Football Manager Blog | Football Manager Guru | Birmingham Heads Into New Season

My first game was against Stoke at the Britannia Stadium, I was looking forward to see how my new look side would cope in the league. Stoke are strong at home and I had to take that into account.

We had a good chance to score straight away, Sebastian Larsson with a free kick taking of 17 ballooned his effort over the bar. Then it was the turn of Stoke, a good run by Lawrence set up Tuncays header which was kept out well by Hart. Stoke took the lead thanks to Robert Huth, his bullet shot went through a crowd of players into the top corner. We came so close to scoring but Chris Woods post was saved onto the post. Then Tuncay shot straight at Hart.

At half time some of my players were carrying serious knocks so I had to make all my subs which wasn’t great. Hart was busy yet again, a Lawrence free kick brought out another good save from Hart. Stoke were dominating so I changed the set-up to Attack. A dubious corner which should have been a throw in resulted in Stokes second goal, a header from Shawcross.

Nothing was going past Hart until another mix up from a corner it fell to Fuller and he hit it hard and it went in 3-0 and this was not ideal. We got a goal 20 minutes from time a corner was cleared to Queudrue and he powered it in. We then were awarded a penalty Queudrue was brought down in the box by Lawrence a chance for 3-2 but it was well saved by Sorensen we missed a penalty hit the post it was not our day.

Stoke had 12 shots on target to our two. We were well beaten.

Our next game was at home to a newly promoted side Wolves; they were playing hard to break down. I changed the two in midfield from (Michel and Ferguson) to Buonanotte and Tainio. I was hoping for a more positive performance. We were playing well until Ebanks Blake found space and powered it home, bleh. Chris wood powered a great effort just wide, we were improving.

Then Mijilas shot just over K. Roger Johnson’s sliding tackles were immense. We then created a good chance but Larsson shot first time with his left foot, wide. Then a good cross from the left was headed over from Wood. It could have been two nil to Wolves but Hart (who has really impressed me stopped that from happening. My players must have serious fatigue problems because I had to make all my subs at half time AGAIN.

My sub striker O’Connor headed against the bar, so close and so unlucky. James McFadden was fouled on the edge of the area and got booked for someone jumping on him, how obscure. Then Kadlec sent through O’Connor my 4^th choice striker: D he scored to my amazement it was deserved and I wanted my side to push for the winner.

Kadlec again put through O’Connor but Berra blocked the shot for a corner. Tainio had a left footed shot which took a deflection just over. A free kick from Larsson when just over and then Mijilas shot was to powerful for Hart but he managed to scramble it away. And then Vokes had a curling shot just wide.

O’Connor had a great chance on his left foot but it was diverted wide by Hennessey. Then in the dying minutes of the game O’Connor made a chance for himself, blocked by Hennessey.

Then at last we took the lead O’Connor put through by Buonanotte and he powered the ball home. We won an important game and it was a positive performance because of all the chances we created.

I have been very unimpressed with the performances of Larsson so I have decided to sell him and table a bid for Xabi Prieto

Our next game was against Hull in 16^th at the KC Stadium. Buonanotte was tired after the last game so I left him out of it. Our first chance came from a cleared corner, Tainio hit it and it banged off the bar, so unlucky.

Joe Hart made a great save from Geovanni’s flick on header. We kicked off and Hull scored straight away Jozy Altidore unmarked in the box headed home, I was furious with my defence. O’Connor missed a good chance with his left foot (horribly wide). Zaki could’ve score but again Hart stopped it brilliantly.

Hull were in control, nothing happened for 20 odd minutes until a good pass from Tainio picked out Gardner and he hit it first time from 25 yards. We now had a chance of picking up all the points. Zaki had another shot saved, then Bowyer did but he was offside. Hull were dominant but we held on to an important point.

The next game was against Forest in the Carling Cup, nothing particular to note, apart from the long range screamer from O’Connor another powerful goal from him and a debut close range finish by Prieto.

The last game of the month was at home to West Ham. I was expecting a hard game and it sure was. Kadlec gave us the lead with a good placed shot. Then Carlton Cole equalised with a great curling shot from the edge of the area.

And then the magical moment 7 minutes from time Gardner’s header was excellently powered in the back of the net by James McFadden, another good win for my team.

By the way I have a received a bid of £5.5 million pounds plus future clauses from Arsenal for McFadden. Should I sell him please leave suggestions?