August 2011 Archives

One of Chris Hughton's trademark phrases so far has been 'these are the things we have to work around'.

It's the manager's code for saying he will just get on with it the best he can, without letting slip his inner feelings about having little or no money, uncertainty over possible transfer window exits, a raft of injuries, a squad lacking depth and a lengthening fixture list. And then there's the big cheese up in court.

He would make a good politician, Hughton. But unlike some politicians, he does get on with it.

He knew what he was coming into at Blues and he hasn't moaned about his lot even if, perhaps, the situation was more demanding than he originally thought.

That, and the way he is trying to change Blues style whilst dealing with all of these headaches, has earned him the respect of the masses - witness the singing of his name at the Europa League play-off.

And that very victory over CD Nacional has helped buy Hughton a little more time and more patience from most people. Which is good, because it's set to be a long term project to turn Blues round.

European participation - and the way Blues performed with such swagger and pride in the play-off second leg - has lifted the mood. It is fresh, exciting, here for one season in every 50.

Imagine had Blues been stuffed in the first leg on Madeira; depression would likely have descended over St Andrew's, we would never have got that memorable night, nor Nathan Redmond announcing himself in such breathtaking fashion.

The extra games in the group stage do make it that much tougher in the Championship but it's not as if we didn't know this would be a consequence of success in the play-off.

And hopefully it will focus minds in the boardroom that not only Hughton but his current band of players need help in the form of more signings to cope.

It would be churlish to be critical of this current band Hughton and Paul Trollope have put together and are working with.

They are performing with honesty, focus and going out to try and win games. There were 17 shots on Nacional's goal the other night, which is becoming a kind of average figure for Blues.

And while we're at it, why not revel in and celebrate the 3-0 win, Blues greatest European night at St Andrew's since Bari were defeated in the Anglo-Italian Cup and the floodlights failed (OK, maybe not . . . ).

Looking at the team sheets beforehand, you had to wonder. Jonathan Spector and Jean Beausejour as the central midfield duo, a 19-year-old loanee from Albion and a lad just down from Iverness leading the attack.

With seven players missing, there were five teenagers on the bench.

Nacional's coach Ivo Vieira, to his credit, picked the most attacking line-up he could muster and for 15 minutes, when they whirled around and wouldn't let Blues have the ball, you had an uncomfortable feeling. Big night, big letdown?

But then it happened: Redmond accepted David Murphy's pass, skipped inside Luis Alberto and bam! a low 25-yarder that skidded into the bottom corner.

That moment transformed the game, and possibly Redmond's career.

When soon afterwards Murphy darted to the near post and the ball crashed in off the underside of the bar - his glancing header rebounding off Luis Alberto - it was dreamland.

Blues defended with far greater discipline and concentration than Nacional did from then on. Steven Caldwell was superb, Murphy excellent, and Stephen Carr was his machine-like self.

With Spector and Beausejour doing a great unheralded job in the centre - seemingly always there when required - Redmond tieing opponents up in knots and Chris Burke skirting past the white shirts with the ball, it was entertaining, enjoyable viewing.

And what of Redmond? In my time covering Blues I have not seen someone as good emerge from the ranks. He has the potential to become the best player the club has produced since Trevor Francis.

Nacional were lax in how they tried to combat him, but ultimately they had no answer. He was too good.

His little shuffle and shimmy to deceive two defenders by the left touchline late in the game was magical. Tommy Mooney, commentating on radio, said if it had been Lionel Messi, everyone would have been raving about it for days.

What I like about Redmond is that he's not just simply a nifty winger, whose sole trait is speed. He has a football brain and the vision to see a pass like a midfield playmaker, as well as the agility and ability to go past tackles with ease.

I remarked to him afterwards that the cat's well and truly out of the bag now, that he will be respected and targeted in equal measure by Championship clubs and other Euro hopefuls.

Perhaps it was just as well that there was no great interest by the media at large in the game (which reminds me: must get round to watching tape of ITV's coverage of Spurs-Hearts) as the last thing Blues or their fans would want is Redmond-mania promoted by a foaming at the mouth Sky Sports.

Just let him continue to learn his trade and develop at Blues, as that would be one of the more pleasant aspects for Hughton to 'work around'.

I don't know about anyone else, but I hope this involvement in the Championship doesn't impact on Europe.

All being well the game at Middlesbrough will not have taken too much out of Blues ahead of Thursday's Europa League play-off against CD Nacional.

Of course I am being flippant here, but part-serious as well.

In my previous blog I stated that the Europa League campaign should be one to embrace; it's not like a London bus.

And the second leg on Thursday should be an occasion to remember, especially as Blues have a very good chance of progressing to the group stage.

Judging by the first match in Madeira it should be entertaining too. Both teams went to attack, and both teams didn't hold back in their physicality. In short, it mattered - and so it should have done.

The loss at Middlesbrough was similar to the opening day defeat at Derby County.

Blues had a first-half lead and were in control of the game. Then it came crashing down, due to mistakes and a bit of bad luck.

Without doubt, Blues were flagging in the second-half and didn't have the zip. When Boro scored, they got on their uppers.

Nor do Blues have the options to change because of injuries and a lack of depth in the squad.

Unfortunately, I can see more results of this ilk this season. Blues are going to win some and come up short in others, unless something drastic happens monetary-wise and a raft of players of quality come in.

In fact, I fear that Blues are in for a period of being a middling club in the Championship, like they were before Trevor Francis had them knocking on the promotion play-off door seriously.

And that's annoying as for as much as people say the Championship is a tough league, the fiercest ever, it shouldn't be for a club like Blues.

The teams are much of a muchness, very average. Most want to play football and not make it a war of attrition. So whoever has Premier League quality in key areas - and a squad to cope with 46 games minimum - will prevail.

Unfortunately the flaky finances of the Hong Kong owners has meant that Blues are up against it in more ways than one.

But, I guess, we will always have Wembley, February 27, 2011; we will always have Europe.

Portuguese opponents Nacional were no great shakes. I was expecting more from them out in Madeira, on their home turf half way up a mountain, but they flattered to deceive.

Their Brazilian players are good technically as you would expect, but they ran out of ideas fairly quickly and were thrown off their stride by Blues purposeful play. Nacional admitted that Blues surprised them by being so attacking and positive.

Having hit the woodwork three times, through Chris Wood (twice, the first time above) and Steven Caldwell, Blues know that they may come to regret not securing at least a solitary away goal.

But if Blues adopt the same kind of urgency and keep their concentration, then they should advance.

Well, it might not be a tour but a flying visit if Blues don't overcome CD Nacional in the Europa League play-off.

That would be welcome by some, but not me. I don't get the 'let's get out of Europe as soon as possible' brigade.

Heaven knows Blues have waited 50 years to appear on such a stage. They earned the right, having won a major trophy. It's an honour. So why just chuck it?

And I'm not sure Chris Hughton can simply play the reserves either considering that the squad is thin anyway.

Should Blues advance, the fixtures and work load increase. That's not going to help, especially if the numbers in the ranks are not boosted significantly.

But any Championship team has to be prepared for a long, old slog of a season anyway. And at present, the excitement and diversion of some European nights would be most welcome.

Let's face it, at this moment are Blues nailed on for promotion? No. Similarly are they likely to be relegated? No.

So, safeguard next season's meeting with maybe Doncaster Rovers, Burnley or Wolves, or rather embrace something new, different and try to go as far as possible in Europe?

It might not happen again for another 50 years and the recent history of the club suggests that at some stage Blues will be back in the Premier League. Well, hopefully . .

Hughton and his first teach coach Paul Trollope have one heck of a job on their hands.

The early signs are encouraging, you can see what Hughton is trying to do, how he wants the team to play.

With defensive options in situ that are the best in the Championship - and even if Scott Dann goes, Blues should be strong in that department - there is a good bedrock.

But Blues need more quality, and players at the top end of the pitch who would make a difference on a regular basis. The Championship seems much of a muchness; those teams with players who can stick the ball in the back of the net are the ones that will emerge and last the course.

It could work in Blues favour if Bolton Wanderers and others don't opt to proceed with a move for Cameron Jerome because of his heel injury and he therefore has to give at least four months to the cause, once fit.

Whether Hughton has the scope to actually spend on a fee seems unlikely. Hence the frees, loans and trialists.