Often Partisan

Making Changes?

Birmingham City take on Reading at St Andrews hoping to bounce back after a poor showing against Blackpool led to a 1-0 defeat – the first of Gary Rowett’s reign. It could see the second coming of Nikola Zigic in a Blues shirt after it was confirmed the Serb has received his visa and clearance in time to be registered for the game.

After all that’s gone on in the last few days it makes a pleasant change to be talking about football once again. I have to admit that sometimes I forget that this site used to be about watching eleven guys try and kick a ball between two posts and I will be honest, I’m looking forward to tomorrow greatly.

I’d be a liar if I didn’t say that part of my excitement about tomorrow is down to the return of Zigic. I know he divides fans somewhat but hopefully people can now look past his former vast wages and see that he wanted to return to the club because he likes being here in Birmingham – not for the money. I suspect that for the moment he will be an impact sub but I think he’s a great option off the bench – something different for defences to think about and someone who can completely alter the focus of our attacking play.

However, judging by the comments of people who went to Blackpool the bigger return could be that of Andy Shinnie. Shinnie didn’t seem to do too well under Clark but with Rowett his stock has risen in the number 10 role behind the front man and I think we missed him greatly last weekend. We don’t actually have that many players who can properly play that position; Gray, Arthur and Novak can all fit in there but I don’t believe any have quite the same vision that is needed to properly master the role.

With Robbo struggling with an injury to his foot we could see the first reshuffle in defence under Rowett with David Edgar likely to come in if the skipper doesn’t make it. I have to admit that I’m one of the people who thought Robbo was shot but he seems to have done well of late and has improved with Morrison next to him in the heart of the Blues defence. I think the dearth of yellow cards that have been shown to Robinson of late is proof positive that he isn’t having to make such suicidal challenges – is it possible he can make it to the end of the year without picking up a suspension?

One defender who definitely won’t be playing is Will Packwood, having returned from his loan spell at Colchester United this week. The American played one game, got injured and sent off – which isn’t going to do his long term Blues prospects any good at all. This season he really did have to show he had made it back from injury and he appears to have fallen down the pecking order; I can honestly see him being shipped back out on loan when his ban is over and shipped out in the summer.

 

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30 Responses to “Making Changes?”

  • darren says:

    I understand zig is on £2k a week so that shd show his desire is there

  • Dave mann says:

    I would bring Edgar in for Robinson, moussi in for glesson, shinnie back in for Novak and Thomas in for Donaldson and put them on the bench along with zigic…..my team is ……..,Randolph,caddis, grounds, Edgar, Morrison, Davis, moussi, cotterill, shinnie, gray, Thomas……the changes purely down to freshening up the team but keeping the same formation with Xmas coming up and the FA cup in mind. Kro .

    • @85Coy says:

      In my opinion Gleeson has been a big part of Blues’ success under Rowett, he keeps that ball ticking between defense and midfield, reads the game very well and offers good defensive cover.

      Robbo… I am not his biggest fan (havent been since that challenge on DJ ;) )but will admit he has playing brilliantly since the Rowett revolution, that being said I have very much been waiting for Edgar to get the nod I believe he will flourish in this current system and will certainly be much more effective on the ball enabling us to play from the back.

      Welcome back Ziggy, he and Wes are both great options from the bench.

    • StaffsBlue says:

      I’d go with that team no problem dave, but I’d like to see Duffy start a game at some point. It’s hard for a winger to come on and get in the groove with only 10 minutes here and there.

  • rhees says:

    Dan totally agree with above, good to talk football again.
    Looking forward to the ziggy return believe he will get better service
    And will be worth every penny.
    Rowett has proved he isn’t stupid and I believe he will get best out of ziggy
    As shinie is a different player under him
    Come on you blues kro

  • Steve says:

    Hi Dan,

    I think the only reasons Zigic is back is purely because nobody else offered him a contract, something is better than nothing with regards to the money he is getting now.

    Don’t suppose it has anything to do with the fact that he and his family are settled in the area and don’t want to go anywhere else either!

  • ESONEULB says:

    I always found it strange when people mentioned Zigic’s previous wages.
    We no the deal was never as straight forward as him receiving all of his alleged wages.
    The previous Zigic deal was always a sweetener and other people benefited from that large wage packet.
    I have been told this from many reliable sources over the last couple of years.

    KRO

    • The Timms says:

      That message was too cryptic to make any sense at all.

    • swissjonny says:

      Could you name those people?

    • AussieBlue says:

      Hang on Esonblue…what you are saying is that Ziggy’s wages were not all his; that he had to pay over a portion to ‘someone else.’ Other than his manager, that is. This is akin to corruption – the kind the unions used to engage in by inflating numbers and wages at companies and then copping backhanders from the beneficiaries (eg Times Newspaper – fact).

      If you know this to be a fact please report it, with your evidence, to the FL because it is illegal!

      If not, pull your head in mate.

  • ESONEULB says:

    PS… I welcome the BIG MAN back with open arms… KRO

  • Mineheadblue says:

    Big game tomorrow…..how do we bounce back from defeat, can we start to turn St Andrews in a fortress again, will the fans keep coming back in numbers???
    I’m able to get to Brum from Minehead tomorrow and will be bringing my son and his girlfriend and I can’t wait. Really hope that the big man gets on to the pitch. KRO !!

  • Dave Mann says:

    I think he will get on regardless of the score line for the last 15,20mins to give him a run out for the vital games to come so no danger there….. He should get a rousing reception but I find it hard to believe he’s only on £ 2 k a week!!!… IDE have thought round about £6 to £8 k a week and a goal bonus chucked in but ime only giving my opinion… One thing is for sure that if he does the biz and scores important goals then he will get another 12 months next summer.kro.

    • Charlie Jones says:

      Dave , I will be there tomorrow, and I will bring another two blokes with me. I keep my promises :-)

    • TR7 says:

      £60,000 , £6,000 or £600 it makes no difference. He’s a total waste of space and an ineffective liability, with referees blowing up every time he wins an aerial ball , yet ignoring the countless fouls he’s victim to throughout every game.
      The ‘novelty factor’ will wear off very quickly unfortunately ,when people are reminded about his limitations.

  • Steve says:

    Hi Dan,

    The Zigic Enigma Love him or Loathe him.

    In my opinion if the wages he was reportedly on with his original contract were as stated then good luck to him. Was he worth those wages No.

    If his new contract is as reported and you were to ask me the same question now, then I would say Rowett has made a very good signing.

    I think the only reasons that Zigic is now back at Blues is because he hasn’t been offered a better contract anywhere else and also the fact that he and his family are settled in the area and don’t want to leave!

  • Mike T says:

    Hi all – long-time reader, first-time poster.

    Firstly, I just want to both congratulate and thank you, Dan, for your excellent blog.

    Secondly, I would be wary of making ‘wholesale’ changes to the team (as you would have expected under Clark). It appears that Rowett’s approach is a bit more measured than that and I believe that he will give the majority of the starting line-up the chance to redeem themselves following the disapointment of last Saturday. As much as the resurgence of Robbo has been both suprising and pleasing, replacing him with Edgar (whether enforced or not) is the right move both in the short and long-term in my opinion.

    In terms of Zigic – welcome home! As you have eluded to in a previous blog Dan, I believe he will benefit from having a different type of winger in our ranks in Cotterill.

    I think tommorrow will be an important point of our season and provide an insight ito it’s prospects. A positive response and another home win wil set us up nicely and put the disapointment of last week to bed. However, back-to-back poor performances/ results would truely see the ‘bubble burst’.

    I’m going for 2-1 to the Blues – Zigic with the winner!

    KRO!

  • Peter Bates says:

    Goodbye peter pannu your not going to be missed lets win tomorrow and have a great weekend

    • Charlie Jones says:

      I am not sorry to see him go, but I still think his gesture of waving his wallet to the cries of ‘Where’s the money gone’ was brilliant. Just a shame that the Blues Fans were too silly to appreciate it. They gave it out but couldn’t take it, imo.

  • Blooflame says:

    Can’t understand the disaffected. Just watch how the defenders react to him when he’s about…he pulls them all into him. He’s a likeable decent player and I for one am so pleased he came back. I do know he likes living here, so welcome home ziggy.

  • StaffsBlue says:

    With, possibly, Edgar coming in, Moussi and Shinnie fit, Zigic and Thomas available and maybe Duffy on the bench, it’s looking like a very strong squad now. I think we could possibly be on for a good win tomorrow. I’m thinking 4-1… but I won’t be greedy, 3-1 will do. :)


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