StewieGriffin

the success of Barca was irrelevant to the point Gareth was making about you being a football snob on AZ/Eredivisie

he plays for AZ Alkmaar for a reason and its not because he's good or class or world class its the complete opposite.

What about Rasmus Elm, hmm? Adam Maher's looking quite the talent. Pontus Wernbloom got snapped up by CSKA Moscow. Even Beerens and Moisander could probably do a decent job at a higher level.

Going back further, let's see; you've got Stijn Schaars, he got snapped up by Sporting Libson. Sigthórsson won himself a move to Ajax. Héctor Moreno moved to Espanyol where's he's doing a decent job. Romero, the Argentine national #1 was at AZ last year. Further back still there was Jeremain Lens (now at PSV), Dembélé at Fulham and El Hamdaoui who also went to Ajax.

Joris Mathijsen made a name for himself at AZ, they were Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink's second ever club, oh but my favourite one (and you'll like this); one Phillip Cocu came through the youth ranks at AZ. They were his first professional club.

In summary; stop talking pork.

isnt 'Cule' the French word for 'arse'? tells you all you need to know...

SSN saying Walter Smith has turned them down now

I've finally got round to making my Virtual Pro and myself and some mates are going to make our own team.

I've decided to be a centre back - what's the quickest/best way of getting my defensive and physical stats up?

Im surprised this whole episode hasnt been more newsworthy - they're ****, but the media seem to have ignored it a little

Its all kicking off again...

THE Hong Kong Stock Exchange has thrown down the gauntlet to Blues owners Birmingham International Holdings – and called for a breakdown of the circumstances behind the arrest of Carson Yeung.

Far East finance experts have demanded that Blues parent group provides “all material information” relating to the arrest of Yeung as one of the key conditions for the eventual resumption of share trading in BIH. Yeung was arrested last summer and charged with five counts of money laundering totalling £59 million covering a six-year period from 2001.

In an announcement to the Stock Exchange, BIH said: “Training in the shares has been suspended from 9am on June 30, 2011, and will continue to be suspended until further notice.”

The Blues owners said they were ordered to:

* Inform the market of all material information about the arrest of Yeung – including the implications on the group’s operations, assets and financial position.

* Demonstrate that there were no deficiencies in control due to the arrest and there was no reasonable regulatory concern about management integrity which could pose a risk to investors and damage market confidence.

The Stock Exchange also ordered BIH to publish its outstanding financial results and address any concerns raised by auditors.

BIH said: “The company has been, and is continuing, to take the appropriate steps to fulfil the conditions set out for the resumption of trading in the shares and will keep its shareholders and potential investors informed of the progress as and when appropriate.”

The clampdown by the Stock Exchange came less than three months after the parent group issued a profit warning, blaming a “substantial loss” on Blues’ relegation from the Premier League last season.

The holding company also announced in October that its annual results for the year to June 30, 2011, would be delayed further for three months to January 31, while the annual report would not be issued until February 15.

from what I understand, shares are generally suspended for 6 months before the stock exchange starts to 'frown', and this is backed up here.

Administration plz

Clark was good as a holding midfielder last year I thought

as has been said before, I dont think McLeish was solely responsible for a few of the signings at Birmingham

But so far we have seen three of his signings - Given has been a good one, but Hutton hasn't offered anything better than Luke Young would have, and N'Zogbia has just been pretty poor overall.

If he's getting time and some money, I'm sincerely hoping we get better results from other transfer targets.

I agree with the outlook on the 3 signings so far - Hutton's always been pretty poor apart from his time at Rangers, though my nan would be a decent right back in the SPL. Ultimately he'll be a poor signing I think, but every manager makes them - for every Cantona there is a Prunier. N'Zogbia will come good I think - he played well last week and was the one player who looked like he might do something today. One of the things McLeish did well at Birmingham was sign defensive players who fitted in well with how he wanted his team to defend (Carr, Johnson, Dann, Bowyer, Ferguson etc). I wouldnt describe any of our current defenders as remotely similar to any of those.

as has been said before, I dont think McLeish was solely responsible for a few of the signings at Birmingham

I think McLeish should at least be afforded the next two transfer windows to move on some of the dross/unwanted - Collins, Heskey, Ireland etc, and bring in some more of his own players. He's still working with a squad that isnt his own bar Given, N'Zogbia and Hutton (who admittedly rank good, indifferent and poor respectively thus far). Perhaps its the optimist in me that makes me think he will sort the current shit out if he's given the time to do it, but there we are.

Some of the on-field issues we're currently experiencing have been problems for years - squad depth, lack of basic defensive nous when defending set pieces (barring about 18 months under O'Neill), and a lack of guile when attacking. Im not sure whether people were expecting any realistically appointable manager to walk in and sort those issues out when the first issue is a financial one and the second and third ones are almost entirely down to the players at his disposal - you can teach them all you know, but if the player doesnt want to/cant do it then it isnt entirely the managers fault, and we arent in a position to go and dump the lot of them and bring in 7 new players.

Some things like the ongoing baffling selection of Collins and Heskey ahead of Cuellar and Bannan, the mindset and tactics of the team is clearly all down to McLeish and there's no real defence to that - the negativity of his previous teams were the number one reason why I didnt want him here.

We arent going to go down this year, and we arent going to make Europe either - whilst none of us want transitional seasons any more, we're living in different times than we were when Lerner got here and I dont see how stamping our feet about how we dont want this manager either is going to help our situation. I understand people are opposed to our manager, which is understandable - he wasnt the first choice of anyone apart from Lerner and Faulkner I would suggest - but the atmosphere is turning nasty and isnt helping anyone - largely as it isnt going to get people what they want, because the manager isnt going anywhere anytime soon barring the catastrophe of near (or, worse, actual) relegation.

Whilst Im not suggesting that as supporters we just bend over and accept the situation, whinging and moaning on messageboards, the abomination that is twitter and whatever else is not conducive to a good atmosphere around the club, and in the long-term that will not be a good thing for Randy Lerner, Alex McLeish, you, me, or more importantly, Aston Villa.

Graham's body shape when he recieves the ball (and occasionally when dribbling) is very similar to Ashley Young

my concern with Gardner is that all of a sudden there is a huge clamour for him from the fans to play - he is not going to be our saviour.

Gardner was class before his injury and has been since January when he returned. Theres been a buzz about this lad for some years now. I was surprised we didn't give him any minutes in the 2 Carling Cup home games we had earlier this season.

England Under 21's team are better than the 11 McLiesh puts out, and Gardner gets into that team.

Im not saying he isnt a good player/prospect - he's clearly a potentially very talented young footballer.

But that's what he is - potential. He isnt going to come in and turn our fortunes around single-handedly. He hasnt got the experience to dictate the midfield and alter the tempo/flow of a game.

I do think he will make an impression, but as I said above, my concern is that some people are hanging all sorts of hopes and expectations on this kid.

3-0 ft, Gardner hat-trick

my concern with Gardner is that all of a sudden there is a huge clamour for him from the fans to play - he is not going to be our saviour.

I dont see how he's killed Albrigton off? In the (admittedly few) chances he's had he's been poor. Clark should be in the team, no question, and Bannan's been one of our best players so far.

Gardner will get a chance - whether you believe McLeish to be an incompetent manager or not (fwiw I dont think he is), it is clear as day that Gardner has an ability that simply cannot be ignored to anyone with half a clue.

I think he'll be involved once the NextGen group is over

I must admit, the postcard thing they're rumoured to be doing with McLeish made me chuckle when I read it

balls, wanted it to go to extra time

no.

Not on the bench either.

Saw a piece on SSN yesterday where Hughton said he was injured, which is why he hadnt played a game yet, although he's been on the bench in most games so if he's not fit then surely he wouldnt have been on the bench in those games either? Meh.

Bent off... :-/

why is it always us for **** sake? Why do we make it so bloody hard for ourselves

christ

starting tonight

that mirror article...

By James Nursey

Birmingham are struggling to pay their bills and could be forced to sell more players to survive.

Owner Carson Yeung’s assets have been frozen in the Far East pending his money-laundering court case.

And shares in the club’s holding company have been suspended, making it difficult to raise money.

Now, City chief Peter Pannu has admitted the axe will have to fall and unpopular decisions will have to be made when he returns from the Far East - just one week before they kick off their Championship season.

he financial meltdown at St Andrews has left fans fearing they will become the new Portsmouth, less than six months after they celebrated winning the Carling Cup at Wembley.

Yeung’s court case begins on August 11 but acting-chairman Pannu fronted up to Mirror Sport to explain City’s predicament in a candid interview from Hong Kong, where he is trying to find solutions.

He warned: “Upon my return I may have to make some unpopular decisions and I hope the fans will understand that I effectively don’t have a choice.

“The club may need to do what is right and to buy time until Carson’s assets are dislodged from the clutches of the courts in Hong Kong.”

City’s problems mean new boss Chris Hughton faces a daunting task to guide the club straight back to the Premier League.

While Pannu faces a frosty reception from fans when he jets back into the country this weekend ahead of the club’s curtain raiser at Derby next Saturday.

Rival clubs like West Brom are trying to snatch keeper Ben Foster and Liam Ridgewell on the cheap while Stoke want Scott Dann and Cameron Jerome.

Pannu is hoping the club’s headaches will ease once trading in BIHL’s shares resumes.

But even he admits he is unclear how the club will continue to fund itself while Yeung’s assets are frozen and HSBC are demanding Brum’s overdraft is reduced.

Pannu added: “BIHL’s board, headed by Vico Hui and Pauline Wong, are now trying to resume trading of the stock.

“Hopefully the resumption of trading in Hong Kong could lead to raising of some capital for the club to appease HSBC, our bankers, who are also now speaking to Pauline as the group’s financial controller and seeking answers from her on matters of concern to the bankers.

“I hope BIHL’s board can satisfy the bank’s queries as soon as possible.

“An update to the fans is long over due and it is just fair they hear the latest developments from me now.

“But I am not aware of their plans as to how they propose to full fill the financial distress posed by the relegation scenario and the freezing of Carson’s assets in Hong Kong.

“Carson had been trying hard to find new investors but the money laundering charges understandably meant that the progress had been slow.

“I understand that there is one interested party and they are working on it.”

Yeung caused fresh controversy recently by appointing his 18-year-old son Ryan to Birmingham’s board of directors along with Pannu.

Unhappy City fans responded by setting-up a Facebook site: ‘ Petition-to-get-Carson-Yeung-out-and-save-our-club’.

And Pannu admitted: “The appointment of Ryan Yeung was a bit of an eye opener for everybody.

“But I have since learned that with his presence, youth soccer and promotion of interest both in Hong Kong and China could be instigated.

“Ryan will be used mainly in that youth development programme for the greater China market and hopefully could generate some income.

“I believe that there is no hidden agenda there and his youth will not hinder the club’s operations in other areas which I don’t think he will be involved in as he is still schooling.”

the footballing side of administration is that they'll be deducted 10 points, which will make automatic promotion very difficult...