Poetry of Motion, Forward and Up

It matters not how strait the gate,
How charged with punishments the scroll,
I am the master of my fate:
I am the captain of my soul.

William Ernest Henley was twenty six years old when Birmingham City FC was established and i doubt the esteemed poet would have thought his words would be used in connection to a closing season for a North East football club. Newcastle United FC face the Brummy Army this weekend with three games left in a season plagued by injuries and debate knowing six points from their final three games would cement a top ten finish and persuade the likes of Joey Barton and Jose Enrique that we are moving forward and are not a selling-club.

Enrique’s recent comments were merited, a contract of significance is deserved for a player who stuck by the club through relegation and who is capable of earning his keep at a more esteemed European team. The return of Alan Smith is pleasant but one wonders will he flit away just like Luque, Viana, Robert and the soon to be Derby County signing Michael Owen.

The success or Alex McLeish in guiding Birmingham into Europe and to League Cup success is nothing to be sniffed at and surely something we must rise to in the coming seasons. The cobwebs of the Magpies trophy nest hopefully will be wiped clean with time and with Pardew’s murmurs of new recruits, a few more may be joining the flock. The players in question are primarily French based and have a proven track record in Ligue 1 however that does not mean they will be a success in the Premier League. David Bellion, Phillipe Christanval, Florent Sinama Pongolle and Didier Digard to name but a few all were a total disaster on English soil with our own Jean-Alain Boumsong not fairing too well either. However Birmingham comes first and the lack of fire power excuse against liverpool will hopefully lead to more space for the midfield to bolster our non too impressive strike force. Three games to go and the true masters of fate and captains of soul must rise to the occasion and drive the Toon Army over the line.