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Zola’s top six remit

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Just how do you measure the expectations of Birmingham City – a club who have been punching above their weight for so long on minimal resources – now they have a new manager?

Gianfranco Zola admitted that he doesn’t know whether he will keep his job should he fail to lead Blues into the play offs this season. That’s the immediate aim. But is it a realistic one?

Gary Rowett had Blues within touching distance of it. Three points from third place, in fact. If that wasn’t deemed good enough for the club, what must Zola do to meet their expectations? Is he capable of bettering Rowett’s record, both results and football wise?

The Championship is a massively difficult league but one that Zola has previous experience of. He’ll undoubtedly look to sign ball players with ability. But as we all know, they come at a cost.

The Italian couldn’t ask for a more difficult start. Brighton at home, Derby away. And while Zola cannot build a new style instantly, he’ll be expected to hit the ground running. The fans need to be bought on side, the only way to do that is by winning games, and fast. A few early bad results could turn St. Andrews into a circus of rejection against the new manager.

In reality, Zola cannot live or die by his first four or five games. It’d be unfair to judge a manager before a transfer window and before a pre-season campaign. However, in the circumstances, Zola won’t be afforded the same time and patience as Blues fans usually give while they grieve for their former manager who they’ve overwhelmingly backed since he was sacked.

Just how Zola will spend the reported  £12.7m available to him in January is unclear. The board seemingly trust Zola to spend it more wisely than Rowett, which reading between the lines is one of the main reasons they pulled the trigger. The squad he inherits is a tight unit, a determined group, albeit lacking slightly in quality. That’s what Zola must find, quality.

Some say Rowett had took us as far as he could. To that, we will never know. Many also remain unconvinced that Zola is a step forward. Only time will tell.





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