Birmingham City - The Blues

McLeish offiziell vorgestellt:


Birmingham unveil McLeish as boss


Former Scotland manager Alex McLeish admitted the lure of the Premier League was too strong to turn down after he was named Birmingham City's new boss.
The 48-year-old succeeds Steve Bruce at St Andrew's on a three-and-a-half year contract, and said: "I absolutely loved my time as coach of the national team.

"But it rekindled my passion of being able to work with players every day.

"I have always harboured a desire to manage in the Premier League and I am really excited about the challenge."

Andy Watson and Roy Aitken, McLeish's assistant coaches with Scotland, are also joining him at Birmingham.

And the former Rangers boss insists he has the full backing of the club's board, despite uncertainty surrounding a proposed takeover by Carson Yeung.

It was that uncertainty that prompted Bruce to quit City to take over as Wigan's new manager, but McLeish said: "The terms of my contract are private, but I have been satisfied in my chats with the people here that we can move forward."

Blues chairman David Gold added: "It was a bizarre situation in the sense that a takeover board won't allow you to enhance an existing contract - in this instance Steve's - but you can offer a brand new contract to a brand new person.

"It surprised us and was the reason we had to ensure we got proper legal advice and clearance."

As for whether the Yeung takeover would still go ahead, Gold said: "I started off believing it was a 90% possibility. Then, two weeks ago, I said it was 75% on and now I think it is below 50% - only time will tell.

"We, the board, must act as if the takeover will not happen and make decisions in the best interests of the club - which is what we have done in appointing Alex."

The Blues are 16th in the Premier League table with 11 points from 14 games since winning promotion from the Championship last season.

But McLeish is confident he can turn their fortunes around, saying: "It is a manager's job to get the best out of his squad and that is why I'm here.

"I'm sure we can do that and, we'll also see if we can make some introductions in the January transfer window."

McLeish's first match in charge is the Premier League fixture away to Tottenham on Sunday.


BBC, Wednesday, 28 November 2007, 10:45 GMT

sry doppelpost
Dieser Beitrag wurde zuletzt von Vojvo am 05.12.2007 um 08:29 Uhr bearbeitet

McLeish hofft, dass man Djourou noch bis Sommer behalten darf. Wenger hat sich letztens dazu geäussert ihn im Januar zurückzuholen da Toure zum Afrika Cup geht.

http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11694_2943810,00.html

Blues trial Liberian ace
AIK midfielder to spend a week at St Andrews

http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,12874_3029242,00.html

Dulle Johnson wird mit Bermingham in der Verbindung gebracht, naja kein schlechter. Aber ich denke noch nicht Reif für die Insel.

Zitat von Djurgardens IF:
Dulle Johnson wird mit Bermingham in der Verbindung gebracht, naja kein schlechter. Aber ich denke noch nicht Reif für die Insel.

schau mal einen post über dir, er kommt zum probetraing ;)

Birmingham City manager Alex McLeish has confirmed he is in the market for three new players - James McFadden, David Murphy and Georgios Samaras.

The Blues boss is working overtime in a bid to bolster his squad but concrete bids for McFadden and Murphy have been rejected by Everton and Hibernian respectively.

Manchester City misfit Samaras is also on the Scot's hit-list although there is plenty of headway to be made in each case.

"Will I go back in for McFadden and Murphy? We will have a think about things," he said.

"I am in daily discussions with the two Davids [Sullivan and Gold] and Karren Brady.

"We will certainly try and do something, yes.

"There is also an interest in Samaras. We will be pushing on with one or two things.

"I really don't want to say that we're close because at the moment there's one or two things still ongoing.

"I don't like to commit myself until have something concrete to tell you. It'd be misleading for the fans and alerting our rivals.

"Certainly, I've always been cautious, that's the way I've been brought up not to say it until the i's are dotted and the t's are crossed. But we are pursuing four or five things."

Birmingham failed to take up their option on Wilson Palacios and Wigan Athletic boss Steve Bruce has confirmed a deal to bring the Honduran to The JJB Stadium is in the pipeline and set to go through.


http://www.setantasports.com/en/Sport/News/Football/2008/01/10/Prem-Birmingham-in-for-trio/?facets/sport-space/football/great-britain-locale/Clydesdale-Bank-Scottish-Premier-League/

Zarate ist bei Birmingham im Gespräch:

http://www.fussball-talente.com/Birmingham_City_hat_Mauro_Zarate_im_Visier-2_17-7920-1.html

Zitat von Stowel:
Zarate ist bei Birmingham im Gespräch:

http://www.fussball-talente.com/Birmingham_City_hat_Mauro_Zarate_im_Visier-2_17-7920-1.html

Birmingham und Zarates Verein einigten sich auf eine 1 Jahresleihe mit Kaufoption. Man hofft er kann schon am WE gegen Chelsea auflaufen.

http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11694_3052068,00.html

So, die schottische Achse steht, neben Murphy kommt auch noch McFadden...


---------------------------------------------
Birmingham agree fee for McFadden

Birmingham City have agreed an undisclosed fee with Everton for Scotland striker James McFadden, the Merseyside club have announced.

Birmingham had an improved offer of about £3m rejected this week.

However, Blues boss Alex McLeish insisted he was prepared to pull out all the stops to get the 24-year-old.

"He's someone who fancies his chances, has bottle and the right mentality - and he definitely has the right sort of technique as well," he said.

As well as beng reunited with his former national team manager, McFadden will join David Murphy at the Midlands club, after the defender sealed a £1.5m transfer from Hibernian on Wednesday.

McFadden was signed by Everton manager David Moyes from Motherwell in September 2003 for £1.25m and scored 18 goals in 137 appearances for the Toffees.

However, he struggled to hold down a regular starting berth, and had been linked with a move back to Scotland with Celtic.

Everton had been demanding £5.7m for the forward, but negotiations are believed to have brought the two clubs' estimations closer.

It doesn't surprise me other clubs are interested in David because he is a good, good player
Hibernian manager Mixu Paatelainen

Scotland team-mate Garry O'Connor said earlier this week that McFadden would be a welcome addition to a Birmingham side that are tied on 20 points with Bolton, Wigan and Sunderland near the bottom of the Premier League table in England.

"James McFadden is an unbelievable talent," he said. "If we could manage to lure him to Birmingham then he would be a fantastic signing.

"He has worked for the gaffer before and to get him here would be great because he's top class.

"If he came here he would score goals, as he has already done in the Premier League, and at national level, and he would be a great success and help the team.

"Hopefully the gaffer will make a few more signings. If we bring players in and keep playing like we did at Arsenal, then I think we will be fine."

Recently-appointed Hibs manager Mixu Paatelainen had expected Murphy to be in his team for this weekend's Edinburgh derby against Hearts.


The player returned to training this week after missing four matches with a hamstring injury.

But he stated: "It doesn't surprise me other clubs are interested in David because he is a good, good player.

"It's not entirely in my hands, but I want to keep the best players at the club, to have as competitive a team as possible."

Meanwhile, McLeish is also keen on signing Aston Villa defender Gary Cahill on loan for the rest of the season, but Villa are believed to prefer a permanent switch.

Birmingham will not, however, be pursuing their interest in Liberian international midfileder Dulee Johnson, who recently spent a week on trial at the club.

Story from BBC SPORT:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/sport1/hi/football/teams/b/birmingham_city/7181949.stm

Published: 2008/01/17 15:03:26 GMT

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