Sometimes Stanley wishes he was a gambling man. Even Mrs Stanley sometimes wishes Stanley was a betting man.
Well, at least her terse response to Stanley's match analysis: ?Of course we beat Barnsley, it was an absolute 'given'…? of ?Well 'know-all' if you were so sure City were going to win why didn't you put some money on them?? suggested that to Stanley.
As sure as Stanley was that last Saturday's trip to Leicester would prove to be a fruitless journey, Stanley was just as sure that the visit of Barnsley this weekend would prove fruitful.
Of course Stanley's waters don't always get it right – just ask Dean Coney – but on these two occasions they did and they were. As a result Stan was able to enjoy his post match cuppa sat in front of Ceefax, having witnessed City cross the great physical and spiritual divide into the top half of the table.
Admittedly Saturday wasn't a great performance, but it did nonetheless have some positives. Crofty has been, and continues to be, an absolute revelation, and he put in another non-stop, bundle of energy performance.
The days of getting, at best, 70 minutes out of him seem to be well behind him. He is now proving to be consistently our most potent attacking threat. If he could just start converting some of the chances he gets himself, he'll be well in the frame for a starring role in the brand new, re-built, 'Team Roeder' come August.
Sadly as Crofty's star seems to rise that of the Huckster seems to be on the wane. Stanley's second favourite Canary of all time, behind his lordship Sir Robert Fleck, is coming to the end of what will no be doubt his last season in the sacred yellow jersey.
Hucks might not be having a vintage season, but Stanley reckons there's still a vintage Hucks moment left in him. Stoke at home mid-week, beneath the Carra Rud floodlights, or maybe on 'putting out the bin day' way down south for Stanley's money. Then it will be off in to the sunset for the once upon a time fastest gun in the east.
Huck's approaching sojurn from the hurly-burly of the Championship is in stark contrast to Alex Pearce. As debuts go, as good as you could hope for.
This most certainly won't be the last season for this young man, not simply a promising youngster, but one that actually delivers the goods already. Shacks may as well start decorating the spare room at the weekend for the next couple of months. Special Stanley mentions also need to go to Bertrand and Cureton.
Ryan is growing by the week in Stanley's estimation. A quality item, one definitely on Stanley's summer shopping list in the event of St Glenn seeking the old boy's advice. As for skipper Jamie, a great strike sealed the points for City – what the wee fella is all about.
Selection for the centre of midfield against Blackpool will be interesting. Neither Gibbs nor Patterson exactly 'nailed' their place down for the foreseeable future on the basis of Saturday's performance. However Rusty still has two to sit out and Fozzy has marked his copybook this week with his, dear Stanley suggest, agent-fuelled outburst.
Blackpool will be a tougher proposition then Barnsley so this part of the park, whoever is selected, needs to improve upon Saturday's showing.
So now City head into March, a mighty big month, with seven games to play, four of them away. If City can get within four points of the team in sixth place by the end of it then talk of the play offs will be legitimate.
Stanley's waters still thinks a mid-table finish will be an absolute miracle of a result, thanks to dear old grave digger Grant, and whatever happens such a miracle shouldn't be forgotten amidst disappoint at a failure to finish in the top six. But for the time being the continued prospect of a late surge into the 'promised land' gives Stanley a real spring in his step.
As for the state of his waters, well they fancy three points off Blackpool and as for Watford, a sneaky City away win. Mrs Stanley heard it here first?
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