Wheeling and Dealing

Article by e-Birmingham City's Matt Jewsbury

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I haven’t blogged for just over a week now, but I am back and I am a very happy chap! Now, I know there has been no news regarding the takeover this past month - which doesn’t make me happy - but on the upside some of my worries about the inevitable threadbare squad have been quashed. Lee Clark has done a very commendable job in the transfer market, as of yet - 9 players in, 9 players out. There have been concerns about the players being of a League One standard - and I do not blame the fans for feeling that way. But, we must come together, support the team and give these guys a chance - we cannot say they are surplus to requirements before they have even kicked a ball for Blues.

Clark has been clever with the new recruits - he has learned from last seasons loan disaster and made sure that the only loanee from the 9 players has no recall clause - you really do see it too often from managers, they seem to never learn - but credit where credit’s due. I also loved the quote “We have 38 players here, who all have a chance” - it is great to have that competitiveness in the squad, and no doubt the youngsters will be getting a chance to prove themselves. Albeit this can have positive effects, it can also have the negative effect that you never have a settled squad each week, a squad that know’s they are going to be playing and are able to gel with each other. Also, a squad who are played in their NATURAL POSITION each week Mr. Clark!

It’s a damned position for any club to be in - we have watched our club being stripped apart for 3 years now and have had to sit back whilst watching. But better times are close - I truly believe the takeover will be wrapped up soon, maybe not before the start of the season but definitely in time for the January transfer window; enabling us to analyse where we are at with the new team and maybe bring in a few fresh faces for actual transfer fees!!!! But at the moment, I reckon Clark is doing a great job with the tight wage structure he has - he works far far harder to entice new recruits than other managers.

In regards to the signings themselves - they have definitely been with what we need. New additions in defence have been a prerequisite for months and the captures of David Edgar, Jonathan Grounds, Grant Hall and Gavin Gunning are exactly the type of defenders I like to see down St’ Andrews - maybe a couple have came from League One, but players like Jose Fonte were ‘League One Players’ and but was also pivotal to Southamptons promotion in the 11/12 season.

Three midfielders have been signed up on permanent contracts - Stephen Gleeson, who had a great campaign with MK Dons last season - Mark Duffy, who is versatile on either wing and notched up 2 goal and 3 assists last season for relegate Doncaster Rovers and David Cotterill who followed Duffy from Doncaster, who notched 4 goals and 3 assists mainly from the left wing; including a fantastic freekick against Blues at St’ Andrews.

The two strikers brought in by Clark have also been pleasing - adding a bit of pace and strength up front that Blues often lacked last season. Wes Thomas who had a previous spell on loan to Blues from Bournemouth notched 3 goals for Blues that season and for me looked pretty decent, using his pace to his advantage at every opportunity - he also had an impressive goalscoring record for Rotheram in the final half of last season bagging 5 goals from 8 games, massively helping Rotherham in their promotion to the Championship. The second striker Clark has managed to entice is 30 year-old Clayton Donaldson from Brentford - who again looks strong and pacey, whilst bagging 17 goals for Brentford last season.

With this big influx of new players has came the departure of some good quality players - mainly the fan favourite that is Nikola Zigic, he will be massively missed by many fans at St’ Andrews, Zigic didn’t have the best scoring record making a total of 147 appearances and only finding the net 36 times - but the 6’7 giant always seemed to find the net when it was needed, most notably, the quarter finals against Villa, Carling Cup final and most recently the great escape on the final day against Bolton. He got a lot of stick from fans for his £60k a week contract, but it was never his fault and he gave the Blues faithful so many laughs in his 4 years with Blues.

The other big loss being the ever present Scotsman, Chris Burke - his first seasons with Blues was fantastic and helped massively to the play-off promotion push. The last couple of seasons have been a little disappointing - I have my own theories for the reasons behind this which were pinpointed in my previous article. They have both been great servants to the club.

I can’t wait for the new season and to see the new players in action. Now back to me watching the World Cup.

Keep Right On my fellow Bluenoses!

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