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Viv to Play in Rio
There will be two Blues stars potentially going to Rio this summer after reports in Nigeria confirmed that Viv Solomon-Otabor has been released by the club to appear for the Dream Team at the Olympics.
Solomon’s father Victor-Banks Otabor (himself a former pro playing for Bendel Insurance) told allnigeriasoccer.com
“It’s correct he has been called up to the Nigeria U23s. Initially his club refused to grant him permission to join the team, as an integral part of their first team, ”
“But after some discussions with Viv, his agent and the club manager, the manager now granted his release on Wednesday afternoon.
“From what I know he wants to represent Nigeria, he’s a Nigerian fanatic, that I can tell you. ”
Solomon joins fellow Blues youngster Nicolai Brock-Madsen as a potential representative for his country at the forthcoming Olympics, with confirmation being given by the official site that Brock has been given permission to join up with Denmark.
The Nigeria u23 team had been due to play in the ongoing Toulon Tournament in France but had to pull out in April due to a lack of funding.
Nigeria will face Sweden, Colombia and Japan in the group stages in Rio while Denmark face host Brazil, South Africa and Iraq. The tournament runs from August 3 to August 20 meaning that both Brock and Solomon face the possibility of missing the start of the new season with the team.
71 Responses to “Viv to Play in Rio”
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Pleased for Viv, I hope it helps him to push on. Just seen that England are taking another 18 year old to the Euro’s, while our 18 year olds can only dream of 1st team time, and by the time the manager thinks they are ‘old’ enough, its too late.
I was thinking exactly the same thing.
If you don’t give some the opportunity to prove themselves they never will.
Well Harding, Adams, Brown, Maxwell, Are in with a chance. Viv is already in the first team I expect him to get more starts next season. And I can see Adams getting his chance. Arthur I am not so sure about he ant dune much to show any resin he is disserving of first team games.
Brown and Aurthur are both 20.
I don’t think our manager is youth-orientated at all tbh. Arthur has started 7 games under Rowett (all last season,) Solomon-Otabor 2 games, Adams 1. It’s not a lot for 18 months in the job really.
spot on and correct at the same time staffs
Staffs, i’m convinced that Rowett hasn’t got a clue how to treat the younger players. How many times towards the end of last season did he say he was gonna make use of them only to pick the same lot that had played rubbish in previous games. Adams had a chance to go out on loan but stayed at blues because GR told him he was on brink of the 1st team & what happened?, he plays him in the last game of the season. If he’s trying to be cruel to be kind he’s going the wrong way about it imo. It will be interesting to see what happens next season as there’s no emergency loans.
He was saying things like that all season. Like trying different players out, or tweaking the system, or players injured with little chance of playing, to suddenly appear on the team sheet come matchday. Once you’ve watched a few interviews with him, you get to recognise the flannel.
But all that aside, I’ll be fascinated to see what gems he comes up with in the transfer window.
I wonder if Torel will be back, I can’t see him getting in the Arse 1st team cos they seem to have midfielders in abundance & personally I don’t think he’s quite good enough for the prem yet
Maybe they just ain’t good enough? Viv looks good but J mags, Cotterill and Gray were all better than him last season!
I reckon (and hope) his hand will be forced by not having the emergency loan window this year. Would be nice to see a hungry young nucleus of players get a run. Just need a few proven players to blend them with. Anyone who has been to a lot of youth games – does Harding look anywhere near ready for the first team?
.. It’s no good blooding youngsters if they are not good enough and he obviously doesent think they are ready as he sees them in training and won’t take risks .. We’ve no Rashford or Ali in our ranks at the moment so it’s making the best of what we have and what we can get signed up . KRO
I’m sure the kids will do better than some of the first team given the chance but they don’t get the chance
Because our manager does not think they are good enough ! KRO
Agree.Thats what it boils down to bottom line.
or dave hes Mr Safety first…..likes to keep his record prefect…possibly does not like taking chances…
Let’s hope he takes a few more next season mark if needed . KRO
theres been many a player who managers have ‘thought’ not good enough only for them to turn in to world beaters! There’s no room for this play it safe anymore not with whats at stake, the team needs a burst of youth and some invigoration especially in the champ, because we arent going to sign that from other clubs at the minute, they cost top bucks.
Perhaps GR thinks the first team is not quite strong enough mentally yet to support a youngster , panic ect , with new players coming in he must give all the bench a try , perhaps we would not of flagged so much at the end of last season if we had given injuries more time to heal and a wider amount of players on the bench a chance to come on for the last ten minutes …with new players in we will see how it pans out this season , I think GR has to be a bit braver on selection this season ,
Agree William. This is why imo Robbo.has been given a role-sort out the ones who are going to make it and recommend exit door to those who are not. No better man equipped for that role.
Van Gaal didn’t think Rashford was good enough – there were plenty of players in front of him (including James Wilson) and he only got thrown in when there was an injury crisis. Shows sometimes you simply need to give a kid a chance for a few games – in our case in a safe manner e.g. last 15 mins of winning games or at the end of the season – to see what they can do. I love Rowett and this is by no means criticism of his record at Blues, but he is far too safe in this regard.
Some people need to give it a rest about youth. We would all love to see local or any young players come through, but they have to be good enough. He was happy to play Gray even though he was far from the complete player and actually poor in his final season in terms of end product, but Rowett still played him nearly every game!
Rowett has signed a number of young players who he feels can bridge the gap between U21 and the first team as he obviously didn’t see enough quality previously. Do people really think that Rowett rated them, but didn’t play them because they were too young?! In terms of what I have seen and heard I think Maxwell and Ronan Hale (once he has had half a season of u21 games under his belt) could started coming into the periphery of the first team squad. I think Adams should spend half a season playing regularly at League 1 if possible.
Comment taken on board, but it is funny how our form dipped after the departure of Dimmi, I admit, I was one that was dissapointed with his performance in front of goal, in hindsight he brought more to the team than just putting the ball away. Kro
Totally agree William .KRO
excellent viv go out and enjoy playing for your chosen country and enjoy playing football. Then when you return tell Mr GR that you are pushing for the first team this year…
not surprised the fans were split on blues performances over the season ……
at home we were below average , away we were above average .. Put the two together and we were … Average ! KRO
i like that Dave lol
Our season was what I expected it to be between 12th and 8th and we finished 10th but could have been so much better if we hadn’t run out of steam … Next season will be same as I think at best unless we do get some backing financially and maybe just maybe if the ownership situation sorts itself out could make a more solid push for the playoffs but only if we get it sorted out asap !! KRO
Dave I think most agree that we have a good chance of getting things sorted if not by the start of the season then more likely around 0ctober time imo. either way if things are at an advanced stage then maybe funds will become available. I think the size of funding will show us their intentions and ambitions.
Couldn’t agree more zxcv . KRO
Hales is interesting, he knows what positions to take up, he’s no slouch, and he can finish with either foot, he is gong to be a very good player. He needs to build his strength up but he has all the attributes, he should not play another game for the under 18s he should be playing for the under 21s.
To score 29 goals a season at whatever level mans you are doing something right and you have ability, I would give him half a season with under21s if he continues to score at his current rate put him in the first team squad.
Why not try him in the 1st team now, up front with Donaldson, he might be the revelation we are looking for, another season in the unders could be another season wasted that has slipped us by. In the real world you leave school at 16, do a 3 year apprenticeship then its in at the deep end, the only difference is these lads started way before they were 16. Kro
The dark side of that is, the sooner he’s playing in the first team, the sooner the club will flog him. If he continues to progress like he has done so far, he’ll be worth far more than Gray eventually. It’s easy to turn down offers of a million for the likes of Donaldson, but if a club is going to offer £3m+ for any of our players, they’re gone. Simple as that.
So what your saying is we can never be successful in case our stars are sold? Then we will never be successful! Kro
That is true but players cant be held back joust because we may lose them we stand even more chance of losing them if they are held back. My self I think he needs more u21 football to build his strength. Because he would get knocked off the ball to easily by the big strong defenders in the championship.
Staffs, How do you know the new owners will be as you describe the previous ones.
At this moment in time, there are no new owners. Until then, I can only judge by the present owners. Ask me again if and when we get new owners.
And there are no old owners and I think we all know now they ain`t coming back mate.
Owners… as in BIHL. Mate.
BIHL is being run by Court Appointed Receivers, They are not Owners. Mate
Congratulations to VSO, i’m sure it will be a great learning experience for him. Good luck to him & lets hope he brings home a medal. KRO
I would have like to have seen Viv play at least another half dozen games more than he did last season .simply because Rowett imo dented his confidence when he took him out the team after he had made an impressive couple of starts, then when he came back in either as a sub or a starter he seemed to not have the same enthusiasm and I put that down to the disappointment of not keeping his place when he deserved to, Bit the same when he took Caddis out atfter he got a motm award the previous away game.
PS DAN, off subject I notice from your factfile Tab under Carson’s Criminal Case, that his appeal case starts next Tuesday until the 3rd June. Will you be keeping us updated on matters. Thanks
On the appraisal of the way blues play by GR I think by many we excepted the 4+2+3+1 when it was more successful when we were scoring goals.but a lack of goals in the second half of the season when we needed more with injuries ect. Made it easy for the opposition to blunt our attacking threat ,as we all know , here’s the rub if we don’t up the wages offered to get the strike force we need then the 4+2+3+1 system is going to fail every season at some part of the season or other , so it’s up the wage to sign ,or fail with that system.and the success we need ……
According to what he said, we’ll be sticking with the system, playing a “destructive’ brand of football.” Can’t say I’m looking forward to that too much.
We don`t know if Rowett will be the choice of the new owners yet so might be best to wait and see, Remember Van Gaul was planning for next season the day before he got the bullet, its what Managers do when they are afraid of losing their jobs
As of this moment, Rowett is in charge. If it’s ok with you, I’ll go with that until someone at bcfc tells me different.
Not sure if you are new to football but you will find in most cases New owners prefer a new brush sweeps cleaner attitude or simply just prefer their own choice. I will wait and see. Mate
New to football? lol
Rowett is in charge and is preparing for the new season. Fact.
New owners, new broom, conjecture!
You believe what you like. I prefer to believe in facts.
I said they may prefer…. that also implies they may NOT prefer a new brush attitude. its just pointing out that we could guess at anything because anything is possible. Even if you don`t want it to be.
As in destructive for then or destructive for us .. I suppose it depends on what team were playing but more flexibility is a must next season otherwise it’s ” Groundhog Day ” . KRO
Absolutely agree.
There’s nothing wrong with keeping his principles and playing the brand of football he obviously believes in.Wheather he’s got the players to implement it is another matter.All
boils down to the same thing for me.what he is allowed to offer in wages for permanent or loan players in the summer.You pay peanuts,you get monkeys.
I agree Hilfield like I said above best to wait and see.
Dave, its all pie in the sky tbh till we know what`s going on. I would doubt any money would be sanctioned for new players until the new owners have a say what they wish to investment for the coming season. They may want to invest heavily and really have a good go at it. or may just be happy with minimal investment for the first year. We could just guess at anything so its all a bit pointless till we get some real feed back.
I think right now that we must not lose sight of the fact that TTA are keeping us alive in order to sell on.TTA will give us a bit more money to maintain the asset as it is. When they flog us off then and only then will we see the investment from the new owners. In the meantime its feet on the ground and prepare for a squad that will start the season only capable of mid table mediocrity. Lets also not forget that a short while ago we were looking at a far worse scenario.
Perfectly put Swissjonny.TTA are keeping us afloat at the moment and this is monumental. Money imo will be minimal until our long term owners are revealed. However, I am sure the ownership has been sorted and TTA will continue in name only until the Carson saga closes-hopefully before the new season kicks off. Much will be seen during June/July with the type of players coming in and the fees paid. Good example would be Bradshaw of Walsall reportedly up for £750k. Preston in for him but haggling. If this fee is true I would expect GR to have done this deal yesterday.
I think Bradshaw is a prefect replacement for Donaldson.
RDM now looks like a done deal. so with funds looking forward for AVFC getting back into the premiership and spanking your tin pot of a club home and away. The best you guys can hope for is avoiding the drop further into the abyss.Crap stadium, crap players, crap owners, crap support and the list just goes on and on…
He who laughs last
You Stopped my posts for something silly but come on what abbot this guy ( V4Life ) look at the crap he is saying. If whatever I have dune disserves to be Blocked then this guy also should be blocked.
My site, my rules :)
A championship club with Chinese owners , your level as been reached son , it ain’t gonna get any better for you but for us it’s a six point head start … I go to all games home and away and the fans I speak to say we’re the best following of any fans that travel to they’re stadium .. Your lot just get laughed at and are hated by most fans across the country .. We are respected a lot more than you scum bags . .. enjoy your double relegation party next May xxx SOTV
The irony is that we could sell one of our players and buy your entire squad, that’s how dire you lot are. To compound to that, the stadium looks like a tin pot stadium that would be suited better for the homeless. We may be hated by the country according to you, but at least they know who we are, where are you lot are simply unkowns – lol
You are totally deluded .. If you supported your scum as much as much as I supported my team and Blues fans do away from home you might come across as half decent but your digging your own grave spanner .. Get a life and a club that respects fans and that shit hole you call a football club might have relevance .. Where’s your trophys overnights last 20 years . Knob head !! SOTV
Typical response from a club heading in one direction, down to the next league. As for blues (also known as the clowns) supporting a team with no future is typical loser mentality, then again you lot of so thick skinned it probably makes no difference now.
Enjoy the privilege of playing us this season as we spank you home and away on our way back to up to the PL where we belong, think of it as an experience. Below is what you are about –
Birmingham City
Company name: Birmingham City plc
Owned by: Birmingham International Holdings, a Hong Kong-listed group now in receivership
Turnover: £20.1m (£24.2m)
Pre-tax loss: £5.5m (-£4.1m)
Net debt: Not stated
Total loans: £11.7m
Wages and salaries: £18m
Bank: HSBC
Auditor: Edwards Chartered Accountants
Y/E: 30 June 2014
Despite manager Gary Rowett stabling the Blues’ on field performance, the club’s off field future is much less certain. Owner Birmingham International Holdings is in receivership with Carson Yeung, its largest shareholder, facing money laundering charges in Hong Kong. A company called Trillion Trophy Asia Ltd is in talks with receivers from EY to buy the club.
Lol…
Obsessed much?
I’d worry about your own club, you boys might be in for a big surprise this season…
gosh someone get him a dummy……how many cups you won this century…..how managers do you like to go though..what it like buying and spending millions on players who have no desire no passion…..nearly worse than derby………
Impressive don’t you think . SOTV
Blues 1-0 vile
Trophies won this century lol. :-)
good to see the vilers out in force only one hahaha
as for your ground what that cow shed, plenty of pigeons fly over your ground mate……they make a awful mess….lol
This can only help the lad, wish him all the best KRO