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Defensive frailty vs toothless attacking

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The defeat at Sheffield Wednesday has given a lot of food for thought. While Gianfranco Zola bemoans David Davis’ petulance that earned him a two match suspension, I’d be more concerned with the defensive frailty of the team.

Blues are having lions share of the ball week in week out yet opposition teams are happy to watch us pass, pass and pass some more knowing that, when we inevitably give the ball away or squander yet another chance, they can break against our leaky back line.

Jonathan Grounds and Paul Robinson performed admirably against Fulham but were too laboured at Hillsborough last night. If the defeat has taught us anything, it’s that Robbo is OK for two games before getting leggy and sloppy (understandable given his age) and Grounds may not be the natural centre half we thought he could be.

Perhaps Grounds may benefit alongside a defender with a bit of athleticism and pace, Ryan Shotton for example. But until Shotton returns from injury, surely Krystian Bielik has to get a run out. After all, Arsenal sent him to Blues to gain experience – he won’t get that kicking his heels on the bench.

From an attacking point of view, Blues are a goal scorer away from being a very effective unit. Lukas Jutkiewicz is carrying the burden on his own but he is also capable of missing chances, as humans do. Whether Clayton Donaldson is the answer, I really don’t know.

With the transfer window closed, Zola can do nothing about it now. In the summer (regardless of who is in the dugout) money must be spent heavily on a centre back and a centre forward, before anything else, or Blues will have to settle for mediocrity for another season.

Blues could end the weekend in the bottom half which is a world away from where we were when Zola took the job. It wasn’t going to click straight away but one win in 12 games isn’t a good run at any level of the game.

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