Birmingham City - A Season Reviewed

Article by Rick Lopez

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While the Premier League builds up to its climatic - or anti-climatic - end, the rest of the Football League has already finished, and most clubs will have started their preparations for the 2015-16 campaign. Birmingham City sealed off their campaign with a 1-0 win against Bolton two Saturday’s ago, with Robert Tesche scoring the solitary goal.

This season has been a rollercoaster of emotions for Blues, but the club has made real progress. Compare the ends of the last two seasons - in 2013/14, under Lee Clark, we travelled to Bolton in fear, and only just stayed in the Championship on goal difference through an injury time equaliser. This season, we travelled to Bolton in celebration, and ended the season in 10th place and on 63 points, just 15 off the playoffs. A remarkable turnaround.

The mastermind of the turnaround has been, of course, the manager: Gary Rowett. Rowett has instilled a sense of belief, confidence and organisation into the Birmingham City players, and the results have followed. That home win against Watford, the 6-0 win against Reading, the last gasp equaliser against Derby. All great memories.

But now, the attention must focus to next season. For as this season was one of low expectations, the bar will be set higher for the next.

Obviously, Blues need to sign players over the summer if they want to progress. One of the highlights of the end of season run in was the loan players that Rowett brought into the club, especially the likes of Rob Kiernan, Diego Fabbrini and Robert Tesche, of whom all made an impact. If Blues can get them again for next season in some form, whether another loan or permanently, it can only improve the squad.

The position of goalkeeper could need reinforcing, with Darren Randolph playing up over contract negotiations, and Colin Doyle being released, we could be left with 20 year old Nick Townsend in goal. If Randolph does indeed leave, I think Blues should try and bring Boaz Myhill back to the club: he is greatly respected for the one year he spent with us, and is out of contract at West Brom.

Our biggest problem may not be with players however: Rowett is supposedly the target for a number of clubs, and who can blame them after this campaign. Derby could come in for him if Steve McClaren goes to Newcastle, and Rowett may well jump ship: Blues are still a club with an owner in prison, and a limited transfer budget. We must hope that he stays loyal for at least another year.

So, overall, an interesting season: one that started off disastrously, and ended miraculously. We face a summer of rebuilding, hopefully one where the manager stays, and useful additions are made to the squad. The Blues fans will want more next season, and it’s up to the club to deliver: see you over the summer with more updates!