After two decades of LFW, we finally get to chat to our old mate Matt Elliott in positive tones about Birmingham City after a much needed summer takeover hopes to halt a long rooted decay in the Blues.
A decent start after a big summer, what have you made of it so far?
Much better start than I expected, more points than I expected and some good performances to go with it too.
Four without a win now, any concerns?
No concerns really. I don’t really count the cup game and we’ve been playing well, despite the one draw and two losses. We were better than Watford until the sending off and we were very good against Preston. I really don’t think we deserved to lose either game and it’s not often I get to say that. The good thing is we are still creating chances and are still looking dangerous when we attack.
Birmingham league results so far…
Swansea 1-1 Birmingham Yates 76 – Dembele 45
Birmingham 1-0 Leeds Jutkiewicz pen 90
Bristol City 0-2 Birmingham Miyoshi 45, Jutkiewicz 84
Birmingham 2-1 Plymouth Hogan 8, Stansfield 90 – Hardie 60
Birmingham 1-1 Millwall Stansfield 53 – Nisbet 6
Watford 2-0 Birmingham Andrews 90, Rajovic 90
Preston 2-1 Birmingham Bielik og 51, Osmajic 67 – Stansfield 46
John Eustace doing as well as we always thought he might, but some suggestion he might be off to Rangers or elsewhere and the new owners want their own man, what have you made of his performance over the last 18 months and his current situation?
First and foremost, he achieved the target of staying up that was set last season. It wasn't pretty, but he did what he needed to do. This season, the bar has obviously been set a bit higher. It's about consolidation, finishing higher in the league and evolving the style of play. It won't be easy, but you can see things moving in the right direction. I'll be honest, I'm not at all concerned about the Rangers links. He's previously turned down Watford and Swansea because he wasn't willing to move away from the West Midlands due to family reasons. I believe he even used to commute from Birmingham to London when he was at QPR. That said, despite his good start and my belief in him, Eustace was already in place when the new owners came in. It's not completely out of the question that they will want their own man at some point.
Eye catching summer transfer window, what did you do and how do you rate the business?
Maybe our best transfer window ever given the circumstances. Working within profit & sustainability constraints and with so many holes to fill, the club have surprised everyone with the business they've done. The only thing we are probably missing is a striker. It wasn't through the lack of trying, though. They just weren't willing to be held to ransom and with most other positions addressed, they knew they'd be in a much healthier position next summer to go after a front man.
Ins >>> Dion Sanderson, 23, CB, Wolves, £2m >>> Lee Buchanan, 22, LB, Werder Bremen, £1m >>> Ethan Laird, 22, RB, Man Utd, £700k >>> Krystian Bielik, 25, CM, Derby, £500k >>> Tyler Roberts, 24, Tart, Leeds, £500k >>> Koji Miyoshi, 26, AM, Antwerp, Free >>> Keshi Anderson, 28, AM, Blackpool, Free >>> Sirki Dembele, 26, LW, Bournemouth, Undisclosed >>> Cody Drameh, 21, RB, Leeds, Loan >>>
Outs >>> Tahith Chong, 23, AM, Luton, £5m >>> Jobe Bellingham, 17, CM, Sunderland, £1.5m >>> Maxime Colin, 31, RB, Metz, Free >>> George Friend, 35, LB, Bristol Rovers, Free >>> Sam Cosgrove, 26, CF, Barnsley, Free >>> Nico Gordon, 21, CB, Solihul Moors, Loan >>> Harlee Dean, 31, Meathead, Released >>> Troy Deeney, 35, CF, Forest Green, Free >>> Jordan Graham, 28, RW, Orient, Free >>> Josh Williams, 20, RB, Cheltenham, Loan >>> Zach Jeacock, 22, GK, Gloucester, Loan
You've taken a punt on our problem pair of Laird and Roberts, and seem to be having the same problem we did with them - what have you made of those two so far?
Both big characters in the dressing room always joking and smiling... so far, at least. Roberts looked good in pre-season and his first game for us, but unfortunately he's been injured ever since. I'm not quite sure on his best position yet and I'm not convinced the club is either. Laird has been absolutely fantastic and has been crucial to our early success. He was unfortunate with an injury too.
Where is the team strong and where is it weak?
We are very solid. Shape and structure of the team have been key defensively and going forward. Our main issue has been scoring goals. We are creating chances, but we still lack a proper goalscorer. Scott Hogan has played very well within structure, presses well and works hard, but he's not as effective in front of goal as he we'd like him to be.
Revised expectations for the season?
It's been a very good start despite the loss against Watford. I think even if we'd won or drawn that my head would still be in the same space as it was when we spoke before the start of the season. I'm still expecting (hoping) 10-12th with the brand of football evolving into something more eye-catching than previous seasons.
Links >>> Birmingham City official website >>> St Andrew’s — Ground Guide >>> Small Heath Alliance — Message Board >>> We Are Birmingham — Podcast >>> Birmingham Mail — Local Press
The Twitter @loftforwords, @MatthewBlue1875
Pictures — Action Images