Well, not to sound too bragadocious but my "Bolton 2-1 Birmingham. Klasnic to leave the Reebok on a high, netting on his final appearence" prediction is looking pretty good.(It looks even better in my account I assure you).
It's always nice to finish with a win. A good win too. The atmosphere fluttered between party and meaningless pre-season throughout the game. The Birmingham fans came in their droves and in their costumes. Among them; a chicken, several smurfs and of course Pamela Anderson (we'll get onto 'her' later).
The game itself was quite enjoyable. A few contentious decisions. We had at least one stonewall penalty. Birmingham had a goal ruled out-and about half the team booked.
Jussi made a great double save before James "Matty Taylor wannabe" McFadden bundled the ball over the line. A mere consolation goal after our strike duo Super Kev and Ivan Klasnic put us ahead.
Former Brummie Fabrice Muamba controlled the midfield. He has come a long way from the player he was last season and is my pick for the BWFC player of the season. If he could pass he'd be in the England squad.
Another who has shown remarkable improvement, ex-Villian, Zat Knight gave a towering performance at the back, dealing with the aeriel threat of Cameron Jerome.
But the vital goal was saved for that man again, Ivan Klasnic. The Bolton fans chant 'Coyle Coyle sign him up' at every opportunity and according to the most recent reports, the gaffer is looking at the possibility.
It would of course make sense. What he lacks in fitness or work rate, he more than makes up for in pure goal threat, something we have lacked since Anelka departed.
A beautiful strike past England hopeful Joe Hart only underlined what Bolton fans already knew about the Croat. The man knows how to score goals-at any level. If he can be bought for anything less than 3M, and according to most sources he can, then he is a must this summer.
With no disrespect to Birmingham, because they have been very good this season, but we have now taken six points off them, and looking up at them in 9th, I know we have the quality, just not the consistancy to be there. Under Coyle though we have looked much better at home against the teams around us, wins against everyone in the bottom half we have played(save a 0-0 against Fulham-and we won that one, thanks Clattenburg!)
Most of the Birmingham fans did well to create a good atmosphere. Maybe this is giving away what sort of season we've had, but 'Pamela' running on the pitch and in typical baywach fashion giving Joe Hart a big slo-mo hug will surely go down as one of the moments of the season.
Unfortunetly a few Birmingham fans, and a few Bolton fans it has to be said, let themselves down at the end. I narrowly missed a coin to the face myself and was not happy. However I can understand some of the frustrations of the Birmingham fans. The heavy handed policing is a bug bear of mine. Plenty Birmingham fans were kicked out for being drunk, as long as they are not causing any problems, I don't see this as a 'throw out-able' offence- and if you have to, just escort them out quickly and with as little fuss- something the police failed to do.
All that said, I had an enjoyable day, and I hope the Birmingham fans did too. I look forward to playing them next season.
Now we move on to the craziness of the summer transfer window, and of course the World Cup. I will be keeping an eye on the progress of the Wanderers lads over the summer and blogging here in my 'World Cup watch'.
As always, stay tuned.
COME ON YOU WHITE MEN!!!
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