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Leave Blues, score goals



In the last couple of weeks we've seen a lot of ex Birmingham City players score goals. Horsfield and Fagan in the same game, Forrester, Furlong, Woodhouse and of course Andrew Johnson.

AJ was going to be the prodigal son of Trevor Francis and when Bruce and Francis played musical chairs, AJ followed Francis to Palace, with Morrison coming the other way (after we had handed out £4.25m).

Although born in Bedford, AJ is an adopted Brummie and despite his move to London, he maintained a base in the Midlands and is often seen at St Andrews or out on the lash with current BCFC Players.

Many argued that AJ should have stayed at Blues. Young, promising and under the guidance of a new manager he may well have become a class player. AJ for me was always frustrating. Some games he would play at break neck speed, darting into defences, finding space or neatly laying off the ball for someone to put into the back of the net. In other games he would run straight towards the corner flag and appear to get lost, or lose the ball and look for a scapegoat. His enthuasiasm was and is unquestionable. He found his feet at Palace and last season he got a total of 32 goals helping Palace to the top flight. This season he's already bagged 4.

Morrison on the other hand has failed to produce the goods. Harsh but a striker is judged by the number of goals he scores. It's all well and good to say he works hard but no one credits an industrious goalkeeper who can't keep the ball out. Last season Morrison scored the same number of premier league goals that AJ has already bagged in 7 games at the highest level. The previous season he (Morrison)scored a measley 6.

Since joining Birmingham, Clinton has had the pleasure of playing alongside Dugarry, Heskey and Forrsell. Each a very different player but each very skillful and experienced. If you can't improve playing alongside full internationals and world cup winners then, I'm afraid, it's time to don the black cap and pass Judgment.

Bruce made a mistake. Clinton wasn't worth the money we paid for him and Jordan must have been laughing all the way to the bank. Bruce recently said that the players he bought at the start of our life in the Premier League were designed to either keep us afloat or ensure an immediate return. Fine. I've no problem with that, but you don't spend that sort of money on a player just in case we go down. Stern John cost us next to nothing and he is capable of doing a job in either division.

Should we have left AJ go? I don't know. Hindsight is a wonderful thing. It's a tough call to make when buying and selling - will this player make it?

AJ seems to be providing the answer.
posted by kwacky at 11:02 am