Blues is the working mans club, fans see through bullsh*t

In times of such trepidation, it’s good to have an outside opinion from someone in the know. John Wragg is a Tamworth based freelance journalist. His previous employers include Daily Mirror, Daily Mail and Daily Express. Wragg has been covering Blues for the Mirror recently and he caught up with Vital Blues Co-editor Rob Wildey.

Firstly, I’ll start with the controversy of the season so far – Gary Rowett’s sacking. There was talk of him not signing two contracts and his flirtatious attempts at landing jobs at Fulham and QPR. What did you make of his dismissal and, subsequently, Gianfranco Zola’s appointment?

There  was a lot more to Gary Rowett`s dismissal than was said or indeed  could be said. Let`s just confine ourselves to saying that what went on behind the scenes with regard to Rowett`s  new contracts at Birmingham and the reported interest in him from Fulham and QPR  diluted a  strong defence of  Rowett when the idea of replacing him was mentioned.

Director Panos Pavlakis was a strong supporter of Rowett on the board but that relationship had weakened. The home defeat by Barnsley started the process and contacts were being made prior to the 4-0 defeat at Newcastle. That result confirmed Rowett was going and Zola had been sounded out and given the job . There was also NOS working here- New Owner Syndrome. Paul Suen wanted a famous name, not least to flog more shirts in Asia. Put that together with the Rowett unrest and you have the background.

Many doubted Rowett’s ability to take Blues to the next level. Do you think he could have led the club back to the Premier League?

Yes, I think he could. It wouldn`t have been a Hollywood journey, it would have been like climbing a mountain, step by careful step, a few slips, but generally getting there and if it wasn`t showbiz at least it was success. St Andrew`s would have filled up, the place would have been singing again- that`s always a good show, Keep Right On- and Birmingham would have gone up, this season or next, probably via the play-offs behind . When he got there, then  Rowett would have a problem because he`d need higher class bricks and mortar to build a team capable of staying in the Premier League. Given his poor record at Birmingham of signing ready made ‘Name` players he might not have succeeded.

Will Gianfranco Zola turn his Blues reign around – or will he be a complete flop?

I`d hate for Zola to be a flop. He`s such a brilliant, nice, genuine, hard working man that you want him to succeed. But as yet there is no sign of it. In little glimpses you can see the brighter, exciting football he wants, but blink an eye and it`s gone and Blues are a goal down.

It`s a flawed plan. To come in halfway through a season, rip up what`s gone before, disband all that spirit that`s been built up, get players out, get players in, try and make that into a successful, entertaining team straight away- it`s a trick Penn and Teller couldn`t pull off. To be fair to the board they are fully supporting him. Unless the wheels totally come off, Zola wont be sacked. He knows that too and is grateful. But Zola is an honourable man- and well liked at the club- and if he sees it get much worse, and he`s made little impact, he will say sorry and he will resign. I am convinced of that and so are others at the club I have spoken to. They say he and his coaching staff cannot work any harder. Injuries, suspensions, the woodwork, they have all added to the dreadful start Zola has had. That`s all being taken into account by the board, but in the end only one thing counts: winning.

You’ve watched Blues several times this season, where do you think their weaknesses lie?

Under Rowett they were one paced, predictable but well organised. Under Zola none of that applies. They are a  more fluent, pacey side predictable in one thing- losing.  The stubborn organisation has gone and replaced with flimsy defending. Zola says the players can do what he wants on the training field but they don`t do it in games. He is at a loss to explain why. One reason is that you haven`t got standing opposite you a team determined to beat you. Under Rowett Birmingham didn`t score many goals but didn`t concede too many either. This halfway house of a team that Zola`s got cannot defend and no matter how many they score they are likely to concede more. Also big money promised for signings wasn`t it? Haven`t seen many big cheques yet since Zola got here.

Is Paul Robinson worthy of one more year as a player?

Short answer would be no. But the emergency answer would be yes. If this was a settled Birmingham team likely to improve game by game you might give Robbo a contract as a coach. Whether that be first team or the kids. It`s also what he wants to do, to move over to coaching, something he started under Rowett. But right now the team needs leaders. They`ve got just two, Robinson and Craig Gardner so it wouldn`t be wise to let one of those go. Robbo`s leadership qualities are badly needed, on the pitch mostly but also off the pitch to keep morale up. Players don`t give him any lip. If his legs are going a bit, there`s younger ones out there that can help out the Old Man. What they need from him is Robbo`s leadership, strength, experience and his angry dislike of losing.

Craig Gardner stated that he didn’t return to the club to ‘sit in the middle of the Championship’. Where do you see the club heading in the next two or three years?

Sitting in the middle of the Championship rather than sliding down it would be welcome right now. The club is surviving on the points Rowett put in the bag and it should be enough to stay clear of relegation.Longer term, Gardner, as said above, is one of those who can have a big influence on what Zola is trying to do. Gardner is one of the engines of the team. He needs some classy bodywork around him.

Finally, after the Carson Yeung era which almost saw the club go bust, drop into League One and sell their young stars, the new owners seem to have a plan. But why are they so anonymous?

I don`t know why. But I do know it doesn`t work. Blues fans wont care, but Randy Lerner`s shyness was a major factor in Villa’s decline. He spoke to the fans via the media once a season for the first couple of years and then shut up. What he said often didn`t make sense anyway, but that`s not the point. Manager Paul Lambert`s health took a terrible battering- just look at him now at Wolves compared to his ravaged Villa years- because he was the only spokesman. He defended everyone at the club because no one else would stand up. That is very unhealthy, in all aspects. A club needs a leader, a voice, that talks to the fans. Whether the current Birmingham owners appreciate that I don`t know, we can`t talk to them. Pavlakis has done a good job up until now of keeping the fans in touch and he needs to sustain that. Birmingham City is about the only club in the country that could lurch from  from being owned by a scrap dealer (Wheldon), clothing firm that went bust (Kumars), porn barons (Sullivan and Gold), crooks (Yeung) to some unknown Hong Kong bloke (Suen)and still keep it`s dignity. Birmingham City is the working man`s club in this city and the working man quickly sees through bullshit. Ask Carson Yeung.