Birmingham City Q&A: March 2025
I sent out a request last weekend for questions and thankfully, people obliged. So, here are my answers about all things from entertainment, League One all stars, xG and the new stadium.
It’s been just over a week since I last reported on Blues and well… I enjoyed the break but I also got the bug again. I was struggling for things to occupy me on my phone during downtime.
So, without further ado, here are a bunch of questions I was asked following a request for questions and my answers.
@satchkro – My question would be, even though the season so far has delivered especially the current table and a Wembley Visit, "Has the football style of play really entertained"
Perhaps the big question of the season.
It's hard to provide a definitive answer to this because it's all very subjective.
Me? I've been entertained to a point.
I enjoy a lot of the tactical elements to it. Seeing which overload we are looking to create, which positions players pick up, how we try and draw on the opposition and those things do entertain me. How are the opposition trying to stop us & where are the gaps to exploit, or what can we do to exploit those gaps?
And to be honest, it's nice to feel safe and in control of football matches rather than being so frantic and chaotic, or being the underdog.
That said, the lack of jeopardy most weeks is a problem. I've mentally switched off in the second half of games on a number of occasions because we're leading against opposition that are happy with the scoreline staying relatively tight in hope that they can make the most of a single break or set-piece while we're happy just controlling the ball, waiting for an opening and not really wanting to push too much in case we allow that break. It's not exactly riveting to watch.
What I think should be acknowledged is that these things aren't all on Davies and the players. It takes two to tango and we've rarely faced opposition capable of consistently taking the game to us and playing, meaning jeopardy has been minimal across the season.
@THEsamparish – What are your thoughts on where we are in the xG table and the reasons you think we are so low down?
So, as it stands, Chris Davies' side sit 8th in the non-penalty xG table according to The Analyst (https://theanalyst.com/competition/english-league-one/stats). For open play xG, I believe we are third behind Peterborough United and Blackpool - probably not the greatest plug for xG!
Firstly, let's look at what we can focus on and control.
Set-pieces. While we have improved our set-pieces as the season has gone on, we're still not a monstrous threat attacking them and rank fairly low as far as xG is concerned. We have a tendency to flood the six yard-box and deliver either to the near or far post, or cut it back, and it feels like most of our chances tend to come from the ball being half cleared to the edge of the box where Tomoki and Cochrane lie in wait. I suspect we will improve this over time.
Risk. In order to maintain control in matches, we tend to take fewer risks in possession to avoid losing the ball, which means we tend to play in a way that creates an opening rather than trying to force it, and that isn't always easy with so many bodies between us and the goal.
Width. Perhaps not completely controllable but the lack of quality options in wide areas hasn't helped - we've run most of this season with one fit, natural, reliable winger available. And when that player needs replacing late in games, we haven't always had the option available to improve our attacking output. With the centre of the pitch so blocked up by opponents, we've needed that quality or directness from wide areas and it hasn't always been available.
Another factor is that we have only been behind for 9.8% of minutes played this season. We have led for 43.6% of minutes played. Game state suggests that we aren't the team that needs to create the chances, meanwhile teams aren't always willing to open up and take a gamble even when losing, so games die as a result.
We absolutely could do better. But I don't think there's anything to be hugely concerned about, and I suspect these things will be addressed in the summer.
@jobsterdave – With Blues topping the majority of performance related stats compiled for league one, are there any of these you think Blues could maintain or will there be a significant drop off for all of them?
This is a tough question to answer, because there is so much we don't know in terms of summer recruitment and how Davies will adapt to what he has available.
The club have spoken previously about the best way to win promotion being to be a side that has more of the ball and plays higher up the pitch (sounds obviously really, doesn’t it?) and I would assume the aim will to be a side that sits amongst the top of the division for possession, field tilt, touches in the opposition area, PPDA and high recoveries.
I do wonder whether we may become a little more direct in our play with teams more likely to want to step out and press us, or attempt to hurt us late in games if we lead, which could lead to us ranking higher for passes made per pass into the opposition area (we currently rank around mid-table).
The big question will be whether we can create more and continue to be so solid defensively. Our general xG, as noted above, isn’t the strongest in the division (albeit, we aren’t exactly far behind the rest and it’s our set-piece xG holding us back in that regard) while our xGA is comfortably the best in the division. Will we create to a similar level? Will we be so hard to beat? Let’s wait and see. Get it right and we are top six at a minimum, I feel.
@Dom4ZABlues – There’s been a lot of talk about rotation of players in the few games we’ve dropped points. With the final 11 games Where exactly do you think we should have rotated / could rotate? Besides the RB/CM positions I think the other areas have been limited due to injury etc.
Let's look at the last run of games.
Goalkeeper is an obvious one, you play your first choice.
At right-back, there is an argument for change. I think the problem is that Laird became so vital for us with his numbers in the final third, he virtually made himself undroppable. He was rested v Stevenage and Bradford City, arriving in the second half. It looked like the plan v Reading was to keep Scott Wright high and let Laird manage his running, only for Wright to get injured after 5 minutes. And with the wide situation as it was, plus the high quality of opposition during most of the big run, Laird's athleticism and ability to drive became more important. I have a bit of sympathy on that one.
Centre-back. We could have changed. The argument is perhaps that when you're not conceding goals, do you want to break up your centre-back partnership?
Alex Cochrane needs this break more than anybody. He has played all but 4 minutes of our last 20 matches. Balance is the primary reason he hasn't been dropped with Lee Buchanan out for the foreseeable and Myeung-Jae Lee unavailable as he builds his fitness (albeit, I suspect we may have rushed him in had Cochrane suffered an injury). Otherwise, you're looking at using right-footers, which means making changes to the way we play, which isn't easy when you have no coaching time. Alex Cochrane. What a guy.
Central midfield. So, in our last 17 matches, we had the following availability in central midfield: 2 2 2 3 3 2 2 2 2 3 3 3 3 3 4 3 3. Gardner-Hickman was available in 11 and played CM, CM, CM, RW, CM, RB, bench, LW, LW, RB, LW. That leaves just four matches where we could have rested somebody. Leonard got a rest in the first having gone from little football to 7 starts in 8. And then the final three of the run, during which Iwata was taken off with half hour to play v Stevenage while Leonard was recovering from a month out with a nasty gash in his leg. The alternative option was Bielik, but it would appear that Davies is reticent to play him in midfield.
Attack. There was a lot more rotation than people perhaps realise here, and I think it's worth looking at the fact we made so many substitutions too.
Across the 30 games, only three players played more than half of the minutes on offer: Jay Stansfield (60.15%), Willum Willumson (57.93%) and Alfie May (51.07%).
If we look at minutes played when available, Kieran Dowell tops with 88.41% of minutes played in 14 matches. Jay Stansfield (24 matches) and Willum Willumson (22) played over 75% of minutes. Marc Leonard (23) Taylor Gardner-Hickman (24), Keshi Anderson (21), Lyndon Dykes (21) and Alfie May (30) played over half of minutes when available. Luke Harris (27), Scott Wright (14) and Emil Hansson (10) all played over 30%. Only Lukas Jutkiewicz falls below that.
The biggest argument for rotation would likely be the last couple of games we played during this big run of matches. However, Emil Hansson and Keshi Anderson were essentially swapping minutes owing to recovery. That left Alfie May and Lukas Jutkiewicz, or playing Marc Leonard more advanced. And Willum Willumson I'm pretty confident was being selected as a big part of our set-piece thinking at both ends. I think it was what it was
Tom Carney (Substack) - Hello Ryan really love your match analysis. My question relates to Willumson I am a fan of his talent, and would like to think he can be a force for us next year. Performances of late haven’t been of the same standard as early in the season. Is it form or fitness do you think and can he make the step up to the Championship if we are promoted? Thanks Tom
@Duality_90_ – Willumson does he have 10 games to cement himself as a guaranteed starter next season or a potential bench option?
Firstly, thank you for your kind words, Tom.
I figure it would be easier to answer both questions together.
It's been an up and down season for Willumson. He started the campaign showcasing flashes, hit a really strong run, picked up a knock, returned and hasn't quite been the same.
I have a lot of thoughts with Willumson, but I'm not necessarily sure I have a definitive answer on how he performs next season.
The first is that his recent run has been a little brutal. I think somebody with his frame is always going to need 3/4/5 matches to return to sharpness - guys with lanky or stocky frames tend to need a little more time to get going unlike a Paik, who is virtually a plug and play type. Particularly forwards who need to be able to twist and turn - I think of Rooney, Troy, Crouch, Hudlin. A group of names I never thought I'd say together! And as the physical elements started to return, I'm sure the physical/mental issues began with the rest of the squad also suffering.
Another is that there is an irony to fans clamouring for Willumson to play central yet his best spell as far as goals/assists are concerned came while he was mostly playing as the inside right, showing how much of this stuff can be semantics.
I don't agree with assessments that he's not trying. His body frame may count against him here. He's languid and awkward. But I do believe he's giving what he's got.
All that said, is he performing well? He's had flashes and shown some nice touches. I think his touch has got better as the run has gone on (and the nutmeg v Northampton was gorgeous). But he has also been quite meek and missed the mark in key moments of matches - the poor headers, weak finishes, not making the killer pass. And those things stick in fans' heads.
I think he has a big few weeks coming up. He is on international duty but should return to a team where everybody has had a much-needed rest and bodies are returning. There will be fewer excuses to make and he will need to step up if he's to start the cup final.
Next season? I think he will be better conditioned and adapted to English football, which helps. He will have a full pre-season programme. We will see peaks and troughs. We will also likely see somebody new sign and want his position. It's on him to step up.
Matt (Substack) - Hi Ryan; Great work as always. Question, where do you see most of the areas of work required in the Summer in terms of building a squad capable of challenging for promotion? Personally, the defensive seven, GK, Defence and Midfield two are fine and more than capable, it’s just the front four. Stansfield aside, I don’t see anyone able to make the step up and succeed on a consistent basis. Also, we can’t still in 2025 be sentimental enough to be giving Juke new deals, no matter what the KRO pod says
Thank you, Matt.
The attack is definitely the area that needs most work doing to it. However, I don't think it is the only area given the ambition appears to not just be to challenge for promotion, but to try and win promotion.
We need a new goalkeeper. Ryan Allsop may or may not end up as number one, but I don't think we can risk a prolonged spell with Bailey Peacock-Farrell in nets, as brutal as that sounds.
In defence, we have Ethan Laird, Alfons Sampsted, Phil Neumann, Christoph Klarer, Krystian Bielik, Dion Sanderson, Alex Cochrane and Lee Buchanan, as well as Taylor Gardner-Hickman. Sanderson will leave. Buchanan is out for the foreseeable. We will need another centre-back as a minimum, which could be Ben Davies. And a left-back too, unless we are extending Lee's deal. Depending on whether Neumann is viewed as a right-back or centre-back first and foremost depends on whether we need another right-back or centre-back. With Gardner-Hickman available as a right-back, I can see us letting Sampsted leave.
In midfield, we have Tomoki Iwata, Paik Seung-Ho, Marc Leonard and Taylor Gardner-Hickman. We are definitely adding at least one. Could we add two? It may depend on whether Davies sees Leonard or Gardner-Hickman as viable regulars in midfield at the top of the Championship.
Further forward, we have Scott Wright, Emil Hansson, Keshi Anderson, Ayumu Yokoyama and Willum Willumson. I suspect we may try and keep Kieran Dowell. I doubt Yokoyama will play for us again and Wright is done until 2026. We will need at least two wingers.
Then in attack it's Jay Stansfield, Lyndon Dykes and Alfie May. I love Juke and I really hope he scores one more goal, but he isn't signing a first-team deal next season. We will need at least one more. I'm not sure Davies will fancy Dykes and May as his only back-up for a Championship promotion push.
So, squad wise, we're looking at something like (at least vaguely) a 25 of....
GK: New GK / Allsop
RB: Laird / Neumann
CB: Klarer / Bielik
CB: New CB / New CB (Davies)
LB: Cochrane / New LB
CM: Iwata / New DM
CM: Paik / Leonard / TGH
RW: New WG / Anderson
AM: New AM (Dowell) / Willumson / Dykes
LW: New WG / Hansson
ST: Stansfield / New ST / May
@Kieranbcfc2 – What sort of development do you think we’ll see with the team next season (and what sort of profiles do you think we’ll look to add to aid this? 1v1 specialists?). Noting this schedule has limited time on the pitch I’m not surprised our attacking patterns aren’t always fluid.
You mention 1v1 specialists and I’m in complete agreement. You can see how much we have relied on Ethan Laird and Keshi Anderson at times this season and we need more of those types – players that are willing to run in behind or commit their marker to make box entries. In Emil Hansson and Scott Wright, we have players capable of doing it but they simply haven’t been out on the pitch enough, sadly.
We could see some extra physicality in attack too. We have physically strong players, we have intelligent players, we have sharp players but perhaps not a striker that combines technique with that real power and physical presence, and maybe that is something we look at to increase competition for Stansfield – or find a partner for him.
I think physicality will be a big feature of our summer window. The higher the league, the more physical the league, so finding extra running power in all areas of the pitch will be important to ensure we aren’t caught out, particularly playing as high up the pitch as we aim to.
@OffTheLineBlog – 3 opposition players you'd sign to join #BCFC this summer?
Three League One players I'd take? That's a toughie.
I guess Richard Kone is an obvious one - how can you not want a forward that possesses those qualities and is still so young?
Kwame Poku. A winger with end product but still so much development to his game to come. Would also give us versatility in terms of options out wide on both flanks.
Let's just chuck in Odeluga Offiah as the last one. I don't know he would fit into our squad, but that boy is going places.
@DonnaMath9 – Who as in a specific player would you bring in over the summer? CD already said he needs a pacey winger. Who would you suggest?
This stuff isn't necessarily my forte because I don't get the time to spend watching all that much outside of Blues and the National League these days – and I’m doubtful we will be looking at the National League for a new starter.
Another difficulty in this regard is that the world is so much bigger than it used to be. We’re no longer looking at domestic players out of contract or available on the cheap.
I will stick to what I know, however, and is it too ambitious to say Jesurun Rak-Sakyi? He’s played 29 times for Sheffield United this season, suggesting there is a level of trust from Chris Wilder, but he’s also played just 16.4 90’s, suggesting he’s not quite been a standout and it feels like he isn’t about to walk into the Crystal Palace squad next season, so may be available either on loan or permanently.
His underlying and actual numbers are okay with work to be built upon and we are definitely in the market for a winger or two. It's an ambitious shout, but I do expect us fans to be surprised at a couple of names we are able to attract this summer.
@jbablues – Realistically how big do you think the new stadium should be. There is no way I can imagine us ever consistently getting crowds over 40,000. I would not want to sit in a huge stadium half empty. What are your thoughts?
I completely understand where this question comes from, and there is definitely concern that we could become a source of mockery by creating a 60k stadium that we can’t fill. We’ve seen it happen at other clubs and don’t want to be on the other end of that.
But smarter people than me and you are working out these figures. We’re about to take 43k to Wembley. Premier League football. Tourism. The events. The initial buzz created. The best clubs in the land playing at one of the best stadiums in the country. And if we establish ourselves and meet the ambition of owners who have left no stone unturned in their pursuit of success so far... is it completely out of the question?
It’s a mind-blowing possibility at this juncture. We’ve been outside of the Premier League for nearly 15 years and this season has definitely felt like a rarity in terms of how much we have filled St.Andrews. As I write, we still haven’t won a promotion from League One.
Tom Wagner and co are teaching fans a new language. I guess we have to continue to trust them, trust their ambition and hope it all pays off.
Will Daniels (Substack) - Hi Ryan, How many of the current Blues group make it into the best all-time League One team?
I’ve taken this question to mean the most impactful League One players over a season, rather than a League One team on pure ability / future prospects – so I’m not including Harry Kane and Joe Cole, for example.
That did mean trying to work out an all-time League One XI and it’s tough.
Nathan Byrne and Dan Burn were part of the Wigan Athletic title-winning side that conceded just 29 goals. Carl Ikeme, Danny Batth and Kevin McDonald played huge roles for Wolves in their title win. Jordan Rhodes scored 36 (?!) goals for Huddersfield Town. Richie Wellens and Harry Maguire are amongst multi-team of the year members. Aden Flint at Bristol Rovers. Ian Harte scored almost 20 goals for Carlisle United from left-back. Dele Alli. Adam Lallana. Wes Hoolahan. Bakary Sako. Ivan Toney. Rickie Lambert. That bloke at Sheffield Wednesday with an island on his head.
I also didn’t watch a lot of those players regularly, so it’s impossible to make my choices without bias.
Who am I nominating from Blues?
Christoph Klarer is my League One Player of the Season so he’s in. I look at the midfielders from the past one of Tomoki Iwata or Paik Seung-Ho are in. Is there an argument for Ryan Allsop? Maybe. If we break the points record, we absolutely have two players in this team. Sorry not sorry.
KRO.
Great read Ryan. Regarding summer additions -I agree with you, pace, power and 1v1 ability out wide and upfront is definitely needed. I can see us pushing hard for Poku, although we will have very stiff competition. Got a sneaky feeling that we’ll try an ambitious swoop for Dimi Gray! No idea on a striker but pace and strength to compliment what we have is a must.
I thought Neumann was playing predominantly as a CB for Hannover, so with Davies likely to sign, I think we’re well covered there. Can see us signing competition for Laird if Sampstead is not deemed good enough.
Let’s get promotion secured first (still work to do!) then we can start the exciting next phase in our development. KRO
Hi Ryan, great read as always, just one comment from me. Can you really see us signing ‘9’ players!! I’ll be surprised if it’s more than 5