Birmingham City: Contenders for Europe?
At the start of the season everyone would have laughed at any suggestion that Birmingham City would be 9th in the Premier League approaching the halfway stage.
That's the situation though, Blues with a very solid defence and a firm resillience sit in 9th position.
And understandably the Bluenoses on our messageboard are delirious, and even talking about Europe!
Here's what they have been saying:
SmallHeathAlliance: Obviously would rather be in the Champions League, but we would have to be odds on favourites in the Europa
Tilton1875: West Ham and Blackburn - Win both and we could be above the so called Champions League challengers down the road!!!
Their next 2 are Man Utd and Sunderland away!!!!
Europa League I feel would be an awe inspiring achievement for a newlypromoted club. I believe Ipswich and Blackburn are the only clubs inabout 25 years to go up and then qualify for Europe through leagueplacing in the very next season.
Personally I feel it could havea negative affect so soon into the tenure as it's a little too soon toget carried away. Then again if the opportunity comes you take it.
Ifwe win our next 2 home games we will have 27 points from this point onI believe we can forget looking over our shoulders because we will besafe as far as I am concerned.
The key element to all these goodresults and the continuation is that it becomes drammatically easier toattract players in January.
Jovanovic, Dzeko and Grafite areplayers that you stand no chance of attracting if you are cannonfodder. If we are in top 8 when the window opens you then tell theplayers that Europe is your aim. Nothing worse than a player signing a4 year deal for a club in January and wondering if he has to move houseagain in MAY!!
The Vile8r: I read twice last week in the national papers suggestions that Blues could become contenders for a place in the top seven .
AlthoughI would love to see us play in the Europa cup I am (TRYING ) to keep myfeet firmly on the ground and be happy with a mid table finish oravoiding relegation .
Having said that I am sure the new ownerswould back the club with money if we did qualify and they would make aserious challenge .
BluesBrothersUK: Although like everyone else I am excited by the recent form lets notget carried away after all we still have not reached Christmas or 40points I would still be happy with survival anything else is a hugebonus well done the boys lets keep it going KRO.
Bald Jim: For me,momentum is everything, as we know winning (or losing) becomes ahabit, I feel if we can keep the momentum going till Jan, then strengthensensibly, there is no reason why a top half finish should be out ofreach, however, I think Europa is a bridge too far, but hey, if it comesalong all the better.
FastEddie: Lets not count our chickens eh, don't forget what happened to Hull lastyear. Lets just enjoy our current form and league position. Survivalwill do, mid table will be excellent, Europa Cup a dream. My ideal willbe safety by March, then we can really enjoy the end of the season.
