- 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
Hey Big Spender
Relegated Norwich City have been linked with the £10million capture of Leeds striker Ross McCormack. The Scottish forward, who finished as Championship top scorer last year with 28 goals has not travelled with Leeds on their pre-season trip.
I will admit that I’m not too surprised Leeds are selling McCormack; knowing that they are struggling with cash at the moment with losses supposed to be around a million pounds a month back in February means that they are going to have to cash in on their star players and it’s a well-worn path from Leeds to Norwich with Robert Snodgrass, Jonny Howson, Luciano Becchio and Bradley Johnson making the move over the last few years.
That being said, £10million is a lot for a Championship striker – but considering it’s a Championship club buying him it’s hard to swallow – especially for us Blues fans who have seen the club shopping in League One this season for a new team. Norwich City will of course benefit from the parachute payments following relegation which now stand at £59M over four years (Blues got £48M) – and for those teams who have no parachute payment to come in, it’s going to be even harder to compete with the financial muscle of the top sides.
The question is I guess if we will get to the situation where it’s the same few teams bouncing between the top two tiers because none of the others can compete for the same players; while teams like Burnley did well because they were well-drilled and well set up they were in the final year of their parachute payment last season. It concerns me that there is a massive differential between the haves and have-nots – particularly as Blues are very much in the have-not bracket. It should be the final year of our parachute payments this year but by all accounts that money seems to have already been spent leaving the club having to operate on a vastly reduced salary structure.
I’ve long been an advocate of more supporter involvement in the ownership of football clubs but as the current system is I can’t see how that can work. As much as I believe that fans should have a say in the way their club is run I also believe that say shouldn’t be given away for nothing. With the current huge amounts of money going through football it’s turned clubs into the playthings of the very rich and it’s difficult for fans to raise enough money to get their seat at the table; however until the TV football bubble pops that isn’t going to change unless some real changes in legislation are made and for all the furore raised about it by people like Supporters Direct I don’t see enough support for it from the fans on the terraces.
I don’t like the situation where I’m waiting for a fairy godmother (or more to the point a sugar daddy) to buy the club so that we can start spending heaps of cash and get back to where we were a few years ago; it feels demeaning in some ways and against the principles I hold for the sport but with news stories like the one today I think it’s what we have to hope for at this moment in time.
83 Responses to “Hey Big Spender”
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.
My one sliver of hope is when you see teams like Iran and Algeria at the World Cup performing remarkably well despite players that, frankly, none of us had ever heard of playing in obscure leagues. Team spirit, energy and determination can bring some success — although I’m aware that a brief burst of brilliance in a World Cup is one thing, sustaining that over a 46-campaign is quite another.
Surely the use of Costa Rica would have better served your argument?
Doc the teams you mention have players we have not heard of, but they also have players who are very skilful. the main thing with them is they are very very well drilled. Very well organised every one knows their job and does it, some of them play in our leagues and it fair to say none of them have set the world alight.All of this shows what can be achieved with good tactics and organisation , sadly this does not apply to blues current regime.
Your last comment has been true in the past, LC has never had a plan B, hopefully that will change this season as he appears to have plenty of cover in all positions.
Now we will see if LC can get a unit of fighters with good organisation but more importantly getting the tactics right.
As I have said before a new season with a clean sheet, I am prepared to give him a chance one more time.
KRO+DNM
He did have a PLan B – it worked better than his plan A!! Problem was he never employed it until we were 2 or even 3 behind!!
Thought you were going to say his plan B was his Plan A…
Hopefully with some big defenders and a couple of goal scorers we won’t need Plan B, but remember this is Blues and nothing is so simple.
KRO+DNM
Great insight on the game Dan. The FA and FL are responsible for the running of football yet both sit back watching clubs being used and abused. UEFA began to look at finances in football and introduced the Financial Fair Play Regulations (FFP), but is that enough?
We will see more and more clubs facing financial ruin and being forced out of the league unless someone stands up and says enough is enough. That should be coming from governments in the form of legislation, but they are happy to bury their heads in the sand.
Supporters are not encouraged to take an active part in their clubs, even supporters trusts are struggling to be recognised or listened too, you only have to look down the road at Coventry, their trust can’t even get an interview with the club.
It is going to take a lot by supporters to influence change and the only way they can effectively do that is by stopping money going into clubs, but that will only affect those clubs in the lower leagues and not the big boys with seemingly bottomless pockets.
KRO+DNM
I think Chris W, that a lot of the blame for this can be put at the door of Premier League, which let’s face it is dominated by Sky Sports to the extent that is the latter that even decides kick-off times in the Premiership, if they’e showing the game. If we look at the American game, there is, I believe, a limit on transfer fees and a limit on wages which I think should be put in to force here and would block the same old clubs getting all the best players which they bought with Sky money. What would be the point in a player moving and uprooting his family if he was already on the maximum wage? Until the top leagues show the same fairness across the board to all clubs or the television bubble bursts nothing will change. It is nice to see BT Sport taking some of the games off Sky but not yet enough to make a difference. I also think that having a limit on foreiign players in the Premiership would improve the England team, but that’s another matter. KRO
The Premier League, Football League or the FA are not going to cut off the hand that feeds them.
America seems to have it right and their big games are influenced by TV in many case.
The points you make are probably talked about in every pub or club over a season but not where it matters unfortunately.
KRO+DNM
With the likes of ian rush starting with Chester what club you come from means nothing its what you are ..,when I look at our squads pace and stamina up front and at midfield I have great hope for this season as a success .what area we could need another option is for a defensive midfield player that is a good passer of the ball and also have a good long distance shot on him
David Edgar played in that role for Burnley last season. But I agree, where you come from doesn’t matter, it’s what you do that counts.
How many players have we had who had arrived and were on their way out, apart from our own academy, formerly youth scheme, it is about time we saw some up and coming possible stars in the making.
Quietly optimistic for the coming season but not expecting too much too soon.
KRO+DNM
Expectations will differ depending on how realistic fans are. With practically half a new squad, it will take at least 10 games to find the best combination between the old, new and academy lads. They’re not just going to blend perfectly during pre-season.
Totally agree. But the manager haters and the “a guy I know from Huddersfield who is a season ticket holder and therefore an expert” types will be baying for blood rather than supporting the team after the first hiccup.
If Blues went on a 42 game unbeaten run this season… I wonder how many would complain? There are anti-s at every club. Look at Man U fans, one average season in 20 and they’re practically slashing their wrists. I think Moyes would have been a success this season, with a lot of the old clique gone.
Thats what happens when the bubble bursts, ManU fans were spoiled by SAF’s success, just imagine if Sky suddenly found tiddlewinks more exciting.
I actually felt sorry for Moyes, he was in the same boat when Cloughie moved to Leeds, someone had to break the mold, I do believe both managers moved for the wrong reasons and at the wrong time.
You can bet we go on a 42 game run two things will happen, fans will call it boring and the HKSE will want it investigated.
We have a 42 game run every season, one of inconsistency.
KRO+DNM
Yes, like some of our fans now saying that Brucie was a good manager (which I think he is). While he was at Blues he endured abuse from the manager hater brigade. I’m not a blind supporter of LC, I just think that he can only be judged when he has had the tools to do the job and a fair crack of the whip. A mid-table finish this season would be respectable given the free transfers from lower leagues that he will have to work with.
I have always liked Bruce as a manager, he was approachable too.
I think a certain element of the supporters would be unhappy if we had SAF or Marinho in charge.
LC has been given some help this season in the fact he has brought in players he can afford. Lets cut him some slack and hope he learnt from last season mistakes regards tinkering and some of his tactical decisions, as with the team look to start assessing where we are going after about 10/12, but should see how LC is performing after about 5/6 games as we have some tough games early on, the important thing is to get points at home as early as possible..
KRO+DNM
Load of rubbish. I’ll be baying for Clarks blood AND supporting the team.
So booing and cheering at the same time? Do you hear voices in your head as well?
I don’t boo anybody at the games.never have or will I bay for clarks blood on here. Sent from my BlackBerry® wireless device
You can’t always measure the quality of a player by the transfer fee. Look at Torres and didn’t Norwich pay €10m for the flop Ricky van Wolfswinkel?
They’d have gotten more value if they’d bought Rocky Bullwinkle.
No one really wants politicians to get involved in the game, but if TPTB
in football can’t, or won’t, put their own houses in order, then
legislation may be the only way to save the game in the future. I hope
it doesn’t get to that, but needs must.
The problem is Staffs the TPTB are enjoying the good life too, why would they want to break the hand that feeds them?
Supporters Trusts are gaining momentum but lacking recognition at many clubs as well as support from their own fans.
Difficult to put the finger on how to alter their situation without some form of legislation being issued, either by TPTB or government.
KRO+DNM
If that’s what it takes, bring it on! All corrupt powers tumble eventually.
Perhaps the fans need a union to be formed around the country ,..I,m sure there is plenty of ex union men out there willing to start one up…perhaps then we can be heard.
Isn’t that what Supporters Direct and the Supporters Trust are trying to form.
Unfortunately the fans are showing a slow response or worse complete apathy towards those trying to galvanise the fans with their clubs?
KRO+DNM
Is the Football Supporters’ Association (FSA) still around?
The Football Supporters’ Association (FSA) amalgamated with the National Federation of Supporters’ Clubs (NATFED) to form the Football Supporters Federation.
KRO+DNM
if norwich can spend £10 million on a proven championship striker then fair play to them, ive no problem with the have and the have nots because spending millions doesent always mean your be pushing for honours, it gives you a better chance maybe but burnley are a prime example of a good solid team unit that cost next to nothing and got promoted….lets hope that we can be that burnley type unit and supprise a few this season, then with a financual boost to come in the future who knows what could happen….maybe push for the playoffs….you never know!!!KRO.
Chris w ….wasn’t supporters direct started by the government …..not much trust there then
It was with all parties support to try and unite all the football trusts under one umbrella, it is also funded by UEFA. It was the idea of Northampton’s Supporters Trust who almost went out of extinction in the 90’s and wanted the support of other trusts.
KRO+DNM
There is no way the fee will be £10m. Only English players are that over-priced. They just sold a better (scottish) player for £7m
Norwich have just sold Snodgrass to Hull for a similar amount so they will have money to burn. From my angle it just shows how badly we have been managed when we have let Redmond, Davies and Mutch go for comparatively peanuts. Secondly perhaps the only way forward to get us back to the Premiership is a wealthy benefactor like you suggest and either an individual or consortium willing to speculate to accumulate. Otherwise stability will be our main aim and that’s better than last year’s debacle.
The issue is the distribution of football revenue through TV. I think the football league could be dead in 10 years, if the balance of wealth through the distribution of revenue is not addressed. The top clubs will further distance themselves from the rest, and the begging bowls will be out when Sky get what they have always wanted, a European Super League.
Then hopefully, we’ll get back to proper football, with proper leagues and proper Saturday afternoons of full league programmes… with 3pm kick offs. Then I woke up.
those days are long gone staffs and never to return….a european super league WILL happen with all the top teams competing and the rest of us will be divided into premier leagues 1&2 and championships 1&2 which may not be a bad thing if you think about it….out of interest how many games last season did we have kick off at 3 pm on a saturday and how many did liverpool have…..your find the facts staggering!!!.KRO.
I don’t doubt it. But, we already have a super league in all but name. It’s called the Champions League. Nothing comes before it anymore…. not the Premier League, not internationals. For me, the Champs League and Premier league could disappear off the planet and I wouldn’t shed a single tear.
what i mean is there will be a european premier league where all the top 2,3,4 teams from all the top countries will all play each other home and away throughout the normal league season so you would have a league or leagues made up of 20 teams playing 38 games…that will then become the champions league as we know it….thats my belief because like it or not thats where its going…….the world cup as shown international football is still alive and kicking but will always play second fiddle to club football. KRO.
I think you are right, Staffs, as far as the Champions and Premier Leagues are concerned because, ultimately, for all the top football they (sometimes) provide, they nurture elitism, media sycophancy and the sort of gross inequality that is ruining football as a whole.
I don’t disagree with what you say, Geoff Smith, but that’s my name too and I wonder how many of us there are out there..?
with the new players coming in im actually looking forward to the new season.
wouldn’t it be funny if Donaldson scores more than McCormack in the new season :)
I wouldn’t bet against it. Having a quick glance at their records, taking the 3 main clubs each have played for (no loans) McCormack (259/99) comes out around 1 goal every 2.6 games, whilst Donaldson’s record (338/134) is 1 goal every 2.5. Not a lot in it.
Michael owen was 163 goals in 362 club games . so our guy is almost as good as him.
I think, to write of the new guys before they’ve even kicked a ball, would be paying them a disservice.
i have not written anyone off Staffs , just pointing out that stats dont tell the whole story.
i think Donaldson will go down with the blues fans , he will i hope score a good few goals
That wasn’t aimed at you rob, it was just a general comment.
no probs Staff , i have much respect for your opinions (even if i don’t always agree)
It would be boring if everybody agreed rob. Football’s all about opinions!
How many divisions lower?
Officially confirmed by bcFc, that both Zigic and Burke have left the club,
Thanks lad’s for past efforts.
Thanks for that Chris .w and thanks big zig and burkey ….kro
I am not a gambler by nature….love to win but hate losing more. That said, surely it makes sense to spread your bets rather than put everything on 1 horse? As far as Blues are concerned I am happy with the 9 low-cost investments we have made, being confident that they will all be of at least average Championship standard. We only need 2 or 3 to exceed that to be “quids in”. Even in the unlikely event that NONE come off, as long as we do enough to avoid relegation, what will we have lost?
Nice sensible assessment.
“Half of all TV money coming into English football should be collected by
the Government and shared more equally throughout the professional
game, Roger Godsiff, a Birmingham MP has urged. He said England’s early World Cup exit, combined with deteriorating pitches and changing facilities for school football, meant it was the right time to impose a 50 per cent levy.”
Good luck with that one mate!
i would put that about 3000th on the list of stuff that the government need to sort out (and never will)
they could collect 100m and find a way to spend 150m collecting it , and then waste it all anyway.
Very good point. I think the poor bloke is pi$$ing in the wind anyway.
just for the record ide like to thank ziggy and burkey for there time at blues, burke flattered to decieve, zigic a true blues legend for is major contribution in winning us the league cup and at bolton nearly single handidly keeping us in the championship.
his wages saved gives us that little bit extra but i would have loved him to stay but never mind. LOL, DNM, KRO.
Chris Burke was excellent under Hughton – in fact he was voted by his fellow professionals that season as the best player in his position as he was in the end of season PFA divisional team. Lost form under LC and his place eventually to Redmond until he was sold. Lots of possible reasons – he got older and lost a yard or two of pace, LC’s tactics (slower build up play) , the players around him just got worse.
Burke head had also been turned with a possible mooted move to forest…for him this pure financial not football reasons otherwise he would have stayed , actually IMO regarding zig…cannot anyone blame them well that’s upto individual Bluenoses opinions……
Don’t milk it Dave, I believe the Bolton game was a team effort including the supporters. Ziggy had one of his better days but for me, and apart from Wembley, will always be remembered for having the potential but failed to deliver far too often.
Burke was good when he first came but in the last two seasons was too easily snubbed out and like ziggy became one dimensional and so did the team. That is my opinion as you have yours.
For the record Thanks for the memories and all the best for the future.
KRO+DNM
no, thats fair enough Chris W but what a day bolton was and the support was as good as ive EVER seen from the fans….lets just hope that duffy and donaldson are better than burke and zigic. LOL. KRO.
Love to see that atmosphere transferred to St Ans Dave, and a few more away days but without the pressure, don’t think my ticker could take too many.
Even if the equal both when they first arrived they will do fine by me. It was only the last couple of seasons they both began to fall away for whatever reason.
KRO+DNM
ive said all along chris w that our support home and away is like chalk and cheese, the die hard no excuses fans go to away games and sing there hearts out, the part time cant be bothered to sing fans turn up at home games….thats the problem and always will be!!! KRO.
Thing is dave, you might be of the same era, it never use to be like that at home, I remember when a goal was scored having to grab a rail or end up against the wall at the bottom of the old Tilton Rd end.
The noise could be heard in the bullring. My mom worked in the city centre and new the result long before she left work just by the crowd.
St Andrews WAS a fortress.
KRO+DNM
Waving good to zig thank you for the odd goal or two, your help and assists while been paid 65,000 , sad that you have overturned that you were happy and settled loved the city, the fans what a load horse sh*t……….best of luck
The player that gave me one of the happiest days of my life, only meaningful trophy I’m likely to see us lift.
Mr Crosby tf gave me some of the most happiest memories….. Probably never see a player of his elk again…….winning any cup bring joy….John Gayle goal?
Leyland Daf trophy vs Tranmere was good same as promotion at Cardiff but no where near as good as Carling cup vs Arsenal.
Clark looking at one more player to come in a winger which I would probably now would like someone like ibe to return……season long loan with a no call back if possible. Clark would have done magincently…….. I say to the doubter’s come and enjoy lol
He said there was no rush, which could well mean he’s waiting for a decision on Ibe. Thing is, the premier teams aren’t due back for a week/10 days… so their squads won’t be assessed until probably we’ve started our season.
lucky Ziggy has gone his wages were rising by the day 50k , 55k , 60k , 65k ,anyone for 70k …..either way it wasnt his fault that he was given that contract and it wasnt his fault that we got relegated .I say good luck to the lad , i will never forget the part he played in our little bit of glory.If i ever meet him i will shake his hand (if i can reach)
Apparently, Neil Adams has rubbished reports of Norwich bidding for McCormack. “We have not made a bid for McCormack or for any other players.”
McLeish enquiry about him coming to blues once?
Pass on that one. Apparently, Fulham are favourites to sign him.
just noticed that AJ has been let go by QPR , I feel for the guy , he could have had a great career if not for his injury’s .remember a reporter saying that “if you haven’t seen Andrew Johnson then think Micheal Owen only with real pace. ”
if he has got a few games left in him and would play for 5k a week …………….
It’s a romantic notion, but he could turn out to be another Lovenkrands
Am I correct in thinking that about a year ago the FA decided that academies like ours could have their best prospects pilfered by the academies of bigger clubs with B all compensation, and we couldn’t do a thing about it?
And then they want to have top clubs reserve teams in the league pyramid so their “no hopers” can get regular competitive games. Would there be some sort of conflict of aims in these two concepts? Wouldn’t players have more chance of regular football at a smaller team than with the likes of ManUre?
Let’s face it we are paupers and will remain so as the big boys have every decision made in their favour. I’ve supported Blues since 1966 and accept that unless some fairy godfather suddenly appears I have seen all the trophies that Blues will win in their history. Depressing for not only Blues but football in general really.
Still rather be a Bluenose than a glory hunter though.
Dan has analysed this perfectly in my view.
Getting back into the a Premier League will become increasingly more difficult for minnows like us. It will be similar to the situation seen in Rugby Union where the relegated team variable goes straight back up. De fact we are seeing the development of a closed league.
KRO
It certainly will be increasingly difficult to get back into the Premier League but this term “minnows” doesn’t really sit right with terms like “sleeping giant”.
Whoever thinks supporter owned football clubs is a good idea think again ..Look at Exeter who are in deep trouble ,who will go nowhere because to many people want their say..
The other side to the coin is Swansea, they rose from almost extinction to the Premiership.
KRO+DNM