Saturdayโs early kick-offs are the scourge of us Fantasy Managers. Iโm convinced that Skyโs 12.45 schedule is accountable for many a hasty transfer, or ill-judged team selection โ prompted by the temptation of actually being able to settle down with a belated fry-up and watch your player(s) in action.
Todayโs early kick-off at St Andrews was another example. Although in Birminghamโs case, our scramble to recruit two or three of their Wembley winners was surely fuelled by the allure of another tempting double fixture. Iโve got to confess however, the prospect of watching Nikola Zigic lumber about St Andrews, colliding with the fragile West Brom backline played a part in my own 11.23 decisions. I had the kettle boiling in preparation.
Suitably seduced, our ardour was immediately dampened by the sight of Zigic hunched under the plastic roof of the Birmingham bench. McLeishโs post-match obituary for his sideโs miserable 3-1 defeat, revealed a groin injury for the towering Serb. Throwing him on would be too risky according to Birminghamโs medical team. You have to wonder why McLeish even named the striker on the bench then โ perhaps he makes a decent wind break.
Without the knowledge of the injury during the game, we were left to watch on, awaiting a Zigic introduction. It looked inevitable as the Birmingham defence repaid our Fantasy investment by flapping and flailing haplessly under the questionable might of West Bromโs attacks. But, hampered by a โrisky groinโ Zigic never arrived.
The Serb looked perplexed. Frustration boiled in the McLeish veins. He should be worried โ Birminghamโs defeat leaves them right in relegation mire. Last Sundayโs trophy will be rendered an almost worthless trinket should they fall any deeper.
Talking of worthless โ what now for Zigic and our Birmingham back four investments? Weโre now looking to Wednesdayโs trip to Goodison with our hopes dependent on Zigicโs groin. Zigicโs bloody groin. That might be six foot off ground but I canโt help but think that, in my Fantasy season, it marks an all-time low.
