Normally, I’m not the kind of person who goes in for braggadocio or the HMS Piss The League memes but truth is, it’s very hard not to in the past few weeks.
Although no transfer fees have been confirmed it’s pretty likely Blues have broken the League One transfer record twice already this summer, and there remains an outside chance it could be busted for a third time should a miracle happen and Blues actually land Jay Stansfield on a permanent transfer.
And as one would expect in the cesspool which is social media, there has been a distinct level of saltiness from fans of other clubs directed at Blues fans online celebrating these transfers.
Whether it’s being told that we’ve got too big for our boots and are going to be humbled by some kind of financial fair play restrictions; or that the boggy pitches of League One grounds in winter are going to humble our fancy dan players, there has been an incredible amount of copium from fans of other teams trying hard to justify why we’re not the team to be worried about.
I have to admit as someone who has been the watchman around Blues finances over the last decade and a half, it’s nice to finally be in a position to point out to fans of other teams that for once we’re not as constrained by the shackles of regulation and finance as we have been in the past.
And while I know pride always comes before a fall, the first 45 minutes against Rangers had me dreaming that this could actually be the season where – to quote a fellow Blues fan on smallheathalliance.com – we could hammer other teams into the ground like tent pegs.
Normally, this is the point in an article on here where I open my eyes, touch grass and remember that this is real life and good things don’t happen to Blues.
It might be the beer coursing through my system while I write this, but right now I don’t want to do that.
At half time on Wednesday evening I was asked by a contact at Blues how I liked the team now.
This is light years from last season #bcfc
— Daniel Ivery (@almajir) July 24, 2024
I’d already tweeted that the first half felt like light years away from last year, and I was honest with them in my answer that I had hope.
Not just hope that we will succeed this year, but hope that the foundations for success in future years have been laid.
And it’s not just what I’m seeing on the pitch either.
We’ve got a stadium which is likely to be full for most games this year.
The pitch looks like a snooker table, the PA system is actually audible and dare I say it, it might even be possible to get served food and drink at half time.
This time last year I was thinking about how we got our club back – and how hopeful I was for the future.
It’s weird, but despite being relegated it’s not a feeling any more, it’s knowledge.
I know we’re on the rise, I know good things are coming our way and I’m excited for where this journey will take us.
For once, I’m not going to temper my enthusiasm; right now I want to drink it all in and bask in the good vibe I’m feeling.
With a bit of luck, this whole season is going to be a good vibe – and come May it’ll be a celebration of triumph at the karaoke bar rather than one of just hope.