FootballFanCast.com » Birmingham City

The Transfer Window Poser

David Hynds — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 17:39:32 +0000

In recent years, there has been nothing more compelling than sitting down on transfer deadline day in anticipation of your club bagging a late bargain – but this term most fans will be contemplating a lack of activity with most clubs refusal to be drawn into panic buying prevalent when compared to previous windows.

Aside from the lavish activity at Eastlands throughout this ...

Peter Pannu denies talk of Alex McLeish rift

FFC News Desk — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 13:20:07 +0000

Birmingham City's acting chairman Peter Pannu has played down talk of a rift between himself and St Andrew's manager Alex McLeish.

Pannu had made a barbed comment about McLeish being 'no Jose Mourinho', suggesting that the Scotsman was asking for too much money.

However, the Blues official has now clarified his stance, telling the Birmingham Mail:"This is all nonsense. We are just perhaps inches away from Alex signing a contract, ...

Alex McLeish under attack from Peter Pannu

FFC News Desk — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 08:40:13 +0000

Birmingham City vice-chairman Peter Pannu has launched a withering attack on Blues manager Alex McLeish, insisting that the Scotsman is 'no Jose Mourinho'.

Talks over new contract at St Andrew's have hit the buffers in recent weeks, with Pannu claiming that McLeish is asking for far too much money.

He told the Daily Star:"I have been in talks with his representative and he was asking for a very large amount ...

Top 10 Premier League ‘new boys’ to look out for

Jack Howlett — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 19:00:05 +0000

The departures of Alberto Aquilani and Robinho this summer show that high-profile, gifted footballers cannot always flourish in the Premier League. Fans, journalists and managers are divided over the time it takes for a player to adapt to the rigours of the English game. Yet the PL is still an attractive destination for huge swathes of foreign talent and for every flop there is a success story. Here are ...

For all its beauty, is the Premier League hampered by inconsistency?

David Hynds — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 17:48:32 +0000

In the first few weeks of the Premier League fans often become embroiled in the excitement it brings, the breathless updates begin again and fans often amuse themselves with preposterous talk of a European finish for their club. The thrills and spills of English football are of course what make it so beautiful; the fluctuation from elation to disappointment so gripping but as it begins to blossom referees inconsistency ...

Hleb’s Birmingham deal vindicates decision not to bow to demands

David Hynds — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 13:23:57 +0000

Birmingham boss Alex McLeish must have felt like a jilted man as deadline day approached having being on the verge of a deal for Wigan’s French star Charles N’Zogbia, only to see it break down at the last minute – but the deals he completed with only hours of the window remaining may be a vindication that the club should not have bowed ...

Fantasy is ruining how I watch the Premier League. Am I alone?

Luke Bradshaw — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 19:00:16 +0000

It’s 0-0 in the match against Stoke at Stamford Bridge on Saturday. Frank Lampard is lining up a penalty to put any small Chelsea jitters to bed, and I want him to miss. I’m a Chelsea fan and I want him to miss. I replaced Lampard with Spurs 0-1 Wigan – The phrase “European Hangover” will no doubt be used ubiquitously to describe this shambolically comical performance from Spurs but I’d prefer the simpler, shorter and more accurate excuse of “Tottenham”. Besides, a European hangover can only really apply to losing to Blackburn away after a grueling 3-3 in Turkey on the Wednesday night, not a home ...

Birmingham snap up Alex Hleb and Martin Jiranek

FFC News Desk — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 15:00:06 +0000

Birmingham City manager Alex McLeish has strengthened his squad with the captures of former Arsenal star Alex Hleb and Spartak Moscow captain Martin Jiranek.

Hleb moves to St Andrew's from Barcelona on a season-long loan arrangement while 31-year-old Czech Republic international Jiranek has penned a one-year contract with the Blues.

McLeish, who had already signed Ben Foster,