May 2008 Archives

Not surprisingly, given the past (the '£1O million player', 'Maradona for Blues' - now that is going back) some people have looked upon my story about Michael Bradley, Valon Behrami and, previously, Edmilson, as some kind of 'spin'.

Each to their own, no problem with that. However, having discovered who Alex McLeish was on the verge of signing had Blues stayed up, I felt it was an interesting story. Still do.

Neither McLeish nor the board tipped me the wink or put me up to it. In fact, I had a text from the manager just as he was about to board a plane for a holiday asking 'who have we missed out on?' as word had got to him about the Birmingham Mail story.

I think he was concerned one of his present targets might have slipped the net!

As he's new at the helm, I believed it provided a glimpse into his thought processes, the areas he was - and still is - looking to improve, and the tentacles of his scouting network.

Bradley's an exciting, goalscoring talent, Behrami likewise possesses quality. Edmilson, for whom Blues had reached agreement on a £60,000-a-week wage, would have been the lynchpin of the team.

Alas, all want Premier League, not Championship, football. So McLeish has reverted to Plan B and Lee Carsley's addition was opportune and a good sign of the intent - no 'spin' there, it happened.

Like every Blues supporter, I will be fascinated to see how McLeish's Blues revolution unfolds this summer. And stories connected that are accurate and carry substance will continue to be published.

As a start, it's a good one.

Lee Carsley is a trooper, a fine player, a fine professional and someone who will give a lead to the rest around him.

That he is from a family of Blues nuts, in the heartland of Sheldon, is good too.

Speaking to him for an interview in Tuesday's Birmingham Mail, it's clear he doesn't think his luck's in at the age of 34. Back to the home town, couple of years, take it nice and steady, that kind of thing.

Not Carsley, he's not constructed that way. Throughout our conversation, it was clear that he's on a mission: a new start to keep him fresh, a challenge to help revive Blues and help them progress.

And he wants promotion all right. Nothing else will do, and that is encouraging. In fact, he wants the title. That's a great statement of intent, it sets the right tone.

Let's face it, Blues should not be targeting anything less. With the squad there at present, and with Alex McLeish allowed to mould things to his liking (there's £12 million parachute money that should all be spent, for instance), Blues should charge at the league head-on next season.

Carsley could have continued for another year at Goodison Park, providing the best supporting actor role to the leading lights of Tim Cahill, Mikel Arteta and the like yet again.

And the Championship is a more rugged terrain than the top-half of the Premier League and the UEFA Cup.

Somehow, you sense that Carsley won't go missing and think in mid-winter 'what on earth have I done?'.

Well, at least it's never dull, is it?

I've had to let the emotions subside somewhat before posting again.

And I think anyone who has charted this season, which ended on the lowest of high notes against Blackburn (if you know what I mean) understands.

Kapo - in my view among the top three or four most naturally gifted footballers to ever play for Blues - and Zarate performing in such a freewheeling, vibrant style, four goals, an absolutely raucous atmosphere.

But Blues are down. The fans are down on the owners. To be honest, no shock there. What did they expect on Sunday? That said, you can't condone some of the viciousness.

The national media have loved it, all the aggro surrounding Sullivan/Gold/Brady, the kids, the tears, the threats to quit.

Next season, they won't bother covering Blues unless they have lost four on the spin and there's a 'crisis'.

The reasons for relegation have been covered elsewhere, certainly at length in the Birmingham Mail.

It's the recriminations that have dominated since.

Sunday is supposedly the day of rest, right?

Day of agony or ecstasy more like. But let's not go there, much has been said and written about Blues destiny, can they do it and if they don't, what the hell has gone wrong?

We will deal with all that next week. For now, some light relief.

As you will have possibly read in my colleagues blogs, the Midlands football writers gathered for a very social lunch the other day in Dorridge.

Alex McLeish and Andy Watson sat next to Trevor Francis and swapped much chit-chat re Blues. Terry Westley was a couple of seats down, too.

All it needed was for Steve Bruce to pop in from his pad around the corner and there could have been quite some pow-wow.

McLeish was among the last to leave and created a very good impression with the writers, many of whom still aren't quite sure how he ticks.

In turn, I think he has been quite wary about the hacks having landed on a new patch somewhat less frenzied than Glasgow.

Beatles or Stones? Blur or Oasis? Coe or Ovett? Federer or Nadal? Georgie Thompson or Kirsty Gallacher?

We all have our favourites when it comes to rivalries (OK, one of the above is not really a rivalry but gratuitous, yet what the hey).

So, where do you stand on Steve Bruce v Alex McLeish?

There's a debate going on at the moment fuelled by Bruce securing Wigan Athletic's Premier League status and Blues current position under McLeish.

One newspaper said that Blues should eat humble pie for cashing in on Bruce to the tune of £3 million. By
inference, the suggestion was that McLeish wasn't a patch on him.

Needless to say, it didn't go down well in the corridors of power at St Andrew's, Essex and Surrey. And McLeish was hardly chuffed.

The pro-Bruce arguments are that he has worked his magic to turn round Wigan's fortunes. He was able to rouse Blues to secure 'must win' games this season too. And Wigan were second-from-bottom when
he took over. No doubt, he has done a superb job.

His track record, over six years at St Andrew's, was good. The blot was relegation and the Liverpool 7-0 (it still makes you shudder) but he will always be held in high regard in years to come for what he did for the club.

And I will always maintain that to haul Blues out of the Championship given the circumstances and incredible pressure at the first attempt was an achievement that has never been given the credit it truly deserves.

You could argue that Bruce knew what he was doing when he got out, that the Blues team he put together under financial constraints was always going to struggle.

And he admitted as much to McLeish after Wigan beat Blues.

He also saw the writing on the wall with regard to the Carson Yeung farce. And, after so long, he knew it was probably time for a change, especially when the board's eyes lit up at the thought of a £3 million 'transfer' fee.

At Wigan, you could also say he inherited more quality, more know-how and more strength - as was shown at the JJB Stadium when Blues were nailed good and proper.

Blues were only three points ahead of Wigan when he went there, and the 'must win' games, earlier in
the season, didn't have nearly as much riding on them than those recently at the business end of the
campaign.

Hands up, then, who has taken more than a passing interest in the Championship the last couple of weeks?

Have you bothered to find out what time the Championship goals are screened on ITV on Sunday mornings?

Or even looked at who is coming up from League One?

After so much cautious optimism that Blues 'will just about be OK', when they've played Chelsea off the park, upset Arsenal, beaten Spurs and Manchester City, the mood has changed.

Most people are steeling themselves for another slog in the division from whence Blues have just come.

Alex McLeish and his players are making the right noises, that there is still a chance. And there is. But what else are they supposed to say?

Should the worst happen and Blues be relegated, then that's the time for inquests. And it could be a very stormy summer all told as disillusionment with the board continues to grow.

But now's not the time for the fingers of blame to be pointed.

Blues have to win at home to Blackburn Rovers on Sunday (although they could get away with a draw) and hope results elsewhere fall their way.

Trouble is Reading are at Derby County, now officially the worst Premier League team ever. And Fulham could get the matador treatment from FA Cup finalists Portsmouth.

At least Blues are at St Andrew's. They are they a Dr Jeckyll and Mr Hyde team, home and away.