Birmingham City (Non WH thankfully)

[Westcliff Hammer]

I really think this could have been us. Being relegated from the Premier League after winning the League Cup. Now in massive financial trouble having to sell they're best assets at a reduced price i.e Butland from £3.5 to £2m players like Redmond and King on the cheap just to stay afloat, There is a real threat of relegation hanging over them, Another relegation could possibly finish them off. Again emphasing why staying in this league at all costs when you have significant debts is absolutely imperative and from a clubs short term perspective should be above a cup run. A side with limited funds and a small squad really should try to stay in the league until such time when the debts are reduced and the squad is at a level where you can compete for both. For instance i think at last count it was estimated that staying in the Premiership was worth approx £30m with improved totals for each premier league place it wouldn't take long in order to get the debts paid off quicker, sign real quality players and have a squad capable of competing on all domestic competitions.

Birminghams's demise is exactly the reason why we need to get this transfer window is vital for us, Should we go into the rest of the season with what we have then we are going to be cutting it fine in regards to our survival this year. You can bet that Q.P.R are going to be quite busy in the next few days, Harry is known for he's deadline day deals. Newcastle have strengthened and go into the final stages with a deeper squad. Reading may do something as they have a relatively wealthy owner. Villa are probably going to go with what they have same with Southampton.

We really don't need much to get us over the line a few more defensive options and and possibly if a goalkeeper becomes available then we're there for another year. All we realistically need need as few more wins under our belt

The chance for us to really off load some players that are possibly considered dead wood and been here too long. Replace them with the money generated from player sales and abit from the television rights after the debts have been serviced, Go for a real top 10 finish and push on from there
.
We have some good solid strong players already at the club Nolan, Collins, J.Cole, Noble, Collison (good too see him proving me wrong) Reid, Diame, Jarvis, Demel, O'Brien. The nucleus is there if we get the right player/players in this window.

Jack Butland - We can guarentee him first team football unlike the rest who want him, Morrison and Hall are there there's a link.
George Friend - Could turn out to be a fantastic defender, Middlesborough have a great academy turning out Woodgate, Downing, Morrison from Brum and a few more.
Olsson - Experienced full back with international pedigree, knows Big Sam, Scandinavians produce solid defenders.
Nathan Redmond - Could be worth an investment in

[baritalia]

Wondering if we can get Martin Olsson cheaper at Birmingham City than at Blackburn Rovers... £7m is really too much.

[Westcliff Hammer]

Curtis Davies would be a great shout. But they don't have a great squad and i can see why they're struggling there's some players there that are suitable for relegation threatened/ promotion chasing but the only players who i'd take are Butland, Redmond, and Davies. Kinda reminds me of where we would have been without Gold and Sullivan. I have been guilty of digging them out before but i guarentee you most Birmingham fans would jump at the chance at them running the club now rather than whoever runs that shambles now. Who remembers that Birmingham City bloke who used to post on here? Spouting that they were gonna ruin us?.

One final dip in there pockets and i really feel we can push on and consolidate.

[hongkonghammer]

All very well pointing out how important it is from a financial point of view to stay in this division but also worth considering that throwing money at players in January and then going down anyway puts you in a far worse position! I trust Sam and the Dave to do the right thing, which is to buy quality at a sensible price and structure. In reality we have we have 27 points and only need 4 wins and a draw in the remaining 15 games to hit the magic 4 points. Even with the depleted squad we have now I am confident we will achieve that. Throwing cash at the problem isn't always the answer and I hope that QPR will prove that this year and get relegated and go pop!

[Jumby]

We're going to need a new goalkeeper, if he's available, and available on the cheap, let's just get him. Unless he isn't actually all that, I haven't really seen enough of him to be sure. By the sounds of things though he's supposed to be a very very good prospect.

[Trevor Montana]

When does Henderson's loan end? Surely we could do £2.5m plus Henderson for Butland.

[Oldun]

When does Henderson's loan end? Surely we could do £2.5m plus Henderson for Butland.

He was on our bench Wednesday.

[SDKFZ 222]

I'll never forget the shenanighans at their place before, during and after the league cup semi final second leg, was all that really necessary?

On the way back along that dual carriageway after the match some of their fans even ran from inside a nearby pub to the pavement to give us all the '****er' signs as we were heading away in the coaches. I wouldn't like any clubs to go out of business but this is 'karma' for that evening, and many other occasions towards us, over the years. I for one wouldn't be sad to see them in League One, should they go down.

[Puff Daddy]

I find myself in agreement with most of Westcliff's leader article, especially the comments about it being imperative to stay in this league and pushing on from there in the years ahead. When you think of our promotion in 2005, the two other teams who won promotion in that year, were Sunderland and Wigan who have remained there ever since, whist we have been relegated and promoted again since then. Alright, an arument can be made that those two teams have not really kicked on, but I disagree, Wigan, are now playing much better football than they did 8 years ago and other than one season, Sunderland have never really looked in any serious danger of ever being relegated again; but the indisputable fact is, they have stayed there. If we stay up this year, I think we should look to emulate the likes of these teams, plus Stoke, ( and by that, I don't mean by copying what they do on the pitch, but by making ourselves difficult to beat and being obdurate ), West Browmwich Albion and Fulham too, as established Premier League teams. Think how long those two teams have now been back in the big time and how they have kicked on after their promotions ? It is by retaining our Premiership status for many years, that will enable us to finally push on and on more than one front too, but I have no doubt whatsoever, there will be somebody on here who will disagree with this

[Pocket Pardew]

Hope they do go under. Horrible bunch of fans and foul little club. Good bloody riddance.

[Matt of iron]

Hope they do go under. Horrible bunch of fans and foul little club. Good bloody riddance.

Well said, Horrible club with horrible fans in a horrible city.

**** em.

[hudds town hammer]

they didnt bring many fans when they played town a few weeks ago,

i remember them bringing thousands in the past, always fun and games when they turned up

[Willtelll]

Ironic that Birmingham fans hated G&S and celebrated them selling the club. Just goes to show that you should be careful what you wish for....

[M*A*R*C]

Just goes to show that you should be careful what you wish for....

Indeed. Something that bankers and other parasites should reflect upon.

[Syphalis]

we should definetley cherry pick Davies and Butland, would be good business for the kind of feee's thats been quoted..... not sure on Redmond though, we have our own version already in Ravel...and we shipped him out on loan...to Birmingham !

[Chippenhammer]

Ironic that Birmingham fans hated G&S and celebrated them selling the club. Just goes to show that you should be careful what you wish for....

Yeah I was thinking about that. I remember Mickey Blueyes or whatever his name was coming on here and giving it large about the lack of investment from G and S and proper slagging them off. We would all like more investment in the team but its not our money by and large. They are ensuring that there is a West Ham to take forward. Carson Yeung is currently digging a tunnel.

[West Ham Matt]

I'd have King here, despite the fact he is a horrible b*stard.

[Trevor Montana]

He was on our bench Wednesday.

Shows how much attention I pay

[JBs Caravan]

Style of football we advocate,"Zigic" is the only player we should try and get

[SDKFZ 222]

Ironic that Birmingham fans hated G&S and celebrated them selling the club. Just goes to show that you should be careful what you wish for....

That also goes for a number of our supporters who are always slagging them off.