August 2008 Archives

It's that time again. When Sky Sports news goes more OTT than usual and can't get enough of itself, when fans websites go into overdrive and managers go round the twist.

Ahh, deadline day in the transfer window.

So what of Blues? Dozens in, millions spent? Not exactly.

The crown jewels to be sold at the last minute? Nope.

As a Championship club, and with the loan system available for the majority of the season, not to mention a strong squad, the pressure is not as exacting on them as it was in January, for example.

Sure, wouldn't it be great if Blues inspired us all by splashing a fair few million on players who would make the rest of the Championship feel queasy.

But it isn't going to happen, as much as everyone and McLeish would like it to.

That was the gist of what McLeish told me after the Norwich City game.

Like in 2006-07, the message from above is that stringent budgets are in place following relegation. There's a £25 million 'black hole', apparently.

The manager does want Bobo Balde, as we all know. And there is interesting news in regard to the centre-half in the Birmingham Mail.

The Blues manager is keen for a midfielder as well. But, at the time of writing, it's unlikely to be a cash signing, if at all. A loan is a more realistic proposition, and Blues have been sifting through various candidates at Premier League clubs.

There is a reasonable case to argue that a new player to help in the centre of the park is required more than a centre-half.

Imagine if something happens to Lee Carsley, where are Blues then?

Blues need more box-to-box drive and dynamism in the middle. Damien Johnson is crocked, Mehdi Nafti out. If Jordon Mutch were 22, not 16, it might not be an issue.

Kemy Agustien could well come good, but he is learning by the minute and almost too anxious to please.

The more long in the tooth Blues fans will tell you that they expect James McFadden and Sebastian Larsson to be sold.

It's not going to happen. That's the good news.

If a club pops up with £8 million, £10 million for either, then it might be different. But that's unlikely.

Speaking to Larsson after the Norwich game, he hardly gave off the air of a man absolutely desperate to find a way out, by hook or by crook.

Both he and McFadden know where the land lies and have got their heads round things.

And with Arsenal due a 40 per cent cut of any transfer fee over £1 million for Larsson, could you imagine Blues settling for anything but a huge wedge?

Realistically, if they were going to be sold, they would have long gone by now.

Traditionally, Blues always have had the capacity to surprise as the transfer deadline nears. Let's see what materialises.

He's quick, got a trick and doesn't run up alleys. He sees pictures.

Alex McLeish's eloquent summing up of Quincy says it all.

There's a star in the making at St Andrew's, the Dutch-Ghanaian winger has already made an impressive impact, and he's not fully fit yet either.

Quincy was rated quicker than Thierry Henry at Arsenal, and the way he can step on the gas and accelerate from a standing start is highly impressive, or frightening, if you are the full-back.

Now there's quick and there's quick but daft. We've all seen the wingers who can leg it but over-run the ball out or dispatch a cross into the stands.

Quincy seems to have a bit more poise about him, as well as being a slippery customer in possession.

His game appreciation and intelligence is good and I'd imagine he could easily play down the middle, or in the hole.

David Gold has drawn comparisons to Jose Dominguez and they are similar, but different.

Dominguez was a whipper-snapper of a player, whose fast feet and low centre of gravity enabled him to zip round defenders.

Quincy kind of glides elegantly, he's like a 400m runner on the back straight when he's in full flow.

What binds them is that Dominguez was a real crowd-pleaser who got you off your seat, just like Quincy did on Saturday.

Credit to McLeish, his chief scout Paul Montgomery who put a lot of spadework in, for getting Quincy to Birmingham. And the board drove a hard bargain, securing him on a loan for the season when Spartak Moscow wanted a fee in January.

Quincy, like Jermaine Pennant perhaps, didn't live up to his early promise at Arsenal and the bright lights of London were apparently appealing.

But he's wiser and determined to realise his latent talent.

Interestingly, when McLeish was doing his background checks he contacted Arsene Wenger who told him no ifs, no buts, if you can take Quincy, do so.

Talking to Quincy, his accent is more north London geezer than Holland. He doesn't sound like your typical Amsterdammer speaking English in that distinctive Dutch style (or even Steve McClaren for that matter).

He's very Anglicised and attuned to English football, which can only be a plus.

Blues fans have been holding out for a hero since Le God, monsieur Dugarry. Quincy could be that man.

Maybe Blues got it wrong about Richard Kingson after all.

The goalkeeper who knocked himself out at Blackburn Rovers and let a soft shot squirm through his body on his Premier League debut netted for his national side on Wednesday.

Kingson rescued Ghana in their friendly against Tanzania by heading home a free-kick, taken by his brother Laryea, with seven minutes left.

Not surprisingly, Kingson could hardly contain himself, with his goal proving to be the equaliser in new coach Milovan Rajevac's first game in charge.

Kingson was brought from Swedish club Hammarby to Blues to boost the competition between the sticks last season.

He was excellent in two Carling Cup ties - smacking his head against a post at Ewood Park in the line of duty - but gifted Portsmouth the opener in Eric Black's sole game as caretaker manager.

For his troubles, he was sent on his way in the summer with a barb from David Sullivan ringing in his ears.

As part of the co-owner's 'pile or rubbish' rant, Kingson was described as 'a complete waste of space'.

Perhaps Blues should have tried him out in the opposition penalty area?

In seriousness, it was a harsh judgement on a man who was deseperate to play Premier League football and, although a bit on the small side, was not exactly a duffer either.

When I sought comment about Sullivan's description, he invited me to his house and not only went into great detail about how hurt he was - and you could see it in his sad eyes - but asked for answers too.

Why would Sullivan say something like that, especially when he had kept himself to himself and had always been a model professional?

You try explaining the shoot from the hip foibles of Blues co-owner, also suggesting that he actually didn't have anything personal against Kingson. Not easy.

In Ghana, there was outrage and Sullivan became public enemy number one.

Fair play to you Richard, and let's just hope that the newest member of the Ghana national team, Quincy, doesn't get the same sort of treatment otherwise there could be forces mobilising outside the St Andrew's gates!

Blues or Middlesbrough?

David Gold has stirred up another hornet's nest with his comments about how much more interesting it is being a yo-yo club than one like Middlesbrough.

You can understand where the chairman is coming from - to a degree.

Boro are not a fashionable club by any means, and they maintain their Premier League status, for the most part, unspectacularly.

But they have won the League Cup and reached the UEFA Cup final, and spend big money on big players. Their backer, Steve Gibson, is in tune with the community from which he came.

After promotion in 2002, Blues spent four years in the Premier League but we could all see the cracks starting to appear and, sure enough, relegation followed.

Blues bounced back, then got relegated again. They could well bounce back once more this season.

Then what? It's all well and good riding the emotional rollercoaster, and you can make a case for a life in the Championship being more exciting than the Premier League because of the parity.

But do Blues supporters really want their team to be going from one extreme to the other every season? I think not.

Yes, it is getting harder and harder for the majority of sides to keep a Premier League foothold.

But isn't that part of the challenge for club owners, managers and players, testing your ability at the highest level, on a regular basis and, indeed, making a mark, making history?

Blackburn Rovers, Bolton Wanderers and FA Cup winners Portsmouth - they cope, and don't tell me a club from England's Second City can't and shouldn't be aiming higher than being a big fish in a small pool.

Blues had a great chance to kick on and progress after finishing 10th - their highest position for 31 years - in 2004.

They were at least the equals of 'our friends across the road', as Barry Fry used to describe them.

Now the gap between the Birmingham rivals has widened. Witness Alex McLeish's stark assessment after the 5-1 derby battering.

If you effectively accept that you are going to be relegated after winning promotion, what's the point in striving for promotion in the first place?

They've got a 'singing section' now down St Andrew's, something I've never been convinced about.

A bit contrived. If fans are going to sing, they're going to sing. You can't force them.

Something, though, does seem to be stirring among the masses.

We all know the two usual standards that roll down from the stands.

I was never sure about the 'Volare' Muamba refugee, now he's quality, chant but you kind of sensed where it was coming from.

But there are a few more songs being added to the repertoire.

Perry Common-based Blues stalwart Bob Teagle was out in Austria and his voice could be heard loud and clear at the friendlies.

His praise of Cameron Jerome to 'Swing Low, Sweet Chariot' was interesting, you certainly couldn't accuse him of not trying to get a new chant started.

Another stock song, describing Villa fans to the tune of 'Chitty Chitty Bang Bang' got a fair few airings, and is growing in popularity.

Then the other night at Wycombe, the hardy travelling band of 400 or so conjured up a song for Quincy moments after his impressive debut goal.

Although it's another that can't be repeated in print on the grounds of decency - well, because of one word to be exact - it did raise a smile.

Imagine 'Sloop John B' and it went 'He plays on the left . . . he plays on the right . . . that boy Quincy, he makes Kapo look . . . ', well, you guess the rest (clue: it wouldn't work if it started 'right' rather than 'left').

Then there was the tribute - of sorts - to Colin Doyle. This is one where you had to be there, and I reckon big Doylie must have got a bit worried at first.

Simple in its execution, but in mock-menancing voices, it went: 'Doyle! Doyle! Doyle! Doyle!'. Told you you had to be there. Where on earth that one came from, well, I don't know.

We've also been having the intro of UB40's 'Food For Thought', which could become a cult classic, maybe even to rival the surreality of 'Cardiff Dance'.

People always drone on about Liverpool's Kop being really witty, we all know Scousers are natural comedians etc (yawn, yawn).

So it's good to hear that sardonic sense of humour surfacing among the Blues ranks again in some new songs, albeit for adult ears only in the main.

PS: nice to see an electronic scoreboard at Wycombe - League Two Wycombe - replaying the action and updating on the night's other scores. Hope it's installation didn't cut into Peter Taylor's squad budget mind . . .

It's funny sometimes that we're quick to criticise our own when we maybe don't appreciate what we've got.

I've listened to people and read things over the weekend alluding to the fact that Sheffield United have one of the best defences in the division and Blues were fortunate to win.

No doubt, their backline is very strong and organised and the Blades will be difficult to beat this season.

But beat them Blues did - no matter when the goal arrived - and they will come up against teams who are not as capable defensively this season.

Now here's a question: is the squad taking shape stronger than the squad of 2006-07, the last time Blues were in the Championship?

Talking to current players who were here back then, they seem to think so.

And in various conversations with other journalists around the country who cover Championship clubs, most believe Blues will be the team to beat this season.

You have to say, it is looking promising. With Quincy Owusu-Abeyie to come on Monday, plus maybe another centre-half and a loan, if needed, Blues have a healthy feel about them.

When they opened on the first day two years ago, Olivier Tebily and Bruno N'Gotty were the centre-backs, Neil Danns started and Sebastian Larsson, Nicklas Bendtner and Fabrice Muamba - all having been rushed through on loan - were on the bench.

By the end of the season, the Martin Taylor-Radhi Jaidi axis was good enough to give Blues the best clean sheet record in the division, and Stephen Kelly was among the most accomplished right-backs around.

Mat Sadler has gone, but David Murphy has come, so has Stuart Parnaby and Liam Ridgewell while the goalkeepers look as sharp as I have seen them for several months.

Muamba has left, but Lee Carsley's signing should turn out to be key, the Stephen Clemence of operations.

Kemy Agustien arrives with a good reputation of a box to box player who is mobile and technically good, then you have the Naftis, Johnsons, McSheffreys and an improved Larsson, plus the emergence of Jordon Mutch.

Oh, and Owusu-Abeyie to do his thing and add to a forward line that is potentially as potent as any in recent years.

James McFadden can be the Bendtner figure, Kevin Phillips the DJ Campbell/Mikael Forssell and then some, and Marcus Bent will bring much needed presence and athleticism up top. Throw in Cameron Jerome and a rejuvenated Garry O'Connor, Blues shouldn't be short on goalscoring punch.

We all know that it doesn't matter what's there on paper in the player list. Blues apparently had the 'best squad in 25 years' (that quote will always haunt David Gold) and were relegated from the Premier League in 2006.

Alex McLeish will have to get the blend and balance right, as well assuage a few egos of those who don't get a regular sniff.

But Blues haven't had the guts ripped out of them following relegation - and everyone continues to insist McFadden and Larsson will not be sold.

And although McLeish has had to work to a very tight budget, he has recruited shrewdly and Blues are not (for once) in 'crisis'.

Let's not forgot, they are preparing for the Championship, not the Premier League, and at that level this bunch is not bad. Not bad at all.