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Bouncing Back After Blackpool
Birmingham City saw their unbeaten run come to a crashing halt with a 1-0 defeat to bottom-of-the-table Blackpool. Steve Davies’ 56th minute goal was enough to give Lee Clark his first win for the Tangerines and to ensure Gary Rowett tasted defeat for the first time since taking the reins at St Andrews.
It had to happen didn’t it? I think many people had seen it as almost inevitable that the first defeat Gary Rowett would suffer would be against the one team you’d almost expect Blues to beat – and so it came to pass. There are all kinds of reasons why Blues didn’t perform to expectation but the match is gone now and I think the first test of Gary Rowett’s reign is upon him – how he reacts to that defeat.
In the interviews that have followed the game, there has been some promising signs that this defeat is more of a blip than the start of a downward slide. Rowett talks intelligently about why the team lost and I while I’ve seen some calls from Blues fans for some changes to the eleven I don’t think he’ll abandon either the shape of the team he has been using or the personnel.
While Rowett will be back working with the squad at Wast Hills this morning, the rumour mills have started again off the pitch. The Daily Mail mentioned yesterday that Birmingham City could be one team to have a transfer embargo in the January window after failing to meet FFP requirements. I spoke to officials at the club about this in October and they confirmed to me that this was absolutely not the case; the club have submitted all the required documentation to the league – earlier than required – and there is absolutely no reason that they can see why we would have a transfer embargo.
In Hong Kong, BIH shares remain suspended pending a clarification announcement. The longer the suspension goes on, the worse it gets for BIH – without shares in the company trading they cannot raise cash and longer suspensions inevitably invite further questions from the stock exchange. From speaking to sources in Hong Kong one issue would appear to be collective responsibility – ie the HKSE will have demanded that every director signs off the announcement and agrees to be responsible for it. This means that the statement has to satisfy a consensus – something that is not easy when there is a schism between board members. I have to admit, I’m not sure this clarification announcement has anything to do with Wray’s bid – I suspect it may have more to do with Pannu’s comments on this blog.
With that in mind (and knowing that Pannu reads this blog), I wonder if Pannu would like to speak to my lawyers about the specific inaccuracies he felt there were in the book “Haircuts and League Cups”. Although the book is well sourced (with 381 citations, no less) and has been checked by two sets of lawyers here in the UK and in HK Pannu felt that there were serious misrepresentations about him and Carson and thus it would help to know what he felt was specifically wrong with the book.
Tags: BIH, Blackpool FC, Gary Rowett, HKSE, Lee Clark, Peter Pannu, Transfer Embargo
42 Responses to “Bouncing Back After Blackpool”
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Defeat was inevitable at some point and, as you say Dan, almost inevitable that it would come at Blackpool. The more worrying thing than the result was the quality of the performance – a disjointed display of poor passing and positional mistakes.
Let’s hope this was a blip and that the team gets things back on track against Reading.
FA Cup third round draw today. Not sure what we should be hoping for – a home tie against a beatable opponent, or Man U away for the dosh?
I’m not sure you’ll ever hear from Pannu again. He’s probably still getting over his hangover.
Personally, I’d love a home draw with Bournemouth……
Blackpool was one game, not the end of our season. If it had been against any other team… correction… any other manager, fans wouldn’t be so downbeat. I couldn’t give a toss who the players and manager are in the opposition, they’re there to beat, end of. We’ve got some cracking games to look forward to over the next few weeks, let’s concentrate on them and forget Saturday. It’s gone.
The Blackpool defeat was my fault! For the first time since GR’s managershiip began I forgot to wear the lucky woven wrist bracelet in Blues colours that my 8year old great niece made for me on the eve of the Wolves match. I am in disgrace!
I think BIHL should be delighted and grateful that Mr Wray is offering to buy them at all, even at 1 million pounds, because if they lose the listing again they will struggle big time and will be lucky to get £1.00.
It was one of those days luke where we were never gonna score even when we put them under pressure in the last 10!mins but i prefer to forget about it now and move on…as for the FA cup draw I don’t care who we get as long as its not on the Saturday 3rd at 3pm because I won’t be able to go so traditionalists like staffs will hopefully forgive me for wanting this game to be played on the Friday night or the Sunday or Monday and that’s basically all ime worried about more so than who we play….if its a big club or a local derby then there’s more chance of it bring moved so I will settle for that, purely being selfish of course!! Kro.
Dan, just to clear something up as I’m not that clued up on the ins and outs of share deals and the requirements of the HKSE, but, could there at any point be a scenario where BIHL can have their listing revoked rather than suspended?
Nope, can’t see that happening. Sorry.
I think BIHL are taking a bit of a risk with their listing. Surely, if they were to lose it, the value of the company would be halved at least? That’s big money to be gambling with.
As for a transfer embargo… how? We have one of the lowest wage bills in the division and we’ve paid practically bugger all in transfers. Doesn’t make sense, unless there’s something I’m missing?
De-listing is normally achieved by share buy-backs and then privatisation, Dave. That means someone has to spend loads of money. That’s a scarce commodity in BIHL circles right now!
We played so many long balls in this game, and by half time everyone could see it wasn’t working, apart from Rowett. Worrying.
For the next game, we desperately need Shinnie back, and I would replace Robbo with Edgar, as Edgar is faster, taller and younger. Robbos’s had it.
It’s just childish from PP. Doesn’t like what’s being said about him so would sooner have censorship rather than free speech supported by factual evidence.
Kro and delay no more
The reason we played long balls was because of the pitch. You couldn’t play a flowing passing and running game on that surface. Blackpool were used to it and are better at hoof ball. I agree about Robbo. We need Edgar in the side as he is better all round and with big Zig in the box with Morrison, Edgar, Grounds and Donaldson I can see us being quite a threat at set pieces.
Totally disagree about Blackpool playing hoofball. They were playing the ball around far more than us. Their little wall passes and triangles were getting them through and around us constantly. You could see Blackpool’s goal coming 10 minutes before it arrived. After that, we had no answer and, I must admit, for the first time, Rowett’s substitutions baffled me. Shea? Why? Should have switched Novak to his usual position on the left, and put Arthur in behind Donaldson… or moved Cotterill to the left, brought Duffy on to play right side and again, Arthur up with Donaldson. But Shea?
You couldn’t really call their goal hoofball either. It was just the usual punt from a keeper you see in every game. Robbo just proved once again that he has the turning arc of a battleship. If that had been Morrison behind him, do you think he’d have been turned that easily?
Mr Pannu, if you’re reading this, what’s happened to your efforts to get new revenue streams to BIHL other than BCFC? There was the link with the Indonesian firm, but that seems to have gone quiet. Also has Carson got a message for the fans? I know he’s in prison but presumably you have some kind of visiting rights. Fans are fed either total silence from BIHL or opaque announcements to the HKSE that are laced with jargon and need people like Daniel to put into everyday language. There has to be a middle ground for you that doesn’t involve rants in the comment section on OP.
Rowett out!!
(I am joking)
Noble thoughts Doc but the person you are addressing is only interested in fees for himself.
Quite right…Pannu is like a turd that wont flush…he needs smashing with the brush
lol that’s funny…
Shanter! :)
BlueLizard…a superlative turn of phrase. Have you considered migrating to these fair shores? You could be Prime Minster, you know. A man of letters par excellence!
‘Carson Yeung could be out of jail next week!’
‘According to Birmingham Mail columnist Tom Ross, Carson Yeung has a bail hearing next Monday pending an appeal hearing next year.
Ross has interviewed Will Giles and Daniel Ivery, co-authors of the book “Haircuts and League Cups”, for his Free Radio show tonight, in which Giles reveals the court date.’
How true is this OP?
Um, although a small part of me thinks this is a slightly silly question, I will be posting more this evening around the same time as the interview is aired on Free Radio…
Ok. I’ll phrase my silly question another silly way…. do you think he’ll be out next week? Apologies in advance.
It’s a bit of a convoluted answer (which is bound to raise more questions) so is it okay if I ask you to read the piece that’s going up at 6pm?
No worries.
I’ve got a question which I think is less silly, but does require an element of clairvoyance on your part:
Two days before the halt in trading (on the 4th Dec), BIHL deemed it necessary to release a statement about ‘Unusual Price and Trading Movement’, saying that they had no idea why such trading should be taking place. This was one day after the press release saying that non-binding offers will not be considered.
Could this activity have been fuelled by a rumour of an offer, or is it more likely to be pure coincidence that it happened the same week?
No idea.
staffs if dan gives you the answer nobody will listen to the show !!
But as we have seen in this never ending saga there is always a twist and wouldn’t be surprised to see carson freed. Then it wouldn’t surprise me if carson regained control of bihl and that would mean having pp as his right-hand man ! At least we would have a figure head at bihl who could take decisions but we all know carson doesn’t want to sell.
I was thinking is it all quiet on the eastern front at the moment whilst they wait to see if Yeung is released?
Can anyone clarify the legal situation in HK – if Carson were exonerated but BIHL isn’t re-listed can he still convert his remaining 15% of options into ordinary shares?
Logic suggests he can do so, they simply can’t be traded on the HKSE but I’m not sure.
Aussie – he can’t convert any more until he sells some as he can’t go above 30% regardless of whether he’s guilty or not.
Blyth Spartans captain just said drawing Blues was an anti climax.Cheeky bastard,hope we stuff em. I hope GR has a recording of that.
GR should pin that on the dressing room door…..team talk done!!!!
Oh my God…the nightmares are coming back….it’s the 89th minute and we’re losing 2-1 to Altrincham Harriers…or is it Kidderminster Spartans….or Blyth United…. NURSE!!!!!!!
Steady on Richard..deep breaths..close eyes…you are in a field of sunflowers on a bright summer’s day; there is a soft breeze blowing. That’s more like it.
Actually, Blyth Spartans are 20th in the EvoStick Conference and a force to be reckoned with. Thank your lucky stars we did not draw Ramsbottom United!
Ahh yes…that’s better….sunflowers…rams bottoms…shiny happy…shiny happy…
Richard, peace is with you at last. We shall prevail. One swallow doth not a fellatio make. I mean summer. Being a Blues supporter is like Zen enlightenment….. we must experience the low points so that we may delight in the high ones. Go placidly; you are a child of the Universe; no less than the Moon and the Stars; you have a right to be here…and we have a right to beat Reading 2-0!
Dan we were in waterstones and they said they were trying to get hold of your book to sell there
Did they? They’ve been a pain in the bum for me to deal with. I will speak to them again tomorrow. In the meantime, you can buy it online or at the game from a MIB seller…
Great that the game is up my neck of the woods, a mere 58 miles away rather that the 220 to St Andrews. It will be a tough game. Looking forward to it immensely.
KRO