April 17 2005

Iain Dowie

Hoarse of throat but not low in spirit, Jamesey reflects on our survival odds after the 3-3 draw with Norwich (Apr 16).

At the start of the season, I wrote in this column that I expected CPFC to be relegated in May because I couldn't see IAIN DOWIE working two miracles in a row - getting us up and keeping us up.

My remarks were widely misconstrued as over-pessimistic but I will reserve my final comments on the season when the portly diva vocalises.

I also said that our current campaign could be even worse then the Premier League "nine months of misery" (quote from the Mighty Coppell) we endured in 97-98.

That has certainly not been the case, I admit.

Although, as I write, we are still bottom but one, there are still grounds for hope, not least encouraged by our second half rally against the Canaries, when we were dogged, passionate and determined.

When we went 3-1 down we might have collapsed, like we did at Everton the previous week at Goodison Park.

But no, we are still battling, unlike 97-98 when, if memory serves me right, we were already relegated with four games to go at this stage of the season.

Added to this are the facts that despite some bad results, there have been quite a few praiseworthy performances to enjoy - need I even mention Tottenham, Arsenal and Man U at home?

There is little to recall with any satisfaction from 97-98. We had a chairman who lived in a fantasy world and a foreign player acquisition policy that defied all rational explanation.

Now we have a highly rated and innovative manager who has surrounded himself with excellent staff and, as far as we can tell, made the very best of what he has been able to afford.

So after a Boro depression at home (0-1) and an even worse depression after Everton away (4-0), I am personally buoyed up by the Canary conclusion.

Okay, one point does not a celebration make... but the spirit and application of CPFC was magnificent.

We shall see...

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