley fan who was at the game, Blues certainly deserved the points and indeed could have had a hatful against the Tykes. Barnsley have been on a shocking run and it’s no real surprise that they sacked their manager after the game. Whilst Blues haven’t been that great this season it does seem that we have taken points against the teams around us and if we can continue that trend tomorrow night against Doncaster we should pull further away from trouble. As much as I know people are worried about relegation it does seem there are genuinely a few teams worse than us in the division – as long as three of the finish below Blues we are safe.

Although I can understand people who are unimpressed as it was “only Barnsley” who was beaten and people might have expected the win I think it’s important to draw the positive aspects from it. It was the fourth time this season Blues have scored three or more goals in the league and eighth overall; Paul Caddis became the fourteenth Blues player to score this campaign – there is no doubt that Blues can score goals. We can only ever beat the teams in front of us and Blues are now definitely starting to pick up points away from home. The key for Lee Clark is to replicate that form at St Andrews and win games in front of the home faithful; if they can start to do that in addition to picking up points away from home Blues will climb the table into safety with ease.

For all the talk of Lee Clark tinkering with the team it seems that he has a settled formation now; changes have been relatively few in the last few games and often have been forced by injury or suspension. If he can keep going with this nucleus of players they will continue to grow into their roles and I am sure that the team will improve; it is no coincidence that our best spell last season coincided with a run of games with a settled eleven (in a largely similar formation).

Whilst in the past I have been unsure as to what is happening with Blues right now I am feeling optimistic; for all the problems off the field I think things are slowly coming together on it and if we can get through December with a few more points on the board I think the club will be much readier for whatever 2014 is going to throw at it. If we can pick up some valuable home points and impress the home fans then maybe it will be the season to be jolly…

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70 Responses to “Tis the Season To Be Jolly”

  • JohnR200 says:

    Good win at Barnsley but you are absolutely right Dan about our home performances. We need to repeat what we did against Millwall, Sheffield Wednesday and Stoke. We are capable of getting six points this week but being Blues I always fear the worst. KRO.

  • dave mann says:

    great 3 points against barnsley, good finishes from caddis and zigic but no way was it a penalty
    but big zig does get the wrong end off the stick from refs so its about time he got one back so no
    complaints from me, wins this week against doncaster and boro will really push us up and away
    from the dreaded bottom three but our home form as to improve massively if we are to achive
    this so come on you blues and lets make it a great seven days. KRO.

    • The Truth will hurt says:

      It absolutely was a penalty – have a look at the replays, the guys almost had Ziggy’s short off his back! It would have been a foul anywhere else on the pitch, so a pen, no problem.

    • chas says:

      A couple of Posters on the Barnsley Fans Forum said it was a definite Pen, waiting to happen from their Player. Pulled the back of Zigic’s shirt and then let go. I will let you know when I have seen it myself.

      • chas says:

        Well, I have seen it, but cant really see from the Sky pictures , but the Barnsley Defender knew what he had done , watch his reaction , guilty as charged..

        • mark says:

          without a shadow of doubt………………. stone wall penalty……… ziggy dont get many , looks like the opposing player was trying the change ziggy shirt for him lol

  • Jim Bob says:

    So this is Christmas
    And what have blues done?
    Another year over
    And the last one of zigic contract just begun

    And so this is Christmas
    Paul Caddis had fun
    The near and the dear one
    The old carson yeung

    A very merry Christmas
    And a happy New Year
    Let’s hope it’s a good one
    but not for the scum

    And so this is Christmas
    For weak and for strong
    Were not rich we are the poor ones
    The world is so wrong

    And so happy Christmas
    For blue and for white
    F**k claret and blue ones
    Let’s all have a fight

    A very merry Christmas
    And a happy New Year
    Let’s hope it’s a good one
    With lot of goals to cheer

    And so this is Christmas
    And what have we done?
    We just spanked Barnsley
    with more to come

    And so this is Christmas
    I hope you all have fun
    let all stick together
    and keep right on!

    A very merry Christmas
    And a happy New Year
    Let’s hope it’s a good one
    With plenty to cheer

    Blues will rise again
    If you want it
    Blues will rise again
    Now

    Merry Xmas fellow Blue Noses & KRO

  • DoctorD says:

    Well Doncaster beat QPR at the weekend so you never know in this division.

    This season at home in the league we’ve scored goals in this order: 1,0, 0, 1, 4, 4, 1, 0, 1 — so, er, sounds like we probably we’ll either get one of those numbers again.

  • nicko says:

    people said the other week when we beat huddesfield well its only huddesfield look who the beat burnley its a strange league this season

  • Letsby Avenue says:

    :-)

    Come on AJ.
    This is filler, surely?

    References to “tinkerman” eh?
    An abuse picked up from another site perhaps??

    YOU …..AND US…do not know the reasons why formations are selected.

    I would suggest they are selected from Wast Hills and the sciences…pretty straightforward management eh?

    Don’t perform = Don’t Start
    Don’t meet Established Performance Levels = Don’t Start

    Lee Clark is an honest and Learning Mmanager. He has been as loyal as he can be to players he knew and trusted….those that llet him down are out of the equation now.

    Work it out AJ ….it isn’t Tinkerman…it’s closer to a SAF and Shankly mindset.

    Trust me and think what they thinked..then .you may realise that Lee Clark CAN be Equal to them.

    He’s had the worst hand EVER for a Championship Manager.

    AND..Mr AJ you have been very forward in your criticism of Lee Clark…perhaps you are now adjusting your view, as realisation dawns ?

    Will a similar realisation dawn on Carson ?

    :-)

    :-)

    FREE THE HONG KONG ONE

    (Yes we know AJ that he isn’t in prison..Ir’s a blooming slogan — BUT…do your one-loners anyway mate !)

  • singing face says:

    Hats off to Lee Clark. Against the odds we’re digging our way out of trouble.

  • Roy Smith says:

    Actually it was a penalty, watch the video on Blues youtube page and you will see the view the ref had, and for a change he got the decision right. Shame Zigic doesn’t get the other 20 penalties he should be given every season rather than being penalised for being fouled.

  • GoodyBlueShoes says:

    Anybody saying “it was only Barnsley” needs a reality check. Whatever the level of football be it Champions League or Pubs on a Sunday scoring 3 and keeping a clean sheet away from home is damn good! Great stuff Blues!

    • StaffsBlue says:

      They were saying “it was only Barnsley” last season when they thraped us 5-0 at home. You can’t win with some people. lol

      • mark says:

        funny that! nearly had A4 size of throat ripping fans last year regarding the home match….. not many glorifying this win……………..how strange………..maybe they got nothing to say…………oh well……….

  • dave mann says:

    this league will never change, bottom three can beat top three no danger so weve got to be on
    our guard for the next two home games, it could six points, it could be no points, nowing blues
    it will propably be one point or two points, this league is strange every season so theres no
    diffrence there so lets hope DoctorD that the number 4 comes up in that goal order this time
    me old mate.KRO.

  • WalmleySteve says:

    The worry for me is the potential of a 10 point deduction. Dan – am I right in thinking that if BIHL goes belly-up, we would still lose 10 points even though BCFC is not technically in administration?

  • dave mann says:

    sorry Roy but i disagree, iit was actually a penalty because the ref gave it but we got lucky
    and your not gonna change my mind on that, your right though in saying the refs give him a
    rough ride because they do and he was due one so not moaning about that but its all about
    opinions and thats mine.KRO.

  • Macc Lad says:

    A very important 3 points. About that there can be no doubt. It’ll all be forgotten though should we lose to Doncaster.
    If ever there was a time to string a run together it’s now. Points against Doncaster and Middlesborough will give us a little breathing space before the inevitable departures in January.

    • Mario says:

      What departures mac? I don’t think we have anyone left that we can raise money from! The owners have got rid of them all!!!! I am glad the squad is full of loans and worthless players it stops pannus little game at least!!!! Mind you if Clark gets a good run pannu could tout him around a few of these clubs that are sacking managers in our division

  • Tony says:

    Bill Shankly, Lee Clark ,mmm dont really go together in my mind Letsby.

  • DENNIS says:

    GREAT RESULT JUST WHAT WE NEEDED AND YES ZIGIC WAS FOULED FOR PEN

  • Chris W says:

    I was at Barnsley and have to admit they were poor, but I didn’t expect them to be that bad, arguably the worst team we have played so far.
    We really do need to take our away form into our home games, we play with freedom and fluently away, at home everything seems like an old jerky movie, no one takes responsibility with the ball.
    I was impressed with Callum Reilly this week, last week he couldn’t put a pass together, Paul Caddis deserved his man of the match for an all round performance.
    I am enjoying my football again and LC seems to be happy with things too. We had a strong bench Saturday which means players have competition for places, another plus for good results.
    The crowd need mentioning too, where are these same supporters at home games, they never stopped singing, one of the stewards commented on the way out that he had not seen or heard such a vocal bunch of supporters at the “Well” this season.
    It is certainly jolly watching the Blues away this season.
    KRO+DNM

  • James says:

    Can someone translate Letsby’s comments for me please?

    • DoctorD says:

      Here goes:

      :-)
      >>>>That means Letsby’s in a good mood.

      Come on AJ.
      This is filler, surely?
      >>>>He thinks this blog post is just padding as Dan has nothing else to say.

      References to “tinkerman” eh?
      An abuse picked up from another site perhaps??
      YOU …..AND US…do not know the reasons why formations are selected.
      I would suggest they are selected from Wast Hills and the sciences…pretty straightforward management eh?
      Don’t perform = Don’t Start
      Don’t meet Established Performance Levels = Don’t Start
      >>>>He means: picking who to play is quite a straightforward activity and we shouldn’t just Clark for his selections.

      Lee Clark is an honest and Learning Mmanager. He has been as loyal as he can be to players he knew and trusted….those that llet him down are out of the equation now.
      Work it out AJ ….it isn’t Tinkerman…it’s closer to a SAF and Shankly mindset.
      Trust me and think what they thinked..then .you may realise that Lee Clark CAN be Equal to them.

      >>>>>>He thinks Lee Clark is great and has parallels with Sir Alex Ferguson and Bill Shankly – and that one day he might be as good as them

      He’s had the worst hand EVER for a Championship Manager.
      AND..Mr AJ you have been very forward in your criticism of Lee Clark…perhaps you are now adjusting your view, as realisation dawns ?

      >>>He means Clark’s had a tough time and Dan has been too harsh.

      Will a similar realisation dawn on Carson ?
      :-)
      :-)
      FREE THE HONG KONG ONE
      (Yes we know AJ that he isn’t in prison..Ir’s a blooming slogan — BUT…do your one-loners anyway mate !)
      >>>>I put this in Google translate and it gave an error message.

  • dave mann says:

    every blue nose ive spoken to said the same thing as me, zigic left is foot in and delibretly
    made contact with the defenderNOT the defender delibretly making contact with zigic, that
    to me and others ive spoken to is NOT a penalty and if it happened the other way round
    opinions would be different, it was given so its a penalty but imo zigic was NOT fouled
    end off!!!!KRO.

  • pierre says:

    is it true our away support sang disrespectful songs about jack butland,hope not,i thought we where better than that!

    • almajir says:

      there is a video on youtube of what they sang to Jack Butland

    • paulo_bcfc says:

      yes they did give him dogs abuse mate. I didn’t join in, the lads a top bloke and he was obviously worried because his back defense line was all over the place (happened with us as well – strange that). He did give us a nod and a clap afterwards though, and a little bluenose kid his gloves ..but some ‘neanderthal’ gave Butland some verbal and he (JB) I’m convinced he was gonna launch him.
      There was no need and Butland’s doing a loan spell at a club in trouble – he ain’t gonna fix it all by himself is he?
      As for the pen – yes it was the right decision. Just a shame there’s a fair bit of anti – Birmingham in the media really (but I’m used to it).

    • Chris W says:

      Can’t say I heard any of malice, a couple of banter that Jack seemed to take in his stride and apart from one occasion as Blues were attacking and he didn’t wave there was a rustle of a boo… but again it was in good humour, he was applauded off and he returned by applauding the Blues fans.
      KRO+DNM

  • Paul says:

    Haha nice one Al, case closed!!

  • Oldbluenose says:

    As you rightly say in your piece, Barnsley, who, ?. Well any Championship side is capable of beating another this season, — So let us be gratefull for an AWAY win, CLEAN sheet and scoring 3, much needed goals, — BTW, 3, much needed points,!!.

    About time we ceased running down the teams we beat, and glory in yet another win, !!!.

  • Roy Smith says:

    More of a penalty than most that are awarded to Man Ure and the other big boys.
    In addition since when has it been legal to try and strip an opponent?

  • dave mann says:

    bit of a shirt pull dan but zigic went down very easily and made a meal of it. KRO.

  • jazzzy786 says:

    Forgive my ignorance but what the hell is a sponge soldier?

  • mark says:

    Daniel we have every reason to be jolly………………..

  • mark says:

    i have to admit i never seen ziggy move that fast unless he was running to the bank lol……. excellent team effort by the lads lets hope we are even more jolly after the new year……………and we are further up the table……………kro

  • AR says:

    Was Burke dropped at Barnsley or was he not completely fit?

  • Wingman Blue says:

    At last Zig gets a penalty! Nice flick over Butland too. Good to see that accuracy is improving – one reason our goal tally is climbing. There’s been a marked improvement at Wast Hills, and it’s beginning to show.

  • Tony says:

    Let us be clear shirt pulling in the box is a penalty full stop, the problem is so few refs have the courage to give it, so well done to that ref.

  • Tonytiler says:

    I was at Barnsley and it was a well deserved 3pts. I have just read the evening mail where in their comments it stated we were vocal. But young jack butland was abused . For the records it was just banter. And at the final whistle he was the last player off the pitch. On which us blues fans applauded and sung his name. In true jack style he took time out to give 1 young blues fan his glove. Even though the Barnsley steward tried to stop him.

  • BigmanSteve0 says:

    I always new that, that prince will I am is a tw4t
    Kro sotv d n m

  • andy says:

    It was all banter with Jack Butland though I have seen other ex blues players excused from it. I feel sorry for the kid because he was forced out of blues because of the financial mess within BIH.


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