Lee hopes for clearer view through window
BIRMINGHAM City made a good start to what is a vital week in their season with victory over Barnsley on Saturday.
Goals from Onel Hernandez and Scott Hogan ensured Blues won the first leg of a triple header against the Championship’s bottom three.
They then escaped with a point at home to Peterborough on Tuesday, with the third away to Derby on Sunday.
A total of six or seven points would keep what has at times been a difficult campaign from becoming anything more dramatic and ensure that the transition under Lee Bowyer can be carried out without the all too familiar backdrop of a relegation struggle.
As things stand Blues look like they are going to have enough to stay clear of danger.
But that doesn’t mean they don’t need help and while the head coach is plotting progress on the field, off it Craig Gardner is working to provide that assistance.
With the January transfer deadline four days away it’s an important week for the technical director too. We take a look at what might happen before 11pm on Monday, January 31.
n
Speaking after the win over the Tykes he reiterated his desire to add more options – and his belief that would happen.
“I think we are bringing in two at least and Craig is working hard on that. We have got one loan space left so we can’t bring in two loans, at least one of them is going to have to be permanent.”
n
What has Bowyer said? What are the resources?
For so long Bowyer’s narrative has been slightly confusing. One week he’s been saying there’s nothing to spend, the next he’s got a bit of leeway. One week it’s one-in-one-out, the next the club can pay fees.
Here’s my understanding, taken largely from what Gardner said last week. Blues are indeed operating on a one-in-and-out basis, with the focus being on ‘the one out’ taking with him one of the expensive, pre-pandemic contracts. Think Harlee Dean, Ivan Sanchez.
That frees up bigger chunks of the budget to reallocate on wages and ensures that salary commitments going forward are not as onerous as they are now.
Gardner insists there is a facility for the payment of fees for permanent transfers of younger, more upwardlymobile assets. He points to the bids for James Hill as evidence of that.
Blues will remain alive to ‘punts’ on older free transfers – but that’s more relevant in the summer than in the coming days.
n
What’s been done?
You have to feel for Gardner. He brought five loan players to the club last summer, although he claimed the one for Riley McGree, with his January 1 cut-off point, was already agreed.
Three of the other four are no longer at the club. Matija Sarkic’s promising season is over after a dislocated shoulder, Dion Sanderson was irritatingly called back to Wolves and then not even played, and Tahith Chong has been injured since October.
All three were good signings and it will be a relief when Chong returns next month.
Ivan Castillo didn’t work out – and he’s off the books now.
So far Onel Hernandez looks to be a definite upgrade on McGree. He’s certainly quicker and looks to have more goal threat. Teden Mengi might not have the feline grace of Sanderson but he actually might be a better, more instinctive defender. He’s certainly no worse.
The signing of Taylor Richards has been slightly odd in that he joined injured and is yet to play. I wonder if the eagerness to replace McGree turned just a little desperate.
Nevertheless the expectations for the Brighton youngster are that he too could be more effective than the Australian.
n What remains to be done?
Bowyer seems most keen to replace Chuks Aneke. Troy Deeney is out and Lukas Jutkiewicz is once again shouldering the attacking burden.
The head coach has also identified a lack of depth in central midfield and defence – as well as attack.
If it’s two more to come in, one of those areas is going to have to be left to chance. If all three could be addressed then that would represent a solid window.
n
Who’s in the frame?
Alfie Mawson has been linked, as have Kasey Palmer and Republic of Ireland international Jamie McGrath – both No.8 types.
Bear in mind, though, the attacking cavalry is hopefully coming. Richards is a couple of weeks away from fitness, Chong could reappear next month and the prospect of the three of them, all loan players admittedly, could combine to give Blues a decent end to the campaign.