Watford's Mat Sadler tips Birmingham City for promotion to Premier League
Dec 4 2008 by Colin Tattum, Birmingham Mail
of your division and there’s more than an element of truth in that.
“You look at who Birmingham have got available up front and it’s hard to compete with the quality there.
“I think it’s a big challenge for any team below them to overhaul Birmingham this season.
“You look at Wolves and, again, you see the strikers they have. They’ve got some very good players who have been banging the goals in as well, and have come away with the accolades.
“I know there is still a long way to go, but I do think there are three teams to beat this season in Wolves, Birmingham and Reading.
“If you finish above any of them, then you’ve got a fair chance of getting promotion.”
Academy product Sadler made his Blues debut aged 17, and memorably faced David Beckham in his first Premier League away game in 2002.
He moved on to secure regular first-team football as Steve Bruce brought in Franck Queudure and Rafael Schmitz after Sadler played his part in helping Blues to promotion in 2006-07, and then David Murphy was lined up.
Ironically, he rejected Mick McCarthy at Wolves and opted to join Aidy Boothroyd at the Hornets, who recently departed.
“Of course it was a wrench to leave Birmingham, it’s my city, all my family and friends are there,” said Sadler, who shares a flat in St Albans with another Solihull native, team mate John Eustace.
“But I’m glad I made the move now, I’ve seen a different side of life and I’m experiencing something new.
“Of course you look back sometimes and think what might have been.
‘‘I still follow the results, Stephen Kelly’s one of my best mates and although it will be a strange feeling going into the away dressing room, I’m looking forward to being at St Andrew’s again.
“Birmingham have got players in my position and it would be unfair of me to say whether I think I could get in the team at their expense. Who knows?
“Obviously in an ideal world I would have stayed and be still involved now. And it’s like the Wolves thing, their interest, what can I say?
“I made my decision at the time, and back then Watford were going for promotion and I joined a very good club, who still are a very good club.”
