As the Blues Announce a Loss – We Ask, is it Bad News?
(This is a re-publish due to a technical problem!)
Andy has given me permission to re-produce his latest article. I have made some comments after it.
Kev
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Birmingham City record pre-tax losses of £20.5million
By Andy Walker
BIRMINGHAM City’s successful promotion push last season came at a hefty cost, after it emerged that the club recorded a pre-tax loss of £20.5 million.
The astonishing figure has been revealed in the club’s audited financial statement for the year ending August 31 2009, therefore a debt amassed under the former owners.
The directors’ report blames the huge loss on ‘the decision taken by the previous members of the board to retain most of their playing staff from the previous Premier League season’.
That decision to arm Alex McLeish with a squad on top flight wages in the Championship saw Blues fork out staff costs of £27.1 million in 2009, compared to £26.6 million the previous year.
That was further hit by a fall of over £22 million (44.8 per cent) in turnover, including match receipts, broadcasting and commercial income.
The accounts will further infuriate Blues’ new owners, who already strongly feel that they were misled during last year’s takeover.
The Carson Yeung camp were fuming when they discovered that the previous owners had paid themselves advanced 2010 management fees worth £420,000, after which an offer from David Sullivan to pay back half was turned down, not to mention ex-MD Karren Brady’s controversial £1 million severance package.
While Yeung paid £1-a-share to buy Blues in October, the Chinese now believe that 30p-a-share would have been a fairer price.
A Blues source told the Birmingham Mail that the current board weren’t yet willing to comment publicly on the hefty pre-tax loss, largely as they feel that the figures speak for themselves.
The recent report also warns that, when it comes to McLeish’s future transfer kitty, the purse strings may have to be tightened in order to address last year’s loss.
It reads: “The acquisition of players and their related payroll costs are deemed the core activity risk and, whilst assisting the manager in improving the playing squad, the board is mindful of the pitfalls that are inherent in this area of the business.
“The aim is therefore to manage these costs whilst being as competitive as possible within the club’s financial constraints.”
However, former co-owner Sullivan defended the previous Blues board. Sullivan insists that they made no secret of a financial problem at St Andrew’s during the final months of their tenure and pointed out that automatic promotion back to the Premier League proved that they were right to stick with an expensively-assembled squad in the Championship.
“We are surprised the figures are quite as high as this,” admitted Sullivan. “We had a policy of retaining the squad to get back up which we thought was the correct policy and was vindicated because the club got promotion at the first opportunity automatically.
“Last summer we knew the club had a financial problem as we publicly stated we loaned it £5 million to pay the deposits on two new players because there was no money to do that.
“Some of the losses are the way accounting practices write players off over the period of their contracts although the money is paid over an early period.
“But I am sure the club will make £10-15 million in the Premier League this year.”
Originally found on Birmingham Mail dot Net.
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Firstly, it is very disappointing to have a loss announced. I’m sure there a number of fans who maybe are feeling concerned about the ability of the board – but as Andy has said, this last year and therefore the last board. But is it REALLY that bad?
When a club gets relegated, the reduction of television money – despite parachute payments – always goes down. I have read the reduction can be anything from 25-40%. Also there are other knock on effects. Lower attendances, less merchandise sold etc.
Obviously for a club like ours, the goal was to gain promotion immediately. As a result we were run as a Premier League side in the Championship, I suppose living the dream on a smaller scale.
It was inevitable that we were going to make a loss. Like it says in the article we could wipe that out this season, and we already know we will be in the league again next season, financially a real positive.
Reading the article, it appears that the new board didn’t have a clue that this loss was there. I’m a bit confused about this. Maybe I’m thick, but before Carson took over – we were a public company weren’t we? Which meant that if we were going to be taken over the accounts had to be revealed. Meaning that either the previous board hid key information or the new board didn’t read it properly. I doubt we’ll know for sure.
I’m concerned that this will re-start the spat between the present board and the former board. I hope not.
Over all I don’t think this is particularly bad news, as I have said we have every chance of breaking even this season.
I’m sure there will be some who will look at this and see it as a negative, but I’d encourage you to keep your chin up and give the board a couple of seasons to prove themselves.
Martin Taylor Speaks to Joys and Sorrows
One of our forum regulars, “Cliffmann,” is a friend of Martin Taylor. He offered to speak to Martin to gain an interview for Joys and Sorrows.
So over to Cliff:
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Joe Hart, Blues, Match Attacks. That’s probably my 7 year old sons current loves in life in the right order. Match Attacks for those unfamiliar with them are cards of the current premier league teams which give stars based on attack and defence ability.
Alex (my son not Eck!) has changed favourite players like most people change socks, Cameron Jerome, Frank Queudrue and Martin Taylor have all been one time preferences. So this year he was a bit surprised Tiny was not in the match attack pack, so we found a card on the internet of Martin from a previous season. When he saw it he was aghast at the fact Martin only had one star, not the maximum of 5 for either attack or defence.
The reason for telling the story is that we know Martin quite well as a family, so next time Alex saw him he decided he would not call him Martin any more and he would be affectionately known as “one star”. One of the funniest things I have ever seen is seeing this massively tall man struggling to come up with a suitable put down for a 3ft 7 year old.
So when he left the club for Watford in January without the chance to say goodbye to the fans I thought it would be nice for him to say goodbye and also maybe think of a response to his new nickname.
“Love the questions mate, something a bit different to usual. I think whoever decided on my one star status must have been watching one of my poorer performances. I always feel it’s better to be underestimated than overestimated, it gives you the chance to surprise an opponent who may have thought they were gonna get an easy game. That aside it was great banter from Alex!
Just a quick note to the fans to say thank you for all the support I received when I was at the club. It’s probably a standard thing to say for a player who leaves a club but I think I can sincerely say that I received fantastic support especially during a certain difficult period of my career and that loyalty from the blues fans helped my family and I enormously.
I’ve always enjoyed speaking to fans that I bump into around and about, they’ve always got good footballing opinions of what’s happening at the club. All in all it’s been a pleasure to play for Birmingham City. Thank you”
1. How did the move to the club originally come about?
It was a few years ago now, Jan 2004 to be precise but Blackburn were going through a bit of a transition. We’d had a good season the year before but some new faces were brought in and I found it more difficult to hold down a place. Sometimes as a professional you get the feeling that your time at a club has passed and you need to move on to further your career. Birmingham showed a lot of interest and were doing very well at that time. I spoke to a couple of lads who were at the club already and it sounded like an excellent opportunity to come to a club that was on the up. It took a couple of weeks to sort out but just before the window closed I found myself 100 miles down the M6 playing at the blues.
2. What was Bruce like as a manager?
I enjoyed my time working with Steve Bruce as a manager, he had wealth of knowledge of the game that he liked to pass on to his players. There were periods when I was at the club that I would have preferred to play more games under him but I always felt that he believed in me as a player who could do a job for him. He had a good team working with him, I thought Erik Black in particular was a very good coach
3. When the new owners came in did you as a player notice a changed atmosphere or is it a press myth?
There was actually a change in atmosphere around the place when the new owners came in. I would agree that sometimes a football club could have a change of ownership and the players would see no differences, however Carson Yeung’s arrival did bring a new feeling. The owners were very direct in their contact to the players showing us what they were planning for the club and the positive changes that they would bring. The previous owners did a great job when you compare the club from when they bought it to when they sold it but the new owners have their own ideas of how to make Birmingham City competitive further up the premier league. They know that for it to be successfully marketable the club and its facilities need to be comparable with the top premier league clubs and these are the differences that the players are now experiencing.
4. So in terms of Blues teams, were the Robbie Savage era better than the current team do you think?
I’ll sit on the fence on this one and say that it’s difficult to compare teams from different eras as they had different styles with their own positives. Both the team when I first joined and the team this season have done exceptionally well to stay in the top half of the premier league. If the current squad can maintain that position for a few seasons then that consistency would be the only separating factor of the two eras.
Martin "Tiny" Taylor
5. When you signed for the club, Steve Bruce said you were versatile and could play left back, right and centre, was he serious? Surely you are 100% centre half?
I actually played all over the pitch at Blackburn and was quite versatile when I was a younger player, if you can imagine! I actually made my debut as an emergency centre forward and played there a few times after that. I also found myself in midfield a few times. It’s often the case that centre half’s play full back when they first progress to the first team and that was what happened to me being used at both right and left. I quite enjoyed it being able to attack for a change and had probably my most successful season at Blackburn when we finished sixth playing a good portion of it at full back, mind, it helped having Damien Duff in his prime helping out in front. My body shape has changed as a player as I have got older into more of a centre half’s, gone are the days of overlapping the winger to get a cross in, I’m happy to just hold fort now.
6. Highlight of being at the club and your best performance?
Highlights would have to be getting promoted twice, especially the first time when we beat Sheffield Wednesday at home to put ourselves on the brink of an immediate return to the premier league. Even though we hadn’t quite made it yet, there was a great feeling following that game.
My best performance would have to be Newcastle away in the FA Cup replay (5-1). Not surprisingly I enjoyed every minute of that game.
7. If you search youtube you can be spotted sat on the bench during a blues-villa game. Two questions… See http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ugcutAxYD7I around the 1.39 mark!
a) What is the Blues-Villa derby like for a player in terms of pressure/preparation?
The game is prepared for like any other, but the big difference is the pressure and tension that you feel when you get out onto the pitch.
As a player you can sense from the crowd that its not just another game and that the result is the only thing that matters. That’s why the best things about derby games tend to be the tackles as everyone is wired up and doesn’t want to be the one to miss a tackle or make a mistake that could lose the game. Skill and flare tends to be forgotten for an afternoon.
b) What happened to that awful “curtains” hairstyle?
I was very proud of my ‘curtains’ hairstyle thank you very much and I would love to be able to grow it back if a. I could, and b. it came back into fashion.
8. How do you cope with not being in the team, do you get all moody or are you quite relaxed about it?
I would love to tell you that I accept it really well and it doesn’t bother me but in reality I probably get a bit moody.
It’s very frustrating as a player when you work hard all week with the rest of the players but end up not involved in the game on the Saturday. It’s vital to maintain a good condition when not playing as you could be called on at short notice but its a much more enjoyable job when you are playing regularly and experiencing the highs and lows in the team.
9. What career would you have done if football had not worked out?
I think about this occasionally but still don’t know. I think a lot of people don’t really work out their vocation until a few years after leaving school, when they’ve tried a few things or realised they’ve chosen the wrong subject at university.
I would probably have been like this, my favourite subjects at school were maths and geography but I probably would have ended up doing something completely unrelated to these.
10. You won a league cup medal with Blackburn, is it a treasured possession or lost somewhere in the loft?
It’s actually quite treasured with my other medals, three championship runners up gongs.
When I played the final at Cardiff, one of the older lads in the squad said I should treasure playing in a final because not many professionals get the chance in their career.
I’ve been fortunate to have had that chance and would love it again. It’s also a great thing to hold onto to show the grand kids in a few years who won’t believe that granddad was able to run never mind play football.
11. Who were the biggest jokers at the club and were there any stand out pranks played?
In the time that I was there a few jokers have passed through the changing rooms. Dunny was always one for a prank, as well as Sav. I can’t think of a particular one but there was always some good banter flying around. Ian Bennett was great fun to have around the training ground, he had the lads in stitches on a daily basis.
Martin "Tiny" Taylor
12. What’s it like being so tall?
I often don’t think of myself as being particularly tall, I suppose I’ve got used to it now. The only time it is ever a problem is when I hit my head on doorways or low hanging signs, or have cramped legs on transport. I think I’m still above the anthropometric/economic trade off of seating as many people comfortably in a specific area.
There are however advantages to being tall, such as at concerts or in highly stacked supermarkets, oh and not forgetting jumping for headers with Duncan Ferguson!
13. How is Watford different in terms of set-up, ambition and treatment of you as a player?
The set up at Watford is excellent from the facilities to the staff at the training ground to the help I received when I first joined. I found the transition between clubs quite comfortable as many of the training methods were very similar to the ones I was used to at Birmingham. They are a very community friendly club and I have been welcomed very well by everyone at Watford. Like any team in the championship they have ambition of getting promoted to the premier league and being as successful as possible.
14. Have you met Elton John yet, and did he have those great star shaped glasses on?
Unfortunately I haven’t had the pleasure of meeting Elton John yet. Hopefully one day in the future.
15. You have already scored for your new club, are you settled in already?
I am pleased with how the first month has gone. To get on the score sheet is a bonus, but I am happy with how I’ve settled in and we’ve had some decent results in that time. As a team we’ve been dominant in all the games I’ve been here which is not easy in the championship as all teams are very competitive.
16. What are your personal ambitions now and do you have plans in place for life after football?
My ambitions are now to play as many games as possible with Watford and to try and get promoted. I think we have as good a chance as most of being in and around the top positions in the championship and if it didn’t happen this season then we would just try for next.
I don’t have any concrete plans for what to do after football. It’s difficult to plan as I don’t know when that will be, hopefully not for another few years. Unfortunately there will be time when I come to retire, something as a young professional looks a lifetime off but creeps up on you all too quickly. The best thing is to prepare that it could happen at any time and not be surprised or disappointed when it does, just be ready to move on to the next chapter.
17. Pressure time now! With a chance to annoy your friends and colleagues what would be your best 11 during your time at the club?
1. Goalkeeper – Maik Taylor
2. Right Back – Stephen Kelly
3. Left Back – Jamie Clapham
4. Central Midfield – Damien Johnson
5. Centre Half – Kenny Cunningham
6. Centre Half – Raidi Jaidi
7. Right Midfield – Sebastian Larsson
8. Centre Midfield – Stephen Clemence
9. Centre Forward – Mikael Forssell
10 Centre Forward – Nicklas Bendtner
11 Left Midfield – Gary McSheffrey
Martin, I think I speak for everyone who supports the blues in saying we hope you do really well at Watford and things go well…
Good luck One Star!
Cliff
Images used with kind permission from Birmingham City FC
Joys and Sorrows Speak to Paul Devlin
We continue our interviews with ex-Blues players, and this time I spoke to Paul Devlin. This interview is sponsored by Zulumag! 
Obviously a you’re a Brummie Lad, where were you bought up Paul?
I was born in Brookvale Village and I was bought up in Erdington not far from Villa Park. My Dad is from Glasgow and we were all big Celtic fans, but my Uncle was a big Bluenose and started taking me down to St Andrews.
What was your first game?
I can’t remember for definite, but I’m pretty sure it was Ipswich. That great side of Wark, Brazil and Mariner etc. I remember Frank Worthington was playing for us.
What took you into professional football?
Well at school I never really wanted to be a footballer, I actually wanted to be a chef. When I left I trained at a hotel, went day release to college and got my catering qualifications. I got into football through Sunday football and non-league, and I got spotted that way.
Notts County was your first club wasn’t it? How did it go there?
Yeah I signed for Notts County from Stafford Rangers. It went really well. I’d had trials at a few clubs including Liverpool. I was up there for 6 weeks on and off.
Then Leeds came in for me. I went to Leeds for a week and played in a reserve game. When I got back I decided that would sign for Notts County and Neil Warnock. On the Monday, Howard Wilkinson phoned me up and gave me a rollocking for not signing for Leeds. Leeds ended up winning the league and County got relegated!
Having said that, I had four great years at Notts County.
What was it like working for Mr Warnock?
I’ve known Neil a long time, and I’ll always be grateful to him for giving me my big break. I played for him at Sheffield United too.
So when did the Blues start featuring?
I’d renewed my contract at County, although I know things were difficult financially there. One of my best friends in football was Michael Johnson and we’d kept in contact and as Blues were my club, I said to him if he could get me there that would be great.
One day they rang up to say that Baz was keen on me and would I come. I said I I’d jump at the chance. They signed Andy Legg in the same deal so Stafford Rangers got a smaller percentage apparently. However, it was great to get an opportunity to play there.
So you were one of Bazza’s last 432 signings?
Yeeaah, that’s right. (Laughs!). Baz was great.
I have to say I thought Baz was brilliant, got nothing but praise for thebloke – and I’d say most Blues fans would think of him fondly.
Yeah he was fantastic, he helped to bring the Blues back to life again to be honest along with the Gold and Sullivan who had saved the club.
Paul Devlin
I seemed to remember that there was a real team spirit.
Definitely. He was a larger than life character, but people liked him. I had 15 years as a pro and no one had a bad word for the man.
Do you have a Bazza story?
I remember when we were playing Grimsby away. During the night we were woken up by someone running down the corridor screaming and banging on the doors. We used to get that happen occasionally by opposing fans trying to keep us awake. When gone down to breakfast and the lads were a bit bleary eyed. Anyway, Baz comes in looking like he’d been to a nightclub the night before!
We all said, we shouldn’t stay here again gaffer, some nut case has been banging on the doors trying to keep us awake. Barry replied, “yeah that was me.” He’d been to a wedding or something and had got drunk.
Anyway it worked, because we beat Grimsby easily that day!
Eventually Barry was sacked and Trevor took over, what was that like for you being as Trevor was a totally different personality and character?
You said it, he was a totally different personality and character, in fact I wouldn’t say Trevor had either! He wasn’t my cup of tea. Out of my15 years as a pro, he was the one I didn’t get on with. I know that might upset some Blues fans.
I scored goals under Barry and then the following season was top scorer and player of the season, but that still wasn’t good enough for Trevor.
He bought in some big signings like paul Furlong, Mike Newell, Steve Bruce – and I don’t know if it was the fact that I was one of Barry’s signings – but we just clashed basically.
I didn’t think much of him as a manager and he didn’t think much of me as a player. He was always going to win that one. He sold me an to be fair I had four great years at Sheffield United, but I didn’t want to leave the Blues – I’d have happily stayed all my career.
It was just a shame that I was doing well when I left, and there was a lot of ill feeling too with the crowd getting on my back with Trevor being able to say his part and me not being able to give my side.
Still it was all water under the bridge in the end. It was nice to get back. To be truthful, the way I left the Blues was probably my lowest point in football.
Trevor didn’t want to offer me a new contract, I’d asked for parity with Furze and I’ll sign it immediately, (I got on well with Furze by the way), but Trevor didn’t want to give me that. He said that we’d paid several million for Paul and he’d come from Chelsea and that was that.
At the end of the day, he didn’t like me and I didn’t like him it was as simple as that. I thought he was a poor manager to be honest, which was a shame because to 99% of Bluenoses – he was a god. I wish it had never happened, but you can’t turn the clock back.
Have you seen him since?
I wouldn’t go out of my way to speak to him to be honest. I did see him at Selhurst Park once, but it was strained with just brief “hellos” from both of us.
You when to Sheffield United for a few years, and Steve came in for you on loan. What was happening there? Did you need a new challenge?
No far from it, I was player of the year and and runner up the following year and I’d just signed a four year contract, I was having a good time.
I got a call from Steve when he was at Palace and asked if I wanted to go there. Obviously I’d played with Steve at Blues and he was manager at Sheffield United for a spell while I was there, we were quite close friends.
Then the gardening leave thing happened, but he said when things got sorted he wanted me there. I was probably the main man at Sheffield United, and then Steve got the Blues job. Nothing happened for a few months so I got Johnno to ask him what was happening. Anyway apparently by the time Steve had looked at the present squad, he’d realised that there quite a few lads who were around 30 / 30+ it might not be the right time to bring me in as I’d just turned 30 at the time.
That left me in a bit of an awkward situation at Sheffield United but fair play to Neil Warnock, when it looked like the deal was dead – he put me back into the team. We played Norwich away. This was despite me being out of the team for a while. Anyway by the following Monday I was back at Blues!
You played 13 times that season and scored 1 goal and that was against Wolves when we drew 2-2. I felt that was a real turning point for the side as we put together a great run to get into the play-offs. What do you remember about it?
It was my last game on loan and it was on the television too, also being a local derby. I scored the 2nd goal Martin Grainger crossed it. It definitely gave us a new impetus to kick on. The following week the deal was done to bring me back permanently.
The following season you pulled on the shirt in the Premier League for 30 games, tell us about that.
Yeah, Steve was true to his word about giving us the opportunity in the Premier League. It was fantastic to play in the top flight with the club for the first time for a long time and also to get international recognition was also brilliant.
I also got my first Premier League goal in the First Home Premier League game at St Andrews, which was also the Blues first ever home Premier League goal, against Leeds United which was fantastic. Especially as at the time that was a really good Leeds side.
Paul Devlin After Another Goal!
What was your highlight of being at the club?
I think it has to be the play-off final in Cardiff. It was a great day and a great atmosphere and to score one of the penalties and see the club promoted to the top flight was fantastic, especially for the fans.
Whenever I see the shoot out, it still causes the hairs on the back of my neck to stand up.
Yeah, I have to say though, that I was always confident going into penalties. We’d practiced them religiously in the weeks before the game.
We had some good penalty takers. I wasn’t sure it would go to penalties at one point – but when it did I was pretty confident we were going to go through.
Were they pre organised?
Yeah everyone knew what they were doing, it was all organised before the game.
You got picked for Scotland, tell us a bit about that.
I’d been told several times, when I was at the Blues the first time and then at Sheffield United, that I’d get a call up – but it never materialised. The big deciding factor was me getting to play in the Premier League, and playing pretty well in the Premier League.
My Dad was at the Newcastle game at St Andrews and was sat just next to Archie Knox. He’d heard Archie say nice things about me, anyway on the Monday I got the call from Berti Vogts to say I’d been called up. At 30 / 31 it was a fantastic opportunity, however I don’t think I was playing any better than previous seasons, it was simply that I was playing in the top flight.
How many caps and goals did you get?
I got ten caps, but unfortunately I never scored.
What about your disciplinary record?
(Paul laughs!). Yeah well, I think the first half of my career was appalling to be honest. I think I did get better as I got older. Neil Warnock gives me a mention in his book, that he didn’t realise when he signed me from non-league that I had 49 disciplinary points I was sent off 7 ot 8 times! I was a bit firey when I was younger and the red mist used to descend.
What are you doing now and what are your ambitions?
I’ve been involved in a building company for four or five years that I’m a partner in but I’ve just finished my personal training qualification and I’m looking to do something with Steve Froggatt. We’ve set up a company called XPROTRAINING to become a course provider for people to become a personal trainer or a gym instructor.
The fitness side of things always interested me more than coaching. I’ve been asked before about why didn’t I stay in the game to coach or a manager, but the fitness and nutrition side of things has always interested me more.
So what do you think about what’s happening at the Blues now?
Yeah I was at St Andrews in the Frank Worthington hospitality suite for the Chelsea game. The atmosphere was fantastic. A real change to things from a few weeks before.
Joe Hart made a few good saves, but Blues gave as good as they got that day. There’s a good vibe about the place which is good to see.
Do you agree that Alex has turned the doubters into believers!?
Yeah I think so. last year when we got promoted, there were people who were critical of the style of the football we were playing and that we were boring. But he has changed the formation and with the Chinese taking over, it is like a totally different club down there now.
The time under the old board had run it’ course and it was time for change. I know a lot of people are critical of them, however they did save the club and they did breathe new life into the club then. But with Carson coming in now, it is another new era and it couldn’t be much better at the moment.
If we get there would you go to Wembley?
I’d love to. One or two of the old players would be on the scrounge for tickets! It would be terrific.
If you have a spare ticket Paul, you know where I am!
I bet that won’t be the only phone call or request I might get Kev!
Well thank you very much for your time Paul, it’s great to speak to a player who as a Brummie knows what it means to us. Keep us informed with your new venture and we’ll do an update here.
It’s a pleasure Kev.
Ladies and Gentlemen, I give you Mr Paul Devlin!
Images used with kind permission from Birmingham City FC.
Farewell to Man Mountain Plus One
You wait for ages for an article from Nat, and two come along together! Here is his take on the two players who left the club today, both of whom have played key roles for the club in the past.
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Anyone who regularly looks at the forum on Joys and Sorrows will know that my favourite Blues player is, or maybe it should now change to was, Martin ‘Tiny’ Taylor. It all stemmed from the fact that in my old Season-Ticket seat in the Railway, he became a bit of a cult figure for his cumbersome stature. Many a game there would be where someone around me would start a ‘Tiny for England’ chant.
But, despite a pretty obvious lack of pace or agility, there was a sharp and, in my opinion, rather unappreciated Footballing brain. He may have had his limitations when chasing after the likes of Drogba, but I don’t think he was ever out-thought by any Striker. His reading of the play and positioning was excellent. You would hardly ever see Tiny make an error in judgement.
But, at the risk of sounding patronising, it wasn’t Tiny’s ability that made him stand out. It was his attitude, on and off the pitch, which was exemplary. Perhaps the most notable example was after his (and I stand by this adjective) innocuous tackle which was desperately unfortunate to break the leg of Eduardo. When people who should’ve known better, such as Arsene Wenger, condemned him for what was an accident, he didn’t bite the bait and rant, he (after apologising to Eduardo) picked himself up, dusted himself down, and just got on with it, such was the placid nature of the man.
But it wasn’t the only example of having a mindset which unfortunately belies many players today. It’s fair to say that in all his time at Blues, under Bruce and Big ’Eck, he was never a concrete regular starter in the team. But you’d never have known it. Despite the haphazard nature of his selections, he never once spouted his mouth off. He just bode his time, kept himself sharp and was always ready if needed. That is the hallmark of being a proper Professional. The most prominent example probably being at the end of last season. Left out of the Preston debacle at home, he came in for THAT game at Reading, marked Kevin Doyle out that match and we won Promotion.
I wish him the best of luck now that he’s moved to Watford. But I doubt he’ll need it. For a free transfer, Malky Mackay has made a very shrewd signing for that level of football, and Watford have a great defender for the next few years.
Today also saw the news which, to be honest, I greeted a lot more enthusiastically. Gary McSheffrey has been offloaded to Leeds in League One until the end of the season, when after his contract expires here he’ll presumably move on for good.
For too long now we have been hoping against hope that he would turn into the McSheffrey he was for a few months until the start of 2007. When I write that down now it looks incredibly daft. At most clubs, someone who hadn’t performed well on any consistent basis would’ve been bombed out long ago. But Bluenoses were, inexplicably in my opinion, determined that, sometime soon, Gary Mac would be back.
For a while I have been saying it was time to cut our losses with him. He hasn’t scored from open play in the League since we beat Stoke 1-0…in February 2007. In our last Premier League season, he was picked on a regular basis (thirty-two appearances altogether) yet, in my eyes, never came close to coming up to scratch. He looked lacklustre, lazy, generally lethargic. And yes injury hampered him last year, but even before his spell out he didn’t look great, and his subsequent loan spell at Forest wasn’t brilliant. I think it’s fair to say Billy Davies wasn’t falling over himself to clinch his signature permanently.
For me, when I’ve watched him in the past few years, his performances and body language on the pitch are of a player who looked like he didn’t really want to be at Birmingham City. Hopefully a new club and a significant drop in the standard of football my re-invigorate his career. Leeds is a big club, who should go up to the Championship and will be one of the biggest clubs in that division if they get there. Maybe he can be a part of that and rediscover the magical form of when he first joined Blues.
Nat
A VIEW FROM THE SOUTH – BIRMINGHAM CITY vs NOTTINGHAM FOREST
Filed under: Blues News, Match reports, Matches, Reports By Bazza
Here is Bazza’s match report from last night.
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I had an offer of a lift back from this game from my mate, Will who was up in the Midlands anyway on business. It made sense therefore to travel up to Birmingham on the train from work especially as the local roads are still not great and yet more poor weather, forecast. I caught the train from Guildford to Reading for the connection to New Street. It was good to be able to read the paper at leisure and the journey went without a hitch. A hot sausage roll and taxi from the station followed. The surprising thing was that the taxi dropped me easily right outside the Kop entrance on the Coventry Road a mere 10 minutes before the kick off. It was all too easy but never fear readers, the turnstiles’ staff came up trumps by complicating the entry to the ground meaning that I got in a few minutes late. I don’t think I missed much from the evidence of what I saw in the first half.
Blues fielded a full strength side whilst Forest made seven changes from the side that crushed the Baggies at the Hawthorns on Friday. It was just as well since the East Midlands side looked lively with neat passing and high tempo combined with quick pressure on the ball when not in possession which wasn’t that often to be honest. Blues looked sluggish and lack-lustre and too many passes went astray resulting in most of the play concentrated in the home side’s half. Camp in the Forest goal was in danger of dying from hypothermia, so little did he have to do. Joe Hart in contrast had to make at least two excellent saves to keep out McGoldrick and Tyson who in reality should have buried both chances. Blues allowed Forest far too much room to play their football and even our rock solid defence was showing signs of sloppiness and an air of the tie being a bit of a chore.
The teams went in goalless at half-time but if the score had been 2 – 0 or 3 – 0 to the men in red no-one in the home dressing room could have complained as Forest were by far the better side. The only thing that did strike me however, was how much energy the visitors had put into the half and I suspected that should the game stay all square deep into the second period that Forest would run out of fuel and they would certainly have nothing left should heaven forbid extra time be required.
Blues were livelier after the break and the contest became a little more even. A crowd of only 9,399 were still not treated to classic fare on a bitterly cold night however and when you consider that 1,700 of the frozen throng were Forest fans, the 22,000 who stayed away compared to Saturday didn’t miss a thing! It took one moment of class to settle this encounter on 61 minutes. A poor clearance from the Forest defence was seized upon by Barry Ferguson whose slick one-two with Chucho, who otherwise had a poor game, was finished beautifully by the Scottish international from 18 yards. His first time side footed effort curled round Camp into the keeper’s right hand bottom corner for an undeserved lead. Forest started to fade after this as Blues took more control of the game. As expected, their energy levels dropped and they were unable to press as efficiently as they had done. This gave Blues more space and time and their superior quality began to build on the established bridgehead. Blues then proceeded to miss several good chances; Jerome beat Camp when one on one but failed to impart enough pace on his shot allowing a retreating defender to clear his effort off the line. Camp saved brilliantly from Roger Johnson’s powerful header from a corner that looked destined for the net. Chucho who had a disappointing night shot weakly at Camp when well placed and Phillips who replaced him late on also failed to get hold of a similar effort. There were one or two breakaways that were squandered as a tired Forest side tried valiantly to bombard the Birmingham box only to have their efforts easily cleared. In truth Blues could have run out 3 – 0 or 4 – 0 with better finishing but this would have been extremely harsh on Forest who came to St Andrews and had a go. This game was not a classic and we have to be relieved that we got through it relatively unscathed without the inconvenience of extra time. Whether the prospect of a tough tie away at Everton will be worth it remains to be seen. One thing is for sure: Birmingham will have to play immeasurably better at Goodison Park if they are to break a winless record there stretching back 50 years. It is unlikely that Blues can or will play as poorly as last night and the watching David Moyes will know that. He won’t be losing sleep at the prospect of our visit though I suspect.
KRO SOTV
Birmingham City: Joe Hart 8, Stephen Carr 6, Lee Bowyer 5 (Keith Fahey 5, 63), Liam Ridgewell 6, Seb Larsson 7, Cameron Jerome 5, Chucho 5 (Kevin Phillips 5, 68), Barry Ferguson 8, Roger Johnson 7, Scott Dann 7, James McFadden 6 (Damien Johnson 6, 76).
Subs not used: Maik Taylor, Martin Taylor, Gary McSheffrey, Franck Queudrue, Damien Johnson.
Bookings Bowyer (45 + 1)
Goals: Ferguson (61)
Nottingham Forest: Lee Camp, James Perch, Luke Chambers, Wes Morgan, Lewis McGugan, Dele Adebola, Nathan Tyson, Gareth McCleary ( Paul Anderson, 81), Chris Cohen, David McGoldrick (Joe Garner, 67), Guy Moussi (Chris Gunter 73).
Subs not used: Paul Smith, Paul Anderson, Joe Garner, Radoslaw Majewski, Joel Lynch, Brendan Moloney.
Bookings: David McGoldrick (66)
Referee: Kevin Friend (Leicestershire) 7
Assistant Referee (Tilton end) 5 Assistant Referee (Railway end) 7
Attendance: 9,399
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