Birmingham City side needs to gel fast says former star
MALCOLM Page has warned that the side’s new-look defence would have to gel fast if Birmingham City were to prosper in the Premier League.
It is quite possible that Blues could start the new campaign with just Stephen Carr remaining from the rearguard, including goalkeeper, that figured in the Championship promotion run-in.
Scott Dann, Roger Johnson, Giovanny Espinoza and Joe Hart have been brought in this summer, and Armand Traore remains on Alex McLeish’s radar.
Page, one of the club’s best and most reliable defenders, said building from the back would be crucial for Blues.
“What must Blues do to stay up? I think - and it’s easy to say this - is to keep the goals against down as much as possible,” Page stated.
“I have always been a believer in getting a solid defensive unit and with the squad system of people coming in and out, it’s that much harder to do.
“But that’s where the successful teams are good, having a solid unit and people knowing what they are doing when they come into the team from a defensive point of view. They need to know how to fit in to a system the team plays to.
“I think that’s going to be important as well as something we’ve always struggled a little bit to do: get the goals.
“It’s not easy, especially at home when you are not playing well. Ideally you want somebody who can notch you the goals and that can make the difference of having your performance improved from struggling to good.”
Page, a 17-year veteran of St Andrew’, said he was interested in seeing how the likes of Dann and Johnson fared.
“Some of the players I don’t know too much about,” he admitted. “So the proof will be in the pudding.
