October 2008 Archives

Musings on QPR . . .

* I'm not sure if you can have more than one wake-up call in a season, but boy there was a case for it on Tuesday.

The Blackpool performance was bad, but against 10-man QPR, it was even worse when you consider the circumstances.

Put aside tactics, selection, injuries and so on for a moment. Sometimes Blues seem to think that the game and the points will fall into their lap, forgetting that they have to make it do so.

On occasions they were passing the ball to one another for the sake of it, not hurting the opposition at all, not penetrating or getting behind them.

Blues actually started in the same vein as they played against Sheffield Wednesday, and in spells against Crystal Palace and the 'other' QPR game: there was fluid, dovetailing movement with crisp, neat passing that unhinged defenders. Then they just lost the thread completely.

Alex McLeish's face was of the thunder variety afterwards. I don't think I've ever seen him as furious. And towards the end of the match he had to be tethered to the boundary of his technical area as he was going potty.

Drawing on his experience, McLeish didn't go all tea cups in the dressing room. Instead he announced that the players would be in on Wednesday - a scheduled day off - and he would discuss the match with them.

Having then calmed down and cleared his head pitchside with his assistants for 20 minutes before meeting the press, it meant that he didn't say something he might have regretted, and he exuded an air of someone who remained in charge of the situation and would not panic, despite such a debacle.

* Flavio Briatore, apparently, has a major influence on QPR team selection. A big influence, if you believe the local newspapermen and gossip in west London.

Former Italy midfielder Damiano Tomassi was given his debut and Emmanuel Ledesman came back in. Both have been described as Briatore 'signings'.

Caretaker Gareth Ainsworth has been at pains to point out that he remains manager in the proper sense of the role: 'Others do have an input but I get the final say so.'

Imagine if David Sullivan and David Gold started to pin up the team sheet on the dressing room wall before every game.

Tough on Franck Queudrue, I'd guess, and, if results started to go down the pan, would they give themselves a vote of confidence?

Just as well that Briatore's supposed dictats don't extend to QPR's choice of footwear.

The Formula One supremo, I swear, was walking around the club reception and corridors with what looked like a pair of slippers on, embossed with the R's club crest. Then again, I suppose they probably cost more than my house.

* I keep hearing people say that James McFadden's body language is such that 'he doesn't want to be here, obviously'.

I'm sure McFadden doesn't. He wants to play in the Premier League, like every other Blues player.

McFadden's conduct in public has been without reproach. Although his agent said he wanted to leave at the start of the summer window speculation season, he has not said so himself and rocked the boat, instead he has mucked in.

At Loftus Road, McFadden was in one of those moods that does get the watcher frustrated. To me, it's as if he knows he's better than most of the opponents he comes up against and isn't afraid to show it.

Nothing wrong with a strut and arrogance. Unfortunately he does have a tendency to over-do it on the ball when a quick, easy pass would suffice.

He was robbed of possession after dallying too much and QPR subsequently scored.

Because he shrugs his shoulders and moans at referees and has a pop at defenders, it doesn't mean he wants out - it's just him.

Some players chunter on, some just get on with it. McFadden can come across as quite mardy on the field of play, but to use that as proof he isn't committed, or is desperate to leave, is wrong.

His has worked hard defensively this season, even filling in at left-back during an earlier match.
Off the field, in among the group, McFadden is a popular and funny member of the squad.

Talking to Jon McCarthy afterwards, who is now the resident match pundit on BRMB and Gold radio, he said he could understand why people might grumble at the Scotland international.

But McCarthy said many talented players are perceived in such a way - for example, Dimitar Berbatov - and he would pick McFadden every week because he will win more than a fair share of games for Blues because he has got something that you can't deny: ability.

The reaction of Alex McLeish when asked to comment about Blues best ever start to a season said much about him.

"I hope it's the best finish ever, which would be even more important for us," he told the assembled media at the usual pre-match conference.

Not even the tiniest bit proud, Alex? Deep down, probably, but outwardly he wouldn't show it. The message was clear: we've done nothing yet, and we've not hit top form (or 'set the heather on fire', one of Eck's many Scots phrases).

Having won eight and lost just one of their opening 12 games, Blues are top of the Championship. They have improved on the club record start of 1899-1900, when teams like Gainsborough Trinity and Newton Heath were in contest.

Strange, though, that nobody seems to hold the side in much esteem considering what they've achieved and their position.

Ahh but Wolves are on fire (three defeats in the last four games), Reading score loads of goals (they are flaky away), Blues don't play good football (actually, they do, albeit in chunks, not over the entire 90 minutes - who does?).

Even at home, where weary Blues fans need to be excited and tend to have that 'seen it all before - you watch what happens in the summer if we go up' mindset.

That, and various other factors we've been over before, means there's not quite that buzz.

It's a shame for McLeish and his staff that they've walked into this kind of atmosphere as I think there's been a bit of head-scratching among them as to why the enthusiasm and vibrancy isn't quite there, or perhaps as you might expect it to be.

In the meantime, the team continues to get the job done and continues to grow and find itself. Blues have been pretty much metronomic this season, and that's a far better base point than erratic and unpredictable, collapsing to a 5-2 biffing like Wolves did in midweek for example.

I have a feeling that Blues fans might be pleasantly surprised by what's to come in the future under McLeish. This season, the goal is to get up, whatever it takes, then implement a remodelling.

Bringing in Nigel Quashie on loan, as a needs must to tide them over, is an example of that.

McLeish and his crew have already got an eye on that remodelling though, whether in January or the summer months.

Chief scout Paul Montgomery - who once had Didier Drogba lined up for West Ham United for £700,000 - has been busy beavering away in the background watching and checking on potential new recruits.

I understand some are foreign, maybe not too well known yet, some are exciting prospects in this country.

Ben Watson's disappointing performance on Tuesday for Crystal Palace - credit though Blues for pushing onto him and imposing their game, not allowing him to impose his - didn't do him any favours.

He's been mooted as a target, and the interest has been, and is, genuine. Blues have done plenty of homework on him.

Yet McLeish, ideally, wants players who can take Blues forward to the next level, to be definite upgrades on what they have got, when it comes to him making permanent signings.

That's his criteria. Of course, identifying players and then bringing them in are two different things. It's never always so simple.

So for the moment why not try to enjoy the ride as best you can - party like it's 1899, sort of - then see what materialises down the line.

The news is encouraging.

Geoff Horsfield plans to watch Blues game against Crystal Palace after an operation for testicular cancer.

He is making a good recovery and in tonight's Birmingham Mail he speaks at length about how he is coping - and how humbled he has been by the public's support.

And he also has a special message for all the men out there.

Never one to shy away from a challenge, Geoff Horsfield faces up to his toughest battle on Thursday - cancer.

Having been diagnosed with testicular cancer, that has brought to a premature end his football career, the man known to all and sundry as 'Horse', is due for surgery tomorrow.

He is in a positive and determined frame of mind, as you would expect, that's what he was like on the field itself.

I have exchanged texts with him in the past few days and he has been extremely touched by the level of support and goodwill messages he has received and seen.

We all have our favourite memories of Horse, Blues and Albion fans both.

One of mine cannot be repeated on this blog (let's just say he ensured this correspondent was stitched up and left worse for wear in Malaysia's Asia Cup during an all-night game of 'killer' on the pool table) but plenty of others can.

His goals in the League Cup semi-final, play-off final and the pair against the Villa in 2002-03 straight away spring to mind.

Horse was also a real man's man, who would pass the 'pub test' every time ie the sort who would happily sit and talk with anyone over a pint, and never be patronising or give off an air of superiority.

His devilish sense of humour was brilliant for the Blues dressing room and I recall the time when the publishers of the 2002 play-off final programme asked me to interview a player who would give a run down of his team mates for a pen-picture spread.

Horse was the obvious choice and they rang me back after I emailed the finished article to them in a panic, asking was I sure this was what he wanted to say.

For example, Curtis Woodhouse was described as 'Shrek', Stan Lazaridis a 'convict', Steve Vickers age was given as 44 and Michael Johnson's waistline likened to Sherman Klump, aka The Nutty Professor.

As for Jeff Kenna, he commented: "Our shandy-drinking right-back tried to keep up with the big boys at the PFA do and failed miserably . . . "

Horse's description of himself was " Shy, quiet, a model pro and probably the most feared striker in Britain."

Nico Vaesen was revealed as "By a (large) nose the worst dresser at the club . . . ".

Nico had half of Belgium over in Cardiff to watch him and called out to me at the team hotel on the eve of the game (the programme went on sale days in advance): "Tattum . . . I'm going to kill you and Horsfield." Don't shoot the messenger, naturally, was my response; Horse couldn't stop laughing at the carnage he had caused.

Norwich's equivalent was straight-laced, more befitting the seriousness of the occasion. But that was Blues strength back then, a great togetherness and earthiness.

Horse was no mug on the football field. In fact, he was under-rated, he played to his strengths and was clever enough to adapt to the strength of others.

You could say he formed an unlikely alliance with Christophe Dugarry - hod carrier and World Cup winner - but they were superb together and Dugarry absolutely adored Horse.

It still makes me smile one of Horse's quips after Dugarry invited him to spend the summer on the Côte d'Azur along with his best pal Zinedine Zidane: "I hope they don't get the ball out!"

Geoff, all the best big fella. A fine player, a top bloke.

A constant cry of recent years has been 'why aren't the crowds bigger down St Andrew's?'

Usually it's David Sullivan who has done the complaining.

When Albion won the Championship last season, their average Hawthorns gate was 22,311. When they reached the play-off final the previous year it was 20,472.

Blues average gate presently is 19,815.

Over the corresponding 10-game period in 2006-07, when Blues finished Championship runners-up, the average attendance was 20,506, and that was from five games against more attractive opposition than Barnsley, Blackpool and Doncaster Rovers.

By the end of that season, the average mark stood at 22,274, and in the four play-off seasons it hovered just under 22,000.

So should we really be expecting sell-outs every other week to watch Championship football, at relatively high prices, against a backdrop of disillusionment and in an economic climate that is, and has been, particularly tough on West Midlanders?

Blues attendances are really no better or no worse to what they have been at this level for several years now.

Anecdotal evidence suggests that there are thousands missing primarily because they are fed up and need to be reawakened and inspired, to be convinced that there is an exciting, not yo-yoing, future ahead.

Over the four years of Blues Premier League stay, the average attendance was 28,527.

In 2002-03, when Blues finished in their highest position, of 10th, for 31 years the gate was 29,076 - the best average since 1974-75.

Interesting to note, maybe, that 16 years ago Villa's average attendance was only 24,814. Blues back then finished runners-up in the old Division Three and were watched by an average of 12,433-a-game at home.

Last season Villa topped the 40,000 average for the first time since 1949-50.

I've never bought into this 'loyal supporters' argument. It doesn't wash now in modern society.

Going down the match is not longer as affordable as it was to most people, nor is it a tradition. There are so many other things to do, and if a supporter is discontent or apathetic, he or she is not going to turn up. Simple.

It's not rocket science to suggest that by looking after your fans, pegging admission at reasonable levels and having a successful team at the highest level will generate bigger crowds.

Observations on Blues - QPR and other things . . .

We all go on about how Blues should do this, that, the other, how they should play on so on. But one glance at the team sheet showed what kind of game it would be. QPR named their foreign imports, their more technical players, on the bench, and picked a very tall and physical looking side. It was heavy going at first but Blues began to keep the ball and played patiently. There was no panic.

The last time Blues came out early to warm-up before the second-half was at Spurs, if I remember correctly. Again, it was to try to halt a series of slow starts after the break. It nearly worked as Muzzy Izzet should have scored after 30 seconds from the first attack. Unfortunately, he later got sent-off!

The short, sharp passing and inter-changing for a 25-minute spell once play resumed in the second period was highly encouraging, hinting at promising things to come. We're more used to Blues playing in straight lines, pretty predictably to a rigid shape.This was better. There was whirling movement, angles created and visible assurance. Forget that QPR players seemed to have their feet nailed to the floor, such was their urgency.

So far, Alex McLeish still hasn't had the 'tactically naive' barb lobbed his way. Rightly so. He and his staff are quick to spot problems and quick to act. Quincy switched wings and it made a big difference to how the game panned out. Of course, it helps to have adaptable players and a wealth of options, relatively speaking at Championship level. You've still got to use them though. He again showed bravery to leave out James McFadden and Cameron Jerome.

Big Eck doesn't talk down to people or patronise them. He presents a fine imagine for the club before or after matches. Ask him about something he may have done and why, he will explain. He's not gone all Joe Kinnear on anyone yet, and his post-game assessments are reasonable and fair. It always used to make me chuckle in TF's press conferences when the line of questioning didn't go down the technical route. Most national journalists just wanted some juicy quotes, they couldn't be bothered with detail. Often a miffed TF would tell the assembled hacks: 'Well, you may not have noticed, but at half-time we had to make an adjustment and play Grainger more narrow and ask O'Connor to push onto their back four. I had to earn my corn there'. TF could get away with it, it was just him. Whereas I remember David Platt after a Forest-Blues game once beginning to explain a tactical decision only to suddenly stop and sneer: "What's the point, you lot wouldn't understand anyway." Charming.

Has Medhi Nafti's red card affected his natural game? Quite possibly. At Derby County he didn't so much withdraw from a 50-50 as go in with far less decisiveness than I've ever seen from him. There was another similar incident against QPR that was very unlike Nafti. Maybe he is thinking about that lunge on James Coppinger too much and trying too hard to keep his nose clean.

Blues went to the top of the league, on the back of their best start since 1908-09. Speaking to a vastly experienced former player, coach and manager the other day who keeps an eye on the local scene, he wasn't at all surprised. He said that Blues defence, with the addition of Lee Carsley to help protect them, was the best in the division and they could play far less on edge than in the Premier League because they always knew that at the other end Blues have players who can turn a game their way or score a goal. "People are going on about the football and the fact Birmingham haven't scored many," he said, "and they're all raving about Wolves. Well, Wolves rely on too few players, and they are a lot weaker [mentally] than Birmingham, who will be strong all the way throughout the season." Interesting.

* Brian Howard? A case of putting two and two together and coming up with five. There were all sorts of rumours on the day of the game. Blues didn't agree a loan with Barnsley, who have been hawking him around clubs they believe might be interested. Alex McLeish and his scouting team have done the diligence on Howard but Eck seems to have other irons in the fire. When he signs a midfielder permanently, he wants to be sure he would be able to take Blues forward.

* That boy Quincy? With all due respect to Monsieur Kapo (one of the most gifted footballers ever to don a Blues shirt, but perhaps not always the most enthusiastic), when he is on song he is a livewire. He's recovered from a couple of pretty wretched performances that offered zilch, and I guess he will blow hot and cold most of the season as he's that kind of enigmatic player.

* Lee Carsley? One of us, and hard as nails. Late in the game, Carsley cleared his lines and was caught very late and high by Miles Addison. You could tell it hurt and Carsley collapsed. As Derby fans rose from their seats to cheer, Carsley gave it the old 'it's only a flesh wound' treatment. Up he sprang and carried on, silencing them, even though his kneecap had been sheared off into the middle rows. Carsley is such an influence for Blues, especially in the anchor role. Just watch him when he or Blues haven't got the ball
and where he goes. Unsung hero and a sound bloke who genuinely wants to help the club do well.

* Unbeaten away from home and still not at the maxium. Matches at Bristol City, Cardiff City and Derby County have followed a similar pattern. If only Blues would continue to
press and play higher up and not retreat which, I suppose, can be a subconscious reaction when you are ahead and know that defensively you have not given the opposition a sniff. On the counter attack, Blues are as dangerous as they have been for years but, as Alex McLeish said, have to be more decisive and clinical to kill proceedings stone dead.

* Conceding from a set-piece, have Blues problems of old returned? I don't think quite so. There was a mix-up in who should be marking whom before Nacer Barazite delivered the best dead ball of the night, so Steve Davies was free. Just goes to show, mind, that one lapse in concentration can be costly. In fairness, Blues dealt with 15 corners at Cardiff City and Liam Ridgewell and Radhi Jaidi are probably on their third packet of Nurofen each by now considering the amount of balls they have headed clear and thrown
themselves at recently.

Wolves 0, Reading 3. Blues don't do those sort of results. By that I mean they possess a certain level of consistency and resolve, it's not in their DNA to allow a rival to wipe the floor with them. True, the counter argument is that Blues don't do those sort of 3-0 away wins either. Yet look at the vagaries of the scorelines so far in the Championship. You can't predict many outcomes, you can reasonably predict that Blues will be nothing if not hard to beat. Over the course of a 46 game season, that is what will count. Albion lost 11 games in winning the title last season. I can't see Blues losing that many.

ps: anyone notice who was taking the corners at Pride Park?