Best of season – Part One

Gone but not forgotten! Yes that’s right Blues fans, the 2015/16 Sky Bet Championship is now over for Gary Rowett and his side but it is one that I certainly won’t be forgetting in a hurry.

At the start of the season, optimism was in the air but I was still on the side of caution because you can’t predict anything in this league and Birmingham City showed just what they are made of and they nearly pulled off a shock as good as Brighton and Hove Albion’s marvellous play-off dream.

Magic man Rowett has been a wonder since he has joined the club and people keep forgetting that there are only a handful of players in the squad that he has actually brought in himself because we are still living off Lee Clark’s scraps but this summer looks like there could be plenty of change in the air.

By the sounds of things, there will be a large chunk of players exiting the St.Andrews doors when they return from their respective loan moves and I think that with Rowett already highlighting who he wants to come in next season, we could once again be challenging where we arguably shouldn’t be.

With the season that we have had, myself and the other Vital Birmingham writers have decided to do a recap of our favourite moments throughout the season as well as a few other little details.

There are five things that we are going to look at over the course of the next four days, including goal of the season, player of the season, flop of the season, moment of the season and signing of the season. So Blues fans, here we go with the first instalment of four!

GOAL OF THE SEASON

For me, there were several goals that could have been the pick of the bunch for goal of the season but I have one stand out one that might come as a surprise to a few.

The goal I am going to choose for goal of the season is Maikel Kieftenbeld’s against Ipswich Town. The technique and control that was put into his volley at St.Andrews in the 3-0 win was superb and for me it did better the one he scored the week before against Derby County.

Jon Toral had a few that I could have picked from, Stephen Gleeson narrowly missed out with a few stunners and even David Davis could have made the list but Kieftenbeld trumped them all this that strike against the Tractor Boys.

MOMENT OF THE SEASON

This again was a very tough one for me to pick because there were some fantastic times throughout. I could have picked the consecutive 3-0 wins against Derby and Ipswich, I could have chosen the fantastic opening day display from debutant Tomasz Kuszczak and I could have also chosen the 5-2 win over Fulham but I haven’t because there was one better moment that stood out to me and again it might surprise a few.

I have chosen a moment from Kuszczak’s catalogue of saves and it was the one against Derby at home when he was going the wrong way and he managed to tip the ball onto the post which secured a point for Blues and continued their unbeaten run at the start of the season.

Yes, I know, it is a strange one, but it was a fine save and it was something that always sticks in the back of my mind as one of my moments of the season.

PLAYER OF THE SEASON

Three new signings are in contention for this award, Toral, Kuszczak and Kieftenbeld. All three have been fantastic for us since they have joined the club and all have performed outstandingly when they have been on the pitch and I have to choose one of them and I am going to choose Toral.

His goals have been vital to Blues’ push this season and I think he has come on leaps and bounds since he joined us at the start of the season. It is very difficult to believe that he is still only 21 because of the talent that he has and due to his improvement and his contribution to the team, I have named him as my player of the season.

SIGNING OF THE SEASON

Yet again this is another tough one because we have had some fantastic players come into the side this season and it could have gone to any one of them but I have to think with my head here and I am going with Kieftenbeld.

The Dutchman has been superb and his determination, his work ethic and his desire are all things that I really like to see in a player and it is clear to see how happy he is playing for the club.

Rowett got an absolute bargain with this man paying £160,000 and I think he has gone under the radar a little and that isn’t fair on him because he has been a real rock in the heart of the midfield. Yes, he may have tailed off a little at times but when he has been in fifth gear, he has been fantastic.

FLOP OF THE SEASON

There is only really one man who can take this title and that is Nicolai Brock-Madsen. Am I being a little bit unfair, yes maybe I am but when Blues pay £400,000 for a player you expect them to make an impact and unfortunately, he just hasn’t done that for me.

I know we haven’t seen a lot of him this season for one reason or another but unless he comes to terms with the physicality of the English game then he is never going to play for Birmingham City.

As Birmingham Mail writer Shane Ireland pointed out in his article on Sunday evening, maybe the Dane needs some time out on loan next season and I can really see that happening!