Training with the 1st team in Austria http://www.bcfc.com/page/News/NewsDetail/0,,10412~2848839,00.html
If anyone is interested in a chance to see Packwood play Birmingham City is taking on Borussia Moenchengladbach Saturday in a friendly. GOL TV will carry the game starting at 11 eastern.
This guy is going relatively under the radar while kids like Agudelo and Shea are under the spotlight 24/7 in the US. I hope Packwood sees some time this year
Packwood is in the starting lineup as a midfielder. Birmingham's live text says he should go the full 90 (3:31 entry). Game is underway on Gol TV
Packwood went the distance in a 2-2 draw. http://www.bcfc.com/page/News/NewsDetail/0,,10412~2856381,00.html
Anyone that watched the game, how did he play? And was the lineup they sent out strong or was it a bunch of similar players, all guys who didn't get much time before this preseason?
In the link that LaxAttack posted it says that "Borussia suddenly had their tails up, and only a superb sliding block from Packwood prevented Arango from equalising. The Venezuelan's shot was hit with enough power to certainly make it tricky for Lucas, so the young defender's block was imperative."
Packwood went 90 as a right back in a 5-1 victory over Bury. As he was the only non-regular in the XI (Spector injured), that was an excellent sign. In comments on the Live Matchday commentary on Birmingham's website, they expect him to be at least a squad player this year. Even better, Packwood has been awarded #24 on the first team squad for the 2012-13 season. http://www.bcfc.com/page/News/NewsDetail/0,,10412~2865770,00.html
Great stuff! This could be a big year for our youth/fringe guys as Packwood, Brooks, Gatt, Gyau, O'Brien all playing well and could be breaking through for us in a big way. Perhaps a very important year as far as the future of the USMNT goes.
Packwood played 85 minutes today, coming on a sub in a 3-1 loss. He has a squad number 24 on B'ham website, and appears to be part of this year's squad. He is only 19. This is great story so far.
Packwood made his first team professional debut in a competition. He is starting for Birmingham City at right back against Barnet in the Capital One Cup BCFC up 3-1 in 2nd half EDIT: I corrected my mistake that he was playing central defense. Thanks schrutebuck
unreal. his debut in the starting lineup for the club too. I checked the ticker and looks like no big gafffes in his 76 minutes, but some good clearances in danger. The chatter is that he has secured the backup role at Right Back for the season, but then begs question where injured Spector will play. Hope the young man is ok. What a crapper. The starting right back is still injured and the kid would have started this weekend in the Championship at 19. Blues are up 3-1 in the dying seconds by the way. HEY MODS: Isn't it time for a new thread for Packwood now, given he has made the 1st team (no longer youth). Maybe a combined Spector and Packwood at Birmingham thread?
What's funny with Packwood is that I would never have made him out to be a right back. He has some very good qualities but speed is not one of them. Maybe he just got a lot faster in 2012. I always pegged him as a d-mid and maybe a central defender. He reads the game well and make nice passes, but I figured he would get burned badly as a right back against speedy wingers. Either way, it's interesting.