Joys or Sorrows?
Posted: May 9, 2012 Filed under: Blues | Tags: Championship Playoffs, Chris Burke, Chris Hughton, Curtis Davies, Guiriane N'daw, Jordon Mutch, Kevin Doyle, Marlon King, Morgaro Gomis, Nikola Zigic, Npower Championship, Penalties, Wembley Leave a comment »
So this is it… The mighty blues take on the seasiders Blackpool in the second leg of the Championship playoffs tonight with the prize of Wembley & West Ham United awaiting the victors. You may remember that in the previous blog I mentioned a brief passage on both teams. However, with not much changing between the sides, lets take a look into the tactics that Blues need to employ tonight.
The Fans
The fans have the chance this evening to put the Blackpool players under pressure and to create a hostile atmosphere for them. I know its a bit of a cliché, but we as fans need to kick every ball and win every header with the team tonight.. The atmosphere will be building long before Kickoff and when that time comes, the team must be under no illusions that we will be with them for the entire 90 minutes, even when Blackpool have the majority of the possession. Lets not leave it to the players to give the fans something to cheer about.. With the noise that can be generated inside St. Andrews we can give the boys in blue something to play their football to.
Formation
With Blues only losing once at home all season, it could be considered that the 1-0 loss is a good result to bring back to St. Andrews. With this in mind, I feel that Hughton will stick to type with a 4-4-2 formation. However, he needs to decide whether Jordon Mutch & Guiriane N’daw will play in the middle after the inept performance that they made 5 days ago. Another option would be to bring Morgaro Gomis back into the fold alongside one of these two, or Wade Elliott. I have a feeling that the left-hand channel will be occupied by Andros Townsend this evening. Chris Burke is the name Hughton will have already written into the RM spot.
There also rumours that Jonathan Spector will be fit for this game and may be played in central midfield. However, I feel that the game passes him by too much when he operates in the middle & is best at RB. But for me Ramage has done enough to cement his spot here for the biggest game of Blues’ season. Curtis Davies will also want to improve on what was an abject performance by his standards at Bloomfield Road and I fancy him to score tonight.
Up front, Marlon King is sure to start having been unfortunate not to score at least 2 in the away leg after hitting the post & bar. The question is who will partner him. Adam Rooney is more suited to this game as he is more mobile and will hustle and harry the Blackpool defence all night. However, Nikola Zigic has the ability to shine in the big games. Arsenal, West Ham & Aston Villa in last years Carling Cup all spring to mind when thinking of games that the Serb has carried and inspired the team to victory.
Goals
The most important factor to win a football match is to score goals!! Blues have done it all season & the 1-0 defeat in Blackpool was the first time in 19 games that they had failed to do it. To win tonight a 2-goal margin is needed. The best way to achieve this is to attack from the off without let-up and keep on the offensive even if we get this early. If Blackpool score 1, we need 3!! Put them to the sword and see if they are able to counter with anything.
TiltonStrugglers Team
Doyle
Ramage Davies Pablo Murphy
Burke Gomis Mutch Townsend
King Zigic
TiltonStrugglers Score: 3-0 Blues
Lets make some noise, sing the slow version of KRO & help to re-create that Wembley atmosphere from last season at Stans!!
KRO
Wembley Awaits
Posted: May 4, 2012 Filed under: Uncategorized Leave a comment »
So today is the day. The day that provides the opportunity for a new hero to be born. The opportunity to heal the scars of 12 months ago when Blues were relegated by essentially 1 goal. Yes, today is the first leg of the Npower Championsip Playoff semi-finals.
Lets look at the teams performances so far this season & what sort of teams may be playing.
Blackpool
Blackpool tend to set their stall up to score at home and then try to stifle the opposition with the resolve of playing on the counter attack.
Like Blues, they have been on quite an impressive run of late which has seen them unbeaten in seven games (five of these were wins). What is even more remarkable is the teams that they have played during these seven games; Southampton, Watford, Leeds & Burnley – All established teams in this league, with Southampton being promoted to the Premier League on the last day of the season. All of these games though, except Watford were at home. The last time that the tangerines were beaten at home was on 21st February when they were beaten 4-1 by West Ham. Since then they have played 7 home games & kept 5 clean sheets.
Craig Cathcart is definately out for the home side with heart palpitations & I wish him well in his recovery from this. However, two former bluenoses in the forms of Barry Ferguson & Kevin Phillips will be looking to inflict heartache on their former employers when they play this evening.
Possible Team: Gilks, Basham, Eardley, Evatt, Crainey, Ferguson, Southern, Fleck, Taylor-Fletcher, Phillips, Sutherland
Blues
Blues are currently on a nine-game unbeaten run, which includes a convincing win against Reading last weekend. The refreshing thing about this season from a fans point of view is the style of football that has been played. Even when the team were down either in spirits, or in terms of numbers either on the pitch, or available for selection, they have played football the right way under a manager that is adored by the fans and has worked wonders on a shoe-string budget.
The good news for this game is that Blues are almost back to full health with Jordan Mutch, Marlon King & Chris Burke all ready for a recall after being rested for the Reading game. The big Serb Nikola Zigic is also being considered as an option having recovered enough from the knock that he had on his knee. Another option would be to bring in young Nathan Redmond to play in ”the hole”.
Possible Team: Doyle, Spector, Pablo, Davies, Murphy, Burke, Mutch, Fahey, Elliott, Redmond, King
The game is now sold out, but fear not as this is also being shown on Sky Sports 1 (KO is 7:45). Also, the away goal rule doesn’t count in the playoffs, but I think that there will be goals aplenty in this game. I hope that Blues can get either a win or a score draw before the second leg back at St. Andrews.
KRO
Accounts Delayed Once Again
Posted: April 27, 2012 Filed under: Blues Leave a comment »Blues parent club Birmingham International Holdings Ltd have confirmed today that the accounts for the previous financial year have been delayed once again, and now won’t be released until Tuesday 31st July 2012. Therefore, the transfer embargo the is currently enforced at St. Andrews will remain until this date.
For now, its important that the club focus entirely on the on-field matters with the home game against Reading on Saturday & the playoffs which will follow. Then, if we are promoted, which I sincerely hope we are, we will have only 31 days to sign players.
Whilst this isn’t the best news that we could have hoped for, its not the end of the world and we now need to rely on Chris Hughton and the remainder of the backroom staff to prepare the players for the games ahead and esnure that this doesn’t affect anyones form and outlook heading into these games.
KRO!
Nathan Redmond – The Developing Talent
Posted: April 26, 2012 Filed under: Blues | Tags: Birmingham City FC, bluenose, Championship Playoffs, Chris Hughton, FA Cup, Nathan Redmond, Npower Championship Leave a comment »
Mercurial talent Nathan Redmond has thanked Chris Hughton for the positive impact that he has had on his blues career, despite only being at the tender age of 18. Whilst speaking to BBC WM, he said “”All the staff have been really good, as a young lad, I can’t really ask for anything more.” He continued, ”I’m involved with the first team week in, week out. It’s all about developing me and the gaffer has helped me a lot.”
The youngster has been impressive this season when asked to perform, although the majority of his league appearances have come from the bench and scored the goal which guaranteed blues a playoff spot after the 1-1 draw with Brighton on Saturday. Although his most natural position is a left-sided midfielder, he has played on both flanks, and at the weekend in a newer role behind the striker.
“If I can adapt to playing in the hole it gives me a variety of positions, Chris Hughton tells me to get on the ball and play. I haven’t been playing out wide in training. I’ve been playing in the hole and getting the ball. The gaffer always encourages me to play. It adds a bit of variety to my game.”
The last start that he made was against Chelsea in March and hasn’t been too involved in the games since. However, he came on in the first half and showed the ability that he has by popping up with a much-deserved goal for his performance. ”I played against Chelsea on my birthday in the FA Cup and it was a dream come true, an extra present,” he said. “After then, I think I went six weeks without really getting involved. But there was always going to be ups and downs in the season and he let me know that from the off.”
Will he be playing in the playoffs? Only Chris Hughton can answer that question. However, it is refreshing to see a youngster with so much ability keep his feet on the ground. If he plays any part between now and the remainder of blues season, I’m sure that he will put in a performance that any bluenose will be proud of.
KRO
Financial Fair Play – The implications for Blues
Posted: April 26, 2012 Filed under: Blues Leave a comment »Yesterday, the Football League Chairman Greg Clarke confirmed that from the start of the 2014/15 season, they will be implementing their own version of the Financial Fair Play rules that will come into effect next season in the Premier League.
However, to ensure that the clubs are able to comply with these, there will be a gradual process for investment & overall loss until the plateaux is reached in 2015/16 where a total investment from a board of directors can amount to £3 million & a loss overall of £2 million – Thus allowing a total loss each year of £5 million. Failure to comply with these would result in a fine to the tune of millions of pounds, or a transfer embargo.
What does all this mean for blues?
If we are promoted this season through the play-offs, which we are now guaranteed a place in, then we will instantly have a better financial situation which will put us in good stead, even if we are relegated the following year. The price of reaching the Premier Division is estimated to be around £50 million. The parachute payments would then stop & we would be expected to comply with the regulations. The board have made huge strides this season to ensure that the club are becoming self-sufficient and the shoots of this are starting to become evident. However, they are by no means out of the woods yet. Blues are currently running on a day-to-day basis, and although money isn’t bulging in the bank, there are also no immediate concerns which would mean that a telephone call to the administrators is imminent either.
Another change in the rules would mean that all finances have to be submitted by December 1st, not March 1st as it is at the moment. The implications for blues this season is that no players would have been able to be brought in during either the transfer window, or the loan window which followed.
What if we aren’t promoted this season?
If Blues aren’t promoted this season, or by the start of the 2014/15 season, they would still be receiving the final instalments of the parachute payments. This would give us a head-start of £8 million from other teams within the division. However, not being promoted at the end of the season would put a massive strain on the finances and could lead to problems in the future.
The good news is that if any development is made to the ground, the training facilities, or invested into the community, this is exempted from the regulations, as will clubs that invest in their academies in accord with the Elite Player Performance Plan (EPPP).
What is the point of these new regulations?
This is designed to safeguard the future of all football clubs for future fans and future players as well keeping the clubs well managed for future owners. You only have to look at the situation north of the border with Glasgow Rangers to see how quickly mis-management can cripple a club. Also, League 1 & League 2 will have a salary cap enforced which will be 65% & 55% of its turnover, respectively. This will stop any club from over-spending. An example of this is QPR who, it is rumoured are spending approximately 184% of their turnover on salaries. This was described very well on Often Partisan ”that means for every £1 the club brings in – not in profit, but just the money that comes in, they spend £1.84 on player wages”. Also, any fines that are imposed upon a club within the Football League will be shared equally among its remaining members to ensure that once again, there is no disparity among the clubs.
Should blues fans be worried? If we get promoted, which I’m not going to jinx with any comments, then its plain sailing as we’ll be back in the black. If we don’t, it may force BIH’s hand into selling the club if the Carson Yeung trial is delayed any more.
What a Difference A Fortnight Makes
Posted: April 12, 2012 Filed under: Blues | Tags: BCFC, birmingham city, Blues, David Murphy, defence, Guirane N'Daw, Jordon Mutch, Keith Fahey, Npower Championship, playoffs, promotion, soccer, sports, St. Andrews, vigour Leave a comment »They say that in football a week is a long time. That would then mean that a fortnight is an eternity. And that is just how it has proved to be. Just over 2 weeks ago, blues were coming off the back of a humiliating 4-1 defeat to relegation-threatened Portsmouth with the daunting task of playing an in-form Cardiff team. Yet, 4 games later, Birmingham seem to have put the Portsmouth defeat behind them and haven’t looked back.
So what has changed? Many would say the return of David Murphy. Granted, Murphy also played in the defeat to Portsmouthand was sent off. However, he seems to have returned from his ban with a renewed vigour to surge blues forward in their promotion hopes. Also, the strikers and Chris Burke seem to be finding the onion bag with increased regularity now & are becoming clinical in front of goal when it matters.
Another argument is that the midfield has begun playing to the quality that we know it can with Jordan Mutch, Keith Fahey & Guirane N’Daw beginning to form a solid midfield partnership after the spell of injuries that we have suffered in recent weeks.
Then there is the back 4 who, despite being solid all year, have become a tighter unit in the last few games and can rightly be proud of their achievements. The 7 goals conceded in 5 games belie the way that they have performed and shown a commitment to the cause.
It’s in the hands of the players and the coaching staff to finish the season on a high and see where it takes us. The playoffs seem guaranteed so now blues need to kick on and try to cement 3rd or 4th. The benefit of having the second leg can be crucial when the games are tense, nervy affairs, which these games often prove to be.
Personally, I think that West Ham will finish in third, just shy of second and blues not far behind in fourth. That then leaves the 5th & 6th spots up for grabs – with 5 points separating Blackpool in 5th and Leicester in 9th these are still waiting for a club to put down a marker of intent.
The fans down Stans seem confident in the team once again & the players are playing with new-found belief & determination. As the song says, let’s keep right on. The playoffs are coming into view now & our form is vital.
Who will we play once they come around? It could be anyone, but get behind the lads in royal blue and we won’t go far wrong!
KRO
(To view the highlights of the West Ham v Blues game, click here)
Fabrice Muamba – Get Well Soon
Posted: March 19, 2012 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: Bolton Wanderers, cardiac arrest, FA Cup, Fabrice Muamba, soccer, Spurs, White Hart Lane Leave a comment »
It appears hard to believe that a gentleman of the game could be fighting for his life after playing only 41 minutes of Bolton’s FA Cup tie at White Hart Lane on Saturday. The game was later abandoned
Fabrice Muamba’s heart is stable. However, he remains in a critical condition within Intensive Care at the London Chest Hospital in Bethnal Green.
During his time at blues, he was a great player & won the Young Player of the Year in August 2006. My abiding memory of him is that he was the one player who would always come off the pitch with his shorts covered in mud and his shirt drenched in sweat. Any team-mate, fan or manager couldn’t sk for more – 100% effort & dediication to the cause.
Needless to say, the whole footballing world wishes him the best in his fight to recover. It was also nice to see the shirts worn by Real Madrid players over the weekend also.
Get well soon Fabrice.
KRO
Laste Dombaxe – The Latest Trialist
Posted: March 13, 2012 Filed under: Trialists Leave a comment »
It appears that Birmingham have taken 17 year old Laste Dombaxe on trial from Tottenham Hotspurs. Not much information is know about him at this point. However, what I have been able to find out is that he is a Angolan-born midfielder that scored 6 goals last year in 24 matches & appeared in the Milk Cup team which dispatched Chelsea 4-2. I will update the info as soon as possible.
Fans Player Of The Season
Posted: March 12, 2012 Filed under: Blues, Match Reviews | Tags: Awards, Birmingham City FC, Blues, Chris Burke, Curtis Davies, David Murphy, Football League, KRO, Marlon King, Npower Championship, Player of the Year, St. Andrews Leave a comment »So Rickie Lambert last night won the nPower Championship player of the season at the Football League Awards. The voting opens on Sunday for the fan’s player of the season and all of the nominations will then be available for the fans’ to pick their player of this season. I thought that I would take this opportunity to look back at the season that some of the blues players have had & how they may fare.
Curtis Davies
When Curtis first signed, many of the 12-toers across the expressway were calling him “Agent Davies”. The new backline has been created following the sales of Scott Dann & Roger Johnson to Blackburn Rovers & Wolves respectively. This season he has been solid at the back forming an excellent partnership with Steven Caldwell. He has also scored 5 goals in 30 games so far this season, as well as being involved in helping to keep 11 clean sheets this season. A very good player in a very competitive league.
Chris Burke
When news broke that blues had signed Chris Burke on a free transfer from Cardiff City, the first thing I did was check out the messageboards to see what the fans thought of him. They all spoke of a player that blew hot & cold and could possibly do a job for us, but probably wouldn’t last the entire season with good form. I didn’t know what to expect. How wrong they have been! The blues “Flying Scotsman” has been in auspicious form all season and has become a name that is first on the team sheet all season long. The stats say it all for a man that has become a key figure for the club during this season – 34 appearances, 8 goals, 11 assists. Not too shabby for a right winger who was brought in on a free & given license to roam and run at defenders all season. Another player that could be up for player of the season in his first season at St Andrew’s.
David Murphy
“Smurph” has been a revelation this season.. He started the season as second-choice behind want-away Liam Ridgewell. However, with Ridge’s form suffering, Murphy was drafted in and his stock rose as much as Ridgewell wanted out. By the time that Liam left for pastures new at the baggies, I wasn’t that sad to let him go, as long as we got cover in for the LB slot. He has been a breath of fresh air going forwards, and as the season has gone on, he’s ironed out defensive weaknesses that he had, such as being beaten with ease by a fast winger. Granted, his positioning is still a little worrying at times, but in all he has been a solid replacement and brings a calmness to the back line. Also, he’s chipped in with 4 goals in 35 games this season which is a decent return for a left back. A good signing from Hibs & one that I’m glad didn’t get away during the cost cutting at the end of last season. Dave is a real contender for this award and will push other nominees very hard.
Marlon King
“He scores goals, Marlon he scores goals” – This is heard both at St. Andrew’s and any other ground where blues happen to be plying their trade this season, including last Saturday when he returned to the Ricoh for the first time since he left at the end of last season. He has blown hot and cold this season, but has still managed to score 11 goals in 29 games this season in the League, which is pretty impressive as there are still 12 games to go. Most of these we should be winning & there is the realistic chance that he will add a few more to this tally before the end of the season.
The Fans Player of the Season will be won by someone, but who will it be – YOU DECIDE!! Whoever it is, lets hope that next season we’re deciding after a season back in the Premier League
KRO!!
The Secret Agreement
Posted: March 9, 2012 Filed under: Blues Leave a comment »
It’s never dull as a blues fan is it!!
This morning, Brett Gibbons from the Birmingham Mail broke the news that Blues had struck a secret deal with HSBC to safeguard their future. This was done in the form of a debenture where any future monies and profit made go directly to the club, as opposed to going via BIH.
What does this mean for the club?? Basically, the long-term future of the club is secured and regardless of the situation with BIH, blues will have a future as HSBC effectively ‘own’ all of our assets. This includes St. Andrews, Wast Hills, and the players. Therefore, if BIH do go into liquidation (which some reports say is very likely), then we can continue trading.
For the short-term, it means that we can’t default on any of our loans, and will have to be very very careful regarding transfers, wages and the remainder of the season. If the worse does happen and the club do default, we fall into the hands of HSBC.
Granted, its not the best situation to be in. However, I personally would rather have this in place now than end up in the mess that Pompey & Rangers have found themselves in.
Lets get behind the boys for the remaining 13 games of the season and see where it takes us.
KRO
To see the story, click the link below.
