The fact that we are unbeaten in six games still left me uncomfortable this week and I know I’m not alone. We’ve had to scrap, ride our luck and grind out results. However, following the poor run up to Christmas, credit where it’s due to SP and the players for turning the ship around.
We’ve now been furthered boosted by the public statements from Joey Barton and Micah Richards pledging their future to Manchester City. Barton distancing himself from the ‘agent provocateur’ that City fans know only too well was refreshing in a week when the Premier League greed machine announced next season’s £625 million bonanza for Premier League clubs. To think what non-league clubs could do with that money, but that’s another story.
Led by SP’s recent defiant interview, the two much sought after players’ comments will give all Blues a lift. They also give an insight into a team spirit which must exist. So many of us have questioned this in the first half of the season. It might be worth considering how long it takes for a team with a new influx of players to gel.
We have good reason to be cheerful this week. If you’d told me that incredible day at Wembley v Gillingham that we would be in the 4th round of the FA Cup and 10th in the Premier League playing at Eastlands in January 2007 I would have settled for that. There have been times in recent years that I’ve unambitiously felt similar!
Certainly, mistakes such as the sanctioning of the Mad Kev spending spree, the wasted money on Robbie Fowler and the ousting of David Bernstein have damaged MCFC and we are still paying the price.
That said, I still want the Chairman and the board to make a statement of solidarity welcoming the intentions of Richards and Barton and giving recognition to the efforts SP has made on an almost non existent transfer budget. Remaining silent only lends further weight to the conspiracy theories that the board want out and will be gutted the likes of our star players are not demanding transfers.
But…for the time being, recent results have created real momentum behind us now and maybe it’s time to start playing some football with our top flight status under less pressure. The form of Daniel Sturridge warrants at least a place on the bench this saturday for starters.
A solid win at the weekend and getting hold of a couple of top quality signings against the odds then we can begin to believe that our season is taking off.
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