Since the football restart, and going back a little before lockdown, Birmingham City have been sluggish and sterile. All Championship clubs have shown far more thrust and ideas than ourselves.
Analyse any way you want, it really does come down to leadership and a general direction as to the way forward. Salvaging a point against Charlton caused much delight and relief for us supporters, similar to the comeback single point against Hull City. This sadly is what we have achieved at home since restart began – celebration at actually getting two points.
Players on the pitch are not the same and the declining form of Hogan is a good example. This player who we yearned to sign permanently has plummeted in both popularity and value.
With the quick turnaround before the new season begins, the club simply must sort out the basics and get a manager in who can awaken this comatose squad. Recent rumours of Paul Cook is probably a good shout, together with the ongoing rumblings of Lee Bowyer.
As regards Cook, I would expect him to have a choice of a new club and the Wast Hills setup may be a big no-go for him. With Bellingham leaving and possibly a couple more established players on the move, the recruitment of replacements has never been more urgent.
In my opinion, two things will now happen – our owners will stick to promoting from within with a view to offloading the club or they attempt to attract a decent manager. Nobody knows and we shall not get a clue until the very last minute. Certainly, there will be no reassurance from our owners or CEO Ren. They just don’t do that.
Uncertainty and pessimism now runs throughout supporters like never before and four years of creeping over the line is taking its toll. Bluenoses I speak to just feel the trap door to League One is only a matter of time.
Many quote Norwich, Sheffield United, Wolves, Southampton etc, and their point is understandable but do we really want what they endured – surely not.
My hope is that someone with a modicum of football know-how can get this club by the scruff of the neck and reinvent us. What we do not want is the likes of Harlee Dean blasting off about his colleague’s desire etc as this really is scraping the barrel and again demeaning the club.