Harry Redknapp said that he didn’t know a great deal about his Birmingham City squad. And looking at the team sheet yesterday, the lack of pace and quality was alarming.
While Harry did what he could and returned to basics – and gave Blues a more organised look – there was little threat, creativity or invention.
Lukas Jutkiewicz ran himself into the ground but his reappearance for the second half after limping off injured at half time summarised the lack of options.
Even so, Jutkiewicz is Blues’ main source of goals but has never netted more than his current haul of 12 in a single season. Signing a striker in the summer is imperative. Yet there’s little point in signing a goal scorer without bringing in a little invention.
The midfield is also too passive. Blues have several ball winners and much dogedness, but when it comes to a final pass, a killer instinct, it’s nowhere to be seen.
In defence, Blues looked a lot more solid yesterday and finally impersonated a cohesive unit. But Villa’s goal bought to light the problems that have been occurring too often. Lack of marking, failure to clear the lines and no picking up of the second ball.
An overhaul of the squad is needed in the summer if Blues are to challenge for the play offs – or even get close to it.
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