Yeung outlines scale of Birmingham ambition

October 17, 2009

Carson Yeung has pledged 80 million pounds over the next ten months in a bid to turn Birmingham City into a more formidable Premier League force.

The new owner is clearly not short of ambition, but he’ll be given an immediate indication of the scale of the task that lies before him when City travel to face Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium for their first game since the Hong Kong businessman formally completed the takeover of the Midlands club.

Yeung stated on Thursday that he was ready to make up to 40 million pounds available to City manager Alex McLeish in the forthcoming January transfer window to strengthen the squad.

And he subsequently revealed that a similar amount will also be allocated for trading in next summer’s transfer market, providing McLeish with an opportunity to make wholesale changes to a group of players that have made a steady, if unspectacular start to life in the top flight following last season’s promotion from the Championship.

“There will be up to forty million pounds to spend for the manager on players and wages in January,” said Yeung.

“We are happy that Alex is the manager and we want to do all we can to support him to get the best players.

“We want to make a commitment to the supporters. We want to spend money in January to make sure we stay in the Premier League this season. Our long term plans are to establish the team higher than that. We want to put more than forty million pounds in for next season.

“We want to buy the best and strongest players that are available to make Birmingham City the biggest team in the world.”

How effective Yeung is in establishing Birmingham as a force in English football will depend largely on how the cash is spent.

Other clubs have embarked on substantial spending sprees and failed to generate long term success, as Newcastle United and Leeds will testify.

But McLeish, who will be reassured to have received an initial vote of support from his new employers, insists that recruitment of players will stay firmly within his remit.

“Will I have the final decision on team and transfer targets? It will be down to me,” said the manager.

“That is the normal remit of a manager and we will pretty much be working that way.”

The manager has cautioned, however, that even with a substantial budget to dip into, City’s transformation will not happen overnight.

“We still have to realise we are not a Manchester United, Manchester City or Liverpool,” he added. “We will still target a certain type of player.

“We are not going to target an Emmanuel Adebayor but there are players out there I know will enhance my first eleven we will try to attract.”

A growing injury list means McLeish would like to be able to dip into the new funds immediately with the Blues heading to face an in-form Arsenal without a number of defensive players with Franck Quedrue joining an injury list that already includes Gregory Vignal, Martin Taylor and Stuart Parnaby.

As Blackburn found out when they were thrashed 6-2 on their recent trip, the Emirates Stadium is no place to visit with a makeshift defence.

Arsene Wenger’s side initially struggled for consistency this season but a run of six straight victories has restored Arsenal’s swagger after successive defeats to Manchester United and Manchester City.

With Tomas Rosicky back to full fitness, Theo Walcott finally ready to kick-start his season and the return of Samir Nasri imminent, Wenger is confident his team will get better.

The main set-back this week has been the injury to Eduardo that will almost certainly prevent the Croatia forward from facing Birmingham for the first time since he suffered a broken leg and dislocated ankle after a challenge by Taylor in February 2008.

LONDON (AFP)

Tags: alex, alex mcleish, ambition, Birmingham, birmingham city, carson yeung, city travel, croatia, Eduardo, emirates, emmanuel adebayor, first game, gregory vignal, Hong Kong, hong kong businessman, LEEDS, Liverpool, manchester city, martin taylor, Midlands, midlands club, newcastle united, premier league, s promotion, sprees, Stuart Parnaby, takeover, term success, theo walcott, tomas rosicky, wages, wholesale changes

Lee´s late strike lifts the pressure on Bolton boss Megson

September 26, 2009

South Korea midfielder Lee Chung-Yong eased the pressure on under-fire Bolton manager Gary Megson as his late goal secured a 2-1 win at Birmingham on Saturday.

Lee came on as a second-half substitute for his fifth Bolton appearance since his move from FC Seoul in August and made a dramatic impact.

Tamir Cohen’s first-half strike had given Bolton the lead but Birmingham looked to have rescued a draw through Kevin Phillips’ 84th minute goal.

However, Lee, 21, had the last word as his first Premier League strike stole the points and gave Megson just his second league win of the season.

The beleaguered Wanderers manager saw his team get off to the perfect start with the type of goal which established Bolton reputation as a Premier League nuisance.

Full-back Sam Ricketts launched a throw into the danger area which veteran striker Kevin Davies flicked into the path of Israel midfielder Cohen, who headed past Joe Hart to register his third goal in four league games.

City nearly found a way back into the match after French winger Gregory Vignal whipped in a dangerous cross but the on-rushing midfielder Teemu Tainio lashed a fierce effort inches wide of the post.

The visitors received a huge let-off five minutes before half-time when City’s clever free-kick caught the defence cold, leaving Irish midfielder Keith Fahey in space.

The former Arsenal trainee took a touch before unleashing a fierce shot but the ball ricocheted off the crossbar and away to safety.

Referee Steve Bennett infuriated the home fans moments before the break when he waved away appeals for a penalty after Lee Bowyer went down under pressure in the area.

Wanderers were finally breached six minutes from time when former England forward Phillips played a slick one-two with Christian Benitez before planting an unstoppable strike into the bottom corner.

Home cheers were soon silenced though as Lee kept his cool to claim all three points for the visitors.

Matt Taylor whipped in a free-kick which bounced off a post and fell at the feet of the South Korean.

Birmingham defenders desperately launched themselves towards the ball, but the midfielder dummied back inside before walking the ball into the net.

BIRMINGHAM, England (AFP)

Tags: Birmingham, bottom corner, christian benitez, crossbar, danger area, dramatic impact, England, first premier, gary megson, gregory vignal, home fans, israel, Joe Hart, Keith Fahey, Kevin Davies, kevin phillips, league games, Lee, Lee Bowyer, Lee Chung-yong, matt taylor, minute goal, premier league, seoul, slick one, steve bennett, veteran striker

McFadden spot on to give Birmingham last-gasp win

August 20, 2009

Birmingham forward James McFadden gave his promoted side their first win of the season as his controversial penalty defeated Portsmouth 1-0 at St Andrews on Wednesday.

McFadden struck from the spot in stoppage time after referee Lee Probert ruled that Portsmouth goalkeeper David James had fouled Sebastian Larsson.

The Scot’s goal got Birmingham up and running after their opening weekend defeat at Manchester United, while Portsmouth remain without a goal or a point.

Birmingham boss Alex McLeish made an attacking change to the side narrowly beaten at United on Sunday as Scotland striker Garry O’Connor replaced midfielder Lee Carsley.

Birmingham striker Cameron Jerome had the first shot on target after some sloppy defensive work by the visitors, but James held on to his low drive away to his left.

Portsmouth responded as debutant midfielder Anthony Van den Borre, on loan from Genoa, made a powerful run only to lift his shot high over the bar.

Back came City and Jerome teed up Keith Fahey on the edge of the box. His low shot took a slight deflection but did not overly trouble James.

Larsson came close to putting City in front after 18 minutes when he got on the end of a deep first-time centre from left-back Gregory Vignal but he could not keep his header down.

It was 35 minutes before Portsmouth forced a save from Birmingham keeper Joe Hart as the on-loan Manchester City man held onto a long range attempt from Niko Kranjcar.

Hart then parried a low effort around the post from Frederic Piquionne although the shot was probably heading just wide before his intervention.

Nigeria’s John Utaka came on for Van Den Borre at half-time but Portsmouth had a narrow escape when McFadden released Jerome and his shot curled wide.

Pompey midfielder Hayden Mullins was guilty of a glaring miss when he shot wide from close range.

James turned over a curling free-kick from Larsson after substitute Kevin Phillips had been brought down by Mullins. The Portsmouth keeper made another fine save to turn a curling shot from Phillips past the post.

But he was beaten in stoppage time when referee Probert decided that James’s clash with Larsson was worthy of a penalty.

McFadden stepped up to convert the spot-kick and leave Portsmouth pointless.

BIRMINGHAM (AFP)

Tags: alex mcleish, Anthony Van, anthony van den borre, Birmingham, Cameron Jerome, city man, controversial penalty, David James, frederic piquionne, Garry O'Connor, genoa, gregory vignal, Hayden Mullins, Joe Hart, John Utaka, Keith, kevin phillips, lee carsley, Lee Probert, Manchester, manchester city, manchester united, narrow escape, nigeria, o connor, Portsmouth, Scot, scotland, Sebastian Larsson, stoppage time, target, time centre, van den borre

Fergie ready to fight off City´s challenge

August 16, 2009

Rafa Benitez might claim that Sir Alex Ferguson is worried by Manchester City’s incredible spending spree but the man himself appears unconcerned ahead of Manchester United’s Premier League opener against Birmingham on Sunday.

Many, including Liverpool boss Benitez, are tipping City to challenge for the Premier League crown currently held by United in the wake of their 100 million pound spending spree during the close-season.

United manager Ferguson, however, insists clubs like City who want to break the stranglehold the top four have had on the English game in recent years will face a tough challenge.

Ferguson, who will hand a debut to new signing Antonio Valencia at Old Trafford this weekend, said: “This is where the interest lies. They (City) have taken us off the back pages and I’m quite happy about that because sometimes I get fed up with reading about us.

“What’s going to happen? Well, the only thing that matters is the results on the pitch.

“I don’t think there is a threat to the top four. They are all well established. These will be the teams we have to beat.

“I mean the top four have been well established and have got all the right criteria, experience, quality, good stadia, good squads, to me that top four will still be hard to beat.”

Ferguson is still without long-term injury victims Edwin Van der sar, Owen Hargreaves and Nemanja Vidic, but could welcome back Nani after he recovered ahead of schedule from a dislocated shoulder.

Ben Foster (knee), Johnny Evans (ankle) and Rio Ferdinand (back) are all expected to be fit as United begin the defence of their domestic crown.

Birmingham counterpart Alex McLeish, however, couldn’t find himself in a worse position after suffering horrendous defensive problems prior to the daunting trip to Manchester.

McLeish may have eased his left-back worries but centre-half still remains a problem area on the cusp of the new season.

McLeish has signed Gregory Vignal on a 12-month deal from FC Lens following a successful trial spell and he will go straight into the team at Old Trafford.

McLeish still needs to find two fit and capable centre backs for the showdown with the champions, with Liam Ridgewell, Scott Dann, Giovanny Espinoza and Martin Taylor all ruled out.

Full back Franck Queudrue could be switched, despite concerns about his fitness, to partner recent signing Roger Johnson, who knows his debut could well turn into a nightmare.

Johnson said: “It’s not helped with all the injuries. Me and Scotty (Dann) both had off season operations and he is still not right and with Martin Taylor picking up the injury that he did it’s just been carnage defensively.

“We’ve not been able to get any understanding with each other because I’ve not played with the same centre-half all pre-season. It’s been difficult but in a few weeks we’ll have everybody back fit.”

MANCHESTER, England (AFP)