May 2011 Archives

As Bogart said to Bergman, we will always have Paris.

In this case Wembley, February 27, 2011.

There will always be the glorious memory of the Carling Cup to warm the heart when, in years to come, we look back on this season.

Heck, you can do it now if you want if it means blocking out the depressing pain of the slide to the Championship that followed after Blues defeat of Arsenal.

All that said, we will only be able to recall a day that tends to comes round once every 50-odd years with deep satisfaction as long as Blues do now not go backwards as a club.

Everyone has kind of got used to the yo-yo effect in recent seasons. It's been akin to 'oh well, never mind, at least we will win some games in the Championship and come back up'.

I'm am not so sure it's going to be that easy this time round.

Blues have to do things right this summer, from boardroom to manager's office to dressing room.

The financial implications of relegation are far greater than ever before.

The £30 million - £40 million drop in revenue may be offset by the initial parachute payment of £16 million next season.

But there would still be a considerable income shortfall, despite the axing of high wage earners already (Obafemi Martins, David Bentley, Aleksandr Hleb and Matt Derbyshire accounted for £200,000-a-week).

And as there remains such uncertainty over the state of Blues health, primarily based on announcements over the past months from Birmingham International Holdings, it is only natural to be worried.

There may be plenty going on in the background by Carson Yeung to try and improve the situation. And only one person knows the exact state of affairs, and that's Yeung himself.

For all the digging and sniffing about the media at large has done, it has proven impossible to get to the nub.

As was found when Nanjing took over MG Rover, the Chinese make no apologies for being secretive when it comes to such things. Our culture and way of doing business is different and that has only added to the intrigue and concern.

Most articles and interpretations of where Blues stand are based on information that has been in the public domain via the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, and the riches that Premier League status provides.

And when Peter Pannu, in his robust way, comes out and offers a defence of Yeung, it has not been good enough for some observers, which has helped fuel a bit of an anti-Blues feeling.

In some quarters there was a real sense of disappointment when Blues received their UEFA licence to play in the Europa League. It's a better story if they do a Portsmouth, after all.

When out in Hong Kong and China in pre-season, there was no outward signs of a lack of wealth. And when I pressed him on such matters he didn't so much take offence than fail to understand the reasoning for the questions; in essence it was 'mind your own business, let me get on with it - and tell the fans to trust me'.

If there is an 'everything must go' clearing of the decks this summer then the alarm bells should start ringing.

I have been assured twice these past few days, on and off the record, that Blues are not about to stage a firesale of their top talents.

My view is that, without putting the club in absolute peril, Blues simply have to keep a nucleus together, make additions around them, and then they could win promotion at the first attempt.

Sixteen players have left St Andrew's already. If Ben Foster, Scott Dann, Roger Johnson, Craig Gardner and Cameron Jerome go, for instance, then how on earth would Blues expect to win promotion?

The squad was not the deepest last season and with a minimum of 46 league games ahead, plus cup and European commitments, there needs to be enough bodies, and of better standard than the rest.

I know this has been a significant tenet of the talks Alex McLeish had with Pannu, and the board have to show some bravery and strength here to resist the predators and hold players to their contracts if it comes to that.

Pannu''s comment that there was 'by and large, consensus in the way we believe we should proceed' was interesting and suggested that more talking will be done.

The Norwich City of Steve Bruce and Louie Donowa in 1985 were the last team to win the League Cup and be relegated from the top-flight in the same season.

Surely Blues are not going to emulate them, are they?

They have a slight points advantage on the others at the bottom of the table and on Sunday face Fulham knowing that it is, quite simply, a day of destiny.

There are all sorts of permutations we can work out. If Saturday lunchtime results go their way (Sunderland v Wolves; Blackpool v Bolton), then a point might actually be enough.

But they have to prepare this week for the worst case scenario and gear everything towards securing three points regardless.

Encouragingly, it is familiar territory.

Blues were 19th after the defeat by Wigan Athletic on March 19. They stewed over the international break, and came back to win must win matches at St Andrew's against Sunderland and Bolton Wanderers.

They found a way to win, and it didn't matter how. Plus, Blues mental strength and the experience to handle pressure is, on the whole, good.

Why they have made it hard work for themselves since picking up seven points out of nine in that spell is not a mystery. So, therefore, the problems can - and have to be - addressed.

Blues went to Chelsea and Liverpool when that pair were both in form. Blues gifted them goals through sloppy play and individual errors, and then it was one-way traffic; the opposition were just too good.

I felt Blues would have beaten Wolves had Craig Gardner not been sent-off. In the circumstances, it was a bad game for Wolves to draw, having mustered nothing, in the end.

At Newcastle United, the game was similar to the one at Anfield in that Blues were comfortable then, all of a sudden, more slackness, a handball, sending-off, penalty - up against it again.

So individuals have to tighten up. Cut out the mistakes and Blues could also use a break from a referee; maybe they are due a decisive penalty?

As far as creating more chances and taking them, Kevin Phillip is certain to start alongside Cameron Jerome for the fifth home game in a row.

Gardner's shooting prowess will be missed but could be offset by Jean Beausejour starting on the left, which would suit Phillips if it means more crosses, from his flank and Sebastian Larsson's, coming into the box.

Beausejour can also pick a slide-rule pass, too, and has perked up in form.

Aleksandr Hleb and David Bentley are tantalising talents and it's not simply a case of Alex McLeish breaking out in a cold sweat when considering such mercurial players for the XI.

In truth, the pair haven't done enough in recent weeks to warrant starting places and would be better utilised off the bench, in the hope of making a telling impact if needed, as Hleb did against Sunderland.

Nikola Zigic has been a big miss, in more ways than one, even if only as an option to spread fear from which others can profit. He became Blues talisman before groin and hip problems.

Not having Zigic, Obafemi Martins as well as Hleb, Bentley and Beausejour not always fully fit, available or in form, has not helped Blues at all since Wembley. And James McFadden's worth has perhaps now only been recognised by some.

There has been no continuity, legs and minds have appeared tired, Blues play patchy and in need of a pick me up.