Blues: A Mid-Season Review

Happy New Year! As we are exactly half-way through the season, I wanted to provide a player-by-player review of the first half of this 2013-14 campaign. I will be scoring the players out of ten, and in brackets is how far their score has improved or worsened since my review of pre-season, back in August. Here are my thoughts on who has done well, and who ‘hasn’t quite cut it’ thus far…

Randolph

Randolph – 8(=) Our signing of the summer, credit to Clark for bringing him in. Rarely have we conceded a goal with Randolph at fault, and he is a consistent, solid keeper. We may need to brace ourselves for a bid this January.

Doyle – 4(+2) Lower than a four would be harsh, seeing as he has only made four appearances, in the league cup. During those games he conceded ten goals, most notably spilling in an equalizer which meant extra-time against Plymouth. I couldn’t go home for another half hour that night. We went on a cup run despite him playing, rather than because of it.

Robinson – 5(-1) Some may disagree with this, with the experience and leadership he adds to our defence. I’d say over the last few weeks he has looked a bit rash when going for the ball, and misses a few interceptions. Often vulnerable when playing against someone with pace.

Burn

Burn – 8(+5) A stand out performer. In pre-season he looked slow, but has been one of our best players this season. Wins countless headers at the back, but unfortunately he has been recalled by Fulham.

Bartley – 6(-1) Out of Clark’s good books for a couple of months at the beginning. However, he has put in some solid performances in recent weeks, since Robbo has moved to left-back.

Ferguson – 4(-1) Has been bizarrely left out of the team lately, despite injuries to Hancox & Murphy. Never really had a run of games, and hasn’t contributed much apart from the odd good cross.

Hancox – 7(-1) His injury against Boro was unfortunate, after some strong performances at left-back. Often when we’ve played without an obvious winger on the left, we’ve relied on him to get forward and provide width. Hopefully he recovers quickly.

Caddis – 4(*) Aside from his goals against Barnsley and Boro, two of which were pens, I’ve not been too impressed with Caddis While he gets forward often enough, his crosses have been poor and he’s looked defensively suspect. Second season syndrome?

Burke

Burke – 4(-1) Since about October, Burke has been the most disappointing player. None of the drive and pace we’ve seen from him over the last two seasons, and perhaps the fact he’s now 30 needs to be taken into account. With us looking safe from relegation at the moment, I would settle on a small transfer fee for him this January. That would be better than losing him for nothing when his contract runs out this summer.

Reilly – 5(-3) I highlighted Reilly as a potential star of the season this summer, but have not quite got that right. His passing has been disappointing, though not helped by a lack of support in midfield. He always gives commitment to the cause, works hard to deny space and stop opponents creating chances.

Adeyami – 8(+3) A strong, solid player, he is becoming a favourite amongst the fans. Tough in the tackle, and makes it hard for opponents to attack our defence. Reminds me a bit of Aliou Cisse.

Allan – 5(-2) He could be drinking a sherry on a desert island somewhere for all we know. He had impressed me in every game since joining, scored two goals against Plymouth in the cup, but has never been in the match day squad since the end of August. Bizarre.

Elliott – 5(-2) Another one who has mysteriously fallen off Clark’s radar. I haven’t seen performances from Elliott which warrant being completely dropped, but Clark seems to prefer a more energetic midfield of younger players, over Elliott’s experience.

Lee

Olly Lee – 7(+1) A more generous score, seeing as he’s young and has been very much thrown in at the deep end. He got a run of games this December, without having played much beforehand. There’s nothing spectacular there in terms of technique, but like Callum Reilly, he works hard without the ball and we’ll all remember his extra-time leveller against Stoke.

Shinnie – 3(-5) Showed flashes of brilliance in pre-season and having been highly-rated in Scotland, I was convinced Clark had pulled off a masterstroke. It hasn’t happened. He’s struggled to adjust to a higher tempo of play than in the SPL, he’s looked far too slow and the arrival of Jesse Lingard has pushed him to the fringes of the team. Shinniesta? We’ll leave that one for now.

Gray – 5(*) Has been used as an impact sub a few times this season and has not made much of an impact. Because he’s only just come in from the academy and hasn’t had a run of games, I’ll refrain from scoring him lower than a 5.

Lovenkrands – 4(*) I can’t see us getting anything out of Lovenkrands. In the few times he’s played, he’s looked sluggish and distant, like he had for much of last season. At the age of 33, his fitness problems aren’t going to improve.

Zigic – 2(+1) I slated him last time, and I might be a bit more charitable here because he has been relatively good at defending set pieces. The problem is, that’s about it. Four goals from sixteen games in the Championship is not enough, and I see his aerial threat as more of an indirect hindrance than a help. It means our players, when put under pressure, are more tempted to hoof it to Zigic, rather than calmly pass it to feet. That gradually turns into our game plan, and so attacking players look to surround Zigic rather than drop deep and help the midfield. The sooner that guy leaves the better.

Green – 6(-1) Fitness dictates. Once he returns from injury, I hope to see him in the team, though mainly because it means Zigic will be out of it. If Green can get a run in the side he might start firing, having netted a few times in pre-season. On the other hand, this not the first time he’s been injured with us so he might be a bit of a Forssell.

Novak

Novak – 7(=) Has grown in confidence as the season has gone on. In the first few weeks of the season I wasn’t a big fan, due to his lack of goalscoring touch. Clark kept playing him and I thought, because of their time together at Huddersfield, Novak was going to be the ‘teacher’s pet’. He’s gravitated towards a role on the left, which has suited him, because he’s been able to play without the pressure to score goals. That said, there have been some great finishes from him at Derby and Blackburn.

The other key thing from the first half of the campaign, is a continuing theme from last season. We do better away from home than at St Andrews. That continued at Blackburn on Sunday as we took three points, although a brief lapse in concentration in the second half meant a few nervy moments at the end. Remarkably, we’ve now taken fourteen points from our last six away games. Lots of people complain about our bad home form, but personally I love that we’re away specialists. As someone who goes to most of the away games, I want to see us do well. When you put all that time, money and emotional investment into going, there is nothing worse than travelling back from a crap performance and a defeat. When you win, there is nothing better. Give me a fun away day over a home win any time.