Opinion: Why Are We Linked With Strikers?

Speculations in this press this week have hit an all time high. For some reason, Birmingham City are being consistently linked with forwards and some even reporting that we have negotiated with clubs in terms of transfer costs over two million pounds. Now, there is no smoke without fire and so maybe Rowett is looking to add to his strikers but I highly doubt it.

If I was the manager, I personally would play 2 complimentary strikers up top such as the two Watford front men who dominated our league just two seasons ago. But Rowett doesn’t like this strategy. He prefers one up front and in most cases, Donaldson would get the nod with Vaughan coming in as back up.

The Manchester United manager Jose has said in the past that he is always wanting two players per position on the pitch. So that would be 2 goalkeepers but 4 centre backs to double the amount that there is on the pitch at any one time. This accounts for injuries or tactical changes or suspensions. So if this rule is to be followed and applied to our own ranks, then Donaldson and Vaughan are fine on their own.

Even Maghoma and Brock can play there as back up if that is the case and for our cup runs so it seems unlikely that this is ever going to happen. I think that he will look to strengthen at full back because we have a weakness here. Caddis and Grounds are both very defensive full backs and therefore when we play against narrow teams, we need more attacking wing backs to really offer more attacking options down the wings.

Due to Tiendalli being on trial, it shows that they want to capture a wing back, but maybe haven’t found the right replacement yet. He may also be looking for a winger just to sure up the left hand side of the pitch because Viv, Maghoma and Cotterill are the only wingers which does leave us a bit bare. Other than that, I think the midfield, central defence and strikers will not be altered by Rowett in this window at all. Even if we all want more goals or him to alter the team structure, I don’t think that will happen.