Are Birmingham City Back? Let's See How This Plays Out
A summer of change has seen pessimism and realism turn into the optimistic belief that Birmingham City are well and truly back. Are we?
It's early July. I've posted my answers to FourFourTwo, completed a preview for the Not The Top 20 Podcast and prepared for a podcast with Gab Sutton on the EFL Debate. The takeover is near completion and fans are getting excited.
I'm trying to keep level-headed.
We've made two signings as I've posted the first of those previews and two more by the time the second and third takes place, alongside a contract renewal.
My understanding at this point is that while we have a recruitment team in place, Craig Gardner's best mates on standby and a new ownership looking to improve all aspects of the club, we aren't going to be in the market for top end players. We'll remain bottom of the pile when it comes to attracting talent, instead taking risks on those with fewer suitors as we look to cobble together the best available players for John Eustace to work with.
It's survival, again. Stay up then move forward. Avoid the dogfight at best. Anything mid-table or higher is a bonus.
The summer moves on. A lot of the old guard have gone. A couple of players have returned to the fold. The list incomings list grows ever stronger. Anticipation rises.
It's now early September and we have reached the first international break of the season in 4th place, genuinely looking good for it too. Every player appears to have a role and the excitement from the fanbase is palpable.
Birmingham City are back.
Or are we?
Let's plant those feet firmly back on the ground and digest an surreal couple of months.
Tyler Roberts.
This is where the anxiety for the new season started.
It was less about Roberts the player or person and more what the signing represented.
I'm a fan of the Gloucester-born Welsh international. He's technically excellent - without kicking a ball for us, I was confident that he was the most naturally gifted technician at the club. He can finish. He can create. He can run. He's well built. Marcelo Bielsa liked him.
But there is a reason he was joining Birmingham City rather than helping Leeds United return to the Premier League.
He has never played more than 2000 minutes of a league campaign. Never started more than 20 league games. Never played more than 30. For all his undoubted ability and reportedly good character, he’s unreliable, unable to keep himself fit. We were signing him in the hope the risk paid off.
It also felt like this was another Craig Gardner gamble. He knew Tyler Roberts. He knew his agent. It was hard to imagine this one being recruitment team led. He may have projected well a few seasons ago but not recently. His time at QPR didn’t help either.
I wasn’t about write him off but there was absolutely concern that we had little money to spend and this is where it was going.
Wait, did I say a little money? That was wrong, wasn't it.
Koji Miyoshi.
Interesting.
A free transfer from Belgium. Never heard of him. I can't judge. But why is he joining Blues?
Ten games last season. On the recovery from an ACL. There it is.
I spoke to a friend who watches football in Belgium. He was complimentary. Diminutive. Talented. Creative. Little bit of a spark. Would take time to adapt. All proven pretty fair on early showings.
Still, this was a curious signing, in a good way. We've never had a Japanese international. He's not a friend of our Craig. He's a different profile of player to what we are used to. I want to see him play.
But doubt remains. It’s still early doors. I'm under the impression we still can't spend much and our two signings are players arriving on the back of injury woes.
Kevin Long's new deal was next. Or it may have been before. I can't remember.
I really like Long. A proper character and it's easy to see why Sean Dyche kept him around at Burnley for so long. He's effective in his actions. He's okay if not amazing on the ball. He calls people out. He organises. He knows the game and, after an iffy start, has proven very reliable.
The first sign that we are still looking to sign a sure thing or two.
Krystian Bielik.
Thank God for that.
Bielik is proof as to why we shouldn't write off players with a history of big injuries, even if we are allowed to be nervous about the impact they may have.
The giant Polish midfielder is a classy footballer. He was as a teenager. He was for Derby County when fit. He was for Blues last season. He barely missed a game, proved he could play three games in a week and almost never let the side down. Give him the ball and you keep it. He pressed high. He drove forward.
The only spell last season during which he clearly struggled was post-World Cup. In hindsight, it was understandable. He joined Blues to earn that spot in the Poland squad and ended up starting games for his nation on the biggest stage of all. He returned with a little less bounce in his step. Maybe it was tiredness. Maybe it was the comedown. Maybe it was because the team around him wasn't functioning as well meaning he was more isolated or being dragged out of position.
Whatever happened, he got back to his best towards the end of the season and helped us over the line. Now he was back permanently and you’d be hard pressed to find a Blues fan upset about it.
Ethan Laird.
Holy shit. Are we cooking?
This was a big deal. An athletic, technically gifted right-back. Sorry Maxime Colin, but the club made the right call here. Few could believe we got this one over the line. Only 22 years old as well. What a signing.
We're also... We're spending money. I thought we were struggling with FFP rulings?
I'm not ready to get carried away yet but I'm a little less inclined to say we'll finish 21st now.
Let's see how this plays out.
It's mid-July and the takeover has happened. Celebrations across Brum. People in charge that care about the future of the club.
Then Siriki Dembele joins.
Then Dion Sanderson joins.
Both for a transfer fee.
We are cooking!
Dembele is the type of player we've often lacked. Excellent 1 v 1 and a genuine goal threat. He was undoubtedly an exciting addition and also meant we’d play with a back four rather than five which was music to the ears of about 90% of our fanbase.
He needed time. He had had a tough 18 months at Bournemouth, during which time be was loaned out to France. But he was a top player for Peterborough and would surely enhance our side.
And Sanderson. I love Dion Sanderson.
He isn't the full package yet but he's proper Blues. Winding up his team mates and the opposition. Celebrating tackles. Smashing balls clear. Never afraid to put his body in where it hurts. He's also a centre half that can run, that can play, that can switch the ball.
The debate raged over the summer about whether we should sign Sanderson or Trusty and I wanted the former. The latter would make us a quick buck but the former is Blues and I felt he would go onto be a big presence and leader, as well as spend more time with the club. Not that I expected him to be handed the armband for the new campaign, an inspired decision based on the performances that have followed.
Keshi Anderson has played against Blues on a few occasions and I've always been impressed with him, whether playing off the left or in central midfield. Technically sound. A good runner with the ball. Didn't often lose it. Usually knew his next move.
I didn't want to get too excited when he joined on trial. He had had a tough final year at Blackpool due to injury and clearly wasn't fully fit - playing well against Solihull Moors and Cartegena wasn't going to make up Eustace's mind. He had more to do.
I didn't catch the friendlies against Cheltenham Town or Northampton Town but he signed his deal just before the latter. Clearly, he had impressed and was getting fitter and stronger. Then I watched him against Peterborough United and he was excellent. What struck me most wasn't what he did with the ball but what he did without it. He was a step ahead of his opponent, always looking for the next movement. You don't need to be rapid when you're already a couple of steps ahead.
Lee Buchanan followed. Another full-back. Another young full-back. A full-back with good pedigree. A full-back with games under his belt. This felt like a solid signing. I confess to not having seen too much of him previously but he was clearly well regarded, despite what Derby fans on social media claimed.
Meanwhile, Ivan Sunjic was back. Few expected him to return and fewer expected him to stay. Yet the Croatian has never sulked, never stopped working hard for the cause and now he's part of a stronger unit he looks more like a capable footballer.
Defeat against Peterborough United was a wake-up call. A horror show of a first half and a stark reminder that we weren't the finished article. John Eustace claimed the defeat would be good for his players and it was probably beneficial for the fans too - the hard work is only just beginning.
I couldn't watch us against Swansea City. It sounded like a very John Eustace Birmingham City performance. Excellent early doors, high energy and pressing traps working but a lack of control led to the hosts gaining control and equalising after a lapse in concentration. Small margins.
The second string comfortably saw off Cheltenham Town before an excellent victory against Leeds United, the new era at St.Andrews off to the perfect start as the new boys linked up to give our longest serving player and new club captain the moment of glory from 12 yards. Victory at Bristol City followed and Blues had seven points from three games.
Performing on the pitch. Making strides off the pitch (hi, Tom Brady). And the next signing proved the most impressive of the window.
Jay Stansfield hasn't arrived at Birmingham City as a world beater. He isn't automatically our best footballer. He could become that but it’s not why this signing was so impressive.
It was impressive because Birmingham City Football Club saw off around a dozen football clubs to win his signature and have him develop here for the next 12 months.
We're supposed to be bottom of the pile. We take the players nobody wants, or sign players with associations to the club or its managers or directors. We might beat one or two clubs to a new signing but not 13, as was reported. That's insane.
Did I say that Stansfield wasn't automatically our best footballer? I might need to re-write that. His goal against Plymouth Argyle was tremendous to win a game we had to fight to stay in having watched the newly-promoted outfit out up a real fight at St.Andrews. He followed that up with a couple of naughty nutmegs and a fine finish to secure a point against Millwall.
Five games. Eleven points. Seven goals. Three conceded. What a start.
The run to transfer deadline day was interesting. The EFL Cup second round loss against Cardiff City suggested we weren't quite as close to having a team ready to attack the new season as some expected.
That wasn't a huge surprise. We still had only six first-team defenders, two of whom were Marc Roberts, a player the club are finally moving towards moving on, and Emmanuel Longelo, who has ability but who's qualities aren't as a left-back at this present time. We also had just two strikers on the books, with Tyler Roberts and Jay Stansfield more second strikers than leading men.
Injuries have been unhelpful too. Tyler Roberts hasn't been since the opening hour of the season. Ethan Laird has succumbed after playing through the pain barrier. Siriki Dembele and George Hall have been hampered. Marc Roberts and Gary Gardner have been slow to return to the fold. Alfie Chang has suffered a significant knee injury the poor lad. And then Lukas Jutkiewicz got himself sent off in the cup tie.
Nothing makes you aware of the gaps in your squad more than unavailable footballers.
Emmanuel Aiwu was first through the door, signing on loan with an option to buy. I can't claim to know a lot about him. He can play centre-back, central midfield or right-back and was highly rated in Austria. Another data signing, you suspect, and like Miyoshi, it makes him different and gives fans something to be intrigued by.
Cody Drameh followed. I liked the intent with this signing. Drameh was promoted with Luton Town last season as a regular at wing-back. Rather than back up Laird with youngsters or players out of position, we signed quality competition.
George Hall signed a contract extension. Like Stansfield, this was a serious sign of intent. An England youth international with Premier League interest now deciding to stick with the club for a couple more years having reportedly looked to leave earlier in the summer. I just hope he can get over the niggles that have held him back over the last year because the boy is a serious talent.
And then Oli Burke. It would be a little harsh to say we've started where we've begun - picking up an ex-West Bromwich Albion talent with qualities that should make him a player but who arrives with more questions than answers. His addition felt like a "what can we get in?" having missed out on various attacking options and the challenge for Eustace is working out where best to utilise the pace and power he provides - I'm not sure anybody has agreed to this deal with an exact role in mind for the 26-year-old.
Twelve new signings. Two contract extensions. A squad of 24 first-team players supplemented by an academy that continues to develop talent as well as seeing more players added, such as Junior Dixon. At least 11 players contracted beyond this summer having started the summer with only four.
The goalposts have moved in the best possible way - so what are the new expectations and challenges now survival, poor footballers and no squad depth are no longer the answers?
Do we need expectations on a finish this year? Do we need to aim for a top two / top six / top half finish? I don't think we do.
It's year one under the new ownership after over a decade of negligence. This year is about fixing and building, both metaphorically and literally.
Off the pitch, the ownership are making huge changes. New personnel. Experienced CEO. Stadium and training ground being fixed and spruced up. Major sponsorship and part owners. Genuine communication. That adds to a year in which leadership meetings have taken place to bring people together, back entrances closed to ensure ground staff aren't ignored and fine systems put in place to ensure the group are on time, ready and respectful.
On the pitch, it's about improvement. John Eustace preached organisation, togetherness and competitiveness as the key components to a squad full of players either learning on the job or past their prime years. Start strong, stick together, be organised and take your chances.
How do we improve? Continue to start strong but show more control once the game settles down. Don't panic if we go behind – keep playing the right way and the goal will come. It helps Eustace massively that he has a bigger squad available to make important changes in games and both keep his squad fresh or give the opposition something different to think about.
We shouldn't expect all that to happen at once. Eustace will be dealing with different challenges this year.
Last year every player knew they were an injury from being involved and that helped unite the group. This year it's about competition for places given the number of available players - there could be 11 players competing for four attacking positions at any time between now and January. It's a different challenge for the management team but also some of the players who have been used to a smaller squad. People have already pointed out Cody Drameh and Ethan Laird competing for the right-back position - that will be happening across the squad.
There's also, if you count Sunjic and Oakley, 14 new players thrown into the mix. The identity last year was created in partnership with leaders such as Troy Deeney, George Friend, John Ruddy and Lukas Jutkiewicz but only two of those remain and only one is a regular starter. Only six or seven of those new signings joined the club on the pre-season tour to Spain. Most of the squad are still learning what it means to play for Birmingham City. Others are having to step up now - Sanderson, Long and Bielik in particular to lead by example on and off the pitch.
And the new ownership brings challenges of its own. More eyes on the club. Pressure to impress because of the names these players are now linked to. It shouldn't impact expectations of growth but it does, especially when you start the season this well.
This isn't about making excuses in advance but to try and understand the challenges that face the management team and players. Just because we have a bigger squad and have signed a number of potentially brilliant players, it doesn't mean ten years of sh*t just becomes a thing of the past – everybody has to learn and grow together if we are to be successful in the future.
It's been one hell of a summer.
The hierarchy, directors and recruitment team deserve huge credit. In a short period of time they have made Birmingham City look and feel like a place people want to develop their careers on and off the field. Our young manager continues to get the best out of what is at his disposal. The fans are buying every available ticket home and away.
The honeymoon period has been glorious yet tougher times will follow. It’s the nature of football.
Still, that little voice in the back of my head is whispering a little louder with each weekend.
Are Birmingham City back?
Let's see how this plays out.