Often Partisan

Rampant Blues

Nine games unbeaten, five games on the bounce, seven hours and twelve minutes since Blues last conceded a goal and fourteen goals in the last four games. Suffice it to say that right now Blues are on a roll.

As I haven’t seen the Sheffield Utd cup game with my own eyes, I can’t comment on individual performances – however, I think some conclusions can be drawn from the result alone. I said in the preview that I hoped we went for it, and despite some criticisms before 3pm of the team picked I think we did – it may be just one striker up top but unlike last season we’re playing with proper wingers who’ll get forward to support the front man and at least one breaking from the middle – a 4-2-3-1 if you will.

The thing is, winning is a habit. Players are human beings after all, and like anyone confidence and self-belief is a huge part of their preparation. When a team is winning little niggles go un-noticed because players are desperate to keep playing. I think players create their own luck; the better the team has been playing the more that a player will try something special – and the more that they believe it will come off the more likely it will. A squad becomes tighter knit from a series of good performances – especially ones with clean sheets.

Thus I don’t think it’s coincidental that once we started on this run we’ve improved steadily to get to a stage where people on twitter are commenting on how great the goals were from a team perspective; Tatts retweeted a fan who compared the fourth goal to the Cambiasso goal against Serbia in the World Cup. Yes, Sheffield United are a League One side but they’re a good side at home and this tie had banana skin written all over it. Blues’ squad has been a bit thin recently which was evident from the two Academy players sitting on the bench, and I feared that if things hadn’t gone well we’d have struggled to change it.

As I posted yesterday, I’m pretty sure this is all in Hughton’s mind when it comes to his thinking about players to bring in. It’s a very difficult time to source players anyway – teams don’t want to lose their best players which means it’s a case of being able to find a hidden gem. The fear is always that a player coming in will upset the balance in a team – if you’re not doing well then it’s not such a big deal but if your team is as rampant as Blues currently then the last thing you want to do is to rock the boat.

Tuesday sees the team go back up the M1 to face Leeds United at Elland road as they enter into another punishing period of games. Furthermore, with Blues now in the fifth round of the FA Cup the away game against Leicester City will now have to be moved into an already congested Spring programme. It’s going to be interesting to see how they cope with it.

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10 Responses to “Rampant Blues”

  • Dirty Bertie says:

    Just KRO boys.

  • Bluehobba says:

    Great to see the goals coming from players that are trying to prove themselves in the starting eleven. What confidence they must have now!!

  • bluenoseneil says:

    Chelsea away…..piece of cake lads!!! KRO

  • Tony Knight says:

    Chris Hughton, Arsene Wenger , ‘Arry Redknapp, Gus Poyet and Alex (The GHT) McLeish sitting in a pub .Wenger goes and buys the first round of drinks , Boas second , Redknapp 3rd , Gus Poyet 4th and then Chris Hughton buys the next but McLeish complains “Where’s mine ?!” Chris Hughton replies “Sorry Pal, this is the 5th round and your not in it “…

  • Rich says:

    You know, the way things are going, it wouldn’t surprise me if got a result at The Bridge. Or am I travelling on a magic carpet of blind optimism?

  • parkp says:

    I dont think iv ever known a blues squad that is so close knit, this is why the team is on such a good run, CH can rotate his players from game to game and still get the same performance levels. Im enjoying this season and confident blues will, at least, reach Wembley, to contest a play off final.

  • jazzzy786 says:

    Great to see optimistic fans for a change. Still laughing from the Villa losing from being 2-0 up

  • Denis Thwaites says:

    I agree that the ITV highlights show was biased towards the more fashionable games but let’s face it we were normally shown last on MOTD when we were in the Prem even when we got a result. Perhaps its as well to keep us out of the limelight until Wednesday when the transfer deadline passes! 4 of the 8 games will be shown on TV for the 5th round. I think we may get picked as one of the ESPN ones. Having watched saturdays game we only had 4 shots on target and scored 4 goals. I can’t remember the last time Blues were so clinical and this was backed up by a defence that playing as a unit for now looks rock solid. Caldwell and Davies as a pairing are the perfect fit with the latter for me now as good as any centre half in the country. Central mid which for the first part of the season was a problem area is no longer a problem. Fahey and N’Daw had started to look the part but now we have any two from four if you add Mutch and Gomis to the mix both of whom played their part Saturday. With Elliot slotting in nicely and Burke a constant threat there is a good balance whoever wears the shirt. I had a bit of a pop at Colin Calderwood a few weeks ago saying Blues had gone defensive since he came on board. I am happy to eat humble pie now. He appears to have helped us defensively but now we are a threat at the other end too. We just have to KRO


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