United were pretty dreadful during their away draw against Birmingham last season, with an own goal saving us following a dismal performance. Still, Birmingham denied Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool and Spurs the three points at St. Andrews after enjoying a very successful return to the Premiership, so there was certainly no shame in dropping points there.
Kevin Ball, owner of popular Birmingham blog, Joys and Sorrows, has spoken to me about how he felt last season went and what he hopes for this season.
Scott the Red: Were you happy with your team’s performance last season?
Kevin Ball: Last year was beyond expectations, we set a new record for clean sheets and a new record for an unbeaten run in the top flight. We also had out highest finish since the 50′s.
STR: Even had you not just been promoted again, finishing 9th would be a strong finish, so you rightly should be chuffed. So where do you want to go from that this season?
KB: Hmm, difficult. I think most will be considering a mid-table finish, however the 2nd season is usually more difficult. As a result staying up is our first target. Anything beyond that is good!
STR: And who do you anticipate being your most important player in helping you stay up this season?
KB: Good question. Last year our back 5, including keeper, were amazing, but the J&S man of the season was Barry Ferguson. He was a rock in midfield who always seemed to have time on the ball. I’m sure he’ll figure this year. With a change of keepers, your old boy Foster, I would imagine that could be a difficult one so Dann and Johnson will be key again in the middle of the defence.
STR: You’ve got a former Fergie player as your keeper and another former Fergie player as your manager. How do you rate McLeish’s ability to take your club forward?
KB: Again good question, getting better all the time. I wasn’t 100% sure when we went down, but now he has really begun to prove himself. I like his manner too. He’s always prepared to give credit to the opposition and never slags off our own side – but will admit when we haven’t been good enough.
STR: What’s your favourite chant you’ve heard sung at your ground?
KB: I wasn’t there, but the “Let’s all do the Wenger” against Arsenal when the fans stood up waving their arms around.
STR: Can’t knock anyone who takes the piss out of Wenger! So, where do you think United will finish this season?
KB: First or second. It will depend on whether Chelsea can re-produce the same form as last season. If they do, you’ll be 2nd.
STR: You think? I thought Chelsea were pretty crap by champion standards, with the lowest points total since 2003. Anyway, if you could have any two players from United’s current squad playing for you, who would they be?
KB: Any of your midfield or attackers, I’m not fussy!
STR: What are your thoughts on United’s debt?
KB: I guess it’s all relative. Pompey had problems because they didn’t really have any value. United are known all over the world, and so have huge value. Having said that it must be a concern.
STR: Yeh, you could say that! So, what is your favourite game your club have played against United?
KB: Ha ha, it has to be when we were at the bottom of Div 1 in the 1978/9 season. We went 1-0 down and came back to win 5-1. I think Given did the damage for us. Failing that the 2-2 draw at your place that Jasper Carrott does one of his sketches on!
STR: What is your worst game your club have played against United?
KB: We’ve always done pretty well even in defeat, so I can’t think of one! Sorry!
STR: Alright mate. Thanks a lot and all the best for the season… apart from against us!
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Sounds like a sensible chap. I quite like Birmingham and hope they do well next year. And I really hope Ben Foster has a great season to prove his critics wrong.
Ley’s all do the Wenger La la la laaaaaaaaa
loll
I’ve a feeling Birmingham will do well again this coming season. McLeish is a good manager and he his most certainly steering the ship in the right direction. I wish them all the best.
First half at Birmingham wasn’t that bad I felt. We held the ball very well and we lost a couple of good chances. And this was a against a Birmingham team at their very best. The problem on that day(and one that I was dreading with every passing minute) was that if they attacked us, Brown and Evans would struggle. And on their first attack, they scored a soft goal. The game became a bit crazy in the second half and in the end we hadto thank PIG for picking up a point!
Good interview by the way. Loved the Wenger chant.
Big Eck will do ok for Birmingham.
You lot should be thinking of making a last minute bid for that Barry Ferguson fella to paper over your wafer thin midfield. With the squad we’ve got we will blow you lot out of the water. City rulesss!
Guys, you know im not one to read into things or get ahead of stuff too much but..
probably the biggest indication yet..
last night, Ozil posted this on his twitter page..
“The Road to Success is to BELIEVE”
Believe. Thats a United Battle Cry
Heres the link
http://twitter.com/officialoezil
Hey guys, i wana make my way down to wembley on thursday to see rooney play, as the 3 times i’ve seen united live hes been injured!! do you guys think hes likely to start against hungary on wednesday? Thanks guys
I hope Birmingham sign Camoranesi, he’s a wonderful player. Not many Old Slow Italian Bastards that are as effective as him still. Nice to see him in the prem.
Off-topic… SSN are reporting Welbeck is off to Sunderland on loan
and does anybody know what the fuck’s happened to Patrice?
Warning and apologies: I am of-topic (again)
But I just came off another Utd. blog and my blood boils at what some of those bastards write.
Question to everybody – What would you call a humanoid that describes Paul Scholes as “an old fart”?
a. A dipper twat
b. A blue twat
c. A sorry cunt
d. A Man Utd. fan
Bastards…feel like sticking something rather sharp up their collective arse
@Scott the Red
I always thought that it was really ashame that we dropped points there. Just imagine if we hadn’t!!!!
Dropping points in matches like this, where we usually do well, cost us dearly at the end.
united for life, wayne rooney will start the game.. as he needs minutes of the pitch to be fit for newcastle game… along with all the other world cup players
@ Callum Patrice is at Carrington. He only just started training as he was given an extra week off after the other world cup lads. That’s why he wasnt in Dublin.
cheers RA.
@Scott and Xyth,
The dropped points at Birmingham proved a real problem in the end. But the reflections
on that day really show how sad a state we were in, our defense was on very shaky grounds and we
weren’t putting things away. If anyone had told you at the beginning of last season that Chelskie would finish with 86 points, most would have been pretty confident in our chances. By comparison, the Cheesekie boys put up 103 goals, a record I believe. Losing happens, but we just don’t want to make a habit of it. Just put last season down to a battle lost, and move forward. With the defense back and a some real class up front things look really really good. Roll on #19.
@Sky Blue Forever
You’ll have other things to worry about than the matches against us this season, let alone our midfield. While I love beating you wannabes into the dirt, you’ll need to be worried about getting a champions league spot to make all your overpaid players happy. Liverpool, Tottenham, and Everton will not hand you fourth place, and I’m afraid its not for sale either. I’m predicting a 5th place finish again for your “team,” and all the public humiliation that will come with it. Enjoy the Europa League forever Sky Blue.
Another great one on one, with what sounds a balanced lad.
I wont go into a anti Alec Mcleish rant it serves no purpose and it is most certainly very biased.
I never understood when he got that job at Birmingham it made no sense.Credit to him with buying journeyman players like a finished Ferguson(maybe something to prove/Blackburn).In my opinion way to slow.Plus he is a greeting fissed wee soor twat. lol
His team are filled with Journeyman if I can recall.Agressive dirty and not frightened to leave the boot in.
Chinese money may help them, but from my knowledge when he starts spending big and has got a purse he aint got a fucking clue.
As the Birmingham lad indicates who would he take from Uniteds ranks any midfielder or attacker, that was his reply.Says volumes Mcleish all over no flair ambition or attacking potency.My tip to struggle all season. Be lucky to get out the bottom 5.
United 4 life – mate I see you’ve posted that comment on every story lol, but unless Fabio Capello goes on RoM I don’t think you’ll be getting an answer ‘cos quite frankly I don’t have a fucking clue!
I suggest browsing the england-related sports news for pre-match speculation etc. Or, better yet, I’d advise not wasting your money on what could be one of the most pointless, boring, most miserable games of our time! If you wanna see Rooney your better off getting a ticket to OT, I hear it’s easier than it used to be….
@ Sky Blue Forever – After what we did to you last season I’d have thought you lot would’ve learnt not to come on here shooting your mouths off. It’s the same old shit every fucking year since you became a rich Arab’s new toy and the only thing that changes is the ‘city ticker’ gets one year older. You’re the equivalent of a mid-life-crisis sportscar to a multi-billionaire with poor taste.
You’re a mazda mx-5 with a new body kit and sports suspension but whatever you do to it it’ll never be a fucking ferrari. Put too much power under the bonnet and it’ll just fall apart…
Good read. Pissed my self laughing in the “Lets all do the wenger” hahaha
Journeyman haaa haaa.Agressive dirty and not frightened to leave the boot in.
@REDSCOTT u sound like wenger
That game shouldn’t have even happened last Jan. THE only game bar one to be held.
Why the fuck is a bitter on here? They really are cunts. How has your pre season gone?
Have a lot of respect for McCleish. a decent manager.
McQueen – I wanted to say summat similar to the lad about the Ingerlund game but I couldn’t have put it better.
@Blue Nose 24 Maik Taylor 39, Stephen Carr 34, Lee Bower 33,Kevin Phillips 37, Barry Ferguson 32, Marcus Bent 32.
Do I pray explain why?? lol
Strange Redscot sees us as a team of journeyman. Why do so many Celtic and Rangers players get their agents to tout their arses around our club, if we are such an undesirable prospect. Why would most SPL players rather play for Brum than any scottish team??….
Bottom 5?..I wish we could meet up for a wager, I would gladly steal your dole money!.