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The Return of Fahey
Keith Fahey should return to competitive action today with Birmingham City in a development squad game against Crewe Alexandra at the Wast Hills training ground (kick off 1pm). It’s the first game of any description in a Blues shirt for Keith since October 20 and hopefully will be the first on the road back to the first team.
The thirty-year-old Irishman has been the centre of much speculation since he went on compassionate leave last November. Indeed, there has been much scurrilous rumour online about the nature of Fahey’s need to return to his home country and the length of time Keith needed to remain in the Republic. I don’t think I need to repeat my own personal opinion that whatever was troubling Keith is none of our business and as such we shouldn’t be discussing his personal life online.
What am I interested in is how it could change the Blues team. The midfield options of late have been the “terrier” type – players like Jonathan Spector, Callum Reilly and Morgaro Gomis who all are quite good at chasing players down and making tackles but maybe not so brilliant at creating opportunities from the centre of the park. Whilst I think it would be hyperbolic to make out Keith Fahey is some kind of Irish Iniesta who is going to spark an incredible revival in our fortunes I do think that his return to the first team could help add another dynamic to the way Blues play.
I don’t think it’s even about creating goals; Blues have scored quite a few this season and even in the horrific defeat at the weekend managed to claw back two consolation efforts. What concerns me is that at times we don’t seem to be able to hold onto the ball, to retain possession – we seem to knock it about a bit like it’s a hot potato at times and I think we need someone in the middle who can try to slow things down, who can dictate play and is always ready to make and receive passes and I suspect that Fahey might be the player we are missing in that regard.
Of course, the big question is just how quickly Keith can make the step back up to match fitness – the worry might have been that after three months in Ireland he is going to be ring-rusty and I think it’s fortunate that Blues still have nine Development squad fixtures to fit in over the next eight weeks or so as it means that there will be plenty of opportunities to give Fahey match practice at that level at least.
Fahey is Blues’ second-longest serving outfield player (after David Murphy) and is currently the leading appearance maker in the Birmingham City squad with 142 appearances in all competitions. He is also out of contract at the end of the season (like so many of the squad) and I have to be honest, he’s a player I’ll be sorry to see go if he does indeed move on. He might not have always been a fans’ favourite – I remember the boos as his name was read out last season at one point – but I do think he’s consistently tried to give his best when he has played and I think we have missed him.
Tags: Keith Fahey
40 Responses to “The Return of Fahey”
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I think Reilly has been playing really well so I think it will be a shame if fahey replaces him. Aljamar who do you think fahey will replace and which two he’ll play in the middle. Also I think Tomis and Elliot are just too light weight and when they play we get bossed
Welcome back my Irish friend and a big thank you for going on the sick and keep growing the moustache for me since Movember – wife love the new fur collar on coat!
I fell in love with Keith the day he hit the post in the big final against ‘Wenger’s Whingers’
I turn to Penfold Pannu and say “Fahey’s a jolly good fellow”
Fahey is awesome. Personally…either left wing or possibly replacing elliot and acting as a playmaker. Have spector or reilly alongside.
If KF were to come back into the team I think he needs to replace Elliot. Although he’s chipped in with a couple of goals, for me he’s probably the most guilty of giving the ball away & he does it all too often & usually when we’re in a good attacking position with plenty of other players forward leaving us exposed at the back.
He’s not quite Liam Brady but he’s the best midfielder we have. Welcome back Keith.
Welcome back Keith whatever your troubles I hope you are now at peace
Best midfielder at the club? If he isn’t he’s pretty close. We’ve certainly missed him in the engine room. Welcome back to Keef!
Keith Fahey or not, the whole squad needs ripping apart and completely rebuilt, its stale and lacklustre, hopefully new owners or new investors will come to the fore this summer and allow Lee Clark to do his job.
Keith Fahey will make little difference to the squad. They are not good enough to push on up the table.
I am more concerned by the fact that we have 19 players out of contract in the summer. With the current owners policy of one in one out the future at Blues looks bleak to say the least.
Hopefully Keith can get up to speed match fitness wise quickly, also looks like King is out for the rest of the season, time for Lovenkrands to fill his boots??
Following the news about King being out for the season, Clark’s gotta be looking to loan in a striker or it wont matter how many chances the midfield create as we don’t have a regular goalscorer
love Keith Fahey, but he is a confidence player, may be too much to ask to get both fitness and confidence up to contribute too much before the end of the season. Hope we give him another three years at the end of his contract.
OUT OF CONTRACT AT THE END OF SEASON….LET’S SEE HOW LOYAL HE IS.
OR IS HE THE SAME AS DUNN & McFADDEN WHO WERE PAID FULL MONEY FOR LONG PERIODS
WHEN INJURED AND THEN BAILED OUT AT THE FIRST OPPORTUNITY.
HUGHTON IS ALSO IN THIS CATEGORY…HE OWED US MORE TIME THAN HE GAVE US THE RAT.
FAHEY HAS BEEN ON FULL PAY WHILST IN IRELAND……..HE WENT BACK THERE WHEN HE WAS AT SPURS ALSO EARLIER IN HIS CAREER…….OUR CLUB HAS A REPRIEVE TILL MAY 5TH OR MAYBE THE 27TH AT BEST…………IF FAHEY HAS TOO MANY PROBLEMS IN HIS LIFE THAT NOBODY IS TO KNOW ABOUT THEN HE SHOULD CANCEL HIS CONTRACT AND GET A JOB BACK IN IRELAND………I DON’T THINK ANYONE REALISES HOW PRECARIOUS OUR EXISTENCE IS RIGHT NOW………GOOD LUCK TO FAHEY BUT HE’S A DISTRACTION WE CAN DO WITHOUT.
1) John, please turn off your caps when commenting.
2) Fahey has never played for Spurs. I think you may mean Arsenal…
You carnt get any more loyal than seeing out your contract ??
Leave the man alone, nobody knows what he has had to go through.
Have some sympathy Mr angry !
Maybe one day you will have personal problems and will require some kind of support. Hopefully you don’t encounter someone no compassion, who unfairly criticises you in public and has an obsession for writing in capital letters.
I’d do a Kenny Burns! Play Ibanez with Caldwell at the back and push Davies to Centre Forward!
Many Happy Returns Keith!
It is my unfortunate duty to report the death of one of my fish in the outside pond,things go from bad to worse.
It’s times like these Tony when everything needs to be put into perspective.
I trust you will he giving the fish a good send off.
Are you opting for the lavatory flush or feed to the cat
Tony, our thoughts and prayers are with you, your family, and all other marine life living in your garden pond at what must be a very difficult time.
Nothing so Lurid Mark he will be sent to the deep from which he came seriously though I did spend £300 on him
I hope he said ‘thank you’!
Tony, I was insensitive. Please accept ny fish joke as way of apology
“Two parrots sat on a perch, one said to the other can you smell fish”
For the price of that fish,,,,,,could I suggest a deep Golden Beer batter,,,,,,you,ll enjoy it more than the cat,,,,,,,,and save on the cost of a meal as well !!
By the “Deep”,,,,,does this mean the “Deep Fat Fryer” ?
It’s a matter of whom Fahey plays with. He moves the ball well but is not a ball winner. Paired with Ambrose (who does not relish the physical challenge either) for part of the Barnesley debacle, they were largely responsible for at least two of the goals. They must never be the central pairing again.
After having the opportunity to reflect on the very, very disappointing result on Saturday, I can safely say Fahey will be a more than welcome returning addition to the squad.
Many that gave him stick last season – even when he was giving his utmost – are probably the ones most hankering for his return to add some guile and experience to the midfield. At least LC seems pleased to have the opportunity to call on his services again.
What a truly disappointing season it is turning out to be and I don’t believe you can lay it fairly and squarely at any one individual’s door. CY with his trials and tribulations, PP with his mannerisms/tact/working model with satellite operations over in HK and LC who is still on an extremely steep learning curve. Our eclectic team and squad – which needs serious over-hauling, even some of our supporters who are divided over so many issues.
The summer cannot arrive quick enough but then things might start looking even more uncertain than now.
There really is a sort of indifference and cynicism that seems to be slipping into the club and we really need to cut it off at the seams.
Problem is it should start from the top and then trickle down…. and that doesn’t look like happening a time soon.
You hit the nail right on the head.
Change has to take place from top to bottom otherwise god help us next season!
dont no weather to luagh or cry on faheys return, but il will give him the benefit off the dought.
more worried about king out for the season. by the way our defence on saturday at hull was
bordering on pathetic.
Fahey may be a good holding midfielder, but he does not score goals. With the loss of King, lets hope it does not lead to the same conclusion to the season as loosing Zigic after winning the Carling Cup
I’m sure he will make a big difference and our survival chances will improve.
So welcome back and good luck.
Am overwhelmed by sympathy shown .
glad we move on (with so call Clark spat with Fahey) absolute nonsense..no facts..AGAIN IT WAS compassionate leave..hope it like signing a new player again. He will breath fresh air in central mid again make his own once more. Like all I hope he now over what has been troubling him, and I will be glad to see him back in blues shirt. Hopefully we can see best of him within this team. Good luck keith in these coming months always back you in a blues shirt.kro
match between blues and crewe U21 finished 1-1 Keith Fahey gained competitive action for the first time following a spell of compassionate leave by playing the duration, while Darren Ambrose continued his return to fitness with 90 minutes.
Almajir What about ambrose
What about him?
Oh and why is king out for so long
Marlon has knee injury, operation was today. sidelined unfortunately to the end of season.
almajir i would never boo any player in blue shirt. But again some blue fans want scrape-coats to blame……..Its shame really. they pay their money, so they think its their given right to moan..yes i believe Keith took a lot of stick from certain section of supporters unfairly in my opinion…..
why are they asking you who might Fahey play with? why would you know?