June 2008 Archives

So, here we are again, another great striker search for Blues.

Mikael Forssell's exit has meant that Alex McLeish is keen to recruit one more - if not two - forwards.

Jan Koller, the towering Czech, was tempted, but not that tempted when there's 40,000 big ones coming your way every week in Russia.

Some fans have expressed puzzlement, if not worry, about McLeish's targeting of the 'white Kevin Francis'.

Essentially, he was available for a knock-down fee, has presence and pedigree, if not the mobility McLeish would ideally like.

In an ideal world - ie Premier League land - McLeish would be in a position to have a bash at someone like Jason Roberts, of Blackburn Rovers.

His barrelling style would suit perfectly Blues needs. He is quick, strong and causes defenders problems.

Similarly Reading's rangy Dave Kitson would fit the bill. A target man who doesn't just do an impression of a telegraph pole. He can run, move, link play and score.

Those are the types McLeish would probably like, but we're not in that ideal world. Then again, sometimes you never know; witness the moves for Emile Heskey, Craig Bellamy, Mark Viduka and, er, Mido.

On the assumption that James McFadden will not be sold - and McLeish has told him that is the case - then with Cameron Jerome and Garry O'Connor too, that's not a bad attack for starters.

Jerome, in my opinion, can be an important player for Blues this coming season. There is no-one of his speed at the club, or perhaps in the division. And he will score, given the support.

But McLeish is scouring far and wide for another frontman, and will make sure he doesn't rush into anything.

Georgios Samaras (Manchester City), Andy Carroll (Newcastle United) are of that taller ilk too. Marcus Bent, who is back at Charlton Athletic, has the athelticism and size that makes him pesky.

Fraizer Campbell, scorer of 15 goals for play-off winners Hull City, is worth an inquiry, and it would not be a surprise to learn that McLeish has already contacted Manchester United. However, they might now want to cash in, for a big fee.

There's a funny story from Blues pre-season tour to Germany last year.

New signing Olivier Kapo was billeted with Fabrice Muamba, a fellow French-speaker, and on the first night as roomies they got chatting.

Kapo asked Muamba how old he was and when the reply came back '18' there was wide-eyed disbelief followed by much laughter.

'You serious?' was the gist of Kapo's reaction, as he was convinced Muamba had the look and the physique of a man of more advanced years.

A touch of the Peter Ndlovu or the Kanu about him, that sort of thing (Kanu has just celebrated his 48th birthday apparently).

Muamba was preparing for his first full season in the Premier League, having proved himself a man all right in the Championship.

Although rough around the edges, Muamba's athleticism and drive was inspiring. Kevan Broadhurst, analysing on radio, often said that he brought the energy and thrust to the midfield that had been lacking since Robbie Savage used to drag people along with him.

Martin Taylor joked that he was like Inspector Gadget, sticking out those telescopic 'go go gadget' legs to dispossess a startled opponent.

Now Muamba has gone, in a £5.75 million deal to Bolton Wanderers, the debate has started about whether or not it was a wise move.

Without doubt it's a lot of money, a good price, for a player whose potential has not been realised and has plenty to improve upon.

On the flip side, would Muamba not get better in the next couple of years and be worth a lot, lot more in terms of importance to the team and from a monetary angle?

He's another cult favourite to have exited St Andrew's as well.

Being a Blues fan, perhaps even more so than your friendly neighbourhood reporter, you tend to get a bit cynical over time.

So noises since the season's end that Blues are not angling to sell their best players has been greeted with a collective 'well, they would say that, wouldn't they?'

Following relegation from the Premier League in 2006 the 'crown jewels' were not going to go, fans were told at that year's AGM, and then in May
.
Emile Heskey, Jermaine Pennant and Matthew Upson ended up elsewhere.

This year's crown jewels are Sebastian Larsson and James McFadden. Is the same thing going to happen again?

Mikael Forssell has already departed, Championship football meant that Mauro Zarate's loan was not going to be made permanent.

Alex McLeish wants neither to be sold. He has said on more than one occasion that he might have to make a 'sacrifice' or two in order to generate resources.

That's because he has to balance the books this summer and will have to be creative if he is to rejig the squad to his liking.

Olivier Kapo is a more likely candidate to move on, and I understand interest in Fabrice Muamba is growing and Blues could sell him for the right price.

But Larsson and McFadden are untouchable as far as McLeish is concerned and, in my opinion, Blues don't need to cash in on them.

The club is financially healthy, there are no huge wage earners like in 2006 and the squad has a capable look about it.

Two or three additions - and McLeish has said he would only go for quality to 'enhance' what he has got - on top of Lee Carsley's signing should make Blues a serious promotion contender.

Ninja Feet, the Sweatiest Man in Football, the Milky Bar Kid, Forss.

Just some of the sobriquets Mikael Forssell picked up during his time at Blues. In Finland, he is known as
Miklu, and drives a Mercedes with that moniker on the number plate.

Next season, he will be cruising his sleek motor down the autobahns.

It's the Bundesliga and Hannover for the striker. He will join them on July 1, the first day after his Blues contract expires.

Blues could have exercised a two-year option, but they wanted Forssell to take a reduced salary after relegation and because of worry about his knees.

Hannover tried to sign Forssell last summer in a £1 million deal but went cold after their medical people preached caution.

This time they have taken the plunge and Forssell leaves after 37 goals from 118 appearances, stretched over a five-year period.

That term of duty is significant: had Forssell not required surgery to repair a chondral defect (the sort of
injury that forced Jamie Redknapp to quit), who knows what he might have achieved, and where he might have ended up.

A 19-goal return in 2003-04, his debut season on-loan from Chelsea, was Forssell at his peak. His goals
came a variety of ways: sniffed out, followed-up, right place at the right time, manufactured himself with
those quick feet (he liked to joke it was Ninja feet).

He made just four appearances the next campaign before Chelsea took him back for surgery and we never did get to know just how the Forssell-Emile Heskey partnership would fare.

Before returning emphatically these past few months, it did look bleak for Forssell.