Birmingham City are aiming high this season, irrespective of the added weight of expectations. The Blues boss wants to try and achieve something to make the season worthwhile.
Gary Rowett has set his own expectations of challenging for ‘something’ this season after proclaiming that he probably wouldn’t bother with the job otherwise.
‘I think the players want to achieve something. Myself and the staff want to achieve something.
‘I think what we achieve is going to be down to this season and whether we can lift our game again and improve on last year.’
He added that there are no specific targets, only that he wants to try and get the team to raise their game again and again throughout the season.
‘We know we are capable of being a top 10 team. We did that last season, despite an incredibly poor start, after 14 games.
‘So, therefore, if we can do what we did last season, we can challenge somewhere towards the top end of the league.’
Rowett continued by seeming to challenge the players, insisting it is down to them to take on the ‘mantle’, and to recreate what they did last season. The manager also explained that he is not stupdily expecting to just turn up and perform like last season, ‘no two seasons are the same’.
‘There will be different challenges.
‘But I certainly think with the group we have got we can be very positive and look forward to hopefully a very, very good start.’
Now the new season is upon us, plenty of writers are beginning to lay down their thoughts on the upcoming season. Well I guess now is as good a time as any to throw my hat in the ring.
Birmingham find themselves in a position that was once long in the memory. A squad of relative modest cost, with an astute and trusted manager leading them forward has raised the expectations levels back to the heights of yesteryear.
In my opinion, the squad is a lot better than last year. Not only because a lot of the numbers have been dwindled down, but those numbers have been traded for better quality. With that comes the added opportunity for our younger players to come through, of which there is plenty to choose from.
In short, we are far better prepared at the start of this season to the start of last. But other teams know that, they won’t be coming to St Andrews expecting to win, and it is that added dimension that Blues need to manage. Yes we’ll sit off and get teams on the break, but now Blues plan B will be used far more often and for me that is where the telling point for the season will lie.
Gary Rowett is aiming high, the players and staff also are doing the same. I am waiting to see just how many different game situations this squad can manage and utilise to their advantage, but get that right and we will be a dangerous team in this league.
Source – bcfc.com
