lookupsport

Well the Premiership promition race took another twist last night with Birmingham slipping up at Carrow road and now just a couple of points separating the top 4 clubs. 

I would personally like to see Birmingham bounce back and Sunderland.  Sorry all you Geordie Boys. 

Birmingham I like because as a Pompey fan I felt they were really unlucky to go down last year, and I like and rate Steve Bruce as a manager.  He has done well with a limited budget and I think promotion would also be the pat on the back for the board for sticking with him when they were relegated.  Many other clubs could learn from that example - Man City take note.  Good teams are built with stability and all too often the board, who are often reluctant to spend money are the first to blame the manager for not being able to produce a world class team on a tiny budget.  Look at the clubs  that consistently finish in the top 6 of the Premiership and the length of time their managers have been in place (Chelski are the exception of course).  Also look at Charlton post Curbishley - for years they probably over acheived and are now struggling to avoid relegation.

Sunderland I would like to see go up because they are a huge club with  a massive fan base that deserve to be in the top flight.  Also, I like Niall Quinn and although I never liked Keane as a player, I always respected the job he did at United.  He has gone on to earn respect as a manager with a no nonsense approach.  I would love to be a fly on the wall at some of the team talks - I bet everybody knows what their role is!  Look at the way he keeps discipline - chasing promotion and still has the nerve to drop 3 key players for missing the team bus.  Word has it though that once punished, come Monday morning it’s all forgotten and business as usual.  Uncompromising on the field and uncompromising in management, he has always set himself the highest of standards and is now doing the same for his players.  His attitude will no doubt turn average players into good players and will take him and them a long way.

Whatever happens, one thing for sure the race to the finish looks to be an exciting and close one - probably more so than the race for the Premiership title.

Fraser

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