- Home
- Birmingham City
- Current Squad
- Adam Legzdins
- Jonathan Grounds
- Paul Robinson
- Ryan Shotton
- Maikel Kieftenbeld
- Robert Tesche
- Stephen Gleeson
- Clayton Donaldson
- Diego Fabbrini
- David Cotterill
- Rhoys Wiggins
- Che Adams
- Lukas Jutkiewicz
- Viv Solomon-Otabor
- Jacques Maghoma
- Greg Stewart
- Jonathan Spector
- David Davis
- Michael Morrison
- Tomasz Kuszczak
- Paul Caddis
- Development Squad
- Academy
- Ladies Team
- Sophie Baggaley
- Alex Windell
- Meaghan Sargeant
- Jess Carter
- Kerys Harrop
- Freda Ayisi
- Kirsty Linnett
- Bella Linden
- Andrine Hegerberg
- Abbey-Leigh Stringer
- Melissa Lawley
- Charlie Wellings
- Chloe Peplow
- Rebecca Lloyd
- Connie Schofield
- Emily Westwood
- Cheryl Edwards
- Corina Schröder
- Ashlee Brown
- Coral-Jade Haines
- Aoife Mannion
- Ann-Katrin Berger
- Out on Loan
- Former Players
- Boards and Advisors
- Appearance Data 2014/2015
- Current Squad
- Factfiles
- Series
- Sponsorship
- Website Info
- Social Media
- Contact Me
Kung Hei Fat Choi
This year, January 31 marks not only the closing of the English football transfer window but the start of the new lunar new year, which this year is the horse. It’s a time traditionally in China when people wish good luck and prosperity to each other – will Birmingham City also be given better financial fortunes?
I’ve already seen tweets this morning from Colin Tattum and Andy Walker that today promises to be a busy one for Blues with Lee Clark having been in since 6:30am to deal with transfers both into and out of the club. I think most bluenoses are hoping that we end today relatively intact with only fringe players leaving and hopefully one or two faces to bolster areas where the squad is weak. So far this window we’ve seen Aaron McLean, Jesse Lingard, Dan Burn and Kyle Bartley return to their parent clubs, Dariusz Dudka not have his contract renewed whilst Darren Ambrose and Wade Elliott have left on loan; inwards we have seen Albert Rusnak and Emyr Huws arrive on loan from Man City along with the short term signings of Brian Howard and Aaron Martin meaning it’s been a busy window already.
Putting today aside the next month could well be a pivotal one for Blues. Next week sees the Extraordinary General Meeting take place on Wednesday where Carson Yeung will be hoping to get approval to place new shares and to novate the debt the club owe to him to get the company on an even footing; the last day of the month sees Carson finally hear the verdict in his long running money laundering case which could potentially see him walk free from all accusations or spending the next few years of his life behind bars.
The word from Hong Kong is that Carson is very confident that the proposals will be passed and that the shares in the holding company will be relisted fairly quickly afterwards. That would have the knock-on effect that BIH would be on a slightly more stable footing financially and would find it easier to attract further investment. It would also ensure that the club would be a more attractive proposition to sell, should Carson want to. The flip side is that I think many of us (including me) want Carson to sell up and I think it would ensure that he really doesn’t have to – I know that he doesn’t want to.
There is a rumour emanating from other sources that some shareholders aren’t happy that their stockholding will be so intensely diluted by the proposals but from where I’m standing I’m not sure that they can do much about it. As much as I can believe that they are feeling miffed I think that they are also outmaneuvered and for all the talk I’ve seen that they are planning to do something about it I don’t think that they can – and even if they did I think it would be cutting off their nose to spite their face.
With all that has gone on I’ve seen renewed calls for protest. I have had recent contact from a HK newspaper who are looking for pictures of any fans specifically protesting against the Carson regime – thus if you would like pictures to be sent on to the Cantonese press in the Far East please email them to me – almajir@oftenpartisan.co.uk.
238 Responses to “Kung Hei Fat Choi”
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.
Thanks Dan — great update.
My fortune cracker last night said: “All will go well with your new project.” One way or another, February will see some concrete changes in Hong Kong.
lets hope the year of the horse turns out to be a race horse
and not a cart horse….we need owners that thinks success is
winning silver and not just surviving …we need owners that give
100% .you need your finger on the pulse to go with the flow
.the two midfield players we have signed are on very short
contracts .if they dont cut it things could be hard for blues
best to keep burke ….kro
How ironic that if BIHL get their agenda approved, then CY will still be in a position to cling onto ownership even if he is sent to prison.
You would never be able to question LC’s attempts to try and make the very best of a truly horrendous situation. It really does beggar belief about the state of the squad and how we are always attempting to send out patched-up and cobbled teams and the expecting them to hold their own in such circumstances. Where is the stability and continuity?
CY and PP should do to Blues what their fathers never did to their mothers – PULL OUT NOW!
That’s the thing that always irks me. People say “Pick your best team and formation stick to it.” But what IS our best team? What is our best formation? I defy anyone to name it! Whatever team you choose, what if they play crap and get hammered… what then? Of course, it’s Lee Clark’s fault again.
When has the manager ever had the chance to pick a settled team? Everytime things start to look up, he’s robbed of players, either through injury, or recalls by parent clubs. I’m sure he’d love to pick his best team.
As for the owners… meh. Sooner gone, sooner mended.
It’s Clarks job to know his best team and formation.The reason we don’t have a settled side is because of his insistence on playing the players that train the best.Well looking at the table and performances,this system obviously isn’t working.So in my opinion,it is clarks fault.
It’s Clarks job to know his best team and formation.The reason we don’t have a settled side is because of his insistence on playing the players that train the best.Well looking at the table and performances,this system obviously isn’t working.So in my opinion,it is clarks fault.
I think we all have to face what could be and realise that if Carson Yeung is innocent then this whole saga was not his fault. We need to be diplomatic until a decision is made. I personally have hated this and we need to remember Carson supported Alex McLeish to bring us the Carling Cup. We also need to remember he got frustrated with a manager who left a player like Kevin Phillips on the bench and out of the team when we could not buy a goal which eventually got us relegated!
I personally will be giving Carson 12 months and 1 whole season to put things right, as his plans for Blues were and could still be what we have been dreaming about for years!
LC had the chance to pick a settled team at the start of of the 2012/2013 campaign but continued to tinker with it and make headline news every day on the back page of the EM with his controversial comments/decisions.
I’m sure every Blues fan thinks he knows what our best team is.
Also I find it amazing that people do not realise how much of their own money Sully et al used to pump Ito the club just to keep us going until we got to the Premiership.
Unless they are in the Premier League Blues are not and have never been a money making club, just like many others. This is why you need wealthy owners.
If Carson had his assets frozen how could our owner keep us going?
As I said, if innocent I will be giving him 12 months!
What I don’t understand is WHY Yeung doesn’t want to sell? The club must be a millstone around his neck, there is precious little left to sell off so what’s in it for him?
Perhaps, Moto, just perhaps, he really does think a lot of Blues and really does want us to be a big success. Who really knows.
CY cares not for BCFC. He will not sell as it will hinder the listing of BIHL on the HKSE. Afterall, without BCFC there is nothing for BIHL to hold. I also think that the sale of BCFC would unearth too many skeletons.
That is a very scary thought, when G/S/G took over they found the club was worse than they expected, I feel that whoever takes over is in for one heck of a shock and it will take years and more money than sense to get the club even stable let alone profitable.
KRO+DNM
Birmingham sign Martin and targets United starlets Thorpe and Blackett
Sportsmail’s Neil Moxley reports: ‘Been down to see Lee Clark, or rather Terry McDermott, this morning. Birmingham City’s boss declined to carry out his media duties with his assistant saying: ‘He’s been on the phone since 6.30am. It’s going to be a busy day.’
‘Aaron Martin, signed on a short-term deal from Southampton, was unveiled to the press, speaking flawlessly about the ‘massive opportunity’ and his desire to play games.
‘But Clark is still short of defenders and it appears he is attempting to tie up deals for Manchester United youngsters Tom Thorpe and Tiler Blackett.’
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2548397/Transfer-deadline-day-January-2014.html#ixzz2ryceXcnS
Follow us: @MailOnline on Twitter | DailyMail on Facebook
They both have very good write-ups on the Man U website. Thorp is a centre back, who can play holding midfield. Just missed out on the reserve team player of the season last year.
Blackett, strong, powerful. Can play at centre back or left back. Scores the odd goal from free kicks too. Both sound promising if we can get them.
A United fan tweeted Ian Danter and said we had a real prospect in Blackett.”He’s a beast” apparently.
How about an on line petition c y out
John,
I offered to set one up last year on this blog.
Only 4 people were interested.
Such is the Apathy amongst the fans.
They would much rather watch their club go down the tubes.
Tom Thorpe is a central defender and Tyler Blackett a left back. Lets hope a striker arrives!
It’s just as intriguing to see who might be going out too. Will it be first teamers, or fringe players. Roll on the end of play.
Apparently, Tatts has tweeted from Wast Hills that we’re signing Thorp and Blackett on loans. That just leaves a striker.
You’re behind the pace Staffs ;)
It’s cus I’m old. I can’t keep up with the youngsters. ;-)
Don’t worry about it ,Staffs. The Youngsters all burn out and bugger off, We Oldies last the pace.
*high five* lol
Could you make that a ‘Low Five’ , I cant jump so high nowadays:;-(
All of the excellent commentators on this thread of Daniel’s, if you are over a certain age, say 50 and upwards, take note of Men United, the Blues need all of our support for years to come, we do not wish to lose anyone for ignorance of symptoms.
Does anyone know what time players have to be signed by, to be eligible to play against Derby tomorrow? Is it midday, or up to the deadline?
According to the headline of this report, they have already signed. Cant see Utd letting them train with us if they haven’t,
http://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/lowdown-new-birmingham-city-arrivals-6653709
Don’t we still have a months loan window after the transfer window closes? The Man utd youngsters sound pretty good. If we can get a striker in and keep the side relatively intact I think we’ll have done well. LC is doing an impossible job the supporters need to develop a siege mentality and get behind him and the team.
I’m not surprised to read some of the pro Carson comments on here. I know a few people with similar thoughts. However the whole ownership saga by the Chinese IMO has been incompetent. Their plans, ambitions for the club or rather lack of planning has brought the club to its knees. We need owners who know what they’re doing. While I harbour no ill will to CY personally if he does get convicted may get the FL to have a look at its fit and proper laws and stop other clubs getting into this sort of mess.
Excellent update and many thanks for update.
Let’s hope that this coming month sees the fortunes of our club finally change for the better. That said we will see little change on the pitch unless the manager pulls a few rabbits out of the hat before today’s transfer window closes. We desperately need someone to score some goals. One way or the other we need the BIHL shares relisted and the outcome of Carson Yeung’s case sorted. These two events seem to me to be key in sorting out our future because like it or not we are enmeshed in these events.
I have always felt that Carson Yeung has not wanted to sell Blues or at least not unless he absolutely had to. The reasons for this can only be speculated on but my theory is that to do so would have left the task of relisting BIHL all but impossible as the company would have no real substance with BCFC accounting for 96% of BIHL. Relisting BIHL seems to me to be his main goal and given the reported difficulties in getting companies listed on the HK Stock Exchange there is potentially significant value in having a trading company listed on the HK stock exchange. It is not unreasonable to think that Carson Yeung seeks to capitalise upon this once his court case is completed. I also suspect that he believes that he will be found not guilty. Fraud cases are notoriously difficult to prove and at worse he will have substantial grounds for an appeal. In any event BIHL shares should be trading again shortly and the reported interest in buying 24% of BCFC, albeit at an early stage of negotiation, suggests that some movement is a foot on our longer term ownership. It is worth remembering that China is awash with money (unlike BIHL) and buying 24% of BCFC presumably is not buying BIHL shares? I am not exactly sure how that would work but shows a welcome potential separation developing between BCFC and BIHL.
I thought Matthew’s post most interesting. If found not guilty then Carson Yeung would be free to resume his previous role at the club. I don’t think he will. His silence over the last two and a half years to me is telling and suggests strongly that will not see him at St Andrews again. If he was interested in us as a football club there was nothing stopping him communicating with the fans but this has not happened. It would take some neck to just and turn up in early March as if nothing had happened if found not guilty and it will be interesting to see exactly what he does do in that event. Peter Pannu has also been very quiet lately suggesting to me that regime change is more rather than less likely. Probably wishful thinking I know but there it is.
Matthew I think the injuries to our forwards cost us our Premier League status in 2011 and the frontline of Derbyshire and Phillips was just to light weight to keep us up in my opinion. Had we been able to sign a couple of players when we needed them, then things might have been very different. The ridiculous transfer window nonsense which heavily favours the bigger clubs put pay to that. I am completely against limiting the buying and selling of players but that is another story and I suspect few would agree with me.
Excellent update and many thanks for the update.
Let’s hope that this coming month sees the fortunes of our club finally change for the better. That said we will see little change on the pitch unless the manager pulls a few rabbits out of the hat before today’s transfer window closes. We desperately need someone to score some goals. One way or the other we need the BIHL shares relisted and the outcome of Carson Yeung’s case sorted. These two events seem to me to be key in sorting out our future because like it or not we are enmeshed in these events.
I have always felt that Carson Yeung has not wanted to sell Blues or at least not unless he absolutely had to. The reasons for this can only be speculated on but my theory is that to do so would have left the task of relisting BIHL all but impossible as the company would have no real substance with BCFC accounting for 96% of BIHL. Relisting BIHL seems to me to be his main goal and given the reported difficulties in getting companies listed on the HK Stock Exchange there is potentially significant value in having a trading company listed on the HK stock exchange. It is not unreasonable to think that Carson Yeung seeks to capitalise upon this once his court case is completed. I also suspect that he believes that he will be found not guilty. Fraud cases are notoriously difficult to prove and at worse he will have substantial grounds for an appeal. In any event BIHL shares should be trading again shortly and the reported interest in buying 24% of BCFC, albeit at an early stage of negotiation, suggests that some movement is a foot on our longer term ownership. It is worth remembering that China is awash with money (unlike BIHL) and buying 24% of BCFC presumably is not buying BIHL shares? I am not exactly sure how that would work but shows a welcome potential separation developing between BCFC and BIHL.
I thought Matthew’s post most interesting. If found not guilty then Carson Yeung would be free to resume his previous role at the club. I don’t think he will. His silence over the last two and a half years to me is telling and suggests strongly that will not see him at St Andrews again. If he was interested in us as a football club there was nothing stopping him communicating with the fans but this has not happened. It would take some neck to just and turn up in early March as if nothing had happened if found not guilty and it will be interesting to see exactly what he does do in that event. Peter Pannu has also been very quiet lately suggesting to me that regime change is more rather than less likely. Probably wishful thinking I know but there it is.
Matthew I think the injuries to our forwards cost us our Premier League status in 2011 and the frontline of Derbyshire and Phillips was just to light weight to keep us up in my opinion. Had we been able to sign a couple of players when we needed them, then things might have been very different. The ridiculous transfer window nonsense which heavily favours the bigger clubs put pay to that. I am completely against limiting the buying and selling of players but that is another story and I suspect few would agree with me.
I think that LC should be congratulated on bringing in no less than 5 new players over the last week or so. It would seem that the experts amongst our fans don’t rate him but the amateurs at Manchester City andManchester United are willing to trust him with their prize asetts.Says it all.
Howard, Rusnak, Huws, Martin, Thorp, Blackett. That 6 in the last 2 weeks. If Clark manages to sign a striker today… our team is going to look very different to the one which started the new year.
I hope we’ve managed to get no call back clauses in these deals.Hopefully because they’re that far from the first team it won’t happen.But you never know.
28 day call back on Thorpe, if needed.
Sorry Staffs I forgot Howard but you understand the point.
Absolutely Steve. Lee Clark has obviously been working his wotsits off for a while to get these players in. These things don’t happen overnight. But to loan players from Man Utd, Man City, plus a premier league centre back in too, says a lot about Lee Clark’s contacts in the game… and especially our good reputation with the PL clubs.
Anybody know why he hasn’t been playing Howard for the last two games? I thought he played well on his debut. Surely they haven’t fell out already.
Always a negative.
Well it wouldn’t be a surprise.Realist rather than negative.Get your head out of the sand.
We’ve signed 5 promising players in a week, and you manage to find a negative. Howard was subbed in his first game… maybe he was knackered having not played for weeks. Maybe he needed another week or two to get up to the right level of fitness. That makes more sense than” Surely they haven’t fell out already.”
Don’t worry Staffs, there are a certain few that never praise LC, it just shows them to be small minded and petty. As if it wasn’t for LC’s success with loan players like Morrison, Burns and Bartley you can guarantee teams like Man City and Man Utd would not be loaning us players, then we would really be in the doo doo.
Spot on BiS. I think we should all congratulate the manager on his hard work in the last week and give him the support he deserves.
You know nothing of why Howard didn’t play so why jump to the negative conclusion that there has been a fall out? Unbelievable!
That’s why i asked the question.He has got previous.
A realist is someone that bases his comments on fact not fiction!
Surely it isn’t now expected of the manager to list why every player on the bench or not in the squad has not been selected? I am sure that he speaks to individuals to explain his selections. It is getting ridiculous. Isnt anyone a little bit excited at seeing the new talent on display on Saturday?
My comment was based on the fact that he has a history of falling out with players.Realist.
So you conject that every player that isnt selected has fallen out with the manager? You think that is realism? Ha!
You’re reading things i haven’t written Steve.
Steve, you assumed that Howard had fallen out with LC because he wasn’t selected so I assumed that you applied that to every player not selected. Why did you chooose Howard then? Also I would be interested to see which other players he has fallen out with? Im being serios here because Zigic is the only one that I am aware of and Scott Allen who himself has a history with managers. Dropping a player for footballing reasons isn’t falling out Steve.
Morrison,Caldwell,Davies.The reason i mentioned Howard is because he is a new player who had a good debut.And has the experience needed in a young side.I wasn’t assuming,it was an off the cuff comment.
I am looking forward to seeing how the new lads do.But it’s difficult to get excited.I spend a fortune watching Blues but you don’t get excited anymore.I,m becoming Tired and Weary,but still journey on.I want these new players to get me off my seat and give me something to cheer about.I,m not always negative,but it’s difficult not to be.
BM: Tatts has Tweeted… “Notts County keen on Birmingham City’s Hayden Mullins.”
In my opinion you are taking the easy way out by being negative and bullying the manager, its harder to be positive right now but we all need to stick together and stop looking for scapegoats!
Taking the easy way out would be not going to the games and not giving a monkeys about the club.Believe me,i wish i could.But i can’t keep posting that things will be fine,cause i,m not sure they will be.
Taking the easy way out is jumping on the bandwagon and putting the boot into the easiest target, in this case the manager. No one knows what will happen but taking the positive of signing 6 new players and managing to turn it into a negative against the manager regarding the non selection of Howard takes some beating.
Bit of an over reaction here Steve.Who are you to criticise my thoughts on BCFC and Lee Clark.At the game i get behind the team.I don.t abuse the team or manager.And i never boo the team whatever the score is.I vent my frustrations on here.If you don’t like my comments.Don’t read them and stop replying to them.I don’t agree with with yours,but they’re yours and your entitled to them
What are you on?why has my comment about Howard got anything to do with the 6 new signings ?I’ll be honest,i,m not over excited about signing young kids,but i know that’s all we can afford.I hope they do well,i really do,but i,m not swinging from the lampshade about it.But just so i,m clear about it.GOOD LUCK TO ALL OUR NEW SIGNINGS.ALL I ASK IS THAT YOU DO YOUR BEST FOR BCFC.
well well what a upturn in fortunes well done Mr Clark another pot to blend…………………
MORRISON! He made him into a vauable asset for West Ham.DAVIES! He wanted out after being touched up by Hughton. CALDWELL! get real! Off the cuff comments can get a bit draining Steve, its time a few fans stood up for the manager and had a go back at the bullies!
Err.. Steve, I think you probably meant TAPPED up… not TOUCHED up. Nearly spat my tea up the monitor when I read that mate. :-))
Nathan Redmond has twweted that he’s played with our two new Man U defenders and he thinks they’ll do a good job for us.
Steve may be right staffs, you never know!! But hey don’t use it or the other Steve will quote it as a fact later down the line!
He fell out with Morrison and never played him for weeks.As for Davies and Caldwell,i have a relative at the club that witnessed the fall outs.As for my posts being draining.You have a choice not to read or reply to them.
he never fell out with Morrison, he told him a few home truths and Morrison came back with a totally different attitude. You make up things to suit your pathetic agenda.
What was you saying about people being abusive on here yesterday ? I’ve no agenda.I’ve always made it clear that i dont and never will like Lee Clark.Also,get your facts right before you spout your tosh.
Sorry precious, I didn’t think pathetic agenda was being abusive, you however have said worse about LC, so get your fact right tosh!
steve i am afraid you would not be happy even if you won the lottery…………
Exactly! And if he didn’t win it would be the managers fault!
Relative at the club? Ask them why Howard wasn’t selected.
Right,i,m off out for a few beers.I’ll leave you to discuss team selections and formations for tomorrow.Then hopefully we can all meet up on here over the weekend and discuss our win.There you go,hows that for positivity.KRO
Tapped up sorry lol…but you never know?
Oooer matron. ;-)
Well done Steve…didn’t hurt did it. Enjoy your beers.
Wonder how he’s going to tell Brown, Hancox and Packwood they are dropped so someone else’s kids are given promised places ! Or how Reilly, Gray, Bell Arthur and co will feel being off the bench for some time ! I notice one of the Man U babes is also a possible defensive midfielder… that mention of midfield must have clinched the deal for LC, since he’s off loading to Notts County that maestro Mullins he brought in a season and a half ago? After all we are a thin squad with vacancies all over the midfield positions ! Its a striker or 2 we need !
I missed your post at the time Mullins was signed to say he would be a disaster for us.
what you on about Mullins has been bloody brilliant…………….Notts county will have a catch there……but unfortunately we are moving with youth…….
Mark you are obviously a keen supporter and must have been watching Muggins on the training pitch cos he hasn’t featured much in the first team and when he has he’s been notable for his mistakes!
Mark you are obviously a keen supporter and must have been watching Muggins on the training pitch cos he hasn’t featured much in the first team and when he has he’s been notable for his mistakes! Hope your tongue was in your cheek when you wrote!
the main thing mate did make you lol……he gone now now wish him luck………
Yeah I will join you in that ! Cheers
And maybe the players he has brought in are better quality, or further on in their development than what we have already. Or should he just continue throwing our youth in before they are ready. so people with hindsight, like you, can whinge in the future that he ruined our kids by using them too often and too early.
Being on the Costa You obviously haven’t seen packwoods last couple of games or the rapid development of Hancox so I can forgive your ignorance but you surely must have heard of or seen Mullins performances!
You mean the Hancox that is injured the Brown that was looking knackered after 60 minutes, and the Mullins you are now using as a rod to beat Clark with but like others never said it was a poor signing 18 months ago! So I will excuse your ignorance for not knowing these things even though you allege that you attend!
And I will forgive your ignorance in assuming anyone in Spain is on the coast
So you attended? You are right Hancox is injured but not long term, Bell did well and yes Brown did tire My criticism of Mullins is based on his lack of performance for us not his former clubs. His cv was fine the reality has been poor. Last time I was in Murcia it was on the Spanish Costa Blanca no doubt you’ve had it moved to fit your opinion of where it should be?
come on now clark find a gem of striker……………please out out striker any from the top five premiership teams must have one to loan out surely until the end of the season and no return………………kro
Mark, no matter what he does, he will always be criticised by the same blinkered crowd.
definately in agreement with you they refuse to accepted the extreme circumstances we are in…….
Just lone Clark has pulled 5 or 6 players out the hat with a possible striker still on the cards……..
there ignorance is just unbelievable really…….
Clark continue to shake incredible shackles off himself and still come up trumps, not for himself , but for us fans…………at least for Derby game tomorrow they might not know what hit them………….what should be happening this should give us fans a tremendous lift for tomorrow………
Im with you BIS the bloke cant win, if he hadnt signed anyone he would be hanging the kids out to dry now he has signed players he’s overlooking the kids! Im in Spain too, where are you?
Near Murcia, Steve
crikey its like a kindergarden on here today, everybody has a right to say what they like/feel and because its different from anybody elses doesn’t mean its wrong. Lets play nicely please.
come on now clark find a gem of striker……………please out out striker any from the top five premiership teams must have one to loan out surely until the end of the season and no return………………kro
classic mark one from Utd
I’ve just had a though (yeah, I do have one occasionally.) Does anyone else have the feeling that Lee Clark might be thinking of reverting to 3-5-2 (or even 3-4-3?)
We’ve gone from having only 2 centre backs, to having 4 within a couple of days. Also, Blackett can play centre back and left midfield as well as left back. It just made me wonder.
*thought
tbh staffs fans should be really excited about tomorrow me personally i am……..who knows how many of these he will play or formation…. I have to admit he got very little time for it to take affect tomorrow….
But tomorrow we have new heroes possibly…………..if clark pull of a victory tomorrow it will be a bloody miracle………absolute credit must go to him
for me 352 simply because it served him well last season……for any formation to work properly the players are accountable in making this work.
Whoever he plays, we should have a lot more quality going forward.. and young legs to chase back if needed. Looking forward to tomorrow’s game.
Think he might go eight in midfield and 2 at the back with macheda on his own . Then have 7 midfielders on the bench !
great we playing without goalkeeper i knew things were on the up classic
I have to say I’m not Clarks biggest fan, but I feel he has done very well in securing players on loan despite with all what’s gone on. With our finance restraints we can only hope for youth loans and the fact they’re youth loans form the top two teams in the prem has given me a bit of hope these players can do well. Whatever happens, this will look good on Clark’s CV it’s a win win for him.
Does anyone have a list of when contracts are up? I am assuming we wont see the likes of Elliot and mullins again. Last season for zigic, lovernkrands etc too?
Murphy too I think. We could have a very young squad by next season.
we had laugh about this at the start of the season average could 23 years………
Yeah… next season’s sponsors could be Mothercare!
How many of those youngsters will be ours and how many adopted is the question because financially next year with lower st sales and lower gates no parachute and less sponsorship we won’t be that much better off even after Ziggy Burke Murphy Lovenkrands Ambrose and Mullins wages have been lost! And we could be in a different league too!
I think also, with the young lads coming in from Man U and Man City, the good habits they’ve learned at their clubs will hopefully rub off on our young players.
have to confess i know nothing of the players that lee has brought in , hope there is a diamond or two that can help our squad more than just in a numerical sense.Hope also that we can help the lads to develop , if we are going to rely in loaned out kids in seasons to come if we can get a reputation for bringing the best out of these players we should be able to keep getting them from the better teams.
Mullins has gone on end of season loan to notts county
There are rumours about Burke going to Forrest with Wes Morgan coming the other way.
What? ANOTHER centre back? Don’t we have enough of those already? lol
clark did say it would be busy lol maybe he covering all his bases lol
should have 5 new strikers coming as well only joking……….
5? Nah, we’ll never get Messi, Ronaldo, Suarez, Aguero and van Persie. We might get 3 or 4 of them, but not all 5. :-)
If we did Staffs people would still moan!
bloody good ;-00
Some people thrive on it BiS. It’s just not my way, I prefer to stay optimistic.
bloody funny that ;-00 one would do nicely may i have messi………..our goal tally would certainly go up and we would not need ziggy……. he would be worth very penny……….:))
That would be Wes Morgan who played against us for Leicester on Tuesday?
Not sure about the source there, it might have been earlier. We dont need another centre back. Strange how things change in 48 hours!
Who are we going to drop to play all these new players?
Hope it’s not our player Packwood who deserves a run in the team.
This is why I wondered about the 3-5-2. That would accomodate 3 of the 4 centre backs.
Mr C that’s the point that I made above packwood and Hancox places are on the line. Will was our best player in last 2 outings. I have no issue with signing young recruits but I am concerned that to get them LC acceded to demands from parent clubs to play them regardless ! If they get picked on merit then fine I will be delighted that we have signed extra reinforcements.
Totally agree about Packwood. Hancox, unfortunately has been injured a fair bit this season and, with Murphy also out and Ferguson off form, you can understand Clark bringing in reinforcements. We’ll have to wait and see who get the shirt when Hancox is fit. It may be that the new guy plays so well, that he can’t be dropped. Time will tell.
The new Man u lads look good, the full back played against us for Blackpool at Stans and cleared 2 off the line in the Tilton (remember?). Thorpe says that Lingard helped him to make his decision(well done LC) Blackett and Thorpe have played together for the last 8 years at MU.
tomorrow the stans should be filled…………… expectation has just gone up a notch…….derby will not know what hit them…………… gosh i am feeling happy again………….life being nose it wonderful……..
15,000 absolute tops I would think and that’s with Derby bringing a few thousand.. Category A prices tomorrow. £30 minimum for an adult in the Kop or Tilton which is too much.
Everyone is entitled to an opinion its called free speech so if you don’t agree with them that is your choice but please refrain from nasty remarks as at the end of the day we all want bcfc to do well and be a successful football club. Kro dny
What nasty remarks? Those against LC are fair game though?
Your not capable of nasty remars BIS Your inappropriate uses of words is a cause of great hilarity.
Exactly Tony!
gosh how close were we saha decided to go to cardiff……damn
Frederico Macheda looks like coming in loan from Man U.
Federico Macheda next?
Just rushed back from the local to tell you we’re apparently close to signing Macheda from UTD. Well done Clarky,you;re the business.Gotta go,my beers getting cold.
WARM
I will be pleased if Macheda signs,but he is 22 and has scored only 9 goals in 91 games.
He has played for Sampdoria and Stuttgart on loan and scored 1 goal in a combined 34 appearances.
Still Lee Clark must be shattered after starting work at 06.30 this morning, but well done to him.
And people criticise Zigic and Nivak’s goal ratios. :-)
dont worry Mr Crosby his ratio will soon rise with the chances we will give him…………..
He hasnt been brought in for his heading ability,,,,,stats seen shows a 15% winning heading duel ,losing 85%
That’s Novaks ratio I reckon mmmm?
Here is one for Dan. How many Loan Players can play in the 11, is it 3 ?
5 max. in the squad of 18.
I believe 5 can be on the teamsheet
Great news Steve…thoose beers worked!
This is my team to play Derby tomorrow:-
Randolph
Caddis, Packwood, Thorpe, Blackett.
Huws, Adeyemi.
Burke, Ruznak, Novak.
Macheda.
that should frighten them Richard……….hopefully a few more thousand add on though the turnstiles 2mor kro
Yes Derby will be crapping themselves – at least Mclaren won’t have had much chance to develop a game plan.
Neither will we but then what’s new!?
Was just to write up the exact same squad (other then brown in for adyemi) before hitting refresh..
Personally i would swap Lee for Hancox and lovenkrands for ziggy on the bench, but fairly sure you are LC in disguise :ninja:
Which means half our outfield players would be from the youth teams of Man U and Man C!!! With due respect to the likes of Gray, Brown, Hancox, Adams, Bell, Reilly etc they’re not quite in the same league as those five!!
So the 2 players we actually have signed on contract don’t get a start?
Subs, Doyle, Martin, Lee, Brown, Reilly, Howard, Lovenkrands.
Top news ,a proper number nine, well done Lee !!!brilliant .
People saying that macheda hasn’t scored many goals ,but neither had dugery,let’s be positive , l don’t think Lee could have done any better.
Wow that’s some comparison
brilliant lee clark fantastic news cuffed to bits with all your signing, from 6.30pm til now please dont let certain fans get you down…………..Macheda signed season long no call back……
and yes you are worth every penny of your salary………..good on kidda
*6.30am
Are we obliged to play these kids from Man U and Man C? If so I just wonder what that does for the morale of the other players. If Mitch Hancox is fit to play tomorrow does he deserve to be dropped? These lads will go back while Hancox is our player. Something to think about anyway.
shirley i agree with you if our young players deserve to be in the side am i happy with that…….same with our front men if they are not firing on all cinders, then hopefully these extra reinforcement will keep everyone on their toes…..surely that’s what we want healthy competition……..kro
Hi Shirley and Bcfc I have posted several times that I have similar concerns. It is fine to sign young lads but they must get picked on merit not by contract with their home club! What would it do for our youngsters and in fact the rest of the squad and new signings ,Iike Howard and Martins if they suddenly get displaced by youngsters who don’t even have to play well! Who would want to tell Packwood he’s dropped v Derby after his last 2 games ! can LC handle this kind of motivational challenge?
And let’s not forget the next loan window opens on 8 Feb and continues until 24 March!
Ha ha ha love it!
The anti Clark brigade must be well gutted!
not bad for a team with no money
any decent bluenose will astounded by this
amazed and shocked how has quickly clark acted
by the way with no money
imagination if he had millions to play with… i am totally blown way..
get in there……..please if you are anti please to be seated
and take stock…………
I think you need to calm down and take a reality check.
Don’t forget to give the Board some credit for signing off these Loans. If only Yeung had not had his Finances frozen, we would have bought real Players of our own.
completely agree chas
I think he is right to get them in as we are light on numbers in defence but it’s just a situation that needs to be managed carefully. Hancox has proved he can perform at this level, these lads haven’t. I am just wondering if he has to play them to ensure the relationship with the Manchester clubs is maintained. Could be a tricky situation if we don’t get results which will mean we will be in relegation trouble. What happens when Robinson is back from suspension?. Does he have to choose between him and Packwood?
Totally agree I can’t understand why others canT see the risks involved in these deals. If they get picked on merit no problem .
Gutted at what Royal blue? hes signed a couple of kids with no first team experience and a striker with a goal ration of what? 1 in 5. however hes done ok in the circomstances.
oooops sorry 1 in 10 lol
BIS Are you aware you continually use the wrong word?ie I will forgive your ignorance in thinking anyone in Spain lives on the coast, you should have used the word everyone. After all some people in Spain must live on the coast.
thanks Tony I think Clark has done ok in the circumstances but lets not get carried away?And thanks too for correcting BIS who’s not sure where he is in Spain. You are right after all some people in Spain do live on the Costas and he is one of them possibly because Murcia which he claims to be home is on the. Costa Blanca. however he also noticed Reece Brown tired after 60mins v the foxes so maybe he’s really in Moseley rather than posturing from his sunny terrace in Spain!
tms blues I picked up on the same thing myself makes you wonder.
Check your English TMS before having a pop at mine, so I typed anyone instead of everyone, big deal, and once again TMS get a map Murcia is not on the Costa Blanca. Is the word ignoramus correct, please enlighten me Tony. Or is whinging moaning old brummie closer?
Christophe Dugarry scored 6 from 30 games but what sublime player he was…….
how can anyone say that we didnt need new faces at the back? , we were a couple of knocks away from not having a back four (three or five) I cant see how we could have done better with zero money to spend , i was expecting a couple of league one players .I dont think these players can push up into the playoffs ,but its been so long since we have had any reason to get up beat ,lets take a leaf out of staffs book and see the bright side ….come on you new blue boys!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Man U and Man C have only loaned us these young players to get experience. LC will be well aware that if he doesn’t play them they will probably be called back. We might not even be paying their wages. We play one of the best teams in the division tomorrow and the chances are we will lose. We then have a vital match away at Charlton. Clark then has a dilemma. Does he risk going with the Manchester kids again or go with the players who actually have a very decent record away from home and risk upsetting our wealthy benefactors and not play them?. He may have made a rod for his own back. I sincerely hope they are all brilliant but it’ could be a tricky situation. If we play them and continue losing then there is risk of cliques developing wth the other players. Could be a tester for LC’s man management skills.
obviously you are speaking hypothetically about players bought in shirley unless you got facts to back what you say is true. These player bought in have an opportunity to enhance their career or their stock…which ever these parent clubs choose….. imo they come with good habits, good work ethic and it good for our youngster to be around these type of players………we already have excellent relation with utd u21’s.
so i personally dont see any disharmony gathering. if anything this should be a great boost……
…
obviously you are speaking hypothetically about players bought in shirley unless you got facts to back what you say is true. These player bought in have an opportunity to enhance their career or their stock…which ever these parent clubs choose….. imo they come with good habits, good work ethic and it good for our youngster to be around these type of players………we already have excellent relation with utd u21’s.
so i personally dont see any disharmony gathering. if anything this should be a great boost……
…
So if they have to play and we lose games the existing players will be happy with that situation?
When Patrick Viera was at St Andrews last week, I remember (from what I read and heard in interviews) that he and Lee Clark sat down and went through the games that Rusnak was expected to play in. That doesn’t sound like we were committed to him playing every game. Maybe it’s the same for all the other loan signings this week.
Who came up with this ‘Must Play every week’ cobblers ? We know no more about the terms of the Contracts than we know about anything else, so why worry about it?
I think their parent clubs want them to get some game time under their belts, experience 1st team football and bigger crowds (no pun intended.) To expect their player to play in every game, regardless of form, is frankly ridiculous. I can’t see any manager agreeing to that. But the, I could be wrong.
Too right, Staffs. Clarke will pick the team,as he has done all season. Obviously he will want to play these new blokes, but it will be up to him, imo.
So Viera is helping picking our team already. This is not a healthy situation but I am not blaming Clark. I am just saying it could end up being a difficult situation for him if Man U are also having a say in which games their players appear in as well. Not so bad if we get safe but very difficult if we get into a relegation battle.
Lee Clark says it read what Staff says above i. He picks such players weeks in advance !! Gipsy lee Clark must be able to foresee the future and form of the other players competing for places too !
Chas Lee Clark says it read what Staff says above i. He picks such players weeks in advance !! Gipsy lee Clark must be able to foresee the future and form of the other players competing for places too !
That’s the whole point which other members of the squad sit down with the boss and agree which games they will play. It’s ridiculous. It has to be according to form unfortunately LC let slip what a number of us have expressed concern about. I am delighted to have new recruits just make sure their introduction does not upset our contracted players motivation.
TMS its gypsy, you ignoramus, so before having a go at me, check your self!
So so right.Shirley I really can’t understand why others can’t see the risks. It’s not just the youngsters we have who have done well. We have just signed two players on a contract and they will stay if they do well but will they have to sit and watch the Manchester kids rather than prove their worth and love of our shirt.
Zigic plays for the love of our shirt does he?
No 65k sad to say . You completely miss the point.
Howard and Martins have just signed for us on a contract they are not the kind of mercenary Ziggy has turned out to be . They are here to prove themselves and to win a contract at a fraction of his deal. You completely miss the point!
Those deals are good ones. There’s no better incentive for a player, than to play to win a contract. Do well and it’s sign on the dotted line for next season. Do poorlly and it’s thanks, but no thanks at the end of the season. It’s win win for the club either way.
So you know Zigic personally to be able to make such libelous statements then ?
Nice to see us active on deadline day (which is my favorite day of the season)
Those thugs across the city looks like they aint signing anyone tonight! and we’ve signed 5 players, am really excited by the prospect of Thorpe and Macheda
KRO SOTV
Carson he no sell, he no want to sell, he say old chinese proverb say he pay too much for blues will never sell blues even if it doesn’t make financial sense all cuz he luv blues
Confucius say, man with hand in pocket, feel cocky all day!
Tony/ shirley blue, we needed players, Clarke got us some players, with pedigree
What exactly do you want?
I think, with the quality of players we have in midfield now, our options going forward must have doubled or trebled with this week’s signings. Plus, the defenders we’ve signed are all comfortable on the ball and play out from the back. I don’t think we could have asked for more for what we’ve paid.
Staffs, we all know that we can’t buy players and decent players don’t go out on loan unless they need game time after injury.
LC has done some excellent business the last few days, and if they gel quickly, we can look forward to the second half of the season with some anticipation of some sort of success. However, if they bomb we are looking at relegation because some decent signings have been made by teams in the chasing pack.
My other concern is Will Packwood, Amarii Bell, Reece Brown and Demari Gray, all have been excellent when thrown into the fray, how are they going to react if they lose their places to players who have less playing time at this or higher level, remember we have played premiership football in Swansea and those that played did us proud.
KRO+DNM
I don’t want Man U and Man C stipulating what games these youngsters play in which it appears Viera has already done. The effect of that on the rest of the squad could be devastating and we are not safe from relegation by any means. Think about it.
At the end of the day, Lee Clark holds the power. If one of those players isn’t up to scratch, he can leave them out, and their parent club recalls them after 28 days. I don’t see a problem there tbh.
I don’t know. Just doesn’t feel right to me. The thought of Viera sitting down with Clark to discuss which games he is “expecting” his player to appear in faintly disgusts me. Just shows how far we have declined as a club to have to resort to that.
Maybe when he was discussing games he was anticipating a cup run, or looking at minutes as rest the player during games.
Only one person picks the team, that is the manager, or maybe if Rusnak plays we should blame Vieira for poor results.
The end of the day, Monday the team picked itself, as we only had a bare-boned squad, tomorrow LC has a selection problem, the other thing to note is he can only have 5 loans in the 18 man match day squad.
KRO+DNM
Lime we are in a position to dictate, get real.
How can you say 4 kids under 21 have pedigree? they haven’t played for their parent club and the 5th apart from scoring against the Vile and Liverpool has done nothing. I’m with shirley as well, we have to play this carefully otherwise the team spirt that is obvious we have playing away could desert us and then we are in the deep do-do. but well done Clark for getting potential good players from Manchester, think we need to change our name to Manchester reserves…….
Royal Blue agreed we needed players and he has got them fair play to him.
Regardless of the differing opinions of the rights and wrongs of these deals, no one can deny that Lee Clark has brought in 6 or 7 quality players over the last week or so. With bugger all to spend, I don’t think he could have done better and deserves all credit and our support.
We’ll see how it all fits together in the fullness of time. KRO!
Well done Lee Clark on your work and time will tell if enough to keep us up.
Please can I add our squad looks very thin on the ground with reference signed players for next season.
A great position for a new owner and manager who could have a clean slate to work with if money available.
PLEASE ! Please ! Please.
CV7Blue
Not much about this striker, all I found was in 91 games he has only scored 9 goals.
He was a promising youngster and played U16, 17, 19 and 21’s teams, he scored a penalty against England in a 1-0 win.
He is not adverse to a bit of controversy being charged for messages on his twitter account, and was burgled at his Sale home.
The other two all have quite glowing reports.
Congratulations LC for some shrewd business, all we can hope for is the team to gel and get some much needed points, starting tomorrow against Derby.
KRO+DNM
I think Macheda was a rising star when he first hit the Utd first team, but, like a lot of players who make the first team at a young age, he became Billy Big Bollox and thought he was better than he was… a bit like Bendtner. Let’s hope he wants to get back up there, because at his age and with his background at Utd, he should be doing better than he has done. Good luck to him.
Of all the signings and in the words of Anne Robinson, He appears to be “The Weakest Link” in a bunch of, on paper and given the age, decent signings.
A hat trick tomorrow will possibly change my mind… But I’ll settle for a decent performance and any victory.
KRO+DNM
Just took 199/1 on a “fair” exchange for BLUES to get promotion.
Think the manager might get till carson has a red card or not,to see if he has improved the team team,winning at home might help,with the new loan signings.
Getting “excited” with “LOAN” signing “NOT GOOD” !!
Exactly the point Staffs, we need to keep supporting LC as he is the supporters only direct line of contact with the club, whay an amazing transfer window for us, I prefer what we have now.
WELL DONE LEE, FANTASTIC BUSINESS IN THE FACE OF ADVERSITY, A TRUE BLUENOSE!
Nothing wrong with some good loan signings and i believe the youngsters that will stay with us for next season (hancox, packwood, Brown etc) will still play a big part in our team, they have the opportunity to mature and grow with similar aged stars.
In our current circumstances, Lee Clark has done some great business in this transfer window. If he had to guarantee a certain amount of game time for the loanees, what was he meant to do, not bother signing them? Unfortunately with certain posters on here he is criticised when he gets players in, and would have been criticised when he didn’t sign anyone. If loan players displace players like Packwood, maybe its because they are better, not once have the detractors made that assumption.
As for you TMS, Murcia is a large region in Spain, and I live near the city of Murcia, which is no where near it’s coastal region, which is the Costa Calida, not the Costa Blanca. So if you’re going to have a go at people, at least get your own facts right, or you make yourself look uneducated and pathetic.
well done lee clark – never moans and gets on with it
never moans… he is always mentioning “working with the constraints” that a mild pop if you ask me? Bloody cold today but my first game for a while (got some spare cash Paul!!!) looking forward to watching the young pups from Manchester!!!!
I’m staggered at the players LC has managed to acquire in ONE day. No manager I can remember has ever worked harder for this club. I see he has got a us forward from Man U who definitely DOES know where the net is. Please, please, stuff it to the big mouthed Derby supporters who live in my neck of the woods (Ashby de la Zouch).
Think this is the most deadline day dealings we have ever seen. LC was in at 6:30 and I believe he was still at the ground as late as 12 midnight.
All we hope is they gel quickly.
I know the feeling re: supporters, I live in Nottingham so endure Leicester, Derby and Forest supporters, but I still wear the shirt and badge with pride, though I do believe the wife puts it on the line at night, she’s a Notts lass.
KRO+DNM
LC picks the team he is the manager.Where did all this rubbish about Viera picking the team come from? If anyone has a quote from someone that confirms that anyone orher than LC picks the team then please post it, if not stop moaning and look forward to seeing our new players turn it on against Derby!
Exactamundo, Steve.. Seems like things have been a bit misconstrued.
As usual, words are being twisted to suit an agenda. What was actually said, was that Lee Clark sat down with Viera and went through the fixtures they would be expected to play in. Nothing was mentioned about Viera picking our team. Clark obviously knows which games they’d be suited to and which ones they wouldn’t. It’s not rocket science.
I feel like a kid at Xmas
I just hope if nothing else it ignites a spark at the ground and gives everyone a lift.
genuinely looking forward to the game today. KRO
It should be a good game after the players have introduced themselves to each other ha ha!
Someone mentioned on TR’s show last night, that they’ll all have to wear name tags.
As long as they can distinquish between the opposition and a blue shirt, that should suffice to begin with.
KRO+DNM
225 posts and all about actual football matters,how long has it been since that happened ,mind you staffs has made about twenty on his own ,last years record is clearly in danger!!!
Silence never was one of my best qualities. But, I ain’t been sued yet!
what a fabulous night we all had it been extraordinary really…….. lets hope the blues give a good account of themselves today, and bit of luck who’s know!!! you seen what clack has achieved now let support him and the team to the end of the season without bitching lol
great signings clark well done, BUT BRING BACK ZIGIC WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU THINKING!?
Its time for us supporters to get BEHIND this young side and let them know we be with them all the way.
Clark has done amazing job under this current board now lets get behind him and the team to avoid league 1
Lets give the players a big KRO today and show them we are with them but I do say is they need to GEL and get used to each other.
KRO
They need to gel quickly Tracey.I think i,d just play a couple of the new defenders today out of the signings.I don’t know if macheda signed in time.Ziggy has to be at least on the bench.Maybe arrange a behind closed doors friendly in the week and play all the new lads.