Birmingham City F.C. season 2007-08

Infobox Football club season
club = Birmingham City

season = 2007–08
manager = flagicon|ENG Steve Bruce
to November 2007, then
flagicon|SCO Alex McLeish
chairman = flagicon|ENG David Gold
league = Premier League
league result = 19th (relegated)
cup1 = FA Cup
cup1 result = 3rd round
cup2 = League Cup
cup2 result = 3rd round
league topscorer =
flagicon|FIN Mikael Forssell (9)
season topscorer =
flagicon|FIN Mikael Forssell (9)
highest attendance = 29,252 vs Liverpool (2008-04-26)
lowest attendance = 10,185 vs Hereford United (2007-08-28)

The 2007–08 season was Birmingham City F.C.'s 115th season of league football since their admission to the Football League in 1892, their fifth season in the Premier League, and their 55th season in the top tier of English football.

Season review

May – July

After successfully returning to the Premier League at the first attempt, manager Steve Bruce started to look to add depth to his team ahead of the new season. On loan midfielder Fabrice Muamba became the first player to join the Blues, as he moved from Arsenal to the second city for an undisclosed fee. June saw the arrivals of Stuart Parnaby who signed on a free transfer from Middlesbrough, Scottish striker Garry O'Connor who signed for £2,700,000 from Lokomotiv Moscow, French midfielder Olivier Kapo who was signed from Juventus for £3,000,000. July saw even more players arrive at St Andrews, with midfielder Daniel de Ridder signing on a free transfer from Celta Vigo, Ghana keeper Richard Kingson also on a free transfer from Antalyaspor, and Brazilian defender Rafael Schmitz on loan from Lille.

The Blues were also ready to spend £3,000,000 on Tottenham Hotspur and Egypt midfielder Hossam Ghaly, but the deal was canceled only days into his Blues career due to a training ground incident that resulted in Bruce sending him back to the London side before a work permit had been granted. [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/b/birmingham_city/6930137.stm Bruce criticises Ghaly attitude] , BBC 2007-08-04. Retrieved on 2008-04-13.]

Four players were allowed to leave the club, with defender Bruno N'Gotty leaving the club on a free transfer to sign for Leicester City, midfielder Julian Gray also leaving on a free transfer to join Coventry City, midfielder Stephen Clemence joined Leicester City for £1,000,000, and striker DJ Campbell also joining Leicester City for £2,100,000.

July also saw the Blues become the latest English club to be involved in a take over bid by a foreign millionaire. Hong Kong business man Carson Yeung brought a 29.9% stake in the clubs shared for a reported £15,000,000. The Gold brothers and David Sullivan sold 14.81% of their shares, Karen Brady sold 0.23%, and Bannister sold 0.05%. [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/b/birmingham_city/6900404.stm Yeung takes stake in Birmingham] , BBC 2007-07-16. Retrieved on 2008-04-13.]

August

The new season started with a tough away trip to Stamford Bridge to play last seasons runners-up Chelsea. But it was the Blues that struck first with former Chelsea forward Mikael Forssell scoring a header from a McSheffrey free kick just 15 minutes in. Chelsea fort back however, and goals from Claudio Pizarro and Florent Malouda gave Chelsea a 2-1 lead before new signing Olivier Kapo struck an unstoppable shot past Petr Cech to leave the scored level at half time. The only goal of the second half went to Chelsea, as a Michael Essien goal gave Chelsea all three points. The Blues' first home came of the season was against Sunderland who had beat the Blues to the Championship title the previous season. An own goal from Paul McShane was enough to give the Blues the lead at half time, but Sunderland fought back with a goal from Michael Chopra before a Garry O'Connor goal seemed to have given Blues their first win of the season. However, a late Stern John goal was enough to earn Sunderland a point. West Ham United were the next team to visit St Andrews, where a Mark Noble penalty was the only goal of the game that gave the London club all three points. The last league game of the season saw the side visit Pride Park were two Cameron Jerome goals were enough to defeat Derby who scored a goal of their own from Mathew Oakley. The last game in August saw League Two Hereford United visit St Andrews in the First Round of the Carling Cup. Two first half goals from Garry O'Connor and Gary McSheffrey saw Blues lead at half time, only for Hereford to fight back in the second half to score through Theo Robinson. But it was two little to late from the Herefordshire side as Blues dumped them out of the cup.

August also saw the close of the Transfer Window. Before the season had begun, Steve Bruce continued to strengthen his side with the signings of defender Franck Queudrue for £2,000,000 from Fulham, centre back Liam Ridgewell for £2,000,000 from local rivals Aston Villa, and Swiss defender Johan Djourou on loan from Arsenal. The final day of the transfer window also saw some activity as Spanish midfielder Borja Oubina joined on loan from Celta Vigo and highly rated Honduran midfielder Wilson Palacios also joined on loan from Deportivo Olimpia.

eptember

The 1st of September saw the Blues travel to the Riverside Stadium to take on Middlesbrough. Two first half goals from David Wheater and Stewart Downing were enough to see of the Blues, who rarely threatened the Middlesbrough goal. The next game saw Bolton Wanderers visit St Andrews. A free kick from Queudrue was flicked on for Olivier Kapo to secure his second goal of the season, and more importantly, Blues' first three points at home. A difficult trip to Liverpool followed, where the Blues were able to secure a valuable point in a 0-0 draw. The downside to the game was a 13th minute injury to Borja Oubina that would see him injured until the end of the season. Blues' exploits in the Carling Cup came to an un-dramatic end as they bowed out to Blackburn Rovers at Ewood Park. Goals from David Bentley, Matt Derbyshire and Roque Santa Cruz were enough to see of a much weakened Blues team. The final game of the month saw the side take on Manchester United. Although the Blues bossed large parts of the game, it was the Manchester side that finished with the points. Bad play from the Blues defence allowed Manchester United to score the only goal of the game from Cristiano Ronaldo.

October

Blues' first game in October saw them return to Ewood Park for the second time in eleven days. Goals from David Bentley and Benni McCarthy saw Blackburn take a two goal lead, before Cameron Jerome struck to give the Blues a lifeline, but there was to be no comeback. It ended in a 2-1 win for Blackburn Rovers, leaving Birmingham 13th in the league table after nine games played. Thirteen days later a trip to Manchester City was next on the agenda for the Blues, where a 37th minute goal from Elano saw the points stay in Manchester. The last game of the month was a crucial bottom of the table clash with Wigan Athletic at St Andrews. A Marcus Bent goal in the 23rd minute was cancelled out three minutes later when Olivier Kapo scored from a penalty. After half time, Bent was able to give Wigan the lead again before they were pegged back once again, this time by a goal scored by Birmingham defender Liam Ridgewell. The game could have gone either way before Kapo struck again, this time in the 81st minute leaving Wigan no chance to comeback. It was Birmingham's third win of the season, and at the end of the month they were in 13th position with 11 points.

November

November started with an away game at Goodison Park against Everton. An early Yakubu goal was canceled out in the 80th minute by Olivier Kapo, only for two injury time goals from Lee Carsley and James Vaughan saw Everton snatch all three points. Next up was the Second City derby against Aston Villa at St Andrews. An early Liam Ridgewell own goal gave the Villa a first half lead. Mikael Forssell tied the game early in the second half however, but it was not to be as Gabriel Agbonlahor gave the Villa all three points. The Villa game was to be the last game in charge of the Blues for Steve Bruce, who left the club to join Wigan Athletic on the 20 November 2007 [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/w/wigan_athletic/7100525.stm Bruce leaves Birmingham for Wigan] , BBC 2007-11-20. Retrieved on 2008-04-03.] . This left Bruce's assistant Eric Black in charge for the game against Portsmouth at St Andrews. Debutant goalkeeper Richard Kingson was at fault for Portsmouth's first goal as Sully Muntari's shot rolled under the arms of the keeper. Niko Kranjcar added a late second as Portsmouth strolled to victory. Black's short reign as Blues manager ended on the 26 November 2007 as he left to join Bruce at Wigan. On the 27 November 2007, former Scotland manager Alex McLeish was appointed manager of the club [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/7114028.stm McLeish leaves Scotland for Blues] , BBC 2007-11-27. Retrieved on 2008-04-03.] . McLeish had quit Scotland the day before to take over at the midlands club, but he brought his two Scottish assistants Andy Watson, and former Villa caretaker manager Roy Aitken.

December

Alex McLeish's first game in charge was a tricky visit Tottenham Hotspur. Gary McSheffrey was able to give the Blues a first half lead from a penalty given away by Younes Kaboul. It all changed in the early stages of the second half however as Robbie Keane scored two, the first from another penalty that was won by Dimitar Berbatov, the second due to bad defending from a corner. The game changed once again as Phil Dowd sent off Robbie Keane, and the Blues scored the equaliser thanks to Cameron Jerome. Then in the last minutes of the game, Sebastian Larsson scored a 35 yard screamer that secured McLeish his first victory. Next up was a trip to St James' Park to play Newcastle United. Cameron Jerome gave the Blues an early lead, but a controversial penalty was put away by Obafemi Martins, and a late Habib Beye goal gave Newcastle the three points. McLeish's first home game in charge was against Reading. A 4th minute goal from Mikael Forssell was cancelled out again by another penalty, this time scored by Stephen Hunt. A away trip to Bolton Wanderers failed to gain any points for the Blues, as a goal from El Hadji Diouf and two from Nicolas Anelka gave Bolton an easy 3-0 win. Boxing Day saw Middlesbrough visit St Andrews. An own goal by Stewart Downing, and a Mikael Forssell goal gave the Blues a 2-0 lead at half time, and Gary McSheffrey converted a penalty to finish off Middlesbrough's resistance. The last game of 2007 saw Fulham entertained at St Andrews. An early Carlos Bocanegra goal not enough to give Fulham the lead as a 55th minute Sebastian Larsson goal shared the points.

December also saw the collapse of Carson Yeung's attempted take over of the club. The Blues board decided to terminate talks as the Hong Kong business man had failed to come up with the reported £35 Million to buy the remaining 70.1% shares of the club. David Gold also confirmed that there would be no chance of another takeover bid until the summer of 2008. [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/b/birmingham_city/7150357.stm Birmingham terminate Yeung talks] , BBC 2007-12-12. Retrieved on 2008-04-13.]

January

January would see the Blues play three of the 'big four' in English football. First up was a trip to Old Trafford to play Manchester United. Carlos Tevez struck the only goal of the game for the Manchester side 25 minuets in. It was enough to see off the Blues, and there attention turned to the FA Cup. Blues' third round encounter pitted them against League One Huddersfield Town at the Galpharm Stadium. Huddersfield took an early lead thanks to Luke Beckett, but the Blues struck back with Garry O'Connor on target to take the game into half time at 1-1. But it was to be Huddersfield's day as a late goal from Chris Brandon saw them advance into the fourth round. Next up in the league for the Blues was their first ever trip to the Emirates Stadium to take on Arsenal. A penalty from Emmanuel Adebayor had given Arsenal a first half lead, but the Blues fought back to earn a point just after half time through a Garry O'Connor header from a Sebastian Larsson corner. The third team of the 'big four' to play Blues in January were Chelsea who visited St Andrews. It took a late goal from Claudio Pizarro to beat Blues, as Chelsea took all three points from the encounter. The last game of the month was a must win tie in the north east as the Blues took on Sunderland. But it was not to be as Sunderland won a one sided encounter with goals from Daryl Murphy and Rade Prica.

January also saw the opening of the transfer window. Alex McLeish was able to strengthen his side with the signings of left back David Murphy for £1,500,000 from Hibernian, striker James McFadden for £5,000,000 from Everton, and the loan signing of striker Mauro Zarate from Qatar side Al-Sadd. McLeish also allowed some fringe players to leave the club, with Neil Kilkenny joining Leeds United for £150,000, Rowan Vine joining Queens Park Rangers for £1,000,000, Neil Danns joining Crystal Palace for £600,000 and Mathew Sadler joining Watford for £750,000. Defender Olivier Tebily was also allowed to leave the club after not featuring in the side since the start of the previous season.

February

February featured three Premier League encounters for the Blues. Derby County were in real trouble in the Premier League, occupying 20th position, with 19th place Fulham well out of reach for the East Midlands club. There visit to St Andrews also saw the return of Robbie Savage who left the Blues back in 2005. A Sebastian Larsson goal looked like it had secured a valuable three points for the Blues before a 89th minute Emanuel Villa goal secured a point for Derby. A trip to West Ham United was next up for the Blues. Fredrik Ljungberg scored in the opening encounters for the Hammers, but a penalty from new boy James McFadden made sure that the Blues would at least leave with a point. The last game of the month was a home match between the Blues and Arsenal. A 28th Minute free kick from James McFadden opened the scoring, before two Theo Walcott goals within 5 minuets looked to have given the points to Arsenal, before a injury time McFadden penalty stole a point for the Blues. However, the game became highly controversial as within minutes of the kick off, a badly timed challenge by centre back Martin Taylor broke the leg of Eduardo da Silva. No one could complain about the automatic red card that Mike Dean the referee showed Taylor, but comments after the game by Arsene Wenger campaigned for a much longer ban than the traditional three match ban [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/7260564.stm Wenger fury at Eduardo injury] , BBC 2008-02-23. Retrieved on 2008-04-02.] . Although Wenger later retracted his comments [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/7261153.stm Wenger retracts Taylor criticism] , BBC 2008-02-24. Retrieved on 2008-04-02.] , his idea gained support with Sepp Blatter in particular, who campaigned for Taylor to be punished with a season long ban [ [http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11694_3257884,00.html Blatter slams Taylor tackle] , BBC 2008-03-07. Retrieved on 2008-04-02.] . The defender also received several death threats from supporters of Croatia [ [http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11694_3225880,00.html Gold disgust at threat ‘cowards’] , BBC 2008-03-02. Retrieved on 2008-04-02.] , as Eduardo would miss Euro 2008 in the summer.

March

March started with the newly crowned Carling Cup champions visiting St Andrews. It was not to be Tottenham's day however as the Blues emphatically won 4-1. A Mikael Forssell hat-trick, and a free kick from Sebastian Larsson saw the Blues lead 4-0 before a late Jermaine Jenas goal in second half injury time saw Maik Taylor fail to get his clean sheet. Next up for the Blues was a tricky away tie to another team going well in a domestic cup. Portsmouth, who had just qualified for the semi-final of the FA Cup, went into an early two goal lead thanks to Jermain Defoe, before goals from Fabrice Muamba and another Sebastian Larsson free kick saw Blues complete a first half comeback. Second half goals from Hermann Hreidarsson and Nwankwo Kanu saw the Blues fail to get anything from the south coast. The next two Blues games would see the team go head to head with other Premier League teams in trouble at the foot of the table. Newcastle United was first up at St Andrews, where a James McFadden goal in the first half was canceled out by an early goal in the second half by Michael Owen. Then it was a trip to the Madejski Stadium where Reading were able to capitalise on poor defending from set plays to earn a 2-1 victory, leaving the Blues only a point from 18th placed Bolton, and in real trouble. The only highlight of the game was a goal for Mauro Zarate. The last game of the month saw Manchester City visit St Andrews. Two Mauro Zarate goals and a penalty by Gary McSheffrey were enough to overcome the Manchester team, who scored with a penalty of there own from Elano.

April

The first game in April came on the 5th, with an away trip to Wigan Athletic. Former Birmingham boss Steve Bruce managed his side to a 2-0 win over Birmingham, with Ryan Taylor scoring both the goals. Also in that match, club captain Damien Johnson was sent off for two-footed foul on Kevin Kilbane. A week later, Birmingham were at Home against Everton. Mauro Zarate rescued a point for the Blues with a 25-yard free kick on the 83rd minute, after Everton defender Joleon Lescott put them in front. The game ended in a 1-1 draw. At this time Birmingham were 17th in the Premier League table. The Birmingham Derby took place eight days later as Birmingham were beaten 5-1 by local rivals Aston Villa away at Villa Park. Ashley Young and John Carew each scored twice. Mikael Forssell got a consolation goal for Blues, then Gabriel Agbonlahor finished it off for Aston Villa. With other teams results around them not going their way, Blues dropped to 18th in the league table. Birmingham's final game of April came on the 26th against Liverpoo at St Andrews. Birmingham went into this game with a decent record against them, drawing four and winning two of their last six meetings against Liverpool in the Premier League. Birmingham opened the scoring through Mikael Forssell on the 34th minute. Birmingham were looking comfortable throughout most of the game, and Sebastian Larsson scored a 30 yard free kick to make it 2-0. Birmingham however let their lead slip, after Peter Crouch and Yossi Benayoun both scored for Liverpool to share the points. Birmingham remained in 18th position in the league table.

May

A must-win game for Birmingham against relegation rivals Fulham, described by manager Alex McLeish as 'the most important game of the season' [ [http://www.blues.premiumtv.co.uk/page/News/NewsDetail/0,,10412~1304482,00.html Fulham V Blues Preview] , BCFC.com 2008-05-02. Retrieved on 2008-05-03.] . The first half ended goalless, but Fulham took the lead through Brian McBride to put them 1-0 up. Erik Nevland then doubled Fulham's tally in the 87th minute, and the game ended 2-0. It took Fulham out of the relegation zone, wile Birmingham were left to fall down to 19th. Birmingham's final game of the season saw them score four goals against Blackburn Rovers. A first half goal from David Murphy was cancelled out by Blackburn's Morten Gamst Pedersen early in the second half. After a miss from close range by Cameron Jerome, the striker responded by scoring two goals, with Fabrice Muamba getting a late goal. It turned out not to be enough however, as both Fulham and Reading secured wins, which left Birmingham to be relegated back to the Championship in 19th place.

quad statistics

Playing stats

:"Last updated on May 11, 2008."
-
colspan="12"|"Players not playing for Birmingham City at the end of the season:"

End of season player awards

The end of season awards ceremony was held at the ICC on 12 May 2008. [ [http://www.blues.premiumtv.co.uk/page/News/NewsDetail/0,,10412~1311002,00.html Super Six for Seb at Awards Dinner] , BCFC.com 2008-05-13. Retrieved on 2008-05-13.]

Players loaned in

taff no longer at the club

Premier League Results summary

FA Cup

Birmingham failed to get past the third round of the FA Cup 2007-08 as the lost to Huddersfield Town of League One.

*Birmingham City scores given first

Carling Cup

Birmingham reached the Third round of the Carling Cup 2007-08 before losing to Blackburn Rovers of the Premier League.

*Birmingham City scores given first

Final league position

In their first season back in the Premier League, Birmingham were not able to retain their Premier League status for a second season as they finish 19th, and were relegated along with Reading and Derby.

References