Often Partisan

Summer 2014 Squad Analysis Pt I

With the close season properly upon us and the Blues retained list now made public, I thought it might be an opportune time to take a look at the squad as it stands to see where the squad stands and what needs to be done to ensure it can be competitive next year in the Championship.

The squad as it stands:

Goalkeepers

Darren Randolph, Colin Doyle, Nick Townsend, Callum Preston, Connal Trueman

Defenders

Neal Eardley, Paul Caddis, Paul Robinson, Mitch Hancox, Nathaniel Kelly, Bobby Moseley, Josh Dacres-Cogley

Midfielders

Callum Reilly, Olly Lee, Andrew Shinnie, Tom Adeyemi, Jonathan Spector, Reece Brown, Demarai Gray, Koby Arthur, Liam Truslove, Charlee Adams, Reece Webb

Strikers

Lee Novak, Matt Green, Viv Solomon-Otabor, George McGee

Offered contracts to:

Chris Burke, Nikola Zigic, Will Packwood, Amari’i Bell, James Fry

Key
Senior Pro (16 players)
Development Squad (7 players)
1st year Pro (5 players)
3rd year Scholar (4 players)

It’s painfully obvious the squad as it stands is threadbare. Blues have thirteen contracted senior pros currently, with another ten contracted professionals at various stages of development after leaving the Academy and a further four who are undertaking a third year of scholarship.

The balance of the squad is all wrong too; Blues have five keepers on the books for next season but only four defenders with first team experience and only two players who are recognised centre-backs. Up front Blues have two strikers – last season’s top scorer Lee Novak and Matt Green, who spent most of the season injured and if Nikola Zigic doesn’t renew then the current backup is very raw.

Obviously Blues will add to this squad – at this moment with Bosmans and loanees – but I think it shows the weight of the problem Lee Clark (or any potential replacement) has to work with. Last season proved that a team cannot rely on loanees and short term contact players and I think it’s a big ask to get a squad needing so many new recruits to gel together quickly.

Blues are reported to be looking at ADO Den Haag defender Tom Beugelsdijk along with Oldham defender Jonathan Grounds as two potential options to help build up the defence. Centre-back Buegelsdijk was named player of the year by readers of the local newspaper, receiving over 50% of the vote and has reportedly already met with Clark and been given a tour of the club and the city.

What’s clear is the team needs heavy investment this summer if it is not to be fighting relegation again. Although the squad numbers are inflated by the number of kids who have come through I think it must be remembered that there is barely a first team of current senior pros in total; two of those are returning from serious injury and I would hope that anyone looking to invest in/buy the club will realise that they’re going to have to get the chequebooks out again immediately after doing the deal to buy the club to restore it somewhat on the path back to the top flight.

 

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165 Responses to “Summer 2014 Squad Analysis Pt I”

  • Thongs says:

    That’s just neglect. Pure and simple.

    • Paul Carter - Voice of Reason says:

      Things, me and you Cork, Mansfield and Notts. Guinness frenzy! What ya saying?

      • Thongs says:

        Mansfield and Notts fine…but i’m not going to Ireland for a multitude of reasons.

        • Paul Carter - Voice of Reason says:

          Ah that’ll be the old Shamrock Rovers shenanigans from last year then! Can’t wait to see the boys take the field again surrounded by non moaning loyal Blues. Best win 10-0 or the net boys will go into overdrive!

  • Richard Granfield says:

    Assuming Zigic leaves, it means we could sign 12 Bosmans at £5k per week to replace his salary!

  • Blueboy88 says:

    Just highlights the current rank poor governance of our football club..

  • david village says:

    Once again I am impressed with another of Clark’s bosmans in tom beugelsdijk ..sign
    him up Lee worry about the cost later …kro

    • paule says:

      Clark might pick up a couple of Gems’ trouble is he will play them out of position in a unbalanced team selection & kill his confidence, a leopard doesn’t change it’s spots & judging by the last two seasons the man has proven his incompetence & will surely be gone if new owners come in.

      • Paul Carter - Voice of Reason says:

        Proven it to who? So he picked the wrong team on occasion? What manager hasn’t? Don’t forget some of the games we won through his substitutions.

        • fingles says:

          Yes, I can think of two at home straight away.

        • paule says:

          Ask the majority of home supporters not just the handful who appear to have their Blinkers on like yourself, If you honestly believe he’s done a good job fair play to you but i think you must be winding people up or you are easy pleased.

          • Small Heath Blue says:

            There’s a lot of people that think he has done a good job given the circumstances. He had to rebuild the squad a number of times, and all this crap about him losing the dressing room, perhaps you should read what Caddis and Robinson said about the manager. Then again its just another excuse for the average internet warrior not to attend.

          • Tony says:

            That squad was good enough for midtable no problem, Clark dragged us down

          • paule says:

            Thanks Tony, i totally agree that squad should be mid table, i don’t want to miss any Blues game but feel the only way of getting rid of these people is starve them of cash & then we may get rid of Clark too, then i will buy my usual 4 season tickets & put money back into the club.

          • Tony says:

            Yes Paule ant right thinking individual would agree with you.

          • paule says:

            There may be people who think he’s done a great job & they might even enjoy his style of football so go spend your hard earned cash & get entertained watching it. Personally i think the entertainment values at home have been appalling & no matter what silly names & insults fellow supporters want to throw my way its my £1000 i spent to watch 2 home win’s, so if we have the current owners & manager next season i won’t be taking the family down because it might put the kids off for life.

    • bkkblue says:

      Reading up on him, he does sound a decent player. My worry is that we will miss out on him due to the ongoing ownership saga and the uncertainty over Clark’s future.

  • Snoopster says:

    Very interesting to see the current squad make up.

    “The balance of the squad is all wrong too; Blues have five keepers on
    the books for next season but only four defenders with first team
    experience and only two players who are recognised centre-backs.”

    I don’t know that the squad balance is wrong, it looks to me more like goalkeeper is pretty much the only position where we have enough strength in depth – two senior keepers, one young keeper beginning to get first team experience at a low level and then a couple of even younger possibles.
    Not the squad balance just the serious lack of depth across the rest of the squad.

  • Paul Carter - Voice of Reason says:

    Shocking ain’t it? Absolutely devestating that it’s come to this. Just shows what a great job Lee did keeping us up with such a pitiful squad.

    • fingles says:

      Great job!
      We should not have ever been in that position,even with the squad available to him, he still managed to only keep us up on goal difference.

      • Paul Carter - Voice of Reason says:

        Why shouldn’t we have been? Didn’t we have the divisions second lowest budget after Yeovil? Didn’t we only pay a fee for 3 players? What were you expecting exactly?

        • fingles says:

          Yes, we did, but LC brought in some decent loanees/Bosmans, however seemed not to know his best team or formation. Constant changing of personnel,no idea of consistency.Both Leicester and Burnley had settled teams right through the season. Yes I know he lost the two central defenders at Christmas, but if he had aquired a couple more instead of dozens of midfield players we might not have suffered so badly with those two departing.

          • Paul Carter - Voice of Reason says:

            They had classier more consistent players that’s why they kept a settled side. You only have to look at out owns fans reaction to Zigic. One match booing him off another singing his name. Had we played a settled side each week we would have definitely gone down. Mind once that settled side started losing you’d be moaning that Lee won’t change it around wouldn’t you.

            Blues fans 2014

          • fingles says:

            Football is no different to any other ‘team’ game, it requires a team. I cannot think of and successful team which constantly changes its players.At the start of last season Bunley were one of the favourites to get relegated. Their manager put together a team ( spending no more than Clark) and stuck with them week in week out.Slowly momentum began to gather Yes,he was lucky with injuries,as he had a small squad, obviously Leicester had a huge squad and spent a lot of money ( over 2 seasons)but non the less they played with the same team week in week out.

          • Chas says:

            You only have to think of Blackburn at Home really really

          • fingles says:

            Well that was the mother of all muck ups. To have put out that team, at that critical time beggars belief. And to then have to change it, and use all the subs, leaving us exposed was criminal.

          • Paul Carter - Voice of Reason says:

            And what happened in the next home game playing players in their recognised positions? That’s right we lost by an extra goal than we did against Blackburn. There goes your logic.

          • Luke Bowen says:

            So, your argument is that Lee is a great manager because his teams lose by more goals with players playing in position than out of position.

          • Paul Carter - Voice of Reason says:

            Not once have I said Lee is a great manager.

          • Luke Bowen says:

            At last, something we can agree on.

          • Paul Carter - Voice of Reason says:

            But he still kept us up which is all I expected.

            Given out budget great managers just like great players are just a fantasy

          • Luke Bowen says:

            Given the standard of squad we had, comparative to the teams that finished immediately above us, we should have been capable of finishing with more points than we did.

            In most previous seasons we would have been relegated with 44 points. Blues were saved more by the even-greater ineptitude of two other sides and the waterlogged Oakwell pitch than by our manager’s talent.

            Whilst Blues survived and Doncaster didn’t, the reality is that Paul Dickov had a much weaker squad, lost three points through shear bad luck and still came within a hair’s breadth of finishing above us. If I was a Doncaster fan, I’d be gutted to be going down but I’d feel a sense of pride in knowing that we really were better than Birmingham and deserved to survive.

            I looked at Oddschecker in September last year. At nearly every bookmaker, Blues were 9th favourite to be relegated. If we had performed as expected, we would have finished 16th.

          • Tony says:

            lol You can say that again

          • Tony says:

            Fingles I think you comment puts this whole issue to bed.
            BLACKBURN. no more to be said really

        • Blueboy88 says:

          What were you expecting exactly?
          Well call all Blues Fans Old Fashioned but a slightly better home record than P23 W2 D 8 L13 F29 A40
          Appalling by any standard , in any league , anywhere in the world.
          Clark should be utterly ashamed of that ..

        • bluenoserob says:

          we didnt have the second lowest wage bill , only if you take out ziggys wages .

    • Luke Bowen says:

      I think Lee, in his own way, gave it his all.

      But if you add to this list all the leavers and loanees he was working with, I think it could be argued that the squad was stronger than that of Millwall, Blackpool, Charlton and Huddersfield.

  • Rhees says:

    Im praying we sell or get the investment in the club otherwise we are in trouble again

  • Andy W says:

    I am hoping that the 5 prospective bidders have sufficient enough business acumen to have done their homework properly, and realise that investment in the team is of paramount importance or we are at risk of being the divisions’ whipping boys next season. If they do not realise this, then I suggest that they are not the kind of new owners we want?

  • gerard says:

    what is even more interesting-is the number of midfield players we have retained in comparison to other positions- 3 of them signed by our manager- he has a definite liking for midfield players -having signed 18 during his reign at Huddersfield – so whatever the future -he will no doubt sign more midfielders if he still in a job -regardless

  • iang says:

    there is no doubt we have threadbare squad that is down to the neglect of the owners and their mismanagement of the club
    However one would have to be totally blind to not see the current manager has massively contributed to the closest of shaves we had with relegation last season. Whilst our squad was not top half with players such as Maceda, Zigic, Burke, Huws, Robinson , Randolph and Spector we should been able to keep clear of Millwall, Doncaster, Charlton, Yeovil etc. If you compare the squads it bears this out, also Burnley player for player are not massively different to us in terms of player quality and squad depth but they had a good manager who had consistent selections, players in position and clear tactics (remember Burnley were one of the favourites for relegation last season!)
    Do we really want to go down next season as arguing to keep this manager despite his doubted passion for the game (I used to love him as a player) is only likely to make the task harder. Thank him for his commitment and agree it is time to part ways, two home wins all season is an all time record, that is not just down to club governance it was as much poor management

    • Art says:

      Great posting and you hit the nail on the head

      He’s a very poor manager with very little tactical awareness.

      • iang says:

        Thanks Art, I just don’t understand the lack of objective thinking about Clarks abilities. If he had picked a team out of position once or twice fine, we all try things at times and get things wrong, however to do it repeatedly over two seasons is a different scale of issue. Also his approach at Huddersfield was exactly the same so he has a track record of doing this.

        Also all the signings he proclaimed would take us the next step when he joined us failed, Mullins, Loverenkrands, Ambrose and Morrison only worked when he ran out of options

        My firm view is he is a good man who cares about football and looks like he would be a great under 21 coach. Put him as club manager and you are asking for trouble and I am sure we will be the last club to employ him in this role

        • Art says:

          Yes-agreed!

          His record over two seasons is indefensible.

          • mark says:

            The sh*t he had to deal with in equal measure you appeared to have missed

          • iang says:

            You seen to be missing despite all the sh*t he had to deal with he added to it massively by chopping and changing far too much, playing people out of position far too much and getting tactics wrong far too much or did I dream that over the last two seasons?
            He is passionate and committed but don’t let that blind you to the fact he is very limited as a manager. Give him the development role for our up and coming under21s and I would be very happy
            We stayed up by two minutes having lost five on the bounce and not won a home game since October. 44 points was also ten less than last years safety mark. Do we really believe we will stay up next season without management change as well as ownership change?
            Blind loyalty to a manager regardless of fact does not support the club it does the reverse

          • mark says:

            Well if players complemented the fact at playing at high standards maybe he wouldnt necessary have to tinker with the team . But a lot of players came up short week in week out. So consistance was always going to be a struggle. Please name 11 consistent players myself 4. Some players did advertly let themselves Chris Burke for one on his day unplayable , so just for example blame Clark because Chris cannot get his crosses past the first man, or individual errors cost the game . what I like about Clark is he took all the flak for the players……secondly how do know we will not stay up next season again your views are subjective my friend the season not started yet…….

          • Tony says:

            It is generally accepted that Clark is at best a midland conference manager, now can we move on.

          • mark says:

            Why Tony Clark not gone any where….lol wish thinking on your part again….cheer up Tony Clark keeping you in a job…lol

          • iang says:

            the view on whether stay we up next season is subjective in terms of next seasons results but not in terms past evidences over the last 2 seasons. Poor tactics, poor selection, falling out with players, poor signings how much more evidence does anyone need to form a judgement based on probabilities?
            The alternative is ignore facts and hope for the best as he’s a good lad who shows passion and hasn’t walked out on us. The reason he hasn’t gone is no-one else would have him
            This type of thinking has sadly been all too familiar with our mentality as fans over the years we love a Damian Johnson or much further back a Dean Peer as they are triers, and it doesn’t matter if the quality to do a job to the required standard is lacking. What we should want is people with both the passion and also the quality to do a job not just the former!

        • mark says:

          Fantastic away record nearly forgot….

  • beegeeblueboy says:

    My gut feeing is between BIH lack of investment and Clark’s tinkering we will be in a relegation battle again. If they both fix these errors we may avoid it.

  • Matt says:

    A part of me wants to keep Lee Clark because of his passion but then I remember Blackburn at home. Then it also reminds me of Barnsley at home, that day we also had Davies, Redmond, Morrison, Butland, King, Zigic and Murphy, half of which were on the bench for some odd reason. I actually do believe we should part ways. Bring in Tim Sherwood!

  • Paul Carter - Voice of Reason says:

    Blues have just tweeted that the ST prices for next year will be published on May 30th.

    All the heroic withholders should be commenting soon (they’re so cool)

    • paule says:

      And all those who have renewed will be suicidal come 5 o’clock every home game if and its a if that Idiot is still our manager, fans who want to protest can do so however they want without you having your constant boring digs all the time.

      • Paul Carter - Voice of Reason says:

        Strange that Paul. More people mouth off about not renewing but when one man says the opposite he’s ‘having digs’. Sorry if I don’t fit in with the hate clique.

        • paule says:

          Mr Carter i am not having a dig at you for renewing that is your decision & i respect it,i also believe there will still be a few thousand season ticket holders for the new season, what does annoy me is you have constant digs at the fans who want to protest against the board & the manager by holding on to their hard earned cash, you should respect other peoples opinions and then we may respect yours.

          • Paul Carter - Voice of Reason says:

            You may have a point there cos I just can’t respect that stance. If I bought into it I would be buying into a process which I believe will harm the club. I suspect half the people making the posts have never had a ST before anyway. Look at our squad? Withholding funds will make it worse. BIH will get their dough anyways.

    • bluenoserob says:

      yawn

  • mark says:

    Look into my crystal ball we have a month to get investment…….. Any Chinese billiaires……let hope so…..maybe with can ask tan if fancy a punt on bcfc….that should get internet crew rocking….change our shirt, change our name, change our heritage gosh I am feeling much better he chose Cardiff wonderful…….well done Carson you spent your money but you changed nothing……..beating the vilers in the cup, winning the cup, everlasting European nights, paying premiership wages…..like £70,000, to players like helb and others to see better players grace our turf……….what a life time… Would not change a single thing….. QPR on another note are 177.1 millions in debt glad they got rich buddy…….wow

    • bluenoserob says:

      Is there anyone else who wouldnt swap places with QPR.play off final , a proper manager , top players , owners who have money to burn , no i wouldnt want that….

      • Paul Carter - Voice of Reason says:

        Not me.

        Have they won anything recently or played in Europe? We have.

        Still if you’d like to swap to QPR away you go

  • Adam McDermott says:

    It’s pretty evident in my opinion that Clark has great shortcomings with respect to his managerial prowess. However, I think it’s very unfair to ignore his effort and passion as I don’t think he could have tried or cared more this season past.

    Yes he has his limitations in his own ability I think, but, the bare facts are that any manager in the Championship (and a few in the Prem) would have struggled keeping us up with the lack of finances and the limitations this put on the squad – it also affected the continuity of the squad.

    We’ll have him come next season and I’m pretty pessimistic that if someone wants to pay £32m for the club they’ll be jumping up and down to pay another £5m to bolster the squad to avoid relegation.

    • Paul Carter - Voice of Reason says:

      Great post Adam

    • Tony says:

      Adam Passion is one thing but it will get you no where fast if you leave your main scorer on the bench, and play centre halves at full back and full backs in midfield.
      That home record is an absolute disgrace for any manager to have on his CV You say any manager would have struggled to keep us up But if we had won just 25% Of those 17 games where would we have been?.
      The man is a liability, and he is with out honour otherwise he would walk I will never set foot there again until he is booted out.

      • Mrs Crosby says:

        Garcia resigns after getting to the playoffs, Clark stays after winning only 2 home games all season. Can someone explain how that can be?

        • Chris W says:

          Poor Tim Sherwood was sacked and he got Spurs into Europe. To be honest who’d be a football manager where success is deemed a failure. Lee Clark must be up for a knighthood.
          KRO+DNM

  • Andrew says:

    I’m hoping whoever is in line or prospective buyers for the club have at least 30-40 million to spend on players after the 20 million they are being quoted to buy the club in the first place! otherwise we WILL go down next year no two ways about it. we were extremely lucky this year to stay up. but there is no way we can survive without proper investment and anything less than a substation amount as this will keep us in the championship alone, without promotion challenges in the equation.

    • Andrew says:

      and anyone questioning a fans judgement on whether or not to buy a season ticket should really back off. I have seen a lot of it on these pages and it just disturbs me that individuals question commitment or passion for support towards bcfc just because they think £500 will be better spent elsewhere. it is a lot of money to fork out if the season we have next year is at all anything like this. and anyone skeptical to buy until we await to find out about the ambition for next year is totally justified. nobody asked for this situation and everyone can make their own judgments on what to do best for the club and their own situation!!!

    • Andrew says:

      we need 2 decent center backs, at least 3 wingers maybe a central midfielder who can score (costs a fee for one of them) although spector reilly and adeyami are good enough for this level, after injuries suspention the kids we cant rely on them too much and shinniesta not good enough for me. we need pace, goalscorers and experience, all those things cost money even at this level with transfer fees and wages, i also understand some of these (i hope not the majority) can and will be filled out with the odd loan here and there

    • Andrew says:

      just glad were rid of all the deadwood

  • Chris W says:

    We definitely need a backbone in the defensive department, we need another Huws to work with Adeyemi and we are going to need a striker. That is just to get a basic bare squad, if Burke, Packwood and Zigic don’t resign then we are going to have to buy at least another two or three players, or once again we will be relying on loans again and we all know how that panned out after Christmas.
    It don’t enthuse me with confidence knowing Lee Clark will be let loose with that kind of shopping list when you look at his forays into the transfer market both at Blues and Huddersfield.
    He did well with some loans, Huws,Bartley and Burn but then there was Blackett and Rusnak.
    Passion and commitment do not win trophies or promotions, the right tactics, team selections and man-management do, the latter three Lee Clark certainly didn’t show much knowledge of.
    One question I am sure someone will explain, if BIHL have factored the last parachute payment will the new owners be able to claim it back or is it spent full stop, If it has, will that not be reflected in the price they offer, £8m less?
    Whoever is responsible for rebuilding they should look at players with Championship experience or above and not rely on lower league players entirely.
    KRO+DNM

    • Paul Carter - Voice of Reason says:

      Every manager if every team there has ever been has had signings that didn’t work out. Seeing as we could only pay money for 3 (correct me if I’m wrong) that increases the chances of signing ineffectual players.

      Also Chris if we all hold back on outting money into the club will that increase or decrease the calibre of player we can look at?

      • Chris W says:

        I feel you are totally deluded if you think that any money BIHL receive is going to be given to LC or any manager for the rebuilding of the team. They haven’t invested in the last two years and have already, if rumours are to be believed, factored the last parachute payment.
        I have my reasons for not buying just yet, you obviously have yours, that is the same with every other Birmingham City supporter.
        I only offer my opinion on this as do others, some agree, some don’t, the way of the world, who is right?
        I shall be at the first game of the season, which will probably be an away game, I will be at the pre-season friendlies at Notts County and Mansfield as I live near both and as with this season at all games at St Andrews, health permitting. Hopefully we shall see more than two league wins at home. either way I shall still be a Blue, as I always have.
        KRO+DNM

    • Small Heath Blue says:

      Yes, I’m wondering how that 350,000 signing he made at Huddersfield worked out!

      • Chris W says:

        One swallow doesn’t make a summer, but if he can find a striker of his class well done, didn’t save him his job though for all the goals he scored, even in Division one.
        KRO+DNM

        • Small Heath Blue says:

          turning 350,000 into 8 million is a bit more than one swallow. If we analyse his other signing, when not hamstrung by our current owners, you’ll find his success rate is on a par or better than a lot of managers. And no, it didn’t save his job at Huddersfield, but how many chairmen sack their manager when they are sat third in the league.

          • Small Heath Blue says:

            Other swallows include Lee Peltier, Danny Drinkwater, and Anthony Pilkington, all sold for a substantial profit. So before posting how about checking facts instead of making it up?

          • Chris W says:

            Danny Drinkwater was a Manchester United player and only loaned to Huddersfield 2009/10 season
            Lee Peltier was signed for an undisclosed fee, estimated to be around £350,000, sold for £750,000 to Leicester
            and then to Leeds for an estimated £850,000
            Huddersfield sold Anthony Pilkington to Norwich for an estimated £2 million after being purchased for an undisclosed fee.
            All three players were successful in Division one with only Pilkington reaching the premiership. Even Jordan Rhodes has been around the lower divisions.
            No one has questioned Clark’s ability to encourage youth and development he was forced to do so at Birmingham.
            This is why I think he would make a No2 or a youth team manager.
            All managers make both good and bad signings;it is getting the best out of them that make them a success.
            Lee Clark has not been given a fair chance to show what he can do at Blues with a chequebook and has had to scrape the barrel for those he has bought.
            He had some success with Adeyemi, Caddis and
            Robinson with only caddis costing a fee.
            Randolph has had good season saving us on a few
            occasions but has also let in some soft goals.
            Maybe we are not all anoraks when it comes to data even you get some wrong.
            KRO+DNM

          • Small Heath Blue says:

            You were criticising his forays into the market place at Huddersfield, I mentioned Jordan Rhodes, you then replied one swallow doesn’t make a summer, I then pointed out other profitable sales, not sure where my error was, all I know is as a chairman I would be pretty pleased signing a player for 350,000 and selling him for 8 million, also a healthy profit on Pilkington. If you want to criticise him, do it for the right reasons don’t have a go at his transfer record, without looking at the facts.

          • Chris W says:

            You mentioned Danny Drinkwater who was never signed by Huddersfield, only loaned by Manchester United.
            If I am correct Lee Clark was sacked by Huddersfield because his chairman had supported him in the transfer market to a substantial sum but he wasn’t using that quality to get them into the Championship, his football was boring and he was drawing matches from winning positions. Simon Grayson took over, installed a winning mentality and gained promotion.
            I will agree on one point, at Huddersfield he had a chairman who supported him at Blues he hasn’t.
            KRO+DNM

          • Tony says:

            Judging by Boltons second goal he aint to hot with keepers either

          • Small Heath Blue says:

            As well as being bigoted and obnoxious, you’re not too hot with English either.

    • Andrew says:

      another two or three players?!? another ‘two or three players’ just to replace burke zig and packwood more like. we need at the minimum 8 to 10 just to keep us around the same mid to bottom half club

      • Paul Carter - Voice of Reason says:

        He goes to every game you know :)

      • Chris W says:

        I did say we need a minimum of seven just to compete, we still have some academy players who are experienced at this level now.
        All depends on who is the owner and manager, if it is still BIHL I would not be surprised if we keep what we have.
        KRO+DNM

        • Chas says:

          But we don’t need that many Players immediately, do we, as nice as it would be to get them. We have till September to do all our shopping/borrowing,Just get enough to get a solid start.

          • Chris W says:

            Only if Burke, Packwood and Zigic didn’t resign, but it is better to get them in as early as possible to form an understanding and get use to each other.
            Look what happened when we lost Bartley and Burn in the centre of defence.
            KRO+DNM

          • Chas says:

            Yes, Chris, that is the perfect scenario, but if it comes down to having to wait due to whatever reason, there is no need for panic, imo. Might be worth going back in for Burn and Bartley.

          • Chris W says:

            Bartley might be a chance but I think Burn will be useful for Fulham as he has experience at this level.
            I don’t think we need to panic, I don’t think anything will be sorted before July player wise, we have a world cup to enjoy.
            The loan window is open late, just hope we can pay the loan fee and stop players being recalled if we get them on a season long contract.
            KRO+DNM

    • beegeeblueboy says:

      No. If the parachute payment or next year season tickets have been sold that’s the end of it and yes a buyer would pay less for the club because if it

  • Tony says:

    God are we still on about the buffoon that is Clark? send him down the bloody pit

    • Small Heath Blue says:

      nice show of racism, you buffoon

      • beegeeblueboy says:

        Where’s the racism?

        • Tony says:

          Yes where is the racism? you sound a bit like Mark on another server

          • Small Heath Blue says:

            Constantly referring to Clark, and going down the pit refers to his North East heritage in a derogatory way. If you can’t see the racist overtones, then you are not only racist, but a thick one at that.

          • beegeeblueboy says:

            That’s not racism.

          • beegeeblueboy says:

            By your definition telling someone is a ‘viler’ is rascist. Ridiculous.

          • Small Heath Blue says:

            No, as calling someone a Viler does not call in to question where he is from, just as calling us Blousers is not racist, Calling all Brummies thick with whiny accents can be construed as racist, or all welsh sheep shaggers. Do you want me to break it down in words of one syllable for you?

          • Tony says:

            There seems to be some confusion over my pit remarks regarding Lee Clark,, I was not repeat not suggesting he was employed down pit digging coal heaven forbid.
            No was thinking of him being lowered in a cage to check for gas much the same as the canary’s used to do.

          • Small Heath Blue says:

            Make you feel a big man does it Tony. Unpleasant, bigoted and prejudiced, your family must be so proud.

      • Tony says:

        Racism? you got the wrong name your more a holte ender

      • Paul Carter - Voice of Reason says:

        Not the first time for Tony on here either Blue

  • Gary says:

    Listening to Tom Ross earlier about the sale of blues was a bit worrying he said nothing has changed & nothing is happening personally I can’t see any of these supposedly new buyers putting millions in and still not owning the club fully.

    • beegeeblueboy says:

      Judging by the silence no preferred bidder has been selected. There’s been plenty of time to have rejected them all at the last board meeting and await for them to bid again. It looks like another bleak season ahead.

  • EveshamBlue says:

    Why was Martin not given a chance? He was so bad Mullins was recalled? Howard well he played how many games for us out of position? Do you trust Clark to buy anyone permanent? The reason he got loans in is he thought he was working with Prem players. For me he does the lotto team selection and hopes he gets a winning formula. Now Clark will be the manager with the HK buffoons still in charge but any new investors will get shot surely? We have seen many better managers lose their jobs recently for less. Clark – well we forget McDermot and Fazerackerly his trusted lieutenants were the fall guys for the home form. Did it improve tho after they went? No. 5 defeats in the run in and a shambolic home record against mighty teams like Huddersfied and Bournmouth!

    Pro Clark brigade would probably follow him over the trench parapet. Buffoons

    • EveshamBlue says:

      We were very very very lucky not to go down this year. Can’t argue with that

      • Paul Carter - Voice of Reason says:

        Yep all you deserters almost got what you wanted.

        Bet you were gutted when we stayed up

        • Chas says:

          Dan must be gnashing his teeth and spitting with rage at all the stupid, childish comments posted on here over the last few days.

          • OftenPartisan says:

            Chas – this isn’t a reply specific to you.

            okay – final warning. I’ve had to delete a bunch of commments this morning for people being childish. I’m going to start hitting the ban button today.

            Paul Carter – don’t accuse anyone of anything, you were lucky I decided to be lenient this morning.

            Everyone else – be the adults you are supposed to be.

          • Paul Carter - Voice of Reason says:

            I hate racism with a passion

          • Tony says:

            Your definition of Racism is floored, as is your understanding of professional Football

          • Chas says:

            You are completely correct in your actions, Dan.Well done.

      • mark says:

        But now we are not now move on kro

    • Small Heath Blue says:

      So we are buffoons for supporting Clark, and you anti Clark muppets bleat like little girls at personal attacks. Go figure!

    • beegeeblueboy says:

      Martin was unimpressive

    • Small Heath Blue says:

      Do you trust Clark to buy anyone permanent?

      Yes, should I mention Jordan Rhodes, Lee Peltier, Danny Drinkwater, and Anthony Pilkington, all sold at a substantial profit for Huddersfield. Or how about Darren Randolph, Tom Adeyemi, Lee Novak, or what about the players he signed for Huddersfield in League One that are still playing for them in the championship. So in answer to your question yes I do trust Clark to buy players.

      • mark says:

        And giving our young crop of players like brown, gray, bell, hancox , koby,Reilly, opportunity there possible for their development…..

      • Blueboy88 says:

        What are your thoughts on some of Clarks other signings ?
        Peter Lovenkrands
        Ben Gordon
        James Hurst
        Rob Hall
        Wes Thomas
        Scott Allan
        Aaron Martin
        Brian Howard
        Dariuz Dudka
        Albert Rusnak
        Shane Ferguson
        Leroy Lita
        Papa Bouba Diop
        David Lucas

        • Small Heath Blue says:

          When you are scrabbling around for freebies and Bosmans in the bargain bin at Poundland it is harder to find the gems, and how many of the above mentioned were long term signings? if you want to include loans, which you obviously have, Huws, Bartley, Morrison, Lindgard, Macheda, Burn, Ibe, to name a few, Then there’s Caddis, Eardley and Green, one exceptional player for this season, and the other two untested due to injury.

  • Safari Blue says:

    Wow, I remember when we all hated on the villa, together, not on each other.
    Sigh, the good old days.

    • Paul Carter - Voice of Reason says:

      You cannot ignore racism though. Unfortunately not the first time for Tony on here.

      Well done SHB

      • Small Heath Blue says:

        Paul sometimes you just have to accept some people have limited ability. Tony was the guy that said our squad was mid table, based on nothing but his opinion, at the same time slagging Clark for signing League 1 and 2 players.

      • Safari Blue says:

        You assume my post is attached to those directly above, it is not. It is a comment on the entirety of the comments on here,

  • beegeeblueboy says:

    This is what racism is:

    the belief that all members of each race possess characteristics, abilities, or qualities specific to that race, especially so as to distinguish it as inferior or superior to another race or races.

    prejudice, discrimination, or antagonism directed against someone of a different race based on the belief that one’s own race is superior.

    • Small Heath Blue says:

      You have just defined Tonys post as racist then,
      the belief that all members of each race possess characteristics, abilities, or qualities specific to that race,
      He infers that all in the North East work down the pit, therefore you have just bolstered my argument, thank you for that. If your going to cut and paste, at least understand what you are posting!

      • mark says:

        It extremely unsavoury choice of words by certain people because they cannot deal with the agruement in front of them. So lower to the tone they think is acceptable to them…..pitiful really…..

      • beegeeblueboy says:

        It does not infer that. I think Nelson Mendela and Martin Luther King would turn in their graves. Now they were fighting rascism

        • Small Heath Blue says:

          So it’s only racism if apartheid is involved. Got you!

          • bkkblue says:

            Erm, actually it’s only racism if race is involved. Geordies are not a race, Tony’s post re. Clark going back down the pit may be derogatory and demonstrate prejudice, but it isn’t racist. Move on.

          • Small Heath Blue says:

            Incorrect! Racism can exist in all races and cultures. If someone is abused or treated
            unfairly just because of their race, background or culture, this is racism – no
            matter where they are from. And don’t tell anyone to move on as if you are the oracle and we bow to your knowledge!

          • Tony says:

            looks like you lose again blue, dont you ever get tired of it

          • Small Heath Blue says:

            Once again you’ll find I haven’t lost, just because you have a few cronies backing up your prejudiced behaviour doesn’t stop your comments being crass and unacceptable.

          • bkkblue says:

            I never claimed to be “the oracle”, and I apologise if you felt my post was in any way arrogant, I am merely trying to politely show you that you are incorrect and you should probably drop your false (and off-topic) accusations. Clearly however, you are sticking to your guns so we must agree to disagree.

            Personally, I will move on at this juncture even if you won’t.

            KRO

          • Small Heath Blue says:

            Apologies BKKblue, I was wrong to aim any of my frustrations in your direction.

          • bkkblue says:

            No problem :)

      • Tony says:

        Clark belongs to the same race as I do, surely what I said was more countyism

  • Tony says:

    Yellow card for the voice of reason lol

  • DiscoPete says:

    Like the posts and banted on Clark. Not soo much the bickering. Its all out our hands anyway as the new owners will have the final say. Will be buying my season ticket and will attend as many away games as I can as the alternative of asda shopping trips is more scary!

  • Trevor Honnor says:

    I’ve not got anything meaningful to say about this. I’m posting because I have finally gotten around to logging into my PC at home and registering with Disqus :)

    #kro

  • bluenoserob says:

    nothing to do with football , just want to say “rest in peace” to stephen sutton , he wasnt a blue nose , but he loved his football and was from our neck of the woods , a very brave kid.

  • Phill McCrackin says:

    Tom Beugelsdijk looks like a good signing, let’s hope the rumor he’s touring the club and city are true. He was suppose to of been in the stands for Blackpool’s last match, but they lost, let’s hope he was put off by this.


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