I didn’t want to write this piece straight after the game as in honesty, I was fuming.
While people talk about Blues being kind to teams in trouble, the fact is that Blues are on a horrendous run of their own.
Following last night’s result Blues are winless in eight games.
In the last 20 games, they have won just four times and taken just 21 points from a possible 60.
It’s obvious something has to change.
Dead Duck Manager
On Monday I talked about Clotet being a lame duck manager, serving out his time until his replacement coming in.
Last night, he went from lame duck to dead duck. His body language and his interviews belie a man who does not want to be in the job and who is actively happy to get out.
His comments about not making substitutes were reminiscent of Steve Cotterill at his worst and will have only helped to worsen the morale of a team which clearly is struggling for fight and belief.
As much as I want the board to make the right choice for a new manager, I think the time has come to at minimum introduce Clotet to the garden that James Beattie has been toiling in until he leaves at the end of the season.
I accept that will leave Blues with potentially a coaching staff of Craig Gardner, Paul Robinson and Steve Spooner – but right now I think that is more palatable than the rubbish we were served up last night.
Once that is done, it’s imperative that the triumvirate of Ren Xuandong, Zhao Wenqing and Kristjaan Speakman make quicker moves to appoint Clotet’s replacement. It’s clear that this summer is going to be a big job in sorting out the squad and the sooner the club makes moves on that, the better.
Training Kit CEO
At the same time as appointing a new manager, Zhao and the owners need to lay down the law to club CEO Ren Xuandong that his job is in the boardroom, not on the training pitch.
While I do understand in my heart that as a football fan Ren only wants to do something that the rest of us would probably do too, the fact is there has to be a separation between the playing side and the admin side of the club.
It is imperative right now that the board and their advisors get a move on with making and executing plans for this summer.
With no season ticket revenue coming in and commercial revenue potential stagnating, it’s important that the club gets the jump on transfer targets now before a bidding war can start for either transfer fees or wages.
Judging by the mood on social media last night there are a large number of unhappy fans right now, and confidence in the board seems at an all time low.
With a prolonged period of fans not being able to attend games it’s possible many will lose the habit of going – and in my opinion it’s vital that the board get fans back onside so that when the turnstiles can reopen, people are excited to come back.
The last couple of weeks have been hard to take as a Blues fan. I hate feeling negative and I really want something to be excited about.
For that to happen, changes need to be made.
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