Birmingham City reveal sort of players they want as three remain on radar
Dec 19 2009 by Colin Tattum, Birmingham Mail
BLUES know exactly what they need to do in strengthening the squad, said Paul Montgomery.
“We have been aware since the beginning of the season that to move to the next level, what kind of player, what style of player and what attributes a player will have of what we need.
“We need to integrate that player to the solid basis we have now.
“The manager has formed a solid structure. It’s like a building: you have got to have the structure right before you build the building. Now we’re in the process of topping up on that.
“We need to put some mobility into the side for example. We’re aware of what missing ingredients there are, and such are being targeted.
“Hopefully what you do is juggle several balls in the air and that one or two land in your basket to move forward and sign that or those players.
“The last month or so we’ve been juggling these balls with certain players and there’s already two to three who have been discarded from the original list, for want of a better expression, because – and I don’t want to scare people, them saying we’re cheapskate – of a limit of what somebody is worth.”
The chief scout said Carson Yeung’s regime were bubbling with enthusiasm to invest in the team.
“The first impressions of the new owners, the new management structure, the senior board level, are that they are positive in wanting to improve the playing side of it.
“They have been positive in saying that we’ve got some funds, which has happened in the past. So at this moment in time it means you can attempt to do your job in a proper and correct manner of trying to find suitable candidates for the positions that we have identified.”
The areas where McLeish is keen to strengthen are up front, a wide and central midfielder and perhaps cover for the full-back/defensive areas.
It looks increasingly likely that Michel, the Sporting Gijon midfielder, will be heading to St Andrew’s after the collapse of his summer transfer.
Milan Jovanovic, the Standard Liege striker, and Celtic’s Aiden McGeady remain on the radar.
