Birmingham aren't messing about

Just signed Kyogo Furuhashi, as well as Bright Osayi-Samuel, Tommy Doyle and Demarai Gray.

A case of Prem or bust, or showing ambition?

 

Why would it be prem or bust? They have very wealthy owners now, if they fail to go up this season then they'll sack the head coach, spend a fortune next summer and go for it again.

 

Well in fairness to them, and whether we absolutely hate it or not!.
Brummy Fc said they are going to spend as much as they can, for TWO reasons.
One was to win 'buy' promotion in Lg One, and go straight back up!.
And the other was to do more than just stay up or just consolidate, it was to try and be competitive again in the Championship.

 

Ambitious owners. That will never catch on.

 

I remember when Chansiri was an ambitious owner. Plethora of others too

 

Maybe it’s my ignorance but who the hell are those players?
I remember Demairi Gray being decent a few years back but I assume he’s since fallen by the wayside…

 

I would greatly enjoy it if they ended up in lower mid table or worse after their supporters arbitrarily decided they were a huge club last season because they sold out most games and beat most teams (surprisingly, given their owners spent more than everyone else combined) - despite their attendences regularly dipping below 15,000 in most of the preceeding 10 seasons.

But realistically they'll be well up there, some impressive additions to their squad so far.

 

I remember Barnsley getting to the Premiership without breaking the bank, no where near. As we all say, footballs fcked.

 

Gray has been in Saudi for a couple of seasons since leaving Everton. Back to where he began now.

Furuhashi is a Japanese international who was at Celtic for a few seasons.

Osayoi-Samuel used to play for Blackpool and QPR, but been in Turkey for a few seasons. Nigerian international.

 

Samuel was at Fenerbahce and has experience with QPR. Tommy Doyle is 21 year old on loan from Wolves, promising player. Furuhashi they've just bought for £10m from Rennes, Japan international, goalscoring midfielder. Spent 4 year at Celtic up til last year.

 

This comes back to a sheff weds type argument - how many didah fans phoned in praise or grumble when they had an embarrassment of riches upfront to say they were concerned about the amount of money being spent etc on wages. The wheels fall off and they’re all up in arms because tuna man won’t throw anything else in because the gamble hasn’t paid off.
Birmingham have lost about £50m in the last 2 years - but as I’m sure all sky sports commentators will says that it’s great to see them ‘’where they belong’ and ‘back in the big time’.
What they need to be made aware of is if their gamble fails and the owners pull the plug, they’ve **** it, and a local derby with anstey nomads will be the must look for fixture on their list.

 

This is exactly my point. The Championship, or League 1, isn't the Prem. In the Prem you can spend 100m without even a flinch. There are a good few teams now reaping what they've sown in the 2nd tier lately. And Brum are willingly walking into the same trap.

 

Difference between Wednesday and Birmingham is that the Blues owners actually have money, and look very much like they're willing to invest it. Can't say much to the signings, but they've just spent a huge amount on a lot of land in central Birmingham and are talking huge new stadium, dedicated women's/reserve stadium, attracting ice hockey, basketball back to the city, investing in Birmingham Phoenix etc. And that's without all the housing, leisure, tram extension etc. which is planned. Believe they said that one of the reasons for choosing Birmingham City in the first place is that they struggled to find a better commercial expansion opportunity in any other European city.

They're not desperate for a return to the Premier League before the money runs out - they think it'll come in good time as long as the infrastructure is there.

Might still go tits up, of course, but I'd be very happy as a Blues fan at the moment.

 

Yeah, it's always 'ambition' when clubs just throw huge amounts of money they dont have at it, and then when it fails, suddenly it's always been owners are *****. Can't have it both ways.

 

they’re fair points on the differences (not that my opinion is that high up there and all that).

I just think clubs need a big fat warning from the authorities that if this comes crashing down, so will you in the football pyramid - If someone’s happy to throw money at something that’s their business and money (I know you weren’t suggesting that , so I don’t mean that as a dig), but the consequences need spelling out to everyone.
Many teams play by the rules much to the detriment of the team and many others are left to get away with it
What really bugs me is when such as birmingham in recent years have had financial difficulties, have potentially left small businesses unpaid/waiting for money , yet new owners come in and start splashing the coinage, with no thought to local tradespeople that have potentially been left with a bitter taste in the mouth .

 

I wonder which accounting tricks they’ll use to get around FFP?

 

I see the little corner shop keeper mentality is still alive and well on here.. Folk do come across as a bit bitter when others clubs spend money
As the fox said when he realised he couldn't reach the grapes.. "I bet they're sour anyway"