Next Season

[GitongaSimba]

I know all my fellow Blues fans (myself included) are a bit disappointed with the season. However, we still beat Villains twice and were clear of relegation--not bad for a third season in the top flight. With Pennant now here permanently, I still think it's time to sell Heskey for a few quid while his stock is (artificially) inflated and buy ouselves a genuine 20-goal a season striker. I don't buy this "Heskey's the best English-style center forward there is" bilge from Bruce. I'm not talking about getting Forsell on another year-loan--I mean, Bruce should go out there and buy a quality striker.

[BrummieLad]

Trouble is, there`s not many quality 20 goals a season strikers about - available that is. There`s Andy Johnson, Craig Bellamy - that`s all i can think of. Johnson would be a risk - i mean, there`s no guarantee he will get the same amount he did this season. Craig Bellamy would be a great foil for Heskey up front, just like he was for Alan Shearer. And who`s to say Pandiani - if he stays, gets 20 or more next season?.

I feel we need to strengthen in defence too. I think we`re a bit lightweight at the back with Kenny Cunningham, although he has been excellent for us, he`s prone to the odd mistake and gives too many free-kicks away, plus his passing is not upto scratch. Bobo Balde would`ve been a great coup for us, but he`s signed a new contract at Celtic, plus they`re in europe every season, so that`s out of the window.

With Nafti hopefully signing permanently, and Izzet & Dunn hopefully staying fit next season, then we`re guna have one the strongest midfields in the Premiership.

[GitongaSimba]

Bruce has bought Forsell. I think this is generally a good move, despite his bum knee. He's shown his adapted to EPL football, can bang in the goals at will--if he can stay healthy. It's been a while since I've seen Forsell play, but I say put Pans and Forsell upfront, and sell Heskey for a young winger/midfielder. Rumor has it PSV's wide-man Park is going to Manyoo for 4 million pounds. If so, Bruce should be able to outbid MU for him, and still have change left-over after selling Heskey. Park can play box to box for 90 minutes without breaking a sweat (or 120 minutes as in the CL semi-finals against AC Milan), which I think is what Blues are missing in mid-field. Our middies are all talented, but they just don't seem to have the requisite work-rate...

[tomvandamn]

You believe your coach try to bring in bowyer and the fans had a say which was great and bruce goes complaining haha

Good for you for not getting bowyer he wouldve just been deadwood like heskey
Great idea to sell Heskey but who would take him in the premiership
Do the relegated teams want to spend money on him??????


Pandiani-Forsell tandem would be good for you
Need a def mid and some more steel on defense

Good luck

[BrummieLad]

Personally, i think Bowyer would`ve been a good signing for Blues. We might`ve lost out on a darn good player, thanks to a minority of fans who don`t want him here. He`s the type of player we need to replace Savage, he`s a better player than Savage though, he works up and down the field for 90 mins, gets forward, scores a fair amount of goals.

I think Bruce knows the sorta baggage Bowyer would bring with him, But Bruce is in the best position on judgement of him and if anyone can put him on the straight and narrow then Bruce can. No-one was up in arms about Pennant coming to us, i mean, he aint exactly got a clean track record himself. I have trust in Bruce, 90% of his signings have worked out, But if we do get Bowyer and it doesn`t work out, only bruce can hold his hands up and admit he was wrong to bring him to Blues.

On Heskey, why would we wanna sell him? We spent 6million on him, he`s only been here for one season, and i thought he done darn well in his first season with us. He wasn`t helped with having nummerous partners up-front either! He can only get better next season, with Forssell taking some of the pressure off him up-front.

[GitongaSimba]

No comment on Bowyer; the fans are entitled to believe what they will, and the club can choose to listen, or choose to ignore them (at their peril).

On Heskey: he does not run at defenders like he should (and could), he's not that strong in the air, and he no longer holds the ball up as well as he used to. Look, if Heskey were 3 years younger, I'd say, Give the lad another season. Fact is, the last time he was a genuine 20 goal a season striker was back in his Leceister days (on the back of which he moved to 'Pool and England). He's already peaked--time to move on. Why not get in a younger lad, one who will be around 4-5 years from now when B'ham will be in Europe? Blues need a shift in mentality--one which I believe Bruce has already made--where we can't spend millions on short term solutions. We need to build for 5 years down the road if we want any chance of getting to Europe. And I disagree that we couldn't sell him. I think there's a market for him yet, but not for much longer...

[BrummieLad]

Why not get in a younger lad, one who will be around 4-5 years from now when B'ham will be in Europe?

I think blues have already got him, in the shape of Forssell ;)

Fact is, the last time he was a genuine 20 goal a season striker was back in his Leceister days (on the back of which he moved to 'Pool and England). He's already peaked--time to move on

He wasn`t even banging in 20 goals a season for Leicester - if you take a look at his record there - not once did he hit the 20 goal mark. Yet, in i think his 1st full season at Liverpool, he hit 21 goals or more. Point is, he has never been that type of striker to bang in 20 or more goals a season, i think Bruce even knew that when he bought him to Blues. And maybe he has peaked, but i think you`ll see a different Heskey next season - watch this space ;)

And I disagree that we couldn't sell him. I think there's a market for him yet, but not for much longer...

Nah, Heskey is the type of player that if available - anyone would snap him up - maybe not the big clubs - but he`d make a good aquisition for any club :)

[CANADA-AZ]

Landzaat of AZ-Alkmaar coming to Birmingham--possible according to Dutch TV

[BrummieLad]

Didn`t he used to play for Ajax? I seen him play in the Uefa Cup against Sporting, i wasn`t that overly impressed. What position does he play? I couldn`t quite work it out! :confused:

[roxbury]

Hi ,

How is Muzzy Izzet [injury] :confused:
is he gonna be 'ready' for new season ?


sincerely
thanks.

[Hammond Egg]

Muzzy is exxpected to be ready for the start of the new season, or very soon afterwards.

[roxbury]

Muzzy is exxpected to be ready for the start of the new season, or very soon afterwards.

Thank you very much for your answer,Hammond Egg ;) .

he is a truely leader player on the field, for Birmingham club.
Its nice to know, that Muzzy gonna ready for new Season :cool:

he was classy player in World Cup 2002 journey of Turkey National team..

Good luck him (i hope no more injury) and Birmingham ;)


sincerely The Bull.

[Hammond Egg]

Muzzy played in a pre-season friendly in Norway this week, BB. Came through the game ok, too.

[GitongaSimba]

So, we've finally got Pandiani. I'd like to see Forsell and Pandiani together up front. Not sure how it would pan out because I haven't seen Forsell play for a while (his gimping around for Chelsea notwithstanding). My sense is Pandiani can hold up the ball pretty well. Also have a good feeling about the Forsell-Heskey combo, but was not overly impressed by Pandian-Heskey--neither seemed very good at creating their own chances.

[Godalfree]

The fans voted Heskey Player of the year (For Brum) last year and are all in love with Heskey so I'm guessing he will be one of the first names on the list every week unless injured.

But having Three real choices at Forward will be really nice.

[roxbury]

So, we've finally got Pandiani. I'd like to see Forsell and Pandiani together up front. Not sure how it would pan out because I haven't seen Forsell play for a while (his gimping around for Chelsea notwithstanding). My sense is Pandiani can hold up the ball pretty well. Also have a good feeling about the Forsell-Heskey combo, but was not overly impressed by Pandian-Heskey--neither seemed very good at creating their own chances.
This year will be very fantastic,to see Pandiani goals :cool: .

He is the; true goal machine :cool:.

PS:

in the new season:

Good luck Pandiani.

Goodluck Muzzy Izzet:cool: .

Good luck Birmingham City:cool: .

[GitongaSimba]

Landzaat of AZ-Alkmaar coming to Birmingham--possible according to Dutch TV

This deal's collapsed. This type of bull-headed idiocy by managers/ment drive me spare. I mean, the guy's publicly declared he wants to leave, so why keep him when good clubs are offering good money for him? Look, when it became clear that Savage (curses on him and his family) was desparate to leave, Bruce did the sensible thing and sold him on. When Henri Camara declared he was too good for Wolves, Glenda waited for a sensible bid and sold him. Good managers know they can't get the best out of players that want to leave.