The club confirmed yesterday that Alex will be staying as manager next season. There is a caviat to that though, he must bring us back up straight away. The board deserve credit for this. It was important to make a swift decision either way and not keeping everyone hanging on.
Yesterday afternoon I was on Radio WM, and I made the statement there which I’ll repeat here. That was that I think this is the right decision. Alex deserves the opportunity to get us back. He has done it once, so I’m sure he can do it again. Now if the comments on the forum are anything to go by, those of you reading this will be either saying that I am absolutely right and the others will – well, be wrong obviously! 😉
So I have nailed my colours to the mast regarding the manager, however he doesn’t escape criticism from me, and for what it’s worth, some advice.
Last season he got the defence absolutely sorted, and we were able to nick narrow victories and draws, something that hasn’t happened this season. Yes injuries have played a part, but all teams get those. Some how our back 4 haven’t clicked properly. Losing Scott at a critical time did hurt us, but somehow there didn’t seem to be that telepathic connection between them. Foster has had a few bad games, however Hart did early on.
It’s difficult to judge this as a supporter, but it appears that the solid communication they had before, has weakened. As a result people in the wrong positions etc. This needs to be worked on again. It is vital that the defence are rock solid.
Also we need to keep the two central defenders and Ridge at all costs. I haven’t been impressed with Davies and have been very critical of his performances. Having said that, I gather he had a really good game yesterday so maybe he could turn out to be a decent player.
Obviously the other issue is that we haven’t scored enough goals, and all the forwards have quite rightly received criticism at different times, however the goals scored isn’t the real reason for our problems IMO – it is the lack of created chances. We just don’t create enough, (or any in some games!) I have been saying for 18 months now, that we desperately need pace in the middle. Not just pace, but someone that can create things. If we are going to get promoted back to the top flight, this HAS to be a priority. We may not have to buy anyone. We have Beausejour, and I hope we keep him. He was just starting to show signs of making a difference.
We also have Asante, (yes I know he’s a striker), and Redmond. They both looked like they could hold their own. I know our previous manager would not use any of the young players, and it is a risk. At least Eck has used these players at times. With relegation you have to cut your cloth. These guys are already part of the set up – get them involved.
So although I am on the side of keeping Alex as manager, there does have to be key changes – primarily in the middle. I can’t believe that we will continue to play the slow side to side football next season when you have sides like Forest, Leeds and either of the play off finalists, in the league. All have pace, all play high octane football, all are exciting to watch.
So my call to Alex McLeish is, suss out who is going to stay quickly. Get the back for sorted but PLEASE get some pace in the middle and let us see some attacking football next season. If you do, fans WILL come back – despite us being in the second teir, but more importantly – we stand a great chance of getting back.
These are my thoughts, your comments are welcome. Actually if any of you would like to write an article – let me know via the contact page.
Kev
AM doesntvfo attacking football not even when he was Rangers manager. It’s not in his make up. Next season will be like 2008 9
It’s high octane football Kev. Octave’s are to do with sound 😉
I think you’ve hit the nail on the head with the article. I do suspect Julian Glass is correct, though, but I’ll take a binary season of 1-0 0-1 as long as we’re promoted. Attacking football, as Notts Forest and Leeds have discovered (and Blackpool!) doesn’t get you (and keep you) in the Prem.
Keep Right On
Cheers Russ, have corrected! I knew it didn’t look right, but couldn’t put my finger on it.
😀
yes we need pace going forward, but obviously we need that pace to track back when neccessary.
its a difficult one ..pace at the expense of a solid hard tackling midfield unit, that protects the back four?
what about taking a punt on bringing back dj from the donkeys?
I am 51 years old, I am a veteran Blues fan of 44 years and I can tell you
that this relegation has hurt me more than any other. I think AM can get us
back but we need to change – keep the keeper and back 4 if we can (add Clyne
from Palace to replace Carr eventually), get some pace in midfield (play
Mutch, Redmond and keep Beausajour and add 2 more quality midfielders). I
would keep Jerome if possible and give him proper service and add 2 more
quality strikers. If the board are truly determined we can achieve this – we
will find out in the next 6 weeks or so. My beloved Blues are at a
crossroads – we must make the right decisions and the future is bright. If
the board fail to act the club will fall into decline just like in the late
eighties. We need them to be totally transparent about the finances of the
club or no one will trust them. My final point is that if AM is still
showing the same negativity after 10 games maximum he must be removed and
replaced – my choices would include Martinez, Holloway (he has more
experience now), Brendan Rogers or for total stability and more goals than
Eck – Big Sam Allardyce. KRO.
Seems to me you have got it more or less right on what the team needs ie creativity in the middle but that has to be to provide te ball for goalscorers up front whch is still the area in which we are most lacking. Under Ecks mgt we have played dire negative football for 3 seasons now so no wonder we struggle to hold onto more than about 22000 regular home supporters. Most attending for the last few years whilst happy with the results in the last 2 years could never have been happy with the manner of most of those wins!! Then moving on, in some matches this season we have had no more than a couple of shots on target so its got worse up front as our defence weakened too. If we doubt that the silent majority don’t feel depressed by our paying style then look at the statistical facts instead ie possession shots on shots off corners etc which all confirm that we were the most negative boring side in the league ! A change of style is needed and essential for a bounce back but I can’t see Eck or his Jonah of an assistant Peter Grant being able to make that change and to focus on attack being the best form of defence…. and the best way to get the supporters through the gates too !! By Xmas I guess we will need a change to save our season or maybe the leadership will move on when told the budget realities for the coming season !!
The last time we were in the Championship under Eck it was like watching paint dry. I cannot see it being any better next year when he knows his job is on the line if he doesn’t take us up.
Negative, boring football might take us up but it won’t keep us up. You have to move forward in the Premier or you go backwards. Its a mentality thing with Eck. Even when he does bring in pace, flair etc he doesn’t trust it as shown by Chucho and Beasejour.
I would have got rid straight away and brought some new ideas in. At the moment I cannot see myself attending many games next season.
The only reason Eck is staying is because it would cost £2m to sack him. Hopefully the rumours about him being wanted by West Ham are true.
I think this is the right decision. He is still the best manager we have had in a long time and has the experience required to get us back up as well as providing some stability and continuity which is needed at this time. However he isn’t without blame and we do need to change our ways a little, on the defensive side we are alright but we need to rebuild with more pace and creativity. If we do that then we can we appropriate setup to win games outright as opposed to not losing or hitting teams on the break. We also need to bench or sell CJ and get in strikers who can score. He may bring other aspects to the team but IIRC DJ Campbell out scored him with less time on pitch (or at least had a better conversion rate overall) last time we were at this level after just jumping from league two. Even with more chances and a partner his scoring record isn’t great. we cannot afford another season of relying on a main striker that doesn’t score. Hopefully we can emerge from this with a younger, more creative and pacier squad to compete in the Premier League
Good article and i think your right about the true failings as we just didn’t create many chances. Saying that if we did i’m sure Jerome would not have converted and as for Zigic i think we bought a player who struggled to stay fit for Valencia on a regular basis. I for one would have liked to have finished this season and started a fresh with a new manager as i believe the relationship has ran its course and a change is needed. Take the cup out of the situation we have been poor for so long with very little entertainment value with the latter being so important as to generate interest from the younger fans, i say this because my 10 year old has completely lost interest due to the negative tatics Alex has adopted throughout the last few seasons. To conclude maybe he’ll think sod it and go for it seeing as his jobs on the line…..we’ll see
I can understand the polarised views about the manager, however I think that having some stability is more important at the moment. Hence I’m pleased he’s staying. (Subject to him taking note of my article of course!)
Sorry Kev got to stick with my view and that of most others on here like figo and tarantini Eck should go. Yes we want stability but thats more important on the financial front. Ecks dour defensive tactics have been losing us support for 2 or 3 years so fresh thinking from a fresh team in charge is what we need to excite the crowd and swell the coffers too through the gate and sponsorship.!!
I have to agree with Kev I for one am glad that he is staying, i take the point about negative tactics but have to add that the medical teams inability to put players back on the pitch has resulted in a depleted side from which to choose.
The irony of Pav scoring against us when he could have been a B’ham player if we had just been prepared to pay a few extra millions has now cost us dearly.
I really can’t believe some of the comments I’m reading. Stability ?………. we’ve got that alright , we’re ‘stabilized ‘ back in the Championship . Back where Alex and whatever team he’s managing belongs.
I will simply never , ever forgive him for taking us down by consistantly playing for draw after draw after draw , including the very last ( slim ) chance we had , at the last gasp , with everyone praying on the deges of our seats that he’d show some bottle , and try ( Remember Wembley ? ) to actually WIN a bloody game ( The most important game in our recent history ( Forget Wembly ! ) ) but he wouldn’t !
He can go , and never show his face at St Andrews again , but then again when the first Premiership manager casuality happens next season , he’ll probably be ‘ poached ‘ anyway !
Good riddance , take him , please ……….
2 million to sack mcleash average attendance of 22000 thats about £ 91.00 each I’m up for it how about you. Failing that we could all do a sponsored something or other to raise the cash.Wake up ! Mcleish hasn’t got a scooby doo about attacking football. Name one game over the last couple of seasons where we dominated due to our attacking intent , can you think of one ? because I can’t.
Also whilst I’ve got my head on we need pace at the back as well as the middle and attack. Ridge is not the quickest Murphy even slower.The left side of defecnce needs sorting the right should be Ok if Carr stays.If One Of Johnson or Dann should be tempted away Ridge is more than capable of filling the vacated boots.
Nice idea about the £91 Dean , count me in , anything to bring to an end our ‘ Backs to the wall ‘ style of play of the last 3 or 4 years !
‘Can’t agree about Ridge though I’m afraid. He’s barely adequate out there on the left , gives it away 60% of the time when he pushes up , lets about the same percentage of crosses come in when the chips are really down ( Watch him in classic action at Wembley ) and basically makes up the numbers because ( and Alex DID get this right ! ) he’s a very hit and miss centre back.
On a brighter note however , I thought Curtis Davies had a very good game on ‘Sorrows Sunday’
I’m not going back to Stans while McLeish is manager if he servers up the same drab old fayre. Watching paint dry was right, TD. He should have gone, and but for the £2m he would have done, I’m sure Michael is right. Can’t honestly see him going to work for the SSB’s at WHU though.
Still…. crying, spilt milk and all that, he now has a chance to restore some faith by being active and exciting in the transfer market. Nobody over 25, and nobody slower than s*** off a shovel. And get somebody with a bit of flair FGS!!
i have been a supporter of McLeish in the last couple of years – in particular he showed a great ability to get the team to focus and refocus as necessary in the first half of this season and during the previous season. But his style is too dour – if ever we needed a reminder that ability to stay in the prem depends on regularly putting the ball in the net – esp against the teams around us (like Wolves & Wigan) – this season’s outcome for Blues is a graphic illustration of that: apart from the first half of the Cup final, we generally looked incapable of scoring and playing 4-5-1 so much, who can be surprised?? Despite his significant contribution to BCFC in the last few seasons, he should go – i now have no confidence in his ability to change styles and attitude to the game – and i think he will indeed go when someone wants to fund the exit costs by buying him. i just hope it happens soon, not half way thru the next season. Sorry Eck, but for all your efforts, we need goals to get back up, not more of what the last season gave us. KRO.