July 12th
Birmingham Transfer Review
TRANSFERS IN
Zakaria Labyad(2.5m): Seen by many already, as the future of the club, Labyad was Clinces first signing. The 17 year old dutch man, has already been compared to his superiors in the national team, Snjeider and Van der Vart. There is no doubt he has great potential and Clince has said that he aspires to see him progress, as a more technical Frank Lampard. Keen to keep pressure off the young man though, the Birmingham manager has expressed that although he expects progress, there is no doubt that he will have to be allowed time to develop.
Alberto Lora(2.5m): The 23 year old, hard working Spanish man is seen as a box to box midfielder in the mold of Roy Keane. Lora can also play at full back and right wing if needed, making him the kind of versatile player that every Premier League manager would like in their squad. Clince holds him in very high regard, having seen him deal well with attacking threats such as Ronaldo in La Liga last season.
Jordan Ayew(Loan to buy): Ayew is an u-21 Ghanaian international. He is reknowned for his physical approach to the game but has a great touch on the ball aswell. He has only played three times for Marseille, but Birmingham are sure he can impress enough on loan to merit a perminent deal. Ayew is one of Ghanas great hopes for the future.
Anthony Annan(3.5m): Annan is one of the more exciting prospects for Birmingham fans. He drew worldwide acclaim for his performances in this years world cup for Ghana. A defensive midfielder, he rarely ventures forward or dwells on the ball for too long. But unlike a lot of defensive midfielders he almost always passes forward so the team can progress up the pitch. Annan is sure to shore up a lot of opposition attacks in front of a defence already known for its great quality.
Elyaniv Barda(2m): Barda is an Israeli international attacker. A striker by trade, Clince has said that he has bought him primarily as a playmaking winger. Barda should be comfortable enough in this role however as he has often played both off the main striker and as a winger.
Christian Benitez(1.8m): Chuco has returned to Birmingham on a permanent deal this time from Santos Laguna. He failed to score many goals in a good season for the blues last season, will his Premier League scoring record improve this year? Clince believes he can, given a different style of play for the team this season.
Bogdan Stancu(1.7m): Stancu is seen by Clince as a player with the potential to score many goals for the blues as an out and out striker. Once touted as Romanias next real footballing hope, he will no doubt be hoping to take up that mantle with his first season in a top european league.
Ashley Williams(2.4m): This one came as a bit of a shock to some, with Birminghams centre back pairing of Dann and Johnson having done so well last season. Clinces reason for this transfer is that with the team playing a more adventurous style this season, they may well need some more pace at the back to deal with breaks from their opposition.
Hugo Rodallega(4.5m): With Zigic, Benitez, Barda, Ayew and Stancu already recognised strikers in the Birmingham squad, Clince surprised everyone by adding yet another. Clince explained that when Wigan offered want away Rodallega for just 4.5m there was no way he could let the opportunity go by. Rodallega is no doubt Birminghams highest profile buy for this season, but is it a case of now having too many strikers? Will the team be able to gell together in time?
Leandro Grimi(170k): Grimi arrived yesterday for a miniscual transfer fee. With Birmingham lacking a real replacement at Left back for Liam Ridgewell, theres no doubt Clince was delighted to hear that a solid full back like Grimi was available at next to nothing.
TRANSFERS OUT
Michel(2.8m): Cagliari: With Annan and Lora arriving, it seems Clince will have enough tough tackling in midfield. Michel therefore finds himself heading to Italy after not even a year.
Enric Valles(Loan): Doncaster: Valles is not seen to have a part to play in Clinces squad for this year at least, and has decided to let him progress on loan this season.
Stuart Parnaby(1.3m): Stoke: With Stephen Carr performing as well as ever at right back and Jiranek and Lora having the ability to deputise for him, Parnaby has found himself un-needed at Birmingham but may see his career take off at Stoke.
David Murphy(1.9m):Middlesbrough: Murphy saw Liam Ridgewell perform superbly last season at left back, keeping him out of the side. This season though he wont have to as Middlesbrough have come in for him.
Cameron Jerome(Loan): Hibernian: Clince sees Jerome as an excellent athlete but lacks that certain something that a striker needs, to score consistantly. Therefore Jerome will find himself on the cold fields of Scotland this season, needing to impress his manager and possibly others.
SUMMARY
Wether or not Clinces massive gamble will pay off or not, we can only wait and see. So many transfers at once will surely un-nerve the team? Will players revolt for fear of there future? Perhaps one or more of the players will turn out to be a true star for The Blues? One thing is for sure, it will be very exciting at St. Andrews this season and fans will have plenty to talk about.