Watto’s Preview: Birmingham City vs Everton

This match has that ‘big’ feel about it, which I’m sure the Everton fans, players and management are also aware. Everton are on a magnificent run and only have the cup defeat by Blues since the New Year blemishing a record which has seen their manager receiving the Manager of the month for February. David Moyes has grown on me over the years although that penalty shoot out manipulation that he came up with when manager of Preston and the ball boys disappearing in a later fixture after they went a goal up, still rankles. There are so many managers about who talk absolute garbage that the straightforward talking of our own Boss and the likes of David Moyes is refreshing. Moyes is maturing and his post match interview after the Cup defeat was honest and to the point.

This fixture is a proper Premiership tie between two clubs whose immediate ambitions are to break in to that level which is just below the ‘top four’. These clubs are free from relegation worries and have ambitions of Europe and Cup wins. Blues are very new to this and are surprised to find themselves in such exalted company. Everton see that as their natural environment and are seeking to get back their after a poor first half of the season.

The Boss is always trying to keep the fans expectation at a sensible level to protect him and the fans from falling short of that expectation. If Blues win it will put them 4 points clear of the Toffees and could see them rise a place into seventh. That seventh spot is likely to warrant inclusion in the Europa League. Blues still have to play the teams immediately above them and soon the Media have to start considering Blues as contenders.

Blues with the great win at Portsmouth on Tuesday have put their season back on track. The fact that Alex did everything that I suggested in my preview for that game has not gone unnoticed. The 12 matches in which Blues were unchanged helped the momentum and the consistency. Now the 30+ legs are showing signs of creaking and Blues were without Carr, Phillips and Bowyer at Fratton Park. The fact that Craig Gardener and Michel stepped in so effectively was testimony to the Boss’s forward thinking and planning.

The side had more energy about it and played with a much higher tempo than of late. The New Year signings may well keep their places for this game and it will be interesting to see Michel compared to Arteta . The Spaniards were both brought to Britain by Alex Mcleish and it’s likely that he sees the same qualities in the two players. The Fans of Blues will hopefully turn up for this fixture. The Cup run is now over and the Johnny come latelys will probably disappear until the next sniff of glory. This is the first of 11 Cup finals in which if Blues are successful it will open the gate to better things than a rip off day at the FA’s folly in Brent.

By Alan Watton

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