Blues started the 2020/21 Championship season the same way they began the previous one; leaving Brentford manager Thomas Frank angry after beating his side 1-0 with a well-worked header. While there was almost certainly an element of luck in the victory at Griffin Park under Pep Clotet, this season’s curtain-raiser was much more deserved.
What started off tentatively with a gif in response to a question from grime star Jaykae seems to have morphed into a semblance of communication from the powers that be. Although it’s still not much more than gifs right now, Blues CEO Ren Xuandong took the time out of his day on Bank Holiday Monday to get new signing George Friend to pass on a nice message to a Blues fan stuck in hospital.
Aitor Karanka’s first press conference as Birmingham City head coach was an ode to “sensible, reasonable things” as both the Spaniard and Blues CEO Ren Xuandong spoke of learning from mistakes and long-term futures. Is this the start of something beautiful at St Andrew’s?
Do Not Want. Three words encapsulated in GIF format in reply to Brummie grime musician Jaykae’s plea to “splash the cash” made up the first non-official website communication from Blues CEO Ren Xuandong in six months. Is this a beginning of a social media rapprochement between Ren and Blues fans?
It took a while but like the Mounties, Blues CEO Ren Xuandong got his man. Birmingham City confirmed late on Friday evening that Aitor Karanka has signed a three-year deal to be the next head coach of the club. The 46-year-old Spanish coach ends an 18 month exile from management since walking out on Nottingham Forest in January 2019.
While Blues CEO Ren Xuandong has been criticised heavily on Blues social media and forums recently, Kristjaan Speakman has been somewhat under the radar. Listed on the official Blues website as Academy Manager, Speakman has been acting as a de facto Sporting Director at Blues in recent times. Is Speakman culpable for the club’s current situation.
Now the dust has settled on a prolonged and difficult campaign in the Championship, it’s time once again for the Birmingham City hierarchy to look forward. With confirmation that the new EFL season begins on September 12, there are less than seven weeks until kickoff to sort out a number of issues.
So here we are, the last day of the season and once again there is a chance Blues could finish the day falling through the relegation trapdoor to League One. Not many Blues fans would have seen this happening six weeks ago – but a succession of poor performances, gutless performances and poor gutless performances have taken their toll.
It’s that time of the season yet again for Blues – last day relegation drama following months of crap results. This time things have gone a bit too far for many and talk of protest is lighting up groups on Facebook. The big question of course is if it is all talk or if it will spill over into actual action – and if it does, how much effect will it have.
After being given a great chance to properly secure their place in the Championship next season through other teams not picking up points, Blues threw it all away with another dismal display on Sunday. Despite a tinkering with the formation and the recall from furlough of Steve Spooner, Blues looked abject against a Stoke side who probably should have scored a few more.
