Twenty games into the season, and Blues sit in the lofty position of 8th place in the league. Our rise has been dreamlike; there is always one promoted club which threatens to make an impact when promoted, and this time, it's Blues' time to shine.
It is that time where fans reflect on how the season has started for their club, and Bluenoses are no different. It has been a season of two halves for the club, with some oustanding performances along the way. Here are my awards for the season to date...

Best Keeper - Joe Hart
Quite simply, Joe Hart has been fantastic this term. He started off like a fish out of water, refusing to catch the ball, instead choosing to punch and leaving the fans on edge. Murmurs of discontent flowed from the stands. Certain sections of St Andrews called for the return of Maik Taylor, and the match against Man City gave the experienced keeper the chance to regain the number one spot. He performed well, but McLeish kept faith with Joe Hart for the next game up at Anfield and the rest is history.
Hart grew into his role as number one and now he is in a position where he has saved Blues a number of points over recent weeks. Some of his saves have been miraculous, and world-class. I believe that the recent good run of form has helped Hart to regain his confidence in his abilities, and he now inspires confidence in his defence infront of him. They can trust him to come and collect in dangerous situations, just like the one against Chelsea where he was on the end of Kalou's studs. Hart was left with stitches, but also a lot of plaudits. If Blues can sign this kid, then they will be signing England's future number one. Guarenteed.

Best Defender - Roger Johnson
What a man. It is always said that the step-up from Championship to Premier League football is one of the hardest around, but Roger Johnson has stepped-up with a level of excellence thought to be beyond his powers. He is not afraid to put his head where it hurts, and his determination has been a joy to watch from the stands. He is a fans' player, if ever there has been one, and he leads from the front.
His leadership skills are evident throughout any game, and he comes into his own when the team are defending. When the opposition are given a corner, Johnson is given a free role to try and clear the ball, and he can be seen standing back and barking instructions at his teammates to stave off the threat posed by the opponents.
A braveheart, he refuses to give in, even when injury restricts his powers, and he has been an absolute sensation.

Best Midfielder - Lee Bowyer
Past it. Unable to be the box-to-box midfielder he once was. In it for the money.
What a load of old tosh. Lee Bowyer has been a revelation for the side since his arrival last January, adding experience and an enthusiasm to go from box-to-box that has often been missing in Blues' play.
One thing that we have lacked at St Andrews for a number of years has been a midfielder who is not afraid to have a go, scoring the odd goal here or there. We got so much more than we wished for...Lee Bowyer is the top scorer for the side, and his performances have rolled back the years. Not since his time at Leeds has Bowyer looked any better, and a series of goals has resulted in Blues' ability to turn 0-0 draws into battling 1-0 success stories.
His character has clearly mellowed since he was a hot-heated youngster, and he has gained windespread praise for his performances.

Best Striker - Cameron Jerome
Goalscoring has been a problem for Blues this term, but one man who has impressed is Cameron Jerome. After a half-decent start, injury restricted Jerome's contribution for the first month and a half, as Blues encountered a run of mixed results. Jerome returned to the side for the trip to Arsenal, and since that defeat, he has been everpresent in the team that has gone a monumental 11 games unbeaten. Jerome and Benitez have hurried and hastled defences wherever Blues have gone, with the Englishman impressing in particular. Jerome has forced his game onto his opponents.
What's more, he's added a fair few goals to his game. Granted, they have been tap-ins most of the time, but his second against Blackburn and that goal at Anfield oozed class. It seems that McLeish may finally be getting the best out of a young player with bags of potential and pace to burn. The Duracell Bunny is learning all the time.

Best Goal - Cameron Jerome vs Liverpool
Firstly, let me just say, did ANYONE see it coming? Thought not.
What a strike. Jerome took the ball down well, and turned, leaving Mascherano in his wake. He found himself 35-40 yards from goal, but what happened next came straight out of the blue. Jerome unleashed an absolutely ferocious shot that flew through the air and dipped under the crossbar and into the back of the net.
It was a fantastic strike and it gave Blues a 2-1 lead at Anfield, and it was a goal which gave the team and fans a great deal of confidence. Blues did belong in the Premier League. We could compete with the very best.
We all know what happened next, with David N'Gog staking his claim for a place in the French Diving Team for the Olympics, but that did not take the gloss off what was a phenomenal strike.

Best Performance - Chelsea (home)
Special mention for the second-half performance at Wigan
During the recent unbeaten run, Blues have performed beyond their means, and it has been a joy to behold. There have been strong performances at Anfield and at Old Trafford, while the gritty victory at the Brittania stadium was extremely important for McLeish's men. However, there were two stand-out team performances for me, and they both showed the character within this Blues side.
The 3-2 away victory at Wigan showed Blues fans that there was something special about this side. Often in the past, when away from home, Blues would go behind and then fold, losing 2-0 or 3-0 to the opposition. However, after going 1-0 down, Blues perked up, and the comeback was absolutely superb. The second-half performance was sensational and the team would have run out 3-1 victors if it was not for a pin-point perfect free-kick by Gomez in stoppage time.
...But that wasn't the best. Not for me, anyway.
The home performance against Chelsea once again sent a message to the rest of the League that this was no ordinary side. The team battled, hurried and hassled the best side in the League, and if it was not for a dodgy decision by the linesman, Blues would have recorded a famous victory against the Champions elect. The team refused to give in, and while they relied on the keeper Joe Hart to make some fabulous saves, Blues deserved all the luck that came there way...and then some.
It was a truly splendid performance and one that finally made the pundits sit up and take notice. For weeks, our unbeaten run had been played off as nothing but a minor purple patch, and it was expected that order would soon be restored. However, this result showed the pundits (ahem Alan Hansen) that Alex McLeish really has built a side full of quality, grit, determination and a refusal to give in, whoever the opposition. It doesn't matter who you are, how much you earn or how big your house is, when you take to the field, you're nothing if you aren't committed. And McLeish's men are most certainly committed.

Best Game - Liverpool 2-2 Birmingham City
Special mention for the second-half performance at Wigan 2-3 Blues
While Blues' best performance came at home to Chelsea, the best game this season is a toss-up between the exciting victory against Wigan and the thrilling tie at Anfield. While Wigan were on top during the first half, Blues turned around and hit Wigan back...three times.
On the other hand, the game at Anfield was a real battle. Blues' rearguard action was a sight to behold, and even under pressure from Benitez's team and the 40-thousand, the defence refused to give way.
It was a game that had everything, and in the end, it took a dive from a Frenchman and a blind referee to "rescue" a point against the newly-promoted side for the Top 4 side.

Turning Point in The Season - Arrival of the Chinese
When the news of the takeover spread, scepticism lingered in the air. Why did he come back? Why now? Where's the money?
However, all questions were soon banished by the first press conference that took place. The new owners insisted that this time they were here to stay and that they had the best interests of the fans at heart. While fans were not entirely convinced, early schemes such as a the review of the ticketing structure brought relief from certain sections of St Andrews. Since the owners have come in, the side have gone on the phenomenal run of form. It is clear that the arrival of the Chinese helped no-end to lift the doom and gloom that has resided over St Andrews for too long.
With the January transfer-window looming large on the horizon, Carson Yeung has promised Alex McLeish a £40 million transfer budget, and while I do not expect McLeish to use it all, it is a clear sign that Yeung wants Blues to improve. No more is survival the status quo. Yeung wants Blues to get into Europe...and not just for pre-season.

Man of the (half) season - 3rd Lee Bowyer
It has been a tremendous season to-date for the experienced midfielder. As I have already said, he has been reborn under Alex McLeish's stewardship, scoring crucial goals in tight games. He has made sure that Blues have gone from lower mid-table candidates to an outside bet for Europe (yes, I said it.) He has been so impressive that many Bluenoses will look with surprise that he is only 3rd in this particular award category.

Man of the (half) season - 2nd Barry Ferguson
This one may be slightly out of the blue. However, since he arrived on the scene, Barry Ferguson has stood out as the man who has made Blues tick. He takes the ball off the defence and turns, in a bid to set up a new attack.
Initially, he looked to play one-two's in a small area with players who weren't as comfortable as Ferguson on the ball, which put Blues in trouble from time-to-time. However, after being consulted by manager Alex McLeish, Ferguson made some slight changes to his game and he has proved his doubters wrong. He fights for every ball and his good performances have allowed the likes of Bowyer and McFadden to push forward and attack. Alex McLeish made some excellent signings during the Summer, and Ferguson is right up there with the best.

Man of the (half) season - 1st Roger Johnson
Special mention for Scott Dann
To deal with our number one, I think it's appropriate to also praise the player who I would put 4th in this award category. Scott Dann and Roger Johnson have been absolutely phenomenal together, helping Blues to 9 clean sheets, one less than Chelsea. Dann missed the start of the season, but once fit, Dann slotted in to partner Roger Johnson, and since then, neither have looked back.
Critics looked on with scepticism as Alex McLeish put his faith in two Championship central defenders to keep Blues in the Premier League. Neither had played in the Prem before, while Johnson's only real test had come away to Arsenal in the FA Cup the year before.
Just like the majority of the Blues side, no-one could tell whether the pair would be hit or miss. However, they have both stepped up to the plate, putting their bodies on the line for the cause. In terms of blocking opposition shots, Blues are number one in the table and that is thanks to the tireless work of the defenders. They don't know when they're beaten, standing toe-to-toe with the likes of Gerrard, Drogba and Tevez, unfazed and determined. Ferdinand and Vidic, Bruce and Pallister, Dann and Johnson.

Best New Addition - Roger Johnson
You run out of superlatives for Johnson. Simply fantastic.

One To Watch - Scott Dann
Dann took a bit of time to adapt to the Premier League after missing the start of the season, but he has gone from strength to strength since then. He is calm and composed in possession, and one pass against Blackburn confirmed the youngster's growing confidence. On the half-way line, he collected the ball and played a sumptuous ball over the top of the defence and through for Seb Larsson, who's header went just over the bar. It was a hard ball to pick out and the execution was even harder, but Dann was up to the challenge.
He said recently that Blues fans are still yet to see the best of him, and if that's true, I for one cannot wait to see what else the youngster has in his locker.

One To Sell - Marcus Bent
A donkey.
Next?

Sum the Season up - We Are Unbeatable, I said...
No-one could have predicted our start to the season. It has been beyond our wildest dreams and it has been a joy to behold. Our side are performing beyond their means, and at present, nothing can faze them, and nothing can beat them. Any day, any challenge, any team; all met with the same resounding response.
This is our time.

If 2010 is anywhere near as good as 2009 was, then Bluenoses can look forward with excitement.
A promotion, new owners, the 11 game unbeaten run and one of the best starts to a Premier League seasons that we've ever seen.
Fantastic.