HarryfromBath assesses the mood and looks at how pre-season has gone in the opposition camp ahead of Saturday’s opening game of the season at Portman Road.
"We are solid, but no more than that at present”, "We certainly won’t be worrying about relegation this year but I can’t see us troubling the top six with this squad”, "Overall no panic. There’s time until the end of the transfer window, even if we are not quite there come the first game of the season.”
"We still have time.” After a near-catastrophic plummet towards relegation was only avoided by a one-goal winning margin in their final game at Bristol City, Bluenoses have welcomed a summer where the anarchy of Gianfranco Zola’s reign has been replaced by quiet rebuilding under Harry Redknapp.
"We still don’t have the strength in depth to seriously challenge for the play-offs what with injuries, the number of games to play and periods when key players are out of form”, "With the current squad we will be mid-table. If Harry Redknapp gets another four or five players in, then anything is possible.”
"On the evidence of pre-season, we are a much better passing team and really quite fluid at times without sacrificing solidity”, "There is such a tangible difference between the tactical diligence and discipline on display now and the shambles we were under Gianfranco Zola after Christmas.”
"Trust in Harry”, "We have to trust Harry’s plans and hope he has got a few players lined up”, "He has strengthened the core of the midfield and defence and we won’t be bullied in either penalty box”, "Listening to him, it feels more like ’here’s hoping’ rather than ‘we can give this a good go’.”
The 70-year-old was parachuted in on April 18th after Zola resigned and with the club facing relegation with three games of the season to go. Successive wins at home to Huddersfield and at Bristol City confirmed their Championship status and Redknapp agreed a one-year deal for the coming season.
"He has clearly done much to right the wrongs of Zola’s tenure by instilling the solidity that saw us through the last two matches of the season. He is building on that by adding players with a physical presence and grit to handle the Championship”, "The one thing that saved us last season was Harry.”
The club have been linked in the media with high-profile veterans such as Ashley Cole, Robbie Keane and Stewart Downing, something which has unnerved fans. "Is Harry fulfilling the negative side of his reputation, neglecting up-and-coming young players to spend too much money on has-beens?”
Redknapp is vastly experienced at handling transfers, but City fans have noted how tough his search for attackers has been this summer. "Harry said on the radio that since Britt Assombalonga went to Middlesbrough in July for £15m, clubs are now asking for three times as much for their strikers.”
The most high-profile player to depart on a permanent deal this summer has been midfielder Kerim Frei, who was brought to the club in January by Zola, and who is now with Istanbul Basaksehir. Many expect Ryan Shotton to leave, with the defender having left out of squad for the Swansea friendly.
Two academy products, midfielders Reece Brown and Charlie Cooper, have joined Forest Green with a number of other young players departing permanently to lower league clubs: keeper Josh Tibbetts (to Peterborough), Charlee Adams (to Dagenham and Redbridge) and Koby Arthur (to Macclesfield).
Three of last year’s first-team squad have moved away on season-long loans. Striker Greg Stewart has joined Aberdeen, midfielder Andrew Shinnie is now at Luton while midfielder Diego Fabbrini has joined Real Oviedo in Spain. Winger Viv Solomon-Otabor is also on loan at Blackpool until January.
Redknapp has set about strengthening the spine of the team and secured four experienced players on permanent contracts. Midfielder Craig Gardner signed a minimum three-year contract, the 30-year-old returning to St Andrew’s having been on loan from parent club West Brom since January.
Goalkeeper David Stockdale, 31, who played on loan for Town in 2011, has arrived from Brighton on a three-year contract and 26-year-old centre-half Marc Roberts has joined from Barnsley on a five-year deal. The third addition is 31-year-old midfielder Cheikh Ndoye, who has come in from Angers.
Former Manchester United playmaker Ravel Morrison has featured in several of Birmingham’s pre-season friendlies as a trialist and the club are in protracted negotiations to try and secure him on a loan deal from his parent club Lazio. Bluenoses have been highly impressed by his contribution.
"Ravel Morrison has been my man, plenty of dangerous dribbles forwards. He has been unselfish and impressive so far”, "It’s a no-brainer, get him in”, "He keeps things ticking over in midfield but he needs to play closer to the strikers as he has that ability to glide past players and play people in.”
Birmingham began pre-season preparations in Austria, where they played two warm-up games, losing 1-0 to Union Berlin and beating Israeli outfit Hapoel Irony Kiryat Shmona 2-0. Back in England they won 2-0 at Oxford and drew 1-1 at Kidderminster before losing 2-0 at home to Swansea on Saturday.
The starting XI against the Swans (above) will closely resemble the line-up at Portman Road with two notable exceptions. Right-back Emilio Nsue withdrew from Saturday’s friendly shortly before kick-off and is a likely starter, while one Swansea starter now absent with a calf injury is striker Lukas Jutkiewicz.
West Midlanders noted that Craig Gardner has played in a more withdrawn role with his three midfield partners interchanging as attacking moves build. The lack of natural wingers and strength in depth up front has made many sceptical about sticking to this formation throughout the season.
"The midfielders are really pushing forward more than we would see under Gary Rowett, but are also far more disciplined than under Zola”, "We have looked solid and strong in a lot of areas and we clearly have a plan and style emerging, but that guile, creativity and audacity and still missing.”
Swansea won the game 2-0 courtesy of a back-post header by Tammy Abraham on 56 minutes and a deflected Leroy Fer effort 21 minutes later. Birmingham fans felt that they competed well but lacked a cutting edge, and that this contributed to the visitors running out comfortable winners in the end.
"Always that final pass missing”, "We looked neat and tidy, with crisp passing for the most part, but as soon as we got deep into Swansea’s half they closed ranks and there was no out-ball. Back to Stockdale we went”, "Although we lost, there was real structure and purpose to much of our play.”
"I have a hunch Harry will want to play tight at Ipswich with a 4-5-1 for an hour.” The team (above) which began the previous match at Kidderminster gives an idea of the wider options available to the manager, and included trialists Simeon Slavcev (now departed from the club) and Ravel Morrison.
"We have a very physical back four and central midfield in order to avoid losing games. We have a lot of battlers, but how many potential match-winners?”, "None of our biggest problems have been addressed, up top or with a creative midfielder. I’m not confident we will get the right players in.”
The loss of Jutkiewicz for Saturday’s game has highlighted the urgent need for reinforcement with City left down to two strikers in Clayton Donaldson and Che Adams. The club have been linked with Preston frontman Jordan Hugill over the summer but a reported bid of £2.5 million for him was rejected.
"As we all know, we need another striker”, "An out-and-out striker capable of scoring 15-goals plus is definitely a missing link”, "We are missing that streak of creativity that will bring our build-up play to fruition”, "It could be a lot worse. We could have Lee Novak or Federico Macheda up front again.”
"I don’t care how lovely, smiley and kind to puppies Gianfranco Zola is. He has got to be one of the worst things ever to happen to this club. Just as we looked to kick on, he destroyed morale, our league standing and our budget. He should never have been allowed near our football club.”
"Ignore Zola totally and utterly. Just pretend it never happened. From a managerial perspective he was a clown, a charlatan and an utter catastrophe. Instead look to the Gary Rowett era. We had a good manager, who had blind spots, but he moulded this squad and managed a top 10 finish.”
City fans are looking beyond last season’s calamity. "Redknapp seems to be getting the heart of the team sorted. Don’t get me wrong, we need a striker and a number 10, but man for man, manager for manager, we are actually in a much better place than when we finished 10th two years ago.”
"How the hell have we pulled off signing David Stockdale? He’s one of the top keepers in the league, a good age and a big improvement on our current options.” Fans welcomed the June announcement of his arrival. "His distribution was great and he pulled off some very good saves against Swansea.”
"Stockdale can play the ball out from the back. The two centre-halves play out wide when he has the ball.”, "His distribution is great and even his long passes to the wings are spot on”, "He was always looking for a short, build from the back ball and rarely hoofed it against Swansea on Saturday.”
"Emilio Nsue is a beast.” The 27-year-old former Boro man "will be a very good right-back for us this season”, "He’s still great going forward and keeping possession while also decent defensively”, "He’s not really a defender, but in terms of vision, pace, strength and skill he is a level above this division.”
"Nsue didn’t track back when playing as a wing-back in Zola’s 3-5-2 system because he was under orders not to. Lo and behold, when Redknapp comes in he looked an excellent right-back in those tough end-of-season games”, "He was simply outstanding in those last vital fixtures last season.”
"Hopefully Cheick Keita does enough to warrant a starting place against Ipswich.” The 21-year-old January addition from Italian club Virtus Entella "has loads of talent. He’s not suited to being a left-back but could be a great winger. Absolutely no way we should sell him as he has so much skill”.
"We couldn’t afford to start Keita under Zola because of how the team was set up. We can’t afford to leave him out because of how Harry wants the team to play and with our lack of creativity”, "He is lightweight and probably not strong enough, but could become a proper jack-in-the-box winger.”
"Jonathan Grounds was much improved towards the end of last season and one of the few to come out with any credit from the Zola months.” The 29-year-old one-time Oldham left-back "was one of the reasons we weren’t relegated. He made fewer mistakes than others and was pretty solid”.
"Grounds is not an attacking full-back but is decent at the back”, "His dogged and consistent displays helped keep us up as others were dialling in 3/10 performances game after game”, "You don’t have to be ‘attacking’ to make a forward contribution. Make the best use of the ball when you have it.”
"Paul Robinson started against Kidderminster, surely they can’t be thinking of giving him a role.” The 38-year-old ex-West Brom veteran "was the same as usual, strong and a leader on the pitch but rash and a liability at times”, "He’s far too slow and will just get skinned by some Championship strikers.”
"The Swansea game was the first time I have seen Wes Harding play. He’s really fast and links up well with his winger.” The 20-year-old youth product was outwitted by Swansea’s Tammy Abraham for Swansea’s opener but he was praised by fans. "He’s decent on the ball, strong, quick and raw.”
"Michael Morrison is imperious and imposing. He needs the blood-and-thunder of a competitive match to show his stuff.” The 29-year-old former Charlton centre-back, who hails from Haverhill, "leads by example and it was no coincidence what we began to keep clean sheets when he returned to the side last season”.
"Morrison is a defensive rock but he is less comfortable when playing the ball”, "Getting defenders to pass the ball out can cost goals but they are generally more comfortable when in possession these days. Morrison won’t be a natural at doing this though, his technique can be poor at times.”
"Well done Aston Villa signing John Terry, but we have got the better deal.” West Midlanders have been impressed with the centre-half who arrived at the beginning of July. "Roberts looks great and has a pleasing habit of being in the right place at the right time. He rarely makes last-ditch tackles.”
"Roberts takes no prisoners and is a proper leader”, "Tough, uncompromising and able to play the three games in a week that this division demands”, "He dominated in the penalty box, a real giant”, "He have signed a proven Championship defender who is coincidentally still improving.”
"I have never seen Craig Gardner play that deep before. He does the simple things well, and is also adapting well to his new more withdrawn role.” The 30-year-old played for the Bluenoses in 2010/11 before moving away. "His distribution from deeper is great, albeit without any pressure on him.”
"I thought Gardner would be superfluous in the deeper role but he made timely interceptions and he spread the play well against Swansea. He was a little casual on occasion but did well”, "He had a very good first half but faded out of the game after the break, becoming quite anonymous.”
"It may be the end of the line for Robert Tesche and Stephen Gleeson.” Many City fans would not be surprised if both left St Andrew’s before the transfer window closes. "Tesche hasn’t been anywhere near the level expected of him”, "Gleeson is nowhere near as good as our other midfield options.”
"Maikel Kieftenbeld has a place as a squad player when injuries and fatigue set in, I would hope.” The 27-year-old ex-Groningen holding midfielder "breaks up play well and has a decent passing range”, "His passing is good and he has been his usual self in pre-season harrying opponents.”
"Kieftenbeld is a great battler when he gets going, but he can be old-fashioned and over-physical”, "He’s a great battler, a great tackler, he has good vision when in possession and he can take a shot”, "A useful player, but he now looks to be behind Craig Gardner, David Davis and Cheikh N’Doye.”
"David Davis played brilliantly at times against Swansea, playing some excellent balls and switching the play.” The 26-year-old former Wolverhampton man "played enough clever passes to show that his role is more than hoofing and barging”, "He’s a hard worker with an intelligent football brain.”
"Davis has a bit of bite and plays with his heart on his sleeve”, "He was here, there and everywhere on Saturday and played some very clever passes too in a more forward role than he normally is seen in. There was the odd overhit one but only because he was looking to make something happen.”
"My first real look at Ndoye, he is massive and just his looks say, ‘Don’t mess with me.’” The Senegal international "will be a major factor this season”, "Apart from his strong midfield play he looks like he has a fierce shot on goal”, "He looks like he is going to be the player we use to boss the midfield.”
"Ndoye looks like he has been briefed to make an extra man in the box, which he looks like he will do well with his presence. He does the simple things well and is strong defensively”, "He will become a crowd favourite, commanding, imposing and precise. On this showing, Harry has bought a gem.”
"David Cotterill is frustratingly inconsistent.” The 29-year-old ex-Doncaster man spent time on loan at Bristol City last season and he divides opinion. "Typical Cotterill, looking lazy at times like he does not care. His set-pieces have been decent this pre-season but his crossing has been very erratic.”
"I think Cotterill will be off as soon as we find a buyer or a loan club”, "I’m not sure why he gets so much grief”, We badly missed his set-piece deliveries at the end of last season and he is still the only player at the club who can take them”, "A frustrating player. He gets back and doesn’t put a foot in.”
"Jacques Maghoma has a decent right foot and good pace. He’s tricky, strong and OK defensively. It’s a shame these qualities are so often rendered useless by his shocking decision-making.” The 29-year-old former Owl "has a role in the squad in a 4-4-2 but lacks composure and dwells on the ball”.
"Much as I like Maghoma, he didn’t penetrate against Swansea”, "He was the only one to disappoint me but still had decent moments. I wish he possessed a final ball”, "The number of times he turns away from shooting opportunities is shocking. He’s good defensively but offers little going forward.”
"Clayton Donaldson has seemed a mile off the pace and failed to make it to three goal-poaching positions against Kidderminster which a striker ought to have been in.” The 33-year-old former Bee "runs the channels as always but has been getting outmuscled more frequently”, "He is past it.”
"Tired? Fitness? Age? Ability? Who knows…”, "Donaldson is losing it fast both in terms of injuries keeping him out and his not making it happen when he does play”, "He looked tired in the second half against Kidderminster to be honest”, "I’m still a big fan of the Don, at least he puts the effort in.”
"We need another Adams-style player.” The 21-year-old former Blade "did not have that much of the ball against Swansea, but whenever he did there was a buzz”, "He was constantly trying to make things happen but needed support”, "He won’t be a prolific scorer playing on his own up front.”
"I still see Adams as an attacking midfielder rather than a striker”, "He is an advanced midfielder who is better running at defences from deep rather than a forward targeted by a backline”, "Of all the things I would call Che, quick, strong and agile, a natural finisher wouldn’t be one of them.”
"Adams apart, we look very one-paced”, "He will surprise a lot of people this year”, "He seemed very uninvolved and isolated, getting very little service against Swansea”, "He wastes more chances than he scored and needs to sharpen his finishing”, "If he can work on his finishing, we will have a gem.”
"A winnable game”, "We will beat Ipswich, not comfortably but I think we will win. We are much stronger than them in defence and midfield, I agree we are lacking up front but I think we will out battle them to a 1-0 win”, "As we already know, Ipswich are in disarray.”
"We should win, we have a better team.” Bluenoses are heading to Suffolk in pretty confident mood with most of them expecting victory. "Ipswich always used to be a team that would be a struggle for us with lots of physicality. We should be able to deal with how they play with our current squad.”
"I know it's a friendly and all, but Ipswich have gone full strength at Charlton and are currently 5-0 down after 50 minutes”, "It finished 6-1 in the end, so 1-0 Ipswich next week then”, "We’re going to absolutely dismantle them 1-0.” City fans are treating events last week at the Valley with scepticism.
"Ipswich played their strongest XI, although several of the first team are out with a sickness bug that is causing McCarthy some major headaches before next week’s game. Let’s hope the bug continues another week. No pressure on us then I guess, an easy win”, "They will be licking their wounds.”
"It’s always dangerous facing a side who have just been hammered, unless Gianfranco Zola is in charge”, "You always got to be wary of a team who's just been embarrassed, but I do fancy our chances. It is a nice opening fixture to have to be honest. "
"I really fancy Ipswich to struggle this year. Mick may have outstayed his welcome. Sometimes it’s good to have a change and maybe that’s what is needed for them”, "They haven't strengthened and they lost the lad on loan who did most of the damage. If we nick a goal, defensively we will be solid.”
Few goals have been predicted. "It has nil-all written all over it with Jutkiewicz injured”, "Seriously, I can see it being scoreless”, "I see it being a very tight game, either a 1-0 win or 1-1”, "Don't be surprised if we draw 0-0 or lose 1-0 and rue our missed chances, afterwards it will be ‘what if…’ .”
One West Midlander is pessimistically viewing the game as an early relegation six-pointer. "A draw against Ipswich, a team many expect to go down this season? I would take an away point against any of the top half but these are the games we need to win if we are going to avoid the drop come May.”
For others though, it’s just great to have the football back. "I don’t know about you but I can’t wait to journey down the A14 to watch us snatch a 1-0 at Portman Road”, "I can't believe it's just around the corner, I’m so excited.”
The two busiest City forums are Small Heath Alliance and The Independent Blues Forum.