Analysing BCFC - Goalkeepers and Defence

Article by e-Birmingham City Correspondent Jack McCracken

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The Goalkeepers:

Birmingham have a full list of 38 players who all took part in first team training at Wast Hills to start the new season. It's five weeks until the big kick off against Middlesbrough. We are going to analyse each department of the squad and see where strengthening is needed to battle out in the championship.

Goalkeepers- 1:Darren Randolph 2:Colin Doyle 3:Nick Townsend 4:Callum Preston 5:Connall Trueman

In the Goalkeeping department, the blues have a great mix of fully fledged pros and some equally as talented youngsters. Darren Randolph and Colin Doyle provide great experience. Connall Trueman and Callum Preston are all capable under study's. The two first year pros are unlikely to make a break through next season so loans will provide good experiences for those two. Nick Townsend a beloved Bluenose, who spent a successful period at Lincoln last season will definitely be pushing Randolph and Doyle when the season starts in August.

Overall, the Goalkeeping department at St Andrew will undoubtedly be one of the strongest in the league, no further strengthening will be required.

Defence:

The Defenders: - 1:Neil Eardley 2:Paul Caddis 3:Jonathan Spector 4:Paul Robinson 5:Mitch Hancox 6:Amari'i Bell 7: Will Packwood 8:James Fry 9:Jonathan Grounds 10:Grant Hall 11:David Edgar 12:Gavin Cunning 13:Bobby Moseley 14:Josh Dacres-Cogley 15:Nathaniel Kelly

15 defenders are on the books, it is likely that some of the first year pros will head out on loan this season. But for Will Packwood, James Fry and Mitch Hancox, they will be pushing for regular places in the Blues team alongside Paul Robinson and the fully fit again Neil Eardley.

New signings, Grant Hall, Jonathan Grounds and Gavin Cunning are yet to prove themselves at this level and the first few months will be massive for them, otherwise manager Lee Clark will turn to our young academy prospects and leave the new additions out in the cold.

The Defenders are surely good enough to compete at this level. Therefore, I feel no new additions are needed. As long as the experienced pro and captain Paul Robinson can pick up from
last seasons and Jonathan Spector plays at the level he is capable of, it could help contribute to a positive season for Birmingham.

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