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Opinion: The International Break A Bad Thing

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Usually, I am a fan of the international break looking at it purely from a Birmingham City point of view. It has often given us time to rest in a busy fixture list but it also allows the majority of players to stay at the club for physio or extra training allowing them to be more prepared for the future fixtures. This is still the case but I think that it has come at a bad time in this particularly instance.

More than anything what Birmingham City need is a good run. The draw against Newcastle would have lifted spirits somewhat and the confidence that a clean sheet and good performance against the favourites to win the league title would only have been good for the players. But now this momentum is in danger of being lost. Stephen Gleeson for example is away with his country which means that certain tactical things can’t be fully worked on. But it also means that the remaining players have had a break to lose the buzz from that game.

It does also mean that Gianfranco Zola has time to put his mark on the side and in my opinion he is not a good man manager. I said this before his appointment but I am even more confident of this now. Playing Jack Storer in midfield when the lad needed a confidence boost after being sent out on an unsuccessful loan was just one of many mistakes that he made regarding players and how they should be treated. Koby Arthur’s departure was another as well as throwing Josh Cogley in too early in certain situations. So I don’t trust his ability to really focus the players.

However, it does give us time to get back to full strength. Clayton Donaldson and Jacques Maghoma who have both been out injured for a fair while have been brought gradually back in and so they can look to focus on their fitness and be ready for the upcoming match. This is the main positive for having a break as far as the club goes. So it isn’t all bad by any means but it does seem like bad timing in terms of really putting together a run rather than looking over our shoulders at relegation.

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