- 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
There But the Grace of God…
Championship side Blackpool FC have cancelled their pre-season tour due to the fact the club only have eight contracted players, having seen twenty-seven depart in the close season.
While many think we have it bad, spare a thought for fans of the Seasiders. They’ve seen their best prospect – Tom Ince – depart in the last month; they’ve lost most of their team and there seems to be deadlock between the owner and the manager about new signings. There is some uncertainty over Riga and his coaching staff remaining at the club but chairman Karl Oyston is upbeat – he told the BBC
“There is no panic. In fact, I see it as a benefit rather than a downside. It allows the manager to bring in his own team, as opposed to a manager picking up a squad that is already overloaded and he doesn’t think is good enough.”
Oyston is a somewhat strange chairman in some respects. On the one hand he has a principled stand about agent payments which I rather admire; on the other hand the club paid out £11million to a company owned by his dad the year that they were in the Premier League which struck me as properly stripping a club of cash. I like the fact he won’t pay over the odds for players who he thinks are untested but by the same token he’s playing a dicey game having so few players at this point in the close season.
I’m not a big fan of “what if” type scenarios but I do look at Blackpool and think there but the grace of God go we. While I am certain that they will bring in the players that they need in time for the new season (I seem to remember them being down to eleven or twelve last close season) I do wonder how they will bring in anyone of sufficient quality and it gives me hope that there may be at least one team significantly worse off than us in the Championship.
I believe it also backs up my point about how indebted we should be to the fact that Blues as a club is run well – while BIH might be a bit of a shower the club employees have been left to get on with it and they’ve done extraordinarily well to keep the club on the straight and narrow. We might bicker because the new players that have been brought in aren’t exactly household names but they are players Clark specifically targeted and they’ve come to play for the club and for him, in a few cases turning down better money to do so.
On the pitch, Blues won their second pre-season game 1-0 this evening against Forest Green Rovers. What is pleasing is not only the reports that the new players are looking sharp and hungry but some of the youngsters who have been drafted in are impressing the management. I think it’s going to be a big year for a few of them and with a bigger permanent squad we may see the likes of Koby Arthur and Charlee Adams loaned out to league teams to give them experience; however if they can keep pushing into the manager’s thinking by training well and looking good it’s only good for the club.
63 Responses to “There But the Grace of God…”
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.
Absolutely think Blackpool will be regelated…
or even ‘Relegated’ !
I knew a Jamaican club that was Reggaelated!
And a Police football club that was regulated.
I knew a family club that was related.
Staffs, RG: you win! Nice to have a daft laugh now and then eh? May Blues never be regelated; I prefer promulgation!
Also a military team that was regimented
Also a prison team that was rehabilitated.
Also a team long since dead who we’re reincarnated.
Also two business teams that were amalgamated.
…or a bird food team that were regurgitated.
I stand corrected Daniel they are down to 6 contracted players two left today, sorry to say if I was Blackpool fan I would personally be disgusted……
Pleased to see Arthur reportedly playing well. I thought he got a raw deal last year as LC played him praised him, then dropped him and replaced him with less than committed loan players!
Clark loaned Arthur out to get better experience, playing in the u21 for me is not gaining proper game time….agree with Daniel he will probably be loaned out again which wont hurt him…same with bell….
As you say Dan, There for the grace of god…
We can moan and groan but LC has got his men in early and hopefully they will be up for it when August kicks off.
From reports we played well tonight and both their keepers played blinders to keep the score at 1-0.
Obviously LC is giving all the players a run out to get match fitness, maybe the next game at Mansfield will see a more settled look as he strives for his best XI.
Lets hope he isn’t going to swap and change again this season.
KRO+DNM
I’m thinking there could possibly be at least 2 teams worse off than us, Leeds situation doesn’look too rosy
and Blackpool another one and we are safe lol
They’re about to spend £2 million on a player.
We really are clutching at straws if we have to look for sides who have owners worse than BIHL! Blackpool have their problems but so do we and both will be fighting for a bottom three place IN MY PERSONAL VIEW!
KRO
KRO
LC has picked and kept a combination of Reilly and Lee as one pair of the “holding” midfielders and Gleeson and Adeyemi as the other pair in both friendlies.
This is a crucial pairing to get right as last season the holding midfielders didn’t always play to their position and went AWOL on too many occasions. This was a major reason why we conceded so many goals.
This is why I would play Edgar as the holding midfielder. He did an excellent job there for Burnley last season.
I think LC is looking at combinations just in case of injuries, Tom Adeyemi had a couple last season.
He seems to be using the friendlies to get game time and looking at alternatives, which is the whole idea of friendlies the results are secondary really though wins do build confidence.
KRO+DNM
I’m hoping Adeyemi comes good again this season. He wasn’t the same player after his injury. Let’s hope he’s over it.
As everyone says, results in pre-season friendlies don’t amount to much. It’s fitness and gelling that matters… and we’re looking pretty decent after 2 games. I’m dying to see what happens when Clark plays both wingers and 2 strikers (that’s if he does.)
With Adeyemi, he didn’t have time to fully recover, but he seems to be quite influential from reports so far.
I’m hoping to see LC play both wingers at Mansfield, should be a stiffer test for them.
KRO+DNM
The problem is with things the way they are is that more and more clubs will be after bosmans ,making it harder for struggling clubs to survive,,,once again we are back with 4+2+3+1 ,,,in forest green who were around 100 places below blues in the league ,winning1-0 was nothing to be proud of ,,over the years we have gone from a 2+3+5 system to this ,it is a managers duty to entertain the fans for god sake,,years ago teams used to score 60 goals in a season and still be relegated,for god sake ,to many managers are putting their wage before their job for god sake,which has brought us to 4+2+3+1 for god sake ,,gleeson who,s fifa14 stats says he’s a good attacking midfield player has been played just in front of the back 4 for god sake ,how long will it be before the new players lose interest in this boring set up for god sake ,,let’s hope this system dies a quick death FOR GOD SAKE
Without their keepers having blinders, it could easily have been 4 or 5. We just need to be a bit more clinical with our shooting… but that should come as the pre-season matches pass. We’re only a couple of games in.
4-2-3-1 could be for away games… of which we’ve had 2 so far and won both with clean sheets.
William you can’t read too much into individual score lines in pre-season friendlies. Newcastle lost to Oldham last night, but it doesn’t mean Oldham has better players than Newcastle.
The secret of success is to play a system where by you allow for a bad ref descicion ,a fluke goal against,or a keeper playing a blinder …and the way to do this is by playing a system whereby you can up the anti with shots at goal and shots on target in particular ,the system we use tends to allow the other team to take the lead regular …we need more shots on target than the opposition regularly ,to win regularly as I have said before at least 7+shots on target per game is needed,stats prove this if you want success …..kro…results are king
You can’t always play the same system and formation. 4-2-3-1 suits away games. You might see 4-4-2 against Callie Thistle at home.
I’d like to see 4-4-2 away too staffs, LC is always on about high-tempo and taking the game to opponents, can always revert if things seem to be going against us. I think that is the beauty of 4-3-3-1 if you play the right personal. Last season saw too many players refusing to track back leaving gaping holes in midfield, especially at home.
KRO+DNM
In a 4-2-3-1, I’d play Edgar and Adeyemi as the two and Duffy, Gleeson and Cotterill as the three.
I think Novak could offer more options so maybe a 4-2-2-1-1.
If the defence is tight enough 3-4-3, that could utilise both wingers, high line and tempo, it would definitely give the opposition a headache and snuff out any idea of taking the game to us.
KRO+DNM
Yep, that could work too. Only thing is, when teams play 3 at the back, it’s usually full backs/wing backs out wide.
My starting XI would be:
Doyle
Eardley Hall Robinson Hancox
Duffy Edgar Gleeson Cotterill
Donaldson Thomas
Not much wrong with that Staffs but the defence looks a little short height wise, leaving them prone to balls over the top.
I would also l like to see Adeyemi with Edgar.
Doyle (He deserves the chance to make it his spot)
Eardley Hall Robinson
Edgar (Can drop into defence when not attacking)
Adeyemi
Duffy Cotterill
Donaldson Thomas (With Novak swapping if needed)
KRO+DNM
The reason I put Duffy with Gleeson is, because with Edgar sitting there, Gleeson can spray the ball around, but also drop back and put his foot in when necessary. We never had a single player who could do that last season. Now we have 2.
As for height at the back, have you seen the size of Hall? 6′ 3″ and built like a brick sh1thouse. I’ve put Robbo next to him for a bit of experience until he finds his feet. But, I don’t think we differ that much Chris.
My problem is, with the options we have now, it’s hard to fit Caddis and Novak into it. It looks like Caddis will be used as an attacking midfielder and Novak as a main striker.
Experience is the only reason I have gone with Robbo the only other option would be Spector in that role.
The same reason I would choose Adeyemi, he has experience now and I think he will be another Huws.
KRO+DNM
To be honest, I’d only use Spector as a fill in when we have injuries.
Shame for Blackpool but our primary concern is for BCFC.
If we play 4-2-3-1 it has to be
Doyle
Caddis Hall Robbo Grounds
Edgar Adeyemi
Duffy Gleeson Cotterill
Donaldson
I’m not really a fan of Eardley and would prefer Caddis. Edgar and Adeyemi should provide a good barrier in front of our defence with Edgar as the holding midfielder and Adeyemi bombing forward whenever he can. If Gleeson is as creative as people say then he needs to be where he can cause as much damage as possible in an AMC position. Our best striker is Donaldson and he has to take the lone striker role.
Can’t really comment on Eardley as he got injured before he got started with Blues, but he has been capped 16 times for Wales.
I can see Caddis being pushed further up field this season as he played against Cork.
Is Donaldson our best striker? he has a good record in the lower leagues, knows where the net is, but so has Matt Green and he hasn’t played for us yet.
LC certainly has options this season and the opposite headache to last season.
I’m optimistic and looking forward to August this year, something I haven’t done for the last few years.
KRO+DNM
Looks like Redmond could return back to the premiership, nice some more monies coming our away with the add ons………..kro
Ahhh, poor old Redders, back where he started.
What you got against him Staffs ? He had to go. Good luck to him i say.
I’ve nowt against him. I just don’t feel sorry for him that’s all… no more than I did for Johnson, Dann et al.
i notice the Fans are picking teams, choosing formations, home and away,
what chance has clarke got ?
he gets accused of tinkering and playing people out of position, but i’ve just seen 10 different formations, 10 different styles, and lots of different players
and if clarke had switched keepers ?
i’ve just bought Birmingham city “the Finals” dvd, as it could become collectable in my life time, unless BIHL add another paint trophy cup
With the total lack of any news on the sale front, what else do supporters have to do? It’s a favourite fan pastime.. a bit of fun. Like Clark would take notice anyway.
It is close season so fans try and second guess, nothing wrong with a bit of banter.
It is a bit of fun and opinions, obviously the main selections will be LC’s when the season kicks off in 23 days at Middlesbrough, from then on we will have more to shout about. Hopefully it will about who will catch us in the race for promotion, well I can dream…
KRO+DNM
Blues marketing team phoned my sis to ask why she hadn’t renewed her Season Ticket. She explained her cancer op and 3 months of chemo. They said they would reserve her seat until next season to give her chance to recover and regain her old seat and wished her well. What a team of stars! Makes you proud to be a Bluenose, now off to the shop to get my new Shirt!! KRO!!
All the admin and backroom staff deserve medals. Good luck to your sister mate, I hope she makes a full and speedy recovery. :-)
Thx Staffs!
i am deeply sorry to hear your news i personally wish your sis a speedy recovery, football has no bearing on subjects like this…. she is champion considering what she is going though..
kro
Sol, mate. My very best wishes to your sister and all your family at this traumatic time,
Sorry to hear about your sister, hope she makes a full recovery. Maybe the team can help with some decent results.
KRO
Thanks guys, she’s doing incredibly well and hopes to make the first home match. Got my tickets for Mansfield and Kiddy today, looks like they are both going to sell out!
My very best wishes for her too. Some things transend foorball and everything else! Hope she Keeps Right On!
Good news for your sister, unfortunately the Mansfield game has been called off.
If it is because of selling out and the need for extra police I can see the same happening at Kidderminster as they have a smaller ground. Hope I’m wrong. can’t see why they didn’t switch it to St Ans.
KRO+DNM
It was the phenomenal support of the Bluenoses that took the Police by surprise, however Mansfield are the home club and they should have discussed the ramifications with the authorities before they released the extra tickets. This has effectively screwed up LC’s preparations which we could have done without. We may need to be more selective with our preseason opponents in future. My missus has said I can paint the hall stairs and landing so that’s my Saturday well and truly s****ed!! Nevertheless KRO!!
Same here Sol, my missus has rearranged the garden for tomorrow if it is “A nice day” or some shelving needs putting up ready for her sisters visit, if we can’t get into the garden.
At least I have an excuse when the season starts.
KRO+DNM
agreed with some fans that our primary thoughts should always be bcfc…..
Doyle
Eardley Hall Robinson
Edgar Adeyemi
Duffy Cotterill caddis novak
Donaldson
IMO this season is a disaster waiting to happen with LC at the helm tbc …
Blackpool have signed Costa Rica midfielder Jose Miguel Cubero. I think he made a few sub appearances during the World Cup.