For too long, the national media has been far too frantic over London and Northern clubs, and to a degree, quite rightly. Midlands sides have been poor for the last 25 years, with the last time the 'West Midlands Big 4' met up in the top division coming in 1984. However, at times, Midlands sides have understandably become exasperated with pundits. For example, Mark Lawrenson has been adamant that Birmingham have played 4-5-1 throughout the season, which is totally wrong. Wolves fans have been forever sending letters to the BBC questioning the lack of highlights on Match of the Day regarding their team. Admittedly, Hagley-based Adrian Chiles has redressed the balance to an extent, but even with his imminent departure, West Midlands teams look like they will finally be able to stand on their own two feet.
Aston Villa have, despite murmurings of discontent from B6, had a good season, reaching Wembley twice and sustaining their Champions League challenge far longer than before. It looks like they will fall short thanks to the superior spending power of Tottenham and Manchester City, but this season has to represent an improvement on the days of 'Deadly' Doug Ellis and David 'Dreary' O'Leary, when Villa finished in lower mid-table. O'Neill, thanks to his enthusiasm and passion, has attracted many admirers, and Villa's close-season will likely resemble plate-spinning: on the one hand attempting to improve the squad to enrich their Champions League aspirations; on the other keeping hold of O'Neill and the player of the season James Milner.
Over in B9, Birmingham City must be one of the success stories of the Premier League campaign. I, along with other Blues fans, would not have been devastated had McLeish jumped ship after gaining promotion, such was the lack of quality football in the Championship. However, he has proved us all wrong, and his qualities as a man have impressed many, namely his reluctance to criticise referees, and his refusal to lie down, a trait mirrored by his side. For a side only just promoted on the last day, the achievement of not losing at home to the top six is very impressive, and when comparing the achievement of Blues to the relative anonymity of Sheffield United, whom Blues pipped to promotion, you can see the fine lines between success and failure. The only serious black mark which will not go away easily is the surrender to Portsmouth in the FA Cup, when a Wembley appearance was beckoning. The falling away in the second half of the season has emphasised the frailty of the squad, and McLeish must beware second season syndrome.
I doubt many people envisaged Wolves being safe so early. Their surrender of the lead to Birmingham was worrying, and many Wolves fans filled the phone-ins with calls for McCarthy to be sacked. His record in the Premier League before this season was questionable, if not laughable, however his never-say-die attitude which has transmitted towards his players has earned him many supporters, and it looks like McCarthy will finally get a crack at establishing himself as a Premier League manager. All this, from an outsider's point of view, seems to be down to the two players who I would place in any midtable team in the league: Kevin Doyle, and Karl Henry. The impact of Doyle has been well documented, but tenacity is the name of the game for staying in the Premier League, and Henry has this in abundance. He was one of the view players not to meekly surrender at St Andrews this season, and Wolves fans will be indebted to this pair. So it looks like Mick McCarthy, despite his odd voice and similarity to the Professional Yorkshiremen sketch from Monty Python ('ball? You had to kick a rock when I were a lad') will be locking horns with Mcleish and O'Neill again next season.
Speaking of strange voices, West Brom have coped extremely well with the departure of Tony Mowbray, who possessed the most annoying voice in football. Ever. A few Albion fans raised eyebrows when Roberto di Matteo was appointing, but his footballing style (one of the few things the suave Italian must have in common with the North East's Mowbray) has transferred well to the players, and have gained promotion at a canter. But will things be different this time? For so long, Albion have gone straight back down without a fight, and Jeremy Peace, the Albion chairman, surely has a duty to the fans to put his hand in his pocket. However, he has already said that di Matteo will have to be shrewd, so it looks as if Albion may be set for yet another immediate return to the Championship.
Next season should be a cracking year for sides in the West Midlands. We'll have the friendly derby (Albion v Blues), the historical derby (Albion v Villa) and of course the hatred derbies (Blues v Villa/Albion v Wolves) along with many others. For Blues, Albion and Wolves at least, the team that picks up the most points in these matches could be the side to stay up, with the least successful side going down.
No comments:
Post a Comment