Tuesday

Tuesday
It was a London weekend and we were privileged to stay with friends and lifelong Blues Raymond and Chrissie down in the Smoke.
Evening nosh was in a restaurant – we passed a table where John McCririck the horse racing bloke was tucking in and after we’d sat down the legend that is Bruce Welch of The Shadows sat on the next table with his nutty mate and two lovely ladies. Naturally I couldn’t resist asking for his auto on the only bit of paper I had which was on the back of the photo of me and Ben Kingsley as kids in 1949 which I carry round just in case I bump into him which of course I never ever do. (I also carry my letter to the MEN re Oasis but I never see them at games these days either!) So I had a bit of a daft chat about Miss You Nights, karaoke and stuff and Bruce was quite impressed with the photo of me and Ben (and I think he liked me!!) He looked very impressive, younger even than Cliff, but I didn’t tell him that, was a decent fella and I thanked him for being nice to nutty me and Raymond. “You were embarrassing, I was cringing “ Sue said afterwards but I didn’t care. So that makes it three pop/rock stars I’ve ever met. The other two being Mick Hucknall “you look just like him” I said, and Foreigner who I paid to meet backstage pre gig (and post Lou Gramme) at the Apollo a couple of years back – “ how do you preserve your voice” I asked the LG replacement then forgot what he told me. (Jason Bonham was the drummer)
And so to Arsenal. Watched the first quarter of an hour of the rags. Rooney should have been booked, they got a pen from a Young offside dive and the QPR player was sent off. Fuck me, could it be any more obvious? Corruption, no more, no less. Outside the Ems Dermot Gallagher walked past, John Stapleton and his lad bought a zine and told me that Brucie was his next door neighbour. “Give him my regards”
So to the usual lowpoint of the trip, the match. Haven’t seen MOTD but there were various fouls by Arsenal, and first booking as usual to City. No booking at all for the twat who put Ya ya out of the game. Outrage at Mario for the foul on Song but couldn’t see much wrong with his two 'tackles' for yellows and if the overhead had gone in he would have been a hero. KOTK crew decided months ago if he got a yellow he should be taken off in future just in case. So we were battered to be honest. Well done to Joe, Vinny and Joleon for coming over and throwing their shirts into the away crowd. Those lads knew just how much it meant to Blues fans.
Good run home but the title now seems definitely lost and we must make sure we hang on to second place.
Everton and Newcastle strengthened in January, we did nothing though the 'what if scenario' indicated we needed cover in attack and defence. I don’t give a fuck about FFP at this stage, break the bank (as there are no Academy players coming through) make the signings, win the league, then worry about it later. We won’t get a better chance.
Tomorrow it’s West Brom and it is by no means a formality, but we need to bounce back. Here’s the It’s A Fix extract: GAME 33) WEDNESDAY APRIL 11TH WBA (HOME) KO 7.45 PM
The Baggies celebrate their second season in the Prem (this time) Trophyless now since winning the F A Cup in 1968, Recent connection, Ishmael Miller (now at Forest) 130th League meeting

This season so far : At The Hawthorns in December it was a 0-0 draw, Mario’s goal being wrongly disallowed for offside, Crowd was 25, 938 with 2560 Blues and the home crowd were delighted with the result also gloating at the rags win
They’re currently in 13th place with 39 points from 32 games and 6 wins 4 draws and 6 losses away.
In the Carling Cup they won at Bournemouth 4-1 but lost at Everton 2-1 in the 4th round.
In the FA Cup they beat Cardiff 4-2 at home in the 3rd round but lost 2-1 at home to Norwich in the 4th.

Our form at home to West Brom : At COMS in February it was a 3-0 City win, Carlos getting a hat-trick with goals in the 17th pen, 22nd, and 36th pen minutes. Crowd was 46,846 with 2244 Baggies.
Prior to that it was 8 wins, 4 draws 1 loss (1-2 in 02/03),
Once again it’s a game which on current form should give us all three points and we need revenge for the 0-0 draw, and to regain the momentum.

Comment : A reasonable season so far for Woy’s boys, and they’ve accounted for two managers – Mick M after the 5-1 Wolves defeat and AVB after the 1-0 Chelsea defeat. Peter Osemwingie’s hit form with 9 goals so far.
Away form has been good and on their day they can give anyone a game, but surely not us today?

WWTWTWShite? Crowds were down to an average of 9,134 in 1986/87, this season they’re averaging 24,631.
Dave